Disease Alerts

Chronic Wasting Disease

This disease is caused by an abnormal protein (called a prion) that causes degeneration of the brain in affected animals.  It is unusual because there is no known DNA in the causative agent.

It is similar to, though different from, the Mad cow Disease in Europe, as well as scrapie in sheep.

At this time, there is no known link between the disease and any disease in people!!

Tests for CWD are now available for deer hunters and a study is going on this deer hunting season to establish where the disease has spread.

Feline Heartworm Disease!

In 2001, we tested numerous positive cats that were already in heart failure.  Be sure to have your cat checked soon - prevention is easy!

Distemper and Parvo!

Recent reports from the Chicago and Milwaukee areas have indicated an outbreak of these two viruses in dogs in area shelters.  Distemper has been a very rare occurrence in the past but has resurfaced with the reduction of vaccination and increase in contact with wild animal reservoirs.  Because of this, we at the Lake Geneva Animal Hospital are evaluating each animal individually with regards to the frequency and combination of vaccines given.  Factors such as the animal's age, health status, and risk of exposure are taken into account and a vaccine protocol formulated that will best protect the pet.  Also, the recent rabies case in a teenage girl in Fond du Lac, WI underscores the importance of rabies vaccination in our animals.  The girl affected picked up a bat inside church and contracted rabies without any known bite or scratch.  Rabies is almost 100% fatal to people and animals that develop the disease and vaccination of our pets is the first line of protection for our pets and ourselves.  All vaccine protocols developed for every animal take into effect the benefits and risks of each component so as not to over-vaccinate, but to protect the animal.