Megaesophagus Megaesophagus is loss of tone and motility of the esophagus, which often results to diffuse dilation of the esophagus and clinical sign seen is mostly regurgitation. This condition can be either congenital or acquired. In addition to regurgitation, other signs includes aspiration pneumonia which develops when there is entrance of food or liquid into the lungs. Other common symptoms include vomiting, cough, nasal discharge increased respiratory noises, weight loss, extreme hunger or lack of appetite and poor growth. Visiting your veterinarian will help in diagnosing megaesophagus after a series of tests which includes x rays. Treatment is normally addressed towards the underlying cause of megaesophagus, in addition to supportive care aiming at providing therapy for minimizing regurgitation, providing ample nutrition and resolving aspiration pneumonia.

Dog Aggression Dog aggression is a character many dogs owners encounter with trepidation. There is no doubt that many dog owners are victims of bites from their own dogs, especially when they try to separate dogs fighting. While there are many others who have been ambushed by an aggressive dog. There are animal factors like Hereditary or Genetic and Environmental factors that play a major role in dog aggression. Animal factors include Breeds like Rottweiler are more likely to be aggressive than Golden retrievers. Females on heat or those that are nursing puppies can be aggressive as well. Environmental conditions include lack of socialization, poor living conditions, excessive punishment and teasing by the children can be a source of aggression in dogs. Dogs may exhibit more than one type of aggression; Early socialization of puppies and matching the right breed with the owner helps to prevent aggression. The goal is never to let a dog achieve dormant status on other dogs or even human. Behavioral modification like training on obeying crucial commands with food treats helps. Neutering helps in reducing aggression between dogs but has little effects on aggression towards human. When a dog is very dangerous to people, it is the responsibility of the owner to make drastic decisions to avoid unwarranted injuries or death to other dogs and more so to human beings. Author Dr. Anderson Gitari. Bvm, Mvet Surg

Spaying and Neutering Rabbits Rabbits can reproduce many times in a year and for those who keep them as pets, this can be challenging to take care of this rapidly increasing population. In addition, sexual aggression is common and this can be eliminated by castration of the male rabbit (buck) or spaying the female rabbit (doe). Spayed doe is likely to live longer and this reduces chances of them getting uterine cancer, compared to unspayed female where the risk is more than 80 %. Surgery can be done when the rabbits are about 5 months of age and they should be offered food right up to the time of operation and thereafter, because rabbits cannot vomit and therefore no risk of aspiration pneumonia. It is important to know that males will still have sperms in their tubes 3 weeks after surgery. It is, therefore, recommended that they are kept away from the females for a while. The reproductive power of rabbits is amazing. Author Dr. Anderson Gitari. Bvm, Mvet Surg.

Feline Leukemia virus (FeLV) Feline Leukemia virus affects cats and is related to FIV or HIV, However, it does not affect human beings. Like, FIV which is mostly transmitted through cats bites (common in male cats when they go hunting for a molly or queen), FeLV is more contagious and is passed though sharing of food or water or litter box with an infected cat. Prolonged grooming increases the risk of infection between cats, however, the virus is fragile and does not stay in the environment for a long period. Infected cats shed large quantities of the virus through saliva, milk,urine and feces. Queen can pass the virus to kittens while they are in utero. Stray cats or even cats who have owners especially in estates are more susceptible due to the increased risk of contact with an infected cat. Cat will exhibit different symptoms which vary from loss of appetite or anorexia, fever, vomiting and diarrhea, stomatitis, gingivitis, lethargy, recurring infections to even death. Infected cats are susceptible to secondary bacterial infection as well as tick and flea bite infections. It has been shown that cats with FeLV are more susceptible to cancer like lymphoma or lymphosarcoma, a form of blood cancer. Treatment of infected cats is symptomatic, however, new forms of treatment like the Lymphocyte T-Cell Immunomodulator helps to improve the white blood cell count and subsequently improves the chances of recovery. These treatments are not commonly available in some parts of the world and can be expensive.  Infected cats should be kept away from other cats and owners need to be aware that they are susceptible to other infections. Prevention is through vaccination and the first thing when one owns a cat is to visit your veterinarian for vaccinations and advice.

Toxoplasmosis in Cats We received a call from a lady who was expectant and had been tested positive for Toxoplasma gondii infection. She was very concerned that her dogs could have passed this infection to her; she does not own any cat. During the telephone conversation, she mentioned that stray cats occasionally come to her compound. Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii and it affects all warm blooded animals and causes problem for the unborn baby. Cats are the only known definitive hosts for the parasite to complete its life cycle where the eggs are passed through the feces into the environment. Dogs cannot be a source of infection. People are infected through fecal contamination from the cat litter, consumption of raw or uncooked meat and vegetables contaminated  with T.gondii eggs and drinking of unpasteurized milk. Contamination from cleaning of the cat litter is the most common method of infection to humans. Infection in cats can be acute or chronic, adult cats maybe immune to Toxoplasmosis. The ones that are infected have symptoms that vary from lethargy, loss of weight, muscle weakness and tremors, to vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice and eye infections. Toxoplasmosis is more likely to occur in cats with Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) or Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) or kittens that were infected while in utero. Diagnosis is by history, clinical presentation and positive antibody test for toxoplasma  IgG and IgM antibodies. Treatment in cats include use of clindamycin, pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine which all work in inhibiting the reproduction of the parasite. Most cats respond favorable to the treatment, except for the kittens or immune compromised cats. Prevention is hygiene of litter box, and avoiding feeding cat with uncooked meat. People can avoid infection through hygiene; washing hands after changing the litter box, changing the litter box on a daily basis , washing of vegetables  and avoid eating  uncooked meat .