Today's treatments must consider the broad matrix of interrelating factors that effect immune competence, nutritional adequacy, individual genetic and environmental differences, toxins, and viruses for which no antibiotics yet exist. (progesterall.com)
Reduced genetic diversity of the major histocompatibility complex also does not correspond to lowered immune competence [34, 35]. (cgejournal.biomedcentral.com)
Older dogs can be expected to experience a decreased metabolic rate, decreased immune competence and greater susceptibility to infection, and reduced thermoregulation. (whole-dog-journal.com)