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.

What would happen to your pet in an emergency?

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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

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

Jude

I have another blog dedicated to Beagles call For the Love of Beagles, which you guessed it focuses on Beagles.  Today, however, I posted a brief article on something that a lot of dogs suffer from, including my own dog, and that's separation and isolation anxiety.

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!

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.   

Toxicology: True or False

I thought we’d stick with toxicology today.  Kirk’s Current Veterinary Therapy XIV has a wonderful chapter entitled “Urban Legends of Toxicology: Facts and Fiction”.  While the Internet is a great source of information it also contains a lot of misinformation.  If you are concerned about a potential toxin exposure your best resource is either your veterinarian or the ASPCA poison control (888) 426-4435. 

• Ingestion of Swiffer WetJets causes liver failure in dogs. FALSE:  The only potential and likely problem following ingestion is foreign body obstruction.  

• Tea is a good poisoning antidote for cats and dogs.  FALSE:  Tea actually contains more caffeine than semisweet chocolate, therefore making it more toxic than semisweet chocolate.

• Ingestion of pennies are of little concern.  FALSE:  United States’ pennies made after 1982 contain zinc.  Zinc toxicity can occur from just one penny.  Clinical signs include anemia via destruction of red blood cells and severe gastrointestinal signs.  The anemia can be so severe that the patient requires blood transfusions.

• Febreze, the odor elimination production, is dangerous for pets.  FALSE:  The pre-1998 formulation did contain Zinc chloride, which has since been removed. 

• Vitamins A and D are toxic for most pets.  TRUE: Vitamin A toxicity can cause muscle weakness, bone abnormalities and blindness.  This is rare but can occur by consuming large amounts of liver or supplements containing cod liver oil.  Vitamin D toxicity can lead to high levels of calcium, which results in calcium deposition leading to heart and kidney damage.  Vitamin D toxicity is also rare but I've seen Vitamin D toxicity secondary to a dog consuming the owner’s entire bottle of Vitamin D supplements and as a result of ingestion of choleciferol-containing rodenticides.

• DEET Mosquito repellent products are safe for use on cats and dogs. FALSE:  All are toxic to pets.  Clinical signs included hypersalivation, vomiting, tremors, ataxia and seizures within 6 hours of exposure.  There is no antidote.  Decontamination and supportive therapy need to be initiated as soon as possible.

Please remember anything and everything can be potentially toxic for your pets.  Dose is everything.  If you suspect poisoning please either call your veterinarian or the ASPCA poison control, which has veterinary toxicologists on call 24/7.    

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.

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.
 

 

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.

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.

 

 

 

Rawhides - Why I Hate Them

The fourth year of vet school consists entirely of clinical rotations.  I tracked mixed animal so my rotations consisted of things such as small animal medicine, small animal surgery, large animal medicine, large animal surgery, radiology, anesthesiology, etc. No matter what you track (small animal, large animal or mixed animal) everyone is required to complete a necropsy rotation.  Which I’m sure to the average person sounds horrible but remember we’re veterinary students and we view it as a chance to learn.  However, I will admit the smell is horrible and no matter how many times you shower or how many times you wash your clothes the smell is still there.  So by the end of the rotation you end up throwing out every piece of clothing that you wore during that 2-week period.  Also, for whatever reason they have you dress all in white which makes absolutely no sense.  Anyway, the most rewarding cases were the ones that you immediately found the cause of the death and you didn’t have to wait for the results of histopathology or any further testing.  During my 2-week necropsy rotation there was one case that I will never forget.  A 4-year female spayed Pomeranian presented for sudden death at home.  According to the owner the dog was acting perfectly normal went outside for a few minutes, came back inside, suddenly collapsed and died.  When performing a necropsy there is a strict protocol you follow so nothing is missed.  I’ll spare you the details of the protocol but by the time I got to dissecting the larynx I had found the cause of the death.  A large round piece of rawhide was lodge in the larynx completely occluding the airway.  The pathologist in charge looked at me and said,  “this is going to be a hard phone call to make”.  I was devastated both for the dog and the owners.

After graduation I went into private practice and at least once a week we remove esophageal foreign bodies, usually rawhides.  Esophageal foreign bodies can be life threatening and need to be treated immediately.  The foreign body can cause severe injury to the lining of the esophagus including perforation, which is life threatening.  Potentially any type of foreign object can become lodged in the esophagus – bones, needles, fishhooks, rawhides, etc.  Clinical signs of esophageal foreign bodies include drooling, gagging, repeated attempts to swallow, pawing at the mouth, not being about to swallow food or water.  Many esophageal foreign bodies are easily seen on x-rays.  Once diagnosed esophageal foreign bodies should be removed immediately typically with a flexible endoscope or forceps.  If surgery is needed the overall prognosis is poor.  Complications associated with esophageal foreign bodies include stricture formation of the esophagus, severe and might I add painful inflammation of the esophagus, laceration of the lining of the esophagus and aspiration pneumonia secondary to regurgitation.

My advice is to completely avoid rawhide chews. There are many other great and safe alternatives.  I personally or I should say my dogs personally love kongs.  I also highly recommend supervising any dog with any type of chew toy.                 

Dog Parks

After seeing the end results of some pretty horrific dogfights secondary to dog park visits I decided to share the California Veterinary Medical Association recommendations for dog park safety.  While dog parks can be fun they aren’t for every dog and they harbor some serious risks such as bites and exposure to infectious diseases.

   

The CVMA has the following recommendations for keeping your dog safe while visiting a dog park: 

• Make sure your dog’s vaccination status is current
• Make sure your dog is socialized and gets along well with other animals and people
• Keep a very close eye on your dog at all times
• Make sure small dogs and big dogs are separated
• Bring water for your dog to drink
• Have your veterinarian check your dog regularly for parasites
• Talk to your veterinarian about any precautions you should take with your dog

Some other things to consider

• Promptly pick up and properly dispose of any feces
• Don’t take your dog to the park when it’s sick or recovering from an illness