Disease outbreaks are something every shelter will face at some point. The good news is that if you stay well informed and develop proper disease control protocols , you can keep your risk of outbreak to a minimum.
Resources and Articles
From the Magazine
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January 1, 2012
Shelter Medicine: The Importance of Isolation
A tragic case in North Dakota—where a rabies outbreak forced a shelter to euthanize its entire dog population—offers a valuable lesson for all shelters.
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September 1, 2011
The ASV Guidelines in Real Life: Taking Them In
What happens—or doesn’t happen—when an animal enters a shelter can affect an individual pet’s ultimate outcome, as well as impact the health of an entire shelter population.
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May 1, 2011
Shelter Medicine: Sanitation Sanity
Our veterinary columnist answers some of your most frequently asked questions about cleaning and disinfection in the shelter environment.
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March 1, 2011
Mouthpieces: People Aren't the Only Ones Who Get the Sniffles and Sneezes
This edition of Mouthpieces provides an amusing and effective reminder to your human visitors to clean their hands after visiting with each animal so that all of the animals in your care can stay healthy.
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September 1, 2010
Shelter Medicine: Canine Distemper Virus: Anatomy of an Outbreak
Canine distemper virus can easily enter a shelter, is tricky to diagnose, and may wreak havoc on a shelter's dog population. A veterinarian and a shelter official discuss the policies and procedures that helped a shelter in West Kennebunk, Maine, cope with an outbreak.
Policies
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May 16, 2012
HSUS Canine Distemper Basics
Fact: Canine distemper is highly contagious, can be carried and transmitted by wild mammals -- and is easy to kill with proper sanitation. To get all the facts on distemper, download our factsheet to keep the basics at your fingertips.
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May 16, 2012
HSUS Parvovirus Basics
Fact: The canine parvovirus is difficult to kill, can live in the environment for months or even years, and is transmitted only through direct contact with bodily fluids. To get all the facts on parvo, download our factsheet to keep the basics at your fingertips.
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May 10, 2012
Animal Welfare Association - Treatment and Isolation Area Protocols
Use these sample isolation and treatment area protocols from the Animal Welfare Association in Voorhees, New Jersey to help you develop your shelter's own protocols.
Programs
More
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Feline Vaccine Advisory Panel Report
From the Vaccinations, Animals section of the Resource Library:The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) Vaccine Advisory Panel Report provides information on vaccines for cats.
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May 8, 2012
Association of Shelter Veterinarians - Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters
The ASV's Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters is a comprehensive shelter standards document that was two years in the making.
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May 7, 2012
American Humane Assocation Operational Guide - Sanitation and Disease Control
This guide outlines an animal healthcare program for shelters, including design considerations, cleaning materials, animal handling, preventive medicine and planning. It also includes a glossary of terms.
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May 7, 2012
World Rabies Day
World Rabies Day (WRD) was established in 2007 by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control to raise awareness about the on-going tragedy of rabies, educate those most at risk and mobilize resources against this fatal disease.
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May 7, 2012
Centers for Disease Control
Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, 2011
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