HEALTH - Keep Your Dog Safe From Parvo

Veterinarians are cautioning dog owners to be mindful of their pet’s vaccinations – particularly puppy boosters, as there has been an increase in Canine Parvovirus this spring season - a highly infectious disease that is easily transmitted between dogs.

In 2016 there has been an outbreak in Alaska and increased incidence in Calgary and surrounding area.

According to Dr. Danny Joffe, national director of Associate Vet Clinics (AVC) who works out of the C.A.R.E. Centre in Calgary, AB, dogs who contract Parvovirus suffer an 80-90% mortality rate if left untreated.

“We see Parvo all the time – especially in the spring,” said Joffe, who stressed that the best way to protect dogs is not to skip out on those three initial puppy vaccinations and to follow up with the Parvovirus vaccine (which can now be administered every three years).

“For new puppy owners, that’s the first thing they want to do – show off their new addition – but that can be a really, really big mistake,” he said, adding that it is not advisable to take puppies in public or off-leash areas until after four months and  the initial three booster vaccines have been given.

The viral illness is spread through fecal-oral transmission and is frequently carried by coyote and wolf populations; most cases are in dogs aged six weeks to six months and if treated early enough, vets have a success rate around 95%.

Parvovirus rates can be higher in rural areas, where there is more exposure to wild dogs, both semi-feral and feral; southern Calgary has seen a spike in Parvovirus this season, likely due to higher exposures to urban coyote populations.

“Classic signs of Parvovirus include severe diarrhea often with blood and severe vomiting, followed by extreme lethargy,” said Joffe, adding that his clinic sees around 15 cases each year with spikes in the fall and spring seasons.

The AVC are comprised of some 75 vet clinics in four provinces (Alberta, B.C., Ontario and Quebec) with a mandate to ‘provide friendly and compassionate care’ for pets, including 24-hour emergency services.

One of the best methods of safe and efficient veterinary care for pets is the ability to provide emergency care staff with access to up-to-date information on pets.

Enter HomeSafeTM through PetLynx – the ‘supernet for pets and people’. For a single payment, HomeSafeTM offers a lifetime membership for owners to register their pets.

”A system like HomeSafeTM that allows owners to keep track of their pet’s vaccination history and due dates for vaccines (as well as other medical information) can only help ensure that pet’s vaccines are up to date.  A client can check at any time to tell when vaccines are next due,” said Joffe.

“For diseases like Parvovirus, prevention is much easier and much less expensive than treatment, and systems like HomeSafeTM can only serve to help maximize vaccine compliance.”

The benefits to registration include access to veterinary information; a universal passport for emergency care staff to access all veterinary info; and a network to help find your lost pet from anywhere in the world.

Learn more about how HomeSafeTM gives service providers and emergency personnel the resources needed to keep your pet safe, healthy, & comfortable.

By Lindsay Seewalt

Lindsay is an experienced journalist and mother of three whose heart and home is always open to a four-legged friend. With her Corgi, Angie, as household editor-in-chief, Lindsay gives back to the animal planet through the written word on anything and all ado about pets. She is passionate about topics regarding animal welfare and responsible pet ownership, which she aims to instill in both her readers and children to be compassionate animal lovers who are conscious and considerate that furry friends around the globe deserve a voice.

Human Medications Top List of Toxins Most Commonly Ingested by Pets

According to a recent post by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), about one-quarter of all phone calls to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) are about human medications.

In fact, according to the APCC’s list of toxins most commonly ingested by pets and reported to their control centre in 2015, over-the-counter medications and human prescription medications are at the top - ahead of insecticides, human food and household items.

While some of these medications are used in both animals and people, the effects and doses needed aren't always the same. A pet can easily ingest dropped pills or may be given harmful human medications by an unknowing owner, resulting in illness, or even death, of the pet.

The APCC provided a list of the 10 most common human medication complaints they receive - in order of the number of complaints.

Ibuprofen – (Advil®, Motrin®)

Tramadol – (Ultram®)

Alprazolam – (Xanax®)

Adderall®

Zolpidem – (Ambien®)

Clonazepam – (Klonopin®)

Acetaminophen – (Tylenol®)

Naproxen – (Aleve®, Naprosyn®)

Duloxetine – (Cymbalta®)

Venlafaxine – (Effexor®)

These medications are the most commonly reported to APCC, however there are a large number of other human medicines that can also poison pets.

Pet safety tips include:

• Always keep human medications away from pets unless specifically instructed by a veterinarian to give the medication;
• Do not leave pills sitting on a ounter or any place a pet can get to them;
• Do not leave pill bottles within reach of pets (dogs can chew through a pill bottle very quickly);
• Pick up any dropped medication immediately;
• Always contact a veterinarian if a pet has ingested any medication not prescribed for them;
• Never give any human medication to a pet without first consulting a veterinarian.

Learn more about human medication poison prevention by listening to the APCC podcast.

Hug the Dog

Since Dr. Stanley Coren’s observations and recommendation to not hug dogs were published last week, the internet has erupted with pet owners touting their hug-loving dogs and trainers/behaviourists with differing opinions.

"My dogs love being hugged," Corey Cohen, a companion animal behaviour therapist at A New Leash on Life in Pennsylvania, told the New York Times. He thought dogs could be comfortable if there was familiarity and trust.

Erica Lieberman, a dog trainer and behavior consultant with Pawsibilities Pets in New York City, told the New York Times “I believe people should err on the side of caution.” That in general, dogs should not be hugged — just to be on the safe side.

 

So, what does the science say?

No one has done a formal study or research to determine whether hugging or other close contact causes stress or pleasure in dogs.

"This is a set of casual observations," Coren told The Washington Post. He hopes another scientist will take his idea and study it more formally.

In the meantime, people wonder if they should or should not hug their dog.

The answer may be - it depends.

It depends on the dog and its desire for close physical contact in general, and the level of familiarity and trust between the human and dog.

Read the full story here.

Don't Hug the Dog

Dr. Stanley Coren, author of “How to Speak Dog,” recently examined 250 photos from the internet of dogs being hugged, looking for signs of stress and relaxation.

His thoughts, published in Psychology Today, indicate hugging the family dog is not a good idea.

81.6% of the photographs showed dogs who were giving off at least one sign of discomfort, stress, or anxiety. Only 7.6% of the photographs could rate as showing dogs that were comfortable with being hugged. The remaining 10.8% of the dogs were either showing neutral or ambiguous responses to being hugged.

(Psychology Today)

“This data clearly shows that while a few dogs may like being hugged, more than four out of five dogs find this human expression of affection to be unpleasant and/or anxiety arousing,” Coren wrote.

Coren's results support the long-held belief by animal behaviour experts and dog bite prevention organizations who encourage not hugging or kissing dogs.

In fact, Doggone Safe, dedicated to dog bite prevention through education and awareness, lists "Dogs Don't Like Hugs and Kisses" as number one of the three most important things to teach your kids.

Read the full story here.

Subaru Provides Funding to the Center for Pet Safety

According to the American Kennel Club (AKC) approximately 56% of pet owners travel with their pets. Subaru is continuing to support the Center for Pet Safety (CPS). Their relationship began in 2013 testing harness safety in vehicles with the goal to create a formal test protocol and produce independ ratings for pet travel harnesses. The Harness Crashworthiness Study discovered that there were vast differences in the performances of different harnesses.

This year CPS will be testing crates and carriers in crashes. They will examine structural integrity and create crate performance standards. CPS’s Founder and CEO, Lindsey Wolko said, “No performance standards or test protocols currently exist in the U.S. for pet crates or carriers, and while many pet safety product manufacturers claim to test their products, they can’t be substantiated without uniform test standards and protocols. We are very excited to once again have the support of Subaru, allowing the independent examination of pet crates and carriers. Subaru understands the importance of safety of all passengers including our four-legged friends.”

Subaru's Director of Corporate Communications, Michael McHale said, “We want to make pet owners aware of proper safety measures they can take to help protect their pets. Following the previous study with CPS, we were delighted to support this next stage in testing. Pet safety is very important to Subaru as more than half of Subaru drivers are pet owners, with over 69% of them owning at least one dog. We feel a sense of responsibility to inform pet parents of safety measures they can take.”

READ THE FULL ARTICLE

FDA Releases Latest Information on Jerky Treat Investigation

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently posted an update on its ongoing investigation into pet illnesses and deaths in animals who ate jerky pet treats. 

The update includes the latest information about complaints of illnesses, FDA's collaboration with the CDC on a new case control study and new findings revealed through the agency's testing. 

READ THE UPDATE 

At this time, investigators can find no scientific evidence of a specific toxin in the jerky products, giving reason for many retailers to keep the treats stocked. PetSmart and Petco are among the North American retailers choosing to remove the products from its shelves. 

Pet Patrol

Security guards watching out for pets left in hot cars are putting the heat on pet owners who bring their dogs to the mall. 

Two guards stationed at each of the Vaughn Mills entrances watch for pets in cars and talk to pet owners about the dangers of doing so. The idea for Pet Patrol,  which piloted last summer, came after a dog belonging to a couple from Sudbury died when left in a hot vehicle at the mall in June 2012. 

Stephen Gascoine, general manager of the shopping mall told The Star, "When that incident occurred...it pushed us to be more proactive to address this issue, to have more additional eyes on the lots for these potential situations." 

PET PATROL

P&G Issues Voluntary Recall of Specialized Dry Pet Foods

In keeping with its steadfast commitment to animal health and safety, on July 30, 2010, the Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) voluntarily expanded a recent USA only recall of a select number of dry pet foods. 

The recall now includes Iams Veterinary Dry Formulas and some Specialized Eukanuba Dry Formula pet foods sold in veterinary clinics and specialty pet retailers in the USA and Canada.

This recall is a precautionary measure because these products were made in a single, specialized facility where it was determined that some products made at the facility may have the potential to be contaminated with salmonella. No salmonella-related illnesses have been reported and no canned pet food, biscuits/treats or supplements are affected by this announcement.