Archive for Important Pet Health News
Don’t Panic! (Yes, there is another pet food recall)
Recalls happen all the time. For any number of reasons. If you think I’m kidding about that, you should check out the Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA) recall website! Some recalls get more media attention than others. This recall is hitting the news, and while it doesn’t impact our side of the country yet, it is still something to be aware of.
To prove to the manufacturer that you (or your pet) have been affected by the object in question, you really have to have the packaging. The lot or production number and best by dates are possibly more important than the entire packaging. Where to find the numbers will vary with different types of food.
The current recall is due to possible Salmonella contamination. Salmonella can make pets and people sick (think bad stomach flu) and requires medical attention. Not all pet foods are included in this recall, in fact, it has been traced to one dry dog food production plant. Yet the list of affected products continues to grow. Hopefully this recall won’t continue to snowball. Diamond Pet Food claims that most of the recall is precautionary, only four bags of food have actually tested positive for Salmonella, and they have suspended production at the plant in question.
So far, the recalled food is only known to have shipped from the manufacturer, Diamond Pet Food, to the Eastern United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
Sample of production codes recalled
The following brands of dry dog food have been affected by the recall:
- Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul
- Country Value
- Diamond
- Diamond Naturals
- Premium Edge
- Professional
- 4Health
- Taste of the Wild
- Apex
- Canidae
- Kirkland Signature
March is Poison Prevention Month – Part 2
So what do you do if you think your pet may have ingested or come into contact with a potentially harmful substance?
1. Stay calm!
2. If your pet is not showing any signs or symptoms of illness it is still a good idea to contact your veterinarian and discuss whether or not your pet should receive medical attention.
3. If your pet is showing any signs or symptoms of illness, you should take them to a veterinarian immediately.
One thing to remember is to please try to provide as much of the following information as possible when you contact the veterinary hospital or bring your pet in to the veterinary hospital:
1. What the ingested substance is ( including all active ingredients ).
2. Keep and bring any remaining packaging material that the agent was in.
3. Approximate amount that the pet ingested or was exposed to the agent.
4. Time ( or best approximation ) of ingestion/ exposure.
All of this information will serve to better help your veterinarian provide the best medical care and treatment course for your pet.
Of course, the best way to prevent accidental poisoning of your pets is to prevent your pet from having access to the agents and knowing which items can pose a threat to them. Some helpful tips include keeping harmful agents in cabinets that are secure and/ or above a height that your pet can not reach, use trash cans with locking lids and keeping compost piles enclosed or protected from access by you pets. Always read and follow the directions on the labels regarding lawn and garden products as well as flea and tick products. Do not give your pet any medications unless approved or recommended by your veterinarian. Keep toxic plants out of your home and yard or at least out of reach from your pets.
There are two Animal Poison Control helplines, one through the ASPCA, 1-888-426-4435, and one via the PetPoison Helpline, 1-800-213-6680. Charges may apply for either service, so have a credit card handy.
Heather B., CVT
March is Poison Prevention Month – Part One
1. Foods - alcoholic beverages, chocolate ( especially dark or bakers chocolate ), coffee, onions, grapes or raisins, avocado, macadamia nuts and gums containing xylitol.
For a household pet safety checklist please visit the ASPCA Poison Control website. For a more comprehensive list of potential toxins, please check out the Pet Poison Hotline website.
Recognizing February as Pet Dental Health Month
You may have seen signs around advertising that February is Pet Dental Health Month. At North Portland Veterinary Hospital, we honor Pet Dental Month all year long. When you bring in your pet for their wellness check-up, our doctors assess their dental health. Sometimes we recommend an anesthetic dental cleaning, sometimes we simply talk to you about what you can do at home to improve your pet’s dental health. If an anesthetic dental cleaning is recommended, we give you a coupon for $50 off that procedure if it is performed in the next 3 months. We even are able to make payment arrangements in most cases. These deals are available all year long, you just have to follow your veterinarian’s recommendations!
Dental health is important!
Bacteria in the mouth is part of what makes bites so dangerous.
Bacteria build up turns to plaque and than to calculus. Each stage is more difficult to remove from teeth than the last.
Did you know that your pet can get cavities?
Gum inflammation (any chronic inflammation) can lead to heart disease.
Did you know that the best thing that you can do for your pets teeth is to brush them every day?!
(Please don’t sting me up, I’m just the messenger!) We know that this is a hard task to accomplish. Developing good habits takes time, yes. But overall, you should be able to reach a point where brushing your pets teeth takes less time than brushing your own.
Need help getting started?
Give us a call, we can schedule appointments with the technicians for demos, or with your veterinarian for an oral check up. We also have goodie bags that take you through the steps to brush on your own.
Or you could check out these links:
The American Veterinary Medical Association has a great video on brushing. Cornell University also has a great video on Brushing Cat Teeth, and how to get your cat to like it!
Growing Concern Over Jerky Treats
The FDA has its hackles raised again over possible illness in dogs related to the treats they are fed. The current suspect: chicken treats for dogs, that can be sold as jerky, strips, tenders, or chews. The treats in questions originate from China. At this point in time there are no conclusive leads, but this “caution” from the federal government is not the first of its kind in recent years. In 2005, there was the giant pet-food melamine recall. In 2007, the FDA gave “warning” about jerky treats for dogs, seemingly unrelated to the early melamine contamination. That warning was elevated to a “caution” in 2008, and then things went quiet.
Perhaps people were paying more attention to where their dog treats were coming from. Or maybe they were making treats at home. 2008 found us in the middle of the housing bust, maybe there were cases of dogs getting sick from treats, but not reportably because the affected families weren’t able to seek veterinary attention, or there were just bigger news items than a “caution” from the FDA.
Part of the issue seems to be that the FDA doesn’t know where to point the finger. They report that research is being done to pin-point the root of the problem. Thus far, they have ruled out melamine. Regardless, we need to know how to keep our pets safe. And how can we do that proactively?
First, buy local. Treat their food as you do your own. Our pets’ metabolism is remarkably faster than ours, so illness pops up a lot sooner.
If your dog is a jerky addict, then purchase a dehydrator (often seen at thrift stores) and make your own.
Save your packaging. If you cannot recall what type of food or treats you are offering, keep the label. You never know when it could be important.
One of the things that I do when I open a new bag of cat food, is dump it into a plastic storage container. I know lots of people do that. It keeps the pets from helping themselves, or pests from getting into it. Something that I could be better about, is clipping the information from the bag and taping it to the container. What information is important? Well to begin with, the brand name, type, and flavor. The expiration dates and lot numbers are crucial if there is a recall — finding those 2 pieces of information can be tough (check along the seams of the bag and by the proof-of-purchase barcode). That barcode could be useful also. Actually, the FDA has a whole list of things that would be helpful if you ever suspect a problem.
In the case of the “off” chicken jerky/tenders/strips/treats, here are the symptoms that have been reported so far:
- decreased appetite;
- decreased activity;
- vomiting;
- diarrhea, sometimes with blood;
- increased water consumption
- and/or increased urination.
As always, monitor your pets’ behavior. If you notice anything odd, give us a call. Likely, the recommendation will be to schedule an appointment or come right in, depending on a number of factors.
Fluorescent Cats To Fight AIDS
Fluorescent kitty pictures started flying around social networking sites recently. The pictures are supercute, but did leave some folks wondering, “is this news or perhaps just seasonal, after all Halloween is just around the corner.” Wonder no more, faithful readers, the glowing kitty is not just festive, but news! This research (ahem) sheds some light on possible immunizations therapies — that will benefit our feline family as much as our human brethren.
This article was reprinted from the American Animal Hospital Association. Enjoy.
ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic researchers have developed a genome-based immunization strategy to fight feline AIDS and illuminate ways to combat human HIV/AIDS and other diseases. The goal is to create cats with intrinsic immunity to the feline AIDS virus. The findings — called fascinating and landmark by one reviewer — appear in the current online issue of Nature Methods.
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) causes AIDS in cats as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) does in people: by depleting the body’s infection-fighting T-cells. The feline and human versions of key proteins that potently defend mammals against virus invasion — termed restriction factors — are ineffective against FIV and HIV respectively. The Mayo team of physicians, virologists, veterinarians and gene therapy researchers, along with collaborators in Japan, sought to mimic the way evolution normally gives rise over vast time spans to protective protein versions. They devised a way to insert effective monkey versions of them into the cat genome.
“One of the best things about this biomedical research is that it is aimed at benefiting both human and feline health,” says Eric Poeschla, M.D., Mayo molecular biologist and leader of the international study. “It can help cats as much as people.”
Dr. Poeschla treats patients with HIV and researches how the virus replicates. HIV/AIDS has killed over 30 million people and left countless children orphaned, with no effective vaccine on the horizon. Less well known is that millions of cats also suffer and die from FIV/AIDS each year. Since the project concerns ways introduced genes can protect species against viruses, the knowledge and technology it produces might eventually assist conservation of wild feline species, all 36 of which are endangered.
The technique is called gamete-targeted lentiviral transgenesis — essentially, inserting genes into feline oocytes (eggs) before sperm fertilization. Succeeding with it for the first time in a carnivore, the team inserted a gene for a rhesus macaque restriction factor known to block cell infection by FIV, as well as a jellyfish gene for tracking purposes. The latter makes the offspring cats glow green.
The macaque restriction factor, TRIMCyp, blocks FIV by attacking and disabling the virus’s outer shield as it tries to invade a cell. The researchers know that works well in a culture dish and want to determine how it will work in vivo. This specific transgenesis (genome modification) approach will not be used directly for treating people with HIV or cats with FIV, but it will help medical and veterinary researchers understand how restriction factors can be used to advance gene therapy for AIDS caused by either virus.
The method for inserting genes into the feline genome is highly efficient, so that virtually all offspring have the genes. And the defense proteins are made throughout the cat’s body. The cats with the protective genes are thriving and have produced kittens whose cells make the proteins, thus proving that the inserted genes remain active in successive generations.
The other researchers are Pimprapar Wongsrikeao, D.V.M., Ph.D.; Dyana Saenz, Ph.D.; and Tommy Rinkoski, all of Mayo Clinic; and Takeshige Otoi, Ph.D., of Yamaguchi University, Japan. The research was supported by Mayo Clinic and the Helen C. Levitt Foundation. Grants from the National Institutes of Health supported key prior technology developments in the laboratory.
Alert: Hot Dog Warning
The following Public Service Announcement is brought to you in part by RedRover, MyDogIsCool, and the sweltering staff at North Portland Veterinary Hospital.
Heat stroke is a very serious problem that can occur when weather gets nicer (or temperatures climb). In Portland we are lucky to not have to deal with heat issues all that often. However, that does mean that we need to study up on what to do in these oddly hot days. And what makes for a “hot day” you wonder?
| How Long Does It Take For A Car to Get Hot? | ||
| Outside Temperature* | Time It Takes To Heat Up… | Temperature* Inside Vehicle |
| 75 | 10 minutes | 100 |
| 75 | 30 minutes | 120 |
| 85 | 5 minutes | 90 |
| 85 | 7-10 minutes | 100 |
| 85 | 30 minutes | 120 |
| 90 | 20 minutes | 120 |
| 100 | 15 minutes | 140 |
*Temperature measured in degrees Fahrenheit.
The greenhouse effect will raise the temperature inside a vehicle quickly. Hot doggie breath (remember: panting is how dogs cool themselves — they cannot sweat) will add to the humidity making high temperatures feel even hotter. Poor pup, trying to cool off only compounds the problem. Having the windows cracked, or parking in the shade even, will have very little impact on the inside temperature.
Heat Stroke Study Guide
If you see a dog in distress in a hot car, call the local animal control agency, police or 911 right away. In Multnomah County, call 503-988-7387 and select option 1 if you see an animal is in imminent danger. If you have less pressing concerns about an animal’s welfare, you can contact Oregon Humane Society’s Investigations team.
If possible, you can also try to find the dog’s owner. Signs an animal is in distress include:
- Excessive panting
- Excessive drooling
- Increased heart rate
- Trouble breathing
- Disorientation
- Collapse or loss of consciousness
- Seizure
- Respiratory arrest
At least 14 states and many municipalities have laws that specifically address the problem of animals left in cars in extreme temperatures. These laws often authorize law enforcement officials to enter a vehicle and remove the animal. Even states without these provisions may consider leaving an animal in an enclosed car to be animal cruelty.
In Portland, you must call police or animal control to retrieve the animal, attempting to do so independently may be construed as a crime.
Diary of a Fat Cat
I know how tough it is to get weight off a cat or dog, I’ve had both.
As a kid, Sandy, our golden retriever grew wider and flatter – going from sleek athlete to ottoman – as he aged and his walks decreased. I was pretty young then, and don’t recall what or if we did anything about his weight.
Now I have a cat, Puck, who has been challenging me his entire life with his weight. When he was 3 (and 17 pounds!), my friends started teasing me about his weight, and soon he was diagnosed with Feline Asthma. I was concerned about how to treat his asthma successfully and not increase his chances of developing diabetes (and that’s a story for another day).
For the 
last 6 years, I have been trying to “manage” his weight. I didn’t manage it well at first, I changed from regular cat food to “diet” cat food and he gained weight. Then it managed me, feeding 3 cats their own food with two cooks in the kitchen and a difference in opinion about what a “snack” was. His weight fluctuated a lot in that time period, and it was stressful for all involved. And in the last year I finally got a good handle on how to make it work. Part of our system is: Puck tells me when it is dinner time, and I let him tell me all about it, and then he has to work for his supper.
“So what changed to make weight loss possible?” you ask.
In the last year I went to the North American Veterinary Conference and attended numerous seminars, mainly on nutrition and behavior. While I was at the conference, I started developing a way to help Puck and other overweight pets through coaching, consistency, follow through, with sound nutrition and activities. The end result? North Portland’s Weight Management Program. It’s geared to set you (and your pet) up for success, by tailoring our recommendations to fit your life.
Puck is calling, it’s time for dinner!
Cara
Nail Trims 101 – Counter Condition Your Dog To Enjoy Nail Trims
Do you look at this picture of a serene dog and calm owner trimming nails with envy? You’ve tried trimming their nails at home and the word disaster is an understatement. They thrashed and squirmed and fought you all the way. So, you do the next most logical thing. Call us. That may work for some dogs and it may make things worse for others. Although we are probably more prepared and skilled and have a few tricks up our sleeves, we really don’t want your dog’s experience to be terrible at our hospital. It’s a vicious cycle that can only get worse. It will take more technicians to overcome your dog at each visit. It may even take chemical restraint (sedation) which is no fun either. Each visit, your dog becomes more anxious, defensive, and upset. There’s no relief in sight. And, to make matters worse, when we really need to examine your dog, they may not let us because they’ve learned to associate really bad and unpleasant things at our hospital.
Stop the madness.
There’s hope. There’s a better way to solve this dilemma that your dog will love and may end up saving you some money in the long run. We need to teach you how to counter-condition your dog to actually love having their nails trimmed. It doesn’t take too long to teach. It requires some tasty treats for our food motivated pets or their favorite toy. And it requires some patience and consistency on your part.
Please watch this video by Dr. Sophia Yin that shows how to counter-condition your dog to accept nail trims. She’s an amazing veterinarian with some great ideas on how to transform the dreaded nail trimming experience into a calm, relaxing episode. Please click on this link to go to her website to watch this training video.
We are also excited to report one of our favorite veterinary behavioral specialists in Portland, Dr. Valli Parthasaranthy, teaches a workshop on how to safely and uneventfully trim your dogs nails. Her hands on training class, Nail Trims 101, is great and it’s affordable. If you struggle to trim your dog’s nails, you need to go to this class.
Protect your Pet – Get Them Microchipped
Did you know that 1 in 3 pets goes missing during their lifetime? Did you know pets that do not have permanent identification have only a 10% chance of returning home to you? Collars with pet ID tags can fall off or be taken off, making it very difficult for veterinary hospitals and humane societies or animal control services to identify them and contact you. A microchip ID may be the most important thing you can give your pet. It provides the best chance for a happy homecoming.
We now offer the HomeAgain microchip and their ProActive Pet Recovery program as a way to give you peace of mind in the event your pet becomes lost. A quick appointment with one of our hospital technicians is all it takes to give your pet permanent identification. They use an injection to insert the microchip into the shoulder muscles of your pet. We then use our scanner to confirm the chip is activated and working properly. HomeAgain helps to recover over 10,000 lost pets each month, almost twice the recovery rate of other microchip manufacturers. They believe this higher recovery rate is attributed to the ProActive Pet Recovery program, which include:
- 24/7 Lost Pet Specialists- When your pet is found, HomeAgain is contacted and validates your pet’s unique ID code and then they contact you to arrange for a happy reunion.
- Rapid Lost Pet Alerts- Dedicated recovery specialists send real-time lost pet alerts to veterinarians, shelters and pet rescuers in your area.
- Personalized Lost Pet Posters- Enables you to create your own Lost Pet Poster on the HomeAgain website and begin your search immediately.
- 24/7 Emergency Medical Hotline- You get free telephone assistance from licensed ASPCA veterinarians (Animal Poison Control is normally $65 a call).
- Travel assistance for found pets*- The HomeAgain membership will cover up to $500 in pet airfare when your dog or cat is found over 500 miles away. (*See brochure for details.)
Your first year in this program is prepaid with the purchase of the microchip. You’ll have the option to renew each year if you choose. If you decline, you will be moved into the Basic Program which means your information will continue to be stored in the database permanently and you can still update your contact information as needed at no charge. Any pet service organization that scans your pet will still be able to find you, it just may take longer to reunite you with your lost pet. If later on you want to renew the membership, you can do so at any time, just pay the annual fee. The cost is $16.99 per year. If your pet is already chipped with a different manufacturer chip, you can join this program. Call us for details.
When you purchase the HomeAgain chip, we will get the registration process started for you here at the hospital. You’ll need to complete the process on their website, www.homeagain.com or by calling their toll-free number 1-888-HomeAgain 1-888-466-3242.
If you have any questions, please give us a call.
