PHTHALMIC CONDITIONS OF DOGS AND CATS WITH INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Coordinator: Andreia Vitor Couto do Amaral

Infectious diseases that affect companion animals are of great importance in small animal clinics. Their control and prophylaxis depend directly on the actions of the veterinarian, who must inform the owner of the need for primary vaccination and its booster, in addition to deworming, ectoparasite control, proper feeding and care with access to the street and contact with stray dogs. Jataí is a city in full growth and expansion, given the increasing number of inhabitants and the increase in infrastructure. However, when it comes to raising companion animals, it still maintains the habits of a small town. It is common for owners to allow dogs and cats free access to the street and not make routine visits to the veterinarian. Furthermore, the low income of the majority of the population that maintains this type of breeding, the lack of vaccinations and the absence of flea and tick control make infectious diseases frequent. The diagnosis of infectious diseases in dogs takes on even greater importance when it comes to zoonoses. It is worth remembering that in the first half of 2011, a case of rabies in a feline and dozens of cases of visceral leishmaniasis in dogs were diagnosed in the state of Goiás, including in cities that had not yet reported any autochthonous cases, as occurred in Goiânia. Systemic diseases that affect dogs and cats can commonly be manifested and diagnosed through ophthalmic alterations. Ophthalmic cases can be challenging for the clinician. The creation of veterinary ophthalmology societies around the world, study groups and research in this area, prove its rapid expansion. Incorrect or inadequate treatment can compromise an important sense for any animal species, in addition to causing debilitating pain and discomfort. Certainly, failure to diagnose, treat, or both, can result in the loss of one eye, which should be avoided in specialized hands. In addition to primary ocular diseases, ophthalmic manifestations of systemic diseases are common, especially those of infectious origin. Therefore, knowledge of ophthalmology often leads to diagnostic assistance for ehrlichiosis, leishmaniasis, tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, chlamydiosis, among other systemic diseases or diseases of importance such as zoonoses. At the end of each academic period, the aim is to perform an analysis of the ophthalmic cases treated, in order to outline a profile of the characteristics and forms of presentation of primary ocular diseases and the ophthalmic manifestations of systemic diseases. Such data will serve as a basis for both retrospective studies and future research, since needs and trends in the area can be listed. The project will be able to show the ophthalmic conditions of animals carrying infectious diseases, such as distemper, leishmaniasis, toxoplasmosis, chlamydiosis, ehrlichiosis, transmissible venereal tumor, among others.