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

The feeling in your stomach when you know you ate too much!

Recently Zoo Miami asked our surgeon Dr. Danielson to help with a special case.  Learn about what Leroy ate! 

Have you ever eaten anything that you have regretted? Many of us have eaten too much candy at Halloween or too much dinner on Thanksgiving and we have had to live with a stomachache as the consequence. However, it is rare for a person to eat a toy or other item that is not digestible.

Unfortunately, animals sometimes do eat items that cannot be digested and the consequence can be much more severe than a stomachache. Eating non-digestible items can obstruct the intestinal system. An obstruction occurs when the item gets stuck in the stomach or intestine and blocks anything else from passing through. An obstruction can make animals very sick and in some cases is life-threatening.

Veterinarians call these non-digestible items foreign material or a foreign body. If a foreign body is very large or is stuck, it will require removal.

Removal may be accomplished through a non-surgical approach with a piece of equipment called an endoscope (scope) or, it may require surgery. A scope is a long instrument with a camera at the end. The scope allows for things within the stomach to be seen with the camera and removed with graspers. However, sometimes the foreign material is too large or cannot be retrieved with graspers. In these cases, surgery is performed. Surgery usually involves opening either the stomach or the intestine to remove the foreign material.

Often when an animal eats foreign material they do it when no one is looking and veterinarians are left trying to figure out what is wrong with the patient.  In the hunt to figure out what is wrong with the patient, X-rays (radiographs) may be taken to look for a foreign body. However, not all foreign bodies can be seen on a radiograph.  A radiograph can identify very dense material, such as metal and bone however, less dense material (plastic squeakers, cloth toys, rope toys, etc.) cannot be seen and we are left looking for what is called an obstructive pattern on the radiograph. An obstructive pattern is when a portion of the intestine is dilated (wider) than it should be.

It may seem odd that an animal would eat something they cannot digest.  Most of the time animals eat these items by accident. They are attracted to the scent of an item or are playing with a toy and start to chew on it. If the item/toy gets too far back in their mouth, they may swallow it. Remember, most animals don’t have fingers to pull things back out of their mouths.

Dogs and cats are the animals that veterinarians see most often for eating foreign bodies, however; sometimes other species eat things they shouldn’t.

Meet Leroy. 

Leroy is a 297 pound, 35-year-old, male Cuban Crocodile. Cuban Crocodiles are one of the most endangered crocodiles in the world. Their native habitat is a very small area, less than 200 square miles, of the Zapata Swamp in Cuba. Leroy lives at Zoo Miami and has been there since 1998.

In October of last year, Leroy ate a large metal can of lubricating oil that was being used in the maintenance of his enclosure. The can had been accidentally knocked over during the maintenance and fell into the water near Leroy. Crocodiles have a natural feeding response to splashes in the water and, unfortunately, the disturbance the can caused in the water attracted Leroy. At first, Leroy just played with the can. Eventually, he bit into the can and then swallowed it whole.

Given the size of the can, the caregivers and veterinary staff of the zoo were concerned, as it was unlikely to pass. Leroy had a foreign body.

Being a can, Leroy’s foreign body was metal and could be seen on radiographs. Therefore, to help identify the location of the can, radiographs (x-rays) were taken. 

Let’s take a look at the reconstructed image. In these images, Leroy would have been laying down on his stomach with his head at the top and his tail at the bottom of the image. 

Figure 1

Can you see all of the things in the abdomen when there are no arrows to help point them out? Give it a try.  Find out how you did!

As you can see, the can was very big and it wouldn’t have been able to make it through the intestinal system. Because the can was in the stomach, an attempt at removing it with a scope was made. Unfortunately, this was unsuccessful and it was decided that surgery would be performed to remove the can. 

Leroy was prepared for surgery similarly to the way a dog or cat would. He was moved into the operating room at the zoo and his skin was cleaned. However, one big difference was the way the abdomen was opened. In a dog or cat, the approach to opening the abdomen to get to the stomach would be through what is called a midline incision. This means a cut down the center of the abdomen. In the crocodile, the approach is through an incision in the left flank. This is a cut in the left side of the abdomen from the back to the front of the body. The reason the approach is different is that in dogs and cats the abdomen is one compartment and in crocodiles, there is some additional compartmentalization. This approach from the side makes it easier to get to the stomach. Also, crocodiles will sometimes pull their bodies along the ground and an incision on the underside of the abdomen would get very dirty. 

*These images may be considered graphic

The surgical opening and closing of the stomach (in a dog/cat or a crocodile) is called a gastrotomy and this was performed in Leroy similarly to how it would be performed in a dog. Take a look at this picture of the can being removed from Leroy’s stomach.   *These images may be considered graphic

The stomach of the crocodile is larger than that of a dog and it took some feeling around in the stomach to find the can. Take a look at the can after it was removed. There is another can next to the one Leroy ate for comparison. Those are some big holes made by Leroy’s teeth! Can you go back to the radiographs and see the holes in the can on the radiograph? 

Closing the gastrotomy site is performed with suture in a couple of layers. The closure of the stomach is similar in the dog, cat, and, crocodile. However, Leroy’s skin is of course much tougher than a dog or cat. Crocodile skin has what looks like scales on it. Those square areas that look like scales are called scutes. Scutes are very thick and make suturing the skin a little more complicated. A thicker suture was used in Leroy’s skin than would be used in a dog or cat.  Scutes can also be seen on turtle shells and on the feet of birds. You can see some of the scutes on Leroy in his picture and on his radiograph. Can look back to Figure 1 and find them? Find out how you did! 

The great news is that Leroy did very well after surgery and recovered with no complications!!! There were a lot of people happy to see Leroy make it through his surgery and continue to do well. It takes a large team working together to achieve a successful surgery on such a large, non-domesticated animal including zookeepers, caregivers, zoo administration, veterinary technicians, and veterinarians. 

It is amazing to see what people working together can achieve. I feel fortunate to have been a part of this fantastic team.

If you want to learn more about the beautiful animals at Zoo Miami, check out their Facebook page. There are tons of great pictures and videos for you to look through. Like all of us, Zoo Miami is being challenged by COVID19 right now. If possible, please consider donating to the zoo to help them through this difficult time.

Visit VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital to learn more about our advanced veterinary care for your cat or dog. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to connect with other pet people. 

Briana Danielson, DVM, DACVS-SA
VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital

The feeling in your stomach when.........

Meet Leroy. 

Leroy is a 297 pound, 35-year-old, male Cuban Crocodile. Cuban Crocodiles are one of the most endangered crocodiles in the world. Their native habitat is a very small area, less than 200 square miles, of the Zapata Swamp in Cuba. Leroy lives at Zoo Miami and has been there since 1998.

In October of last year, Leroy ate a large metal can of lubricating oil that was being used in the maintenance of his enclosure. The can had been accidentally knocked over during the maintenance and fell into the water near Leroy. Crocodiles have a natural feeding response to splashes in the water and, unfortunately, the disturbance the can caused in the water attracted Leroy. At first, Leroy just played with the can. Eventually, he bit into the can and then swallowed it whole.

Given the size of the can, the caregivers and veterinary staff of the zoo were concerned, as it was unlikely to pass. Leroy had a foreign body. Being a can, Leroy’s foreign body was metal and could be seen on radiographs. Therefore, to help identify the location of the can, radiographs (x-rays) were taken. Let’s take a look at the reconstructed image. In these images, Leroy would have been laying down on his stomach with his head at the top and his tail at the bottom of the image. 

Figure 1

Can you see all of the things in the abdomen when there are no arrows to help point them out? Give it a try.  Find out how you did!

As you can see, the can was very big and it wouldn’t have been able to make it through the intestinal system. Because the can was in the stomach, an attempt at removing it with a scope was made. Unfortunately, this was unsuccessful and it was decided that surgery would be performed to remove the can. 

Leroy was prepared for surgery similarly to the way a dog or cat would. He was moved into the operating room at the zoo and his skin was cleaned. However, one big difference was the way the abdomen was opened. In a dog or cat, the approach to opening the abdomen to get to the stomach would be through what is called a midline incision. This means a cut down the center of the abdomen. In the crocodile, the approach is through an incision in the left flank. This is a cut in the left side of the abdomen from the back to the front of the body. The reason the approach is different is that in dogs and cats the abdomen is one compartment and in crocodiles, there is some additional compartmentalization. This approach from the side makes it easier to get to the stomach. Also, crocodiles will sometimes pull their bodies along the ground and an incision on the underside of the abdomen would get very dirty. 

*These images may be considered graphic

The surgical opening and closing of the stomach (in a dog/cat or a crocodile) is called a gastrotomy and this was performed in Leroy similarly to how it would be performed in a dog. Take a look at this picture of the can being removed from Leroy’s stomach.   *These images may be considered graphic.

The stomach of the crocodile is larger than that of a dog and it took some feeling around in the stomach to find the can. Take a look at the can after it was removed. There is another can next to the one Leroy ate for comparison. Those are some big holes made by Leroy’s teeth! Can you go back to the radiographs and see the holes in the can on the radiograph? 

Closing the gastrotomy site is performed with suture in a couple of layers. The closure of the stomach is similar in the dog, cat, and, crocodile. However, Leroy’s skin is of course much tougher than a dog or cat. Crocodile skin has what looks like scales on it. Those square areas that look like scales are called scutes. Scutes are very thick and make suturing the skin a little more complicated. A thicker suture was used in Leroy’s skin than would be used in a dog or cat.  Scutes can also be seen on turtle shells and on the feet of birds. You can see some of the scutes on Leroy in his picture and on his radiograph. Can look back to Figure 1 and find them? Find out how you did! 

The great news is that Leroy did very well after surgery and recovered with no complications!!! There were a lot of people happy to see Leroy make it through his surgery and continue to do well. It takes a large team working together to achieve a successful surgery on such a large, non-domesticated animal including zookeepers, caregivers, zoo administration, veterinary technicians, and veterinarians. 

It is amazing to see what people working together can achieve. I feel fortunate to have been a part of this fantastic team.

If you want to learn more about the beautiful animals at Zoo Miami, check out their Facebook page. There are tons of great pictures and videos for you to look through. Like all of us, Zoo Miami is being challenged by COVID19 right now. If possible, please consider donating to the zoo to help them through this difficult time.

Visit VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital to learn more about our advanced veterinary care for your cat or dog. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to connect with other pet people. 

Briana Danielson, DVM, DACVS-SA
VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital

Minimally Invasive Surgery options for your pets.

Recent innovations in veterinary medicine and minimally invasive surgical (MIS) technology are changing the face of veterinary medicine. These new minimally invasive surgical approaches complement or replace traditional soft tissue and orthopedic surgery techniques with all the same benefits of traditional surgery.

What exactly is a Minimally Invasive Surgery? 

MIS is any surgical procedure that is performed with the aid of small instruments and cameras with high-definition real-time imaging systems through tiny incisions instead of a large opening.

Why should I choose Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) for my pet?

Your MIS surgeon makes smaller incisions, therefore your pet’s discomfort is minimized and recovery time is quicker.

"Hialeah Police Department Canine Unit has recently chosen minimally invasive surgery for all of their working canines to ensure they have the least amount of post-surgical downtime possible. Minimally Invasive Surgery allows for smaller incisions, as well as less swelling and pain which allows these canines to promptly return to duty."     - Dr. Jim Herrington, Medical Director, VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital

What procedures can be done with MIS?

VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital offers minimally invasive techniques for orthopedic, thoracic, and abdominal surgical cases.

Some of the minimally invasive procedures we offer are:

SOFT TISSUE PROCEDURES:

• Ovariohysterectomy/Ovariectomy (Spay)

• Cryptorchidectomy (Cryptorchid Neuter)

• Abdominal Exploratory

• Lung Lobectomy

• Cystopexy

• Biopsies (ie, Liver, Pancreas, Kidney, Lung)

ORTHOPEDIC PROCEDURES:

In addition to exploratory arthroscopy of joints, some procedures include:

• Arthroscopic debridement

• OCD lesion removal & debridement

• Meniscectomy

• Cruciate ligament debridement

• Biceps tenectomy

• OCD lesion removal and debridement

Benefits of Minimally Invasive Surgical Techniques

√ Less postoperative pain

√ Quicker recovery time

√ Superior visualization

Meet our Minimally Invasive Surgery Specialist

Andrea Clark, DVM, DACVS-SA

More about Dr. Clark...

Dr. Clark joined our team in 2018 and has firmly established herself as an asset to our specialty surgical team. Fully versed in both soft tissue and orthopedic surgery, Dr. Clark's experience and commitment to excellence is a trademark in all of her patient care.

Appointments
Wednesday-Saturday
Surgeries performed daily.
Dr. Clark is available by email at
au1000@vca.com

Our Specialty Services apply a team approach to patient care using the strength and expertise of all of our on-site specialists in Cardiology, Dermatology, Emergency & Critical Care, Internal Medicine, Oncology & Surgery to care for your pet.

Follow us on Facebook for all our latest hospital news.

News you can use: Everything you need to know about Parvo!!

What is Parvo?

Commonly known as parvo, this disease is caused by canine parvovirus (CPV-2). Infection with parvovirus is most commonly seen in young, unvaccinated puppies. The virus is very hardy in the environment and is resistant to many common cleaners and disinfectants, under the right conditions it can persist for years. Puppies become infected through oral or nasal contact with fecal material or objects/surfaces contaminated by the virus. Parvovirus is highly contagious to other dogs, after they become infected, and often before they start showing any signs of illness, they start to shed the virus in their feces. This viral shedding continues even past the point of recovery and other dogs in the area are at serious risk. The good news…parvo is preventable!

What does Parvo do?

Once canine parvovirus enters the body through contact with fecal material containing the virus or fomites (objects, people, surfaces, etc.) contaminated by the virus, it begins to replicate and spread throughout the body. The virus has preferences for certain tissues in the body to infect, including the small intestine, the bone marrow, and lymph tissue. The virus infects and destroys cells in these tissues causing the clinical signs that we commonly see. Because the small intestine is affected we see vomiting and bloody diarrhea, along with non-specific signs of illness like lethargy, anorexia, and fever. In a puppy these signs can rapidly progress to dehydration, collapse, shock, and ultimately death. 

Diagnosis

Parvovirus can be diagnosed with a quick ELISA test that most veterinarians have in hospital, used on a sample of fecal material. This test is very accurate but a false negative is possible if it is early in the disease before high viral shedding. Routine bloodwork can also help with a diagnosis as infected dogs often have very low numbers of white blood cells due to the virus destroying the bone marrow.

Treatment

Parvovirus is treated with supportive care until the dog’s immune system can fight off the virus. Aggressive treatment must be started as soon as possible if parvo is suspected. Treatment includes fluid therapy, anti-nausea medications, antibiotics to prevent secondary bacterial infection, and nutritional support. There are potential complications of parvovirus that may require surgical intervention.

Most deaths occur within 24-48 hours after clinical signs appear. The risk of rapid death, severe complications, and the cost of intensive hospitalization demonstrate why prevention of this disease is so important.

Prevention

Parvovirus is largely preventable with vaccination! Parvovirus vaccines should be administered to puppies at approximately 8 weeks old, 12 weeks old, and then 16 weeks old. They should get another vaccine at 1 year of age and then they can be vaccinated every 3 years. Adult dogs should be kept current on their parvo vaccinations to prevent any risk of infection.

Reducing exposure to the virus is also an important consideration. Puppies should not be taken to parks, pet stores, puppy classes, etc. before they are fully vaccinated. Prompt removal of fecal waste can help prevent the spread of parvovirus, and areas where infected puppies have been should be properly disinfected.

Contagion

Canine parvovirus is highly contagious. Sick puppies should be isolated from other dogs as soon as infection is suspected. Please alert your veterinarian to the signs that you are seeing before you bring your puppy into the waiting room so they can take precautions to protect the other patients. Puppies diagnosed with CPV are hospitalized in an isolation ward to protect them and other pets in the hospital. CPV is not contagious to humans.

Learn more about
Shilo Gardner, DVM

News you can use: Heartworm disease- What you really need to know!!

What is heartworm and what disease can it cause in our pets?

Heartworms are large worms (potentially up to one foot long) that live in the pulmonary arteries of dogs or cats (the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the lungs), but can also be found in the heart and lungs themselves.  Heartworms can be found in dogs, cats and ferrets as well as some wild animals such as wolves or coyotes.  Since dogs are a natural host for heartworm, adult worms living inside dogs can mate and produce offspring that can be transmitted to other dogs.  Heartworms in dogs can cause damage to not only the heart, but also the lungs and arteries.  Signs of heartworm disease in dogs can include cough, exercise intolerance and weight loss.  When large numbers of worms are present they can back up into the right side of the heart severely affect the amount of blood that can enter the heart and be pumped to the lungs, this is known as caval syndrome and can be life threatening.  Cats, however, are not a natural host and those that become infected often only have a small number of worms that often do not mature to adults.  Heartworm disease in cats is more respiratory in nature but is still a serious concern.

How is heartworm spread between pets?

In order for transmission of heartworm between animals to occur mosquitos must be present.  When a mosquito bites an infected dog and ingests blood from that animal they can pick up immature heartworms called microfilaria that are being produced by the adult heartworms.  Within the mosquito the microfilaria will mature to a stage that can then be transmitted to a new dog or cat when this mosquito bites them.  It takes 6 months for the heartworms to mature within the tissues and the blood of the newly infected animal, but once mature they can live for a significant period of time.

What is the risk of your pet acquiring heartworm disease and how can you prevent it?

At this time it is difficult to determine what factors may increase the risk of heartworm transmission in a given area.  However, we do know that heartworm disease has been diagnosed in all 50 states and infection rates can vary.  The American Heartworm Society recommends ensuring your pet has a heartworm preventative for all 12 months of the year.  A variety of heartworm preventatives exist for both dogs and cats.  All heartworm preventatives target only the immature heartworms, not the adults.  It is important that both outdoor and indoor pets are given a heartworm preventative as mosquitos can easily enter the home. Prevention is extremely important in cats as the disease can be difficult to diagnose and the treatment currently used in dogs cannot be used in cats.  All heartworm preventatives target only the immature heartworms.  Your veterinarian can recommend and prescribe the product that is best for your pet to help protect them from heartworm disease all year long. 

How do you test for heartworm?

Testing should be performed annually for dogs even if they are on a monthly heartworm preventative to ensure that the medication is working correctly.  All dogs, except for puppies under 7 months of age, should be tested before they are started on a heartworm preventative or if they have been off a heartworm preventative for any length of time.  The timing of testing is different with cats because diagnosis of heartworm in cats is more difficult.  The test in dogs is a simple blood test that can sometimes be run right in the clinic.  In cats testing also includes diagnostic imaging because they typically have such low numbers of worms present when they are infected.  It takes a minimum of 6 months for an animal to have a positive test after they have been infected with heartworm. 

How is heartworm disease treated?

Your veterinarian will come up with a specific treatment plan for your pet once the diagnosis of heartworm disease has been confirmed.  It is important to note that the larger the worm burden is the more severe disease can be and the more difficult it may be to treat.  Treatment is different for cats and dogs, but can involve multiple medications and take several weeks to complete.  6 months after the treatment regimen is completed a repeat heartworm test will be performed to confirm the success of treatment. 

For more information on heartworm disease and how to prevent it in your pet please seek the advice of your veterinarian or access the American Heartworm Society website. 

Never Forget! your pets monthly heartworm medication again. VCA HomeDelivery will safe you money and deliver your pet's monthly medication to your door, the day you need it. All you have to do is call 'Fido' to the door and give him his mail. For more information about home delivery for your pet visit store.vcahollywood.com

Learn more about 

Rebecca Mycock, DVM

News you can use: Home Dental Care for your pet!!!!!

An important part of your pet’s overall health is good oral hygiene.  Just like in humans, preventing dental disease requires regular cleaning to remove any buildup of plaque and tartar on your pet’s teeth.  There are a variety of things you can do at home to help keep your pet’s mouth clean.  All the methods that will be discussed here are targeted at minimizing the buildup of bacterial film, of plaque, and preventing the plaque from mineralizing into tartar. 

  

Home Oral Hygiene:

Brushing: Of the home oral hygiene methods, brushing is by the most effective way to keep your pet’s mouth clean.  Ideally brushing should be done daily, but brushing several times per week will still be effective.  A soft bristle tooth brush and pet specific toothpaste are the only materials you will need.  Human toothpaste is not made to be swallowed and can upset your pet’s stomach if used.  Most pets will allow you to brush their tooth, but a gradual approach is best to get them used to it.  It is often best to start by holding up their lips for short periods of time for the first few days and then proceeding to massaging their gums with your finger or a piece of gauze for another few days before introducing the toothbrush.  Some pets prefer finger brushes or dental wipes, so it is important to be patient and find what works best for your pet.  Lastly, try to make it fun for your pet and make sure to offer the lots of love and reward during the process. 

Oral Rinses and Gels: Another home oral hygiene method you can try is chlorhexidine oral rinses or gels that are squirted into the mouth or applied to the outside of the teeth. These are designed to be safe for pets but can have a bitter taste that some pets will object to. 

Diets and Treats: There are a variety of diets and treats on the market that formulated to help decrease dental disease.  Some help to remove plaque through mechanical action based on the shape of the kibble, while others have ingredients to help prevent tartar buildup.  For dogs, rawhides or various chew toys can be beneficial.  However, bones and antlers should be avoided as they can lead to broken teeth. 

Choosing products that are beneficial for oral hygiene can be difficult as there are so many options out there.  The Veterinary Oral Health Council Seal of Acceptance can be found on various products that have been found to meet the VOHC standard for preventing plaque and tartar buildup on pet’s teeth.  A complete list of the products with this seal can be found on their website (www.VOHC.org). 

Veterinarian’s Role: As important as home oral hygiene is, it is also important to recognize if at any point your pet needs dental care to be provided by your veterinarian.  Some of the most common signs of dental disease can include: obvious bad breath, loss of teeth, discoloured or stained teeth, pain associated with their mouth, as well as appetite or weight loss.  Your veterinarian can perform a full physical exam, including an oral exam to assess what dental care your pet may need.  This typically includes a full oral hygiene procedure and full mouth dental radiographs done under general anesthesia to ensure patient safety as well as to fully clean the teeth, both above and below the gumline.  Regular veterinary visits can help to determine the need for professional dental cleanings and allow you and your veterinarian to come up with a home oral hygiene plan that is best suited for your pet in order to help prevent future dental disease.   

VCA HomeDelivery delivers all of your pets food, treats and medications right to your door. Let us do the heavy lifting for you. For more information about home delivery for your pet visit store.vcahollywood.com

Learn more about 
Rebecca Mycock, DVM

News you can use: Everything you need to know about Lepto!

What is Lepto?

Leptospirosis is a disease that is caused by the bacteria Leptospira. There are many different strains of this bacteria that can cause disease in dogs. It is most commonly seen in warm climates where it rains regularly, aka Florida, but is found worldwide. Lepto is spread through the urine of infected animals so nearly every dog is at risk. Rodents are the primary reservoir of this bacteria, so if your dog comes into contact with water, soil, grass, basically anything that is contaminated with the urine of rodents or other wildlife they could be infected. The good news…lepto is preventable!

What does Lepto do?

Once the Leptospira bacteria get into the body through contact with the urine of infected animals they enter the bloodstream and invade tissues and organs, commonly settling in the kidneys. This causes acute kidney injury in dogs. Signs of acute kidney injury include lethargy, vomiting, anorexia, abdominal pain, and either urinating too much, or not enough. Lepto can also affect the liver and cause acute liver disease. Additional signs you may see include muscle pain, stiffness, diarrhea, fever, edema, and inflammation of the eyes.

Diagnosis

Since the signs of leptospirosis are non-specific your veterinarian may recommend several diagnostic tests to start with, including routine bloodwork, urinalysis, radiographs, and ultrasound. If their suspicion for lepto remains high after routine diagnostics they can send out urine and blood to look for bacterial DNA and antibodies.

Treatment

Leptospirosis is treatable with antibiotics and supportive care. Supportive care can include fluid therapy, anti-nausea medications, liver support, and GI protectants. Depending upon the severity of kidney failure, more intensive measures like dialysis may be needed. With early initiation of treatment, the chances of recovery are good but there is still a risk of permanent kidney and liver damage. The risk of permanent damage even with treatment is just one of the reasons why prevention of this disease is key.

Prevention

Leptospirosis is largely preventable with vaccination! The currently available Leptospira vaccines cover multiple serovars and have been shown to provide good clinical protection and reduce bacterial shedding in the urine. Puppies should be vaccinated for lepto starting at 12 weeks old followed by a booster 2 weeks later, and then annually after that. Adult dogs that have never been vaccinated also need the initial vaccine and a 2 week booster. It’s never too late to start vaccinating and protecting your dog!

Reducing exposure to potential sources of Leptospira bacteria is also an important consideration. Preventing your dog from drinking from or swimming in lakes, rivers, ponds, or any standing water, and avoiding contact with wildlife and rodents is always a good idea.

Human Risk

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease, which means that it can be spread from animals to humans. Human leptospirosis most often results from direct contact when swimming recreationally; however, transmission from an infected pet is possible. When lepto is suspected, basic precautions to avoid contact with the dog’s blood and urine are taken. Owners of dogs diagnosed with leptospirosis should contact their physician.

Learn more about

Shilo Gardner, DVM