Tuesday's Tips from our Doctors-Canine Parvovirus!!!!

Tuesday's Tips from our Doctors! 

Recently our  Doctors asked how they could share some facts about the common (and not so common) things that can effect the health of our  pets in S. Florida.  This is what we can up with. Be on the look out for more Tips from our Doctors and be sure to let us know what other things you would like to know about!

Canine Parvovirus

What is “Parvo”?

Canine parvovirus is a very contagious gastrointestinal virus that can affect dogs of all ages. This virus can be deadly if left untreated. Unvaccinated puppies are at the highest risk, especially those less than four months of age. Parvovirus is spread by direct contact with contaminated stool from other infected dogs and puppies. This virus is very resistant to heat and cold, and unfortunately for this reason can live in the environment for long periods of time. It is important to understand that any places where dogs have access to could potentially have parvovirus in the soil.  The virus can also contaminate leashes, dog beds, kennels, and food bowls.

What are the signs and symptoms?

If you notice your puppy is acting lethargic, has a decreased appetite or begins to vomit or have diarrhea contact your veterinarian immediately! All of these symptoms could be signs that your puppy may have been exposed to parvovirus. Most puppies that are infected with parvovirus will become very dehydrated and can die within 72 hours if not treated aggressively.

How is Parvovirus treated?

The most important aspect of treating your puppy with parvovirus is hydration and helping to control the vomiting and diarrhea. Recently, some human antiviral drugs have had some benefit in treating dogs with parvovirus. Puppies will also need to be treated with antibiotics in order to help prevent secondary bacterial infections. Any dog or puppy that is diagnosed with parvovirus needs to be immediately isolated from other dogs so that they cannot further spread the infection.

How can Parvovirus be prevented?

Most importantly vaccinating puppies and keeping them isolated from other dogs before their vaccine series is completed can prevent parvovirus. Many owners do not realize that one vaccine is not enough to protect their puppy from parvovirus.  Puppies must complete their minimal three vaccine series before they are able to socialize with other dogs, especially at places like the dog park and beach. 

Kate Cappe D.V.M.

Oklahoma State University, 2015

Check out Dr. Kate's page for even more great information about the best care for your pet!

 

Tuesday's Tips from our Doctors-Toad Toxicity!!!!

Tuesday's Tips from our Doctors! 

Recently our  Doctors asked how they could share some facts about the common (and not so common) things that can effect the health of our  pets in S. Florida.  This is what we can up with. Be on the look out for more Tips from our Doctors and be sure to let us know what other things you would like to know about!

As pet owners we are concerned about the health of our pets. Even with the best of care there are risks to pet ownership. One concern, commonly seen in tropical and subtropical regions of the United States and the Caribbean, is toad toxicity and is a common issue in which veterinarians deal with on a regular basis.

Florida ranks the highest in toad toxicity cases in the United States. In California, Texas, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean cases are frequently seen. Heat and rain are perfect factors for toads to reproduce. Oral contact of cats and dogs with the Bufo species toads has been describe as the main cause of toad toxicity. This occurs when a dog or cat attacks a toad. As a defense mechanism the attacked toad produce toxic milky substances from glands in the skin. These substances affects the heart and nerve function and can be hallucinogens.

An affected animal might show signs of excessive salivation, pawing at the mouth, constantly shaking its head, trembling, increased respiratory rate, loss of balance, and seizures. Toad toxicity is considered an emergency. 20 to 100 percent die if appropriate veterinary care is not provided in a timely manner. Severity depends on the amount of toxin ingested, the species of toad, the accessibility of veterinary care and each animal's susceptibility to the toxins.

The best option is prevention. Before letting your animal go outside, owners should verify that there are no toads in the yard, especially after a rainy day. If possible, owners should not allow standing wander to form because eggs and tadpoles are considered toxic as well. Most importantly dogs should be supervised whenever they are outside.

In case of exposure, owners should wash their pet's mouth with water for 5 minutes, if the event is recent and the animal is alert. Then they should take the animal to the hospital for veterinary care. If the animal's condition looks concerning, owners should take the pet without hesitation to the veterinarian. VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital has the facilities to give the best care to your pet.

 

Frank Acevedo, D.V. M.

Tuskegee University, 2015

Citations: Cote, Etienne. Clinical Veterinary Advisor: Dogs and Cats. Third ed. St. Louis: Elsevier Mosby, 2015. 1002-1003. Print.

Gwaltney-Brant, Sharon. "Overview of Toad Poisoning." Toad Poisoning. 2014. Web. 5 July 2015.

Tuesday's Tips from our Doctors- Feline Leukemia (FeLV) !!

Tuesday's Tips from our Doctors! 

Recently our  Doctors asked how they could share some facts about the common (and not so common) things that can effect the health of our  pets in S. Florida.  This is what we can up with. Be on the look out for more Tips from our Doctors and be sure to let us know what other things you would like to know about!

FeLV stands for Feline Leukemia Virus. It is a retroviral disease of cats that affects their bone marrow and immune system. It is estimated that about 3% of cats worldwide are affected with this virus. FeLV can be transmitted multiple ways; it is shed in the saliva, feces, milk, and urine of an infected cat, although the primary route of transmission is through saliva.  

Transmission can occur via grooming, licking, biting, as well as sharing dishes and litter pans. Therefore, close cat-to-cat contact is required for transmission. Transmission from infected mother to kitten may occur during pregnancy, and it can also be transmitted by the exchange of blood. 

Any age a cat can become infected with the virus. However, kittens and younger cats are at the highest risk of significant and rapid progression of the disease because of their naïve immune system. Some cats will contract the disease and will not show clinical signs (signs of illness), but they will continue to spread the virus. These are known as latent carriers. They can become symptomatically ill when stressed. On rare occasions, some cats that are infected may eliminate the virus on their own and never become ill. These cats become immune.

 

There is no specific treatment or cure for a FeLV infection. Many cats with FeLV will live normal lives, but their life span tends to be significantly shorter. Most cats will not live more than 3 years past the time they are infected with the virus.  Many cats become sick with lymphoma (cancer), bone marrow disease (such as leukemia), or feline infectious peritonitis (FIP).

FeLV cats may encounter other problems that include an earlier onset of dental disease and more upper respiratory infections (colds), as well as multiple diseases related to being immune suppressed. If your cat becomes ill and is FeLV positive, treatment involves supportive care based on their clinical signs. Examples include supportive care for the leukemia form (bone marrow disease). The lymphoma form of the disease may be treated with better results using chemotherapy drugs, but is still not curable. 

There is a vaccine available for the prevention of FeLV. This vaccine is considered a “core” vaccine for kittens. This means all kittens should receive the vaccines as the proper standard of care in veterinary medicine. 

Kittens will receive 2 vaccines 2 weeks apart (at 12-14 weeks of age, and then again at 15-17 weeks of age), and then a booster one year later. Current recommendations in the literature indicate that after 2 years of age (with proper vaccination until then), yearly vaccination is “risk based.” This means certain cats should continue to receive the yearly vaccine. This includes cats who have certain factors which increase their risk of exposure such as going outdoors, living in large colonies, or living with positive cats. 

All cats should be tested for FeLV before being vaccinated. New kittens can be tested as early as 6-8 weeks of age. Your veterinarian has an ELISA test (this is normally able to be done in the office with a few drops of blood) which screens for FeLV and FIV (another virus of cats). If you know your cat has been exposed to FeLV, it is recommended to test them again at least 30 days post exposure to ensure a second negative result. Some cats will test positive, but then clear the virus on their own and test negative the second time.  

Kittens should be tested at an early age (at adoption, etc.) however they should be re-tested at least 30 days later to ensure a second negative result since the virus may take weeks to months to be detected. If your cat tests positive, a confirmation test (known as an IFA (immunoflourescent assay test) can be done at an outside laboratory to confirm the positive result. 

 If your home has a FeLV positive cat, it is recommended that you do not bring any new negative status cats into the household to minimize other cats from being exposed. If you own two cats, separating them to avoid possible bodily fluid exchange is best. Luckily, the virus is very unstable in the environment, and common household cleaners easily destroy it. Even without cleaning, the virus is destroyed naturally in a span of days. 

Angela Suarez, D.V.M. 

University of Florida, 2015

Tuesday's Tips from our Doctors! - Kennel Cough!!!

Tuesday's Tips from our Doctors! 

Recently our  Doctors asked how they could share some facts about the common (and not so common) things that can effect the health of our  pets in S. Florida.  This is what we can up with. Be on the look out for more Tips from our Doctors and be sure to let us know what other things you would like to know about!

The infamous “Kennel Cough” is the canine equivalent of a child coming home from school or a friend’s house and coming down with the “flu” soon after. In terms of Kennel Cough, there are many “bugs” at play as opposed to just the “flu”, and many of these bugs can work together to create a more severe infection. Kennel Cough is medically termed, infectious tracheobronchitis, or inflammation of the trachea and the bronchi(the airways of the lungs). The disease often starts with a virus, either canine parainfluenza virus(CPiV) and canine adenovirus 2(CAV2) at the most commonly associated viruses. Other more life threatening viruses have been isolated, but due to widespread vaccination, are far less common. CPiV and CAV2 are acquired through interaction with other dogs and inhalation/consumption of viral particles, whether it be from a sneeze, playing with a toy or object another dog recently played with, or very close contact between a dog that has been infected. Both viruses target the cells of the respiratory tract, damaging and paralyzing the defense mechanisms, such as cilia(or microscopic hairs) responsible for removing debris and helping to remove pathogens from the respiratory tract. This allows for bacteria that either naturally inhabit the respiratory tract(commensal bacteria) or pathogenic and infectious bacteria to colonize and wreak havoc on the respiratory tract, further increasing the severity of clinical signs.

            The bacteria associated with Kennel Cough is Bordatella bronchiseptica  This bacteria is capable of infecting a dog indepedently, or with the help of the viruses listed above. Just like the viruses, it is spread via transmission of respiratory secretions and objects that have been contaminated. Studies have shown that nearly 50% of normal, healthy dogs may have Bordatella in their respiratory tract, allowing spread of infection from playmates without the infectious dog appearing sick! Another pathogen implicated in kennel cough, is Mycoplasma, a primitive bacteria. Mycoplasma is known for its ability to create a biofilm or layer of slime that allows it remain in the body and protects it from host defense mechanisms as well as antibiotic therapy.

 

The main signs associated with “Kennel Cough” are sudden coughing episodes often accompanied by retching and coughing up phlegm in an otherwise normal dog.  A characteristic “goose honk” associated with kennel cough is theorized to be a result of swelling of the larynx or voicebox. Mucoid discharge from the eyes and nose is also recognized. In more severe cases, loss of appetite, fever and appetite may be observed. These signs often begin 3 to 10 days after exposure. In severe cases, pneumonia may occur, leading to respiratory distress and difficulty breathing.

Diagnosis of the pathogens involved in kennel cough is often difficult, as many of the viruses involved do not infect for a long period of time. Recovering bacteria from infected dogs is sometimes helpful, however there is often contamination from normal inhabitants in the respiratory tract and it is often hard to differentiate.

Treatment involves controlling discomfort as a result of the irritation caused by the pathogen including anti-tussives(anti-cough) and anti-inflammatories as well as antibiotics which target, not only the bacteria implicated in kennel cough, but those that are opportunistic, or taking advantage of the weakened immune system. In severe cases, nebulization may be indicated. Most cases however, are self-limiting, or resolve on their own.

Prevention is key, and involves sanitation and vaccination. Vaccination can be performed as early as 2 to 3 weeks if the dog is living in a high-risk environment. Studies of the intranasal and injectable versions of the vaccine have been shown to significantly lessen the severity clinical signs. Boosters should be given 3 to 4 weeks after the first injection. The vaccine shows long lasting immunity for the viruses involved, but short duration for Bordatella, the main bacterial player, lasting from 3 months to 10 months. The recommendation is to administer the vaccine at least 5 days prior to potential exposure (boarding, showing, and other high risk activities.) if the dog has not had the vaccination within 6 months.

Michael Freifeld, D.V.M 

Cornell University, 2015

VCA HAH First Year Associate