Susan E. Anderson, DVM, DABVP
University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine
Why is veterinary dentistry important?
every pet has a mouth
85 percent of pets over two years has some evidence of periodontal disease
dental health contributes to overall health
goal should be prevention rather than treatment Continue reading Overview of Canine Dental Health and Disease
Category: Health
Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dogs
Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dogs
Patti S. Snyder, DVM, MS, DACVIM
Associate Professor, University of Florida
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a very common form of heart disease in dogs. Only degenerative valve disease (also called mitral valve disease or endocardiosis or mitral insufficiency) and in some places heartworm disease are more common. It was not until the 1970s, when echocardiography began to be performed in veterinary institutions, that dilated cardiomyopathy could be diagnosed non-invasively with any certain degree of accuracy. The reported prevalence in dogs is approximately 0.5 percent. Continue reading Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dogs
Influence of barometric pressure on GDV (bloat)
Abstract:
Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) is a life-threatening condition in dogs and other species in which the stomach dilates and rotates on itself. The etiology of the disease is multi-factorial, but explicit precipitating causes are unknown. This study sought to determine if there was a significant association between changes in hourly-measured temperature and/or atmospheric pressure and the occurrence of GDV in the population of high-risk working dogs in Texas. The odds of a day being a GDV day, given certain temperature and atmospheric pressure conditions for that day or the day before, was estimated using logistic regression models. There were 57 days in which GDV(s) occurred, representing 2.60% of the days in the 6-year study period. The months of November, December, and January collectively accounted for almost half (47%) of all cases. Disease risk was negatively associated with daily maximum temperature. An increased risk of GDV was weakly associated with the occurrence of large hourly drops in temperature that day and of higher minimum barometric pressure that day and the day before GDV occurrence, but extreme changes were not
predictive of the disease.
Canine Hip Dysplasia May Be Underreported,
According To Penn Vet Comparative Study
04 Sep 2010
A study comparing a University of Pennsylvania method for evaluating a dog’s susceptibility to hip dysplasia to the traditional American method has shown that 80 percent of dogs judged to be normal by the traditional method are actually at risk for developing osteoarthritis and hip dysplasia, according to the Penn method. Continue reading Canine Hip Dysplasia May Be Underreported,
Arthritis & exercise
Kinematic motion analysis of the joints of the forelimbs and hind limbs of dogs during walking exercise regimens
Peter J. Holler, Mag med vet; Verena Brazda, Mag med vet; Barbara Dal-Bianco, Mag med vet; Elisabeth Lewy, DVM; Marion C. Mueller, DVM; Christian Peham, Dr techn; Barbara A. Bockstahler, DVM
Project Group Dog, Movement Science Group Vienna, Clinical Department of Small Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine, A 1210 Vienna, Austria. (Holler, Brazda, Dal-Bianco, Lewy, Mueller); Project Group Dog, Movement Science Group Vienna, Section for Physiotherapy and Acupuncture Clinic for Surgery and Ophthalmology, Clinical Department of Small Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine, A 1210 Vienna, Austria. (Peham, Bockstahler)
Address correspondence to Mr. Holler (peter.holler@vetmeduni.ac.at).
Objective”To assess forelimbs and hind limb joint kinematics in dogs during walking on an inclined slope (uphill), on a declined slope (downhill), or over low obstacles (cavaletti) on a horizontal surface and compare findings with data acquired during unimpeded walking on a horizontal surface.
Animals”8 nonlame dogs (mean ± SD age, 3.4 ± 2.0 years; weight, 23.6 ± 4.6 kg).
Procedures”By use of 10 high-speed cameras and 10 reflecting markers located on the left forelimbs and hind limbs, joint kinematics were recorded for each dog during uphill walking, downhill walking, and walking over low obstacles or unimpeded on a horizontal surface. Each exercise was recorded 6 times (10 s/cycle); joint angulations, angle velocities and accelerations, and range of motion for shoulder, elbow, carpal, hip, stifle, and tarsal joints were calculated for comparison.
Results”Compared with unimpeded walking, obstacle exercise significantly increased flexion of the elbow, carpal, stifle, and tarsal joints and extension in the carpal and stifle joints. Only uphill walking caused increased hip joint flexion and decreased stifle joint flexion; downhill walking caused less flexion of the hip joint. During obstacle exercise, forward angle velocities in the elbow and stifle joints and retrograde velocity in the tarsal joint changed significantly, compared with unimpeded walking. Joint angle acceleration of the elbow joint changed significantly during all 3 evaluated exercises.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance”These evidence-based data indicated that each evaluated exercise, except for downhill walking, has a specific therapeutic value in physical therapy for dogs.
Abstract
July 2010, Vol. 71, No. 7, Pages 734-740
doi: 10.2460/ajvr.71.7.734
Macadamia nut toxicosis
Macadamia nut toxicosis in dogs
by
Steven R. Hansen, DVM, MS, DABVT
Macadamia nuts are cultivated in the United States from Macadamia integrifolia and Macadamia tetraphylla trees commonly found in Hawaii. The commercially produced nuts are popular as party treats and as ingredients in cookies and candies. Each year, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) receives calls concerning dogs consuming varying amounts of macadamia nuts (see boxed text). These relatively infrequent calls involve remarkably consistent findings and outcomes.
Clinical signs
From 1987 to 2001, the ASPCA APCC received 48 calls concerning dogs consuming macadamia nuts. Clinical signs commonly reported from most to least frequent were weakness, depression, vomiting, ataxia, tremors, and hyperthermia (Figure 1).1 In 94% of cases from 1998 to 2001, dogs that had consumed macadamia nuts were reported to be showing at least one of these clinical
signs (ASPCA APCC AnTox Medical Record Database: Unpublished data, 1987-2001).
read full article pdf
FAQs of Vaccines
FAQs VACCINE ISSUES
W. Jean Dodds, DVM
Hemopet/Hemolife
www.hemopet.org
Q. Is there risk of overvaccinating with vaccines not needed for a specific animal ?
A. Yes. Vaccines contain material designed to challenge the immune system of the pet, and so can cause adverse reactions. They should not be given needlessly, and should be tailered to the pet’s individual needs.
Q. Are the initial series of puppy core vaccines immunosuppressive ?
A. Yes. This period of immuno suppression from MLV canine distemper and hepatitis vaccines coincides with the time of vaccine-induced viremia, from days 3 to 10 after vaccination.
Q. Can smaller doses of vaccines be given to toy dog breeds ?
A. Yes, they can, although some vaccinologists believe that the whole amount should be given because it represents the minimum immunizing dose. My view is that a half dose of vaccines, other than rabies, as required by law, should suffice and would be safer.
Q. Can anesthetized patients be vaccinated ?
A.This is not preferred, because a hypersensitivity reaction with vomiting and aspiration could occur and anesthetic agents can be immunomodulating.
Q. Is it safe to vaccinate pregnant pets ?
A. Absolutely not.
Q. Should pets with immunosuppressive diseases such as cancer or autoimmune diseases, or adverse vaccine reactions/ hypersensitibvity receive booster vaccinations ?
A. No. Vaccination with MLV products should be avoided as the vaccine virus may cause disease; vaccination with killed products may aggravate the immune-mediated disease or be ineffective. For rabies boosters that are due, local authorities may accept titers instead.
Q. If an animal receives immunosuppressive therapy, how long afterwards can the pet safely be vaccinated ?
A. Wait at least 2 weeks.
Q. Should vaccines be given more often that 2 weeks apart even if a different vaccine is being given ?
A. No. The safest and most effective interval is 3-4 weeks apart.
Q. At what age should the last vaccine dose be given in the puppy and kitten series ?
A. The last dose of vaccine should be given between 14-16 weeks. Rabies vaccine should preferably be given separately as late as possible under the law (e.g. 20-24 weeks).
Q. Can intranasal Bordetella vaccine be given parenterally ?
A. No. The vaccine can cause a severe local reaction and may even kill the pet.
Q. Will a killed parenteral Bordetella vaccine given intranasally produce immunity ?
A. No.
Q. Can MLV parenteral vaccines for cats be used intranasally ?
A. Never. Any mucosal (e.g. conjunctival and nasal) contact with these vaccines can cause disease.
Q. Are homeopathic nosodes capable of immunizing pets ?
A. No. There is no scientific documentation that nosodes protect against infectious diseases of pets. The one parvovirus nosode trial conducted years ago did not protect against challenge.
Q. Should disinfectant be used at the vaccine injection site?
A. No. Disinfectants could inactivate a MLV product.
Q. Can vaccines cause autoimmune diseases?
A. Vaccines themselves do not cause these diseases, but they can trigger autoimmune responses followed by disease in genetically predisposed animals, as can any infection, drug, or chemical / toxic exposures etc.
Q. Can a single vaccine dose provide any benefit to the dog or cat? Will it benefit the canine and feline populations?
A. Yes. One dose of a MLV canine or feline core vaccine should provide long term immunity when given to animals at or after 16 weeks of age. Every puppy and kitten 16 weeks of age or older should receive at least one dose of the MLV core vaccines. We need to vaccinate more animals in the population with core vaccines to achieve herd immunity (e.g. 75% or higher, when probably only 50% of dogs and 25% of cats are vaccinated) and thereby prevent epidemic outbreaks.
Q. If an animal receives only the first dose of a vaccine that needs two doses to immunize, will it have immunity ?
A. No. A single dose of a two-dose vaccine like Leptospirosis or feline leukemia vaccine will not provide immunity. The first dose is for priming the immune system. The second for boosting the immunity has to be given within 6 weeks; otherwise the series has to start over again. After those two doses, revaccination with a single dose can be done at any time.
Q. Can maternally derived antibodies (MDA) also block immunity to killed vaccines and prevent active immunization with MLV vaccines ?
A. Yes. MDA can block certain killed vaccines, especially those that require two doses to immunize. With MLV vaccines, two doses are often recommended, particularly in young animals, to be sure one is given beyond the neutralizing period of MDA.
Q. How long after vaccination does an animal develop immunity that will prevent severe disease when the core vaccines are used?
A. This is dependent on the animal, the vaccine, and the disease.
· The fastest immunity is provided by CDV vaccines — MLV and recombinant canarypox virus vectored. The immune response starts within mins – hrs and provides protection within a day without interference from MDA.
· Immunity to CPV-2 and FPV develops after 3-5 days when an effective ML V vaccine is used. In contrast, killed FPV-2 vaccine often takes 2 – 3 wks or longer to provide protective immunity.
· CAV-2 MLV given parenterally provides immunity against CAV-1 in 5 to 7 days.
· Time from vaccination to immunity is difficult to determine for FCV and FHV-1 because some animals will not develop any immunity.
Q. Can dogs and cats be non-responders and fail to develop an immune response to vaccines ?
A. Yes. This is a genetic characteristic seen particularly in some breeds or dog families. Boosting them regularly will not produce measurable circulating immunity, but they may be protected against disease by their cell-mediated and secretory immunity.
Q. Are there parvovirus and distemper virus field mutants that are not adequately protected by current MLV vaccines ?
A. No. All the current CPV-2 and CDV vaccines provide protection from all known viral isolates, when tested experimentally as well as in the field. The current CPV-2 and CPV-2b vaccines provide both short and long term protection from challenge by the CPV-2c variant.
Q. Are serum antibody titres useful in determining vaccine immunity?
A. Yes. They are especially useful for CDV, CPV-2 and CAV-1 in the dog, FPV in the cat, and rabies virus in the cat and dog. Rabies titers, however, are often not acceptable to exempt individual animals from mandated rabies boosters in spite of medical justifcation. Serum antibody titers are of limited or no value for the other vaccines.
* Excerpted from : J Sm An Pract 48, 528 541, 2007.