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Expert: - 12/16/2010


Question
I share a yard with my tenants. They have an adult dog and 2 adult outdoor cats. The dog has a crusty nose that peels and leaves it's nose pink looking and a periodic eye discharge. The cats at times have a mild cough, one has a white discharge in one eye, the other has a sort of bloody looking discharge in both eyes. None of the animals look seriously ill, but I asked the tenants about it. They told me that all three animals had a tick borne virus that is incurable but is not catching, and that the only treatment they can give them is steroids when the symptoms get severe. They could not recall the name of the virus. I have been contemplating getting a dog of my own, but I am concerned that if I did, it would catch whatever the other animals have, the tenants say don't worry it't not catching. Should I wait to get a dog until these other animals are off the property?

Answer
It is highly unlikely that all three of these animals share the same disease from a tick. The chances are pretty impossible. It sounds like these animals are unvaccinated and untreated medically. Dogs with a nose like that have either pemphigus or lupus, not a tick-borne disease.

Cats with ocular discharges have either chlamydia, herpes virus, rhinotracheitis, or leukemia, all of which are contagious. I would not trust what the tenant is saying simply because of the impossibility of these animals all having the same thing and because they don't seem to know what it is.

I would not get a cat around them. Not that what the dog has is contagious but what the cats have are to other cats.

As long as your dog is vaccinated, kept out of skin contact with the other dog it would probably be safe to get one. This dog is probably not vaccinated against Parvo as well and you don't want your dog getting that. Parvo is airborne and a very hardy disease. Even if this dog doesn't have it it can carry it, as can humans on their clothes.

If these people are not going to be there long I would wait if you can. Then you can bleach out the yard and make it safer for your dog.

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Jana Connell RVT, CVT

Expertise

PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING TO ME: I am NOT a vet and do NOT diagnose diseases. That is only for a licensed Veterinarian to do. I will give you suggestions and steer you toward calling your vet for help. You can call the vet's office and talk to the technician there or the vet at times. Don't be afraid to call them! If you have a serious issue with your pet please post it to one of the veterinarians in here- I will tell you the same thing in my answer. IF your pet is injured or in an emergency situation, CALL YOUR VET- Do not wait and post in here. Just call the vet's office and get them in to see the vet right away. Critical treatment time is lost if you seek answers here when you should have your precious pet at the vets!! Don't sit at home waiting for an answer when your pet is critically ill or injured!! I can answer most questions about small animal and wildlife care as well as small animal nutrition. I can also answer questions about all phases of dental care for small animals. I DO NOT answer questions about birds (unless it is wildlife or songbirds) or HAMSTERS/GERBILS/CHINS/GUINEA PIGS/REPTILES/FROGS/RABBITS/PET BIRDS OF ANY KIND so please submit these questions to the appropriate sections. I, as well as other experts in here, do NOT do homework questions- that is for YOU to do! Please respect these rules for all of us. Thanks!

Experience

I have over 35 years experience in the field of veterinary medicine. I specialized in small animals and did wildlife rehab for over 25 years, mostly raptors, squirrels and opossums. I am a Small Animal Nutritional Consultant with 6 certificates from Hills Pet Foods, CNM and Purina. I also specialized in Small Animal Dentistry which is a field I truly love.

Organizations
Audubon,World Wildlife Federation, American Society of Veterinary Dental Technicians.

Education/Credentials
Licensed with California and Oregon, RVT and CVT. Certified Veterinary Dental Technician Have over 500 logged hours of Continuing Education Credits(that means I keep up to date!).

Awards and Honors
Nominated for Expert of the Month for the last 5 years.

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