VetInsight Pakistan

Introduction And this is the story of Max – a 4-year-old energetic Labrador Retriever . One afternoon walk in the scorching heat of Lahore nearly cost Max his life. And I want every pet parent out there to read this so that no pet owner has to go through what I went through and Max went through. Max's case became a strong reminder for me that in summer, a small mistake can cost a life. I documented this case and I'm sharing it today so that you may be able to save your pets from a similar situation.  Labrador dog suffering from heatstroke lying on veterinary clinic floor Patient Details Name: Max Breed: Labrador Retriever Age: 4 years Weight: 32 kg City: Lahore Incident Time: 2:30 PM, March afternoon Outside Temperature: 43°C (109°F) How It Happened Mr. Ahmed , the owner of Max, informed me that he takes him out for a walk every day. His daily routine included taking Max out for a morning walk and an evening walk. But on this particular day, Mr. Ahmed missed the morning walk ...

Introduction Canine Distemper is a highly contagious, life-threatening viral disease, which is a result of a Paramyxovirus infection. It affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and central nervous systems of dogs, as well as other wild animals like foxes and wolves . Yet, despite the availability of a vaccine , this viral infection still accounts for a high mortality rate in puppies and unvaccinated adult dogs in Pakistan . Canine distemper virus ​ Transmission: How Dogs Get Infected ​Aerosol Spread:  The most common mode of infection in dogs is through sneezing or coughing, which throws infected droplets in the air. ​Direct Contact:  Through sharing food, water bowls, and urine, blood, and saliva. ​Placental Transfer:  An infected mother dog can transmit this virus to its puppies before birth. ​Clinical Signs: The Three Main Stages ​ CDV is referred to as a "multi-systemic" infectious disease, which affects different parts of a dog's body in stages: ​Respiratory St...

Introduction ​Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is one of the most dreaded diseases in feline medicine. It is a mutation of the Feline Enteric Coronavirus (FeCV) affecting cats of all ages, with the highest prevalence in young kittens in multi-cat households. The transition from an ordinary intestinal virus to a lethal systemic disease is of utmost importance to all veterinarians. ​The Two Faces of FIP ​The clinical presentation of FIP can be divided into two main types, though there is some overlapping between them: ​Effusive (Wet) FIP:  It is associated with the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen ( ascites ) or in the chest ( pleural effusion ). It is due to extensive vasculitis . ​Non-Effusive (Dry) FIP:  It is harder to diagnose, with granulomatous lesions in organs such as the kidneys, liver, eyes ( uveitis ), and the central nervous system ( neurological signs ). ​Diagnostic Challenges ​The diagnosis of FIP is a challenge because there is no such test as the " FIP t...

1. Introduction The canine viral gastroenteritis is undergoing dynamic changes with the detection of new viral pathogens. Among these, Canine Kobuvirus ( CaKoV ) has been recognized as an important, though poorly studied, agent in canine viral gastroenteritis. Though Canine Parvovirus (CPV) and Canine Coronavirus (CCoV) are recognized as major viral pathogens in canine viral gastroenteritis, the detection rate of CaKoV in infected dogs indicates that it is probably playing an active role in canine enteric viral disease. 2. Viral Taxonomy and Genetic Diversity CaKoV is classified as a member of the Kobuvirus genus in the family Picornaviridae . The viral genome is 8.2 kb in length and consists of a single open reading frame (ORF) that codes for a polyprotein that is subsequently cleaved into structural and non-structural proteins.  • Genetic Characterization:  The viral genome has been found to possess considerable genetic diversity . The detection of unique viral lineages in...

What is Canine Hepacivirus (CHV)? Everyone is aware of the serious liver infection known as Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). However, not many people are aware that their canine friends also carry a similar virus that causes serious infection in dogs. This virus is known as Canine Hepacivirus (CHV), and it is one of the most interesting discoveries in the field of veterinary science in recent times.Canine Hepacivirus was first detected in 2011 and is a 'cousin' of the Hepatitis C virus that infects humans. In fact, it is the closest relative of HCV among all animal viruses that have been detected so far.[1,2] Where Did it Come From? It is believed that Canine Hepacivirus and the Hepatitis C virus share a common ancestor that lived many centuries ago— between 500 and 1,000 years ago .[2,5] It is also believed that this virus was initially present in horses and was transmitted to dogs at a time when horses and dogs lived and worked together.[2,6] Is My Dog at Risk? The first thing to k...

What is Feline Calicivirus? If you have a cat, you have probably heard of the " cat flu ." It is a mild respiratory infection with symptoms of sneezing, runny eyes, and possibly a few mouth ulcers. Cats usually get over it quickly with a little tender loving care. But there is a darker side to this common disease that every cat owner should be aware of: Virulent Systemic Feline Calicivirus . The Deadly Mutation: From Nuisance to Killer VS-FCV is not a new virus but rather a highly aggressive and mutated form of a common feline virus known as calicivirus . This virus is like the 'super-powered' flu virus because while the flu virus infects only the nose and throat areas, this mutated form infects the entire body. This includes the blood vessels and internal organs [1, 2].What is so scary about this virus? This virus is highly contagious and has a mortality rate up to 50% or more. This virus puts healthy, vaccinated adult cats at risk as well. Signs of the Systemic Form...