HEALTH TIPS & ALERTS!
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Stuff the Turkey, Not the Dog: 10 Things to Hide from Your Pet this Thanksgiving
 We all know how hard it can be to resist those begging eyes and that furry face you can deny nothing on any
given day, and on Thanksgiving – with the fragrant smell of that really
rich dinner swimming throughout the house – the temptation can be that
much worse. But this year, do your dog a favor and keep her away from
the items listed below. Pookie Dearest might be miffed for the evening,
but her stomach will thank you the next day.
1. Turkey Skin – On its own, turkey skin can be
fatty and hard to digest, but on Thanksgiving it’s particularly bad
(just think of the butter, oils and spices rubbed into it). If you
must share the turkey with your dog, do peel the skin off and cut the
meat up into bite-sized pieces. And consider choosing the white meat
over the dark for your pooch – it’s a little blander and easier to
digest.
2. Cooked Bones - Whether your bird is duck, goose
or turkey, do not give the bones to your dog. Any dog cartoon features
Fido carrying a bone around in his mouth, but the reality is that a
cooked bone is often brittle and sharp pieces can get lodged in your
pet’s intestine. And bird bones are hollow and break easily.
 3. Gravy/Buttery Side Dishes - This one goes hand-in-hand with the turkey skin. Fatty foods and trimmings can cause pancreatitis in dogs at worst and diarrhea or vomiting at “best.” ThePoop.com suggests substituting gravy with a little turkey broth if you really want to give your pup a treat.
4. Aluminum Foil and Plastic Wrap – Dispose of
these when you’re done with them. There are two risks here: one, your
pet will be licking the fatty substances off the wrappings, and two,
swallowing these can cause an intestinal obstruction.
5. Chocolate - Not that we think that you would
intentionally feed your dog chocolate (which we all know can be toxic
to our canine friends), but since candy is often left out on tables for
guests during the holidays, it made the list. Be sure to keep bowls
filled with chocolate out of reach.
6. The Garbage Pail – A frustrated pet who can’t
get a scrap out of his usually-generous parents may be tempted to dig
around the trash bin and find a good number of the items listed above.
 7. The Kitchen
– Thanksgiving can be the busiest day of the year for the kitchen, and
you’ll want to keep your pup out of there. With hot dishes being
whisked from one counter to the next, there’s a chance a dog that’s
under foot could be burned or cut if something were to shatter.
8. Holiday Plants – Sure it’s Thanksgiving, but a
good number of people have already decked the halls with holly by this
time. Know that Poinsettias, holly berries, mistletoe and Cedar
Christmas trees are toxic to dogs.
9. Decorations – Glass ornaments and candles are just begging for trouble. Like the chocolate, keep these out of reach.
10. Guests Who Mean Well – Educate your less
pet-savvy visitors (and hey, maybe even send them this list). A child
may accidentally feed a dog some chocolate and your great aunt might
think she’s being nice by sharing her turkey skin.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT GOOD HIPS LOOK LIKE TAKE A LOOK AT THE PICTURE BELOW, THE FIRST IS OF GOOD HIPS THEN IT IS OUTLINED WHAT IS LOOKED FOR WITH AT LEAST 50% COVERAGE OF THE FEMORAL HEAD AND THAT NICE "U" SHAPE AT THE TOP OF THE FEMUR, THEN BELOW THOSE PICS ARE PICTURES OF WHAT BAD HIPS LOOK LIKE SO YOU CAN HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE LOOK FOR IN GOOD HIPS AND WHAT GOOD AND BAD LOOK LIKE IN A RADIOGRAPH
These are the x-rays of a dog with a normal pelvis. The diagram below explains why these hips are normal. View both of them at the same time if possible.
On the right side of this normal pelvis we have outlined 2 important anatomical features. The "U" shaped appearance of the neck (outlined in white), and the full rounded appearance of the head (outlined in black), are normal. They indicate a full socket with a tight fit and no signs of secondary changes due to instability of the ball and socket joint.
This dog has moderate changes that indicate it has hip dysplasia on the right side. The socket is not as rounded as it could be, and the head of the femur is slightly flattened. also, the neck of the femur does not have the U shaped indentation that is normal. You can see this better on the closeup views below.
The arrow points to the thickening in the femoral neck in the abnormal right socket. You can also visualize the slightly flattened appearance of the head of the femur and the fact that it does not fit into the socket as tight as the normal hip marked left.
This is a case of severe hip dysplasia. The arrows point to the thickened femoral neck on each side along with the secondary arthritis occurring on the left side. Notice how flat the sockets are and the lack of rounded appearance of the femoral head. This dog is probably in pain and has a difficult time walking in the rear quarters.
If left untreated the disease continues to progress, eventually causing a crippling lameness and severe pain. Correcting this problem at an early age might have prevented this.
I think this article has some interesting information in it and I would like to see more studies being done on vit. c and hip dysplasia. The following two articles were taken from the book "How to Have a Healthier Dog" by Dr. Wendell. O. Belfield D.V.M., about his research and experiments on hip dysplasia and vitamin C. A) HIP DYSPLASIA | Symptoms: | An
affliction of puppyhood marked by the rather sudden appearance of
limping, several hours after vigorous activity. Lameness in the rear
legs, and usually one leg is favored. The dog may be in pain and may
whimper as it walks. It may drag itself up from the lying position.
Appetite and activity often decline. Five to six months of age is the
critical period, although general incidence ranges from three months to
two years. Common to larger breeds but can strike smaller breeds as
well. | Increasing numbers
of breeders and veterinarians are effectively warding off this dreaded
puppy crippler with a very simple potion: Vitamin C. By
following my suggestions in Part Three for supplementation of pregnant
bitches and growing puppies you can also put a stop to hip dysplasia
among your animals. How this is possible is explained by the relationship of vitamin C, collagen and stress. Collagen,
you will remember, is the intercellular cement that binds tissues, that
makes tendons and ligaments strong and strengthens all other structures
in the body. Good quality collagen is dependent on an ample source of
vitamin C. Stress is the scourge of both man and dog.
Stress undermines resistance to disease and germs in part by depleting
the body's stores of water-soluble vitamins, namely vitamin C and the
B-complex group. Work-stressed dogsled teams have displayed signs of
scurvy, the disease that results from a vitamin deficiency. Sickness
diminished when the dogs were given food containing vitamin C. Consider now the puppy, a tiny and vulnerable animal undergoing constant assault from stress: environmental and emotional stress when the puppy is separated from mother and littermates and placed in new surroundings; toxicologic stress from deworming; immunologic stress from vaccinations; physical and mental stress from conformation and obedience training; stress from cosmetic surgery such as dewclaw removal, docking of tails, and cropping of ears; stress from teething; and stress from growing. Pups of the larger breeds grow especially fast and this puts an added load of stress on their developing bodies. The
chart on page 51 shows the low rank that dogs have among the animal
kingdom's producers of vitamin C. For the size of the German Shepherd,
Great Dane, Saint Bernard, and other large dogs, canine liver
production of vitamin C is paltry. This poor production, along with the nonstop stress, results in chronic subclinical scurvy.
The animal may not lapse into terminal scurvy but he will often become
ill with some of the symptoms. Hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD or
panosteidis), which was mentioned earlier, is one example. And so is
hip dysplasia. Both conditions are related to deficient vitamin C and
poor collagen. The big-breed pup has an extraordinary need for
large amounts of vitamin C. The vitamin is needed in laying down the
collagen. He needs strong ligaments and tendons to hold the bones and a
heavy muscle mass in place. He gets no vitamin C in his food. If his
liver doesn't produce enough, the animal is at risk, and from the
worldwide incidence of hip dysplasia, it seems obvious that the liver
of the domesticated dog is not up to the task. The problem is located in the area of the hip socket,
where the head of the long thighbone (the femur) is shaped like a round
ball and fits neatly and snugly into the concave hip socket (the
acetabulum). The joint is held in place by a short, elastic, round
ligament, supported by adjoining muscles. The fitting ensures rigidity
and the synovial fluid between ball and socket provides lubrication for
mobility. On the inner side of each leg is a tendon like muscle, called
the pectineus, that connects the lower end of the thighbone to the
pelvis above. When the young dog is undergoing constant stress and not
producing enough vitamin C, the quality of the collagen is below par.
The pectineus muscle doesn't develop as it should to keep pace with the
skelatal growth. The ligaments are not enough to hold the bulk of
muscle and bone in place. On the surface, all appears normal. The dog is a picture of health. The next minute he is a cripple. It can happen that fast. The
dog is jumping, running, chasing a Frisbee or a tennis ball, doing what
young dogs do. There is tremendous pressure -- the weight of the entire
body -- on the muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments of the rear legs
each time the dog pushes off or springs. The pectineous muscle has
become taut as the bones grow larger. Tension is transferred to the
head of the femur in the form of an outward lateral pressure. One
vigorous leap and the ball is tugged away from the natural cradle of
the socket. A small gap of varying degree is created in both right and
left hip joints. You now have what is medically known as congenital
coxofemoral subluxation and commonly called hip dysplasia. Rapidly,
from a few minutes to a few hours, the synovial fluid leaks out of the
joints, causing inflammation in the adjacent tissue. There is now
little or no lubrication in the joints. The rotation of the ball in the
socket becomes grating and uneven. An inflammation occurs there too
because of the lack of oil and irregular movements of the parts. Soon
the animal is limping. With time, scar tissue and ossification build up
in the gap. This is nature's way of filling the vacancy. An
osteo-arthritic condition develops and contributes, I believe, a good
deal of the pain. Sometimes the pain is so bad a dog will roach up his
back in an attempt to alleviate the pressure on the joints. Continued
activity of the animal means continued irregular wearing of the
affected joints. Thus there is more inflammation, more scar tissue and
ossification. The effect is to push out the head of the femur even
more, a process that doesn't stop until either the animal has stopped
growing or the gap has partially or totally filled. It is
important to bring a young dog to the animal hospital at the first sign
of limping. Many people will wait weeks before acting, hoping the limp
is only a temporary thing. The delay only allows the arthritic
condition to progress. Hip dysplasia can be diagnosed only
through X-ray. The degree of severity, that is the extent of joint
separation, is defined through a numbering system from zero to five.
Zero means good, flawless hips. Five means the worst has happened. I
have one set of pictures on my office wall of the worst case of
grade-five hips I ever saw. Both joints had separated so far that the
entire bowl of the acetabulum had filled solid with bony tissue. The damage, once done, is permanent.
Many animals are put to sleep. Many vets will tell the owner there is
nothing that can be done except to put the animal on aspirin or
cortico-steroid drugs. This will keep the pain and inflammation down.
After a time, however, the drugs lose their effect. Such prolonged
treatment in fact may be inviting more trouble. Aspirin is known to
destroy huge quantities of vitamin C. Steroid therapy can cause a
potassium deficiency, water retention and high blood pressure over the
long haul. It can also interfere with collagen production. I have seen
dogs become lethargic and develop poor hair coats after prolonged use
of steroids. The effect of either of these approaches is to invite a
deterioration of the immune system and collagen quality. It has been
found in humans that vitamin C supplementation can prevent or reverse the disturbances created by extended usage of steroid drugs. In
my practice I will put the dysplastic dog on a good dose of vitamin C
and all the other vitamins and minerals. Vitamin C has analgesic
powers. It makes the animal more comfortable. High doses of vitamin C
have been determined to ease the pain and swelling of human sufferers
of osteo-arthritis. The other nutrients will support the animal in many
ways. One of them is to prevent the arthritic condition from advancing
due to any possible vitamin or mineral deficiency. Many
veterinarians today will suggest to a dog owner at this stage that the
animal undergo a pectinectomy, a surgical procedure I pioneered in
1968. The operation entails snipping the pectineus muscle, which is as
taut as a piano wire. This procedure eliminates the outward tension of
the head of the femur. It also eliminates some of the pain and the
limp, depending on how far the osteo-arthritis has developed. There is
no technique, however, to restore the ball and socket to its
pre-dysplastic state, because inflammation has occurred and calcified
scar tissue and even bone tissue have begun filling up the socket. B) VITAMIN C VERSUS THE GENETIC THEORY OF HIP DYSPLASIA The reigning myth - which unfortunately still clouds much of veterinary thinking to this day - is that hip dysplasia is an inherited condition.
A limping, dysplastic dog, so the reasoning goes, begets other limping,
dysplastic dogs. The protocol calls for drastic action: Destroy the
dysplastic puppies or have them neutered, so there is no possibility to
pass on dysplastic genes. I know of breeders who, even before the X-ray
was dry, would ask the vet to put the dog down. So severe has been the
stigma, they were afraid to let it be known that their bitch or their
sire had produced dysplastic puppies. If you were a breeder and word
got out that your bitch was giving dysplastic puppies, you couldn't
sell the offspring. You quickly and quietly brought afflicted dogs to
the vet and had them put away. When hip dysplasia was involved, people
talked in whispers. Behind this proprietary stealth is a
residue of heartache. Many breeders would provide a guarantee when they
sold a puppy. If the dog turned up lame and was found to be dysplastic,
they would give you another dog. But it doesn't take long to develop an
attachment to a puppy, and I have seen many a grown-up sitting and
crying over a young dog that was put to sleep. The story of hip dysplasia is written in tears. An
East Coast veterinarian connected to the Seeing Eye Dog-program says
that animals with zero-, one-, and two- degree hip dysplasia can be
approved for training. Dogs with three degree hips are not to be
trained. They are neutered "to keep them from producing" and are handed
over to individuals for pets. The four- and five- degree dogs "have to
be put to sleep", according to this veterinarian. Furthermore, he
recommends that only zero-rated dogs be allowed to breed and reproduce.
Over the years I would hear of something like one hundred dysplastic puppies being put to sleep
every year in the San Jose area alone. There probably were many more I
wasn't aware of. Projected over the nation, there must be thousands of
Saint-Bernards, German Shepherds, Great Danes, Great Pyrenees, and
other large dogs that are destroyed each year because of the genetic
concept. Personally, I refuse to euthanize any animal I feel can be helped, and most of these animals can be helped. The
first medical observer of canine hip dysplasia was Dr. Gerry Schnelle,
a radiologist at the Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston. He
published a paper in 1945 theorizing that this condition was
genetically based and suggested sterilization of all pups in a
dysplastic litter. A recessive gene was responsible, he believed, and
it should be simple to breed away from this gene so you wouldn't have
the problem anymore. The veterinary and dog world jumped on the
genetic bandwagon and everybody began trying to breed out the recessive
genes. But it was apparently still there, as prevalent as ever, no
matter what anybody did. One Swedish doctor X-rayed army dogs
and concluded that dysplastic animals produce 10 percent more
dysplastic puppies than non-dysplastic animals. More recently, some of
the authorities who championed the genetic argument for years are
slowly doing an about-face and talking about hip dysplasia being a
biochemical problem. Out of this transformation came one of the most
unusual statements I ever heard. A university specialist, a die-hard
supporter of the genetic theory, now felt the problem as he saw it was 42 percent genetic! A 1973 report from Australia talked in terms of 25 percent. In the sixties, the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)
came into existence, an organization established to gather data on
dysplastic dogs and to issue certificates to non-dysplastic animals. It
was hoped this would facilitate selective breeding and help eliminate
the problem. An individual had his animal X-rayed at the pet hospital.
Then he submitted the film and a $10 fee to OFA. The X-ray was reviewed
and if the animal was found to have flawless hips, the owner was issued
an OFA certificate. In an era of general acceptance of the genetic
theory, possession of such a certificate greatly enhanced the
marketability of a stud and breeding bitch and their offspring. I was never able to find a genetic pattern.
I saw males and females certified by OFA produce dysplastic pups and
dysplastic parents produce normal offspring. My own experience was
telling me that the genetic theory was wrong. In 1968, an
interesting paper was published examining hip dysplasia from the
cellular level. The article focused on the involvement of the pectineus
muscle, that suffers from a state of atrophy in potentially dysplastic
puppies. The vitamin C-collagen connection may be responsible, I suspected. I then set out to test my hunch. It
wasn't difficult to find breeders willing to cooperate in an
experiment. Enough of them came to my office angry and frustrated over
their hip dysplasia problem, which OFA certification was not helping at
all. My idea was to fortify the bitch and the newborn puppies
with vitamin C. I hoped in this manner to prevent hip dysplasia by
building stronger collagen. The first animal in the experiment was a
two year old German Shepherd with grade three hips. She should have
been neutered, according to the Seeing Eye Dog standard. The bitch was
bred and immediately placed on 2000 milligrams daily of sodium
ascorbate, no difficulties were reported. The pregnancy proceeded
uneventfully and the dog whelped much faster than usual. This, as I
mentioned earlier, is one of the benefits of vitamin C during
pregnancy. The dog produced eight normal pups, who in turn were placed
on 50-100 milligrams daily of liquid vitamin C during early puppyhood.
When the puppies were weaned, the liquid was replaced with powdered
vitamin C providing 500 milligrams daily. This dose was maintained
until the animals were four months of age. At that time the dosage was
increased to 1000 milligrams daily, then gradually to 2000 milligrams
over the next couple of months and kept at that level throughout the
growth period. Since those early days I have adjusted the
amount of vitamin C I recommend for growing puppies, especially for
young animals put under stress conditions such as training programs or
work. See the chart for weaned puppies in Chapter 13 for precise
dosages. The original shepherd bitch was bred three
different times, and out of thirty puppies there was not a single case
of hip dysplasia. During a five-year period, I similarly
monitored two other bitches. At the end there was a total of eight
different litters where both mother and puppies were supplemented with
vitamin C. In each case, one or both of the parents were dysplastic or
had previously produced dysplastic puppies. Through all eight litters,
not one puppy showed any dysplasia as determined by X-rays. One
of the litters I worked with belonged to a breeder friend who raised
tracking German Shepherds, dogs trained for mountain rescue work. The
woman had one particularly handsome and fertile female, who
unfortunately had grade-three hip dysplasia. She bred the bitch twice
to two different OFA-certified males and both times half the litter
developed hip dysplasia. She didn't want to breed the dog any more
because she said she didn't want to bring any more cripples into the
world. I badgered her into trying the vitamin C experiment and breeding
the animal again. We went to a third OFA-certified male because
neither of the previous two were available. The bitch was bred and
eleven puppies were whelped. The woman sold the offspring after they
were weaned and provided the new owners with a supply of vitamin C for
each animal. A stipulation of the sale was that the new owners had to
supplement the puppies with vitamin C and bring them in for X-rays when
the animals were between eighteen months and two years of age. The time
passed. The x-rays were taken. To my delight, I found eleven pairs of
perfect hips. I took the pictures over to a veterinarian at a Seeing
Eye Dog center and showed them to him. He looked first at the X-rays of
the bitch and said that at the center they would either have neutered
the animal or put her to sleep. He looked at the X-rays of the
OFA-certified father and praised the hips. Then he began looking at the
X-rays of the puppies, and as he got to the end he was amazed. It was
hard for him to believe that these eleven dogs came out of the
dysplastic bitch who previously had produced dysplastic litters. In
1976, I published an article in a leading veterinary magazine about
vitamin C and hip dysplasia and, like most new ideas that tend to
explode popular theories, my hypothesis came in for much criticism. But
eventually I began receiving very positive feedback, particularly from
breeders. Some of them told me that the program with vitamin C was so
successful that when they sell their puppies, they incorporate into
their sales agreements a clause stating that the pups are guaranteed
dysplastic-free only if they are kept on the prescribed regimen of
vitamin C. In bygone years, breeders were reluctant to admit
they had a hip dysplasia problem. It could affect their business. Now,
people were admitting for all to hear: Yes, I had hip dysplasia in my
kennels but I don't have it anymore. A Great Dane breeder in Australia
wrote a letter to a veterinary journal proclaiming he had controlled
his hip dysplasia problem by feeding vitamin C daily. A breeder of
Saint Bernards in Seattle reports similarly he has totally eliminated
hip dysplasia. I hear from other veterinarians who have tried the
vitamin C approach that they too are overcoming the problem. What I am
observing with my own clients and hearing from others convinces me that
hip dysplasia is preventable with vitamin C. For me, the problem is
solved! The idea is to prevent hip dysplasia if you can,
rather than to look for ways to help a limping dog in pain that already
has the condition. Remember that pet food
manufacturers believe that dogs produce sufficient vitamin C and so
they don't fortify their food with vitamin C. Remember that a dog may
not produce enough vitamin C to cope with stress and excess lead levels
in his diet. This is particularly true of the fast-growing, large breed
puppies. You need to bolster their ability to produce good collagen
that is needed for strong ligaments and tendons. You need to supplement. Carefully
follow the prevention plan. If your bitch is being bred, start her on
the vitamins and minerals immediately. If you have to purchase a young
puppy, start the animal on supplements without delay. If it is
too late and your animal is limping, he should still be taking plenty
of vitamin C for its pain-killing and other beneficial powers. The
regular preventive dosages, as I have outlined in the charts in Part
Three, will be helpful to your dog. Hip dysplasia is a problem
that has anguished dog owners and breeders for years. The day has come
that it no longer has to affect you and your dog.
ALERT: Dog bones sold at Walmart ~ you need to know this
This article was written by a women who lost her dog because of a bone that is readily avaiable in many stores, ONE TIP-NEVER FEED ANY KIND OF PORK PRODUCT TO YOUR DOG (Pork causes acute pancreatitis and although deaths are reasonably rare if your dog is in that percentage then it's a big deal so I warn every one not to feed your dog pork, and check label to see if there is any pork in the ingredients mixed with other meats!) Also NEVER feed raw or cooked bones of ANY kind to your dog as this poor women found out the hard way!!!
The ONLY safe real bone are USDA sterilized beef bones and they have to be sterilized, make sure the label doesn't say they are from Brazil or Thialand! But from the US!!! Which sadly is difficult to find, I do carry USDA STERILIZED BEEF BONES OF ALL SIZES FROM GIANT TO TINY-They will soon be listed in our store (if you would like to order the bones simply send me an email and tell me what size you'd like small, med/large or giant size) of tried and tested products that are not only the safest products but also the most durable and easy to clean, also the products I make by hand are guaranteed to be the toughest most durable toys, beds, and many other things for extra large dogs (as well as their small doggie friends) part of the proceeds go to help fund my rescue the rest go to take care of my dogs-all my money goes to the dogs-literally! Email: vetzpets@myfairpoint.net -The article is below:
Just wanted to pass along this warning about a potentially dangerous dog bone sold at Walmarts. The incident with the bone appears to have happened in FL, but the bone is most likely sold at Walmarts all over the U.S.
Please pass along to the dog owners you know.
Personally, I've never liked bones like this and don't give them to my dogs but i know alot of people do, and are mis-lead by labels, thinking they are safe. I'd cringe when I'd seen someone purchasing 'Greenies' too.
I would like to warn all dog lovers out there to be very careful about the dog treats that you give your dogs. Last week I bought a "Real Ham Bone" made by Dynamic Pet Products of Missouri from Walmart. Here is what it looks like: . The label says it is made with "100% Food Grade Ingredients" and it isn't made from China. I thought that meant that this would make a good treat for my dogs. Boy was I wrong.
Trace, my dog, enjoyed chewing on this bone. It did not splinter or anything, in fact there is quite a large piece of it still left. Then in the evening she started vomiting. She spent the next day at a veterinarian' s office where she was diagnosed with a blockage of the colon. That night she endured a 4 hour surgery at Brandon Veterinary Specialists where the vet picked out small round pellets of the bone, up to the size of about a b-b. The next morning she was moved to Florida Veterinary Specialist critical care unit. Again in the evening she had another 2 hour surgery, because the blockage had caused poison in her body. She passed away at 4:30 the next afternoon.
Everyone who hears this horrible story immediately says "Well that sounds like a lawsuit to me". That is what I thought also. Since then, I have learned that is not that easy to sue on behalf of a dog. The lawyers say a dog is a possession just like a couch. So, so far, all I have been able to do is write a certified letter to Dynamic Pet Products of Missouri. In it I requested my vet bills to be paid and their product to be relabeled or preferably removed from the shelf. I don't know if I will get a response. If anyone else has any ideas about how I may address this issue, please let me know at djurgens12@aol. com.
In the memory of Trace, please pass this email on to all of the dog lovers that you know. This type of bone is sold in all of the stores under several different manufacturers names. I would assume they all may do the same thing. Even if they don't splinter, they can cause a blockage.
Planning ahead for unforeseen medical emergencies can help make them more manageable when they occur, with better outcomes. Pet healthcare insurance can significantly help you manage the cost of veterinary care and preventive measures and save you money in the long run.
BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR PAGE ON FIRST AID & FIRST AID ITEMS YOU SHOULD HAVE IN YOUR HOME AT ALL TIMES THAT COULD SAVE YOUR DOG'S LIFE WHEN SECONDS COUNT!!!
The range of AKC Pet Healthcare Plans* offers quality and affordable coverage for as little as 68 cents a day, far less than the cost of a soft drink at a fast food restaurant. You can choose the Essential Plan that covers unexpected illnesses or injuries up to $11,000 for treatment costs per year, at $20.75 a month, or higher levels of protection with Essential Plus (for a higher cost). You may be interested in plans that, in addition to accident and illness coverage, also offer reimbursement towards those wellness measures that can add up to $500 or more a year. The Wellness Plans are designed to provide coverage up to $13,000 for treatment costs a year, and this includes flea, tick and heartworm prevention, as well as an annual physical exam, annual dental cleaning and prescribed vaccinations. The Wellness Plus option also offers additional coverage for spaying/neutering. There are many new health insurance for pets companies now, you can easily get quotes on line and see which best fits you & your dog's needs.
Seeking a veterinarian�s advice first is important if you have any questions about your dog�s health. If you program your veterinarian�s emergency phone number into your cell phone, you�ll have it close at hand if something happens to your dog and you�re away from home.
If a friend or sitting service is caring for your dog during your absence, discuss in advance your dog�s health history and potential health emergencies, as well as any medications they are taking. Make certain your veterinarian�s contact information -- and the phone number for the closest emergency veterinary room -- are clearly posted. Be prepared and be safe � not sorry.
TOXINS THAT YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF:
Despite the huge number of hazardous plants and materials out there, I have noticed that three of them seem to be more commonly ingested by pets than the others. So, although I encourage you to be proactive about protecting your pet from all potential poisons, please be especially aware of these three.
Chocolate. Toxicity depends on the size of the pet, the type of chocolate consumed (darker chocolate is more dangerous than lighter chocolate), and the amount of chocolate that is eaten. Severe intoxication with chocolate can lead to irregular heart rhythms and death. Many dogs seem to find chocolate just as delicious as we humans do. Sadly, for dogs chocolate can be much worse than a guilty pleasure.
Rat and mouse poisons (rodenticides). Even small amounts of rodenticide can be deadly to cats and dogs. The most commonly used rodenticides cause internal bleeding. There is an antidote, but it must be administered rapidly to prevent severe illness or death.
Chewing gum. This is a relatively new player in the world of pet poisons. Not all chewing gum is toxic. However, several popular brands contain a sweetener called Xylitol.. Xylitol can cause dangerously low blood sugar in dogs. It also has been linked to liver damage.
I recommend that pets never be allowed access to any poisons. However, please be especially careful with the three listed above. Dogs are more likely than cats to be exposed to each of these poisons because they are less selective about what they eat.
If you suspect that your pet has consumed any poisonous product, contact a veterinarian immediately. Acting quickly can help to prevent serious consequences.
If possible, always bring the packaging from the product that was consumed, as well as any remaining product to the veterinarian�s office when you seek treatment. This will help the vet to positively identify the type and amount of toxin consumed.
Remember, however, that the best way to keep your pet safe from poisons is to make sure he or she does not have access to them in the first place.
Seasonal Health Tips for Fall
Autumn is a great time of the year for Bullmastiffs. Because Bullmastiffs do not do well in temperatures over 78-80 degrees or temperatures under 38 degrees. This time of the year is great for your Bully to accompany you on a little longer than normal walk (still bring along a sports bottle of water for your Bully! Bullmastiffs have a very short hair coat so they get chilly in the extreme cold; in the heat they have difficulty because of their muzzle size. Bullies have short muzzles (pug nose).
The muzzle is the dogs air-conditioning system. Humans have the ability to sweat from glands all over our bodies, this is our cooling system. Bullmastiffs (as well as all dogs) do not have sweat glands on their body (with the exception of their foot pads) dogs use their nose to cool off through panting. The longer the muzzle (nose) of a dog the better able they are to cool off. But all dogs are MUCH more susceptible to brain damage and death from heat exposure than humans are so if you're not too hot that does not mean that your dog isn't!!
Fall is a time that we get ready for the long cold winters, here in the North East. Often times that includes putting antifreeze in our cars. Be extremely careful with antifreeze (I never keep it at the house, or put it in the car at the house).
Antifreeze is EXTREMELY TOXIC, DEADLY!!! Dogs will willingly drink it because it tastes sweet. There is a chance of saving them (an antidote) if you get them to the vets ASAP!! But if it's been awhile since they drank it, most likely they are not going to make it. It is not a swift death from antifreeze (Ethyleneglychol) but can take 1-3 days to cause death by organ failure. If you are not sure if your dog may have drank antifreeze (and it doesn't take much, just a lick will be toxic!!) take him/her to your vets right away, they can check their urine to tell if they have ingested it or not. NEVER WAIT if you even suspect they may have been exposed to antifreeze! Enough to be deadly to a cat is just for them to walk through some in the driveway and wash themselves later! It is really nasty stuff....so be safe and keep your pets away!!!
***There is a non-toxic antifreeze available now, but will usually void the warrantee on most cars (but I use it anyway!)
The other fairly common poison that dogs will get into is DECON (rat or rodent poison) or like products containing WARFARIN. Many people will use these products in the fall to avoid rodents coming into to their home via cellar or attic to avoid the cold. Keep it well away from you pets!! DECON or most other rodent poisons work by causing massive bleeding without clotting factor. They bleed to death is how it kills rodents, and can also kill your pets the same way! There is an antidote for WARFARIN poisoning, injectable Vitamin K. You must take your pet to your veterinarian right away if you suspect they have eaten any of these pellets, don't wait until they get a nose bleed, because it may be too late!!
One thing is Bullmastiffs are big, and it would take a good amount of pellets to be fatal for them, but even if you suspect they have eaten even a pellet or two, take them to the vets anyway!
These pellets must taste good and they will attract dogs & sometimes cats just like they attract rodents. So KEEP OUT OF REACH OF YOUR PETS!
Another season related issue is mushrooms, they grow when it is damp out and will flourish in fallen damp leaves, pets will frequently eat these mushrooms if given a chance, although rarely fatal, they can cause mild to severe gastrointestinal problems. So keep an eye out for mushrooms and rake away when ever you find them.
Another common problem in the fall is allergies; leaf molds seem to be one of the biggest offenders for dogs who have allergies. If your dog is suffering and itchy all the time he/she may have this problem. They will be itchy all the time, sometimes even a light touch to their body will cause them to frantically scratch at themselves!
Their hair coat may be dry or brittle with dead skin flakes. They may even experience hair loss.
If your dog is very itchy and experiencing effects of allergies, first check him for fleas, just one flea bite on dog that is allergic can cause a lot of skin problems. To check to see if your dog has fleas or not get a flea comb, and comb the hair (down to the skin) at the base of the neck and on the rump (over hips) if you collect little back specks that resembles pepper in with the hair your dog most likely has fleas, take the paper towel and wet it. Rinse out the excess water and put the black specks onto the damp paper towel, rub in. If it turns a red color then it is positive for fleas. The black specks are digested blood from the dog, since that is what fleas feed on.
I like Front Line to prevent fleas & ticks, but there are several other products on the market.
Always be careful and read the directions when using a flea product!
The other thing you can do is change their diet to a good name brand lamb & rice food (what a difference getting them off beef makes!!) Gradually change their diet to the lamb & rice food (I have been feeding my adults with Purina ONE lamb ^ rice) gradually increase the new food amount while decreasing the old food amount until they have completely switched over to a new food! This will save you and your dog from possible gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea. You may also add a tablespoon of Canola oil to their food once a day. A good multi-vitamin like Pet Tabs is always a good idea too. If the itching continues for more than just a day or so, take them to your vet to be checked out, he may want to give them an injection of steroids.
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On a much lighter note...shedding is common in the spring and in the fall, you might try giving your dog (about a tablespoon) of Canola Oil in their food once a day, and have them on a multivitamin.
This will help condition their skin and hair coat....don't give baths in the cold weather..this will just dry their coat out more!
And watch the Halloween candy...the chocolate especially...for a Bullmastiff it would take a fair amount of chocolate to be toxic (chocolate is toxic in dogs) one of those mini candy bars wouldn't be enough to hurt them, but if they ate a bag of chocolate..that could dark chocolate is the most dangerous (if you would like a list of toxic household foods & substances just email me & I'd be happy to email it to you!
Also...since I seem to be on the subject of ingesting toxic substances...Tylenol (I never use the stuff myself!) But Tylenol is EXTREAMLY dangerous in dogs & cats...causes liver failure and ultimately death! If you drop one...make sure you find it...not all medications that are ok for humans are ok for dogs...we metabolize things differently. You can give you dog aspirin; buffered aspirin is the best..make sure it is PLAIN aspirin. Call your vet for recommended amount for your dog�s weight.
Ok..that's all folks...at least for now...keep checking I will continue to update these health tips!
One more tip before I go....If you own a black cat...keep them INDOORS for several weeks before Halloween, I know a lot of our clients will tell us their black cats end up missing before Halloween...I don't even want to think of what happens to them, but if you own a black cat...keep them indoors to be safe!! For Thanksgiving keep the Turkey bones well out of your dogs reach! If they do get into turkey bones (this also works for any possible ingested sharp objects like: sticks, glass, plastic, etc) for a Bullmastiff slightly pull apart 4-6 'real' cotton balls & mix with a little gravy or broth (anything that will flavor the cotton balls) and feed it to them (if you KNOW they ate something sharp force feed it to them if they won't take it on their own) How this works is the same way the sharp edges of one of your rings would pick up fibers from cloth or cotton, the cotton balls that you feed your dog will wrap around the sharp edges of the bones or other sharp objects letting them pass through the intestines without causing damage. So the sooner you feed the cotton balls the better chance they will have to work! It will not hurt your dog in any way to feed them the cotton balls if your not sure they did eat something sharp, so better to be safe than sorry!
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To the right is a magnified picture of the actual microchip ID that is transplanted between the subcutaneous layers of skin, placed just over the shoulder blades and below the base of the neck. The name brand is: Home Again, the dog's information is sent to AKC who runs the 24 hour 7 day a week data base.
***This picture is magnified; the actual size of the microchip ID is about the size of a grain of rice! |
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CAR (Companion Animal Recovery) AKC: Enrollments: 1,941,818 * Recoveries: 157,488
Companion Animal Recovery is run by AKC (The American Kennel Club): 5580 Centerview Dr., Suite 250 Raleigh, NC 27606-3389
CALL: 800-252-7894
FAX: 919-233-1290
Web: www.akccar.org
Email: questions-updates
found@akc.org
Schedule a microchip clinic: chipclinic@akc.org
AKC requires that your dog have a permanent form of ID, either a tattoo or a microchip implant.
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SEASONAL HEALTH TIPS FOR SUMMER
I NEVER MIND ANSWERING HEALTH, BEHAVIOR OR TRAINING QUESTIONS-PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME AT: vetzpets@myfairpoint.net
WATCH VIDEOS ON TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR DOG COOL & LEAVING YOUR DOG IN A PARKED CAR THIS SUMMER! (LINK BELOW)
http://www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/press_releases/summer_video_newsroom.html
Recently with the humid weather & thunderstorms I've noticed a crop of mushrooms of various (unknown) varieties sprouting up in the back yard, some are so small they literally hide under blades of grass! If your dogs like to graze like mine do they could be at risk of mushroom poisoning, I don't know enough about identifing one mushroom from another, and even experts can be fooled by toxic look alikes so I always give the dogs activated charcoal caps (I give at least 2 each to the dogs over 100 lbs) when they come in the house to be safe. The activated charcoal will absorb any irritants, toxins or gas they might have, also from plant ingestion where there can be a lot of plants that are also toxic or irritants. I almost lost a dog to mushrooms a couple summers ago & do not take any chances. If you know your dog actually ate a toxic mushroom give the activated charcoal & call your vet, make sure you tell them you gave the charcoal only because it can also absorb oral medications for 45 min to up to 2 hours. Your vet will have injectable medications they can give instead of orals and will use injectables in most cases of GI problems anyway so you're always safer giving the activated charcoal as soon as possible. I always recommend keeping a box handy in your house & car!
Note: Keep in mind Activated Charcoal works by absorbing toxins or irritants and it does a fantastic job however it will also absorb medications given orally-so if your dog is taking medication for anything the Activated Charcoal will not have any contraindications with any medications however it will absorb them & your dog will not benefit from them if given close together-wait approx. 2 hours after giving Activated Charcoal before giving your dog's medication that way you know your dog will get full benefit from their medication!
The worst thing charcoal does is color the stools black for up to 48 hours after giving it, otherwise black colored stool (if you haven't given charcoal or Pepto-Pepto will do the same thing) then it could be a sign of GI bleeding & your dog should be seen by your vet as soon as possible, always bring a stool sample with you because Hook & Whip worms are common culprits.
Here's an article about mushrooms although they will vary geographically.
If anyone would like to look at the sites pages while I'm in the process of organizing & adding new things you are more than welcome to email me for a password so you can check it out. I should have the site updated in the next week so check back again soon!
Thank you & we'll be back soon!
Many Wags,
Suzan
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Cool It! Summer's Heat Can Be Deadly for Your Pet |
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Americans have a love affair with their cars�and their pets. During the summer months, however, the combination can be deadly.
Heatstroke might have killed a litter of kittens if Kim Intino, manager of HSUS's Animal Services Consultation Program, hadn't noticed their frantic movements while walking through a mall parking lot in upstate New York. The kittens, trapped inside a parked car on a hot, humid summer afternoon, were "literally throwing themselves against the car doors trying to get out." Their open-mouth panting and desperate attempts to escape the vehicle were signals to Intino, at the time an animal caretaker at a veterinary office, that the kittens were in real danger.
Intino immediately contacted mall security to have the owner of the vehicle paged. But before the owner arrived, Intino convinced a security guard to force the locks on the vehicle open, possibly saving the cats' lives. "Their bodies were very limp, and they were gasping for air when we got them out," she says.
The kittens were lucky. They survived. Many pets aren't so fortunate.
The Dog Days of Summer
Common sense tells most people that leaving their pet inside a parked vehicle on a hot, summer day could be dangerous after an extended period of time. But most people don't realize that the temperature can skyrocket after just a few minutes. Parking in the shade or leaving the windows cracked does little to alleviate this pressure cooker.
On a warm, sunny day windows collect light, trapping heat inside the vehicle, and pushing the temperature inside to dangerous levels. On an 85-degree Fahrenheit day, for example, the temperature inside a car with the windows opened slightly can reach 102 degrees within ten minutes. After 30 minutes, the temperature will reach 120 degrees. At 110 degrees, pets are in danger of heatstroke. On hot and humid days, the temperature in a car parked in direct sunlight can rise more than 30 degrees per minute, and quickly become lethal.
A recent study by the Stanford University School of Medicine showed that temperatures inside cars can rise dramatically even on mild days. With outside temperatures as low as 72 degrees, researchers found that a car's interior temperature can heat up by an average of 40 degrees within an hour, with 80% of that increase in the first 30 minutes. A cracked window provides little relief from this oven effect. The Stanford researchers found that a cracked window had an insignificant effect on both the rate of heating and the final temperature after an hour.
Pets, more so than humans, are susceptible to overheating. While people can roll down windows, turn on the air conditioner or exit the vehicle when they become too hot, pets cannot. And pets are much less efficient at cooling themselves than people are.
Dogs, for example, are designed to conserve heat. Their sweat glands, which exist on their nose and the pads of their feet, are inadequate for cooling during hot days. Panting and drinking water helps cool them, but if they only have overheated air to breathe, dogs can suffer brain and organ damage after just 15 minutes. Short-nosed breeds, like pugs and bulldogs, young pets, seniors or pets with weight, respiratory, cardiovascular or other health problems are especially susceptible to heat-related stress.
Pets on the Move
While it used to be that our animals stayed home to guard the couch, increasingly dogs, cats and other pets are going along for the ride, whether tagging along during errands or putting in major mileage during the family vacation. The high number of animals on the road means that awareness and vigilance are essential for protecting pets from parking-lot peril. Help spread the word by following these tips:
- Remind friends to keep their pets at home during the summer months if they'll be going anywhere pets are not allowed.
- Educate others by distributing posters or by leaving brochures on windshields. The HSUS has posters, available for a nominal fee ($3 for 10/ $5 for 25), that store managers can post inside their windows to remind shoppers that "Leaving Your Pet in a Parked Car Can Be a Deadly Mistake." Similar, 4" x 9" hot car flyers are also available (50 for $3) at the address below. For a sample brochure, send a SASE to HSUS/Hot Cars, 2100 L St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20037.
- Get involved. If you see a pet in a parked car during a summer day, go to the nearest store and have the owner paged. Enlist the help of a local police officer or security guard or call the local police department and animal control office.
Deb Antoniades, of Monroe County, New York is an animal lover who not only keeps her own pets at home when the temperatures rise, but who is vigilant about keeping other animals safe as well. "I keep a stack of photocopies in my glove compartment of an article about the dangers of leaving a dog in your car in the summer�even with the windows open. I leave [the articles] under the windshield wiper of any car I notice with a dog left inside. I've called 911 a couple of times as well."
Taking Action
In case of an emergency, it's important to be able to identify the symptoms of heat stress caused by exposure to extreme temperatures. Check the animal for signs of heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid heartbeat, restlessness, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, dizziness, lack of coordination, profuse salivation, vomiting, a deep red or purple tongue, and unconsciousness.
If the animal shows symptoms of heatstroke, take steps to gradually lower her body temperature immediately. Follow these tips, and it could save her life:
- Move the animal into the shade or an air-conditioned area.
- Apply ice packs or cold towels to her head, neck, and chest or immerse her in cool (not cold) water.
- Let her drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes.
- Take her directly to a veterinarian.
In many states, it's against the law to leave a pet unattended in a parked vehicle in a manner than endangers the health or safety of the animal. Despite these laws, not to mention a basic common sense that should guide most pet owners during the summer, companion animals die every year from heatstroke. The worst part is knowing that each death was preventable. That's why sharing this information is so important. Summers, after all, are truly supposed to be carefree.
| Summer Care Tips for You and Your Pets |
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Coping with the Bites and Stings of Nature�s Creatures
The welcome months of spring and summer bring lush green lawns, warm days and pleasant nights, fragrant  flowers and thoughts of relaxing vacations. Unfortunately, they also bring those ever-present and annoying insects and creatures of all kinds. We humans are used to shielding ourselves from insects and reptiles in a variety of ways, to avoid being stung or bitten. Our pets, however, are unaware that these unwelcome pests can become a source of danger.
Defense Strategies
When the weather begins to warm up, out come fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, wasps, bees, yellow jackets, fire ants and snakes � sometimes armies of them. They are all ready to attack us and animals, infest our homes and cause itching, illness or even death in some situations. The best way to combat these pests is to prevent or avoid them in the first place. Discuss with your veterinarian the safest products or procedures to use toward preventing these unwanted guests. Some common preventive methods include:
- Use flea, tick and heartworm prevention; some flea and tick preventives also contain a mosquito repellant. Eliminate standing pools of water and keep water bowls fresh, to avoid mosquitoes.
- Don�t use �human� mosquito repellants, especially those containing the ingredient DEET, on animals, as they can cause neurological problems.
- Learn about ways to attract birds to inhabit your area, since many of these species eagerly feed on mosquitoes.
- Keep your dog leashed on walks and stay on open pathways where snakes can be visible. Watch for fire ant nests on the ground.
- Don�t allow your dog to explore in holes in the ground, or dig under logs or other objects where snakes or yellow jacket nests might be hidden.
- Keep nighttime walks to a minimum, as some rattlesnakes and some other snake species are nocturnal for much of the year.
- After your dog has been in an area you suspect is populated by ticks, thoroughly comb him within four to six hours to help prevent ticks from attaching.
- Avoid long walks at dawn and dusk, when many insects are most active.
- Watch for spiders in basements, garages, woodpiles and brush.
Be on the Alert for Stings
If you suspect that your pet has been stung or bitten by an insect, it�s always best to call your veterinarian immediately for advice on what to do.
Dogs are most often stung on their face or paws and these stings can be extremely painful -- sometimes you can�t immediately tell what is wrong. A dog that has been stung will often become agitated, run around shaking his head or pawing at his muzzle. If stung in or around his mouth or throat, swelling can constrict your dog�s airway and be life-threatening. Multiple stings can also cause major problems, such as anaphylactic shock. Signs of shock can vary but may include depression, breathing problems, pale gums and a weak pulse.
If your dog is stung by fire ants, remove him from the area and brush off any ants remaining on him. Don�t spray them off with water, as they will hang on with their jaws and continue to sting.
Spider bites can be quite dangerous to dogs. Although generally harmless, there are several varieties of spiders that can cause severe problems. Some spider venom contains digestive enzymes that can damage skin tissue, causing a wound to grow quickly with a secondary infection.
Be certain to inspect your dog often for ticks (cousins to spiders) that can also pose a threat to your dog�s good health. They can also carry and spread blood-borne diseases, such as Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Tick Paralysis.
These kinds of injuries are covered under the AKC Pet Healthcare Plan. The costs of treatment can quickly add up, especially if your dog has had a life-threatening situation. PetPartners paid a claim of over $2,200 for the hospitalization of Piano, a dog in California, after she was attacked by a swarm of bees in her backyard. After several days in intensive care and three blood transfusions, Piano amazed everyone and survived this potentially fatal attack.
Things That Slither and Bite
Treatment for a snake bite can be quite expensive and vials of antivenom can cost as much as $750 or more. We see many claims for snake bites; some recent claims included, $2,783 for a German Shepherd Dog bitten by a snake, $1,895 for a Labrador Retriever bitten by a Rattlesnake and $1,262 for another Labrador Retriever bitten by a snake.
Snakes are beneficial to our environment because they control the rodent population, among many other reasons. In general, they prefer to be left alone and avoid conflict. If your dog is bitten by a snake, try to identify it, without getting bitten yourself, as identification is important in determining treatment. Notice the snake�s head shape (triangular vs. oval), coloration, markings, size, and whether or not it has a rattle at the end of its tail. Keep your dog as quiet as possible, since movement spreads snake venom. If you�re out on a hike, carry or walk your dog to the car at a normal pace and do not let your dog run. Snakebites are very painful, so be careful -- even a loving dog may bite when it�s in pain.
Plan Ahead and Be Prepared for the Unexpected
Planning ahead for unforeseen medical emergencies can help make them more manageable when they occur, with better outcomes. Pet healthcare insurance can significantly help you manage the cost of veterinary care and preventive measures and save you money in the long run.
The range of AKC Pet Healthcare Plans* offers quality and affordable coverage for as little as 68 cents a day, far less than the cost of a soft drink at a fast food restaurant. You can choose the Essential Plan that covers unexpected illnesses or injuries up to $11,000 for treatment costs per year, at $20.75 a month, or higher levels of protection with Essential Plus (for a higher cost). You may be interested in plans that, in addition to accident and illness coverage, also offer reimbursement towards those wellness measures that can add up to $500 or more a year. The Wellness Plans are designed to provide coverage up to $13,000 for treatment costs a year, and this includes flea, tick and heartworm prevention, as well as an annual physical exam, annual dental cleaning and prescribed vaccinations. The Wellness Plus option also offers additional coverage for spaying/neutering.
Seeking a veterinarian�s advice first is important if you have any questions about your dog�s health. If you program your veterinarian�s emergency phone number into your cell phone, you�ll have it close at hand if something happens to your dog and you�re away from home.
If a friend or sitting service is caring for your dog during your absence, discuss in advance your dog�s health history and potential health emergencies, as well as any medications they are taking. Make certain your veterinarian�s contact information -- and the phone number for the closest emergency veterinary room -- are clearly posted. Be prepared and be safe � not sorry.
What tick-borne (& related) diseases can infect dogs in the United
States?
There are numerous vector-borne
diseases that can infect dogs in the United States. While ticks are one of
the most common vectors, some of these diseases may also be spread via mosquito
or flea bite. One group of rickettsial organisms (Neorickettsia) are
spread via ingestion. All of these organisms produce similar illness
in dogs. All are intracellular -- they get into and
survive inside the dog's blood cells. Most are bacteria, but several
are protozoa. Dogs may be multiply-infected; having more than
one of these organisms. A single tick bite may transmit multiple
species. Infection does not confer lasting immunity, dogs can easily
become re-infected.
| genus |
Ehrlichia |
Babesia |
Rickettsia |
Borrelia |
Neorickettsia |
| species known to infect dogs |
E. canis
E. platys
E. chaffeensis
E. ewingii
Anaplasma phagocytophila
(formerly E. equi) |
B. canis
B. gibsoni
plus one or more as yet unnamed species of "small" Babesia |
R. rickettsii |
B. burgdorferi |
N. helminthoeca
N. (Ehrlichia) risticii |
| causes this disease: |
ehrlichiosis
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babesiosis
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Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever |
Lyme Disease |
N. helminthoeca ... -- Salmon poisoning
N. risticii -- causes Potomac Horse
Fever; in dogs illness is similar
to ehrlichiosis |
In addition, Leishmania ,
Bartonella sp., and Hepatozoon canis are now known to infect dogs in the
USA. These are vector-borne organisms, and may produce
symptoms similar to the above tick-borne organisms.
Effects of tick-borne disease on the canine immune system
The tick-borne diseases are caused by intracellular organisms, that is
organisms that reside inside of cells in the animals they infect.
Most are hemoparasites, inhabiting blood cells. Several can inhabit
several different kinds of cells including those other than blood cells.
For whatever reason, perhaps their ability hide within the hosts cells, these
organisms have profound effects on the immune systems of their host.
They seem to cause immune system dysfunction, and often appear to suppress the
hosts immune system at the same time they are triggering autoimmune
reactions. Immune system depression manifests as lack of
antibodies and vulnerability of the infected animal to secondary
infections.
Autoimmune reactions are the hallmark of tick-borne disease.
There may be autoimmune destruction of blood cells or blood cell progenitors in
the bone marrow. Joints are inflamed and swollen and fluid tapped
from affected joints has all the characteristics of autoimmune poly
arthritis. Affected dogs may suffer from autoimmune disorders such
as inflammatory bowel syndrome, myositis, and uveitis. Many
affected dogs are reported to suffer from skin "allergies", another
indication of immune system dysfunction.
What are the early symptoms?
Rickettsial
infections go through three stages: acute, sub-clinical, and chronic.
The
acute stage occurs within a few weeks of infection.
Dogs may appear to be suffering from “flu,” exhibiting low energy,
lack of appetite, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and even nasal discharge.
Other manifestations may include, but are not limited to:
low
platelet count
slight anemia
swollen lymph nodes
photosensitive eyes
discharge from the eyes
cough
lameness, joint pain and swelling
recurrent diarrhea
vomiting bile
unexplained weight loss and/or loss of muscle mass
increased water consumption
Neurological
symptoms may also be seen, including (but not limited to) seizures.
Blood
work may reveal elevated liver enzymes and low total blood protein levels.
Low platelets are a hallmark of ehrlichiosis, however extremely high red
cell, white cell, or platelet counts have also been reported.
Hemolytic anemia is a hallmark of babesiosis, but may occur with other
tick-borne diseases. Not all dogs with ehrlichiosis will have low
platelets; not all dogs with babesiosis will have anemia. Infected
dogs with any of these diseases may have normal CBC
values.
Dogs
with babesiosis may be vulnerable to hypoglycemia. Any dog diagnosed
with babesiosis, should have blood sugar levels checked as hypoglycemia
concurrent with babesiosis worsens the prognosis for recovery (Keller et
al., 2004).
Most
infected dogs will have more than one, but not all of these signs of infection.
During the acute phase the symptoms may be severe or may be so mild as to
go unnoticed.
Can
a dog be infected, but have no symptoms?
Yes.
Acute stage symptoms may be so mild that symptoms are not recognizable.
Following the acute stage of infection, untreated dogs may enter a sub-clinical
stage. In this stage the dog is asymptomatic
and appears healthy. The
sub-clinical stage can last for weeks or years.
If a dog has a strong immune system, it may be able to keep the organisms
in check, thus maintaining a sub-clinical state for quite a long time.
Eventually
the dog may experience stress that weakens the immune system enough that the
infection becomes active again, and the dog enters a chronic stage of infection.
What are the chronic stage symptoms?
In chronic stage
infections, the organism may penetrate brain and central nervous system tissues,
internal organs (liver, spleen, kidneys), reproductive organs (uterus or testes)
and bone marrow. A tremendous
number of symptoms are possible, making accurate diagnosis difficult.
Symptoms and signs are serious and may be life-threatening including:
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Chronic Stage Symptoms
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severe anemia
low platelets (thrombocytopenia)
low white cells
bone marrow failure
muscle wasting / weight loss
kidney failure
liver failure
enlarged spleen and/or liver
cardiac damage
autoimmune disorders
abnormal thyroid function
seizures & other neurological disorders
meningitis-like illness
uveitis
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severe non-regenerative anemia and thrombocytopenia (i.e. low platelets),
seizures, muscle wasting, kidney failure, enlargement of the spleen, cardiac
abnormalities, and bone marrow hypoplasia.
Neurological symptoms have been documented for almost all rickettsia
species. Many of these
infections can trigger a wide array of autoimmune processes in the body:
autoimmune facial paralysis, immune-mediated polyarthritis, inflammatory bowel
syndromes, chronic ear and skin infections and “allergies”.
Thyroid hormone and thyroid auto-antibody levels may be abnormal.
There is anecdotal evidence to suggest these infections may be
responsible for a variety of reproductive disorders including sterility,
abnormal heat cycles, and resorbtion of litters.
There is no scientific proof as yet, however a number of dog owners and
veterinarians who have direct experience with rickettsial infections suspect
that they may have the potential to trigger the development of lymphosarcoma.
Ehrlichia canis has been associated with meningitis and uveitis in
dogs
(Panciera at al., 2001, Massa et al., 2002), and Leishmania has been associated
with uveitis (Pena at al., 2000).
Tick-borne infections
are commonly misdiagnosed. Symptoms
may be very similar to blastomycosis and Valley Fever. Tick-borne infections may be misdiagnosed as lupus,
lymphosarcoma, leukemia, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, epilepsy, myositis,
brucellosis, inflammatory bowel disease, encephalitis and “autoimmune
disease.”
What you should know about tests for tick-borne diseases
There are two major types of tests available for tick-borne diseases: direct
tests such as PCR testing look for direct evidence of the presence of the
organism itself, whereas indirect tests such IFA titer, ELISA and Western
blot tests look for the presence of antibodies against a particular organism.
Indirect Testing Methods
Indirect antibody tests are most commonly used as
they are more easily available from commercial testing laboratories and are less
expensive. These tests analyze for the presence of antibodies
against specific organisms. High levels of antibodies are believed
to indicate active infection. The problem is how to interpret
negative or low level positive results. A negative result is generally
interpreted to mean the dog is not infected, although it could also mean the
dog's body simply has mounted no immune defense against the infecting
organism. Low levels of antibodies may indicate a poor immune
response against an active infection, or past exposure to the organism but no
active infection.
Since antibodies may persist in the bloodstream
for months or years following an infection, the presence of antibodies is not
unequivocal evidence of active infection. The tick-borne organisms
are notorious for causing immunosuppression and there is anecdotal evidence that
infected dogs may have low or zero antibody levels. Low antibody levels or
negative antibody test results are not conclusive evidence for lack of
infection.
One probable reason for negative test results for
dogs whose symptoms strongly suggest tick-borne disease is that the dog was not
tested for the right species. Antibody tests are very specific
for the exact species of tick-borne organism. Only a few species
create "cross-over" problems, where antibodies from one species cause
a false positive reading when testing for a different species.
Typical test "panels" only test for a few species of the many
tick-borne organisms that may infect dogs.
IFA (indirect fluorescence assay) titers are
the most reliable type of titer test to run for tick-borne diseases.
IFA tests analyze for the presence of antibodies. Results are reported as
a ratio, indicating how far the sample could be diluted and still have a
positive reading for the presence of antibodies. The higher the ratio, the
greater the abundance of antibody in the dog's blood. Tests are
specific for the exact species. IFA tests are available for almost
all species of tick-borne organisms that infect dogs, and are available from a
great many commercial laboratories. As with all testing, it is
important to use a reputable laboratory that uses careful lab procedures and
quality control.
Veterinarians now have available to them a simple
in-house test kit that tests for Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme Disease), Ehrlichia
canis, and canine heartworm, all in the same test kit.
These test use the ELISA antibody testing method. They are fast and
inexpensive, but not 100% reliable for Borrelia and Ehrlichia.
(the heartworm part of the test appears to be reliable)
The test is called the SNAP 3Dx. A positive reading on the SNAP test
for Lyme Disease or E. canis should be considered accurate. A
negative reading does not necessarily mean the dog is free of those
infections. E. canis is the only Ehrlichia
species tested for on this test, and dogs can be infected by many other Ehrlichia
species.
The SNAP 3Dx test can not distinguish between Borrelia
antibodies caused by natural infection versus those produced by the Lyme Disease
vaccine. For that determination a Western Blot test must be
run. Many vets will recommend running a Western Blot test to confirm a
diagnosis of Lyme Disease detected on the in-house SNAP 3Dx
test.
Direct Testing Methods
Blood smear slides can be examined by microscope
to look for visible evidence of tick-borne organisms. Ehrlichia and
Babesia can sometimes be detected in this manner. The problem is
even at the height of active infection, the actual numbers of organisms in the
infected animal are low. Sometimes several slides need to be
examined in order to find just one organism. The absence of
organisms on a blood smear is not proof for lack of infection.
Visual blood smear inspections should be done by a technician with experience in
detection of these intracellular parasites.
Blood smear slides should be made from blood
transferred directly from the patient to the slide via a clean syringe, and NOT
exposed to any anti-coagulants or other chemicals sometimes added to preserve
whole blood samples.
PCR testing is a method that can detect the
presence of DNA from a specific species of infecting organism. One
advantage of PCR testing is that it can be done on tissues other than blood
samples, enabling one to test for organisms that have left the blood stream and
may be sequestered in other body tissues. I have had PCR testing for
tick-borne organisms has been done on canine blood, bone marrow, spleen, and
testicular samples. The PCR method extracts DNA from the sample,
adds it to a "primer" that binds DNA that matches specific DNA
sequences for the exact species of organism being tested for. This
is then amplified to detectable levels and tested to verify the match to the
species of interest. The method can detect extremely small quantities of
DNA.
PCR testing is very specific to the exact
species. PCR tests are available for most but not all species of
tick-borne organisms known to infect dogs. At the time of this
writing, PCR tests are not widely available from commercial laboratories.
A number of research laboratories have developed PCR tests for tick-borne
organisms and will run samples submitted from private veterinary
clinics. PCR testing requires extremely precise lab procedure and
careful equality control; use only a reputable lab with a well-established track
record of running these tests.
PCR tests can produce false positive test
results. Only a tiny bit of contamination of the sample can yield a false
positive, hence the need for high quality lab work. PCR can not
distinguish between DNA from a dead organism versus a living one, therefore dogs
who have been recently treated and still have dead organisms in their bodies,
may get positive test results even when treatment was successful.
Follow-up PCR testing done after treatment should be delayed until 6-8 weeks
following the end of treatment.
PCR testing can yield false negative results
also. The tests are so species-specific, one must test for exactly
the right organism. There must be some organisms present in the sample
sent for testing. If the infecting organism has left the blood
stream and is sequestered in bone marrow, spleen or other tissue, then a blood
sample may PCR test negative even though the organism is still present in the
dog's body.
Can a dog be exposed, but not infected?
In my personal experience:
NO.
There is some controversy concerning whether one
should treat or not treat dogs that test positive for tick-borne disease but
appear asymptomatic. It has been my experience that if a dog has a
positive titer for one of these diseases, no matter how low a level, that dog is
infected. Symptoms may be so varied, so diverse, or so subtle that
often owners are not aware that their dog IS symptomatic. Many dogs
that appear perfectly normal but test positive, after treatment is started will
perk up and display a notably higher energy level, and improved state of health
indicating that they were in fact affected. Sometimes
a symptom is serious and glaring, but the owner and veterinarian are unaware
that this is a symptom of tick-borne disease.
Treatment
For most tick-borne diseases, doxycycline is the treatment of choice.
My personal experience, and that of owners and vets I have communicated with who
have successfully treated tick-borne disease, is that the dose needs to
be high and the duration long.
I have used a dose of 5 mg per pound dog body weight, twice a day, for a
minimum of 8 weeks. This is not a prescription or
a recommendation; this is simply information about the dose I have used in the
past. Please consult with your veterinarian to determine if
doxycycline is appropriate for your dog and what dose to use.
|
Doxcycyline dosage
by dog body weight, as I have used it for treatment of tick-borne
disease |
| Dog's body weight |
gets this dose
TWICE a day |
Daily TOTAL intake of doxy |
| 20 lb |
100 mg |
200 mg |
| 40 lb |
200 mg |
400 mg |
| 60 lb |
300 mg |
600 mg |
| 80 lb |
400 mg |
800 mg |
I give the doxcycyline at mealtime, giving the
doxycycline first and then immediately feeding the dog its regular
meal. One of the common adverse effects of high doses of doxycycline
is esophageal irritation; one wants to get the doxycycline into the dog's
stomach as quickly as possible. Giving with food helps greatly in
reducing esophageal and stomach irritation. Sensitive dogs may be
helped by taking Pepcid AC 30-60 minutes before taking their
doxycycline. Try to keep the dog upright, sitting or standing or
moving around, for 30 minutes after taking their doxycycline. To
minimize esophageal irritation, give doxycycline tablets or capsules intact,
never open the capsules or split tablets. High levels of calcium and
magnesium taken at the same time, may lower the effectiveness of doxycycline; it
should not be given with calcium-rich and/or magnesium-rich supplements (no
Tums!), but is OK with normal foods including moderate amounts of dairy
foods. Bismuth may also interfere with doxycycline up-take, so
don't give Peptobismol within 2 hours of giving doxycycline!
[Hint for giving pills to dogs -- try
wrapping them in Velveeta! Dogs love the taste but can't get the gooey
Velveeta off the pill so they swallow the whole thing! A small
amount of Velveeta or other cheese given with doxycycline will not inhibit its
effectiveness.]
In extreme cases where dogs are too ill to take
doxycycline by mouth or too sensitive to it, it can be given by IV. This
must be under the supervision of a veterinarian and is not without
risk. Lower amounts can be given than by mouth, yet can achieve a
higher blood concentration of the antibiotic; but the dose must be administered
very slowly to avoid causing cardiac arrest.
Babesia may or may not respond slightly to doxycycline treatment, but
doxycycline will not cure it. Imizol (imidocarb dipropionate) is
currently the drug of choice in the USA for treatment of Babesia infection.
Imizol is given by injection. Injections are given 2 weeks apart, and at
least 2 are required.
Imizol may be effective against some Ehrlichia species.
Sometimes Imizol and doxycycline are used concurrently for treatment of
ehrlichiosis.
Doxycycline is often the first line of attack against Lyme Disease, but there
are other antibiotics that may work as well or better. Rocephin is
sometimes used for dogs with Lyme Disease, and is particularly useful when there
are neurological complications. (It is very
expensive.) Borrelia
burgdorferi can form cysts which are impervious to doxycycline but are
killed by metronidazole (Flagyl). Some human Lyme Disease patients
have benefited from concurrent treatment with both doxycycline and metronidazole;
there is little published research to know if this is beneficial for canine Lyme
Disease patients. Amoxicillin and chloramphenicol have both
been used for treatment of Lyme Disease in dogs, but generally are regarded as
not as effective as doxycycline. Chloramphenicol has an unfortunately
adverse effect of causing permanent (fatal) bone marrow failure in some dogs
(and humans) who take it; it is generally to be avoided unless there are no
other options.
Prednisone -- to use or not to use?
Much has been written on other web sites
admonishing against the use of prednisone for dogs with tick-borne
disease. One needs to consider such advice with caution.
Owners may attribute the death of their dog to use of prednisone, but in reality
they can not know if that dog would have died regardless of whether prednisone
was used or not.
In general, it is advisable to avoid use of
steroids concurrently with antibiotics. Steroids may suppress the
immune system, reducing its ability to work with antibiotics to kill the
offending bacteria. This may be especially true when treating with
doxycycline which requires the dog's immune system play an active role in
killing the targeted bacteria. Many tick-borne infections are quite
immunosuppressive, thus further immunosuppression by steroid use would not seem
to be sensible.
On the other hand, many tick-borne diseases
trigger a wide array of autoimmune problems in infected dogs. Once
triggered, theses autoimmune processes do not simply stop when the infecting
organism is killed by antibiotic therapy. Often it is necessary to
use immunosuppressive therapy (steroids or other drugs) to address
immune-mediated symptoms and return the immune system to normal function.
For at least one of my dogs (see Jasper's Story
below), use of high-dose immunosuppression may have saved his life.
Certainly, use of steroids for dogs with
tick-borne disease should be a carefully considered decision. Dogs
with tick-borne disease should be carefully and frequently monitored while on
steroids. Common sense would suggest that steroids may be most
safely used for these dogs in conjunction with antibiotics selected to target
the infecting organism(s).
Diet Considerations
Attention to diet can aid in a dog's recovery
from tick-borne disease. Patients recovering from severe anemia
require nutritional building blocks for producing new red blood cells:
high quality protein, iron, folic acid, B-complex vitamins, vitamin
C. Tick-borne disease can cause muscle wasting, so patients can
benefit from high quality, highly digestible, protein sources in the
diet. Before increasing your dog's dietary protein, your
veterinarian should evaluate the dog's kidney function using both blood work and
urinalysis. If kidney function is compromised, it may be preferable to
stay with a low protein, but high quality protein, diet until the kidneys are
recovered.
Dogs on high antibiotic doses may benefit
greatly from addition of probiotics to their daily diet. These help
restore normal gut bacterial fauna damaged by the antibiotics, and promote
better digestion and absorption of food.
Do NOT give a dog with tick-borne disease
any foods or nutritional supplements that may be immune system stimulants:
garlic, excessive doses of vitamins E and C, or herbals that stimulate immune
function. These dogs are already vulnerable to autoimmune problems,
ie. an over-stimulated immune system. Their immune system needs to calm
and regain normal control functions; it does NOT need further
stimulation. Garlic in large quantities also may cause anemia or low
platelets in some dogs.
Onions, raw or cooked, can cause anemia in
dogs. Dogs should never be fed onions.
Prednisone has a number of serious side effects
on the body. It can cause problems with calcium absorption, can cause
protein leakage from the kidneys, can cause muscle wasting. High
quality, highly digestible, protein in the diet can help counter these effects,
if the dog's kidney function can handle it. Extra calcium may
help. Calcium requires vitamins C and D for optimum uptake.
Doxycycline's effectiveness may be diminished if
given with supplements or foods that are excessively high in calcium or
magnesium. The effect is not as significant as with tetracycline,
but for optimum doxycycline up-take and effectiveness, any calcium or
magnesium-rich foods or supplements should be given 2 hours before or 2 hours
after doxycycline is given. Peptobismol also should not be given within 2
hours of giving doxycycline as if can diminish up-take of
doxycycline. Small amounts of calcium-bearing foods such as cheese
should not be a problem. In fact Velveeta makes a very good
"disguise" for giving pills to dogs, and a small amount used to give
doxycycline should not be a problem.
Since giving food along with the high
doxycycline dose can greatly minimize digestive irritation from the doxycycline,
if your sick dog is unwilling to eat you may have to tempt their appetite with
whatever it takes to get them eating a little. At the end of this
article is a link to the recipe for Satin Balls. These are a fairly
nutritionally complete, fresh food that many dogs will eat, and that can be
molded into small balls and force fed if necessary. Satin Balls are also
good for disguising pills!
Why NOT to use the Lyme Disease vaccine
Use of vaccinations against Lyme Disease is controversial. They
are short-lived (one year or less). Their efficacy is
debatable. There are reports of Lyme vaccine reactions causing
immune-mediated symptoms that for all practical purposes are identical to Lyme
Disease itself. At a time when the veterinary community and
dog owners are increasingly aware of the health risks of over-vaccination, many
are concerned about the use of the Lyme Disease vaccines. A number
of veterinary school vaccination protocols call for not using the Lyme Vaccine,
or only using it on dogs that live in highly endemic areas. At the
same time, Lyme Disease is increasingly recognized as a serious, potentially
fatal, disease whose prevention is desirable.
Dog owners should study the issue and come to their own decision.
Do not blindly accept any recommendation to use (or not use) this vaccine
without educating yourself about its use.
ONE reason not to use the
Lyme Disease vaccine: It does not offer protection against any
other tick-borne disease. There are numerous documented instances of
dogs being co-infected with multiple tick-borne diseases. It would
be foolish to use the vaccine and think it was safe to let one's dog get tick
bites!
To this author, a
more common sense approach would be to focus on tick prevention
as a means of disease prevention(!), and spare the dog the immune system stress
of a vaccine of questionable efficacy and short-lived duration of protection.
JASPER'S STORY
-- click here
REFERENCES
Keller N, Jacobson LS, Nel M, de
Clerq M, Thompson PN, Schoeman JP (2004) Prevalence and risk factors of
hypoglycemia in virulent canine babesiosis. J Vet Inter Med, 18, 265-270.
Massa KL, Gilger BC, Miller TL,
Davidson MG (2002) Causes of uveitis in dogs: 102 cases (1989-2000). Vet.
ophthamalogy, 5, p. 93.
Panciera RJ, Ewing SA, Confer AW
(2001) Ocular histopathology of Ehrlichial infections in the dog. Vet.
Pathol., 38, 43-46.
INFORMATION RESOURCES
Laboratories That Do Testing for
Tick-Borne Disease in Dogs:
Protatek Reference Laboratory
574 East Alamo Street, Suite 90
Chandler, AZ 85225
Telephone: 480.545.8499
Fax: 480.545.8409
Email: reference@protatek.com
University of Illinois
Laboratory of Veterinary Diagnostic Medicine
ATTN: Dr. Ibulaimu Kakoma DVM PhD
P.O. Box "U", 2001 S. Lincoln
Urbana, IL 61801
PH: 217/333-1620 or 217/333-1859
FAX: 217-222-4628
MSU College of Veterinary Medicine
The Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health
PO box 30076
Lansing, MI 48909
517-353-2296
Vet schools at Cornell, Ohio State, North Carolina State, and UC Davis also
have research programs on tick-borne disease in dogs and most offer testing
services.
Tick-Borne Disease Information
Resources:
Pam
Barbe's Canine Tick Disease FAQ page
Gil
Ash's Tick Disease FAQ
LymeNet
TICK-L
e-mail list devoted to discussion of tick-borne disease in dogs
Imizol -- Schering-Plough
label information
Imizol -- FDA
Freedom of Information publication #NADA-141-071
MSU Vet School on-line course notes
on tick-borne diseases:
Babesia
Ehrlichia
Lyme
Disease
Rocky
Mountain Spotted Fever
Canine
Monocytic Ehrlichiosis (CME) by T. Waner and S. Harrus (PDF)
CANINE MONOCYTIC EHRLICHIOSIS – AN OVERVIEW
by T. Waner et al.
Therapeutic Effect of Doxycycline in Experimental Subclinical Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis: Evaluation of a 6-Week Course
by S. Harrus et al. (1998)
The Uninvited Guest
(Ehrlichiosis Update) by Jan Hendricks
Bartonellosis: Veterinary and Human Implications
by Dr. Edward Breitschwerdt
Doxycycline
Use by Pregnant and Lactating Women USDA publication. Summary
of the very little information (as of 2001) on doxycycline use during
pregnancy.
General Information Resources
On-Line:
Satin
Balls Recipe
Blood
Cells and The CBC by Dr. Ed Uthman.
Good article to help you understand the CBC and what all
the numbers mean.
PubMed
Searchable database of medical literature
references (human and veterinary)
Center
for Disease Control (CDC) home page
FDA CVM Adverse Drug
Report database
The Merck Veterinary
Manual
ANAL GLAND INFORMATION
Dogs and cats, as well many other small mammals, have a pair of glands located just under the skin on both sides of the rectum. These glands, commonly called "anal
glands," are actually scent glands. Prior to domestication, these glands were used
primarily for marking territory. In the domesticated species, they serve little to
no practical purpose and are often the cause of great distress to many animals.
 
MORE BULLMASTIFF HEALTH TIPS (seasonal & for everyday) will be forthcoming.
CHECK OUT ADDITIONAL HEALTH TIPS ON THE "HEALTH TIPS" PAGE! |
