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Zoonotic Diseases

  • Intestinal Parasites (Worms) in Cats

    Tapeworms and roundworms are two of the most common intestinal parasites of cats. Tapeworms are long flat worms composed of many individual segments whereas round worms are much shorter and have rounded bodies.

  • Leishmaniasis

    This is a disease caused by a protozoan (single celled) parasite found in dogs and certain rodents in many part of the world. Thankfully the disease is exotic to Australia (foreign) and our isolation and quarantine have afforded us protection from this disease. A type of tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus is widespread in Australia and this may act as a vector for the disease if it gains entry to our shores.

  • Lyme Disease

    Lyme disease (not Lyme's disease) is caused by a spirochete called Borrelia. It is transmitted to dogs through the bite of a tick.

  • Oral Tumours - Papillomas and Fibropapillomas ('Sarcoids')

    Oral papillomas are benign tumours of the epithelial lining of the mouth and throat caused by papillomaviruses. The viruses are specific for that species of animal and fairly site specific but can be transmitted to skin or eyes if the protective outer epithelium is damaged.

  • Ovarian Tumours

    Some ovarian cancers are benign and others malignant. In some cases, removal of the affected ovary will be curative. Spread to other internal organs (metastasis) is possible with some types, particularly the larger tumours.

  • Rabies in Cats

    Rabies is one of the most devastating viral diseases affecting mammals, including cats and humans. It is almost always fatal.

  • Rabies in Dogs

    Rabies is transmitted by a virus and probably the most horrendous disease affecting warm blooded animals which include dogs and humans. It is almost always fatal.

  • Ringworm

    Ringworm is a skin disease caused by a fungus. Because the lesions are often circular, it was once thought to be caused by a worm curling up in the tissue. However, the condition has nothing to do with a worm.

  • Ringworm (Dermatophytosis)

    Ringworm is a fungal infection of the superficial layers of the skin, hairs and nails. The fungi responsible for ringworm belong to a specialised group known as dermatophytes, and these can cause disease in both humans and animals.

  • Roundworms in Dogs

    Roundworms, nematodes or ascarid worms are intestinal parasites that live freely in the intestine, obtaining their nutriment from the partially digested intestinal contents.