Posts in Category: Dogs

Some families cannot accommodate pets, but that doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy the benefits of connecting with animals, writes veterinarian Ann Hohenhaus. In this article, Dr. Hohenhaus outlines numerous ways children can get hands-on, repeated interaction with animals. Some of the activities such as helping out at animal shelters will benefit the community as well. WebMD/Tales from the Pet Clinic blog

Recently, the news has featured many stories about TomKat. No, not a story about a feline, but the ongoing saga of Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise. One story that caught my eye involved their daughter Suri having a tantrum in a pet store because her mother would not buy her a Morkie, a dog she wanted.

In every family without a pet, there is at least one child begging for one. But for health reasons, travel, or time in the daily schedule, a pet does not always fit into the family’s lifestyle. There are, however, other ways, even without owning a pet of your own, that you can bring animals into your family’s life. Here are my top ten tips to add the fun and adventure of animals to your family without actually owning a pet:

1. Attend the local animal show. The owners of dogs, cats, birds and reptiles love to show off their pets and talk to children about responsible pet ownership. In New York City we have the annual Meet the Breeds dog and cat show, but there are smaller local shows as well.

2. Volunteer to walk dogs at your local shelter or to help socialize the cats residing there.

3. Be a foster pet family. My local rescue group is always looking for host families for cats in need. I wrote about my experiences with my foster cat family last spring.

4. Head to your local library and check out some books on pet care. For the toddler set, try the series about “Sally,” a black Labrador retriever who visits the veterinarian, or for a comprehensive pet care overview, try the Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health.

5. Participate in your library’s reading program featuring certified therapy dogs to promote reading skills in children. Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) has local programs nationwide. Therapy Dogs International sponsors “Tail Wagging Tutors.” What could be better than helping your dog-loving child read better?

6. Volunteer to pet sit for a neighbor while they      are on vacation.

7. Become a member of your local zoo. Many zoos have      an area where children can pet the animals. In the New York metropolitan      area the Wildlife Conservation Society,      which includes the Bronx Zoo, the Queens Zoo, the Central Park Zoo, Prospect      Park Zoo and the New York Aquarium, has hands-on programs for various age      groups, as well as educational exhibits and free demonstrations daily.      Some zoos even have sleepovers!

8. If your child is an electronic wizard, there are      a variety of electronic games related to pet care. Games are available for      multiple game platforms and on the Internet. Try Hamsterz, Dr. Daisy Pet      Vet, Paws & Claws, Pet Vet, or Webkinz.

9. Research      the high schools in your district to see if they have a specialized      program related to animals, such as the Chicago      High School for Agricultural Sciences, or the Kansas State University co-sponsored high school      program in Olathe, KS.

10. Volunteer at a pet outreach program at your local      hospital, Ronald McDonald House, or senior citizens home. The program      coordinator will know of a pet volunteer that you can “borrow” for the      visits.

If your child is like Suri Cruise and wants an animal, but your inner Katie Holmes tells you a full-time pet is not right for your family, offer your pet-loving child one of these opportunities until the time is right for your family to love a pet of its very own.

Posted by: Ann Hohenhaus, DVM at 6:17 am

An outbreak of salmonella poisoning linked to contaminated dry dog food has sickened 47 people in 20 U.S. states and two people in Canada, government health officials said late Wednesday.

The outbreak of rare salmonella Infantis that began in early April appears to be over, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among 24 patients with available information, 10 were hospitalized. No deaths were reported.

The illnesses were linked to dry dog food produced by Diamond Pet Food Processors at a single production plant in Gaston, S.C. The contamination was detected during routine surveillance by Michigan health officials.

CDC investigators later took evidence of the rare salmonella Infantis strain — which is typically reported three or fewer times per month — and then checked for human cases that matched the genetic fingerprint of the bacteria.

Diamond Pet Foods issued the first of several recalls of pet food on April 6. The recall included Costco Wholesale Corp.’s Kirkland Signature brands of dog and cat food. The pet food was distributed in dozens of U.S. states, mostly in the east and south, several Canadian provinces and Puerto Rico. For details, click here.

Victims could have become ill after handling the contaminated dry food or after contact with animals that had eaten the food. Anyone who became sick after contact with brands produced by Diamond Pet Food should consult a health care provider. Pet owners should wash their hands with soap and warm water after contact with animals or their food.

Illnesses included one each in Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Texas; two each in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, South Carolina and Virginia; three each in California, Missouri and Ohio and Pennsylvania; four in Illinois and five each in New York and North Carolina. Two people in Canada also became ill.

Consumers should check their homes for recalled pet food and discard them.

From the Miami Herald

By JEFF KAHLER, D.V.M.

McClatchy Newspapers

From University of Wisconsin, Madison

Photo by Douglas DeBoer

A study reported today at the World Congress of Veterinary Dermatology in Vancouver, British Columbia, shows that placing  allergy drops under a dog’s tongue can be as effective as allergy injections for controlling skin allergies.In dogs, allergies to house dust, pollen, and mold cause atopic dermatitis, an itchy skin inflammation. Dogs, like people, can be desensitized through “immunotherapy” using shots or drops that deliver small doses of the allergen to “train” the immune system to tolerate foreign proteins.Both technologies are now about a century old, but for humans and animals, allergy shots are more commonly used.Chief author of the new study, Douglas DeBoer, a professor of dermatology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, sees several benefits emerging from the new study, which treated skin allergies in 217 dogs using allergy drops.About 60 percent of the dogs improved significantly, DeBoer says. The drops were placed under the tongue twice a day, while allergy shots are injected every 14 days or so. Both drops and shots must be performed under a veterinarian’s supervision, and their cost is comparable.Because the drops apparently act through a different mechanism than allergy shots, they even helped dogs who had “failed” allergy shots, DeBoer says.

Dogs, like people, can rarely suffer a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction to allergy shots, resulting in collapse and shock.  However, even those dogs treated in the study that had previously had such a dangerous reaction to an allergy shot did not have it with the under-the-tongue method. “Drops appear to be safer than shots in this respect,” says DeBoer.DeBoer was not always so enthusiastic about allergy drops for dogs, says Mary Morris, M.D., of Allergy Associates of La Crosse. In about 1967, her father, Dr. David Morris, started using allergy drops with increasing effect on his allergy patients. Some were farmers with severe mold allergies who suffered aching arms and swelling from allergy shots or could not find the time to visit the clinic for regular shots.In 2006, Morris says, a clinic employee asked her to try allergy drops on a “poor little golden retriever that was losing most of its coat, scratching uncontrollably. Based on the human protocol we use at the clinic, I made my best guess at the formula for treating a dog, and it worked really well.”Intrigued with the idea of a rigorous study for the treatment on dogs, she searched for an expert in canine skin allergies and DeBoer’s name was at the top of the list.  He seemed a natural fit — a world expert in the area who worked at University of Wisconsin-Madison, where both she and her father had gone to medical school.Unfortunately, DeBoer “was extremely skeptical, and he basically told me no,” she says. “I was very disappointed, and kept trying to persuade him this was a good research project.” The two agreed on a pilot study of 10 dogs. “If it failed, it wasn’t worth pursuing,” she says. “But I think much to his surprise, it actually worked.”The outcome, Morris says, “was the study he is going to present in Vancouver.”Morris has licensed the technology to Heska Corp., whose CEO, Robert Grieve, is a former professor at the School of Veterinary Medicine.With data in hand, DeBoer has overcome his skepticism. Although the drops must be given once or twice a day for at least several months, they have major advantages, he says. “A lot of owners are needle-shy, and would never  consider giving allergy shots, and may not even have the dog evaluated for that reason.  Now there is an option that is very user-friendly.”And what do the dogs think? “The drops have a slightly sweet flavor, so most dogs actually like them,” says DeBoer. “Owners say their dogs consider them a treat and run toward them when they hear the bottle being opened. With the needle, they learn to run away.”

US and Canadian regulators have approved Immunocidin, the first of two canine cancer products developed by Bioniche (ASX:BNC).

Bioniche (ASX:BNC) has received regulatory approval in the US and Canada for one of two canine oncology products in the company’s pipeline.

AHF Board of Trustees member, Veterinarian Dr. Dirk Yelinek is a well-known disaster preparedness expert.  Go to our website and download his primer on “Disaster Preparedness for the Pet Owner”.

Owners should know that dogs that “leak” urine aren’t doing it on purpose, writes veterinarian Natalee Holt, and there may be an underlying anatomical abnormality or hormone imbalance causing the problem. Dr. Holt explains that ectopic ureters and estrogen insufficiency are two conditions that can lead to urinary incontinence. Both usually respond to treatment.

Canine bedwetting is usually a lack of urinary control

Published:         Monday, July 9, 2012   

Usually, I like to start an article with a personal anecdote about me or my pet. The topic of urinary incontinence makes me less inclined to do that.

Urinary incontinence is a lack of voluntary control of urination. What that means for you is that your dog leaves a puddle in the house. The important thing about urinary incontinence in dogs is that it is not intentional. They have no knowledge that they are urinating inappropriately; they just can’t help leaking urine. Usually, this occurs while they are sleeping, and they will leave puddles on the couch or the bed. Sometimes, a dog will drip urine while they are walking around. If you see your dog posture to urinate inside the house, that is not incontinence.

There are two major causes of incontinence. Puppies can be born with an inappropriately formed urinary system called ectopic ureters. In this case, the kidneys produce urine appropriately, but the tubes carrying the urine into the bladder attach to the urethra instead of the bladder. The urethra is the tube leading from the bladder out to the open world. There is a sphincter at the juncture of the bladder and urethra that acts like a rubber band and keeps urine in the bladder. If the ureters deposit urine past this mechanism, the puppy will not be able to store urine in the bladder, and the urine will leak.

Many puppies with this problem have ureters that exit into the bladder and the urethra. This puppy will be able to urinate normally, but may leak in between. Most puppies with ectopic ureters will present for being difficult to house break. Sometimes dogs are adults by the time they are diagnosed. While a history can help a veterinarian make an educated guess as to what the cause of a puppy’s incontinence is, usually further diagnostics are required to confirm. A camera can be placed in the urethra to look for where the ureters exit or a CT scan can be done to identify the path of the ureters from the kidneys to their end point. The abnormal ureters usually are corrected surgically. A newer technique uses a laser introduced through a camera as a non-invasive method.

The other major cause of incontinence in dogs is hormone responsive incontinence, also known as spay incontinence. This problem has been reported in 10 percent to 20 percent of spayed female dogs, although it can occur in male dogs as well. The sphincter (the rubber-band around the urethra) is controlled by several chemicals in the body. Estrogen controls the number of receptors available to receive these chemicals. When a dog is spayed, the estrogen level changes and the sphincter control can be altered. This usually develops within three years of the spay procedure, but occasionally, it will develop further out from the procedure.

This type of incontinence is treated primarily with medication. About 85 percent of dogs will respond to a daily medication that activates adrenaline receptors. Sometimes this medication can cause anxiety, high blood pressure and increased aggression. Supplementing estrogen once weekly can help about 65 percent of dogs and has fewer side effects. Some dogs require both to have control. Dogs with mild incontinence can benefit from supplementation of soy isoflavones, which are marketed for post-menopausal women.

While the majority of dogs can be treated with medication, a small number don’t respond to either or a combination. Therapies for these dogs get a little more creative. One recommended therapy is collagen injections into the urethra. The collagen bulks up the urethra and creates an artificial sphincter that can help them keep urine in the bladder. There is also a band that can be placed surgically around the urethra. The band is filled with fluid to help create an artificial sphincter mechanism. Finally, there is a surgical method that pulls the bladder forward to alter the physics of emptying. Dogs requiring these procedures usually require medication afterward.

If you have a bedwetting dog at home or a dog that leaks urine, it is important to realize your dog may have no control over this. Consult your veterinarian to see if your dog could be incontinent and to see what therapies are available.

Your Pet is published on the second Monday of each month. Dr. Natalee Holt holds a doctorate of veterinary medicine from the Kansas State College of Veterinary Medicine. She became board-certified in internal medicine in 2011. Holt loves all aspects of internal medicine, but has a special interest in gastrointestinal diseases and immune mediated diseases. She and her husband Jonathan share their home with Becca the dog, Jasmine the rabbit, and their three cats, Kitty, Clara and Appomattox. Holt is a board-certified internal medicine specialist who practices with the Animal Medical Center of New England, 168 Main Dunstable Road, Nashua.

Serving as companions, protectors and aides, dogs improve quality of life for humans with medical issues such as diabetes, conditions that cause seizures and post-traumatic stress disorder, says Rebecca Johnson, director of the University of Missouri’s Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction. For example, dogs can be trained to identify breast, skin and lung cancers by smelling the afflicted person’s breath or licking the skin.

Many dogs can be trained to sit, fetch and roll over. Now, pups are being trained to detect disease and help patients in distress. Rebecca Johnson, director of the Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction at the University of Missouri, explains how dogs can be useful in the medical field.

DIABETES

Dogs can be trained to detect low blood sugar levels in diabetics by picking up scents that go unnoticed by humans. Upon detection, the dog springs into action—”kind of like sounding an alarm,” Dr. Johnson says. Dogs may nudge the diabetic, fetch a blood-glucose monitoring kit or press a button on the phone to call 911.

SEIZURES

Researchers don’t know what exactly enables a dog to detect seizures, but some dogs may notice a certain scent or subtle behavioral change that occurs right before an attack. Teaching a dog to pick up on these signs is difficult, Dr. Johnson says, and many seizure-response dogs simply have an innate ability to recognize when something is wrong. During the attack, dogs can seek help, move dangerous objects out of the way and lie next to the person.

A relatively new type of service dog can aid people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. These dogs typically serve as companions to war veterans. Dogs can help ease the anxiety and panic that often comes with the condition by leading the way around a corner or positioning themselves between people and their handler. In a stressful social situation, the handler can signal the dog, which then barks loudly and gives the handler a reason to make a graceful exit.

CANCER

Dogs can also put their acute sense of smell to use by identifying certain cancer cells. Dr. Johnson notes that dogs have been trained to pick out bladder cancer cells by sniffing urine samples, while other researchers report that dogs have been able to identify lung and breast cancers by smelling patients’ breath, and melanoma by licking their owners’ skin.

—Sanette Tanaka, The Wall Street Journal

Xylitol, an artificial sweetener used in sugar-free gum, baked goods and other items, causes a rapid, dangerous drop in pets’ blood sugar levels and, if left untreated, can result in liver failure in less than 36 hours after ingestion, writes veterinarian Dana Brooks. Symptoms that develop 30 to 60 minutes after ingestion of xylitol include lethargy and seizures, while vomiting can occur sooner. The condition may be treatable with emergency interventions, but signs of liver failure, such as skin and intestinal bleeding, carry a poor prognosis, even with treatment, Dr. Brooks notes. The Seattle Times/Tails of Seattle blog

Question: Why is xylitol so dangerous for dogs and cats?

Answer: Ingestion of xylitol primarily affects insulin release throughout the body. Insulin causes an increase of glucose (blood sugar) uptake into the liver, muscle, and fat cells resulting in decreasing blood glucose  levels.

Xylitol strongly promotes the release of insulin from the pancreas into circulation leading to a rapid decrease of blood glucose levels. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can occur within 30 to 60 minutes of xylitol  ingestion with levels as low as 0.1g xylitol /kg body weight.

Hypoglycemia may compound further into liver toxicity, liver damage, and ultimately liver failure. Ingesting amounts of xylitol greater than 0.5 g xylitol /kg body weight increases the risk for developing liver toxicity.

Sugar-free chewing gum is the most common cause of dogs that present to the emergency room. However, the recent introduction of xylitol as a substitute for sugar in grocery stores has increased the potential for toxicity.

Xylitol is perfectly safe for people, but because of different metabolisms, it can be fatal for dogs and cats. A simple piece of cupcake or cookie could kill an animal if the danger is unknown and not addressed immediately.

Question: What are the signs my dog might have eaten xylitol?

Answer: Immediately after ingestion, vomiting may occur. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) develops within 30 to 60 minutes, resulting in lethargy and weakness. These signs may quickly develop into ataxia (trouble walking), collapse, and seizures. Prolonged blood clotting times as well as skin and intestinal hemorrhaging are clinical signs that may develop within hours and warrant a very poor prognosis.

Question: What do I do if I think my dog has eaten xylitol? What is the treatment and prognosis?

Answer: If xylitol ingestion occurs, consult your veterinarian immediately. Inducing vomiting to remove the xylitol is imperative, but close monitoring of blood sugar levels and intravenous infusions of glucose (sugar) may also be needed depending on the amount ingested and how quickly the problem was recognized.

The prognosis for dogs with hypoglycemia is good with immediate and proper treatment, while the prognosis for dogs that have developed liver toxicity is poor. Large ingestions of xylitol (a relatively small amount of the product) that are not caught immediately can result in fulminant liver failure and death despite aggressive supportive care. This can occur in less than 36  hours in dogs that are otherwise young and healthy.

Dr. Dana Brooks

Dana Brooks is a internal-medicine specialist at Seattle Veterinary Specialists (SVS) in Kirkland. She graduated from Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1991 and completed her residency at Michigan State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in 1995. She worked in the Northeast until 2007, when she joined SVS. Her special interests include hormonal and immune-mediated diseases as well as endoscopy. She lives with two black cats named Jasper and Logan.

Nature’s Variety has initiated a voluntary recall of its Prairie Beef Meal & Barley Medley Kibble for Dogs because of an off-odor that may  develop over time.

The Lincoln,NE-based pet food manufacturer said the product is not contaminated,  but some food is not remaining fresh for the shelf life of the product.

The products affected are the five-, 15- and 30-pound bags of Prairie Beef  Meal & Barley Medley Kibble, as well as the three-ounce sample size.

Consumers who have purchased one of the products can obtain a full refund or  exchange it for a different variety by returning the product in its original  packaging or bringing a proof of purchase back to their retailer