Colorado Animal Welfare Conference Session
Infectious Disease In The Shelter: Diagnosis, Treatment, And Biosecurity
3-4:15pm - Aug. 20, 2025
City Lights 1
Shelter Operations
Infectious disease can have widespread implications in the shelter setting, not only for the health and quality of life of individual animals, but also for the entire shelter population. Early recognition and judicious treatment of infectious disease are keystone tenets of shelter medicine. In this lecture, we will explore commonly encountered infectious diseases, available diagnostic and treatment options, and recommended biosecurity measures that keep individual animals, shelter populations, and shelter staff safe.
Dr. Claire Vaiden
Dr. Claire Vaiden graduated from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in 2014. Her passion for animal welfare began with running a student-led program that provided veterinary care to vulnerable populations in the local community and has continued through her roles as a general practitioner, shelter veterinarian, and forensic veterinarian. She moved to Colorado in 2016 with her now husband (also a veterinarian) and transitioned to shelter medicine in 2019. She loves serving her community by being a part of the safety net for Colorado’s pet population. Her special interests include soft tissue surgery, veterinary forensics, and One Health/One Welfare. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, biking, and live music with her husband, toddler, dogs, and cats.