Protecting the Animals in Your Shelter’s Care
by Alva Logsdon
Anytime there is a large population (animal shelter, hospital, airplane, concert, etc.), there is a risk that illness or contagious disease will quickly spread exposing the entire population to a potentially life-threatening illness. However, with proper care the risks decrease; know and take low-cost, necessary precautions to care for the animals entrusted to you.
- Evaluate upon intake
- Vaccinate upon intake
- Clean kennels, cages, and crates regularly with a parvocidal disinfectant
- Separate animals that show signs of illness or injury from other animals
- Implement a policy to release to rescue strays early that are ill or injured if no vet is on staff/duty to care for them
- Properly train staff on shelter disease management protocol
- Properly train staff to recognize signs of illness
Common Warning Signs Include (this is ONLY a partial list of illness symptoms):
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Lethargic, easily tires
- Vomiting • Blood in vomit
- Diarrhea • Bloody diarrhea
- Tarry diarrhea
- Bloody urine
- Frequent urination
- Not urinating
- Not defecating
- Not eating
- Not drinking
- Frequent drinking/insatiable thirst
- Labored breathing
- Emancipated, losing weight
- Ear discharge
- Eye bulging
- Eye sunken
- Pale or blue gums
- Cloudy or crusted eyes
- Tummy extension
- Not putting weight on a leg
- Hair loss
- Growth protruding
- Wheezing
- Open wound
- Broken limb
- Seizures
- Scooting
- Scratching
- Scratching
Reducing the Spread of Shelter Illness & Disease with Dr. Ellen Jefferson (Video):
In this 56 minute video, Dr. Ellen Jefferson provides more in depth information for reducing the spread of illness and disease; click here to watch: Shelter Disease Management On A Limited Budget
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