Friday, February 24, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Animal Friendships with Catherine Ledner
TIME Behind the Cover: Animal Friendships
I thought I'd share some of my animal friendships....
I thought I'd share some of my animal friendships....
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| Lucy and Dreyfus |
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| Dreyfus and Manny |
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| Jude and Dreyfus |
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| Manny and Aurora |
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| Lucy and Victor |
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| Lucy and Humphrey |
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| Lucy and Dreyfus |
Animal Cruelty Arrests linked to North Iowa
Animal Cruelty Arrests linked to North Iowa
I post these stories to make you aware. Please don't buy pet store puppies. Take the pledge visit http://www.nopetstorepuppies.com/
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
--Margaret Mead
I post these stories to make you aware. Please don't buy pet store puppies. Take the pledge visit http://www.nopetstorepuppies.com/
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
--Margaret Mead
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Clostridium perfringes
There has been a recent outbreak of Clostridium perfrigens in South Dakota. The 50 person outbreak appears to be associated with tacos served at a high school basketball game (source http://www.ksfy.com/story/16689309/clostridium-perfringens-cause-of-pierre-outbreak).
What is Clostridium perfringens?
It is a bacterium that is a common inhabitant of the intestinal tract of humans and animals. It’s also present in the environment and is sometimes found in raw meat and poultry products. Five strains have been identified but only strains A and C have been associated with human illness. Clostridium perfringens food illnesses most commonly occur when large quantities of food are prepared and kept at unsafe temperatures. It is one of the most common causes of foodborne illnesses in the United States, with an estimated one million cases each year.
Clostridium perfringens Type A
Foods involved included cooked and reheated meats and meat products, poultry, fish, gravy, soups and stews. The typical scenario is a meat dish prepared in bulk for a large group, such as please forgive me for saying a church banquet.
Clinical symptoms
- Acute abdominal pain and diarrhea
- Nausea, fever and vomiting are uncommon
- Symptoms last for about 8-24 hours
- Fatalities are rare
- The very young and elderly are most at risk
Prevention
- Proper cooking of food to at least 145 F – 165 F and then kept at a temperature either warmer than 140 F or cooler than 41 F after cooking
- Meat dishes should be served hot and immediately after cooking
- Leftovers should be properly refrigerated as soon as they are removed from heating devices/serving tables
- Large quantities of leftovers should be divided into smaller quantities for refrigeration
- Leftovers should be reheated to at least 165 F
- Any food that has been left out too long consider dangerous to eat
It is much more serious and is associated with high mortality rates. Thankfully, it’s not common in the United States, with cases primarily reported in New Guinea and Germany. It is associated with eating pork that has not been properly cooked and improperly handled.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
Uno's half-sister will compete at Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
Reminder the Westminster Dog Show will broadcast on the USA Network beginning at 7 p.m., Feb. 13 and 14, and on CNBC starting both nights at 9 p.m.
Go Allie and Jazzy!!!
Reminder the Westminster Dog Show will broadcast on the USA Network beginning at 7 p.m., Feb. 13 and 14, and on CNBC starting both nights at 9 p.m.
Go Allie and Jazzy!!!
Big Pets Get Bigger
Big Pets Get Bigger: Latest Survey Shows US Dog and Cat Obesity Epidemic Expanding 54 Percent of Nation's Pets Overweight According to Latest Veterinary Survey; Pet Owners in Denial
Milk Bacterial Diseases - Brucellosis
Brucellosis, also known as Malta Fever, is a disease caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella. It affects animals including sheep, goats, cattle, deer, pigs, and dogs. The most pathogenic species for humans is B. melitensis (goats, sheep) followed by B. suis (pigs) and B. abortus (cows).
Bucellosis is not very common in the US, but the World Health Organization estimates that worldwide there are about 500,000 cases every year.
Sources of Infection
- Ingesting raw milk or milk products from infected cows or goats
- Contact with aborted fetuses and placentas - abattoir workers, hunters as well as veterinarians are most at risk
- Inhalation of Brucella organisms - not a common route of infection but can be a hazard for laboratory workers where the organism is cultured
- Eating undercooked infected pork meat or sausage
- Human to human transmission is extremely rare via breastfeeding and sexual contact
Clinical signs in people
- Undulant fever, sweating, chills, headache, weight loss, depression, and joint pain
- Complications include infections of the central nervous system and lining of the heart
- Chronic symptoms may exist and include recurrent fevers, depression, arthritis and fatigue
Control and Prevention
- Elimination of brucellosis in domestic animals via animal disease control measures.
- Pasteurization of milk. Brucella has been known to survive in soft cheeses made from raw milk for as long as 6 months.
- Avoid eating undercooked meat
- Wear gloves when handling viscera of animals
- Follow proper laboratory protocols
My dog has been diagnosed with brucellosis. Is there a risk for me?
B. canis is the species that infects dogs and this species has on rare occasions been transmitted to humans. However, the majority of dog infections do not result in human illness because to become infected you need to come into contact with blood, semen or placenta of the dog.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Milk Hygiene
After mentioning Camplyobacter the other day, I
thought it would be worthwhile to discuss milk, a somewhat controversial
and often passionate subject matter. FYI when I say milk I’m referring to
milk that comes from cows, goats, and sheep. I think the best place to
start this exciting series is with milk pasteurization, which many consider
to be one of public health’s most effective food safety interventions.
What is milk pasteurization?
It is the process of heating milk or a milk product to a
specified temperature and for a certain about of time. It's objectives are to destroy any pathogenic microorganisms that
might be present in milk such as Brucella,
Mycobacterium species, Coxiella burnetii, Listeria, Campylobacter and to enhance the shelf life of milk/milk products. It was
developed in the 1860s by Louis Pasteur. In
the United States routine pasteurization of milk began in the 1920s and became
widespread by 1950. It has led to dramatic decreases in the amount of people
getting sick from diseases transmitted by milk.
Current time-temperature recommendations are
based on the death time of Coxiella burnetii the causative agent of Q Fever,
which is 145 F.
Methods of Pasteurization:
- High Temperature Short Time treatment milk is pasteurized at 161 F for 15 seconds.
- Ultrapasteurized is when milk has been pasteurized at or above 280 F for at least 2 seconds, either before or after packaging. Purpose is to produce an extended shelf life.
- Low Temperature Long Time treatment milk is pasteurized at 145 F for 30 minutes.
How does milk become contaminated?
- Milk from a healthy cow has very few bacteria but milk from a cow with an infected udder (mastitis) has an extremely high bacterial count.
- Dirt, hair, feces from the exterior of the animal
- If the udder is not properly cleaned and sanitized before milking dirt, hair, and feces can contaminate milk.
- Bacteria from the animals' coat can potentially contaminate milk.
- Environmental contamination from feces, dirt, grain dust, etc.
- Milk equipment
- Humans can pass dirt to the cow and milk
- Rodents
Does Pasteurization lessen the nutritional content of milk?
No. There have been many studies that have proven that pasteurization does not significantly
change the nutritional value of milk or milk products.
Raw goat and veggies: Kibble's off the menu for these dogs
Raw goat and veggies: Kibble's off the menu for these dogs
My main problem with this article is the feeding of raw goat; it's just too risky. There is a reason why we cook our meat, to destroy parasites and bacteria. Feeding your pet raw food puts not only your pet at risk but it also puts you at risk.
I don't however, have a problem with feeding home made diets to your pets and I've seen these diets work wonders for pets with certain health problems. BUT if you're going to you must consult with a veterinary nutritionist in order to develop a nutritionally balanced meal. If you don't you're putting your pet at great risk. Also remember there are certain human foods that are toxic to pets such as grapes and raisins, bread dough, macadamia nuts, chocolate, garlic, onions, and foods artificially sweetened with xylitol.
One last thing, in defense of commercial pet food companies please remember companies like Hill's, Purina and Royal Canin have contributed a lot to the advancement of veterinary medicine through their constant research and have worked hard to make their diets the best that they can be.
Remember the Internet is a great source of information; it is also a great source of misinformation.
My main problem with this article is the feeding of raw goat; it's just too risky. There is a reason why we cook our meat, to destroy parasites and bacteria. Feeding your pet raw food puts not only your pet at risk but it also puts you at risk.
I don't however, have a problem with feeding home made diets to your pets and I've seen these diets work wonders for pets with certain health problems. BUT if you're going to you must consult with a veterinary nutritionist in order to develop a nutritionally balanced meal. If you don't you're putting your pet at great risk. Also remember there are certain human foods that are toxic to pets such as grapes and raisins, bread dough, macadamia nuts, chocolate, garlic, onions, and foods artificially sweetened with xylitol.
One last thing, in defense of commercial pet food companies please remember companies like Hill's, Purina and Royal Canin have contributed a lot to the advancement of veterinary medicine through their constant research and have worked hard to make their diets the best that they can be.
Remember the Internet is a great source of information; it is also a great source of misinformation.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
What would happen to your pet in an emergency?
Would they be safe? Get the ASPCA's Free Safety Pack.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Hundreds of cruise passengers hit with stomach illness
Hundreds of cruise passengers hit with stomach illness
Just an FYI. Remember we talked about Norovirus.
Just an FYI. Remember we talked about Norovirus.
Campylobacteriosis
I came across this article Pennsylvania health department says more people may have been sickened by raw milk. The illnesses were caused by a bacteria call Campylobacter, so I thought we'd briefly talk about Campylobacteriosis.
Campylobacteriosis is a bacterial disease most commonly caused by Camylobacter jejuni. It is a major cause of foodborne
illness, estimated to affect 2 million people in the US every year.
How do you get it?
It is found in the feces of clinically healthy
poultry, cattle, swine as well as dogs and cats. Poultry is a major reservoir and virtually
all chicken and turkey contain the organism.
Sources of contaminated food include
- Undercooked poultry, pork, shellfish
- Water
- Raw (unpasteurized) milk and milk products
- People can also get Campylobacter by coming into contact with infected animals feces
Clinical signs in humans
- High fever, nausea, abdominal cramps, profuse watery diarrhea
- Typically lasts 5 to 7 days
- Deaths are rare
- In rare cases it can lead to a syndrome called Guillain-Barre, which is a nervous system disease that causes progressive muscular weakness of extremities that can lead to paralysis
Prevention
- Pasteurization of milk and milk products – there is a reason why we do it!
- Proper treatment of drinking water
- Proper cooking of foods of animal origin - All poultry should be cooked to reach a minimum internal temperature of 165 °F.
- Proper washing of hands while handling raw food and avoid cross contamination
- Proper washing of hands after contact with animals and animal feces
CDC Releases Its First iPad "App"
The CDC iPad App serves up important information from CDC's website tailored to meet the needs of iPad users. Download CDC's free app today. I've already downloaded mine!
Friday, February 3, 2012
Cat Scratch Disease
What is Cat Scratch Disease?
Cat scratch disease is a bacterial disease caused by Bartonella henselae. Fleas transmit the infection to cats. Approximately 40% of cats carry Bartonella henselae with kittens being the most common. Cats infected with B. henselae do not show any signs of illness. It is transmitted to humans from cat bites and scratches. About 90% of cases involve children and adolescents.
Clinical signs in people
It is usually a mild disease in healthy people with an infection at the point of injury, swelling of lymph nodes around the head and neck and occasionally a low grade fever. The signs generally resolve on their own without treatment. However in rare cases people with compromised immune systems can develop more serious symptoms such as neurological signs.
Please call you family doctor if you notice
- A cat scratch or bite that is not healing
- An area of redness around a cat scratch/bite that continues to get bigger
- Fever that lasts for several days after a cat scratch/bite
- Painful and swollen lymph nodes
- Bone or joint pain
Is my cat infected?
There are tests available to detect Bartonella heselae.
Prevention
- Don’t give up your cat! This is a relatively rare condition and there are common sense methods to prevent the disease
- Cat owners should
- Avoid rough play with cats - most cat scratches/bites come from cats that are provoked
- Do not allow cat to lick any open wounds
- Wash hands after association with cat
- Flea control is very important since transmission among cats occurs by flea bites
Typhoid Fever
If you read my article on Salmonella yesterday, you might be asking yourself well what about Typhoid fever. I didn’t mention Typhoid fever because Salmonella Typhi causes it, which is not zoonotic. However, I feel like I jipped you so I will briefly talk about it.
Typhoid fever is a life threatening illness, which is not common in the US but still very common in developing countries. In the US there are about 400 cases each year with the majority acquired while traveling outside of the US.
It is an infection that can be prevented by vaccine, good hygiene and treated with antibiotics. If you're planning on traveling outside of the US notify your physician to find out what steps you need to take to protect yourself.
Asymptomatic Carriers
The interesting and perhaps scary thing about Salmonella Typhi is that there are people who can recover from an infection but remain asymptomatic carriers of the bacteria and continue to shed. Ever heard of Typhoid Mary? She was a cook and the first person in the US to be identified as an asymptomatic carrier and is believed to have infected about 53 people, 3 of whom died. She was quarantined twice by public health officials.
How do you get it?
Typically if you consume food or beverages that have been handled by infected people or if sewage contaminated water is used for preparing food or drinking
What are the symptoms?
- High fever - 103F - 104F
- Abdominal pain
- Weakness
- Anorexia
- Some develop a rash
How to avoid typhoid fever?
- Get vaccinated if you are traveling to a country where typhoid is common
- Avoid questionable food and drinks
- Avoid drinks with ice
- Eat food that has been properly cooked
- Avoid raw fruits and vegetables that can’t be peeled
- Avoid street vendors
What do you do if you think you have typhoid fever?
See a doctor immediately. If you’re traveling call the US consulate for a list of recommended doctors.
Daily Digital
I
adopted my cats Manny and Aurora during my first year of vet school.
Neither of them is very social with people other than myself. Aurora will
make an appearance from time to time but Manny has become almost a
mythical creature to my friends and family. I assure you he does exist.
In
vet school his favorite hiding place when anyone came over was one of my desk drawers. It had a hole in the back, which made for an easy and stealth
entrance/exit.
There's no drawer for him where I live now. So this is his current hiding spot, which is the very very very top shelf of my closet.
I love you Manny. Sorry I just gave away your hiding spot!
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Salmonellosis
There has been two recent multistate outbreaks of Salmonella. One caused by Salmonella Typhimurium linked to ground beef, with 20 people so far being infected. The outbreak has been linked to ground beef purchased from Hannaford Supermarkets. Another outbreak associated with Salmonella enteritidis linked to eating food from a Mexican-style fast food restaurant chain. With these recent outbreaks I can’t think of a better time to discuss Salmonella.
What is Salmonellosis?
Salmonellosis is an infection caused by a bacteria called Salmonella (gram negative rod shaped bacilli). There are more than 2,400 different variations or serovars of Salmonella that have been identified and cause disease in humans. However, S. typhimurium and S. enteritidis account for the most illnesses in humans in the US.
Is it common?
In the United States alone there are at least 40,000 cases reported every year. Keep in mind these are only the reported cases experts believe that there are between 400,000 and 4 million infections each year.
Clinical signs in people
- Diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, nausea typically for 2 to 7 days
- Most recover without treatment but in some the diarrhea can be so severe that they require hospitalization. These individuals are at risk of the bacterial infection spreading through out the body which can cause death unless properly treated.
- Infections are most severe in the young, elderly and people with impaired immune systems
How do you become infected?
Salmonella live in the intestinal tracts of animals, birds, reptiles and humans. Salmonella infections are zoonotic. Most infections are usually the result of people eating food that is contaminated with animal feces. Foods involved typically include feces-contaminated beef, poultry and pork, gravies, eggs, milk and milk products, shellfish and fish. Proper cooking of food kills Salmonella. However, infected food handlers can also contaminate food.
Pets and Salmonella
Salmonella can also be found in the feces of pets especially if they eat a raw diet. This is why I do not recommend ever feeding your pet a raw diet. Unfortunately, raw diets have become popular with the idea that a raw diet more closely resembles the natural diet that the feline and canine body is intended to consume. However, cooking food is what removes parasites and bacteria from food. Studies have found that the majority of dogs eating raw diets are shedding Salmonella in their feces. Even if these dogs are asymptomatic for infection they are shedding Salmonella, which puts people and other animals at risk for infection.
Clinical signs of dogs infected with Salmonella are very similar to human infections and include fever, diarrhea, lethargy, anorexia, vomiting and just like people they are at risk for sepsis. Dogs can also be chronically infected with Salmonella. Dogs become infected the same way people do and the young are generally more severely infected.
Reptiles and young birds are another important source of Salmonella, so make sure you wash your hands after handling any turtles, lizards, snakes or birds. Children under 5 years old should now own reptiles. Remember infections are most severe in young children.
Prevention
- Cook your food thoroughly
- Do not consume raw eggs or milk
- Wash your hands as well as kitchen surfaces and utensils immediately after contact with raw meat/poultry
- Wash your hands after contact with animals, especially reptiles and birds
For more information on Salmonella and the recent outbreaks please visit CDC.
Isolation Anxiety
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| Jude |
Daily Digital
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| After spending a fortune on various dog beds I come to find out that my dogs prefer $19 Costco beds! What good boys! |
Gov. Brown's plan on shelter law stirs backlash
Read more at: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/30/MNF81MUUVE.DTL
According to the Humane Society animal shelters take in and care for approximately 6-8 million dogs and cats every year in the United States, approximately 3-4 million are euthanized.
Please remember to have your pet spayed/neutered and if you're considering getting a pet please adopt either through a shelter or rescue. The great thing about shelter and rescue animals is that they come in all shapes, sizes, breeds and ages. If you choose to adopt not only have you saved a life but you'll have a friend for life!
For more information on pet adoption and what it's like to own a rescue please visit Beagles & Buddies or Pet Finder
One last thing...Please join me in taking the pledge "If a pet store sells puppies, I won't buy anything there!" by visiting the ASPCA site www.nopetstorepuppies.com/
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Cat Appreciation Month
Apparently, February is also Cat Appreciation Month. So be sure to appreciate your cat this month by giving him or her some extra cuddle and playtime. Oh, and get their teeth cleaned too!
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| Manny and Aurora |
Reminder it's National Pet Dental Month
The best place to start is with a visit to your regular veterinarian for a good oral exam. From there your veterinarian can recommend when it's time for a dental cleaning. There are Board certified veterinary dentists available who in addition to earning a doctor of veterinary medicine degree, have completed a residency in
veterinary dentistry and
successfully completed a certification examination. Your regular veterinarian can provide routine dental care and cleaning whereas Board certified dentists are available for bigger dental problems.
A proper dental cleaning should be performed under general anesthesia. I know that people get nervous about anesthesia and while there are always risks with anesthesia a proper pre-anesthesia workup can help determine the risk and aid in the decision whether or not to perform a dental procedure. These tests will determine the function the liver, kidneys, heart and lungs, which are necessary to help the body safely handle anesthesia. I recommend at the very least blood work (complete blood count, chemistry profile and urinalysis) prior to any anesthetic event. In older animals or animals with heart murmurs I recommend chest x-rays and echocardiograms.
I do not recommend non-professional dental scaling without anesthesia and neither does the American Veterinary Dental College. Here is AVDC's view on the matter http://www.avdc.org/dentalscaling.html.
A proper dental cleaning should be performed under general anesthesia. I know that people get nervous about anesthesia and while there are always risks with anesthesia a proper pre-anesthesia workup can help determine the risk and aid in the decision whether or not to perform a dental procedure. These tests will determine the function the liver, kidneys, heart and lungs, which are necessary to help the body safely handle anesthesia. I recommend at the very least blood work (complete blood count, chemistry profile and urinalysis) prior to any anesthetic event. In older animals or animals with heart murmurs I recommend chest x-rays and echocardiograms.
I do not recommend non-professional dental scaling without anesthesia and neither does the American Veterinary Dental College. Here is AVDC's view on the matter http://www.avdc.org/dentalscaling.html.
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