Parvo Virus is an often lethal disease in puppies. This article describes the disease, the treatment and the prevention.

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Filed under: pet health on May 6th, 2008 | No Comments »

By FREDERIC J. FROMMER – 4 days ago

Full story cick here

WASHINGTON (AP) — A government inspection of slaughterhouses found significant problems with the treatment of cattle and two of the nation’s largest beef processors — both of which provide meat for the National School Lunch Program — were slapped with humane handling violations.

One of those companies’ violations was rescinded after the company appealed, The Associated Press has learned.

Audits by the Agriculture Department’s Food Safety and Inspection Service resulted in "noncompliance" records to a National Beef Packing Co. plant in Dodge City, Kan., and a Cargill Meat Solutions plant in Fresno, Calif., according to information obtained by the AP under a Freedom of Information Act request.

The audits of 18 slaughterhouses found that some cattle were not being stunned properly on the first try, others were subject to overcrowding conditions, and others had to be electrically prodded to get them to move.

Filed under: pets in the news on May 4th, 2008 | No Comments »

Big Brown wins, with Eight Belles second and Denis of Cork third. Due to severe injury, Eight Belles was euthanized on the track. By Maryjean Wall

Complete story and video click here

Eight Belles was euthanized on the track near the seven-eighths pole, on the far side of the turn near the start of the backstretch where she fell with her rider, Gabriel Saez.

The filly suffered compound fractures, according to Dr. Larry Bramlage, on-call veterinarian for the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

“There was absolutely nothing you could do,” Bramlage said.

Saez said that after the wire, after he stood up in the irons as jockeys do when they begin to ask their horse to slow down beyond the finish, “she started galloping funny and I tried to pull her up, but she went down.”

Filed under: pets in the news on May 4th, 2008 | No Comments »

Dog survives 8 days trapped in building rubble

Pooch reunited with critically-injured owner after rescue in Colorado

updated 6:06 p.m. CT, Tues., April. 29, 2008  Full story click here

BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. - A dog was found alive and in relatively good shape after spending eight days trapped in the rubble of a building that exploded, critically injuring the pup’s owner.

Lulu, a Springer spaniel, was rescued Sunday after the owner of the business that had been housed in the two-story building heard her whimpering.

"We turned off the radio and started calling out Lulu’s name. Then we heard some yelping," Brian Hold, owner of Good Times Adventures, told the Summit Daily News in Tuesday’s editions.

Lulu’s owner, Brian Mislanski, had been critically injured in the April 19 explosion and remained at St. Anthony Central Hospital in Denver on Tuesday.

"I’m happy," Mislanski told The Associated Press on Tuesday. He declined to comment further, but friends who are caring for Lulu said they took her to visit him — with permission from the hospital.

Veterinarian Christine Murphy said Lulu suffered mild dehydration and had some trauma to her left eye. She probably survived by drinking melting snow and eating food she found in the debris, Murphy said.

Good Times Adventures is a snowmobiling and dogsledding business. Mislanski, a company van driver, was house-sitting for managers who lived in the upstairs apartment when the building exploded.

Hold said he was sorting through about 6,000 square feet of rubble from the explosion when he heard Lulu.

"After 45 minutes of frantic digging, we found her laying in a crawl space under 15 feet of rubble," he said. "She basically had a two-story building on top of her."

Fire officials initially said it could be a week or two before the cause of the explosion is known but they did not believe it was intentional or criminal. Fire officials did not immediately return a call Tuesday.

The hospital said it couldn’t discuss Mislanski’s injuries or condition.

Filed under: pets in the news on May 4th, 2008 | No Comments »

Until recently, people showing concern for the environment were sometimes referred to as tree-huggers, hippies, even eco-nuts! But the more we understand about climate change and our impact on the environment, the more we want to protect our natural resources – and pet owners are no exception to this trend.

And as we become a greener society, companies are delivering. From organic pet foods and treats to beds made from recycled materials, choices and green alternatives are becoming more readily available to the consumer.

At SimplyFido® (www.simplyfido.com), pet owners can purchase dog toys made entirely of cotton and organic dyes. And according to their website, only natural dyes, like clove, are used. And because of their dying process, each toy has a unique appearance, making it one of a kind! 

Planet Dog (www.planetdog.com) makes all natural hemp collars, leashes and harnesses, as well as toys made from 100% recyclable materials.
And when playtime is over, eco-conscious dogs and cats sleep on PoochPlanet® and SmartyKat® pet beds from Worldwise (www.worldwise.com). 

These comfortable beds are filled with fiber created from recycled plastic bottles.   Worldwise estimates that every year, 30 million bottles that could have been destined to landfills end up in comfortable, eco-friendly pet beds.

Want your pet to go organic? Pet owners looking for an organic diet go to www.ecobusinesslinks.com, where they can search through hundreds of organic diets and treats for their best friend. 

Commercial or organic, some of your pet’s diet will ultimately end up in your yard or litter box. Although it doesn’t seem glamorous or trendy, eco-friendly waste disposal is gaining nationwide attention.

For example, in Austin, Texas, city officials estimate that the town’s 100,000 dogs produce 25 tons of waste daily. Some of the waste is ending up in the town’s water supply and affecting recreation areas for people and their pets. 

Since dog feces can contain potentially harmful bacteria and parasites, the city has started a campaign urging dog owners to “scoop the poop.” 

Providing biodegradable Mutt Mitts in dispensers around the area, the city of Austin is reducing the amount of dog waste and potential for disease. 

Similarly, Poop Busters in Chicago provides environmentally friendly canine clean-up crews for dog shows and even personal property.

If clean up crews aren’t an option, you can still reduce the amount of dog waste in your yard and local landfill. The Doggie Dooley system (www.doggiedooley.com) provides your canine his very own personal septic system and will help protect your family from parasites.

For the feline lovers, several companies offer environmentally friendly, biodegradable cat litter. GPC Pet Products (www.gpcpet.com) is making a scoopable and flushable cat litter from whole kernel corn. Next Gen Pet Products (www.nextgenpet.com) also produces biodegradable cat litter derived from green tea leaves and sawdust. Both companies claim improved odor control when compared with standard litters.

With more than two million tons of cat litter ending up in US landfills annually, these products offer better options for environmentally conscious cat owners.

All these products can be found at my new store LuvUrDog.com Take a peek and see what’s new.

As a final note, some pet owners may decide that “going green” means finding holistic or natural remedies for their pets’ illnesses.   Before you change any of your pet’s current medications or start something new, be sure to talk with your veterinarian and find out how the change might affect your pet. 

Keep in mind that like you, your veterinarian wants only the best for you and your pet. Keeping your veterinarian informed about your thoughts and concerns is a great way to keep communication lines open! To see some eco-friendly pet diets, products and toys in action,

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Dr. Debra Garrison is a veterinarian at the Treaschwig Veterinary Clinic and can be reached at vet@tvet.com

Filed under: pet health on May 1st, 2008 | No Comments »

News update from Veterinary News Network

A flurry of activity from message boards and emails are repoting severe adverse events assosiated with the product ProMeris®. Although the emails and message threads describe different names and breeds, the warning derived from a single adverse event reported to Ft. Dodge, the manufacturer of Promeris®.

The case involves six Siberian Huskies and one mixed breed dog living in the same household. The symptoms exhibited by the dogs in this case are similar to those observed in dogs following oral exposure rather than topical exposure. (ingestion instead of skin application).

ProMeris® for dogs is a topical, waterproof spot-on product for the control of existing flea and tick infestations, as well as the prevention of re-infestation, in dogs and puppies 8 weeks and older. ProMeris® contains amitraz and metaflumizone as active ingredients.Clinical signs described in this case are similar to those seen with oral ingestion of amitraz.

Research is on-going as to the validity of the claims on the message boards.  Ft. Dodge is working directly with the veterinarian who originally reported the case.

As seen in the past, any pet may be sensitive to any topical product. If your pet appears to experience any adverse event with topical products or an medication, seek the advice of your family veterinarian,

It is important to follow label instructions  and your veterinarian’s advice precisely on any product. Be sure not to apply medications intended for dogs on cats and verify the weight of your pet with the recommended weight usage of the product. Although these products are generally considered to be safe, improper application can lead to serious adverse events.

All veterinary topical products are tested rigorously and adverse events are rare. Unfortunately, some pets are more sensitive and may experience these atypical reactions.

I will continue to keep you updated as more news arrives, exagerated

Filed under: pet health on April 24th, 2008 | 1 Comment »

From nightclubs to fashion, going “retro” is a popular trend. But while you may enjoy dancing to disco in your old bell-bottoms, your cat will want to avoid anything retro – retroviruses, that is!

By: Debra Garrison, DVM

Retro is a word usually bringing warm and fuzzy feelings of nostalgia. But for the more than 80 million cats living as pets in North America, the word retro is anything but warm and fuzzy.

Retroviruses like Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) can be devastating to your cat. More frightening, many cat owners are unaware of these two significant and very deadly feline diseases.

Hidden from the body’s defenses, retroviruses can remain dormant for months or even years. These viruses have RNA as their genetic material but share an ability to switch RNA into DNA, inserting DNA into the host’s genome. Other retroviruses include HIV, the cause of human AIDS.

Like the AIDS virus, FeLV and FIV hinder the host’s immune system, making the cat more susceptible to common infections.

Feline Leukemia is associated with more illnesses and deaths of cats than any other infectious agent. Although not actually a cancer, it can cause several types of cancer in your cat.

FeLV is considered a “social contact” disease generally spread through intimate contact between cats, such as grooming or sharing water bowls. Pregnant or nursing cats can pass the virus on to their kittens as well. 

Studies estimate the prevalence of FeLV in the United States at two to three percent of the cat population, meaning that 1.5 to 2.5 million cats carry and spread the virus. 

The FIV virus is less prevalent but still may infect almost one million cats in North America. Typically spread by fighting, FIV virus is caused by bite wounds between unfriendly cats. However, It should be noted that neither disease is spread from cats to people.

Cats carrying either of these viruses may not show any signs of illness. In fact, due to the ability of these viruses to hide in the cat’s cells, many cats can go years without any apparent symptoms. This can be a problem when new cats are introduced into the household, or if your cat ventures from home for a few days.

The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) recommends testing cats routinely. Testing is considered the mainstay of preventing transmission of both diseases.   Any sick cat should be tested, regardless of any negative results from previous testing.  

Likewise, anyone considering adopting a cat should have the cat tested before being introduced into a household. Even if this is your first cat, testing is imperative.

Fortunately, there is good news. First, both of these viruses can’t survive outside the body for long periods of time, making transmission from the environment unlikely. Second, it is possible for cats with either disease to live for many years. Finally, in some cases, vaccinations can help to prevent the spread of these diseases.

Previous vaccine recommendations have reduced the incidence of FeLV and current guidelines promote testing and wellness protocols over indiscriminate vaccination.  
Although the AAFP highly recommends testing cats for both diseases prior to vaccination, the retrovirus vaccines should only be used in cats that are at risk for FeLV or FIV.

Your veterinarian will help you make the right decision about the need to vaccinate your feline friend.  You can see all the guidelines at

www.aafponline.org

or visit

www.MyVNN.com

to see a video detailing these diseases.

 My Veterinary News: Download (18)

Filed under: pet health on April 20th, 2008 | No Comments »

Fleas are nasty parasites programmed for survival and hard to eradicate. Thankfully, veterinary science has given us effective ways to control these pests, bringing relief to our dogs and cats. But what happens when people think the Internet or local store has a better solution?

Anyone who has suffered through an infestation of fleas knows these parasites are programmed for survival. In ideal conditions, fleas can complete their life cycle in just 12 days, adding thousands of new offspring. Understanding how to control this life cycle and killing adult fleas helps your pet – and your home – remain flea-free!

Flea Myth #1: Fleas go away during winter months. Although a good part of the country sees a decrease in flea cases during colder months, fleas can survive by taking advantage of our human comforts. Fleas thrive at temperatures above 65 degrees, making our homes a perfect winter refuge. The cocoon stage can actually survive up to five months in cooler temperatures – allowing the next generation of fleas to hatch and attack our pets in the spring!

Flea Myth #2: Natural remedies like brewer’s yeast and garlic are safe and effective flea control methods. For many pet owners, avoiding man-made chemicals and “going green” is important. Garlic, for example, is purported to kill fleas, but the only study conducted showed no effect. Organic and natural remedy products are not only often ineffective at controlling fleas, but sometimes even cause illness in pets.

Flea Myth #3: Chemical pesticides are harmful to pets and to the environment. Historically, this is true! The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned products containing organophosphates like Diaz anon due to cancer risks and environmental impact. Advances in pest control provide us environmentally safe products that can be used on pets. Your family veterinarian has both oral and topical products providing effective and immediate flea kill. Additionally, these products are harmless to both pets and children.

Flea Myth #4: Fleas are resistant to these new chemicals – even products my veterinarian carries. With stories of “super-bug” bacteria making headlines, it’s easy to imagine a super flea shaking off pesticides like water. Veterinary products have a great track record of killing fleas and experts state resistance to these products has not occurred. Most perceived product failures are likely due to excessive numbers of fleas or inappropriate application. However, one ingredient – permethrin – does have a history of flea resistance. Many insects in North America are resistant to permethrin, a common insecticide found in over-the-counter medications.

Flea Myth #5: There is no difference between flea products purchased from grocery stores and your veterinarian. Unfortunately, this myth is the cause of many emergency room visits – and pet deaths. Grocery store products may contain older insecticides and chemicals like permethrin. This could mean that they are simply less effective, but in some cases, these products have actually killed pets – especially cats. In an attempt to save money, well-meaning owners have used dog products on their cats, causing the cat to seizure uncontrollably – creating a potentially fatal emergency. Flea collars contain pesticides and can either cause toxicity or the fleas are resistant to it. Bottom line. Do not waste your money.

If you are having problems with these pesky parasites, my staff and I can recommend several non-toxic products that can give your pet relief. If you do not live in the Spring area, contact your veterinarian for recommendations in your area.

Don’t leave your pet’s comfort and your safety in the hands of someone who doesn’t know your pet – see your veterinarian for the best advice on avoiding flea infestation!

To learn more, visit www.MyVNN.com

Filed under: pet health on April 19th, 2008 | No Comments »

From the repair of torn ligaments to mending broken bones, veterinary orthopedic medicine has made huge advances.   But, what happens when the cost of a surgery is prohibitive or when surgery alone cannot give a pet a good quality of life?

By: Debra Garrison

Like their human counterparts, animals are also prone to a variety of debilitating injuries and pains including torn ligaments, broken bones and debilitating arthritis.

Human medicine has battled these ailments with the help of orthotics for years. By using custom braces and devices to support and correct limb function, orthotics help individuals with neurological problems such as cerebral palsy, strokes and spinal cord injuries, as well as orthopedic injuries like ligament tears and fractures. Additionally, these devices are used to support an injured joint before and after surgery.

Luckily, advances in veterinary orthopedics, combined with the ingenuity of human injury specialists, are bringing this type of relief to many pets – even saving lives!

With more than a decade of experience in human orthotics, Dr. Martin Kaufmann began exploring the potential of pet orthotics after his cousin’s Schnauzer suffered from a stroke and lost all ability in one leg. Facing amputation, Kauffman developed an ingenious brace allowing the dog to use his leg normally – saving his leg, and quite possibly – his life.

Since then, Kauffman has devoted his talents to helping pets. His company, Ortho Pets (www.orthopets.com) is dedicated to supporting the quality of pets’ lives through the science of orthotics.

So far, Kaufmann’s company has helped thousands of animals across the United States and Europe. Today, he continues to advance his work by teaching courses at Colorado State University.

But by far, one of Kauffman’s biggest success stories is about an adorable, overweight Labrador retriever named Otis.

Otis ruptured his rear leg Achilles tendon. Although the tendon was successfully repaired with surgery, Otis’ extreme obesity made it difficult for his leg to heal. To make matters worse, Otis began transferring his weight – eventually developing problems in his good leg.  As a result, Otis was extremely uncomfortable, had great difficulty walking and poor quality of life.

Working with Otis’ veterinarian, Ortho Pets designed a pair of custom braces to protect the damaged leg, and at the same time, support his good leg. Now with a strict diet and miracle braces from Ortho Pets, Otis is a healthy, happy Labrador retriever.

Often, a painful orthopedic condition can cause severe suffering and disability in a pet. Unaware of companies like Ortho Pets, pet owners often believe that easing the pain of their companion through euthanasia is the only option – this is not always the case.

In some cases, a custom orthotic brace alleviates pain and corrects dysfunction, allowing the pet to move normally and without pain.

Likewise, owners often face difficult decisions due to surgery costs and extended aftercare services their pet may require. Additionally, many veterinary surgeons recommend strict cage rest with no activity for six to eight weeks after surgery. For many dogs, this enforced rest period is difficult.

Custom orthotic braces may support the post-operative joint, allowing the animal to become active earlier. For some elderly pets or pets who are not good surgical candidates, a brace may support the injured joint well enough for the pet to live a normal life without surgery.

Custom orthotics provide more options when striving to help an injured or disabled pet. Working together, pet owners, veterinary surgeons and orthotic specialists improve and save the lives of many pets that may have been forced to live with pain – or perhaps, may not have lived at all.

Filed under: pet health on April 19th, 2008 | No Comments »