August is National Immunization Awareness Month!  And, just like us, it is important for our pets to stay up to date with their immunizations!

 by Michelle B. 

You receive a reminder from your veterinary clinic letting you know your pet is due for vaccinations.  You love your pet and want to keep him healthy, but you may wonder how necessary these vaccinations really are.  Does my indoor cat really need a rabies vaccine?  My dog doesn't go any further than my backyard, does he really need a distemper vaccine?  The answer is yes, our pets should have certain vaccinations, along with a yearly exam.  Rabies and distemper are considered core vaccinations for both dogs and cats and need to be updated on a regular basis. 

Rabies is a fatal disease in humans and in animals that is easily prevented with a vaccination.  It is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system.  The virus is transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, usually through a bite, but can also be transmitted through a scratch or if saliva from an infected animal comes into contact with broken skin.  Any mammal is a potential carrier, although here in Wisconsin, skunks and bats are the most likely carriers.  The Rabies vaccination is recommended for both dogs and cats.  Many people ask, “Why do I need to vaccinate my indoor animal?”  First, it is the law in most communities and is required in order to get a dog or cat license.  Second, unexpected things do happen.  A bat may get into your home and expose your indoor cat or dog.  While, it may seem unlikely, the consequences can be severe and fatal.  One of our clients found a bat in their home that turned out to be positive for rabies! Here at Hallett Veterinary Hospital, we recommend a Rabies vaccination every 3 years for dogs, after the first year, and every year for cats.

The canine distemper vaccine, which you will commonly see abbreviated as DHPP or DHLPP, protects against more than just the distemper virus (D).  It also protects against canine hepatitis (H), canine parvovirus (P), and parainfluenza (P), along with leptospirosis (L) in many cases. 

• Canine distemper attacks the respiratory, digestive and nervous system of dogs and is very serious and can be fatal in approximately 50% of untreated dogs.  Wild raccoons can carry and spread the canine distemper virus.

• The canine hepatitis portion of the vaccine protects against both canine adenovirus-1 and adenovirus-2, which affect the liver and respiratory systems.  Canine hepatitis is almost always fatal and acts quickly, causing a lot of pain. 

• Parvovirus is highly contagious and has a death rate of nearly 90% in untreated dogs.  It causes debilitating diarrhea, vomiting and fever.

• Parainfluenza is a respiratory virus that can affect dogs.

•  Leptospirosis is a potentially fatal bacterial disease that infects the liver and kidneys and can cause kidney failure.  It is transmitted through contaminated soil, water and the urine of infected animals and can be transmitted to humans.  In fact, we have treated several dogs for leptospirosis this year.

Here in Wisconsin, we recommend boosting the leptospirosis vaccination yearly, due to increased exposure risk, as leptospirosis is prevalent in our area.  The canine distemper vaccine is initially given as a series of three vaccinations every four weeks to puppies and unvaccinated dogs, boosted at 1 year of age and then every three years. 

The feline distemper vaccine, which is commonly abbreviated as FVRCP, also protects against a number of diseases.  These include feline rhinotracheitis virus (FVR), calicivirus (C) and panleukopenia (P).  Feline rhinotracheitis is a respiratory disease that can result in chronic, often life long, infection and sometimes eye disease.  Calicivirus is also a respiratory disease that can cause mouth sores and oral pain.  Panleukopenia is a severe and highly infectious disease that affects the gastrointestinal tract, immune system and nervous system.   It causes a decrease in white blood cells and can be fatal.  All three of these diseases can be found in the environment and can spread through contact with infected cats.  The feline distemper vaccine is initially given as a series of three vaccinations every four weeks to kittens and unvaccinated cats, boosted at 1 year of age and then every three years.

There are several other vaccinations available for both dogs and cats that are not considered core vaccinations and should be given based upon the pet's environment and exposure risk.  These include bordetella or kennel cough and Lyme disease for dogs and feline leukemia for cats.  Your veterinarian will gladly help you determine if these vaccinations are necessary for your pet's health and protection. 

So, when you receive that reminder for your pet's vaccinations, just remember that these vaccinations protect your pet against serious and potentially fatal diseases.  They help to protect the members of your family as well, as some of these diseases can be transmitted to humans.  If you have further questions about your pet's vaccines, be sure to contact Hallett Veterinary Hospital.  Any member of our staff can help explain the importance of these vaccines and help you decide when and if your pet should be vaccinated.  

Michelle B. is a receptionist at Hallett Veterinary Hospital.

...More Information on Canine Influenza

Yesterday (4/13/15) we received an email from the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Lab stating that the current outbreak of Canine Influenze is from a new strain of the virus that has not been seen in the U.S. previously. Here are our current recommendations regarding Canine Influenza Virus:

• Avoid dog parks or other areas where dogs congregate - for now. 
• Don't travel with your dog - especially to the Chicago area - for now.
• If you must travel with your dog or if there is no way to avoid having your dog contact other dogs, consider vaccinating for Canine Influenza.
• Wash your hands and change clothing if you are in contact with other dogs before coming home to your dogs. 

Please note that the current vaccine will not protect against this new strain (H3N2) but it will protect against the old strain (H3N8) of Canine Influenza that is still out there. There does not seem to be any cross-protection between strains of the virus. 

If you dog is coughing, has a runny nose or fever, call your veterinarian. Testing must be done within the two days of symptoms. 

Here are some additional links for more information:

Cornell University

AVMA

CDC

We will continue posting updates as we get new information.

Update June 2015: The canine influenza outbreak in the Chicago area seemed to burn itself out with time. Occasional cases may continue to pop up around the country but there is still no vaccine for this strain and it doesn't seem to be widespread at this time. We don't recommend avoiding dog parks, travel etc. at this time. 

Canine Influenza Update

Canine Influenza is easily transmitted between dogs

Canine Influenza has returned. This time in the Chicago area. I received an email today with some of the details. One report indicates that there may be 1,000 sick dogs and 5 deaths. My first thought was "quick, we need to order some Canine Influenza vaccine and start vaccinating dogs again". Of course, that email was from a vaccine sales rep. So as usual, I checked in with veterinary infectious disease specialists and reviewed notes on the virus again.

Here's what we know:

• Canine Influenza is highly contagious but most dogs have mild symptoms and recover quickly.

• Some dogs will get severely ill and a few will die.

• Virus transmission can occur after close contact with an infected dog or even from contact with toys or surfaces that contact an infected dog.

• Vaccines are available - dogs are considered protected about four weeks after the first injection (it is a 2 shot series, three weeks apart).

• This is an outbreak, not an epidemic. Most outbreaks with this virus die out after a few weeks.

• Canine Influenza does not transmit from dogs to people or from dogs to other species.

• Coughing dogs should be tested for Canine Influenza but the tests take 3-5 days to show results.

• As with most viruses, treatment involves providing supportive care early on and waiting for the body to fight off the virus. Antibiotics do not help unless there is a secondary bacterial infection.

So...
In Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, we are not recommending mass vaccination of dogs at this time. If your dog has been to a daycare or boarding facility or dog park in the Chicago area AND is coughing, see your veterinarian now. If you take your dog to dog parks, stay current on kennel cough vaccine since that is much more common than Canine Influenza.  If you are at a dog park and there is a coughing dog, leave.

We will continue to monitor the Chicago outbreak and notify our clients if the situation changes. I'm glad to know that the vaccine is available in the event that the outbreak spreads closer our area.

Is Beneful REALLY Harming My Pet???

by Kelly N. CVT

By now, most major news sources have run the story about a massive lawsuit filed by an individual in northern California that claims Purina Beneful has caused the death of one of his dogs and severe illness in his other two dogs.  There are now several thousand complaints against Beneful and the harm it is causing pets. 

Take a deep breath.
Like many pet food recalls, this lawsuit story is getting hugely blown out of proportion.  Let’s look at this label from a bag of Beneful:

As I understand it, the lawsuit suggests that propylene glycol is the ingredient causing internal bleeding, liver failure, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and kidney failure.  The problem here is that PROPYLENE glycol sounds very similar to ETHYLENE glycol.  Ethylene glycol is antifreeze, a substance that is very toxic when ingested.  Propylene glycol, on the other hand, is not antifreeze.  In fact, anyone reading this blog has most likely ingested propylene glycol today.

How can this be?  

Propylene glycol is a PRESERVATIVE that is in many food products and medications.

According to the FDA, propylene glycol, as a food additive, is metabolized well in the body and is used as a normal carbohydate.  The FDA recognizes propylene glycol as an additive that is “safe” for use in food.  Long-term use and substantial quantities can be consumed without causing toxicity.

There is one ingredient on that list that concerns me. 

Look at what is listed just BEFORE propylene glycol.  SUGAR.  I don't believe sugar has any business being in dog food.  Dogs don’t need it.  Sure, the food tastes great and dogs will readily eat it; too much of it, actually.  Many of the dogs that I see eating Beneful are overweight.  Being overweight has more health risks than the so-called “killer food additive”.

We love our pets and want to do the best we can for them.  Nutrition for our furry friends has become a hot topic recently. Last month I attended the Western Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas and spent hours attending pet nutrition lectures presented by board certified veterinary nutritionists.  If you ever have questions or concerns about what you’re feeding your pet, please contact me.

"Mind Controlling Parasite", Really? CNN and Fox Promote Panic in Cat Owners!

by Whitney M. 

My cat, "Biggs", attempting to use
mind control to get my husband to
do the laundry 

I recently received a panicked text from my husband after he read an article on Facebook put out by Fox6Now.com and originally CNN Wire Service  titled “Mind-controlling’ parasite that lives on cats may have infected 60 million people”.  After reading this article he was genuinely concerned about our mental health, seeing as we have three cats.  The reporter wrote about a “mind controlling parasite that can’t live without a cat, how it manipulates personality – and possibly suicide numbers.”

The article states that the parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, “has been shown to cause personality changes, correlating with mental health diseases like schizophrenia, autism and Alzheimer’s disease.” While the links between Toxoplasmosis and mental health disease are still being researched, I believe this article is inflammatory, misleading, and detrimental to cats.  While it’s true that cats can be a source of Toxoplasma infection, people are more likely to be infected by eating undercooked contaminated meat or gardening. 

Here is what we do know about Toxoplasmosis according to the Centers for Disease Control:

• Cats become infected by eating other infected animals, such as rodents and birds.
• Oocysts are shed in the stools for up to three weeks after infection which can then contaminate the litterbox of indoor cats.  Soil and water can also be a source of contamination for outdoor cats.
• Usually a cat will only shed oocysts after the first infection of Toxoplasma; a cat that has already had an infection will not continue to shed unless it is immunocompromised.
• It takes 24-48 hours for oocysts outside of the cat to grow into a form where they are infective to people.  This means that scooping your cats’ poop every day is a great way of reducing risk of infection.
• Cats themselves are not a source for oocysts; their feces are. 
• The CDC estimates that more than 60 million people may have been infected with the parasite, but of those, very few become sick.  A healthy immune system usually prevents the parasite from causing illness.

Basically you have little to worry about.  Though your cat may think he controls your mind, there is absolutely no scientific research that supports that he will do it through a mind-controlling, suicide-inducing parasite.  The best way to prevent Toxoplasma infection via felines is by cleaning the litterbox every day (hint hint, Husband of mine…), washing your hands, and wearing gloves while gardening.  If you have any questions or feel like your cat is getting inside your head, please feel free to call our office or check our website and search toxoplasma in our pet medical library.

Rabies Kills More People Than Ebola

by Michael Fagan, DVM

To follow up on our last blog, which discussed Ebola in dogs, we'll talk about another disease with an even higher mortality rate (virtually 100%), kills 5 times as many people every year (over 50,000)  than Ebola has in the past decade, and exists right here in the US.  Why hasn't this been in the news?

It's rabies.  And it's preventable.  Fortunately, here in the US and much of the developed world, cases of human rabies have been dramatically reduced, thanks to widespread vaccination of dogs, cats, and horses, as well as control of feral dog populations.  Our risk of rabies in the US is primarily from wildlife, especially bats. 

from: Centers for Disease Control

In 2010, about 6000 animals tested positive for rabies in the US, including approximately 2200 raccoons, 1400 skunks, 1400 bats, 400 foxes, 300 cats, 70 each of cattle and dogs.  

from: Centers for Disease Control

The 1400 bats represents about 1 in 6 that are submitted for testing.  All but four states had rabies positive bats.  Wisconsin had 27 bats that tested positive (we had a rabies-positive bat brought to Hallett Veterinary Hospital last month), as well as one skunk and one fatal human rabies case, which was transmitted by a bat. 

The third world, however, is a different story from the US. 
Tens of thousands of people die from rabies every year in Africa, India, and Southeast Asia.  Almost half of those are children.  Their exposure comes mainly from dogs, often stray or feral.  In South America, vampire bats are a common source of exposure.

Every year, more than 15 million people worldwide receive a post-exposure vaccination to prevent rabies.  The cost of treating a person bitten by a rabid animal in the third world is about $400, which is more than an entire year's income for most of the population.    Vaccination after exposure greatly reduces the chances of developing rabies infection, which likely prevents hundreds of thousands of deaths per year.

The cost to vaccinate dogs in these countries would be 10% of the cost to treat people who have been exposed.   Click here for more information on how you can help, and here for informational videos.

Ebola and Dogs?

Can Dogs Transmit Ebola Virus?

by John Hallett, DVM

According to the CDC, "There are no reports of dogs or cats becoming sick with Ebola or of being able to spread Ebola to people or other animals," even in Africa. But then again, the CDC also downplayed the risk to medical workers in this country because our health system is so much better than in Africa.

So why is a dog in Texas under quarantine?
It appears that they just want to be sure. If you are paying attention to the media recently, you know that Ebola is transmitted by direct contact with body fluids from a person sick with Ebola or from contact with a bat or monkey that is carrying the virus. In Spain an Ebola patient's dog was euthanized, which sounds a little extreme considering what is known about the virus. I'm glad that pets of Ebola patients are not being euthanized in this country. I suppose if a dog stepped in or rolled in bodily fluids from an infected person and then rubbed that stuff on another person, they could be implicated in transferring the virus but an object like a chair could do almost the same thing. The important thing is that so far, dogs have not developed disease after being exposed to the Ebola virus. 

The CDC info that is being distributed to veterinarians says "There is limited evidence that dogs become infected with Ebola virus." So I checked around a little more. In 2005 a study in Africa showed that dogs can develop antibodies against Ebola but no virus was found in those dogs (antibodies are produced by an animal to fight a disease). This suggests that dogs can develop an immune response (antibodies) if they are exposed, but the immune response is apparently effective at keeping the virus from staying alive in dogs. It is possible that dogs could develop antibodies to Ebola without ever being infected (by just being exposed to the virus) but it doesn't look like much research has been done on dogs. I'm sure someone will write a paper on the Texas dog. 

I suspect that someone will suggest that I shouldn't even be concerned about Ebola and that the media is promoting panic about Ebola while ignoring other things that kill many more people. For example, 51,000 people die of Rabies in India and Asia every year and in Baoshan, China, 5,000 dogs were killed because 5 people died from Rabies in July and August. That doesn't mean we should panic - about Rabies, or about Ebola, but we should learn all we can about new diseases to be prepared for things that are going to become more common.