How Do You Know Which Bacteria Are Making Your Dog Or Cat Sick?
Bacteria are microorganisms that can cause different diseases in different groups of animals. An example is domestic animals, such as cats and dogs, which are the most common pets in homes.
General symptoms
Each of the diseases has its own specific symptoms. The set of symptoms allows the physician to determine if the disease is caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses or others and, thus, establish a specific diagnosis.
However, it must be taken into account that there may be generalized symptoms that make it possible to determine whether an infection is bacterial or not. Among them we can find:
- Behavior changes.
- Fever.
- Loss of appetite
- Sneezing or runny nose.
- Urinary problems
- Muscle tightness
- Eye problems
- Loss of balance.
See a professional if you observe any of these symptoms, a combination of them or others for a reasonable period of time. The vet will tell you how to act and will take the symptoms into account when making the diagnosis.
Bacteria and diseases they can cause
Of the different types of diseases that bacteria can cause, the following are mentioned:
- Pneumonia. It can be caused by Haemophilus influenzae, Bordatella bronchiseptica, or Streptococcus pyogenes.
- Intestinal tract Mainly, Escherichia coli stands out , but S almonella sp. or Campylobacter sp.
- Urinary tract. Kidney problems can sometimes be caused by a bacterial infection. Among the different bacteria, E. coli or Staphylococcus aureus stand out.
- Skin infections Pyoderma is a bacterial skin infection that is mainly caused by Staphylococcus pseudintermedius.
Both cats and dogs can carry different types of microorganisms or parasites. And, for that reason, they can act as intermediaries when transmitting diseases.
Diseases caused by bacteria in cats
Cats can develop different types of bacterial diseases. These include the following:
Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is a disease that can be caused by infectious agents, either bacteria such as Chlamydia sp . or Mycoplasma sp . or canine herpes virus. It can also be a symptom of other pathologies.
This disease is more common in cats younger than six months old that have not been properly cared for. However, it can also appear in adult felines, when their immune system is weakened.
In order to differentiate if the causative agent is a bacterium or a virus, there are clues that can help. It has been observed that the bacterial infections are usually unilateral and exudate is thick whitish.
On the other hand, the herpes virus causes a very contagious infection, which can be bilateral and occurs in more members of the litter. The herpes virus will remain dormant and may cause outbreaks in stressed adult specimens.
Diseases caused by bacteria in dogs
Dogs also develop diseases caused by different types of bacteria. An example of a disease they can cause is:
Intestinal infection by Campylobacter sp .
Two species of bacteria, Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter ypsaliensis , are the cause of this intestinal infection in dogs. They can also cause infections in humans and cats or other animals.
The main symptoms are diarrhea, abdominal pain or cramp, lethargy and fever. In order to correctly diagnose the causative agent, a blood and fecal analysis is performed in the laboratory.
These bacteria are resistant to a large number of antibiotics. For this reason, erythromycin is often used, although it will depend on the condition of the dog. Antibiotics will reduce the number of bacteria, which lowers the risk of infection.
Infections caused by bacteria in cats and dogs
Cats and dogs can suffer from diseases caused by the same pathogen. An example of this is Escherichia coli , the bacterium that causes most urinary tract infections.
Urinary tract infection
In clinic there are different symptoms. But the most common signs of urinary tract infection are hematuria, frequency, stranguria, and dysuria.
Another notable feature is urination in inappropriate places or incontinence. On the other hand, urine may show an unusual color and odor.
The symptoms, together with a blood test and urinalysis, allow a correct diagnosis. In some cases, other complementary tests are necessary, such as an ultrasound or an endoscopy.
Tips to keep in mind
It should be mentioned that a large percentage of the existing bacteria do not cause damage. Only 1% of the total are responsible for the different diseases whose infectious agent is a bacterium.
In any case, in the event of any symptoms that show that the cat or dog may be ill, it is advisable to take them to a professional as soon as possible. Only the veterinarian will be able to decide which tests are necessary to make a correct diagnosis.
Thus, he will prescribe the antibiotics or medications he deems appropriate and will be able to suggest a series of preventive steps to take into account. You always have to trust the specialist in these cases.
