Lily Poisoning in Cats

Lilies seem to becoming more and more popular in floral arrangements and while they are beautiful, they are deadly to cats.  All parts of the plant are toxic and it only takes a tiny amount to cause acute kidney failure in cats.  Examples of these plants are the Easter Lily (Lilium longiflorum), Tiger Lily ( Lilium tigrinum), Day Lily (Lilium hemerocallus), Asian lily (Lily asiatic spp.) and Rubrum Lily ( Lilium rubrum).  However, any plant in the lily family can result in poisoning.

Clinical signs

• Vomiting, hypersalivation, depression, and anorexia usually occur within 1 to 2 hours after ingestion, followed by absence of urination and severe renal failure 2 to 4 days later. 

• If you know or think your cat might have eaten a lily, even just a tiny portion, take you cat to your veterinarian RIGHT AWAY.  The sooner treatment is begun, the better the prognosis.

Treatment

• The most important course of treatment is emptying the stomach of all plant components within 4 hours of ingestion.   
• Then administering medications to prevent absorption of the toxin.
• Also, diuresis of the kidneys via intravenous fluid therapy for 48 hours is very important to make sure that the kidneys continue to function appropriately.

Prognosis

• If emptying the stomach and administering medications to prevent absorption of the toxin are effective and fluid diuresis is performed, the prognosis for recovery is usually excellent.
• If enough toxin is absorbed to lead to acute kidney failure, the prognosis is guarded. This makes it very important to seek emergency care immediately after ingestion of the lily plant. 

For more information on lilies and other toxic plants please visit the ASPCA Poison Control website.

Please SHARE this infographic on The Pet Overpopulation Challenge to all dog and cat lovers!!!

This is brought to you by the Daily Puppy Blog.  To view a larger image please visit their site.

Puppy stabbed 11 times survives

Puppy stabbed 11 times survives

Today we are bringing you yet another case of horrendous animalcruelty, but luckily this story has a happy ending.

Hepatitis A - Infectious Hepatitis

Number 4 on the CDC's top 5 causes of drinking water outbreaks is Hepatitis A.

"Hepatitis" means inflammation of the liver.  Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease caused by an infection with the Hepatitis A virus.    Unlike hepatitis B and C, hepatitis A does not cause chronic liver disease and is rarely fatal.   

It is a virus that replicates in the intestinal tract and then spreads to the liver. The virus is then shed in the feces.  Virus shedding is greatest just before symptoms appear (i.e. when a person is not sick) and during the first week of illness.  It is typically associated with crowed conditions and poor hygiene.  

Approximately 3,600 cases of hepatitis A are reported each year in the US (keep in mind many more people are infected than are reported).

Transmission

• Person to person via fecal-oral
•  Ingestion of contaminated water or food  
• The most common food source is raw shellfish including oysters, clams, and mussels

Clinical Signs

• Fever, jaundice (yellow skin), nausea, vomiting, pale or clay colored stools and dark urine

Prevention

• Wash your hands  - hopefully you're noticing a theme by now!
• Hepatitis A vaccine
• Good sanitary practices, especially sewage treatment 
• Avoiding the consumption of uncooked shellfish 

 
If you have any further questions on Hepatitis A please contact your physician.

Daily Digital

Aurora

Human Foods That Are Dangerous for Pets

There are a number of human foods that are tasty to us but have been proven to be toxic and even deadly to our pets.  While it is tempting to give your pet human food, pets should not consume human food unless it's recommended by your veterinarian.



Chocolate, Coffee, Caffeine

Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine, that is toxic to dogs in large enough quantities. Chocolate also contains caffeine which is also toxic. Different types of chocolate contain different amounts of theobromine and caffeine. Baking and Dark chocolate contain the most, then milk chocolate followed by white chocolate which contains the least.  In other words a  dog would need to consume more milk chocolate in order to become ill. However, even a few ounces of chocolate can be enough to cause a small dog to become ill, so really no amount or type of chocolate should ever be considered “safe” for a dog to eat. Chocolate toxicity can cause vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, rapid or irregular heart rate, muscle tremors, and seizures. Death can occur within 24 hours of ingestion.

 

Xylitol 

Xylitol is used as a sweetener in many products, including gum, candy, breath-mints and toothpaste. It causes a sudden insulin release in dogs, which leads to low blood sugar levels. It can also cause liver failure in dogs. Initial signs of toxicosis typically within 30 minutes of ingestion include vomiting, lethargy and loss of coordination. These signs can then progress to recumbancy, seizures and death. Elevated liver enzymes and liver failure can be seen within a few days.  

   

Grapes and Raisins

Both grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in both dogs and cats.  The toxic substance in these fruits is unknown.   Vomiting, increased drinking and lethargy can occur 5 to 6 hours after ingestion, followed by anorexia, lack of urination, and tremors.  One to two grapes may be enough to cause these clinical signs.

  

Onions, Garlic, Chives

These vegetables and herbs can cause gastrointestinal irritation but more importantly can lead to red blood cell damage resulting in anemia. Although cats are more susceptible, dogs are also at risk if a large enough amount is consumed.  

Avocado

The leaves, fruit, seeds and bark of avocados contain a substance called Persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs and cats.

 

Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia nuts are commonly found in cookies and candies. The mechanism of toxicity is unknown, but ingestion can caused weakness, depression, vomiting,  and tremors in dogs. Signs usually occur 6 or more hours after ingestion and last approximately 12 to 48 hours.

Please visit the ASPCA Poison Control for more information or if you think your pet has consumed any of these foods.
 

 

Norovirus

Continuing with water related diseases.  The number 3 cause of drinking water outbreaks is Norovirus.

Noroviruses are a group of related viruses (Calicivirus) that cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever in humans.   It is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in the US, causing more than 20 million cases each year.  Formerly, known as Norwalk viruses named after the original strain, which caused an outbreak in a school in Norwalk, Ohio, in 1968

How do you get it?

• Fecal contamination of water and food, such as salads, in restaurants, camps, schools
• Uncooked or partially cooked oysters, clams, cockles or other shellfish that have been harvested from sewage-polluted estuaries
• Contaminated ice

• It is a highly contagious and resistant virus which is why outbreaks are common

Vaccine and Treatment

There is no vaccine and no drug to treat people who get sick from the virus.  Antibiotics won’t work because it's caused by a virus, not a bacteria.  Therefore, treatment is symptomatic and aimed at preventing dehydration. 

Prevention

• Once again good hygiene – WASH YOUR HANDS 
• Environmental surfaces should be disinfected using a chlorine bleach solution 5-25 tablespoons of household bleach per gallon of water
• Food and water safety is very important
• Noroviruses are relatively resistant and are able to survive freezing and temperatures as high as 60°
• Noroviruses can survive in up to 10 mg/liter chlorine 
•  US EPA guidelines for municipal water systems recommend residual chlorine concentrations of at least 0.2 mg/liter  

Historical Outbreaks

• In 2010 twenty-one NBA players and three staff from thirteen teams in eleven states were affected. 
• Butter Cream Frosting Incident.  In 1982, one man mixing icing for a Minneapolis-St. Paul area bakery caused some 3,000 illnesses.  Investigators discovered the infected worker mixed the uncooked icing in a giant vat with his bare arms and hands. 
• 1987 two related outbreaks involving ice produced by a company that supplied both Philadelphia’s Franklin Field stadium and to a museum fundraiser in Wilmington, Delaware.  The cause was traced to flooding of the company wells from an infected stream.

Shigellosis

Keeping with the topic of water related diseases I thought we'd continue with the list of top 5 drinking water outbreaks and briefly talk about number 2 on the list Shigellosis.


Shigellosis is an intestinal infectious disease caused by a group of bacteria called Shigella.  Humans are the only natural hosts however Shigellosis has been diagnosed in monkeys.  According to the CDC there are approximately 14,000 reported cases in the US every year.  

How do you get it?

•  Ingestion of feces-contaminated water, vegetables or dairy products

Clinical Features

• It is most often seen in pre-school age children in nurseries and daycare.  Not to gross you out but remember transmission is fecal-oral.
• Symptoms typically include bloody diarrhea (secondary to ulceration of the colon wall), fever, nausea and stomach cramps. 
• Mild cases usually resolve within 5 to 7 days without treatment.  However, severe infections can occur in children under the age of 2 years old.

 Prevention

• Strict hygiene is the key - frequent and correct hand washing!  It's very important to teach pre-school age children good hygiene habits.  Try to make hand washing fun by singing a song so he/she knows just how long to wash.
• Keep children with diarrhea out of child care settings.

Dality Digital

Did I hear someone say it's time for dinner?

The Search-and-Rescue Dogs of 9/11

Photographs by Charlotte Dumas of privately owned dogs who were mobilized, with their owners, to search for victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. They are now retired. 

This was published a few months ago but I thought I'd share it for anyone who didn't see it.  I love working dogs!

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/08/14/magazine/14Mag-rescue-dogs.html

Daily Digital

Victor

Channeling His Inner Hound

Channeling His Inner Hound - Video Library - The New York Times

As a proud owner of hounds I thought this video was cute!  However, I'm sure my boys would get the rabbit! 

Lucas and Juno: Special bond of a rescue dog and dying boy

Lucas and Juno: Special bond of a rescue dog and dying boy

Another reason why rescued dogs are the best!

Need to relinquish your pet & afraid of the stigma? HSHV assures that there is none when you do the right thing

Need to relinquish your pet & afraid of the stigma? HSHV assures that there is none when you do the right thing

If you need to give up your pet for any reason please do it responsibly. There are many options including the Humane Society, various rescue organizations, and animal hospitals just to name a few. There is no reason to be ashamed or embarrassed if you need to give up your pet. No one at any of these places will ever judge you.

Top Pet Name of 2011

Here's something kind of fun.  Banfield Pet Hospitals put together their list of patient names from their database, including over 780 hospitals across the country.

According to Banfield the 20 most popular dog and cat names in 2011:

Top 20 Dog Names
1. Bella
2. Max
3. Buddy
4. Daisy
5. Bailey
6. Lucy
7. Molly
8. Coco
9. Charlie
10. Rocky
11. Chloe
12. Maggie
13. Sadie
14. Princess
15. Sophie
16. Lucky
17. Roxy
18. Jack
19. Lola
20. Harley

Top 20 Cat Names
1. Kitty
2. Tiger
3. Bella
4. Kitten
5. Smokey
6. Max
7. Tigger
8. Shadow
9. Chloe
10. Lucy
11. Charlie
12. Oreo
13. Baby
14. Lucky
15. Buddy
16. Oliver
17. Jack
18. Simba
19. Princess
20. Angel

Did your animals make the list?

Daily Digital

Dreyfus

20-yr long dogfight operation shut down

20-yr long dogfight operation shut down, tipster gets $5K | abc7.com

We must continue to stand up and fight animal cruelty.  These types of crimes need much stiffer sentences.  Think about it this was going on for 20 years.  1 year of jail time is not nearly enough.  Support stronger laws - visit the ASPCA Advocacy Center to keep up to date on dog fighting legislation in your state.

Daily Digital

Shhh...don't tell Dad!

Giardia

Keeping with the theme of water safety according to the CDC top 5 causes of drinking water outbreaks are: 

1. Giardia
2. Shigella
3. Norovirus
4. Hepatitis A
5. Copper

What is Giardiasis?


Giardiasis is a diarrheal disease caused by a protozoan parasite Giardia that is infectious to both humans and pets.  Giardiasis usually affects dogs, particularly puppies, but can occur in cats.  It's not so much that Giardia is passed directly from animals to humans, but both come into contact with the same contaminiated water source.  Many dogs pick it up from puddles at the dog park (which is why I'm always telling Dreyfus not to drink from the puddles!).  People get giardia by drinking contaminated water or ice, swallowing water while swimming, eating uncooked food that’s contaminated.   


Once a person or animal has been infected the parasite lives in the intestine and is passed in feces.




Clinical signs


Most common clinical sign in both dogs and humans is diarrhea, which can be either mild or severe.  Other symptoms include gas, nausea/vomiting, abdominal cramps and dehydration. In dogs usually the diarrhea goes away on its own and the pet is fine, but severe cases can cause weight loss and general lethargy.  In people symptoms can last 2 to 6 weeks.


Contact your health car provider if you think you or your pet may have giardiasis.


Diagnosis


The infection is diagnosed with a fecal examination.




Treatment 


Treatment in dogs with typically includes metronidazole and a broad spectrum dewormer called fenbendazole.  If the pet is severely dehydrated from the diarrhea, fluid therapy may be necessary.  Most pets don’t become seriously ill because of Giardia, so the prognosis is almost always good. However, if the pet has an underlying disease giardiasis can cause a more serious infection.  However, even these animals typically recover with slightly more intensive treatment.


In people there are many prescription drugs available to treat giardiasis please contact you physician. 


Prevention

• Good hygiene – hand washing
• Avoid drinking water that may be contaminated 
• Use a water purification method such as boiling, filtration, or iodine treatment before drinking surface water
• Avoid eating food that may be contaminated
• Prevent contact with contaminated feces

Environmental and Dog Decontamination

I do recommend environmental decontamination for any dog that has been infected with giardia.  The most effective disinfectant is bleach diluted 1:32 in water which required less than one minute of contact time to kill Giardia cysts.  

If your dog does become infected, it is important for your pet to be bathed at the completion of treatment and retested to minimize the potential for reinfection of the pet and of the humans in the house.  Once again good hygiene, such as washing one's hands after handling the infected pet or its waste and prompt disposal of feces, is the key to prevention. 

Dog vaccine?

 A Giardia vaccine is on the market but not to prevent infection.  Instead to be used as an adjunct to treatment and reduce the shedding of cysts.

The 2006 American Animal Hospital Association Guidelines list this vaccine as not recommended.

 

 

 

Stranded and orphaned, baby otter is nursed back to health

Stranded and orphaned, baby otter is nursed back to health

I thought this was cute!

Water

It was announced that The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will donate $750 million to fight AIDs, Tuberculosis and Malaria.  I thought I would talk about something perhaps a little lesser know and that is the need for clean water.   

Water is essential to the survival of all organisms. Simply put without it life would not exist.  The majority of us living in developed nations take safe water for granted.  We don’t even think about it when we make our tea in the morning, wash our dishes, brush our teeth or take a shower.  However, worldwide nearly one billion people lack access to clean water and 2.6 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation.  It's estimated that 884 million people worldwide do not have access to an improved drinking water source, such as house pipes, public standpipe, protected well, protected spring, or rainwater collection.  According to the World Health Organization 3.5 million people die each year from water related diseases and the majority are children.  In fact every 20 seconds a child dies from a water related disease.  The good news is there are known solutions and treatment options.  We just need to make it happen.    

Daily Digital

Victor relaxing!

Hand Washing

After posting on Toxoplasmosis I thought we should briefly discuss the importance of hand washing.  Now you’re probably thinking why I know hand washing is important and I certainly know how to wash my hands.  Well I thought the same until I was forced sit through a 50-minute lecture on hand washing in vet school.  Yes, 50 minutes.  Hand washing to this day is the single greatest advancement in public health and is still the most important way to prevent the spread of infections, such as the flu.  As the CDC puts its “clean hands save lives.”    

So what is the correct way to wash your hands?

• Wet your hands with clean, running water and apply soap
• Rub your hands together and scrub all areas of your hands, including the back of hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your nails.  The most frequently areas missed include thumbs, fingernails, back of hands and wrists.
• Scrub for at least 20 seconds.  I repeat at least 20 seconds.  Contact time with soap is the most important factor.  I recommend singing a song such as the “ABCs” to yourself (or out loud doesn’t matter).  FYI a surgical scrub last 5 minutes.
• Rinse your hands well
• Dry your hands with a clean towel ideally paper or air-dry them

When to wash your hands

• Before and during food preparation
• Before eating
• After using the toilet
• Before and after tending to a sick person
• After blowing you nose, coughing or sneezing
• After touching an animal
• After handling garbage
• When they look dirty

Brief History of Hand Washing 

Hand washing was not recognized as a way to prevent the spread of infections until 1847 when a Hungarian physician named Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis discovered that hand washing drastically reduce the incidence of puerperal fever. 

Daily Digital

Yes he's available for modeling.  List of demands include treats and lots of them!

Toxoplasmosis

I thought the first zoonotic disease I’d cover would be Toxoplasmosis.  It's an infection that most people commonly associate with cats and pregnant women.  But as you will soon learn there are other ways you can become infected. 

What is Toxoplasmosis?

It's a disease caused by a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii.  It is estimated in the United States approximately 22.5% of the population 12 years and older are infected with the parasite and worldwide it has been estimated that in certain places up to 95% of some populations carry the parasite (CDC).  The majority of healthy people and cats infected with the parasite don’t have any symptoms.

How does one become infected?

There are three major modes of transmission 

• Congenital - a woman newly infected during pregnancy can pass the infection to her unborn child  
• Ingestion of undercooked contaminated meat, especially pork, lamb and venison 
• Worldwide this is the cause of the majority of infections
• Ingestion of oocyst passed in cat’s feces
• Cats become infected by eating infected rodents, birds or raw meat and then pass the parasite in their feces in the form of an oocyst.
• For as long as 3 weeks after becoming infected cats shed millions of oocysts in their feces.  Older cats are less likely to shed.
• Most infected cats will not show any signs of illness. 
• People become infected by:
• Ingestion of oocysts when cleaning a cat’s litter box when the cat is shedding
• Ingestion of oocysts in contaminated soil.  Remember not all cats use litter boxes!
• Eating unwashed fruits and vegetables
• Not washing their hands after gardening
• Drinking contaminated water
• Uncommon causes of transmission 
• Blood transfusion 
• Tissue or organ transplants

What does the disease look like?

•  Healthy people as stated before who become infected generally have no symptoms.  If symptoms do occur they are  typically mild “flu-like” symptoms that last for a few weeks and then resolve.  The parasite will remain in the body in a latent form and can cause illness again if the person becomes immunosuppressed.

• Immunosuppressed individuals can have more severe symptoms including fever, headache, nausea, and seizures.

• Pregnant women

o   If a woman has already been infected prior to becoming pregnant the woman has developed immunity and the baby will be protected.

o   If a woman is pregnant and becomes newly infected she can then pass the infection on to the unborn child.  Congenital abnormalities for the child include abnormal enlargement or smallness of the head, potential vision loss, mental disability and seizures.

Prevention

• Cook your food! 
• Whole cut meat cook to at least 145
• Ground meat at least 160 F
• Poultry at least 165 F
• Freeze meat at 0 F for several days prior to cooking.
• Wash fruits and vegetables before eating.
• Do not drink unpasteurized milk.
• Drink clean water.
• Wear gloves when gardening or when in contact with soil or sand and wash your hands after.

I’m pregnant do I need to give away my cat?

NO.  But you will want to take some extra precautions:

• Have someone else change the litter box.  If no one else is available wear gloves and wash your hands well afterwards.  Remember transmission is fecal-oral, so washing your hands is key. 
• Clean the litter box daily.   This is very important because the parasite does not become infectious until 1 to 5 days after it is passed in a cat’s feces.  So try to have someone clean the litter box right after your cat has defecated. 
• Don’t feed your cat raw or undercooked meat.
• Keep your cat inside. 
• Do not get a new cat while you are pregnant and avoid contact with stray cats. 
• You should also follow the above mentioned recommendations.

If you have any further questions or concerns please contact your veterinarian or physician.