Recognize risk factors for infections in cats and dogs and prevent or correct them whenever possible. These include, but are not limited to:

• Urinary catheterization
• Intravenous catheters
• Wounds
• Environmental factors (i.e., stress, crowding, poor hygiene, transportation, temperature extremes, poor ventilation, and high humidity)
• Feline leukemia virus, feline immunodeficiency virus infection, or debilitating disease
• Immunosuppressive drugs (e.g., chemotherapeutic agents and glucocorticoid therapy)
• Endocrine diseases (i.e., diabetic cats are more prone to urinary tract, skin, and mouth infections; dogs with hyperadrenocorticism are more prone to skin and urinary tract infections)