AniCare Test Library

Canine parvovirus, often called parvo, is a highly contagious virus that mainly affects a dog’s intestines and can cause severe, life-threatening illness. It spreads through contact with infected faeces and can also be carried on contaminated ground, shoes, hands, bowls, bedding and other shared items. The virus can survive in the environment for long periods, creating a particular risk in places where dogs mix, such as parks, kennels, shelters and breeding environments. Puppies, unvaccinated dogs and dogs with an unknown vaccination history are particularly vulnerable.

• Sudden loss of appetite

• Severe tiredness or weakness

• Repeated vomiting

• Severe watery diarrhoea

• Bloody or unusually foul-smelling diarrhoea

• Tummy pain or discomfort

• Fever, or sometimes an unusually low temperature

• Rapid dehydration

Puppies and adult dogs.

Feline panleukopenia, sometimes called feline parvovirus or feline distemper, is a highly contagious viral illness that can make cats seriously unwell. It spreads through contact with infected faeces, bodily fluids and contaminated items such as litter trays, bowls, bedding, hands, clothing and surfaces. The virus can survive in the environment for long periods, making kittens, unvaccinated cats, rescue cats and cats with an unknown vaccination history particularly vulnerable.

• Sudden loss of appetite

• Severe tiredness, weakness or hiding away

• High temperature

• Repeated vomiting

• Diarrhoea, although it may not always be present

• Tummy pain or discomfort

• Rapid dehydration

• Weight loss

• Collapse or shock

Kittens and Adult Cats.

Feline herpesvirus (FHV): is a highly contagious virus and one of the main causes of cat flu. It spreads through close contact with infected cats and discharge from the eyes, nose or mouth, as well as contaminated bowls, bedding, hands and surfaces. After infection, the virus can remain inactive in a cat’s body and become active again later, particularly during periods of stress or illness.

Feline calicivirus (FCV): is another highly contagious virus commonly associated with cat flu. It spreads in similar ways through close contact, respiratory droplets, saliva and contaminated items. Different strains of Calicivirus can behave differently, and infected cats may continue carrying and spreading the virus after the initial infection.

• Frequent sneezing

• Runny or blocked nose

• Watery, sore or sticky eyes

• Eye or nasal discharge

• Fever

• Loss of appetite

• Tiredness or reduced energy

• Conjunctivitis

• Corneal ulcers or recurring eye problems

• Painful ulcers on the tongue, gums, lips or inside the mouth

• Difficulty eating due to mouth discomfort

• Increased drooling

• Limping or joint discomfort

The symptoms of these viruses can overlap, so signs alone cannot reliably identify which virus is involved. The combination test allows markers for both viruses to be screened from the same eye, nose or mouth secretion sample.

These signs are consistent with recognised FHV and FCV presentations; eye disease is particularly associated with Feline Herpesvirus, while oral ulcers and occasional limping are especially associated with Calicivirus.

Kittens and Adult Cats.

Canine influenza virus, sometimes called dog flu, is a highly contagious virus that affects a dog’s respiratory system. It spreads mainly through droplets released when infected dogs cough, sneeze or bark, as well as through close contact and contaminated items such as bowls, leads, bedding, hands and clothing. It can spread quickly wherever dogs mix closely. Dogs may also spread the virus before obvious signs appear, and some infected dogs show few or no symptoms.

• Persistent cough, which may be dry or moist

• Sneezing

• Runny nose or thick nasal discharge

• Watery or runny eyes

• Fever

• Loss of appetite

• Tiredness or reduced energy

• Difficulty breathing, in more severe cases

• Pneumonia, in more severe cases

• Sometimes there are no obvious symptoms in some infected dogs

Puppies and adult dogs.