Jyothi Robertson, DVM

Ringworm is rarely life threatening in household pets, but in the shelter, it can lead to almost unmanageable outbreaks, excessive costs, and euthanasia due to its zoonotic potential.

In shelters, there are many causes of diarrhea in felines.

A range of behaviors harmful to animals may be defined as abuse. This includes both intentional and unintentional harm or neglect.

Canine parvovirus (CPV) poses a serious threat in animal shelters, as a double stranded DNA virus that has rapid spread and the ability to persist in the environment for months to years.

So you have the standards, but now how do you implement them?

It is always important to document and handle all materials related to a case as evidence.

It is always important to document and handle all materials related to a case as evidence. Often, however, situations arise when veterinarians only later realize that they were witness to an abuse case.

A range of behaviors harmful to animals may be defined as abuse. This includes both intentional and unintentional harm or neglect. Animal cruelty statutes exist in all 50 states, but legal definitions of cruelty vary.

Ringworm is rarely life threatening in household pets, but in the shelter, it can lead to almost unmanageable outbreaks, excessive costs, and euthanasia due to its zoonotic potential.

The ASV standards were written to help shelters assess their facilities and strive to make positive changes to better the lives of those animals in their care. Many shelters already meet the requirements, but there may be challenges faced with maintaining some of these standards.

Canine parvovirus (CPV) poses a serious threat in animal shelters, as a double stranded DNA virus that has rapid spread and the ability to persist in the environment for months to years. Vaccination is the cornerstone to keeping this virus at bay. Although parvoviruses evolve, they tend to be antigenically stable so vaccination confers reliable protection even against newer strains such as CPV 2c.

In shelters, there are many causes of diarrhea in felines. The predominant player that is of most significance is feline panleukopenia, but there are other pathogens that should not be overlooked when faced with an ill cat with diarrhea.