Ear Mites

General Information

Ear mites which are microscopic organisms that look kind of like clear ticks when viewed under a microscope. Ear mites commonly cause problems in young, outdoor/stray animals and are not as commonly seen in mostly indoor pets. There is, unfortunately, a tendency for people to see a pet's inflamed ear with discharge and assume it is an ear mite infection. This leads to weeks of inappropriate treatment with over-the-counter remedies while the infection gets worse. It is important to distinguish an ear infected with yeast or bacteria (the more common cause) from one infected with mites.

The mite lives on the surface of the ear canal skin, although it sometimes migrates out onto the face and head of its host. Eggs are laid and after 4 days of incubation they hatch. Then the larvae take approximately three weeks to mature into adult mites. The adult mite can live for two months. They feed off the ear wax and skin oils found in the ear canals. Ear mites readily transmit from host to host by physical contact.

Clinical Signs

Ear mite infections often produce a characteristically dry black ear discharge, said to resemble coffee grounds. Because of the classical appearance of this discharge, infection is often diagnosed based on this discharge alone, although without visual confirmation of the mite under the microscope, it is possible to be led astray. The discharge is composed of ear wax, blood, inflammatory biochemicals, and the ear mites themselves. The dog or cat may have red swollen ears and frequently scratch or shake their head. Secondary complications include yeast or bacterial ear infection and an aural hematoma.

Diagnosis

If you have good vision ear mites can just barely been seen with the naked eye as a small white speck in the ear wax, but most often the diagnosis has to be made by taking a sample of ear wax and looking at it under the microscope.

Treatment

• The old topical remedies requiring several weeks of ear cleaning and treatment have largely been replaced by far simpler products. These older treatments, that are still available over the counter, contain insecticides that did not kill off the mite eggs so a minimum of three weeks of treatment was required to break the life cycle. Because mites are so easily transmitted by physical contact, often all household pets will require treatment.
• Prescription topical ear medication called Tresaderm® contains an antibiotic for any secondary bacterial infections, a cortisone derivative for the inflammation, and thiabendazole to kill yeasts and mites. This is an excellent ear product that is able to kill the developing mite eggs as well as treat secondary infections. Treatment with Tresaderm® typically lasts 10-14 days.
• Today we have the ability to treat uncomplicated ear mite infections with a single dose of medication. There are currently two current products available that are applied directly into a cat's ear canal. Acarexx®, a topical version of ivermectin (the active ingredient in Heartgard®) and Milbemite®, a topical version of milbemycin oxime (active ingredient in Interceptor®). These products are only approved for use in cats in the USA and are only available only through veterinarians. A prescription is required so any website that says otherwise should not be trusted.
• There are also products available on the market to prevent ear mite infections. These are most beneficial for use on cats that commonly go outdoors and may interact with other outdoor animals. Revolution®, which uses selamectin as an active ingredient, and Advantage Multi®, which uses moxidectin as an active ingredient, are monthly topical medications commonly used for flea control, heartworm prevention as well intestinal parasite prevention. protection.

Feline rhinosinusitis

General Information

Feline bacterial rhinosinusitis is an upper respiratory tract infection of cats that often follows a herpesvirus or calicivirus infection (viral rhinosinusitis). Infection from these viruses as a kitten can cause permanent damage to the nasal mucosa and turbinates, which could predispose the cat to chronic bacterial rhinosinusitis throughout it's life. These viruses are also difficult for the body to clear completely and though they may go dormant for a time, the cat can become ill from them again, especially in times of stress. Damage of the mucosa and turbinates makes effective antibiotic treatment difficult and relapse is common. Surgical intervention may be necessary for cure to be achieved.

  Clinical Signs

Sneezing, ocular discharge, and yellow-green mucopurulent or bloody nasal discharge, and ocular discharge in one or both eyes are the common clinical signs. Corneal ulcers are common with several of the viral infections as well. Untreated a corneal ulcer can cause permanant vision impairment. Many cats are usually active, have a normal appetite, and are otherwise normal. Treatment becomes necessary if the illness is affecting behavior and appetite.

Diagnosis Often the diagnosis is made based on a physical exam and history. Sometimes a culture and sensitivity can be run to determine the specific bacteria causing the infection. In chronic cases a feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) test should be performed to rule out immunosuppression as an underlying cause. Radiographs may be helpful in identifying other potential causes such as a mass or polyps.

Treatment

1. Treatment is supportive and a complete cure is unlikely.
2. Intermittent therapy may be required throughout your cat's life. It is important to give your cat all medications for the full time prescribed even if your cat seems to be feeling better. Stopping treatment early makes a relapse that is resistant to treatment much more likely.
3. Humidity is helpful. Use a vaporizer or bring your cat into a steamy bathroom as often as possible.
4. Clean your cat's nose with warm water at least twice a day to prevent it from becoming plugged with dried nasal secretions. You can also use a saline nasal spray to help moisten your cat's nasal passages. You can find these in the children's section of any pharmacy.
5. Squinting, excessive ocular discharge, conjunctival swelling should be seen by a vet immediately so treatment can be started and permanant damage prevented.
6. Be aware that anything that stresses your cat out could lead to a relapse. Boarding, being grommed, a trip to the vet, company visiting, fireworks, a new cat in the neighborhood that your cat sees through the window, etc. are all potential causes of stress.

Prognosis

Prognosis is excellent in the short term. Most infections, except for in the very young and very old, are self limiting and don't even require medication. Long term prognosis is guarded and many cat's will have clinical signs periodically throughout their lives.

Canine Cushing's Disease

 General Information

Hyperadrenalism is a slowly progressing disease and the early signs are often not noticed. These include increased appetite, increased drinking and urination, reduced activity and enlargement of the abdomen. As the disease progresses, these signs intensify, and the pet may become fat, pant heavily, and lose hair evenly over each side of the body. In some cases, hair loss may be the only apparent change. These clinical signs are the same as the side effects seen in dogs on steroids such as prednisone of dexamethasone.

Cushing’s Disease is a disorder of the adrenal glands in which excessive adrenal hormones are produced, mainly cortisol. The cause of hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) may be abnormal pituitary gland function (a glan in the brain), a tumor of the adrenal gland, “cortisone” (steroid) therapy, or other unexplained over-activity of the adrenal gland. Pituitary dependant HAC accounts for about 80% of all cases.

Extensive laboratory tests (both blood and urine) and radiographs or ultrasound may be needed to diagnose the condition, find its cause and plan treatment. Unfortunately the tests available today often come back as inconclusive making diagnosis very difficult. Several different tests or repeats of test may be necessary to come to an accurate diagnosis. Treatment of pituitary dependant HAC is more aimed at controlling clinical signs and making your pet more comfortable than actual treatment of the tumor. Adrenal gland tumors can sometimes be cured with surgery (some are to invasive to attempt to remove), but will also respond to medical management. Since treatment is aimed at controlling clinical signs and not at curing the problem, the disease will progress, but your pet will be much more comfortable than without treatment.

Induction of Treatment for Cushing’s Disease with mitotane.

Control, rather than cure, is the aim of treatment in most cases of HAC. Treatment with Mitotane must be carefully monitored, since the drug used in therapy may cause underproduction of adrenal hormones and a shock-like state known as an Addisonian crisis.

Treatment is inducted with a drug called Mitotane (Lysodren) You will be giving the medication twice a day for 7 to 10 days. Then an ACTH Stimulation test is run to determine the response to treatment. The kidneys and electrolytes may be checked at this time also. Dogs with adrenal HAC may not respond as well to medical treatment alone as dogs with pitutitary dependant HAC.

If your dog develops any of the following signs contact your veterinarian immediately:

• Drinking less than 2oz/kg of water a day- in dogs that were drinking excessive amounts (>3oz/kg/day) before treatment
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Taking 15-30 minutes longer to eat than before start of mitotane therapy
• Listlessness, depression or weakness
• Skin condition worsens

If adequate control is not reached after the first ACTH Stimulation test then therapy will continue until a satisfactory ACTH Stimulation test is obtained. The test is run about every 7-10 days

The most-common side-effects of mitotane include lethargy, stomach upset, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea. Although less common, hypoadrenalcorticism and an addisonian crisis also are potential side-effects. In rare instances, dogs may experience central nervous system (CNS) signs, ataxia, weakness and seizures.

Maintenance Therapy for Cushing’s Disease with mitotane.

1. Once adequate control is reached then your dog will need Mitotane twice a day once a week.
2. An ACTH Stimulation test will be run in 1 to 3 months after start of maintenance therapy and then every 3 to 6 months after that. It is common for clinical signs to recur during maintenance therapy due to the dose becoming inadequate. If you notice signs returning see your veterinarian so the dose can be adjusted accordingly.

Treatment with Trilostane (Vetoryl).

Trilostane (brand name Vetoryl) was approved for treatment of Cushing's disease in dogs in 2008. It works by blocking the excessive production of cortisol from the adrenal gland.

Treatment is started at a dose calculated based on your pet's weight. You will need to have your pet examined and have bloodwork performed in 2, 4 and 12 weeks to assess effectiveness of treatment and to adjust medication dosing. Then if your dog is stable he/she will need to be seen every 3 months unless something changes. Immediate signs that the treatment is effective include increased activity level, decreased appetite (no longer ravenous), decrease in thirst/drinking, and decreased urination.

Possible side effects include poor/reduced appetite, vomiting, lethargy/dullness, diarrhea, and weakness. Occasionally, more serious reactions, including severe depression, hemorrhagic diarrhea, collapse, hypoadrenocortical crisis or adrenal necrosis/rupture may occur, and may result in death.

Treatment with Anipryl (selegiline HCl).

There is an alternative to Mitotane called Selegiline HCl (Anipryl). The benefits of this treatment are no worry of an Addisonian crisis as it does not destroy part of the adrenal gland. The drawbacks are it is expensive, especially for larger dogs, and has a variable success rate. Treatment with Anipryl consists of a pill once a day for life and includes regular monitoring of the disease through bloodwork.

Prognosis and disease progression.

The average life expectancy for dogs with adrenal dependant HAC is 36 months. The average life expectancy for dogs with pituitary dependant HAC is approximately 30 months with younger dogs living longer (i.e. 4 years or more).

Many dogs ultimately die or are euthanized due to complications related to Cushing’s disease such as pituitary macrotumor syndrome, systemic hypertension, pulmonary thromboembolism, diabetes mellitus, infection, etc.

• Pituitary macrotumor syndrome is a result of the tumor on the pituitary gland expanding into other parts of the brain. The dog will begin showing neurologic signs such as aimless wandering, pacing, circling, and behavior alterations. These signs usually develop 6 months or more after diagnosis.
• Pulmonary thromboembolism is most commonly seen shortly after treatment. The presenting sign is sudden respiratory distress or difficulty breathing. Once this occurs the prognosis for recovery is grave. It usually requires 7 to 10 days on oxygen therapy if the animal survives.
• Development of diabetes mellitus is also another potential problem with Cushing’s disease. The high levels of steroids in the blood stream can cause insulin resistance. The signs of diabetes are very similar to the signs of Cushing’s disease so it is important to notify your doctor if you notice them returning. Many dogs can have their diabetes controlled for a time with regular insulin therapy.
• Infections are common in animals with Cushing’s disease due to the overproduction of steroids. Steroids suppress the immune system and therefore prevent the animal from fighting off infection. One of the goals of treatment is to lower the animal’s blood levels of steroids to prevent this from happening. Urinary tract infections and skin infections are most commonly seen. The more severe and life threatening ones include sepsis and pyelonephritis (kidney infection).

Feline Vaccines

Why do we vaccinate?

According to the AAHA⁽¹⁾ Position Statement on Vaccine Issues⁽²⁾:"The vaccination needs of dogs and cats should be assessed at least yearly and, if appropriate, vaccination schedules should be modified on the basis of changes in the patient's age, health status, home and travel environment, and lifestyle. Vaccinations should be considered just one component of an individualized, comprehensive preventive health-care plan based on the age, breed, health status, environment (potential exposure to harmful agents), lifestyle (contact with other animals), and travel habits of the dog or cat. We at HPVS believe whole-heartedly in this. Over-vaccination may be just as dangerous as not vaccinating, so getting the right balance is important.

Rabies

Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. The rabies virus infects the central nervous system and once clinical signs appear is almost always fatal. All known mammals are possible carriers of rabies, however small mammals such as mice and squirrels are rarely ever found to carry the disease. In Florida Raccoons are the most common carrier of rabies with foxes and bats coming in second. Cats are the most common domestic animal to test positive for rabies (62.2% of domestic cases in 2010)⁽³⁾.

Because of the link between vaccines and feline fibrosarcomas (cancer), guidelines for cats are a little different than for dogs. The AAFP (American Association of Feline Practitioners) Vaccine Advisory Panel⁽²⁾ "suggests that veterinarians use less inflammatory products whenever possible." In the case of the rabies virus vaccine the least inflammatory is a non-adjuvanted Canarypox virus-vectored recombinant (rRabies) made by Merial. The Purevax Rabies is currently only labeled as a one year vaccine, though we are hoping they will have the research in the near future to get a three year label.

As an aside AAHA Guidelines for dogs, cats, and ferrets recommend that "a single dose of a "3-yr" rabies vaccine be administered within 1 yr after administration of the initial dose, regardless of the animal's age at the time the initial dose was administered. Subsequently, revaccination with a "3-yr rabies" vaccine should be administered every 3 yr thereafter."

FL Statute 828.30(1)"All dogs, cats, and ferrets 4 months of age or older must be vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian against rabies with a vaccine that is licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture for use in those species. The owner of every dog, cat, and ferret shall have the animal revaccinated 12 months after the initial vaccination. Thereafter, the interval between vaccinations shall conform to the vaccine manufacturer's directions. The cost of vaccination must be borne by the animal's owner. Evidence of circulating rabies virus neutralizing antibodies shall not be used as a substitute for current vaccination in managing rabies exposure or determining the need for booster vaccinations."

FVRCP

FVR=Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis is caused by feline herpesvirus-1. It is a highly contagious upper respiratory disease of cats that can lead to pneumonia and ulcers in the eyes. Young kittens and older or sick cats are much more susceptible and have a higher mortality rate. Cats that are infected with the herpes virus are considered lifetime carriers and may show clinical signs of the disease during times of stress. Some cats that have severe infections may have permanant damage to their eyes or respiratory tract.

Unfortunately the way the disease enters and acts on the body makes the current vaccines available unable to prevent infection and shedding of virus, but they do greatly reduce local disease and protect vaccinated cats against serious systemic disease⁽⁴⁾.

C=Calicivirus is also a highly contagious respiratory disease in cats. There are numerous strains of this virus and they cause anything from mild sneezing to severe pneumonia and rapid death in young kittens and old cats. Common signs of this virus are very similar to the herpes virus but can also include severe conjunctivitis (pink eye). Permanant damage and reoccuring clinical signs are also a possibility. Vaccination also does not prevent infection or shedding of this disease, but significantly reduces or eliminates clinical signs associated with it.

P=Parvovirus (also known as Panleukopenia, Feline Distemper, and Feline infectious enteritis) is a highly contagious disease in cats that results in severe suppression of all types of white blood cells (panleukopenia) GI signs such as vomiting and diarrhea, high fever, and sudden death. Mortality rate may reach up to 90% in kittens under 6 months of age and may be as high as 50% in unprotected adult cats. It is shed mainly in the feces of infected cats, but the virus can remain in the environment for months to years. The vaccine is highly effective in producing complete immunity to this disease.

AAFP Guidelines recommend "Vaccines should be administered at intervals of 3 to 4 weeks until kittens are 16 weeks old starting at 8 to 9 weeks of age. The minimum vaccination interval during the primary series is 2 weeks, and the maximum recommended interval is 4 weeks. Kittens presented for booster vaccination 6 weeks or longer following administration of the previous dose of vaccine should receive at least 2 doses of vaccine, 3 to 4 weeks apart." Adult cats with unknown vaccine history should recieve two doses 2-4 weeks apart. The vaccine should be boostered in one year and then every three years thereafter.

FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus)

FeLV is a retrovirus that is a widespread disease in cats. It is present in about 5% of all cats in the USA⁽⁵⁾ making it one of the most common life-threatening disease in cats. The virus is spread through contact with infected saliva, blood, or from mother to kitten. Many cats will develop immunity to it, but in the ones that do not, the virus spread to the bone marrow causing immunosuppression and can lead to leukemia or lymphoma. Some cats can be carriers and show a negative test, but are spreading the virus through their body fluids and may become clinically ill from the diseaes in time of stress. Average lifespan of a FeLV positive cat is less than three years. They often die from other diseases due to the immunosuppression caused by the virus.

AAFP guidelines recommend that all kittens should be vaccinated for FeLV even when the cat is intended to be a totally indoor cat. The highest susceptibility to infection occurs in cats under one year of age⁽⁶⁾. All cats that have direct contact with cats of known positive or uncertain status, such as outdoor cats should also be vaccinated. Adult cats that are confined to a screen porch do not need vaccination.

As an aside all new cats should be tested for FeLV before being introduced into a new household and then retested based on their age in 3 to 6 months. Any sick cat that has even had a chance of exposure to the virus should be tested again as well. The virus is very fragile outside the cat's body and almost all common household cleaners will kill the virus.

FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus)

FIV is a lentivirus that is most commonly seen in adult male cats that spend time outdoors. The virus is mainly spread through bite wounds from an infected cat. Cats may remain clinically unaffected for months to years, but the FIV is slowly causing degredation of the immune systom and eventually leads to immunosuppression and higher rate of infections and cancers. Infected cats can cohabitate with FIV negative cats as long as they are minimally aggressive since general contact, including sharing a food bowl and mutual grooming is not enough to transmit the disease.

The FIV vaccine is not considered a core vaccine by the AAFP. Consider FIV Vaccination in cats living with FIV-positive cats, particularly if there is fighting and in cats that go outside and fight or are attacked. Cats vaccinated with the current FIV vaccine will test positive for FIV antibodies. A visible (collar) and permanent (microchip) identification is strongly recommended for cats vaccinated against FIV since a positive test in an animal shelter may result in rapid euthanasia.

Possible Side Effects of Vaccines

Side effects most commonly observed include: reduced or loss of appetite (lasting for one or two feedings), pain at the injection site (possibly mild limping), lethargy (lack of activity), reluctance to walk and/or run, and mild fever. Treatment is usually not indicated and it is essential to NEVER give cats aspirin, tylenol, Advil, Alieve or other anti-inflammatories that you would take for a fever. Even a single dose of these medications could prove fatal to your cat. Hives, swelling of the face, vomiting, and diarrhea are signs of a slightly more severe reaction that usually requires treatment with an antihistamine +/- a steroid for a few days. An anaphylactic reaction is a medical emergency. Signs include sudden collapse, difficulty breathing, paleness of gums, sever swelling around head and neck. If you see any of these signs contact your vet immediately. There are a few very rare conditions associated with vaccinations that can occur a few weeks after administration. In using the non-adjuvanted, recombinate virus vaccines versus the whole killed virus vaccines we are significantly reducing the risk of a vaccine associated reaction. Not all vaccines are created equal.

Cats also have a unique complication of vaccine induced tumors called fibrosarcomas. The chance of a vaccine induced tumor is higher with the killed whole virus rabies and FeLV vaccines. It occurs at a rate of about 1 tumor per 10,000 vaccine doses given. While this risk is small it doesn't help if your cat is the one to get the tumor. The AAFP recommends cats be vaccinated low on their extremities (over the knee and near the elbow) so if a tumor appears the limb can be amputated to cure the cancer. While this sounds like a drastic and horrible approach, a cat developing a fibrosarcoma between his shoulder blades has no chance of being cured.

References

1. AAHA Position Statement on Vaccine Issues
2. The 2006 American Association of Feline Practitioners Feline Vaccine Advisory Panel Report
3. "Rabies surveillance in the United States during 2010" Jesse D. Blanton, mph; Dustyn Palmer, ba; Jessie Dyer, msph; Charles E. Rupprecht, vmd, phd
4. Povey RC, Koones H, Hays MB. Immunogenicity and safety of an inactivated vaccine for the prevention of rhinotracheitis, caliciviral disease, and panleukopenia in cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1980;177:347-350.
5. Levy JK, Scott HM, Lachtara JL, et al. Seroprevalence of feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus infection among cats in North America and risk factors for seropositivity. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2006;228:371-376.
6. Hoover EA, Olsen RG, Hardy WD Jr, et al. Feline leukemia virus infection: age-related variation in response of cats to experimental infection. J Natl Cancer Inst 1976;57:365-369.

Canine Vaccines

Why do we vaccinate?

According to the 2011 AAHA⁽¹⁾ Canine Vaccination Guidelines⁽²⁾: "Vaccines provide proven life-saving benefits, are associated with minimal risk, and should be part of routine preventative health care. Life stage and lifestyle, risk of exposure, and underlying medical conditions should all be considered when developing a vaccination protocol."
We at HPVS believe that each animal must be evaluated based on his/her health status, life-style, environment, breed, sex, age, etc. to determine which vaccines to administer and how frequently. Over-vaccination may be just as dangerous as not vaccinating so getting the right balance is important.

Rabies

Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. The rabies virus infects the central nervous system and once clinical signs appear is almost always fatal. All known mammals are possible carriers of rabies, however small mammals such as mice and squirrels are rarely ever found to carry the disease. In Florida Raccoons are the most common carrier of rabies with foxes and bats coming in second.

AAHA Guidelines recommend that "a single dose of a "3-yr" rabies vaccine be administered within 1 yr after administration of the initial dose, regardless of the animal's age at the time the initial dose was administered. Subsequently, revaccination with a "3-yr rabies" vaccine should be administered every 3 yr thereafter."

FL Statute 828.30(1) "All dogs, cats, and ferrets 4 months of age or older must be vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian against rabies with a vaccine that is licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture for use in those species. The owner of every dog, cat, and ferret shall have the animal revaccinated 12 months after the initial vaccination. Thereafter, the interval between vaccinations shall conform to the vaccine manufacturer's directions. The cost of vaccination must be borne by the animal's owner. Evidence of circulating rabies virus neutralizing antibodies shall not be used as a substitute for current vaccination in managing rabies exposure or determining the need for booster vaccinations."

DHPP (DA₂PP)

D=Canine distemper is a highly contagious disease of dogs spread through the air. Clinically, it is characterized by a fever, excessive production of mucous in both the respiratory and GI systems, pneumonia, low white blood cell count, and possibly neurologic complications. Dogs that survive the disease often have lasting effects such as chronic respiratory problems, seizures, altered mentation, etc. This disease is also very preventable with proper vaccination.

H=Canine hepatitis (Canine adenovirus) is also a highly contagious disease. It is spread through urine, feces, or saliva. Fortunately this disease has become rare in areas who's dog population is well vaccinated. Adenovirus attacks the liver, kidneys, spleen, and lungs and can cause clotting problems and lead to death (more common in young dogs).

P- Parainfluenza virus is a common disease of the upper respiratory tract spread through the air. It often causes mild clinical signs and can go undiagnosed. It's major health concern is that it predisposes the airways to other infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia.

P-Parvovirus is a deadly virus that most commonly affects young, unvaccinated puppies. It is spread through the feces and can stay in the environment for 6 months or more. Clinical signs consist of bloody vomit and diarrhea. Death occurs in a large percentage of cases despite hospitalization. The patients that survive usually do so after a 7 to 10 day period of hospitalization with a bill in the thousands of dollars.

Current AAHA guidelines recommend vaccination for these viruses starting at 8 weeks of age. Boosters are are given every 3-4weeks until 14 to 16 weeks of age. Then a booster in one year is given. After that based on numerous studies done over the past 30 years re-vaccination is recommended every 3 to 5 years based on risk assessment.

Leptospirosis

Unlike most things we vaccinate for, which are viruses, leptospirosis is a bacteria. There are actually numerous serovars(distinct variations within a species of bacteria or viruses) of Leptospirosis, but we only vaccinate against two or four. Leptospirosis is a zoonitic disease, meaning people can catch it. Dogs can contract the disease and become carriers and continually shed the bacteria in their urine becoming a risk to people. Dogs contract the disease by coming in contact with urine of an infected animal (raccoons, opossums, etc.) or standing water that has been contaminated with the bacteria. Acute kidney failure occurs in 80-90% of dogs that become clinically ill from lepto and about 20% of these progress into liver failure as well. The dogs that survive tend to have permanent kidney and/or liver damage requiring lifelong treatment.

In the past the vaccines that were available had a high rate of vaccine reactions due to the large size of the lepto bacteria. More modern vaccines are made up of only parts of the bacteria and are no more likely to cause a reaction than any other vaccine. Since there are several types of vaccines available it is important to be aware of which one your pet is getting. Insist on a 4-way lepto vaccine (includes the canicola, icterohaemorrhagiae, grippotyphosa, and pomona serovars).

In young puppies and small breed dogs (slightly increased risk of a vaccine reaction), I recommend that the leptospirosis vaccine be given separately from the DHPP. This decreases the likelihood of a reaction. The lepto vaccine is considered a non-core vaccine by AAHA and should only be given to dogs that are at risk of contracting the disease. It has to be re-administered every 6 to 12 months due to the short lived immunity created against bacteria.

Bordetella

Bordetella bronchiseptica is often incorrectly considered the only cause of kennel cough. It is a bacteria that can cause tracheobronchitis (inflammation of the trachea) leading to a loud "goose-honk" like cough that can last for weeks. Canine distemper and parainfluenza are also two possible causes for "kennel cough" that we vaccinate for, but there are many, many more possible causes. Kennel cough is often an annoying, but self limiting disease unless it becomes complicated with secondary viral or bacterial infections and progresses into pneumonia. This most often occurs in very young puppies or old/sick dogs.

Bordetella is considered a non-core vaccine and should only be given to dogs that will be in contact with other dogs. This includes dogs that are boarded, go to doggy-daycare, play at a dog park, go to a groomers, dog shows, etc. This vaccine also needs to be boostered every 6-12 months for at risk dogs.

Canine Influenza

Canine influenza is caused by a non-human influenza virus (H3N8) that mutated from an equine virus. It was first seen in 2005 in greyhounds. Because it is a new disease almost all dogs that come in contact with the virus will display some clinical signs from a mild cold to pneumonia. The mortality rate is very low and most dogs recover with no issue. At this time the CDC sees no risk to the human population from this influenza virus.

AAHA recommends vaccinating only dogs that are considered at high risk since the vaccine does not actually prevent the disease. The vaccine is meant to decrease the severity of clinical signs.

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi(boar-ELL-ee-uh burg-dorf-ERR-eye). It is transmitted by the blacklegged tick (or deer tick, Ixodes scapularis) in the northeastern and central United States, and the western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus) on the west coast. The incident of Lyme disease is very rare in Florida. Dogs that live full time in Florida do not need to be vaccinated for Lyme disease unless they are commonly in heavily wooded areas known to contain the deer tick. Dogs that travel to the new England states should consider being vaccinated.

Coronavirus

Canine coronavirus is a much debated virus in veterinary medicine. It tends to cause very mild gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting and/or diarrhea when any clinical signs are seen at all. The disease was thought to only be a problem when it occurred in conjunction with canine parvovirus. Coronavirus tends to be a rapidly mutating virus which means new strains are occurring all the time. In the few fatal cases where coronavirus is the only pathogen isolated the puppies are all under 10 weeks of age, most are under 8 weeks of age.

AAHA guidelines do not recommend administration of the coronavirus vaccine because "neither the MLV (modified live virus) vaccine nor the killed vaccines have been shown to significantly reduce disease." Also because fatality seems to only be a concern in puppies under eight weeks of age, by the time they are old enough to be effectively vaccinated they are old enough to survive the disease.

Possible Side Effects of Vaccines

Vaccine reactions occur at a rate of about 13 reactions for every 10,000 doses of vaccine given⁽³⁾. Side effects commonly observed include: reduced or loss of appetite (lasting for one or two feedings), pain at the injection site, lethargy (lack of activity), reluctance to walk and/or run, and mild fever. Treatment is usually not indicated. Hives, swelling of the face, vomiting, and diarrhea are signs of a slightly more severe reaction that usually requires treatment with an antihistamine +/- a steroid for a few days. An anaphylactic reaction is a medical emergency. Signs include sudden collapse, difficulty breathing, paleness of gums, sever swelling around head and neck. If you see any of these signs contact your vet immediately. There are a few very rare conditions associated with vaccinations that can occur a few weeks after administration.

Young (1 to 3 years old) neutered males under 10 pounds body weight have the highest rates of vaccine reactions.⁽³⁾ As body size increases the rate of adverse reactions decreases. An increased chance of reaction also occurs with administering multiple vaccines at once. If you have a small breed dog talk to your vet about potentially pre-treating your dog with medication or splitting up the vaccines. They have to be given at least two weeks apart so they don't interfere with each other.

 

1.  AAHA= American Animal Hospital Association
2. Members of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) Canine Vaccination Task Force: Link V. Welborn, DVM, DABVP (Chairperson), John G. DeVries, DVM, DABVP, Richard Ford, DVM, MS, DACVIM, (Hon)ACVPM, Robert T. Franklin, DVM, DACVIM, Kate F. Hurley, DVM, MPVM, Kent D. McClure, DVM, JD, Michael A. Paul, DVM, Ronald D. Schultz, PhD, DACVM
3. Moore et al, "Adverse events diagnosed within three days of vaccine administration in dogs." JAVMA 227:1102–110 October 1, 2005, Vol. 227, No. 7, Pages 1102-1108

Testicular Cancer- warning graphic photos.

I had a fun (for me) surgery today involving a ten year old, mixed breed dog named Prince. His owner noticed that his testicles had grown suddenly. It turns out that only his right testicle had grown and it was about 10x the size of the left one.  He had also developed gynecomastia, or enlarged mammary tissue.  This makes the mass most likely to be a seminoma or a sertoli cell tumor.  Testicular cancer is very common in intact male dogs.  One study showed 27% of intact male dogs will develop testicular cancer.  Dogs that are cryptorchid (have a testicle that did not descend from the abdomen into the

There are 3 common types of testicular cancer in dogs.  Seminomas, sertoli cell tumors, and Interstitial (Leydig) cell tumors.

• Seminomas arise from the cells in the testicle that produce sperm.  They can cause feminization (such as gynecomastia) from the production of estrogens.  They are very slow to metastasize.
• Interstitial cell tumors arise from the cells in the testicle responsible for the production of testosterone.  They are often small and an incidental finding.  They rarely spread or cause a problem.
• Sertoli cell tumors are the more aggressive tumor and are more likely to metastasize, but even then only about 15-20% do.  They can produce large amounts of estrogen that can cause severe bone marrow suppression leading to anemia (low red blood cells).  The estrogen can also cause the feminization in the male dog.

We removed Prince's mass today and are hoping that it had not spread to other parts of his body.  We could have taken radiographs and done an ultrasound to look for metastasis, but his owners were more interested in keeping him comfortable and getting rid of the mass that was bothering him.  If the mass is malignant then at least he will feel good for a while.

The surgery was performed a little differently than a regular neuter.  In a regular neuter we don't like to go through the scrotum because they tend to be very vascular and can bleed a lot.  In this case we had no choice but to go through the scrotum.  I also removed the scrotum to prevent possible post-op complications.

 The first image is of the normal left testicle (bottom) next to the testicular mass (top).  The testicles are both still within the testiculat tunic.  The second image is of the actual mass once it has been removed from the tunic.  The large white area is the actual testis.  The slightly darker pink area on top is the epididymis.  The large red cord on the right is pampiniform plexus which is a bunch of blood vessels that supply the testicle with blood. 

Prince is recovering well and is hopefully now cured!

 

 

 

Internet Rumors: Fact or fiction

Just the other day as Cheryl and I were driving to an appointment we some how got onto the topic of bon bons.  You know the old saying "Sitting on the couch eating bon bons."  Almost at the exact same time we asked each other so what exactly is a bon bon.  Since I was driving Cheryl got out her iPhone and looked up what a bon bon is (its basically the French word for candy for those that want to know).  I remember the days when I had to go look through my dad's Encyclopedia Britannica or go to the library to find an answer.  Now you can find it in a matter of seconds on your tiny little phone.  The downside to this is the information you look up may or may not be truth.
When looking up information about your pet I recommend going to reputable sites such as universities, government, or well know organizations.  It is so easy to make something sound true and be completely wrong.  Here are some common things circulating on the Internet recently.

1. The cardboard tube in toilet paper rolls contains toxic levels of zinc.  False! Not sure who came up with this one, but it has absolutely no basis or foundation.




2. Febreeze is toxic to pets. False!  When Febreeze was first marketed in the United States for a very short period of time (less than 6 months) it contained zinc chloride as a stabilizer.  Zinc chloride is a known lung irritant. The chemical was in such small concentrations in the Febreeze that even before they removed the zinc chloride from the formula it was safe to use.  The only potential issue with Febreeze is if it is scented and you have pets with allergies.  Any scented product could make allergies worse (for people too!)




3. Swiffer Wet Jet cleaning solution contains a chemical that is one molecule away from antifreeze and causes liver failure. False and False! First of all let me point out that Anti-freeze, a known common toxin, causes kidney failure in mammals and not liver failure.  Second of all the definition of a molecule is "a group of like or different atoms held together by chemical forces."  This means the statement, while making it sound plausible actually makes it nonsense. 





4. Sugar free chewing gum can kill your dog.  True! Sugar free gums and candies that contain the ingredient xylitol can cause dogs to become severely hypoglycemic leading to seizures.  It can also cause liver damage in some cases.  Dogs so far appear to be the only species that is sensitive to the xylitol.  The amount present in most products is unknown because they are not required to disclose that information so assume any human product with xylitol in it is to be avoided. (As an aside AquaDent, a drinking water additive for dental care, does contain xylitol but in very low concentrations and is safe to use).



5. Tennis Balls are bad for dogs and can cause cancer. False, but a little true.  There are rumors going about that the tennis balls contain toxic gases or have lead in them and will therefore give dogs cancer.  This is not true.  What is true about tennis balls not being so great for dogs is they are a potential foreign body to a dog that chews one up and swallows a piece.  They are also very abrasive to the dogs teeth if they are prone to chewing the ball.  Just play fetch with the tennis balls and don't let your dog chew on them much and all is good!





6.  Ornamental sago palms are very toxic. TRUE!  Sago palm plants are a very common plant in Florida landscaping.  I myself have one in the front of my yard and it is a pretty plant, but deadly.  I have lost a patient that ate the sago palm nuts despite all of our efforts to treat him.  If you have one of these plants in your yard please make sure your pet (or child) can not chew on any part of it.




7. Heartworm prevention is a poison and it is better to just treat if your dog gets heartworms. False! This rumor assumes that the medication we give as a heartworm preventative and the medication we use to treat heartworms are the same thing.  This is not true.  The common heartworm preventatives we have today are ivermectin or milbemycin and their derivatives.  They are given in very low doses to kill of a certain stage of the heartworm life cycle.  They are almost completely out of the body within 24 hours so there is no lingering effect.  The medication we use to treat heartworms is another matter.  It is much safer than what we had in the past, but is still a harsh and potent drug.  It also is only given once heartworms have been diagnosed, which means the worms have already taken root in the heart and have been causing damage since the last negative heartworm test.  This damage is irreversible.  Giving the preventative is much, much safer than the alternative. 




8. Collies and their cousin breeds should not get heartgard (or several other drugs). False.  The collie breeds can have a gene mutation called the MDR1 gene.  Dogs with this gene are very sensitive to certain medications including ivermectin (the active ingredient in Heartgard), loperamide (Immodium), certain chemotherapy drugs to name a few.  This means that these dogs must be given a much lower dose than a normal dog of their size.  The amount of ivermectin in Heartgard is well below the toxic level even to dogs with this gene so it is safe to give.




9. Pregnant women or immunocompromised individuals should not own a cat. False.  Part of this myth came about because of the fact that cats are known to sometimes carry the organism Toxoplasma gondii which can cause fetal deformities or death.  It is estimated that 22% of people in the United states over the age of 12 years are carriers.  Most people get it by eating raw or undercooked meats or playing in the sand or soil (sandbox, playground, gardening).  Cats do play a significant role in the transmission of the disease, but the toxo oocysts shed in the cat's feces don't become infectious for 1-5 days.  Scoop the litter box on a daily basis and you have no worries.

If you have any "facts" you want clarified or validated let me know.  I'm all for well educated pet owners.  It makes my job keeping the pets healtier easier!

**Thank you to Sharon Gwaltney-Brant, DVM, PhD, DABVT, DABT for her rounds presentation on VIN that gave me the idea and some of the tumors for this blog.

Barking

I get a lot of clients asking me how to get a dog to stop barking.  They just can't understand why the dog barks when he does and why he won't stop.  It can be very frustrating when you have neighbors complaining or the dog wakes the baby up that you just got to sleep.  Believe me I understand!  I had a previous neighbor that would decide he had to put his dog outside at 11:00 at night for about an hour and the little dog would bark his head off and wake me up (on those rare occasions I wasn't on the computer still!).

First off it's important to understand why dogs bark.  Unlike humans the language of canines is made up more of body language than vocalization.  Wolves, the ancestor of the dog, rarely use barks as a form of communication and when they do they tend to be short single utterances.  Many researchers believe that in domesticating the dog we selected help the dog develop a wider range and versatility of barks than their ancestors had. In other words, dogs bark to talk to us!¹

So now that we realize when a dog barks he is trying to tell us humans something we have take the first step.  The next step is to translate that bark into understanding.  There are many different reasons that a dog will bark: alarm, warning that they feel threatened, play, need, and learned barking.  Most clients I talk to don't mind if the dog barks at a stranger or when someone comes to the door, as long as it stops quickly.  The question I get is how to teach the dog that a few simple barks is enough to warn of danger and they should only do it in situations that are really a threat.  How do you convince Fido that Mr. Smith who jogs by every morning or the local stray cat are not real threats and should be ignored?

The first thing to realize is that the dog probably has this problem because we (or a previous owner) encouraged the barking.  When a dog barks too much the common human reaction is to yell at him to stop barking or to go over to the dog and reprimand it.  While it seems like a logical course of action it is in fact rewarding the dog for the barking only making him more likely to do it again especially since the dog most likely starts out by barking an alarm.  When you yell at the dog he thinks you are barking along with him and therefore you are aware of the danger.  If you go to the dog and acknowledge the alarm then again his warning has been heard and it was an effective way to get your attention.

So how do you stop unwanted barking?  First of all I want to address the debarking surgery.  It should only be considered as a very last line of defense before the dog is euthanized.  The surgery isn't always effective and the vocal cords can grow back in time.  It can also lead to anxiety since the dog was barking for a reason and now their ability to communicate the problem has been taken away.  Behavioral modification is much more effective, it just takes time and effort.  You didn't teach the dog to bark continuously overnight so you can't expect him to stop overnight either.

Here are some tips on how to stop unwanted barking.  If you are unable to figure out the reason for barking or are unsuccessful then I strongly advise seeking the advice of a canine behavior expert.

1. Remove the reason for barking.  For example if the dog barks whenever a car drives by, shut the curtains or put him in a room where he can't see out.  If he barks at everybody and everything when out in the back yard, take him out on a leash instead.
2. Ignore the barking.  This is one of the most effective and yet most difficult methods to employ.  Most dogs bark because they want something from you.  Any kind of acknowledgement of their barking, a word, a look a gesture is positive reinforcement.  The hardest part is you have to do it every time.  Until the dog stops barking for even a short moment you MUST ignore him.  Giving in even once will only make him bark longer the next time.  Turn your back and ignore him until he takes a moment to catch his breath between barks and then quickly turn and praise him or give him a treat.
3. Teach him the command for quiet.  This is a very useful command to have.  It should always be given in a soft, relaxed tone of voice.  You want the dog to know there is nothing to be anxious about which is what yelling the command would do.  Clicker training is another useful tool for teaching this command. (There are many sources for direction on how to do this)
4. Desensitize your dog to the stimuli.  Find the trigger that makes your dog bark and slowly introduce your dog to it.  Reward the dog for positive behavior when the stimulus is present, but don't scold him for negative behavior.  Just take him far enough away that he no longer feels the need to bark and then reward him.
5. Train your dog to do something other than bark at a certain stimulus.  If you don't want your dog to bark when the doorbell rings, teach him to come sit by your feet or go lay down in a certain spot.  You train him just like you would train him to sit, you just use the doorbell as the command instead of the verbal word.

 Remember, in any sort of behavior modification there are three rules: be consistent, be consistent, and be consistent!  That means everybody living in the house has to be on the same page or it is doomed to failure.

1. Pongrácz, Péter, Csaba Molnár, and Ádám Miklósi. "Barking in Family Dogs: An Ethological Approach." The Veterinary Journal 183.2 (2010): 141-47.

Mast Cell Tumors

One of the more common types of cancer we seen in dogs (about 20% of all skin tumors)(less common in cats) are mast cell tumors. Mast cells are a part of the normal immune system. They are responsible for the release of histamines durine an allergic reaction but they also play a major role in wound healing and defense against pathogens. They can be found in almost all tissues and in very small numbers in the blood stream.

A mast cell tumor (MCT) is the result of uncontrolled growth of neoplastic mast cells. The most common MCT sites in dogs and cats are skin, the spleen can be a common primary location in the cat and a common site of metastasis in the dog. Mast cell tumors can also be found in the GI tract, though this is rare.

Signs of mast cell cancer can include identification of a skin lesion(mass), an allergic type reaction including redness and hives, swelling, shock, hypotension, vomiting, diarrhea, itching, defective coagulation, and delayed wound healing. GI and colonic ulcers are also a common side effect from MCT.

MCT are known as the "big imitators" because they can look like any other skin tumor. They can be hairy or hairless, pink or black, raised or under the skin, etc. so any skin mass should be examined closely. A raised, pink, hairless mass that seems to itch the pet should be aspirated for cytology as soon as possible.

Diagnosis of MCT can be made by fine needle aspiration(FNA) and cytology, but it is only about 70% accurate due to the delicacy of the cells and chance of getting an adequate sample size. It may be necessary to take a full biopsy and send it out for histopathology. Special stains may be required to make the diagnosis.

MCT's have been reported in dogs less than one year of age but are much more common in older animals. Boston terriers, Boxers, Bull terriers, Dachshunds, English bulldogs, Fox terriers, Labrador retrievers, Pit bull terriers, Staffordshire terriers, and Weimaraners are breeds that are at increased risk for developing MCT.

Grading of a MCT is important to help develop a treatment plan and a prognosis. The most commonly used grading system in the dog is the three-grade Patnaik system. This grading system has excellent correlation with 1500-day survival rates (Grade I = 83%, Grade II = 44%, and Grade III = 6%).

Grade I tumors are much less aggressive and can be surgically excised without further treatment. They rarely metastasize.

Grade II tumors provide the greatest difficulty in determining staging for the dog and on deciding an appropriate treatment course. For Grade II tumors, more involved staging (further testing)may be necessary to determine how aggressive the tumor is likely to be.

Grade III tumors are are invariably aggressive and need to be treated aggressively.

The next important step is to stage the MCT. Staging allows one to find out where else the MCT may be.  MCTs typically metastasize to lymph nodes, liver, spleen, and bone marrow.  Common staging procedures include FNA  of local lymph nodes, abdominal ultrasonography, and possibly splenic and liver aspiration cytology. Sometimes bone marrow aspiration may be done. 

Prognosis for a dog or cat with MCT can be difficult. In addition to the tumor Grade, location of tumor can play a significant role in prognosis.   MCTs of the oral cavity and nail bed have a higher metastatic rate to regional lymph nodes. Masses located on the muzzle and ear tend to be more aggressive. Gastrointestinal tract MCTs have a grave prognosis.

Specific treatment for MCT includes surgical resection with wide margins into healthy tissue.  Margins should be at least 2 cm wide and a 1 cm deep.   For unresectable or Grade III masses, additional treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy are necessary.  Mast cells tend to be very sensitive to radiation and can be used for long-term local control (up to a 90% control for several years).  Chemotherapy should be administered in higher grade tumors or when there is indication of metastasis.  It can be given in conjunction with radiation and surgery.

So the take home lesson is that every mass found on your dog is potentially a MCT especially in those breed's prone to it.   The appearance of a new mass should be monitored for changes and for it's affect on the pet.  Any mass that suddenly appears should be aspirated and evaluated.  Chances are that it probably is a benign growth such as a sebaceous adenoma, but better safe than sorry.

Take our canine personality survey to help us with our research.  We are trying to find a better way to match dogs with the right families fo facilitate "forever homes".  Click the link below to start.  Thank you for your help.  Please tell everyone you know that has a dog to come fill out this questionnaire.  The more data we collect the more accurate it will be.

Canine Personality Questionnaire

Thank You!

Smoking may be hazardous to your pet's health.

There is a lot of talk about how dangerous smoking is for an individual doing the smoking as well as how dangerous it is for the people around the smoker, but not much has been said about our pets.  There aren't that many studies in today's journals about how breathing in second-hand smoke affects our pets, but the few that are suggest it is just as dangerous to them as it is to any person.  I am going to present some of the studies below for your information.  If you smoke in the house with your pets or know someone that does you may want to reconsider your habits, not only for your sake, but for the sake of your pets.

1. A study done in 1998 looking back at cases of nasal cancer seen at the University of Colorado concluded that long nosed dogs had a higher chance of nasal cancer and short nosed dogs had a higher rate of lung cancer if they lived in the house of a smoker.  Apparently the long muzzle and nasal passages act as a better filter preventing the second-hand smoke from reaching the lungs.  This may be the reason dogs with long noses get nasal cancer more frequently and brachycephalic (short nosed dogs) are more prone to the lung cancer. 
John S. Reif, Christa Bruns, and Kimberty S. Lower. “Cancer of the Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinuses and Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke in Pet Dogs.” American Journal of Epidemiology.  1998 Mar 1;147(5):488-92.  

2. In another study done at Colorado State University they found that there is a linear trend in the association between exposure to second-hand smoke and risk of developing lymphoma.  This means that the longer the cat is exposed to second hand smoke the more likely they are to develop cancer (specifically lymphoma).

Elizabeth R. Bertone, Laura A. Snyder, and Antony S. Moore. “Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Risk of Malignant Lymphoma in Pet Cats” American Journal of Epidemiology.  2002 Apr;156(5)

 

3. A study done on Yorkshire Terriers showed that dogs that lived in homes with smokers showed changes in their airway due to the exposure to second-hand smoke.  None of the dogs that lived in homes where no one smoked showed these airway changes.  The importance of this study is to show that breathing in second-hand smoke does have a physiological affect on the dogs breathing it.  This is a first step in determining what the exact effects are.

Marcello Rodrigues Roza; Carlos Alberto Assis Viegas. “The dog as a passive smoker: effects of exposure to environmental cigarette smoke on domestic dogs.”  Nicotine Tob Res. 2007 Nov;9(11):1171-6.

 

4. Chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer may be linked to second-hand smoke.  A preliminary study done in Germany showed that within 12 weeks of exposure to second-hand smoke rats showed morphologic pancreatic damage and inflammation.

Uwe A Wittel¹; Ulrich T Hopt; Surinder K Batra . "Cigarette smoke-induced pancreatic damage: experimental data." Langenbecks Arch Surg. July 2008;393(4):581-8. 62 Refs 

While there is no conclusive evidence as of yet that second-hand smoke is dangerous for your pets, there is evidence that it may be.  It is kind of like knowing that playing in the road could result in getting hit by a car.  If you don't play in the road then there is almost no chance of getting hit.  If you do play in the road then your risk increases.  You may or may not get hit and unlike smoking where the dangers are invisible, you can at least see the car coming most of the time.  Just some food for thought :)

Facts and Fictions about Raw/BARF diets in dogs and cats

My best friend just consulted me about a case where there is a family dispute on what to feed one of the dogs.  The owner believes in feeding a good quality commercial food, but her family members are a huge supporter of the BARF/Raw only diet.  In helping my friend do some research on the subject I decided to write my blog (which I have been neglecting lately) about this.  As we all know you can find just about anything you want on the internet.  I am sure if I tried I could find 50 sites telling me the world was about to be taken over by aliens and that drinking water was hazardous to my health.  I could then turn around and find 50 more sites that completely contradict these and they all will sound very legitimate.  I am endeavoring in this blog to present the scientific known facts and studies about feeding raw diets.  I will say that I am biased more towards commercial diets because I believe in the research that has been put into many of them and while the companies want to make a profit, they would not do so if their foods were the cause of death and destruction like many people claim.

Canis Lupis

Myth: Dogs are Wolves:   Many proponents for the raw diet latch onto the belief that because dogs are descendant from wolves that they are better off eating like a wild wolf would.  In doing so they are throwing out over 100,000 years of evolution where man has selectively bred and adapted the domestic dog to live with us.  The modern dog has been thriving on our left-over, cooked food for all this time and has hence adapted to it.  The dogs that couldn't survive on this diet did not reproduce and died our many millennium ago.  It should also be noted that wild wolves that are kept in zoos live on average at least 50% longer than their wild counterparts and ....drum roll please.....they are fed a commercial dog food!  The AZA Nutrition Advisory Group recommends "to provide a portion of the nutrients through a pelleted, extruded, canned, etc. feed. These products oftentimes are referred to as "nutritionally complete" as they have been formulated by the manufacturer to be nutritionally complete for a particular species. The products are designed to provide all of the required nutrients to the target species and the addition of other foods/feeds can either dilute or complement these products."

Fact: Raw diets can be dangerous to human health:  Human infection with salmonella through the dog is a much higher risk when fed raw diet. According to Weese et al.(1), 

"This preliminary study found that 30% of stool samples from dogs fed homemade BARF diets contained various Salmonella serovars, whereas none of the samples from dogs fed commercial dry diets contained Salmonella spp. ...and 80% of BARF food samples cultured positive for Salmonella spp." 

According to Joffe et. al (2)

Abstract: "Twenty-five commercial raw diets for dogs and cats were evaluated bacteriologically. Coliforms were present in all diets, ranging from 3.5 × 10³ to 9.4 × 10⁶ CFU/g (mean 8.9 × 10⁵; standard deviation 1.9 × 10⁶). Escherichia coli was identified in 15/25 (64%) diets; however, E. coli O157 was not detected. Salmonella spp. were detected in 5/25 (20%) diets; 1 each of beef-, lamb-, quail-, chicken-, and ostrich-based diets. Sporeforming bacteria were identified from 4/25 (16%) samples on direct culture and 25/25 (100%) samples using enrichment culture. Clostridium perfringens was identified in 5/25 (20%) samples. A toxigenic strain of C. difficile was isolated from one turkeybased food. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 1/25 (4%) diets. Campylobacter spp. were not isolated from any of the diets."

This means that even though you are careful to wash you hands after preparing the dog's dinner, the dog could infect you, your child, or your aged parents with Salmonella.  I've had Salmonella once (got it from saving a soft shelled turtle from the middle of the road) and I can tell you I wanted to die, I didn't but if I had not been young and healthy I very well could have. 

Dipping the meat in boiling water for 3-5 minutes will at least kill off many of the surface bacteria and may help to decrease the chance of infection, but that requires cooking at least part of the food.

Myth: Raw diets are better for a dog or cat's teeth than commercial diets: There have been several studies done looking at skulls of wild dogs and cats and comparing the dental health with our commercially fed companion animals.   One thing raw diets have in favor is that they seem to decrease the amount of calculus present on the teeth, they do not however prevent the development of periodontal disease.  In fact, seeing a mouth filled with clean looking teeth may prevent the animal from receiving adequate dental care and predispose them to the loss of more teeth than would be necessary. 

According to Applied Veterinary Clinical Nutrition a study done on wild dog skulls in Africa showed 

"Signs of teeth wearing was seen in 83% of teeth, and 48% of skulls had fractured teeth....evidence of periodontitis in 41%.","..., the wild dog on a "natural" diet is affected by dental disease at similar rates to domesticated dogs, and surprisingly, the "natural" diet does not protect against dental disease. This is despite the efficacy of preventing the formation of calculus."

Another study showed(4) in a study of feral cats on Marion Island, the skulls of 301 cats that had been trapped and killed were examined. Evidence of periodontitis was found in 61.8% of cats and 14.8% of teeth which is similar to what we see in our pet felines.

The act or regular chewing is more effective in prevention of gingivitis and calculus so adding good chew toys such as Greenies, raw hide, etc. are the most effective method (second only to regular daily teeth brushing) of preventing dental disease.  Also note that dogs fed raw diets with bones, or dogs given bones to chew on are more likely to break their teeth which will then require dental care.

Myth: Raw diets are more natural and therefore better. This is a point that in my opinion is mixed.  A good, nutritionally balanced, home-cooked diet made with organic human-grade food is probably better and more nutritious than commercial foods.  Just like eating fresh fruit is better than eating canned for us.  This being said, it is very difficult to feed a truly balanced diet.  To properly feed a home-prepared diet you should consult a veterinary nutritionist.  It will be a lot more involved than just going to the grocery store and getting a package of chicken thighs and a liver and heart or two.  It will require careful measuring of numerous ingredients and strict adherence to the recipe to prevent your pet from malnutrition.  The next difficult part is to get your pet to eat every component of his diet.  Like a kid they will pick out the parts they like and leave the less delicious pieces in their bowl.  Blending it all together isn't an option because part of the benefit of a raw diet is feeding it in it's natural state.

Malnutrition may take years to become apparent so don't assume after a few months since nothing bad has happened, nothing will.  In today's day and age, many vet's are not used to seeing dietary induced diseases anymore and getting an accurate diagnosis on your pet may be difficult if that is what is wrong with it.  Why would a modern vet expect to see diseases related to zinc, vitamin a, or taurine deficiency when they are almost non-existent because of today's well-balanced commercial foods.

As an aside it is also very expensive to feed a balanced home-cooked diet.

Myth: Cooking destroys all the best nutrients:   

Raw diet supporters like to claim that cooking destroys nutrients, so processed foods must be nutrient deficient. It is true that some nutrients are destroyed by cooking, but the relationship between temperature and cooking time and the final level of these nutrients in the food is well established, and commercial foods are supplemented to account for this and extensively tested in vitro and in vivo to ensure adequate nutrient levels. Other nutrients, particularly carbohydrates, are made more available by cooking.^22,23 And cooking destroys many parasites and bacterial organisms responsible for serious foodborne illness.(5)

Challenge: As will all alternative medicine there is a lot of anecdotal evidence supporting how effective it is and you get many people that are staunch supporters of the theory.  Its like saying that lighting a candle every morning prevents you from getting the measles.  Just because you have never been exposed to them you think lighting the candle is the effective therapy.  You can't prove it until you actually do a scientific experiment to prove it.

If a therapy is truly effective it will become mainstream.  Contrary to popular belief, the majority of doctors and  veterinarians are in the profession to heal and 99.9% of us are not the "the pockets" of the major food and drug companies.  Popular alternative treatments that have become common are the use of Fish oils, glucosamine, acupuncture, SAMe, etc.  These treatments are becoming common and in 20 years, if they truly do what they are purported to do, will be considered modern medicine because they are commonly used, have been studied, and they work.  Commercial pet foods are successful because they work and are affordable.  I believe they have significantly aided in increasing our pet's lifespans by eliminating nutritional deficiencies and many infectious and parasitic diseases our pets faced only 50 years ago.  Are they perfect...of course not!  That is why companies like Purina, Walthem, Hill's, etc. spend millions every year doing research to improve their diets.  

My challenge is this.  For those out there that are strong believers in the raw or BARF diet.  Do a study and prove it.  Get a colony of 300+ dogs and cats and feed them your raw diet.  Make sure you do regular fecal, urine, and blood testing to check for good health.  Don't forget you have to do this for several generations.  Then you can at least say that the diet is healthy.  If you want to say it is better than commercial diets you need another couple of hundred animals that you feed a commercial food to, kept in the same environment and show that your diet provides better overall health and longevity to that one particular diet.  Once you have proved that you can do it for all the other commercial diets that are out there.  Prove your theory that it is better and I will gladly start recommending feeding a raw diet. Until then I will have to stick with the proven science behind the commercial fed pet foods since I know they are safe and effective.

1. Daniel J. Joffe and Daniel P. Schlesinger "Preliminary assessment of the risk of Salmonella infection in dogs fed raw chicken diets" , Can Vet J. 2002 June; 43(6): 441–442.   
2. J. Scott Weese, Joyce Rousseau, and L. Arroyo, "Bacteriological evaluation of commercial canine and feline raw diets."  Can Vet J. 2005 June; 46(6): 513–516. 
3. Andrea J. Fascetti, Sean J. Delaney. Applied Veterinary Clinical Nutrition: West Sussex, UK: Wiley-Blackwell, 2012. 
4. Verstraete, F.J.M.et al. "The Dental Pathology of Feral Cats on Marion Island, Part II: Periodontitis, External Odontoclastic Resorption Lesions and Mandibular Thickening." J. Comp, Path. 1996 Vol. 115, 283-297.
5. Science Based Medicine: Brennen McKenzie MA, VMD. Raw Meat and Bone Diets for Dogs: It’s Enough to Make You BARF.  June 11, 2010