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Link: https://www.avma.org/News/Issues/recalls-alerts/Pages/default.aspx
Its believed that all parts of the Easter lily, tiger lily, Japanese showy lily, rubrum lily, stargazer lily, and some species of day lilies are highly toxic to cats. During the spring, these flowers begin appearing in flower arrangements and potted plants in many homes. They are also commonly found in gardens, but incidence of outdoor cats suffering from lily toxicosis is rare, most cases are seen in indoor cats that have eaten some part of the plant. Even a small amount of any of these lilies can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated properly and quickly. The toxin found in the Easter Lily plant has proven to be the most nephrotoxic and pancreotoxic. Clinical signs usually appear within three to twelve occurs within one to three days. If treatment is delayed past 18 to 24 hours after anuria develops, prognosis is poor. Lab work will show increased levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, potassium, and phosphorus. Epithelial casts have been found in the urine as early as twelve to eighteen hours post ingestion, as well as proteinuria and glucosuria.
Just like the human epidemic, almost 50% of the pet population is overweight. Even a little extra weight can lead to serious health problems. The pet’s quality of life and relationship with family is also impacted because that extra weight can reduce play time, impact mobility and affect the lifelong general health of your dog.
Hill’s Prescription Diet Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution is weight loss and maintenance nutrition clinically proven to naturally work with each dog’s unique metabolic response to support healthy weight loss and maintenance. This breakthrough nutrition is clinically proven to safely provide 28% body fat loss in only 2 months because it works to control hunger, helping to keep dogs feeling full and satisfied between meals.
Nutritionists and veterinarians at Hill’s developed this next generation formula with the pet owner in mind, offering a complete portfolio of dry food, canned food, and treats. These products work together to ensure safe and healthy weight loss and easy weight maintenance without making big changes or depriving your pet. Because the formula works with each pet’s unique metabolism, it also reduces the need to precisely measure the food to safely achieve weight loss success. In real-world testing with pet owners and their pets at home, 88% of pets lost weight over two months, and 86% of dog owners would recommend Metabolic to their friends with overweight dogs.
About exercise-induced collapse (EIC)
A syndrome of exercise intolerance and exerciseinduced
collapse (EIC) is being observed with
increasing frequency in young adult Labrador
retrievers. It has also been observed in
Chesapeake Bay and curly-coated retrievers,
as well as Boykin Spaniels, Pembroke Welsh
Corgis, and German Wirehaired pointers.
Affected dogs have been found in fi eld-trial, hunt
test, conformation, pet, and service lines. Black,
yellow, and chocolate Labradors of both sexes are
affected, with the distribution of colors and sexes
closely refl ecting the typical distribution in the
population.
Signs fi rst become apparent in young dogs, usually
between 5 months and 3 years of age (averaging
14 months). In dogs used for fi eld trials, this
usually coincides with the age at which they enter
heavy training. Littermates and other related dogs
are commonly affected, but depending on their
temperament and lifestyle, they may or may not
manifest signs. Affected dogs exhibiting signs of
collapse are usually described as being extremely
fi t, muscular, prime athletic specimens of their
breed with an excitable temperament and lots of
drive.
Description of exercise-induced collapse
Affected dogs can tolerate mild to moderate exercise,
but 5 to 20 minutes of strenuous exercise with extreme
excitement induces weakness and then collapse.
Severely affected dogs may collapse whenever they
are exercised to this extent; other dogs only exhibit
collapse sporadically. The factors important in inducing
an episode can vary among dogs.
The fi rst thing noted is usually a rocking or forced
gait. The rear limbs then become weak and unable
to support weight. Many affected dogs continue to
run while dragging their back legs. Some of the dogs
appear to be incoordinated, especially in the rear
limbs, with a wide-based, long, loose stride rather
than the short, stiff strides typically associated with
muscle weakness. In some dogs, the rear limb collapse
progresses to forelimb weakness and occasionally to
a total inability to move. Some dogs appear to have
a loss of balance and may fall over, particularly as
they recover from complete collapse. Most collapsed
dogs are totally conscious and alert, still trying to run
and retrieve, but affected dogs can appear stunned or
disoriented during the episode. It is common for the
signs to worsen for three to fi ve minutes even after
exercise has been terminated.
Most dogs recover quickly and are normal within 5
to 25 minutes with no residual weakness or stiffness.
Dogs are not in pain during the collapse or after
recovery. Affected dogs are not stiff or sore or limping
upon recovery.
Note: A few affected dogs have died during exercise
or while resting immediately after an episode of
EIC, so an affected dog’s exercise should always
be stopped at the fi rst hint of incoordination or
wobbliness.
Factors contributing to collapse in dogs
with EIC
Ambient temperature
The ambient temperature does not seem to be a
critical factor contributing to collapse, but if the
temperature is much warmer or the humidity is much
higher than the dog is accustomed to, collapse may be
more likely. Affected dogs are less likely to collapse
while swimming than when being exercised on land.
There are severely affected dogs, however, who
have exhibited collapse while breaking ice retrieving
waterfowl in frigid temperatures, and some dogs have
drowned when experiencing EIC-related collapse in the
water.
Excitement
Dogs that exhibit signs of EIC are most likely to have
intense, excitable personalities, and it is very apparent
that their level of excitement plays a role in inducing
the collapse. There are some severely affected dogs
who require very little exercise to induce the collapse.
Dogs with EIC are most likely to collapse when
engaging in activities that they fi nd very exciting or
stressful. This can include retrieving of live birds,
participation in fi eld trials, training drills with electric
collar pressure, and quartering for upland game.
Type of exercise
Routine exercise like jogging, hiking, swimming, most
waterfowl hunting, and even agility or fl yball training
may not induce an episode in dogs with EIC. Activities
with continuous, intense exercise, particularly
if accompanied by a high level of excitement or
anxiety, most commonly cause collapse. Activities
commonly implicated include grouse or pheasant
hunting, repetitive “happy retrieves,” retrieving drills
or repetition of diffi cult marks or blinds where the dog
is being repeatedly corrected or is anticipating electric
collar correction, and running alongside an ATV.
| “Dry Eye” (More formally known as “Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca” or “KCS”)
WHY TEARS ARE GOODWe can all imagine the discomfort of dry, irritated eyes and the soothing provided by eye drops. Tears are essential to the comfort of our eyes but they do more than just provide lubrication. Tears contain anti-bacterial proteins, salts, sugars, and even oxygen to nourish the eye. Tears flush away irritants and infectious agents that are constantly getting in our eyes. Since the outer portions of the eye do not have a blood supply, the tears must bring sugars and oxygen and must remove metabolic waste.
Without tears, eyes become irritated, the conjunctival tissues around the eyes get red, the cornea itself in time will turn brown in an effort to protect the eye, and a gooey, yellow discharge predominates. Blindness can result. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca is a fancy way of saying the eye is dry. “Kerato” refers to the cornea or clear covering of the eye that faces the outside world. “Conjunctivae” are the moist pink membranes of the eye socket. “Itis” means inflammation and “sicca” means dry. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, abbreviated “KCS,” means there is an inflamed, dry cornea and conjunctiva. It occurs when there is a deficiency in the water portion of the tear film which normally accounts for 95% of the tear volume. Without the water, one is left with oil and mucus; hence, the gooey yellow eye discharge characteristic of this condition. WHY DO EYES BECOME THIS DRY? There are many causes of dry eye. Here are some of them:
HOW WE MAKE THE KCS DIAGNOSIS When KCS is in advanced state the situation is pretty obvious but in earlier cases in may look like a simple case of conjunctivitis. In either case it is important to actually measure the tear production to determine how dry the eyes are. The test that accomplishes this is called the “Schirmer Tear Test.”
To perform the test, a strip of special paper is inserted just inside the lower eyelid in the outer corner of the eye for 60 seconds. The moisture of the eye will wet the paper. At the end of the 60 second period, the height of the moistened area is measured. A height of 15mm or more is normal. A height 11-14mm is a borderline result. A height of less than 10mm is dry. A height less than 5mm is severely dry. HOW DO WE TREAT THIS CONDITION? Not that long ago all we had to treat this condition was tear replacement formulas and mucus dissolving agents. These are still helpful but require an impractical frequency of administration. A breakthrough came with the discovery of cyclosporine topical therapy to control the immune mediated gland destruction. Cyclosporine is an immunomodulating drug that had already been found helpful to organ transplant patients. When applied as an eye drop or ointment, it suppresses the immune destruction that is the most common cause of KCS and tear production is restored. The success of this treatment plus its convenient dosing interval (once or twice a day) has made this medication the primary treatment for KCS.
After beginning cyclosporine eye drops or ointment, a recheck in three weeks or so is a good idea to check for improvement. If the Schirmer tear test is still showing poor results, the medication can be given three times a day; similarly if excellent results are seen, the medication can be dropped to once a day. Dogs with Schirmer tear tests as low as 2mm still have an 80% chance of responding to cyclosporine. This medication has been a very miraculous breakthrough in the treatment of KCS. Unfortunately, it is relatively expensive as eye medication goes but after messing around with less effective treatments requiring more frequent administration for less predictable results, cycl osporine is probably worth it. Occasional patients simply do not show a good response to cyclosporine ointment but will respond when the concentration is increased. Higher concentration products can easily be formulated by compounding pharmacies. Tacrolimus is another medication able to locally suppress immunity. This product has recently gained popularity in human medication as a topical anti-inflammatory treatment that is cortisone-free. It does not come in a formulation appropriate for eyes but can be made into one by a compounding pharmacy. It is used in a manner similar to cyclosporine and is generally of similar cost. Pilocarpine is what is called a “cholinergic” drug which means it works on the autonomic nervous system (the part that controls automatic functions such as gland secretion). Without going into too much neurologic detail, this medication can be given in the eye or even orally to stimulate tear production. To use this medication orally, the eye drops are given at an increasing dose until side effects are seen (diarrhea, drooling, vomiting or drop in heart rate). At that point the dose is reduced and continued indefinitely, usually twice a day. Alternatively the drops can be given in the eyes. Recent studies have shown that pilocarpine does not increase tear production in normal dogs so there is some question over how well this method works. Artificial Tears can be purchased in most drug stores. These can be combined with other therapies and are certainly very soothing. The problem is that they are t ypically recommended for use 4-6 times a day.
Antibiotic Products are often needed especially when starting treatment for KCS as secondary infections are common when there are inadequate tears to wash infectious agents away. These products do not increase tear production but may be important, especially early in therapy. Mucomyst® Eye Drops are made from a respiratory product used to dissolve thick mucus. In an eye formula, Mucomyst (active ingredient acetylcysteine) helps remove the thick eye discharge that accompanies dry eye. Severin’s Solution is a mixture of Mucomyst, pilocarpine, artificial tears, and antibiotic which can be made up and prescribed. The “recipe” originated in an article published by a veterinary ophthalmologist named Dr. Severin in 1996. Many animal hospitals mix up their own conglomerations based on this recipe. In most cases, cyclosporine has made these mixtures obsolete. SURGICAL SOLUTIONS? There is a surgical solution to KCS though it is a delicate procedure in general only done by veterinary ophthalmologists. This is called the Parotid Duct Transposition. The parotid duct is the salivary gland on either side of the facial cheek. It produces saliva which is carried to the mouth via a long duct. This duct can be carefully dissected out and moved so as to deliver saliva over the eye. Saliva actually makes a reasonable substitute for tears though in time some mineral deposits will form on the eye surface and eye drops may be needed to control this. The dog’s eyes will water when he is fed and facial wetting may be objectionable. The pigment on the surface of the cornea resulting from long standing KCS is like the lens of dark sunglasses and interferes with a dog’s vision especially in dark situations. If tear function is restored, vision may also be restored via a procedure called a Superficial Keratectomy where the pigmented surface of the cornea is sanded away. This is obviously not worth doing if the tear issue is still problematic as the pigment would in that case just return. As with the parotid duct transposition, a veterinary ophthalmologist is probably best suited to perform such a procedure. |
It has come to my attention that online pharmacies have started repackaging some products before filling them to the customer.
First of all this breaks all sorts of rules and laws, but also brings up the fact that many prescription pet products are DIVERTED product, not sold or backed up by manufacturer. Do not believe if they state they are getting there product from authorized distributors since there are no distributors that have license to sell prescription products to online pharmacies. All pet prescription products sold need to have a Veterinarian Client relationship established. Any questions please give a call.
GVC
Its hard to leave the fireplace on days like today but please don’t forget about your outside pets and livestock.
Lack of water on days like today believe it or not is a major issue for our animals.
GVC
If you have noticed, we have had a lot of beloved pets go missing just in these past few weeks. As much as it breaks our hearts, most never make it back home. And most have no form of ID. We here at GVH offer permanent ID for your pet be it hairy, fuzzy, hooved, scaled or winged.
With Christmas just a few days away, what better gift for your pet than permanent ID that will last a lifetime? We offer HomeAgain pet microchips, the best in pet identification! We want everyone home with their families for the Holidays, including the furry ones!
There is no greater joy for us to receive a ‘stray’ than to scan them and find a microchip and return them to their family.
1 in 3 pets goes missing during its lifetime, and without proper ID, 90% never return home. A microchip for dogs & cats (or any critter really) gives the best protection with permanent ID that can never be removed or become impossible to read.
Every month, HomeAgain reunites 10,000 pets with the people that love them.
Call us today and find out more about how you can protect your pet!! 996-4127
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| Dec 14, 2012 DVM NEWSMAGAZINE |
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Antifreeze and engine coolant manufactured in the United States will now contain a bitter flavoring agent to prevent animals and children from being poisoned by the sweet-tasting liquid. Although legislation has been passed in several states, the Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA) and the Humane Society Legislative Fund jointly announced Dec. 13 that the industry would now voluntarily add the flavoring agent to products for sale on the consumer market in all 50 states.
“Poisoning occurs because animals are attracted to the sweetness of antifreeze and engine coolant, which inadvertently spills in our driveways or is left in open containers in garages,” the joint release says. HSLF says estimates range from 10,000 to 90,000 animals poisoned each year from ingesting ethylene glycol, the toxic substance used in antifreeze. The release claims that one teaspoon of antifreeze or engine coolant can kill an average-sized cat.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry says ethylene glycol is rapidly absorbed following ingestion, leading to systemic toxicity beginning with effects on the central nervous system, followed by cardiopulmonary effects and, finally, renal failure. Clinical signs may be more subtle in animals than humans.
Tears consist of oil secreted by the eyelid glands, mucus, and (mostly) water. Tears are secreted by two “lacrimal” glands in dogs and cats: one just above the eye and another in the third eyelid (or so-called “nictating membrane”).
In earlier times, animal hospitals made their own cyclosporine eyedrops out of oral cyclosporine and vegetable oil, but this largely ended when the Schering-Plough company came out with Optimmune® eye ointment, containing 0.2% cyclosporine. Currently production problems have made this product difficult to obtain and many practices have resumed making their own eye drops or having 
