Holiday Hazards

Years ago, a friend told me a story.  Her cat Elmer carried a few extra pounds.  He was, in fact, pushing 20 pounds.  One year, Elmer took it upon himself to scale the family’s Christmas tree.  The entire family watched in horror as the tree bent, bent some more, then ultimately crashed to the ground, sending one very surprised cat scrambling and several ornaments scattering.  Fortunately, aside from his wounded pride and a few broken ornaments, there were no injuries and everyone had a good laugh.  While a funny story, it highlights the fact that, as we celebrate the holiday season, hazards abound for our furry friends.  And while many hazards pass after the holidays, many persist through the brisk winter weather we Wisconsinites must endure.  Let’s take a look at some of the more common winter hazards for cats and dogs.

The Christmas tree
Like Elmer, many cats and dogs may think a Christmas tree is a veritable playground.  But be careful with your tree and what you place on and under it.  Ingestion of needles – yes, this does happen – and ingestion of water contaminated with bacteria and chemicals from a live Christmas tree can result in stomach upset. Keep decorations out of your pet’s reach!  Recently, a friend of mine who is an emergency veterinarian, had to perform surgery to remove an ornament hook from a dog’s intestines!  Tinsel and ribbon on the tree and packages are particularly tantalizing for cats, but ingestion can cause a life – threatening intestinal obstruction. Don’t forget that many of the plants we cherish during the holidays including Poinsettias, mistletoe, and holly are all poisonous to pets.  Candles and lights pose a hazard as well so use caution with curious pups and cats.  

Guests
Yes, I said guests.  Really.  In a former life, I practiced as an emergency veterinarian.  One of the most common problems I encountered was ingestion of prescription medications.  Dogs do this.  A lot.  Often, the medication was intended for the guilty party or a housemate, but I was always surprised at how many times a dog had ingested a houseguest’s medication that was left sitting out.  Houseguests may also be more inclined to slip your pet goodies from the table that can cause a bellyache or even worse, pancreatitis or poisoning. Common culprits are chocolate, fatty cuts of meat, and candy or gum containing xylitol.  Pets, and this is often true for cats, may also become stressed with the extra chaos guests bring to a house.  Set ground rules with guests.  Make sure they know what your dog or cat can and can’t have, remind them to keep medications tucked safely away, and give your pet a safe haven if they seem anxious.

Food 
What’s the saying?  It’s Thanksgiving, time to set the scale back 10 pounds.  Goodies are such an important part of the holidays.  Not only does this wreak havoc with our waistlines, it could end up causing problems for your pets.  Most people are aware that chocolate can cause problems, but many don’t know that xylitol, a sweetener used in gum and other candies can be very dangerous for dogs. See our previous blog for more information on xylitol.  Fatty cuts of meat can, at best cause vomiting or diarrhea, or at worse can cause pancreatitis, a potentially very serious condition.  Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in some dogs, so make sure to avoid giving these as treats and don’t let your dog or cats eat significant quantities of onion or garlic as both can cause anemia.  

The Great Wide Outdoors
Whether you like it or not, winter has finally arrived in Wisconsin.  Hypothermia and frostbite are serious concerns in both dogs and cats that venture outdoors.  Thin, older, and sick animals are at higher risk, but don’t be fooled into thinking healthy pets can’t develop problems.  Limit your pet’s time outdoors and consider booties to protect tender tootsies.  Be careful of de-icing products as these can be caustic and cause foot pain and lameness.  Look for products that are pet safe if you need to use anything and clean your pet’s paws well after they’ve been outdoors to remove any residual salt.  And speaking of ice, be very careful of thin ice on our lakes and smaller bodies of water.  Even though it’s finally gotten cold, the mild fall and winter means that when the ice finally comes, it may not be as strong as we would expect this time of year.

There’s a lot going on this time of year and it’s easy to get distracted but taking stock of your house now and removing any hazards could prevent some potentially serious problems.

All of us at Hallett Veterinary Hospital wish you a blessed holiday season and New Year filled with happiness and good health.

Check out this video on Pets and Holiday Foods from our friends at Veterinary News Network.

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Morgan the Missing Cat dies at age 17

Morgan with his brother

Many people have heard me talk about Morgan, the cat who was reunited with our technician/practice manager and her family, five years after disappearing.  Someone found Morgan near a horse barn and he was unable to walk on one leg. He was identified at the humane society by his microchip. His owner, Cyndi, rushed to pick him up and bring him back to our hospital so we could repair his broken leg. Without the microchip he would have been euthanized. It is not surprising that we like microchips so much.

Here is an article with his story.

Morgan recovered completely after his surgery and could walk and run without limping. Morgan liked going outside and just hanging out with the family, including the family dogs, Labrador Retriever Kailey and Doberman Benny. Morgan had a never stop attitude, even while healing from orthopedic surgery.



Radiographs of Morgan's leg before, during and after surgery



Indoor Cat Gets Rabies, Bites Owner

"Why does my indoor cat need the rabies vaccine? He never goes outside."

The short answer is that bats come inside and sometimes indoor cats go outside.  Rabies is fatal and is transmissible to people. Protect yourself and your family by vaccinating your cat!

A Georgia couple found this out the hard way Last month. Their cat was overdue for the rabies vaccine when it bit the owner and then died.   The cat tested positive for rabies so the owner and his fiancé are both undergoing treatment.  If the cat had run away and died, the owners may not have known that they were exposed to rabies until it was too late. Here is a link to more information on that case.

Rabies vaccine is required by law in Oconomowoc, yet many of our clients choose not to vaccinate their cats for rabies. The risk of their cat getting rabies is certainly low but the consequences could be deadly to the cat, and to human family members as well.

As veterinarians, we work hard to keep pets healthy. Many people don't realize that we also take our role in human health very seriously too. Your pediatrician may not think of pet health and how it relates to keeping your children healthy but we do. Rabies and intestinal parasites are the two things we worry about most.  

Veterinarians recommend deworming pets and checking annual fecal exams, not just because worms are disgusting, but because some intestinal parasites can transmit from pets to people.  About 10% of the fecal samples we test are positive! 

Keep your pets healthy, keep your family healthy: keep pets current on rabies vaccine, fecal exams and deworming.

For more information on rabies, see this CDC website

For more on intestinal parasites, see this CDC website

Prepare for Disaster with Your Pet in Mind

Thankfully we don't get hurricanes in Wisconsin, but we do see flooding, tornadoes and other disasters, sometimes with no warning at all.  While many of us are sending money for relief efforts after Superstorm Sandy, we should also take some time to prepare here in Wisconsin. A little disaster preparation can really help, especially for pet owners.  Listen to Linda's story about Rock River flooding a few years ago.

Many pets are left behind when disaster strikes. When food and water are in short supply, it can be hard to provide for our four legged friends. Here are some suggestions to help prepare:

• Have your pet microchipped. If you are separated from your pet, the microchip will help you find them if they end up at a shelter or veterinarian's office.
• Make a disaster kit. Include things like a flashlight, cash and food and water for both you and your pet. Banks and ATM's may not be functioning if the power is out and pet food may be hard to find. Clean drinking water is most important in survival situations.
• Leash and pet carrier. Pets and people can get very stressed and upset in disaster situations. Keeping pets contained can keep them safe. 

Check out other suggestions at hallettvet.com and start building your pet friendly disaster kit now.

This Product Kills Pets!

 This Product Kills Pets!
Internet Rumors: Are They True or False?

by Dr. Michael Fagan

When was the last time you encountered a sensational-sounding internet pet health alert?  Swiffer?  Sugar free gum?  Any number of pet foods alleged to be harmful?  Rumors are very common and spread at nearly the speed of light.  So how can you discern whether a particular rumor should be ignored or heeded?

Let's look at an example that illustrates a few of the classic signs of a FALSE rumor (some are true!): 

"Swiffer kills pets! "

"Birkie" Eyes the Swiffer

A google search of that phrase turns up several versions (this particular rumor has been around for years), but this post is still in the top 5 search results:

                "I was just informed today that my Sister's young cat has just passed away. Coincidentally, after using SWIFFER for the first time. Her death was described as "just keeled over and died." When my Mother told me this, she also said her friend's dog died from using SWIFFER. Outraged, I googled "SWIFFER KILLS ANIMALS", and produced some results with other allegations! Has anybody heard of this happening???? I was actually going to buy a SWIFFER in the near future. NOT ANYMORE! I have three furbabies! Thought I'd pass this info along."

She followed a few posts later (after others assured her that Swiffer is safe) with, "Sorry for the dramatism. I just got very scared and wanted to share with everyone the news I had just heard."

Signals that skepticism is due:   

• The Fear Factor   
  
• Second or Third Hand Information - (my sister's, my mother's friend's, etc.) is less reliable.  Note that there was no verification of the cause of death.
• Vague,Improbable, or Multiple Symptoms - ("just keeled over and died")  Don't you think the manufacturer would have noticed if this were a common symptom?  
• Claims of Similarity to Other Scary Chemicals - Swiffer was reported by other emphatic posts to be "one molecule away from antifreeze" and "causes liver failure".  We can probably assume that they meant that propylene glycol is one carbon atom away from ethylene glycol (antifreeze), which is irrelevant since propylene glycol is a safe food additive.  Besides, antifreeze causes kidney failure, not liver failure.

The verdict:  Swiffer products are safe for use around pets.

So, if you encounter an alarming claim about a product, a little research can often ease your mind.  Some useful websites includewww.snopes.com, ASPCA Poison Control , Centers for Disease Control , FDA recall notices, and OSHA's Material Safety Data Sheets (search by company name and "msds").  Of course, you can also call us!  (262-569-0801) We have addressed many of these stories before, so we may have a quick answer, or if it's new to us, we have a network of specialists and other veterinarians available  for consultations.

By the way, sugarless gum with xylitol can cause major problems in dogs! (see our previous blog post)

Antlers and Bones?

Are Antlers or Marrow Bones Good Chew Toys?

Absolutely not! Every week we see dogs with fractured teeth from chewing on hard objects. Sometimes there is just a chip in the crown without exposing the pulp canal but sometimes the pulp canal is open, the nerve is exposed and the tooth is bleeding. Owners are usually amazed when we show them the fractured tooth because the dog is still eating and not showing any outward sign of pain. Dogs hide their discomfort very well.

What Can Dogs Chew On?

We recommend hard rubber chew toys that you can hide treats in. Rope toys are good too. As with any chew toy, make sure to throw it away if your dog starts to tear pieces off of it. Rawhide chews are soft but when they start to fall apart, it is time to put them in the trash. Rawhide will eventually digest, but if a large piece is swallowed it can stay in the stomach and cause vomiting, or even move into the small intestine and cause an obstruction. 

What If My Dog Has a Broken Tooth?

Have the tooth examined by your veterinarian. If there is pulp exposure or if a dental radiograph (x-ray) shows there is evidence of disease (like a root abscess) below the gumline, then extraction or root canal are needed.  Dental radiographs can show hidden disease that is not visible when looking in the mouth. This radiograph shows a tooth that looked normal on the outside but both roots were fractured below the gumline.

Will Chewing Clean My Dog's Teeth?

Chewing on bones, rawhide or toys is not a substitute for regular tooth brushing. Brushing the teeth and gums removes plaque and stimulates circulation in the gums, reducing gingivitis. Here is a video to help get you started with brushing your pet's teeth. Most dogs love to chew and it is important to have things that are appropriate to chew on, but don't expect bones to crack the tartar away - they might just crack part of the tooth away.

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Choosing the Right Pet Food

A few weeks ago we posted about how much to feed your pet. This video from Veterinary News Network has some great information on selecting the right food for your pet. Check out the American College of Veterinary Nutrition website at www.acvn.org for additional information.

Grain Free?
There seem to be as many fad diets for pets as there are for people. Recently many clients have been telling me that they have switched to a 'grain free' diet.  There really doesn't seem to be any decent research that says grain free diets are better for dogs. Dogs are omnivores, meaning they are built to eat both meats and grains (unlike cats). Corn is rarely responsible for food allergies in dogs. The "grain free" label seems to be more marketing than science.

One Food Fits All?
I have also been hearing from clients that pet food stores are recommending 'all life stages' foods. This concerns me because we know that puppies have different nutritional needs than adult dogs and large breeds need different diets than small breeds. To suggest that there is a single dog food on the market that can meet the needs of a Chihuahua puppy and an elderly Great Dane is just not right. Again, marketing over science.

Ask Your Veterinarian About Diets
Our techs and doctors discuss diet with all our clients when they are in for their pet's physical exam. Please contact us for information if you are thinking of changing your pet's diet, especially if you want a medical opinion on that food that the pet store is recommending.  

Imported Medication

Foreign Product

A client recently dropped off two empty packages of flea and tick preventive for me to look at. One had a label from our hospital and the other had a label sticker that looked like  it was written in Arabic. The client stated that a friend had given him a phone number to call and order the product that was really cheap.  He said "Look, the ingredients are the same!"   

U.S. Product

I explained that product from foreign countries doesn't have the labeling required to be sold in this country and might not even contain the product indicated.  There are reports of  counterfeit human and pet meds with very professional looking labels imported from foreign countries.  My client had never even considered this when ordering his "cheap" frontline.

The next week a client with young children at home told me "I buy my heartworm preventive from a Canadian pharmacy that doesn't require a prescription." I explained that a prescription is required to dispense these medications.  If a company doesn't contact your veterinarian for a prescription,  it should make you wonder what they are trying to  hide.  I mention the client's young kids because the heartworm preventives that we recommend also have intestinal parasite treatments in them. This reduces the risk that the dog might bring parasites into the home that could make children sick. Is it really a good idea to order medications like these from questionable sources?

Here is an example of a foreign manufactured human arthritis supplement that actually had prescription drugs in it (but not on the label): FDA Med Watch

Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Parvovirus Outbreak in Milwaukee

Parvo Outbreak 
We are getting calls from clients who are worried about the canine parvovirus outbreak that has been reported in Milwaukee. Two shelters in Milwaukee have reported that up to 30 dogs have died from the virus in the last few weeks.  One shelter is euthanizing any strays that test positive for the virus.

What is Parvo? 
Canine parvovirus is a serious, often deadly disease of dogs that does not transmit to people.  The virus causes severe vomiting and diarrhea and is especially deadly in puppies.

Prevention!

Fortunately there is a vaccine for canine parvovirus which is part of the DHLPP vaccine, commonly called the 'Distemper' vaccine. Most puppies receive a series of three DHLPP vaccinations by the time they are 16 weeks old, then get a booster a year later.  After the 1-year booster, we recommend vaccinating every three years. The DHLPP vaccine is one of the core vaccinations that we recommend to all our canine patients.

Treatment:

Sick dogs are treated with supportive care while the virus runs its course. Intravenous fluids, antibiotics to treat secondary bacterial infections and anti-nausea medications are all used. Some dogs may require transfusions and other therapy. Infected animals must be kept in isolation since the virus is highly contagious and is spread through microscopic amounts of stool and vomit. Treatment is very time consuming and expensive. Without treatment, death rates as high as 91% have been reported. With aggressive treatment, survival rates may approach 80-95%. I remember treating several parvo pups just after I graduated from veterinary school and I will never forget the smell. We also treated a litter of puppies here in Oconomowoc several years ago. It is especially gratifying to save a pup when they have been so sick but it is also exhausting. The isolation room at Hallett Veterinary Hospital was built for these types of cases. It has special air handling and an exterior door so we can keep our other patients safe and not carry the virus through the rest of the hospital.  Even with these precautions and special procedures like gowns, gloves and disinfectants in place, I still would rather prevent the disease with vaccination than treat it.

Recovery?

Once their immune system fights off the infection and they recover, dogs typically have excellent immunity against future canine parvovirus infection.  We have not seen any cases in our hospital yet this summer.  It is important to keep puppies at home until their vaccinations are complete. Please don't take your puppy to the dog park or other places where unvaccinated dogs might have been, until after their last puppy vaccination. Remember, the virus is in stool from infected dogs so it is possible for transmission to occur even if there is no direct contact with an infected dog.  Wolves, coyotes and foxes can also transmit canine parvovirus.

How Much Should I Feed My Pet?

"How much should I feed my pet?"
I get asked that question every day and it is a hard one to answer. I'm sure that my clients are expecting an answer in the 'cups per meal' format. When I was a kid and I asked my Dad a question expecting an answer, I always cringed when he replied with a question back to me, or perhaps with the dreaded, "Let's look it up" reply. I would roll my eyes and think, "Why can't he just give me the answer?"  Usually because there was more than one right answer or because it was complicated. I try not to make my clients roll their eyes, and I usually give them a 'cups per meal' answer eventually, but it is just not easy to get there.  

Ideal Body Condition                Overweight

Body Condition Score

Before I even enter the exam room, my technician has already started by assessing the pet's body condition score and noting a target weight in the medical record. This is not done with the eyes alone. Fluffy dogs and cats often look heavy but until you put your hands on them, it can be very hard to tell if they are overweight. We feel along the spine and over the ribs on the sides of the chest to see if there is a thick layer of fat, or if the bones are palpable under the skin.  We should be able to feel the ribs and spine in a pet with an ideal body condition score. The pet should also be thinner in the abdomen than in the chest when viewed from above.  Cats are sometimes tricky to evaluate. They might look thin from the top but will often have large fat pads in the belly area. Sometimes these fat pads even drag near the ground, swinging from side to side when the cat walks.

Treats Anyone?
My technician also asks what kind of food is being fed and if treats or table food are common.  We are really concerned about total daily calorie intake, not just what is in the food bowl. Many people are shocked when they find out the number of calories in each treat.  Even with the low calorie treats we use in our office, four treats is like 1/4 cup of food! 

Mealtime
By the time I am in the exam room doing the physical exam, we are ready to talk about how much food is in the bowl at meal time. Sometimes clients tell me they just keep the bowl full all the time. How can I give them a cups per meal answer if they don't even know how many cups their pet eats in a day? Another difficulty is that when some owners say they feed one cup per meal, they are talking about a large coffee cup or other vessel that holds more than 8 ounces!  This is when I pull out the free souvenir 8-ounce measuring cup for them to take home. 

Food Choices
Next, we open our pet food notebook and  look up calories per cup for the brand of food they feed and compare that to the recommended calorie intake based on ideal body weight.  If the pet is constantly begging for food, we might recommend a lower calorie food so there can be more volume fed without increasing calorie intake. Kind of like a person eating salads and low fat foods versus eating a high fat desert for their main meal.  Some pets beg, but will take attention or exercise instead of food. Unfortunately it is easier and less time consuming to give a treat than to give exercise or attention so the pet gets the treat. This adds up over time.

Blood Tests
Sometimes we draw a blood sample from dogs and run a chemistry profile or thyroid panel to see if there might be a medical reason for weight gain. Screening labwork is almost always a good idea to check internal organ function since pets are experts at hiding illness.

Exercise
Lastly, we discuss exercise. Most people have good intentions of increasing exercise for themselves and for their pet.  I do think exercise is extremely important for both physical and mental health in people and in pets. It's just hard to walk a Labrador Retriever on a leash and get them enough exercise. Even running on a leash at our pace is too slow for many dogs. Dog parks are wonderful for getting off-leash exercise.  You can almost see the calories getting burned as they run. Exercising cats is more difficult. Remote control mice are fun and there are even laser toys that shine a dancing light on the wall for cats to chase.  Type of food can also be very important for cats since they are "obligate carnivores", meaning they must have meat. Low carb, high protein diets are very important for maintaining healthy weight in cats and can even help in treating diabetes.

So how much should you feed your pet?
The short answer is, "if your pet needs to lose weight, feed less and exercise more" and the long answer is "bear with us while we ask a few questions, examine your pet, and do some math".

Recall! (Pet Food)

Another Round of Recalls is Hitting the News
This week it was Diamond Pet Foods recalling several brands of dog and cat foods that were contaminated with Salmonella. Even though the recalled food was meant for dogs and cats, 15 people have been infected with the strain of Salmonella found in the food according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Five people have been hospitalized and human cases have been identified in 9 states and Canada between October 2011 and April 2012. No deaths have been reported.

Fortunately this is one recall that hasn't involved Wisconsin. While the political recalls in Wisconsin might be making some people sick, the pet foods manufactured by the Diamond plant in South Carolina did not ship to Wisconsin or neighboring states. Diamond makes pet food for several brands including Taste of the Wild, Canidae and Natural Balance. The brands of food affected by this recall are listed here.

Pets Might Not Act Sick
Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause diarrhea in people. Pets infected with Salmonella might not show any signs of illness, but they can shed the bacteria in their stool.  Owners in close contact with their pets or contaminated pet food can be infected. Most infected people aren't sick for very long, but infants or those who are sick from other conditions or on chemotherapy can get very sick or die.

Is Pet Food Safe?
We believe commercial pet food is generally safe and better than homemade alternatives. Some people are recommending feeding homemade or even raw diets to make sure their pet's food is safe. It is difficult, time consuming and expensive to provide a balanced homemade diet for pets. Raw food, especially raw meat, increases the risk of infection with not only Salmonella, but also other bacteria like Campylobacter and pathogenic E. coli, which can all be transmitted to people. I recommend cooking any table food that is fed to pets for the same reason that we cook our food: to kill bacteria. There is no evidence that feeding raw meat provides any better nutrition than cooked meat. One study showed that 80% of raw diets containing poultry were contaminated with Salmonella and 30% of dogs fed those diets were shedding Salmonella.  Researchers were able to culture Salmonella from pet food dishes, even after those dishes went through the dishwasher.

Testing
If we suspect a dog or cat has Salmonella because they have vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain we will collect a stool sample (poop) and submit it for fecal culture. The results are usually back in a few days and the culture tests for both Salmonella and Campylobacter. These bacterial infections are treatable with antibiotics. In the past, we have cultured Campylobacter from puppies in two households where their owners were also infected (and sick), presumably from the new puppy in the house. Of course, washing hands after handling pets and pet food is always a good idea.

How Pet Food is Manufactured

Anesthetic Safety in Pets

The naming of cats is a difficult matter.
It isn’t just one of your holiday games.
You may think at first I’m mad as a hatter.
When I tell you a cat must have three different names… – T.S. Eliot

My first cat had three first names but that probably had more to do with an attempt at avoiding sibling conflict. I don't remember very well since I was only 3 years old at the time. My brother was five.  I do remember that our cat's name was Terry Abigail Mopa Hallett and that my brother and I didn't always get along.  (The photo at the right shows my brother, me and our cat Terry.)

My parents were thrilled to teach us the facts of life when Terry Abigail Mopa had kittens. My preschool teacher was shocked when my mom told her that my brother and I would watch the birthing process. She remarked that she had never seen a cat have kittens so mom promptly invited her over to see it all.  I remember telling my teacher exactly what was going to happen since my nurse-mother had been getting me ready for days.

My first memory of a veterinarian was when Terry was spayed later that year, 1969. My parents brought her home to our rural Rhode Island home and we watched her slowly die that night after the surgery.  Maybe that is why I take  anesthesia and surgery so seriously now.

We do complete physical exams prior to surgery and require pre-anesthetic blood tests in older or high risk patients (and recommend it for all patients). We complete a pre-anesthesia checklist inspired by book 'The Checklist Manifesto' by Atul Gawande. We use IV catheters and fluids and monitor blood pressure, pulse ox, co2, ECG and body temperature. We have trained assistants and certified veterinary technicians that handle the monitoring so the surgeon can focus on the surgery. Our techs call owners at home at 8pm to check on the patients that we sent home earlier that day.

Some clients worry about anesthetic risk. I tell them that there is always risk with anesthesia but that we do all we can to minimize that risk, to identify problems early and to intervene before there is a crisis.  It's just the right thing to do. If you cut corners, sooner or later it will cost a patient their life and then some parents will have explain to their young son why their cat with three names died.

Click here to see behind the scenes anesthesia and monitoring at Hallett Veterinary Hospital.

Canine Influenza Returns? Should We Vaccinate?

Recent reports of a canine influenza outbreak in Texas got me thinking about our vaccine protocol.   Last week's outbreak was in a dog track Southeast of Houston and has sickened nearly 100 dogs with six deaths.  Most reports of other infected dogs over the last year seem to be in Texas, Florida, New York, Colorado and Southern California. The Canine Influenza virus is out there but is not "sweeping the country".

When initial reports of Canine Influenza surfaced in 2004 we were worried.  When a vaccine became available in 2009 we started vaccinating dogs that we felt were at risk. Because of the low incidence of Canine Influenza in Wisconsin, we no longer offer the vaccine. That could Change if new outbreaks occur locally.

Just to be clear, Canine Influenza is a dog virus and does not transmit to people. The reason we were so concerned is that very high mortality was reported in some of the initial outbreaks at dog racetracks.  Sick dogs were bleeding in their lungs (hemorrhagic pneumonia) and many died.  Now we know the bleeding was caused by a secondary bacterial infection with streptococcal bacteria, possibly related to the raw horse meat that many racing Greyhounds were fed.

Symptoms include coughing, vomiting, fever, not eating and lethargy.  These symptoms are the same as most of the other viruses that cause what some call  "contagious canine cough complex".  These viruses are transmitted by close contact with infected dogs. Day care, dog parks, boarding kennels, grooming facilities - anywhere there is nose to nose contact between dogs. If you want your dog to be a dog, these situations are unavoidable.

I do recommend vaccinating with the Bordetella/Parainfluenza (kennel cough) vaccine if your dog is at risk (dog park, day care, etc). Bordetella/Parainfluenza is much more common in Wisconsin than Canine Influenza.

So, what do I do when a coughing dog comes to see me? After a complete physical exam I will typically:

• Offer a PCR test that checks for several of the viral causes of "contagious canine cough complex". 
• If the heart or lungs sound abnormal, offer a chest radiograph (X-ray) to look for pneumonia or heart disease.
• Prescribe a cough suppressant (for comfort) if no pneumonia.
• Prescribe antibiotics if there are signs of secondary bacterial infection. 
• Keep the coughing dog away from other dogs!

Antibiotics are not always the answer since most of these cases are caused by viruses and antibiotics treat bacteria. Usually we need to make the dog comfortable by suppressing the cough and let the body's immune system deal with fighting the virus.

We will continue to monitor Canine Influenza outbreaks around the country and it is possible that we could start recommending Canine Influenza Vaccine at some point in the future, but right now it just doesn't seem to be necessary for the majority of our patients. Let us know if you will be taking your dog to visit a racetrack in Texas and we will discuss vaccination for Canine Influenza and Kennel Cough!

Here is a great link for more info about Canine Influenza Virus
http://www.avma.org/public_health/influenza/canine_bgnd.asp

Ticks, Ticks, and More Ticks This Year

Ticks, Ticks, and More Ticks This Year

The mild winter will set the stage for an abundant tick population this spring, summer and fall.  We saw ticks on dogs in January this year. I have not seen that in my 22 years of veterinary practice!  We usually see a few ticks on dogs in early March if there is a warm spell, then the ticks really come out in April. Unfortunately, this mild winter comes after a big year for ticks in 2011.

I ran on the trails near my house Sunday and came home with two ticks! Finding a tick walking on your arm is disgusting, but what is really scary is that they can transmit Lyme disease and other  bacterial diseases like Anaplasmosis and Babesiosis as well. I didn't find any ticks on my dog, Birkie, but he is a black lab with lots of hair so they would be easy to miss. Birkie is vaccinated for Lyme Disease but Lyme vaccine for dogs is not 100% effective and it has no effect in preventing other tick-borne diseases. Lyme vaccine should not be used as a substitute for tick prevention.

Tick-borne bacterial diseases can cause arthritis, joint inflammation, kidney failure, anemia and bleeding problems and even cardiac problems.  Many dogs respond well to treatment with antibiotics but some cases do not respond to antibiotics.  There is also a debate over whether or not antibiotics completely get rid of the bacteria from an infected dog.  Tick prevention is critical!

There are several tick repellents and tick killers for dogs on the market. They are not all the same and some are very toxic to cats, even if the product was placed on the dog that the cat cuddles with.  Ask your veterinarian which products are right for your pets. Never use a product labeled for "dogs only" on a cat. Sometimes the warning is in very small print on the package.

Some tick products repel ticks, others kill them. Some wash off the dog if they get wet and others do not. For high risk dogs (hunting and trail running dogs) I recommend a product that does not wash off (like Frontline monthly) in addition to a pyrethrin spray used at trailside before heading into the woods. 

For more information on ticks and tick-borne disease, check out this CDC website: http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/diseases/index.html

Is the Cat a "Second Class" Pet?

Poet Jean Burden once said that a cat “is still only a whisker away  from the wilds” and for many cat enthusiasts, this is the exact reason  they love their self-sufficient felines. But for all of our professed  affection for these animals, our cats aren’t seen by veterinarians  nearly as often as our dogs.  Is it because we value dogs more or are there other reasons for this inequity?


Nationwide, cats are 30% less likely to visit a veterinarian than dogs.  We  see that in Oconomowoc as well. Many cat owners dont see the need to vaccinate indoor cats.   Some owners are afraid that we might find something untreatable or expensive to treat and would rather not know that their cat is sick.  Others dread putting their cat in a carrier and listening to the meowing on the car ride or they think their cat will be stressed if they see a dog in the waiting room.

During my first year of veterinary school, one of my professors led a seminar discussion challenging the notion that cats need annual vaccinations. Another professor argued that the vaccine reminder got people to bring their cats in for the more important annual exam. Eight years ago Hallett Veterinary Hospital was one of the few practices in the area to recognize the research and adopt the notion of vaccinating for feline distemper every three years. Clearly this has been the correct medical decision as this is now considered the standard of care. But are our patients healthier because of that policy? Only if we can convince cat owners of the value of the physical exam, even if no vaccine is given during the visit.  Don't get me started on the value of the annual rabies vaccine in preventing rabies if your house cat finds a bat indoors or in preventing a huge hassle with the health department of your cat bites someone.

I believe that an annual (or semi-annual exam for older cats) is essential for keeping cats healthy. When we do examine cats, many times we find problems that could have been prevented or treated in earlier stages, resulting in better quality of life. Cats are experts at hiding their illnesses so many owners are not aware that their cat has been living with kidney failure or broken teeth or other treatable problems for months or years.

Our doctors perform a complete physical exam on all patients, working slowly and gently. Sometimes labwork is recommended to check internal organ function. A simple urinalysis, for example, can diagnose diabetes and give us important information about kidney function. Many people ask, "what if my cat is having kidney problems, can we do anything about it?" Actually, the earlier it is diagnosed, the easier it is to manage with special diets and sometimes medication to slow the progression of the kidney failure.  Diabetic cats that are diagnosed early are more likely to go into remission where they can be managed with diet alone without needing lifelong insulin injections.

Sometimes we find holes in teeth or broken teeth and the owners had no idea there was a problem. After the problem teeth are removed, many owners comment to me that their cat is more active and playful. They just hadn't noticed the gradual decline that was caused by dental pain.

So, if we agree in the value of the physical exam (and possibly screening lab tests), how can we make it less stressful for the feline patient? Try leaving the carrier or crate out in a room or area where your cat likes to hang out.  If the cat only sees the carrier when they go on a car ride, they just might run the other direction next time that carrier appears. Spray some Feliway (calming pheremone) in the carrier ahead of time to make them feel more relaxed. You could even try putting some cat food or treats in the carrier periodically. When you arrive at our office, the receptionist will take you directly into our "cats only" exam room where you can open the carrier and let your cat come out and explore when they are ready. There is even a windowsill where they can sit and watch the birds in the rosebush outside. We leave a Feliway diffuser plugged in 24/7 in the cat room. One of our techs will weigh your cat on a tabletop scale right in the exam room. Subtle changes in body weight might not be noticeable to the eye but can indicate medical problems.

Experts believe that cats and humans have interacted with each other for  more than 10,000 years.  From their humble beginnings chasing rodents  away from our food, cats have vaulted into our homes and hearts.

Cats are definitely NOT second class pets, they are family members! Let's work together to keep them healthy and comfortable.

Toxic Chewing Gum? One stick could kill your dog!

This reminds me of a joke my father used to tell. "Did you hear about the poisonous rock? One drop can kill you!" And then he would laugh really hard, forgetting that we had already heard the joke about a million times before.

Sugarless gum making dogs sick is no joke though.

A couple of years ago I came home from a wonderful vacation with Heidi and the boys and immediately went to pick up our Labrador Retriever from our friends' house.  As always, Birkie greeted me with exuberant unconditional love, even though I didn't take him with us on our trip.  He loves staying with Jeff and Vicki and their Golden Retriever, Deuce, but he is always happy to get home and sleep.

As Vicki handed me his toys and food, she said "Birkie was pretty good this time. The only thing he ate was some gum that was in the car this afternoon."  I laughed, pleased that he didn't destroy anything important or eat anything that might get stuck in his stomach. I have had to remove things from his stomach twice with the endoscope. "That wasn't sugarless gum was it?" I asked. "Yes, it was." Vicki replied. She retrieved what was left of the wrapper and estimated that there were three or four sticks that Birkie might have eaten. I tried not to look alarmed but I could see the worried look that Vicki gave me as I drove away.

Sugarless gum can contain an artificial sweetener called xylitol.  Xylitol triggers insulin release in dogs which causes their blood sugar to drop, sometimes to dangerously low levels. It can also cause liver damage in some dogs. Xylitol does not have these effects on people.

At home I looked up the brand of gum and found that the manufacturer doesn't list how much xylitol is in each stick. Further research indicated that the amount of xylitol in a single stick of gum can vary from 0.9 mg to 1,000 mg depending on the brand or even the flavor of the gum. Toxicity depends on the weight of the dog and how many milligrams of xylitol were ingested.  Some quick calculations told me that Birkie could possibly get sick from the gum later that night.

This meant yet another after-hours trip to our animal hospital for Birkie. First, I checked his blood sugar and it was normal. Next I gave him some medicine to make him vomit. Nothing in the vomit looked like gum. His blood liver tests were normal.  At this point he was looking at me like he wanted to take back that nice greeting he gave me earlier. He loves visiting our hospital but he is certain that nothing good is going to happen when I make him hold still. Fortunately, everything checked out ok so we headed back home to unpack the suitcases.  The next day his liver tests were still normal so there must not have been much xylitol in the gum that he ate.

If Birkie's blood sugar had been low, we would have placed an IV catheter and given him fluids with dextrose (a type of sugar) added. Left untreated, low blood sugar can cause loss of consciousness, seizures and even death.  The symptoms could be delayed several hours after eating the gum or even a day or two later if there is liver damage.

Everyone knows that chocolate is not good for dogs an most people have heard that grapes and raisins can occasionally be bad for their dog. One problem with sugarless gum is that most dog owners are not aware that it can be toxic.  Another problem is that some gum manufacturers consider the amount of xylitol in their gum to be proprietary information and they don't publish it. This makes our job as veterinarians more difficult and causes unnecessary anxiety in dog owners when gum has been ingested.

Later that evening I called Jeff and Vicki to tell them about the sugarless gum and that Birkie was just fine.

Toxic Treats or Internet Hype?

Earlier this week one of my clients brought an article that said the brand of jerky treats she had been feeding were making pets sick. Her  dog seemed lethargic and was vomiting intermittently so she was a little scared. My technician, Kelly, searched the FDA website for recalls and didn't find any listed for that brand of treat. My physical exam was normal and there hadn't been any weight loss. No increase in thirst or urination either. We ran a chemistry profile just to be sure everything looked good on the inside (he was due for some screening labwork anyway). All tests were normal. She will stop feeding the treats and save the package in case more information becomes available in the future. She thought her dog might just be tired from a big weekend and the vomiting could be caused by eating leaves but she was worried after reading the article. I treated with some anti-nausea medication and she is fine today.

Later, I started digging for more information. Is it all hype, or is there a new round of contaminated pet food lurking in the near future?
 
I found that there are reports of pets getting sick after eating treats made with chicken from China. The FDA has been investigating for several years but has not found any toxin or bacteria responsible. According to msnbc.com and Foodsafetysummit.com, treats being investigated include Waggin' Train or Canyon Creek Ranch jerky treats or tenders, both produced by Nestle Purina PetCare Co., and Milo’s Kitchen Home-style Dog Treats, produced by the Del Monte Corp. 

This brings back memories of the 2007 recall of many pet foods contaminated with melamine, a chemical added to protein supplements by Chinese producers. The melamine contaminated food caused illness and even death in many pets in the U.S., including a few of our patients. I think I read that two executives in China were executed for their roles in that mess. The contaminated protein supplement had even been used in baby formula sold to developing countries. 

Is there truly a link between the sick pets and the jerky treats, or are people just overly suspicious of pet food products imported from China? Coincidence or truly a cause and effect relationship? Nobody knows yet. Since no definitive toxin has been found with the jerky treats, there have not been any product recalls.  For now, the best action for pet owners seems to be to avoid treats made with chicken imported from China.  This can be difficult unless you read the extremely fine print on the packaging. Many products will have "made in U.S.A." on the label but they actually list the chicken as being imported from China. 

How can this be? It is either made in this country or not. Well, the labeling rules say that  if the product is substantially altered in a country, then it is a product of that country.  So, Chinese people favor dark chicken meat, therefore white meat is very cheap and is sold to U.S. manufacturers for use in pet treats.  Those U.S. companies process the chicken into jerky treats and put the U.S. label on. Apparently, they still list China as the country of origin of the chicken, just in very small print. 

If you have been feeding one of there products listed and you are concerned, what should you do? Stop feeding them, save the product packaging and freeze the remaining product (just in case).  If your pet is not losing weight, vomiting, having diarrhea or drinking excessively, then there is probably nothing to worry about. If you are still concerned, come in for an exam and chemistry panel. We will check for elevated liver enzymes or elevated kidney tests since the reports have shown liver or kidney damage in affected pets. If everything checks out ok, then we have baseline lab results to compare to in the future. Screening lab-work is very helpful in assessing internal organ function even if you aren't worried about toxin exposure. 

If more information becomes available, we will continue to post recall notices and links on the Hallett Veterinary Facebook page and at hallettvet.com.

For more information:
food safety summit
Msnbc

Pets Returning Home After Tornado

Here is a great story about pets returning to owners after the Indiana tornado last week. A shelter is housing pets while owners get their own housing figured out. This is an excellent reason to microchip your pets, even if they don't leave the house!

Check out our disaster preparedness page at hallettvet.com!