Catherine Mullin, VMD, MS

Distemper occurs intermittently, especially in shelters located in communities with many unvaccinated dogs, and can appear identical to run-of-the-mill "kennel cough."

Animal shelters create a unique environment for the emergence and propagation of infectious diseases.

Feline upper respiratory infection (URI) is perhaps the most frustrating illness facing shelter veterinarians, managers and staff.

Canine parvo and feline panleukopenia are closely related viruses that replicate in rapidly dividing cells.

Many shelters are faced with diseases that seem resistant to typical treatment protocols.

It is only relatively recently that shelters actually house cats. Most older shelters were designed to house only dogs as this was the legal mandate of animal control.