Stop the Chicken Jerky!

I will just cut to the chase and insert the entire FDA article.  Please don't buy chicken jerky/tender treats made in China for your dog.  We have seen several illness and two deaths in the clinic potentially linked to their consumption.  I don't know why they are still on the shelves.  Take an active role in your dog's health!

FDA Continues to Caution Dog Owners About Chicken Jerky Products

November 18, 2011

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is again cautioning consumers that chicken jerky products for dogs (also sold as chicken tenders, strips or treats) may be associated with illness in dogs. In the last 12 months, FDA has seen an increase in the number of complaints it received of dog illnesses associated with consumption of chicken jerky products imported from China. These complaints have been reported to FDA by dog owners and veterinarians.

FDA issued a cautionary warning regarding chicken jerky products to consumers in September 2007 and a Preliminary Animal Health Notification in December of 2008. After seeing the number of complaints received drop off during the latter part of 2009 and most of 2010, the FDA is once again seeing the number of complaints rise to the levels of concern that prompted release of our earlier warnings.

Chicken jerky products should not be substituted for a balanced diet and are intended to be fed occasionally in small quantities.

FDA is advising consumers who choose to feed their dogs chicken jerky products to watch their dogs closely for any or all of the following signs that may occur within hours to days of feeding the products: decreased appetite; decreased activity; vomiting; diarrhea, sometimes with blood; increased water consumption and/or increased urination. If the dog shows any of these signs, stop feeding the chicken jerky product. Owners should consult their veterinarian if signs are severe or persist for more than 24 hours. Blood tests may indicate kidney failure (increased urea nitrogen and creatinine). Urine tests may indicate Fanconi syndrome (increased glucose). Although most dogs appear to recover, some reports to the FDA have involved dogs that have died.

FDA, in addition to several animal health diagnostic laboratories in the U.S., is working to determine why these products are associated with illness in dogs. FDA’s Veterinary Laboratory Response Network (VLRN) is now available to support these animal health diagnostic laboratories. To date, scientists have not been able to determine a definitive cause for the reported illnesses. FDA continues extensive chemical and microbial testing but has not identified a contaminant.

The FDA continues to actively investigate the problem and its origin. Many of the illnesses reported may be the result of causes other than eating chicken jerky. Veterinarians and consumers alike should report cases of animal illness associated with pet foods to the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator in their state or go tohttp://www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints.

Say Hello to Heartworms!

My first reminder is a simple one for the beginning of spring.  As the temperature increases, so does the number of mosquitoes.  It only takes one mosquito bite for your dog to contract heartworms.  The sole means of prevention is to administer a monthly heartworm preventative which you can obtain from your veterinarian.  There are many oral medication options as well as topical applications.  We also have all-in-one flea, heartworm, and intestinal parasite preventatives.

At your pet’s yearly wellness visit, heartworm disease is detected by a blood test.  It takes 2 minutes to run and provides peace of mind.  Most dogs that test positive for heartworms show no physical signs of disease.  Signs of advanced disease may be coughing, shortness of breath, weight loss, fever, fluid accumulation inside the abdomen (ascites), and death.  A heartworm infection can cause permanent damage to both the heart and lungs.

Treatment for heartworms is quite costly, ranging from $275-$1000+, depending on the severity of disease and the size of dog.  Prevention is the key in protecting your dog from this disease.  Even if your dog does not spend significant time outdoors, they are still at risk.  Mosquitoes are masters at finding a way into your house.  Did you know cats can get heartworms from mosquitoes too?  It can be difficult to diagnose in cats and more troublesome to treat than it is in dogs.  I highly recommend preventative for cats as well.  If you want to learn more, search for heartworms on petmd.com.

March is the perfect month to have your dog tested and start preventative if you haven’t already.  Your veterinarian can help you choose the right preventative for you and your pets. I hope everyone has a heartworm free spring!

Favorite Cat Toy

This is just a quick post.  This toy keeps my cats entertained for hours!  It twirls when you swing it overhead and makes a fluttering noise that sounds like a bird flapping its wings.



You can get it at PetCo!
http://www.petco.com/product/105394/Cats-Claws-Feline-Flyer.aspx

I could not find it at Petsmart but I'm sure they have something similar.

I got it from inhaling mouse poop?!

Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus...try saying THAT fives fast!

If you have never heard of this virus please take a minute to read this!  I'll try to be brief, I promise.

What is it?  LCMV is a rodent-borne virus (found in mice/rats etc.) 

How do I contract it?  Oral or inhalation exposure or broken skin contact with fresh rodent urine, droppings, saliva, or nesting materials.  Person-to-person transmission only happens only from infected mother to fetus or from organ transplant.

 

What are the symptoms?  Around 8-13 days after being exposed to the virus there are two phases to the illness.  The first starts out with flu-like symptoms (fever, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, muscle aches, headache) and may last as long as a week.  Other symptoms that appear less frequently include sore throat, cough, joint pain, chest pain, testicular pain, and parotid (salivary gland) pain.

Following a few days of recovery, the second phase includes meningitis (inflammation of a layer of tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord).  The symptoms can include fever, severe headache, and a stiff neck.  Those infected may also experience drowsiness, confusion, sensory disturbances, trouble with motor skills or paralysis if there is damage to the actual brain tissue itself.  There has also been an association between LCMV infection and myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscles).

Is it usually fatal? Not usually-only less than 1% of people infected die.

Is there a cure?  No.  Hospitalization and supportive care until your body can fight it off is the only treatment.

If you have a rodent infestation in and around your home, take the following precautions to reduce the risk of LCMV infection:

• Seal up rodent entry holes or gaps with steel wool, lath metal, or caulk.
• Trap rats and mice by using an appropriate snap trap.
• Clean up rodent food sources and nesting sites and take precautions when cleaning rodent-infected areas. See recommendations for cleaning rodent-infested areas.

If you have a pet rodent, wash your hands with soap and water (or waterless alcohol-based hand rubs when soap is not available and hands are not visibly soiled) after handling rodents or their cages and bedding (CDC.gov).

If you would like more information please visit these websites: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/mnpages/dispages/lcmv/qa.htm
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/12/5/05-0794_article.htm


I am a bit of a tree-hugger so I like the no kill mouse traps.  That way you don't have to touch them and you don't have decomposing rodents in your house.  With these you can release them elsewhere!

Raw Milk

During my veterinary training I developed an interest in public health, thus the Master's in Public Health I pursued and completed from U of Minnesota.  With that said, I wanted to post a quick FYI on the potential harm to people (and animals) in drinking raw (unpasteurized) cow's milk.  The reason milk in grocery stores is pasteurized in the first place is to prevent people from contracting harmful illness that can be transmitted through milk.

How does milk get contaminated? (CDC.gov)

Milk contamination may occur from:

• Cow feces coming into direct contact with the milk
• Infection of the cow's udder (mastitis)
• Cow diseases (e.g., bovine tuberculosis)
• Bacteria that live on the skin of cows
• Environment (e.g., feces, dirt, processing equipment)
• Insects, rodents, and other animal vectors
• Humans, for example, by cross-contamination from soiled clothing and boots

Pasteurization is the only way to kill many of the bacteria in milk that can make people very sick.

What can I contract from raw milk?

• Salmonella: Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps, usually lasts 4 to 7 days. Most people recover without treatment. Extreme dehydration may require a hospital visit for fluids.
  A small number of people who are infected with salmonellosis develop Reiter's syndrome, a disease that can last for months or years and can lead to chronic arthritis (see WebMD.com for more info).
• E.coli 0157:H7: Most people will experience vomiting and diarrhea that lasts 5-7 days and resolves on its own, however some develop more serious conditions such as hemorrhagic diarrhea (blood loss resulting in anemia, severe dehydration, and possibly death), hemolytic uremic syndrome (may lead to kidney failure and death), thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (spontaneous bruising, organ failure and possible death).
• Campylobacter: Mostly causes vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and fatigue.  Rarely can cause inflammation in the joints, reproductive organs, urinary tract/organs, and eyes.  One in every 1000 reported Campylobacter-related illness results in  Guillan-Barre Syndrome that can lead to nerve damage and paralysis (for more visit foodborneillness.com).
• "Q-Fever"/ Coxiella burnetii: The most common symptoms are flu-like symtoms with vomiting, diarrhea, high fever, and lethargy that may last for weeks and may not start for 2-3 weeks AFTER exposure.  In more serious cases it can cause pneumonia, inflammation of the liver and heart tissue, miscarriage or pre-mature labor in pregnant women.  The bacteria may persist in the person for years and manifest as a chronic disease later in life (for more info visit CDC.gov).

I don't mean to scare you...but are you scared yet?  Have I made my point?  Please don't drink unpasteurized milk from ANY animal, that means sheep and goats as well.  You may not know the effects of this decision for years!