Can My Dog Donate Blood?

Yes, please, and thank you! Just like human patients, veterinary patients also require blood transfusions if they are anemic, have a clotting problem, have hemophilia, or have acute blood loss from trauma or cancer. Young to middle aged (1 to 7 years of age), good natured dogs that weigh more than 50 lbs and are healthy, vaccinated, and only on preventative medication (such as flea, tick, and heartworm prevention) are the primary candidates for donation. If you live near a veterinary school or a large veterinary specialty clinic, call to see if you can help out other pets by volunteering your dog’s blood. The process isn’t painful and dogs don’t typically need to be sedated. They just lie quietly on their side while getting lots of TLC, petting, and soothing during the 15- to 20-minute donation process. Afterwards, they get to pick a toy or bone of their choice, and get a few snacks for being such a loyal participant.

Why Do Dogs Get “Red-Eye” in Photos?

The tapetum lucidium is the tissue layer in the back of the eye (specifically, the choroid) that gives off the red eye appearance in photos. This is an iridescent tissue layer that reflects light and allows dogs to see better in less light, while also making the eyes look like they are shining in the dark. When you take photos of your dog, the flash from your camera reflects off this tapedum, resulting in a red eye appearance. This effect is more prominent in certain breeds; for example, dogs with blue eyes often have a red tapetum, while dogs with brown eyes have a green tapetum. Thanks to red-eye reducing camera functions, you can reduce the severity of it; if not, there’s always Adobe Photoshop.

Pet Carousel pig ears and beef hooves chew treats HEALTH ALERT Salmonella

FDA Health Alert for Certain Pet Treats Made by Pet Carousel
Products may be contaminated with Salmonella

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is issuing this health alert to warn consumers not to use Pig Ears and Beef Hooves pet treats manufactured by Pet Carousel because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella. The products were distributed nationwide in both bulk and retail packaging for sale in pet food and retail chain stores. Pet Carousel is based in Sanger, Calif.

The products were manufactured under conditions that facilitate cross-contamination within batches or lots. Although no illnesses associated with these products have been reported, the FDA is advising consumers in possession of these products to not handle or feed them to their pets.

The affected pig ear products were packaged under the brand names Doggie Delight and Pet Carousel. The affected beef hooves were packaged under the brand names Choo Hooves, Dentley’s, Doggie Delight, and Pet Carousel. All sizes and all lots of these products made by Pet Carousel are included in this alert.

During September 2009, the FDA conducted routine testing of pig ears made by Pet Carousel. The test results detected a positive reading for Salmonella. This prompted an FDA inspection of Pet Carousel’s manufacturing facilities. During the inspection, the agency collected additional pet treat samples. Further analysis found Salmonella present in beef hooves, pig ears and in the manufacturing environment.

Salmonella can affect both humans and animals. People handling dry pet food and/or pet treats can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the treats or any surfaces exposed to these products. Consumers should dispose of these products in a safe manner by securing them in a covered trash receptacle.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella may experience some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Although rare, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments including arterial infections, endocarditis (inflammation of the lining of the heart), arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their health care provider immediately.

Pets with Salmonella infections may become lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some pets may only experience a decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected, but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed any of the affected products or is experiencing any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately.

The FDA will continue to investigate this matter to determine the source of the Salmonella contamination and offer updates as appropriate.

Consumers can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food and pet treat products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in their area. You can locate the nearest consumer complaint coordinator at:
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/ReportaProblem/ConsumerComplaintCoordinators/default.htm

H1N1 flu confirmed in Iowa cat

Just released from the American Veterinary Medical Association!

A cat in Iowa has tested positive for the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus, state officials confirmed this morning, marking the first time a cat has been diagnosed with this strain of influenza.

The cat, which has recovered, is believed to have caught the virus from someone in the household who was sick with H1N1. There are no indications that the cat passed the virus on to any other animals or people.

Prior to this diagnosis, the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus had been found in humans, pigs, birds and ferrets.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) are reminding pet owners that some viruses can pass between people and animals, so this was not an altogether unexpected event. Pet owners should monitor their pets' health very closely, no matter what type of animal, and visit a veterinarian if there are any signs of illness.

The AVMA is actively tracking all instances of H1N1 in animals and posting updates on our Web site at www.avma.org/public_health/influenza/new_virus.

What's this mean for dog owners? We're not sure - we didn't think it'd jump species like this! As a result, if you're ill with H1N1, consider avoiding your pet at all costs too, and use appropriate hygiene (washing your hands frequently, minimal contact with your pet!).

Halloween safety tips for pets!

Pet Poison Helpline Offers Halloween Safety Tips for Pets
Advice on “treats” that pets should avoid and other Halloween hazards

Minneapolis (October 14, 2009) – Holidays can bring unique foods and materials into the house that pose special threats to animals. Halloween, with its costumes and candy, can be a dangerous and stressful time for a pet.

The following tips showcase what pet owners should watch out for around Halloween.

· Tricks, not treats! Some human treats can be deadly for pets

o Chocolate: Make sure your kids know to hide their Halloween stash from food-seeking dogs. Ninety-five percent of Pet Poison Helpline’s chocolate calls involve dogs getting into chocolate candy. Keep in mind, the less sweet and the darker the chocolate, the more toxic it is to your pet. Baker’s chocolate and dark chocolate pose the biggest problem.

o Other candy: Remember when you felt ill after gorging on too much candy? The same thing can happen to pets. Large ingestions of high-fat, high-sugar foods may lead to a condition called pancreatitis — a painful and potentially fatal inflammation of the pancreas. Signs of pancreatitis typically show up two to four days after ingesting a large high-fat meal. Monitor your pet for a decreased appetite, vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea and other odd behavior.

o Raisins/grapes: While small boxes of raisins are popular and healthy treats for people, keep them away from dogs. Even small numbers of raisins or grapes can cause kidney failure in dogs (and possibly cats). Never offer grapes or raisins as snacks for your pets. Choose carrots, peas, green beans or apples instead.

o Candy wrappers: Not only is candy toxic to pets, but so are the wrappers. Few animals will bother to unwrap Halloween treats before eating them. Ingestion of foil and cellophane wrappers may cause a bowel obstruction when ingested in large quantities.

· Halloween hazards

o Glow sticks/jewelry: Pets, especially cats, love to chew on these colorful toys. Though not highly poisonous, the glowing contents can cause pain and irritation in the mouth as well as profuse drooling, nausea and vomiting.

o Costumes: While dressing up our pets can be entertaining, keep in mind that your pet may not enjoy it. Make sure the costume does not impair their vision or movement. Also, beware of costumes containing metallic beads, snaps or other small pieces. If ingested, some metals (especially zinc and lead) can result in serious poisoning. Never dye or apply coloring to your pets’ fur. Even if the dye is labeled non-toxic, many are not meant to be ingested and can potentially cause harm.

Additionally, pets may be afraid of people dressed in costumes and may not even recognize those they typically know. Fear can cause animals to act aggressively or in an unpredictable manner. If your pet seems nervous or afraid, make sure to have a safe area for them to hide or take a “time out.”

o Candles: Wagging tails and curious noses do not mix with candles. Keep candles well out of reach of four-legged friends and, when possible, use safe, electric lights in jack-o-lanterns.

The best thing any pet owner can do is to be educated about the common foods and items that are potentially toxic to pets. Make sure to avoid accidentally feeding your pets human foods that may be dangerous for them and keep poisonous products out of your pet’s reach. When in doubt or if you think your pet has been poisoned, contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline immediately at 1-800-213-6680 with any questions or concerns.

People spreading H1N1 to animals!

The Minnesota State Fair, my all time favorite event of the year (great people watching, everything you could ever imagine deep-fried on a stick!) finally made national news. Unfortunately, recent tests confirmed that pigs at this summer's Minnesota State Fair were infected with H1N1 influenza virus. They are the first swine in the country to be found with the 2009 pandemic virus. Infection in the fair pigs does not necessarily mean contamination of commercial herds, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture spokesperson, because the populations seldom share personnel or animal stock. Unfortunately, people likely spread it to the pigs, as there was a large 4-H child outbreak of H1N1 at the same time (and hundreds of children were affected!).

Rest assured - you can't get H1N1 from eating pork or pork products, according to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. The samples collected at the fair were part of a University of Iowa and University of Minnesota research project funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In a separate incident this month, Oregon State Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Emilio DeBess suspects a Portland mother and her children may have accidentally infected their pet ferret with the H1N1 virus. DeBess tested and confirmed H1N1 in the animal, which is recovering. Ferrets have always been really predisposed to catching what humans have (and spreading their influenzas to humans). Be aware ferret owners!

Cure to ALS found in dogs?

Internal medicine board-certified neurologist Joan Coates, DVM, MS and a team of researchers from the University of Missouri (MU) and the Broad Institute have found the genetic mutation responsible for degenerative myelopathy (DM) in dogs is the same mutation that causes amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the human disease also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

“We uncovered the genetic mutation of DM which has been unknown for 30 years,” said Dr. Coates. “Dogs with DM are likely to provide scientists with another animal model for ALS. Since DM is a spontaneous disease in dogs, it may represent a more reliable model than genetically modified mice for biomarkers and possible therapeutic strategies.”

DM, a progressive disease of the spinal cord, causes affected dogs to wobble when walking and has a high prevalence in German Shepherds, but is also found in Cardigan and Pembroke Welsh Corgis, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, and Boxers. Although it is not a painful disease, weakness gets progressively worse until the dog is unable to walk and becomes paraplegic. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease in humans that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord resulting in muscle weakness and atrophy.

Dr. Coates, an associate professor of veterinary medicine and surgery at MU, began studying DM in dogs in 1997 when on faculty at Texas A&M University. Over the course of a decade, Dr. Coates and a team of researchers, including Drs. Gary Johnson, Claire Wade, Kerstin Lindblad-Toh, and their colleagues, embarked on a research path which required the collection of many cases and samples from many dog breeders, owners, and veterinarians. e ultimate result was the discovery that DM is caused by a gene mutation in the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene, which is the same gene that causes some forms of ALS in humans. Even with this extraordinary discovery, the road to curing both diseases is far from over. “The outlook for a dog with DM is still grave,” said Dr. Coates. According to Dr. Coates, efforts are being made to improve quality of life such as good nursing care, physical rehabilitation, pressure sore prevention, monitoring of urinary infections, and ways to increase mobility through the use of harnesses and carts for affected dogs.

“We still have a lot of work to do in finding ways to follow disease progression so that we can monitor therapeutic strategies,” said Dr. Coates. “Hopefully this discovery will offer an opportunity to other veterinary neurologists and specialists to use their expertise for further study of this disease and in establishing ‘proof of concept’ for possible therapeutic strategies.”