Author: mom

Penn Researchers : Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Vaccine

October 18, 2011
PHILADELPHIA — An experimental vaccine developed by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s schools of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine is the first veterinary cancer vaccine of its kind that shows an increase in survival time for dogs with spontaneous non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The work shows for the first time the feasibility and therapeutic efficacy of this alternative cell-based vaccine, which could be employed in the treatment of a number of different cancer types.
The research was conducted by Nicola Mason, assistant professor of medicine at Penn Vet; Robert H. Vonderheide, associate professor of hematology and oncology at the Perelman School of Medicine; and Karin U. Sorenmo, associate professor of oncology at Penn Vet. Erika Krick, Beth Overley and Thomas P. Gregor of Penn Vet and Christina M. Coughlin of the School of Medicine also contributed to the research.
Their work was published in the open access journal PLOS ONE. Continue reading Penn Researchers : Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Vaccine

Leptospirosis outbreak in Detroit, MI

Bacterial disease outbreak threatens metro Detroit animals
Published: Oct. 27, 2011
EAST LANSING, Mich. — More than 20 cases of the life-threatening bacterial infection leptospirosis have been reported in Detroit-area dogs in the past three weeks, according to Michigan State University’s Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health.
Experts at the MSU center, a service unit of the College of Veterinary Medicine, diagnosed the specific strain of the disease, which can cause fatal damage to dogs and can be transmitted to humans.
In most cases, the dogs were not vaccinated against leptospirosis, or they had an uncertain vaccination history. Because this particular type of leptospirosis is associated with contact with rats, stray dogs are typically thought to be at highest risk. Continue reading Leptospirosis outbreak in Detroit, MI

Flaxseed, soy and low thyroid

From the American Thyroid Assn (an association of professional
endocrinologists).

http://www.thyroid.org/patients/ct/volume4/issue6/ct_patients_v46_12_13.html

“This is the first study to show that dietary supplementation with very high
doses of soy phytoestrogen (at levels typical of a vegetarian diet), may
result in a 3-fold increase in the risk of progression from subclinical to
overt hypothyroidism, suggesting that vegetarian patients with mild
subclinical hypothyroidism may need more careful monitoring of thyroid
function. The mechanism for this effect is not well understood.
On the other hand, high dose phytoestrogen also resulted in improvement in
cardiovascular risk factors despite worsening of thyroid function and may be
beneficial to patients with increased cardiovascular risk.”

[It should be noted that flaxseed contains 3x the phytoestrogen of soy, and
it is probably better absorbed from the gut (more digestible). With the
proliferation of flaxseed in both pet and human food, one has to wonder
about the increased numbers of hypothyroid animals and humans.]

What you need to know about Pet Food Labels

Pet Food Labels – General
http://www.fda.gov/

Pet food labeling is regulated at two levels. The federal regulations, enforced by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), establish standards applicable for all animal feeds: proper identification of product, net quantity statement, manufacturer’s name and address, and proper listing of ingredients. Some states also enforce their own labeling regulations. Many states have adopted the model pet food regulations established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). These regulations are more specific in nature, covering aspects of labeling such as the product name, the guaranteed analysis, the nutritional adequacy statement, feeding directions, and calorie statements.

Continue reading What you need to know about Pet Food Labels

Doxycycline suspected side effects

Suspected side effects of doxycycline use in dogs – a retrospective study of 386 cases

1. B. S. Schulz, DrMedVet, DiplECVIM-CA1,   2. S. Hupfauer, DrMedVet1,   3. H. Ammer, DrMedVet, DrMedVetHabil2,   4. C. Sauter-Louis, DrMedVet, PhD3 and   5. K. Hartmann, DrMedVet, DrMedVetHabil, DiplECVIM-CA1

–
This study investigated doxycycline-related side effects in a large population of dogs. Data from 386 dogs that had received doxycycline for the treatment of various infectious diseases were analysed retrospectively. Potential side effects that developed during treatment were documented, and correlations with signalment, dose, duration of treatment, frequency of application, doxycycline preparation and use of additional drugs were investigated. Continue reading Doxycycline suspected side effects

Behaviours in dogs separated from litter at different ages

Prevalence of owner-reported behaviours in dogs separated from the litter at two different ages

  1. L. Pierantoni, DVM1,M. Albertini, DVM, PhD2 andF. Pirrone, DVM, PhD2

The present study examined the prevalence of behaviours in dogs separated from the litter for adoption at different ages. Seventy adult dogs separated from their dam and littermates and adopted between the ages of 30 and 40 days were compared with 70 adult dogs that had been taken from the litter for adoption at two months. Owners were asked to complete a questionnaire eliciting information on whether their dog exhibited potentially problematic behaviours when in its usual environment. Continue reading Behaviours in dogs separated from litter at different ages

Oral Rabies Vaccination Program in the East

Rabies is a virus that affects the central nervous system in mammals and is almost always transmitted through saliva when an infected animal bites an uninfected animal or person. Rabies is invariably fatal if left untreated.
Effective vaccines are available to protect people and pets. Wildlife accounted for more than 90 percent of all reported rabies cases each year in the United States. Several different variants of the rabies virus exist in this country, and all variants are capable of infecting mammals, including humans. Raccoons, bats, and skunks are
responsible for most reported cases, but foxes and coyotes also commonly transmit the disease.
Continue reading Oral Rabies Vaccination Program in the East