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Common
Household Items
Can
Be Poisonous To Pets
Presented
by ThePetCenter.com
With
permission from Dana Farbman, Senior
Manager of Client & Professional Relations
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
If
your pet has come into contact with a potential toxin...
leave
your computer and call your veterinarian immediately!
Or
call the ANIMAL POISON CONTROL CENTER
888-4ANI-HELP
(888-426-4435)
$50 fee may be applied to credit card
Thousands
of dogs and cats needlessly suffer and many die each year by accidental
ingestion of household poisons, including pesticides, popular
houseplants, medications and common foods. The ASPCA Animal Poison
Control Center, the only animal poison control center in North America
offers advice to pet owners about the many household products that can
be dangerous and even deadly to their four-legged family member.
- Mothballs,
potpourri oils, coffee grounds, homemade play dough, fabric softener
sheets, dishwashing detergent, batteries, cigarettes, alcoholic
drinks, pennies and hand and foot warmers could be dangerous for
your pet.
- Keep
all prescription and over-the-counter medications out of your pets'
reach, preferably in closed/locked cabinets above the counter.
Painkillers, cold medicines, antidepressants, vitamins and diet
pills can be lethal to animals, even in small doses.
- Read
all of the information on the label before using a product on your
pet or in your home. If a product is for use only on dogs, it should
never be used on cats; if a product is for use only on cats, it
should never be used on dogs.
- Be
aware of the plants you have in your home and yard. The ingestion of
azalea, oleander, sago palm or yew plant material by your pet can be
fatal. Easter lily, day lily, tiger lily and some other lily species
can cause kidney failure in cats.
- Make
sure your pets do not go on lawns or in gardens treated with
fertilizers, herbicides or insecticides until they have dried
completely. Always store such products in areas that are
inaccessible to your pets. If you are uncertain about the usage of
any product, ask the manufacturer and/or your veterinarian for
instructions.
- Be
alert for antifreeze/coolant leaking from your vehicle. Animals are
attracted to the sweet taste and ingesting just a small amount can
cause an animal's death. Consider using animal-friendly products
that use propylene glycol rather than those containing ethylene
glycol.
- When
using rat, mouse, snail or slug baits, or ant or roach traps, place
the products in areas that are inaccessible to your pet. Some bait
contains sweet smelling inert ingredients, such as jelly, peanut
butter or sugar that can attract your pets.
- Call
your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
(1-888-426-4435) if you suspect that your pet has ingested something
poisonous.
Established
in 1978 at the University of Illinois, The ASPCA Animal Poison Control
Center is the only facility of its kind staffed by twenty-five
veterinarians including four board-certified veterinary toxicologists
and ten certified veterinary technicians. Located in Urbana, Illinois,
the specially trained staff provides assistance to pet owners and
specific analysis and treatment recommendation to veterinarians
pertaining to toxic chemicals and dangerous plants, products or
substances 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In 2001, the Center handled
over 65,000 cases.
Submitted
by:
Sally
MacDonald
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Human
Foods that Poison Pets
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this
site also addresses horse, cats, birds, fish, farm animals...
this
site has a good Guide to First Aid for Dogs you might want to look at
too...
If
you cannot read the below.. then go to the above and read it at the
site...
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Feeding
pets food that we enjoy is not only wrong, it can also be
fatal. There are some foodstuffs that humans relish which
cause illness and death if eaten by pets.
Chocolate,
macadamia nuts and onions are good examples. Each of these
foods contains chemicals which rarely cause problems for
humans, but for dogs, these same chemicals can be deadly.
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Chocolate
toxicity
Chocolate
contains theobromine, a compound that is a cardiac stimulant and
a diuretic.?
When
affected by an overdose of chocolate, a dog can become excited
and hyperactive. Due to the diuretic effect, it may pass large
volumes of urine and it will be unusually thirsty. Vomiting and
diarrhoea are also common. The effect of theobromine on the
heart is the most dangerous effect. Theobromine will either
increase the dog?s heart rate or may cause the heart to beat
irregularly. Death is quite possible, especially with exercise.
After
their pet has eaten a large quantity of chocolate, many pet
owners assume their pet is unaffected. However, the signs of
sickness may not be seen for several hours, with death following
within twenty-four hours.
Cocoa
powder and cooking chocolate are the most toxic forms. A
10-kilogram dog can be seriously affected if it eats a quarter
of a 250gm packet of cocoa powder or half of a 250gm block of
cooking chocolate. These forms of chocolate contain ten times
more theobromine than milk chocolate. Thus, a chocolate mud cake
could be a real health risk for a small dog. Even licking a
substantial part of the chocolate icing from a cake can make a
dog unwell.?
Semi-sweet
chocolate and dark chocolate are the next most dangerous forms,
with milk chocolate being the least dangerous. A dog needs to
eat more than a 250gm block of milk chocolate to be affected.
Obviously, the smaller the dog, the less it needs to eat.
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Onion
and garlic poisoning
?
Onions
and garlic are other dangerous food ingredients that cause
sickness in dogs, cats and also livestock. Onions and garlic
contain the toxic ingredient thiosulphate. Onions are more of a
danger.
Pets
affected by onion toxicity will develop haemolytic anaemia,
where the pet?s red blood cells burst while circulating in its
body.?
At
first, pets affected by onion poisoning show gastroenteritis
with vomiting and diarrhoea. They will show no interest in food
and will be dull and weak. The red pigment from the burst blood
cells appears in an affected animal?s urine and it becomes
breathless. The breathlessness occurs because the red blood
cells that carry oxygen through the body are reduced in number.
The
poisoning occurs a few days after the pet has eaten the onion.
All forms of onion can be a problem including dehydrated onions,
raw onions, cooked onions and table scraps containing cooked
onions and/or garlic. Left over pizza, Chinese dishes and
commercial baby food containing onion, sometimes fed as a
supplement to young pets, can cause illness.
Onion
poisoning can occur with a single ingestion of large quantities
or with repeated meals containing small amounts of onion. A
single meal of 600 to 800 grams of raw onion can be dangerous
whereas a ten-kilogram dog, fed 150 grams of onion for several
days, is also likely to develop anaemia. The condition improves
once the dog is prevented from eating any further onion
While
garlic also contains the toxic ingredient thiosulphate, it seems
that garlic is less toxic and large amounts would need to be
eaten to cause illness.
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The
danger of macadamia nuts
Macadamia
nuts are another concern. A recent paper written by Dr. Ross
McKenzie, a Veterinary Pathologist with the Department of
Primary Industries, points to the danger of raw and roasted
macadamia nuts for pets.?
The
toxic compound is unknown but the affect of macadamia nuts is to
cause locomotory difficulties. Dogs develop a tremor of the
skeletal muscles, and weakness or paralysis of the hindquarters.
Affected dogs are often unable to rise and are distressed,
usually panting. Some affected dogs have swollen limbs and show
pain when the limbs are manipulated.?
Dogs
have been affected by eating as few as six macadamia kernels
(nuts without the shell) while others had eaten approximately
forty kernels. Some dogs had also been given macadamia butter.
Luckily,
the muscle weakness, while painful, seems to be of short
duration and all dogs recovered from the toxicity. All dogs were
taken to their veterinary surgeon.?
Pets
owners should not assume that human food is always safe for
pets. When it comes to chocolate, onions, garlic and macadamia
nuts, such foods should be given in only small quantities, or
not at all. Be sure that your pets can't
get into your stash of chocolates, that food scraps are disposed
of carefully to prevent onion and garlic toxicity and that your
dog is prevented from picking up macadamia nuts if you have a
tree in your garden.
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Other
potential dangers
Pear
pips, the kernels of plums, peaches and apricots, apple core
pips (contain cyanogenic glycosides resulting in cyanide poisoning)
Potato
peelings and green looking potatoes
Rhubarb
leaves
Moldy/spoiled
foods
Alcohol
Yeast
dough
Coffee
grounds, beans & tea (caffeine)
Hops
(used in home brewing)
Tomato
leaves & stems (green parts)
Broccoli
(in large amounts)
Raisins
and grapes
Cigarettes,
tobacco, cigars
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Submitted
by:
Sally
MacDonald
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This week I had the first case in history of raisin toxicity
ever seen at MedVet. My patient was a 56 pound, 5
yr old male neutered lab mix who ate half a canister of
raisins sometime between 7:30 AM and 4:30
PM on Tuesday. He started with vomiting, diarrhea and
shaking about 1 AM on Wednesday but the owner
didn't call my emergency service until 7 AM.
I had heard somewhere about raisins AND grapes causing acute
renal failure but hadn't seen any formal paper on the subject.
We had her bring the dog in immediately. In the meantime, I
called the ER service at MedVet, and the doctor there was like
me—had heard something about it, but.... Anyway, we
contacted the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center and
they said to give I V fluids at 1 1/2 times
maintenance and watch the kidney values for the next 48-72
hours.
The dog's BUN (blood urea nitrogen level) was already at 32
(normal less than 27) and creatinine over 5 (1.9 is the high
end of normal). Both are monitors of kidney function in the
bloodstream. We placed an I V catheter and started the fluids.
Rechecked the renal values at 5 PM and the BUN
was over 40 and creatinine over 7 with no urine production
after a liter of fluids.
At the point I felt the dog was in acute renal failure and
sent him on to MedVet for a urinary catheter to monitor urine
output overnight as well as overnight care. He started
vomiting again overnight at MedVet and his renal values have
continued to increase daily. He produced urine when given
lasix as a diuretic. He was on 3 different
anti-vomiting medications and they still couldn't control his
vomiting.
Today his urine output decreased again, his BUN was over 120,
his creatinine was at 10, his phosphorus was very elevated and
his blood pressure, which had been staying around 150,
skyrocketed to 220. He continued to vomit and the owners
elected to euthanize.
This is a very sad case—great dog, great owners who had no
idea raisins could be a toxin. Please alert everyone you know
who has a dog of this very serious risk. Poison control said
as few as 7 raisins or grapes could be toxic.
Many people I know give their dogs grapes or raisins as
treats. Any exposure should give rise to immediate concern.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Laurinda Morris, DVM
Danville Veterinary Clinic
Danville, Ohio
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Nancy Ross |
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YOUR DOG FOR
HYPOTHYOROIDISM IS
HE/SHE EXHIBITS EXTREME CHARACTER CHANGES Abnormal
behavior in dogs can have a variety of medical causes; it also can reflect
underlying problems of a psychological nature. Your veterinarian
follows a systematic diagnostic approach in searching for medical causes
when a per exhibits unusual or unacceptable behavior. Diagnostic
steps are usually completed first. If these test results prove to be
negative, a veterinary behavior consultant or qualified pet behavior
therapist should evaluate the dog.
Inheritance has been
shown to play an important part in the behavior of both animals and humans,
but genetic influence on behavioral disorders rarely accounts for more
than half of the phenotypic expression of behavioral differences.
Each of the multiple genes involved has a small effect on behavior. Newer
techniques in molecular biology should permit the identification of the
genetic DNA marker sequences responsible for behavioral variation.
Dynamic
changes in response to environmental influences with respect to animal
behavior, and applied behavioral genetics was studied several thousand
years ago because animals were bred and selected for their behavior as
much as their conformation. Today certain dog breeds have a great range of
genetic and behavioral variability.
Many have noted the
sudden onset of behavioral changes in dogs around the time of puberty,
which varies from seven months to a year in age. The majority of the
dogs have been purebreds or crossbreds with an apparent predilection for
certain breeds. These dogs began to show the seasonal effects of allergies
to inhalants and ectoparasites such as fleas, followed by the onset of
skin and coat disorders, including pyoderma, allergic dermatitis, alopecia
and intense itching.
A quiet,
well-mannered and sweet natured puppy who is outgoing, and has attended
puppy training classes to prepare for obedience, working or show events,
and comes from a reputable breeder whose kennel has no history of
behavioral problems can suddenly exhibit major changes in personality.
Typical signs are: incessant whining, nervousness, schizoid behavior, fear
in the presence of strangers, hyperventilation, undue sweating, occasional
disorientation and failure to be attentive. These can progress to sudden
unprovoked aggressiveness in unfamiliar situations with other animals and
with people, especially children.
Owners
may attribute the problems to the sex hormonal changes and often these
animals are neutered. This appears to alleviate the behavioral problems,
specifically the aggression, for varying lengths of time. Neutering does
not alter the symptoms for a significant proportion of these animals,
however, and they intensify progressively to the point that the adult can
be described as flaky, unable to handle any kind of stress, frantically
circling, hyperventilating and not able to settle down. When dogs with
large teeth are affected it poses a significant hazard to family members,
friends and strangers.
Aggressiveness
is not always the case.
Sometimes affected
animals do not show aggression but become very shy and fearful to the
point that they are social outcasts and do not make acceptable house pets.
These animals clearly are not suitable for show, obedience or working
purposes. Some of these dogs will show extremely submissive behavior, roll
over and urinate when being approached.
A third group of
dogs showing aberrant behavior consists of those that experience seizure
or seizure-like disorders beginning in puberty and continuing to
mid-life. These are dogs that appear perfectly healthy outwardly and
have normal hair coats and energy, but suddenly experience seizures for no
apparent reason. The seizures are often spaced several weeks to
months apart, and occasionally they appear in a brief cluster. When
you are accustomed to your dogs normal behavior prior to a seizure, you
may recognize an impending episode. They may have a visual aura and appear
to see something that you don't, or act as though they can't see at
all.
Check with your
veterinarian if your dog shows any signs of these behavioral problems or
seizures.
Linda
Maxwell
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I wrote Jenny Canfield, a vet in
West Virginia, about dogs at Christmas who try to eat Christmas
decorations. Some people suggested giving cotton balls soaked in half
and half or whipping cream. Jenny said that most foreign bodies, sharp
or not, will pass on their own with no problems. She's never
gone into surgery automatically because they usually come out just fine.
White bread is a big help. Her big concern with cotton
balls is they are stringy, and string is a much more dangerous
foreign body...the intestine "accordions" on itself. Cats do
this frequently and die frequently from it.
Here are a few more pointers from
Jenny:
---The timing of feeding the cotton
would have to be almost simultaneously with the ingestion of the glass
to work with normal gut function. Plus, whipping cream is extremely rich
and can cause pancreatitis, a deadly condition.
---There's no guarantee the cotton would "catch" the glass
---To be honest, we've had dogs ingest everything from light bulbs to
razor blades and pass them with no problem. The intestines are thick and
strong and lined with mucous (and, generally, some food), so sharp
objects rarely get embedded.
---The biggest problem with the cotton ball method is the cotton. Any
fiber can become "stringy" in the intestinal tract and become
deadly. Once it lengthens out, the string causes the gut to
"accordion," and the string can actually saw through the gut
wall and kill the animal. I've done numerous surgeries for this problem,
usually due to cats eating string, ribbon, or icicles off of the
Christmas tree.
Linda
Maxwell with thanks to
Jenny Canfield, DVM
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POISONOUS
FALL MUSHROOMS
Written
by Dennis Blodgett, DVM, PhD
of
VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
Blacksburg,
VA
A variety of mushrooms of the Amanita
species can cause GI problems, and perhaps CNS problems as well, in dogs.
Amanita muscaria is seen in late summer and fall, and comes in different
varieties. The two most common varieties are one with a white cream
colored cap, and one with a yellow cap.
A
single mushroom can be fatal for puppies.
Clinical signs of poisoning usually occur within one or two hours after
consumption. These signs are vomiting, excess salivation and
possibly diarrhea. CNS signs may include convulsions, muscle twitching and
"fly biting." Later signs include depression and
somnolence.
Diagnosis is based on a history of eating mushrooms and finding pieces of
mushroom in the vomitis or feces.
Treatment is aimed at relieving convulsions and excessive salivation, and
should be prompt.
Mushroom identification by a specialist can be helpful. It's best to
put a mushroom in paper towels inside a paper bag and refrigerate.
Plastic bags cause an accelerated autolysis of mushrooms, which may make
identification impossible.
Submitted
by:
Lynn
Schultz
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UPDATE
ON DEADLY MUSHROOMS:
November 2006
In
the Prince George County area of Virginia, a couple have lost 2 dogs
in the past 12 months under suspicious circumstances. The results of the
last autopsy, performed by VA Tech, indicated the dog had eaten
poisonous mushrooms which were growing in their backyard. They indicated
that they have a reddish cast to them, so do a daily mushroom check
since there is little that can be done to prevent them from growing in your
yard, (that I'm aware of.) If anybody knows of a preventative, please
let SUE
STUDDS or Haveninhim@aol.com
(VA Tech also tested for acorn poisoning as acorns contain Arsenic.)
Please
add both of these to your lists of poisonous plants to be on the look for
while conducting home visits. -- LINDA MAXWELL.
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No
Evidence That Illness Can Spread to Humans, CDC Says
By
Rob Stein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 27, 2005; A14
A
strain of flu virus that jumped from horses to dogs has caused
sometimes deadly respiratory infections at dog tracks and
kennels in at least 11 states and among some household pets as
well, health officials reported yesterday.
While
cautioning dog owners to keep their pets away from other dogs
if they have a respiratory infection, to try to minimize
further spread of the virus, experts said most dogs recover
from the infection.
The
discovery comes as public health officials are increasingly
alarmed about a dangerous strain of flu that has been
spreading among birds in Asia and occasionally infecting
humans, but there is no evidence that the dog virus can spread
to humans.
"We
are going to monitor all cases of human exposure, but at this
point there is no reason to panic," said Ruben Donis of
the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in
Atlanta. Donis noted that it has been known for about 40 years
that the virus causes the flu in horses, with no reports of
its infecting humans. Tests also indicate it is sensitive to
antiviral drugs.
The
CDC held a news briefing to discuss the virus to coincide with
the release of a paper by the journal Science documenting the
identification of the virus.
The
discovery of the virus began with an outbreak of a mysterious
respiratory infection among greyhounds at a racetrack in
Florida in 2004. Veterinarian Cynda Crawford of the University
of Florida in Gainesville collected samples from the sick dogs
and sent them to Edward Dubovi at Cornell University in
Ithaca, N.Y., who detected evidence that the animals were
infected with influenza.
Further
analysis by CDC scientists determined that the dogs were
infected with a strain of influenza virus nearly identical to
one previously seen only in horses.
Testing
indicated the virus probably was responsible for a series of
mysterious outbreaks of respiratory disease at six racetracks
in Florida, Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, West Virginia and Kansas
in 2004, and then at 20 tracks in Florida, Texas, Arkansas,
Arizona, West Virginia, Kansas, Iowa, Colorado, Rhode Island
and Massachusetts earlier this year, officials said.
Since
then, Crawford and Dubovi have been testing samples from
veterinarians from across the country, and have confirmed the
virus in pet dogs in Florida, probably the New York City area,
and possibly Massachusetts, the researchers said.
"The
data indicate the virus is being transmitted efficiently from
dog to dog," Donis said. "It is now well established
in the dog population."
Dubovi
predicted the number of states with documented infections will
increase rapidly because veterinarians are just now becoming
aware of the new virus and are starting to send samples for
testing.
"That
map should expand . . . by the end of next week," Dubovi
said.
Because
the virus is new to dogs, most would have little immunity
against it. The virus presumably spreads among dogs in the
same way the human virus spreads among people -- primarily by
an infected animal sneezing or coughing on another.
Crawford
noted that the infection can mimic the symptoms of
"kennel cough," a usually benign bacterial
infection: coughing, runny nose and a fever. Although the
mortality rate from the new flu virus remains unclear, so far
it appears to kill 5 to 8 percent of infected dogs.
"About
80 percent will have a mild form of disease characterized by
cough and nasal discharge that will resolve over time,"
Crawford said. "Only a minority . . . of dogs experience
complications such as pneumonia."
Most
animals recover with no treatment. Others require the same
kind of treatment people need: plenty of fluids and rest. In
severe cases, dogs may require intravenous fluids and
antibiotics to fight secondary infections.
Tests
on blood stored by racetracks indicates the new flu began
infecting dogs between 1999 and 2003. Genetic studies indicate
a few genetic changes in the horse virus enabled the microbe
to begin infecting dogs.
Researchers
already have begun trying to develop a vaccine for the virus,
Crawford said.
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Newly
Emerging Canine Respiratory
Disease
Caused
by an Influenza Virus
The FVMA is sending the following link to an emergency alert
that the State Veterinarian, Dr. Thomas J. Holt, has
asked us to forward to our members attention.
The link is also available on our home page at www.fvma.com
The State Veterinarian's advisory alerts you to a newly
emerging canine respiratory disease caused by an
influenza virus, as reported by the University of
Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, Small Animal
Clinical Sciences. The same virus has apparently been involved
in several outbreaks of severe respiratory disease in racing greyhounds
in Florida and other states in the past year.
Awareness of this highly contagious virus, which is
different from, and can be more severe than the normal
"kennel cough" complex, is important for
practitioners and kennel operators, especially since there
is no rapid test or vaccination currently available. Early clinical
identification and isolation of suspected cases, as well as preventive
measures in screening boarders with unknown history or early
clinical signs, is recommended.
The use of flu vaccines approved for other species is
contraindicated because of the potential for adverse
and possibly fatal reactions in dogs. For support in
submitting samples for testing for canine
influenza, you may contact Dr. Cynda Crawford at UF/CVM
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, at (352)
392-4700, ext. 5731; fax (352) 392-6215; or e-mail at crawfordc@mail.vetmed.ufl.edu
Additional information about this virus will be
presented during the FVMA's upcoming conference in Orlando.
A presentation will be made on Sunday, September 11th from
8:00am to 8:50am in the Diamond Room, by Dr. Cynda
Crawford. She is the lead researcher at the College of
Veterinary Medicine work on this emerging
disease."
Linda
Maxwell
September
8, 2005
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Canine
Vestibular Disease
Last Saturday I arrived home at noon
from shopping to find Petunia very ill. Petunia is the senior
we adopted almost 3 years ago from NEPR. She seemed normal
that morning, but I returned to find she had vomited and
was sitting in a leaning, disoriented position. When I went
over to her and she tried to look up at me, her eyes were
going side to side rapidly. I picked her up and she seemed to
recognize me but had no control over her eyes. Since the 3
pekes were swirling around us, I took her to the front yard to
observe her. Her eyes continued to move rapidly and when I put
her on the grass, she could not stand. Rushed her to the vet 3
minutes away. They had to give her oxygen because her
tongue was purple. They took x-rays and observed her first on
oxygen and then kept her there on my lap to make sure her
tongue stayed pink w/o oxygen. After about 1 hour, she could
take a few steps with an extremely "drunk" gait and
then fell over. Her head was tilted to the side. Vet ruled out
heart failure and said next 1-2 days would tell - improvement
would be rapid if it were "old dog vestibular
disease". She was sent home to rest in a cool, well-lit
room, and I was instructed that I would have to help her walk,
potty, eat, drink (much like a stroke). All was true. Petunia
is a feisty girl and tried her utmost to not be stopped
despite nausea, vertigo, and uncooperative limbs. She
continues to improve and I've spoken with 2 other dog owners
who had similar experiences with their dogs. Prognosis is good
despite how bad it looks at beginning.
A bit of
research reveals:
Vestibular means a problem with the connections between
inner/middle ear and brain causing ataxia. Dogs with ataxia
stand with their limbs braced, they walk with difficulty and
have a “drunk” type of motion because they have lost their
sense of balance. When the vestibular nerve, which travels
from the inner ear to the brain, malfunctions. It disrupts the
animal’s sense of balance and orientation.
It is important to find out where the vestibular abnormality
is located. The disturbance can be peripheral, meaning it is
located outside the brain, or central, located inside the
brain. The distinction between the two is subtle and is best
diagnosed by a veterinary neurologist. The peripheral
disturbance is the most common and least serious.
It has been suggested that there is a correlation between old
dog vestibular syndrome and hypothyroidism so blood work
should be done to rule out this problem.
The ears should be thoroughly examined because the same
symptoms can result from a severe ear mite infection. Also
certain types of antibiotics such as streptomycin and
gentomicin can cause vestibular syndrome.
This syndrome is not a life threatening condition, nor should
it even be called old dog vestibular syndrome because young
dogs have also contracted it. However, in most cases old dogs
are seen by veterinarians with this condition more often.
Time is a major factor in old dog vestibular syndrome.
Recovery time depends on the afflicted dog. Eventually the
animal teaches itself to compensate and overcome old dog
vestibular. Rest and quiet are required during this recovery
time, and it’s important to keep the dog in a well lighted
room. If possible, avoid carrying the dog, or, if this is
unavoidable, lift the dog slowly and smoothly and hold the
pads of it’s feet while airborne. Lifting and moving it
through the air disrupts the dog’s sense of orientation.
Keeping the dog’s feet firmly on the ground with it’s eyes
on the horizon helps regain it’s balance. This condition is
sometimes misdiagnosed and dogs who could have recovered have
been euthanized because the condition appears so severe. It is
important to note that there are no warning signs, which may
lead to the conclusion that it is a stroke. Fortunately most
dogs will be spared this affliction. However, if your dog does
contract this disease, it is comforting to know that it is not
fatal and recovery is merely a matter of patience and tender
loving care. Please note that a serious inner/middle ear
infection—which can occur without the customary smelly
ear—has the same severe and frightening symptoms. An
infection can usually be cured with antibiotics and the dogs
have a complete recovery. Drugs that might be used to treat
old dog vestibular syndrome include Cholodin Tabs and Winstrol
V. As always, check with your vet.
Leighann,
Merry & the Peke Pack
July
19, 2005
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It's official! Pet Vaccine Disclosure Information from vets strongly
recommended
Greetings All! It's official -- the lawfirm of the Chicago lawfirm of
Childress Duffy Goldblatt, Ltd. (petvaccine@childresslaw.net
mailto:petvaccine@childresslaw.net) 312-494-0200 -- attorneys Roy R.
Brandys and John Sawin has posted an announcement on their website about
the pet vaccine class action lawsuit that their firm is undertaking at
www.childresslaw.net/CM/Custom/Custom52.asp (text below). Beneath the
text of the announcement posted on the Childress website is an article
from the Lincoln County Weekly about the letter that Maine's
Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry Committee sent to the Maine
Veterinary Medical Association on June 3, 2005 strongly recommending
that veterinarians in the state give pet owners vaccine disclosure
information Pet owners I have been coming into contact with have stated
that their veterinarians are still not giving them any disclosure
materials. Please e-mail me back if you would like a copy of the letter
to the MVMA or have any questions. Regards, Kris www.childresslaw.net/CM/Custom/Custom52.asp
You may be a party to a potential class action lawsuit arising from
the misrepresentation of the need for vaccinations for your pets.
If, within the last four years, you have paid for any of the
following pet vaccinations without receiving adequate disclosure, you
may have a claim for damages. The vaccines include the following:
1) Annual vaccination for canine distemper, parvovirus, and feline
distemper, rhinotracheitis, calcivirus
(Scientific studies indicate that repeat administration of these
vaccines provides no beneficial effect.)
2) Corona virus vaccination.
(Scientific studies indicate dogs over 8 weeks old are not
susceptible to this disease.)
3) Leptospirosis or Lyme disease vaccination
(Research indicates these diseases are rare to non-existent in Texas
and many other parts of the country.)
4) Feline Aids vaccine, Feline Infectious Peritonitis vaccine, or
Giardia vaccine
(Scientific studies have shown these vaccines to be ineffective.)
If you have paid for any of the above vaccinations in the last four
years and would like information concerning your rights, please fill out
our questionnaire.
Companion Animal Vaccine Questionnaire www.childresslaw.net/CM/Custom/Questionnaire.asp
Necessary or Not? Some Veterinarians and Pet Owners are Questioning
Vaccines:
www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050612/REPOSITORY/506120373/1013/NEWS03
Lincoln County Weekly -- June 16, 2005 State Recommends Veterinarians
Provide Vaccine Disclosure by Aaron Miller AUGUSTA -- A state committee
recently encouraged Maine veterinarians to inform pet owners of the
recommended interval for administering vaccines. Senate Chair Sen. John
Nutting and House Chair Rep. John Piotti wrote to the Maine Veterinary
Medical Association President Matt Townsend earlier this month, asking
veterinarians to provide pet owners with that information. The
association consists of Maine veterinarians and volunteers and
represents over 90 percent of veterinarians in Maine. The June 3 letter
came after the state's Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and
Forestry voted Wiscasset Rep. Peter Rines' proposed legislation
requiring veterinarians to provide vaccine disclosure forms ought not to
pass. The Maine Veterinary Medical Association opposed Rines' LD 429, a
bill that would require a veterinarian to provide a vaccine disclosure
form to the owner of a cat or dog before vaccinating those animals. The
proposal came after Kris Christine, of Alna, said she inadvertently
learned her veterinarian administered a vaccination her pet did not
need. The vaccine disclosure is aimed at releasing information regarding
proven or demonstrated durations of immunity as well as advantages and
disadvantages of vaccines. "We strongly encourage Maine
veterinarians to inform pet owners of the recommended interval for
administering a vaccine and potential risks associated with that
vaccine," Nutting and Piotti wrote. "We realize that
immunology is not a static field and the science is complex. We do not
propose to dictate the detail of information provided. We do, however,
want to emphasize the importance of information being available at
veterinarian's offices." Nutting and Piotti requested the Maine
Veterinary Medical Association apprise the Committee on Agriculture,
Conservation and Forestry of any materials or guidelines developed by
the association in regard to the committee's request. "We would
like to know the extent to which these guidelines or materials are being
incorporated in your members' veterinary practices," Nutting and
Piotti wrote In an interview June 14, Townsend said that the Maine
Veterinary Medical Association is not opposed to the committee's
request. Townsend added that the veterinary association is currently in
the process of including information about vaccines on the association's
website. Different opinions on vaccinations and protocols are planned to
be posted, he said. "We have never been opposed to the legislature
saying we'd like for you to offer some type of pamphlet," Townsend
said. "But we have questions about what pamphlets we should
use." The committee does not make any recommendation in the June 3
letter. "I don't think a pamphlet is the one answer or the best
answer," Townsend said. "It is a step that can be quite
helpful for a lot of clinics. The whole concept we are in favor
of." Although pleased with the committee's request, Christine
remains skeptical. "I personally don't believe a majority of
veterinarians will provide disclosure," Christine said. "I
think it will be necessary for the committee to introduce the bill in
December." If veterinarians refuse to disclose vaccine information,
Christine recommended pet owners contact their representatives.
"Pet owners are entitled to full disclosure," Christine said.
"They deserve to know how long these vaccines have been proven for
immunity." Aaron Miller may be reached at amiller@courierpub.com
Submitted
by:
Lynn Schultz
July 2, 2005 |
Four Vaccine Letters
in Newspapers
The following letters to the Editor regarding LR883, An Act to
Require Veterinarians to Provide Vaccine Disclosures, appear in the
papers noted below. Rep. Rines said the only people he has heard
opposing this legislation are veterinarians. Peter Christine has
spoken to Dr. Ronald Schultz this past week, and he said he would be
willing to come to Maine to testify in favor of the legislation!!
Please continue contacting
your legislators, if they do not hear from the pet owners supporting
this legislation, it will fail!
Cheers, Kris
Lewiston Sun Journal,
Sunday, January 23, 2005
Preventative care is a
must when our family is concerned. However, do we follow this regarding
all members of our household?
Our pets, dogs and cats
are family, and they, too, must have all the necessary preventatives for
their good health.
A bill, in the works in
Augusta, offered by Rep. Peter Rines of Wiscasset, calling for Pet
Vaccine Disclosure, would require veterinarians to give disclosure
sheets prior to vaccinating your pet and to require giving disclosure
sheets with prescriptive medications. This could very possibly avoid
serious or deadly overdoses.
The Maine Veterinary
Medical Association battled against this in the past.
I urge you to support Rep.
Rines' bill.
It can save you heartache
and finances.
Arnold
L. Woolf,
AKC licensed judge,
Lewiston
The following letter, from
Australia, appears in the 1/13/05 issues of the Lincoln County News, LC
Weekly, Wiscasset Newspaper, and Boothbay Register
In Support Of Pet Bill
Dear Editor:
Information is a great tool, I'm sure you would agree. Many Americans
have spoken out and hope to be hard on the arbitrary tradition of annual
pet vaccination which is making our beloved companions sick and deprive
both them and us of quality time together.
Today, for a great many people all over the world, cats and dogs
represent and constitute FAMILY, cherished companions who are taken are
of with the same love and dedication as enjoyed by our children.
Having learned of Rep. Rines' bill for the State of Maine, I have
written to him in support of his proposed legislation. If successful,
which I sincerely hope he will be, this will -- hopefully -- cause
tremendous waves in the U.S.A. and all over the world, making it a
better place for our animals. (I do apologize for this choice of words
i.e. wave) in the wake of the terrible Tsunamis in Asia.)
Information, as I mentioned above, is what pet owners need. In our
society, where the words of any authority (read: veterinarians) is taken
as gospel, transparency is needed.
While anyone can access a lot of information through the media,
including the worldwide web, most people, I dare suggest, would not even
think about questioning their vet's advice or recommendation -- until
it's too late. Furthermore, the media would be rather selective in their
"news and views,'' for fear of losing prospective advertising
dollars from pharmaceutical companies/animal biological manufacturers.
It's all too political.
I commend Rep. Rines, and Senator Chris Hall before him, on their daring
proposals to challenge the status-quo of this "institution'' (read:
annual booster vaccination protocol) which, according to accomplished
U.S. scientists in the field of canine and feline immunology is totally
unscientific, and the disclosure of details pertaining to drugs in
general and vaccines and NSAID in particular.
I extend to you, your staff and families the best wishes for the New
Year, from the Land Down-Under.
Beate (Bea) Mies
Sydney, Australia
This
letter appears in the 1/20/05 Wiscasset Newspaper
Pet Owners Should Decide On Vaccines
Dear Editor:
The following quote is from The American Animal Hospital Association's
2003 Vaccine Guidelines:
"The ethical issue that our profession struggles with today is
whether economics justifies giving an animal a drug (vaccines are
biologic drugs) that is not necessarily required. As a minimum, we
should allow pet owners to make this choice rather than make it for
them."
If this quote were paraphrased to apply to other professions such as
medicine, law, real estate, or in fact any business where a service is
rendered for a fee, it can be seen that there would be no question to be
asked; no debate in which to be engaged. On the contrary, other
professionals who enhanced their own economic well-being by selling
unnecessary services and procedures with documented risks to their
clients would likely be subject to license forfeiture, civil, and
possibly criminal penalties. This has not been the case in the
under-regulated veterinary industry.
In Rushworth Kidder's book "How Good People Make Tough
Choices," he defines an ethical dilemma as a Right vs. Right'
argument. Wrong vs. Right' arguments are not dilemmas because the
choice, in most everybody's mind, should be obvious. To choose to make
money by administering, with unnecessary frequency, vaccines whose
effectiveness is known to be much longer than previously assumed and
whose risks may involve life-threatening side effects, rather than to
disclose such information and alter vaccination protocols is a Wrong vs.
Right' question.
To suggest, as a minimum, that pet owners make this choice regarding
vaccinations, in the absence of full disclosure of risks, benefits and
durations of immunity, is to expect pet owners to function in the dark.
Peter Christine
Alna
The following guest commentary appears in this week's (1/20/05)
Lincoln County News and appeared
in Last week's LC Weekly.
Over-vaccinating pets tied to vets' profits
Most pet owners never questioned why childhood vaccinations gave them
life-long immunity to polio, measles and mumps while their pets
routinely received annual vaccinations for distemper, hepatitis and
parvovirus.
In the American Animal Hospital Association's 2003 Canine Vaccine
Guidelines, the task force strongly suggests that canine vaccines might
also provide life-long protection when they state that: "(T)here is
no indication that the immune system of canine patients functions in any
way different from the human immune system. In humans, the
epidemiological vigilance associated with vaccination is extremely
well-developed and far exceeds similar efforts in animals whether
companion or agricultural. This vigilance in humans indicates that
immunity induced by vaccination in humans is extremely long lasting and,
in most cases, life-long."
The majority of Maine's veterinarians have vaccinated clients' pets
annually, biennially and triennially and not disclosed that challenge
studies have proven most of the core vaccines have minimum durations of
immunity of five or more years. Because of this failure to inform, pet
owners have needlessly over-vaccinated their animals for years —
taking a toll on their finances and their pets' health. Rep. Peter Rines
of Wiscasset has introduced legislation to solve this problem: LR 883,
An Act to Require Veterinarians to Provide Vaccine Disclosure
Forms.
Some veterinarians have justified their annual vaccination protocols
with vaccine manufacturers' labels. According to Colorado State
University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, "Yearly booster vaccine
recommendations for vaccines other than rabies virus have been
determined arbitrarily by manufacturers."
Challenge studies on canine vaccines by Dr. Ronald Schultz of the
University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine are not arbitrary,
yet the public is not given access to that data. In challenge studies,
vaccinated animals are isolated and then have their immunity
"challenged" years later by high dose injections of virulent
virus. These studies demonstrated that vaccines for distemper,
parvovirus and hepatitis protect for a minimum of seven years. Cornell
University challenge studies showed that cats were immune to feline
panleukopenia eight years after two kittenhood vaccinations.
Why haven't all veterinarians disclosed this information to clients? A
possible explanation is contained in a "Veterinary Economics"
August 2004 cover story titled "Targeting Changing Vaccine
Protocols." It states, "In the 1970s and '80s many
veterinarians derived a substantial percent of their total incomes from
vaccinating dogs and cats … And in many practices today, the
vaccination reminder is the one thing that drives visits from healthy
pets. So changing … vaccine protocols could have a significant affect
on finances."
The AAHA's 2003 Vaccine Guidelines reports that: "[T]he ethical
issue that our profession struggles with today is whether economics
justifies giving an animal a drug [vaccines are biologic drugs] that is
not necessarily required. At a minimum, we should allow pet owners to
make this choice rather than make it for them."
Rep. Rines' legislation will give pet owners the disclosure information
they need to make informed choices for their animals. Please let Rep.
Rines and your local legislators know you support this bill.
Kris L. Christine,
Alna
For
More Information Click here:
Submitted
by:
Nancy Ross
www.lindyg.com/nanross/
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Over-vaccinating
pets take unnecessary toll on
finances and animals' health
Because many veterinarians have failed to
disclose that most core veterinary vaccines protect for seven or more
years, pet owners, unaware that their animals don't need multiple yearly
vaccinations, have needlessly over vaccinated their companions - taking
an unnecessary toll on their finances and animals' health. Rep. Peter
Rines of Wiscasset, Maine, has introduced legislation, LR883 - An
Act to Require Veterinarians to Provide Vaccine Disclosure Forms - to
solve this problem.
According to Colorado State University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital,
"Yearly booster vaccine recommendations for vaccines other than
rabies virus have been determined arbitrarily by manufacturers. Why
haven't veterinarians disclosed this information to clients? One
possible explanation is contained in a Veterinary Economics August 2004
cover story entitled "Targeting Changing Vaccine Protocols,"
which states: "In the 1970s and '80s many veterinarians derived a
substantial percent of their total incomes from vaccinating dogs and
cats . ... and in many practices today, the vaccination reminder is the
one thing that drives visits from healthy pets. So changing ... vaccine
protocols could have a significant effect on finances."
The American Animal Hospital Association's 2003 Vaccine Guidelines
reports that: "The ethical issue that our profession struggles with
today is whether economics justifies giving an animal a drug (vaccines
are biologic drugs) that is not necessarily required. As a minimum, we
should allow pet owners to make this choice rather than make it for
them." Rep. Rines' legislation will give pet owners the disclosure
information they need to make that choice for their animals.
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A
Must to Avoid: Common Household
Medicines
that Can Harm Your Pet
According to the ASPCA Animal Poison
Control Center, various nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)
commonly kept in the home—including aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen—can
be dangerous to companion animals. “While these medications can be
beneficial to humans,” says APCC senior vice president, Dr. Steven
Hansen, veterinary toxicologist, “they can be very hazardous or even
deadly to pets.”
While most animal exposures to NSAIDS
are accidental—such as a pet chewing into a bottle of medication or
ingesting pills left unattended—others occur as a result of pet owners
inappropriately medicating their pets. Depending on the dose, NSAIDS can
produce symptoms ranging from gastrointestinal upset and kidney damage
to seizures and coma. To ensure that your pet is not exposed to NSAIDS,
Hansen recommends the following:
- Never give your animal medication
without first talking to your pet’s veterinarian.
- Certain veterinary NSAID products
are formulated for safe use in pets, but you should consult with
your vet to avoid a potential medication poisoning and ensure a
proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan.
- Store all medications in a secure
cabinet well out of the reach of animals—even child-proof
containers can easily be chewed open.
If you suspect that your animal
companion has ingested an NSAID, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA
Animal Poison Control Center's emergency hotline at 1-888-426-4435 for
round-the-clock telephone assistance. For more pet poison prevention
tips, please visit ASPCA
online.
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Bladder Infections
Symptoms
When you
notice your Pekingese is perhaps straining to urinate, and production of urine
is in small amounts, or no urine is produced, this indicates there is quite
possibly a bladder infection. Sometimes, there may be dribbling of urine,
or Peke may lick him/herself an inordinate amount. Also, you may see
blood in the urine. These symptoms do indicate that your little one will
need to be examined by your veterinarian, and routine
treatment for urinary infection is not successful or only temporarily
successful, or if blood persists in the urine, you should have your dog
re-examined. (These symptoms also indicate that a urinary stone is possible. Bacterial
infection of the urinary tract is the most common cause for urinary stones in
the dog. Decreased water consumption and retention of urine as often occurs in
the winter increases the risk of urinary infection and urinary stones.)
Prevention
An old statement is still
true here: Prevention of
urinary bladder stones is better than the cure. The risk of stones can be
reduced by allowing the drinking of fresh
water at all times.
If the Peke is confined to a vehicle or cage or other space in which it is not
allow to urinate, frequent
opportunities to urinate outside its confinement should be provided throughout
the day and evening.
The signs of urinary tract
infection should alert you to the need for your dog to be examined by your
veterinarian.
WOULD YOU
RECOGNIZE HEAT STROKE IN YOUR DOG?
READ
THIS TO FIND OUT SYMPTOMS AND WHAT TO DO
IF
IT SHOULD HAPPEN TO YOUR PEKE
During hot, humid weather, provide your
pet with adequate ventilation, protection from the sun and cool, fresh
water. Limit your pet's exercise during these periods.
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