Canine Influenza Virus Outbreak in Palm Beach County

50-60 dogs positive for canine influenza at Big Dog Ranch

By WPTV -Staff

Published: Jun. 23, 2021 at 12:06 PM EDT

https://www.wflx.com/2021/06/23/50-60-dogs-positive-canine-influenza-big-dog-ranch/

Multiple dogs at Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Loxahatchee Grove have tested positive for canine influenza, a highly contagious respiratory disease.

The details were confirmed Wednesday by founder Laurie Simmons and the shelter's spokesman Chase Scott.

Scott said Big Dog Ranch Rescue took in a dog after it was surrendered by a Palm Beach County owner.

That dog later tested positive for canine influenza three days later, which Simmons said then spread to 50 to 60 dogs that are currently sick.

"(The surrendered dog) appeared to be healthy, was updated on vaccines, already spayed. So instead of putting it in quarantine, where we normally put all our shelter dogs coming in, we put it directly into our adoption buildings," Simmons said.

She said four adoption buildings at the facility have been on lockdown since June 8.

"It's like way bigger than anything we have ever seen," Simmons said.

She doesn't believe that any dogs adopted before June 8 were affected by the virus.

Currently, puppy cabins, which are separate and isolated from the affected areas, are the only areas where dog adoptions are being allowed.
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Simmons said they will administer canine influenza vaccines to dogs that have not been affected by the disease starting Thursday.

"This is a highly infectious virus. If you are in contact, and the dog coughed on you, saliva on you, it can be carried on your clothes, your skin, your shoes and lives on surfaces for up to 48 hours," Simmons said. "If you are walking your dog, another dog coughs on the grass, your dog sniffs that spot, it can get the virus that way also."

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"We have multiple confirmed cases not only in the dogs at the Big Dog Ranch shelter, but also in pet dogs out in the community, so it is good evidence the virus is here in Palm Beach County," Crawford said.

Dr. Cynda Crawford explains that canine influenza can spread very easily among dogs.

She said this marks the first return of the canine influenza virus in Florida since a big statewide outbreak in the summer of 2017.

Health experts say there is no evidence of the spread of canine influenza from dogs to people, and there have not been any cases of human infection with the canine influenza virus in the U.S. or world.
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The signs of this illness in dogs are the following:
Cough
Runny nose
Fever
Lethargy
Eye discharge
Reduced appetite

 
The CDC says most dogs affected by canine influenza recover within two to three weeks and only a small percentage die from the disease.

Sourced: https://www.wflx.com/2021/06/23/50-60-dogs-positive-canine-influenza-big-dog-ranch/

For more details about this outbreak,  watch WPTV's video report. 

 https://youtu.be/i_iUDlvA1EA

Arthroscopy for Medial Coronoid Process Disease

Coco is a 6 month old female intact Rottweiler who was referred by her primary care veterinarian for further evaluation of right thoracic limb lameness.

The lameness started 3 weeks prior to presentation, and there was no history of trauma or any other inciting cause. Radiographs had been performed, and showed concern for possible osteochondritis dissecans of the right shoulder. Coco was treated with activity restriction/rest and analgesic medication, but there was no improvement in her lameness. Coco was referred to VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital’s Surgical Service for further evaluation.

On examination, Coco was partial weight bearing lame on her right thoracic limb at a walk and trot. She displayed repeated pain on extension of both the left and right elbow joints. She had no shoulder pain, and normal range of motion of her shoulder joints. A CT scan was recommended to further evaluate Coco’s elbows and shoulders, and to identify the underlying cause of the lameness and pain.

 
A CT scan of Coco’s thoracic limbs revealed bilateral medial coronoid process disease, along with right-sided humeroradial incongruity. Her shoulders were within normal limits. Medial coronoid process disease is a term used to encompass several pathologies, including sclerosis, microfracture, fragmentation, fissuring, and cartilage damage to the medial coronoid process. Elbow joint incongruity is another type of 

developmental elbow pathology, and it can occur alone or in combination with medial coronoid process disease. In fact, elbow joint incongruity is seen in 60% of elbows with medial coronoid process disease. Medial coronoid process disease is initiated by a delay in endochondral ossification, as well as biomechanical forces that act on the medical coronoid process during maturation. Disturbance of endochondral ossification could result from unbalanced mechanical factors and supraphysiological loading of the medial coronoid process. Overloading of the medial compartment of the elbow may also result from joint incongruity. This leads to a progressive process of cleft formation, fracture, bone remodeling, fatigue of subchondral bone, and eventual medial coronoid process disease. Medial coronoid process disease most commonly affects young, large and giant breed dogs. Rottweilers, Labrador Retrievers, and German Shepherd Dogs have a breed predisposition for medial coronoid process disease. The age at first presentation is usually between 6 and 18 months of age. Elbow joint incongruity is also primarily seen in large breed dogs, and Rottweilers are over-represented.

Treatment of medial coronoid process disease includes both surgical and non-surgical treatment options. For affected animals, the best prognosis is associated with early surgical treatment in young dogs with minimal to mild osteoarthritis in conjunction with preventative measures against osteoarthritis. Coco is an example of an ideal surgical candidate due to her young age, and the fact that the CT scan showed minimal degenerative changes. Traditionally, surgery for these cases was approached via an open arthrotomy. At VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital, arthroscopy is available as one of our minimally invasive treatment options. Arthroscopy has been shown to result in a shorter period of convalescence and better functional outcome compared to arthrotomy. Additionally, arthroscopy allows for superior visualization of intra-articular structures. Improved visualization allows the surgeon to treat each joint more thoroughly and more precisely. Since it is minimally invasive, patients tolerate arthroscopic treatment of both elbow joints in a single session. Plus, elbow arthroscopy can often be performed concurrently with ovariohysterectomy or castration and/or stem cell harvesting.

Bilateral elbow arthroscopy was performed during a single session and revealed fissuring of both the left and right medial coronoid processes, along with synovitis. Arthroscopy revealed fissuring of both the left and right medial coronoid processes, along with synovitis. Arthroscopic debridement of the diseased medial coronoid process was performed with a power burr until healthy subchondral bone was reached. Debridement of diseased cartilage not only removes the inciting cause of pain/lameness, but it also helps slow the progression of osteoarthritis. Debridement to the level of healthy subchondral bone supplies a means of vascular access to the joint. Coco was hospitalized for one night post-operatively, and she was discharged to her owners the following day. At the time of discharge, Coco was comfortable and already ambulating with minimal lameness at the time of discharge. 

Besides cases like Coco’s of medial coronoid process disease, elbow arthroscopy can be performed for diseases including ununited anconeal process, osteochondoris, and incomplete ossificiation of the humeral condyle. This minimally invasive surgical option provides superior visualization and outcome for treatment of certain disease conditions, as well as, less patient morbidity.

Dr. Andrea Clark, DACVS-SA

Andrea.Clark@vca.com

For a list of the Minimally Invasive Surgeries we are offer include (but are not limited to) click here!

For a quick list of doctors and services at VCA Hollywood click here!

Dr. Andrea Clark's surgical service is available Wed-Sat. She can be reached through our dedicated referral line @954-600-9835. This line is provided only to area veterinarians and there staff for their sole use. A doctor is always in at VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital. 

  

Minimally Invasive (Soft Tissue) Surgery

 What kinds of surgeries can be done, minimally invasively?

 

·         Thoracoscopy (chest)

o   Exploratory

§  Exploring the chest to figure out a problem/ help diagnose.

o   Lung Lobectomy

§  Removing a piece of the Lung to send out.

o   Pericardiectomy

§  Surgical removal of a portion or all the pericardium (sac around the heart)

o   Pericardioscopy

§  Exploration of the pericardial cavity. (sac around the heart)

o   Lung, Mediastinal and pleural Biopsies

§  Taking samples to send out.

·         Abdominal/ Gastrointestinal

o   Exploratory (can include biopsies)

§  Exploring the abdomen to figure out a problem/ help diagnose.

o   Liver Biopsy

§  Taking a sample of the liver to send out.

o   Pancreatic Biopsy

§  Taking a sample of the pancreas to send out.

o   Adrenalectomy

§  Removal of one or both adrenal glands

o   Colopexy

§  Tacking/suturing the sigmoid colon to the abdominal wall.

o   Cholecystectomy

§  Removal of the Gallbladder

o   Gastropexy

§  Tacking/suturing the stomach to the abdominal wall

·         Urogenital

o   Kidney Biopsy

§  Taking a sample of the kidney.

o   Ovariohysterectomy/Ovariectomy (SPAY)

§  Removal of ovaries

o   Cryptorchidectomy

§  Removal of an undescended testicle

o   Cystopexy

§  Tacking/suturing the urinary bladder to the abdominal wall.

o   Percutaneous Cystolithotomy (PCCL)

§  Removal of bladder and urethral stones.

 Andrea Clark, DVM, DACVS-SA

 

A Spay is Not Just a Spay.

A spay is one of the most common surgical procedures performed by veterinarians. But what exactly is a spay? The term spay is a generic term that means surgical removal of the female reproductive organs. This can mean one of two things. The term spay can refer to ovariohysterectomy, which is the removal of the ovaries and the uterus. Alternatively, spay can refer to ovariectomy, which is removal of only the ovaries. So why do most veterinarians recommend spaying dogs and cats? There are numerous healthy benefits that come from spaying your pet. Spaying female dogs and cats helps prevent accidental pregnancy, reduces the risk for mammary cancer, and eliminates other possible health conditions such as uterine infection (pyometra), ovarian cancer, and uterine cancer. 

 Both ovariohysterectomy and ovariectomy are equally effective, and research has shown no difference in health benefits between the two procedures. So regardless of whether the ovaries and uterus (ovariohysterectomy) or just the ovaries (ovariectomy) are removed, spaying your pet can ultimately lead to your pet living a longer and healthier life. So what is new to learn about the common spay?

Historically, in veterinary medicine, the only way a spay could be performed was by open abdominal surgery. This surgery involves making an incision in the muscles of the abdominal wall, opening the abdominal cavity, and removing the reproductive organs through the abdominal incision. While there is nothing wrong with that method, advances in veterinary medicine and technology have given veterinarians a second way to perform a spay procedure through minimally invasive techniques. This minimally invasive procedure is called laparoscopic surgery.

Laparoscopic surgery uses high-definition cameras, fiber optic lights, and high tech small instruments that are inserted into the abdominal cavity through two tiny incisions. The high-definition cameras allow for superior visualization of your pet’s internal organs – much better than the naked eye. The superior visualization allows the surgeon to see more precisely and this greater detail makes a big difference for your pets’ safety.

Better visualization allows surgeons to be more precise with their surgical techniques as well as detect and address things such as small amounts of hemorrhage present during the procedure. Additionally, the entire surgical procedure can be documented through high definition pictures and videos and the minimally invasive approach, through two tiny incisions, means less pain after surgery and a quicker recovery for your pet.

With the ability to perform minimally invasive surgery, a spay is no longer just a spay. Now pet owners have options when it comes to spaying their pets. And you and your veterinarian can choose how to best serve your pet – either the traditional method, or minimally invasively.

Dr. Andrea Clark, DACVS-SA

Veterinary Surgeon