Is turkey bad for our pets?

Well the holiday season is almost upon us and Anne had the question "Is it true that turkey is not healthy for our dogs?"  So I decided to write this blog about just that.

Anne your question is a complex one.  Because the answer is both yes and no.  Turkey is not bad for dogs that are used to eating it, especially when it is an ingredient in a balanced dog food.  There is nothing toxic or dangerous in turkey meat for our dogs.  The problem comes when our pets who are used to eating a well balanced, set ratio of fat, protein and carbohydrates, suddenly get a high fat treat.  Think about how you would feel if you ate a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, and lean meat and then suddenly you went to McDonalds and got a Big Mac.  My guess is that you would not be feeling so hot for the rest of the day or even for several days.  That is the best case scenario for a dog that gets a high fat treat: a little belly ache, some gas, and diarrhea.

Turkey (or other fattening scraps like butter, gravy, etc.) become dangerous when they cause the pancreas to kick into high gear.  Eighty to ninety percent of all pancreatitis cases in humans are found in alcoholics or people with gallstones.  It is not a disease most people need to worry about.  That is not the case in dogs and cats.  They are much more sensitive to a sudden changes in fat intake. 

When your pet eats a meal several things happen.  Before the first bite of food is taken salivary secretions increase.  This then triggers the stomach to start producing more acid chyme (pronounced kime) which is responsible for the acidic environment of the stomach which allows the dog and cat to eat dead and decaying things with high bacterial contamination and not get sick.  The increase in chyme stimulates the duodenum (first part of the small intestines) to produce secretin which then causes the pancreas to produce its digestive enzymes.  These enzymes are responsible for the breakdown of fats and proteins. OK enough digestive physiology!

Because the digestive enzymes the pancreas produces will break down fats and proteins they are capable of digesting the pancreas and other internal organs as well.  There are protective measures in place to prevent this and under normal circumstance they are very effective.  The theory is that with a sudden high fat meal the pancreas over secretes enzymes to the point that the safety mechanisms are overcome.  (I always picture the I Love Lucy episode in the candy factory where the conveyor belt is put on super fast speed and she can't keep up). These enzymes then start to digest the pancreas itself causing more inflammation, unregulated production of more enzymes, and hence more damage.  A single high fat meal could be fatal for a dog or cat.  Once the enzymes damage the pancreas enough they can start to leak into the rest of the body and eventually general organ failure, DIC, and death can follow.  While many cases of pancreatitis are successfully treated, there is no guaranteed cure.  A dog or cat may stay in the hospital in intensive care for weeks (and thousands to tens of thousands of dollars), appear to be getting better, only to suddenly die from organ failure.

I know many people will think "but I've fed my dog table scraps at Thanksgiving for years and never had a problem."  All I can say to them is they were lucky.  I know many people that didn't wear a seat belt as a child and they are here to tell about it, but I know of at least three people who died because they weren't, the same theory applies.  I can also name many people that did feed their dog Thanksgiving scraps only to lose their beloved pet from severe acute pancreatitis or have to spend hundreds and thousands of dollars to get them through the illness.  So next time your dog looks up at you with those pleading soulful eyes while you are eating Thanksgiving dinner, think long and hard about what is best for him.  Hand him a raw carrot or green bean or even have some dog treats at the table instead.

Demodex - Warning graphic pictures of wounds

Today I am going to write about Demodectic mange in dogs.  Many people mistake demodex for scabies (Sarcoptic mange), but though clinical signs are similar they are two completely different organisms.  Scabies is contagious to people and other dogs while demodex is not.  All dogs have demodectic mites living on their body.  They are typically well controlled by the dog's immune system and cause no problems.  Sometimes, however, a dog is born with an immune problem and is unable to suppress the mite OR an older dog gets sick and his immune system is suppressed so much that he can no longer prevent multiplication of the mite. 

The mites look like little caterpillars, but can not be seen with the naked eye.  Instead people begin to notice patches of hair loss.  This is because the mites live down in the hair follicle causing the hair to fall out.  The are passed from dog to dog through prolonged contact (typically from mother to pup while they are nursing) and are species specific (meaning people can't get dog demodex).  To diagnose demodectic mange the affected area must be scraped down to the dermis (small amount of bleeding) and looked at under the miscroscope.  Finding a mite in a normal dog is nearly impossible because there are so few present.  Occasionally the mites live deep down (especially on the feet) and a biopsy is necessary to make the diagnosis.

There are two forms of demodex:  localized and generalized.  Localized demodex is classified as up to six small areas of alopecia (hair loss) generally on the face, head, and forelegs.  Generalized demodex is classified as more than six lesion, large affected areas, or involving more than one paw.  Localized demodex is a common puppy ailment that typically resolves on its own with or without treatment.  Treatment may be necessary if there is secondary infection, but often a rotenone based medication called Goodwinol is prescribed more to make the owner feel that they are doing something though it may shorten the time the lesion is visible.

Generalized demodex is a severe and possibly life threatening condition commonly occurring in dogs less than 18 months of age and in older dogs that have a reason for a suppressed immune system. Fortunately with proper treatment the signs can often be controlled or even completely resolved (until the next time the dog's immune system is suppressed). I have recently seen two cases in the last 6 months.  One in a young puppy that was rescued after being abandoned in the middle of winter and another in an elderly dog.

 

Piper is an absolutely sweet, loving Labrador that was adopted by a friend of mine after she was found abandoned.  She was treated when she first got her last January with ivermectin and antibiotics.  I saw Piper in June because she had a sever flare up.  In a matter of a few days she went from looking like a normal dog to one that you would expect to find slinking in alleys and half starved (she was not and this is a common presentation for the disease).  I personally know her owners and they take very good care of her and called me as soon as she started showing signs again.  She also healed very quickly and is still being treated to prevent another outbreak.

The most severe case I have seen in an older dog occurred in a 13 year old Labrador retriever. I was called out to see Thunder,  because in a matter of 1-2 days he suddenly developed severe bleeding wounds.  His owners were afraid that they might have to have him euthanized because he was so miserable. 

Fortunately we were able to make a quick diagnosis of demodectic mange with a secondary staph infection and start treating for both.  In just a few days he started feeling better, was scratching less and acting more normal.  In one month he was already healing very well.   Both his owners and I were estatic at his progress.  We ended up having to treat him with ivermectin for  2 and 1/2 months and his last skin scraping was finally negative!  I unfortunately did not take a picture of him looking normal again.
We looked for the underlying cause of Thunder's outbreak of demodex and were never able to pin point it, but hopefully it was stress or infection induced and won't bother him again. 
A point to note is that if you have a dog with a skin problem I recommend asking your vet to perform a skin scrape to rule out demodex.  Though it is fairly uncommon in adult dogs if left undiagnosed it could cause serious problems, especially since the treatment of skin ailments often involves the use of steroids.  Steroids like prednisone will cause an explosion of the mites and severe worsening of the clinical signs.