PREVALENCE OF SOME DISEASES OF DOGS AND CATS AT THE STATE GOVERNMENT VETERINARY CLINIC IN MAIDUGURI (NIGERIA)

A 3-year (retrospective) study was conducted to determine the prevalence of diseases; clinical conditions of dogs and cats presented at the Government Veterinary Clinic, Maiduguri from January 1995 to December 1997. The prevalent diseases; conditions of dogs included helminthosis (19.19%), accidental injury) (18.18%), tick infestation ( 15.15% ), canine distemper (8.42% ), diarrhoea ( 6.73%), mange ( 7.41%), rabies (5.05%) and babesiosis (4.71%), Prevalent diseases/conditions of cats included helminthosis (26.67%). tick infestation ( 8.89%). diarrhea ( 16.67%), nutritional deficiencies ( 15.56%) and respiratory infections ( 12.22%). Of highest prevalence in both dogs and cats was helminthosis (20.93%), followed by tick infestation (13. 70%) and diarrhea (9.04%) suggesting a poor husbandy of these pets in Maiduguri area. Cases of automobile accidental injury of dogs were also high, probably due to the same factors of poor husbandry