Poison Prevention Awareness Month

It's every pet owners worst nightmare.  You come home from a long day at work only to find Rascal with a sheepish look on his face and one of your medicine vials chewed up on the floor.  Immediately you are presented with a multitude of questions, some of which you may not be able to readily answer.  What was in the medicine vial?  How harmful is it?  How much did Rascal ingest?  How long has it been since he got into it?  What should you do next?

Hit the jump to find out answers to all these questions as well as a list of the top five pet related poisons of 2010.

Top 5 Pet Poisons of 2010:
1. Human Medications
-With a readily available supply human medications top the list of causes for pet poisonings in 2010.
2. Insecticides
-Products in this category are often used to remove unwanted guests of the crawling and flying kind.  They are also used to control fleas and ticks.  The most commonly reported cases of poisoning involve cats receving products they shouldn't.  ALWAYS READ THE LABEL BEFORE USING ANY MEDICATIONS!
3. Rodenticides
-These poisons are often used in bait traps for mice and rats, with the key word being bait.  A bait works by pretending it is something tasty to eat and if it it seems tasty to a mouse or rat it can do the same for a cat or dog.
4. Human Foods
-Grapes. Onions. Avoacdos. Chocloate.  Many of the foods we love to eat can actually be harmful to our pets.  To avoid unnecessary accidents please try to only give your pet foods and treats that have been labeled as safe for them to eat.
5. Veterinary Medications
-Veterinary prescribed medications are often flavored to make them more palatable to our pets.  If your pet likes that flavor then we need to make sure they don't ingest a larger dose than your veterinarian recommends.

What to do if you suspect your pet has been poisoned:
1. Contact your veterinarian immediately!
Be ready with the following information:
-The species, age, weight, sex and number of animals involved
-Any symptoms that may be present
-Information regarding the exposure, including the agent (if known), the amount of the agent involved and the time elapsed since the time of exposure.
-If possible, have the product container/packaging available for reference.
2. If unable to contact your veterinarian you should call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control hotline.
1-888-426-4435

To find out more information about some potentially harmful substances your pet may come in contact with check out the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Website.
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Vaccinations: Keeping Your Pets Protected

Each year when we bring our pets in for their annual wellness visits they get a physical exam, possibly some bloodwork run and their all important vaccinations. But just what vaccines are really necessary? Why are some more important than others? Why do some vaccines last for only a year while others for longer? It can be a lot to absorb at one time, especially when being bombarded with all the information you typically receive while visiting the veterinarian. To help simplify the topic of your pets and their vaccines we have provided a quick refresher on what vaccines are available and why they are important.

*It is important to remember that all vaccinations carry a minimal risk of adverse reaction. Depending on your pet’s age, health, and history of previous vaccination reactions, your veterinarian may request you pre-medicate your pet and/or that only one vaccination be given at a time.

In the most general terms vaccines can be classified as either Core Vaccinations or Non-Core Vaccinations. Core vaccinations are recommended for almost all pets. The frequency of vaccination with the core vaccines will depend on your pet’s age, health, and life style.

Core Vaccinations: A rabies vaccination is required for all cats and dogs by Pennsylvania State Law. The first vaccination is to be given when the puppy or kitten is at least 12 weeks of age. The vaccination must be boostered 1 year later, and then at least every three years thereafter (when using a 3 year approved vaccine).  Some practices may recommend re-vaccinating every other year if you live in an area with a high rabies risk.  For dogs, the distemper combination, (DA2PP), and, for cats, the upper respiratory combination, (FCVRC), are also considered core vaccinations. Puppies and kittens need a series of boosters, spaced 3-4 weeks apart, to be considered fully protected.  Most puppies and kittens receive their first distemper vaccination at 6 weeks of age and their last one around 16 weeks of age.  Booster distemper vaccinations are then given on a yearly schedule.

However, recent studies suggest the protection from these vaccines may last longer in pets who are good responders. Because every vaccination procedure carries a minimal risk, if you wish to have these booster vaccinations be given every other to every third year, your veterinarian may recommend a yearly blood test to determine if the antibody level in your pet is high enough to provide sufficient protection. For pets with minimal exposure to these diseases, decreasing the frequency of vaccination simply makes sense.

Non-Core vaccinations: (Feline Leukemia virus, Lyme disease, and Bordetella, or kennel cough) are recommended based on your pet’s life style (e.g. outside cats, dogs with high tick exposures, dogs going to groomers, training classes, dog shows, or boarding facilities). These vaccinations require yearly boosters after their initial series to remain effective though they can be discontinued at any time if you feel your pet will no longer be needing them.  Be sure to inform your veterinarian if your pet is at risk for these diseases so they can vaccinate your pet appropriately.

Please remember it is important to discuss all aspects of your pet’s lifestyle with with your veterinarian to assure your pet gets the care they need. Together, you and your veterinarian can determine the best vaccination schedule for your pet.
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Speedlinks: February 9, 2011

Your portal to the most interesting, absurd, and unbelievable animal stories in the news today.


1. Dog Breeds I've Recently Seen:
Labrador retriever. Check.
Husky. Check.
Xoloitzcuintli. Che- Wait! What?
Follow the link to see three new breeds that were recently added to the AKC.

2. Has your veterinarian ever told you that your pet needs to eat better? Well it seems more and more people are taking that advice and doing something about it.

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Giardia: The Tiny Bug That Makes Fido (And Us) Mighty Sick

Some Facts About Giardia:
-Giardia is the most common nonbacterial cause of diarrhea in the United States.
-Giardia is one of the most common intestinal parasites worldwide, infecting up to 20 percent of the world's population.
-Giardia is most prevalent in developing countries, where infections are associated with poor sanitary conditions.
-Giardia infections are more common in children than in adults.

What Is Giardia:
Giardia are sometimes confused with worms because they invade the gastrointestinal tract and can cause diarrhea. They are not worms; instead, they are one-celled parasites classified as protozoa.

Most dogs that are infected with Giardia do not have diarrhea or any other signs of illness. When the eggs (cysts) are found in the stool of a dog without diarrhea, they are generally considered a transient, insignificant finding. However, in puppies and debilitated adult dogs, they may cause severe, watery diarrhea that may be fatal.

Infection:
A dog becomes infected with Giardia when it swallows the cyst stage of the parasite. Once inside the dog's intestine, the cyst goes through several stages of maturation. Eventually, the dog is able to pass infective cysts in the stool. These cysts lie in the environment and can infect other dogs. They may also be transmitted through drinking infected water.

Diagnosis:
Giardiasis is sometimes diagnosed by performing a microscopic examination of a stool sample. The cysts are quite small and usually require a special floatation medium for detection, so they are not normally found on routine fecal examinations. Occasionally, the parasites may be seen on a direct smear of the feces. A blood test is also available for detection of antigens (cell proteins) of Giardia in the blood. This test is probably more accurate than the stool exam, but it requires several days to get a result from the laboratory performing the test.

None of the tests for giardiasis are completely accurate. Therefore, some veterinarians choose to treat the dog with one of the safe and very effective medications. If successful, this approach will eliminate the parasite even though a confirmed diagnosis is not made.

Transmission to Humans:
Giardia can also cause diarrhea in humans. Therefore, environmental disinfection is important. The use of chlorine bleach, one cup in a gallon (500 ml in 4 liters) of water, is effective if the surfaces and premises can be safely treated with it.
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250 Years And Better Than Ever!

2011 is a special year for veterinary medicine.  It marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of the first school dedicated solely to teaching veterinary medicine. Although there are records of individuals providing animal care and treatment dating back as far as 1900 B.C. it wasn't until the opening of the first veterinary school in Lyon, France in 1761 that the veterinary profession was officially "born".  A lot has changed in the field since that time but one thing has remained constant... the compassionate and dedicated care your veterinarian offers your pets.

Further information about this worldwide event can be found by visiting the American Veterinary Medical Aassociation's official website. Read more...