AMC Quarterly Spring 2010
Volume 4, Number 1
Doctor is in: Vaccination Review - Distemper In This Issue Vaccine Review Pet Proofing your home Otitis Externa Word Scramble 10 Poisonous Human Medications
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Dogs Distemper is a highly contagious disease of dogs, wolves, coyotes, raccoons, mink, and ferrets. It is caused by a virus that is easily spread through the air and by contaminated objects; much like the cold virus spreads in people. Though the disease occurs more often in young dogs, those of any age may contract distemper. This is especially true of animals under stress. Symptoms begin with gooey eye and nose discharge, fever (which often comes and goes unnoticed), poor appetite, coughing and development of pneumonia. The virus then moves on, to produce vomiting, diarrhea, and callusing of the nose and foot pads. Finally, the virus proceeds to the central nervous system for its neurologic phase leading to seizures (classically starting with snapping or tremors of the jaws that progress to convulsions of the whole body.), tremors, imbalance, and limb weakness all may occur. Signs may progress to death or may become non-progressive and permanent. Recovery is also possible. Vaccination is the best means of preventing canine distemper. We recommend that all dogs be kept up to date on the distemper vaccination.
Cats
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Feline panleukopenia (also called feline distemper) is a highly contagious and deadly viral disease. Mink, ferrets, skunks and raccoons are also susceptible to this virus. It is spread through all body secretions including feces, vomit, urine, saliva, and mucus. The virus enters the cat’s body and the lymph nodes of the throat are first to be affected. From there, the virus rushes to the bone marrow and intestine. In the bone marrow, the virus suppresses production of the entire white blood cell line, hence the term panleukopenia (literally, all-white-shortage). The white blood cells are the immune cells needed to fight the infection and without them the victim is completely vulnerable to the advance of the virus. In the intestine, the virus causes ulceration that leads to diarrhea and life-threatening dehydration as well as bacterial infection because the barrier between the body and intestinal bacteria is lost. The patient dies from either dehydration or secondary bacterial infection. Feline panleukopenia virus is extremely hardy, is able to survive extremes of temperature and humidity for many months, and is resistant to most available disinfectants. Until recent years, panleukopenia was the most serious infectious disease of cats, claiming the lives of thousands every year. Thanks to the highly effective vaccines currently available, panleukopenia is now considered to be an uncommon disease in the pet population. However, because of the serious nature of the disease and the continued presence of the virus in the environment, vaccination is highly recommended for all cats.
Pet Proofing Your Home One of the most important things you can do for your pet is to give him or her, a safe environment to live, play, and explore in. With that in mind, here are a few precautions every pet owner should consider.
Keep toxic and dangerous materials, such as cleaning solutions, antifreeze, and medications in a locked cabinet or in a room your pet doesn’t have access to. Patrol your house with an eye out for small holes or gaps in floorboards, walls, baseboards, heating vents, and anywhere else a small animal could squeeze into and get stuck. Try to remove everything in sight that is small enough to be chewed or swallowed. If your pet is young, old or otherwise unstable on his or her feet, you may want to block off stairs and ledges with a baby gate. Keep the toilet lid shut. Many dogs and cats like to drink from the toilet and automatic bowl cleaners can be harmful if drunk in large amounts. Smaller pets can also fall in and injure themselves or drown themselves when they try to drink. Watch out for heavy or fragile objects placed on unstable bases. Lamps sitting on the edge of a table or an iron sitting on an ironing board could both be easily knocked over. Young animals have the instinct to chew, so you may want to cover electric cords with rugs or plastic cord guards. Some of the prettiest plants inside your house or in your yard may be poisonous to your pet. Familiarize yourself with the plants in or around your home and keep any dangerous plants away from your pet. Young animals need a safe haven to stay in when they can’t be supervised. You can confine them to a crate or take one room of the house and make it into your pet’s home for when you’re gone. It should include a soft, warm place to sleep and plenty of toys, and it should be regularly examined for the hazards listed above.
Otitis Externa (Outer Ear Infection) General Information: Otitis Externa is an inflammation of the external ear canal that begins at the outside opening of the ear and extends inward to the eardrum. Causes include bacteria, fungi, ear mites, accumulation of wax, thick or matted hair in the ear canal, debris, impaired drainage of the ear, and infections from elsewhere in the body. A common cause of recurring ear infections in dogs and cats is allergic skin disease. The ears of dogs (especially those with pendulous ears) and cats are ideal for the growth of bacteria and fungi because they are moist and warm, and contain wax and other debris. The funnel shape of the ear canal effectively traps debris, further complicating treatment of infections. Important Points in Treatment: If there is only mild debris in the canals, simple disinfection and washing of the ear is adequate. A sample of ear discharge is commonly examined under the microscope to assist in selecting medications for home use. After a couple of weeks of home treatment, the ear canals are rechecked to be sure the infection is gone. To be effective, the medication must contact microorganisms or mites deep in the ear canal. To achieve this contact, the canal must be kept clear of debris, and the medication must be placed within the canal.
In moderate to severe cases however, general anesthesia may be necessary to allow thorough cleansing of the ear canal, examination of the eardrum, and to obtain specimens for bacterial cultures. Ear infections can be especially frustrating as they have the ability to draw out for months, even years, even with the best treatment. The longer the infection has been present, the more difficult it is to clear up. In severe long-standing infections, surgery may be necessary to correct the problem.
Can you unscramble these words?
Top 10 Human Medications that Poison Pets 1. NSAIDs: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs). Pets include: Dogs, cats, birds, ferrets, gerbils, hamsters and other small mammals may develop serious stomach and intestinal ulcers as well as kidney failure. Ex: Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or Naproxen (Aleve). 2. Acetaminophen (Tylenol): Cats: Just one regular strength tablet may cause damage to red blood cells, limiting their ability to carry oxygen. Dogs: leads to liver failure and, in large doses, red blood cell damage. 3. Antidepressants: While occasionally used in pets, overdoses can lead to serious neurological problems such as sedation, incoordination, tremors and seizures. Some antidepressants also have a stimulant effect leading to a dangerously elevated heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. Ex: Venlafaxine (Effexor), Duloxetine (Cymbalta), or Fluoxetine (Prozac). 4. ADD or ADHD medications: Contains potent stimulants such as amphetamines and methylphenidate. Even minimal ingestions of these medications by pets can cause life-threatening tremors, seizures, hyperthermia, and heart problems. Ex: Methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin) or dextroamphetamine (Adderall) 5.
Benzodiazepines and sleep aids: Tend to cause dogs to become agitated. In addition may cause severe lethargy, incoordination (including walking “drunk”), and slowed breathing in pets. In cats, some forms of benzodiazepines can cause liver failure. Ex. Alprazolam (Xanax), eszopiclone (Lunesta) or zolpidem (Ambien).
6. Birth Control: Although small amounts typically don’t cause much trouble, large amounts can cause bone marrow suppression, particularly in birds. In addition, intact female pets are at an increased risk of side effects from estrogen poisoning. Ex. estrogen, estradiol, or progesterone. 7. ACE Inhibitors: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are used to treat high blood pressure in people and, occasionally pets. Overdoses can cause low blood pressure, dizziness, and weakness. Pets that ingest small amounts can typically be monitored at home. Ex. Lisinopril (Zestril, Prinivil), ramipril (Altace). 8. Beta-blockers: Also used to treat high blood pressure BUT unlike the ACE inhibitors, small amount of these drugs can cause life-threatening decreases in blood pressure and heart rate. Ex. Atenolol (Tenormin), Toprol, or carvedilol (Coreg). 9. Thyroid hormones: Pets – especially dogs – get under active thyroids too. The dose of thyroid hormone needed to treat dogs is much higher than a person’s dose. Therefore, if dogs accidentally get into thyroid medications at home, it rarely results in problems. However, large acute overdoses in dogs and cats can cause muscle tremors, nervousness, panting, rapid heart rate, and aggression. Ex. Armour desiccated thyroid, or levothyroxine (Synthroid). 10. Cholesterol lowering agents: Often called statins. Most statin ingestions only cause milt vomiting and diarrhea. Serious side effects from these drugs come with long-term use, not one-time ingestions. NOTE: Be sure to keep all medications in a safe place, out of your pets reach. If your pet ingests any medication not prescribed for him or her, contact your veterinarian immediately!
