New Developments

Parvovirus Infection in Dogs

H1N1 Virus and Pets

Lily Ingestion in Cats:
An Avoidable Plant Poisoning That Kills

Voluntary Recall of Limited Range
of Nutro Dry Cat Food Products

What Should I Feed My Adult Cat?

Microchipping -- Is it dangerous
for my cat or dog?

Vaccination Update

January 2010
from Dr. Tom Mason, Director of Veterinary Services
at Pets Unlimited Veterinary Center

Canine parvovirus (CPV) infection (sometimes called "parvo") is a relatively new disease that first struck the canine population in the 1970s. The classic signs are vomiting and bloody diarrhea. The virus that causes this disease is very similar to the Feline Distemper virus, and the two diseases are almost identical.

Contributing Factors: Several factors contribute to the clinical course of CPV infection in dogs. These include stress, maternal immunity, vaccination history, age, breed and concurrent infection with other diseases or parasites.

Causes/Transmission: CPV disease is a very hearty virus. Unlike most other viruses, CPV is stable in the environment and is resistant to the effects of heat, freezing, detergents and most common disinfectants. The stability of the CPV in the environment makes it important to properly disinfect contaminated areas once a dog has started to recover.  This is best accomplished by cleaning food bowls, water bowls, and other contaminated items with a solution of one cup of chlorine bleach in a gallon of water (500 ml in 4 liters of water).

Clinical Signs: Dogs that become infected with the virus will usually become ill within 3 to 7 days.  When a dog with CPV becomes clinically ill, the signs will usually begin with anorexia and vomiting.  Diarrhea (which often turns bloody) will usually follow within about 24 to 48 hours.  Clinically ill dogs will become rapidly dehydrated.  As the virus destroys the protective lining of the intestinal tract along with the infection fighting cells in the bone marrow, bacteria can then enter the blood stream causing widespread infection (septicemia). 

Treatment: Unfortunately, there is no specific antiviral therapy that will kill the virus once it infects a dog.  The primary goal of therapy is to support the patient until their body's immune system is able to fight off the virus.  Standard treatment involves hospitalization and intensive care, aggressive intravenous fluid and electrolyte replacement, anti-vomiting medication to help relieve nausea, pain management (as these dogs often have significant intestinal pain), protein replacement via plasma transfusions and antibiotic therapy if they start to develop evidence of secondary bacterial infection.  Treatment of this disease involves substantial cost and requires a significant financial commitment on the part of the owner/guardian. 

Prognosis: Most dogs with CPV infection can recover if aggressive treatment is used for a long enough period of time.  The length of time until recovery can vary widely, from as little as 24 to 48 hours in the best case scenario, to as long as 10 to 14 days in some severely affected cases. 

Prevention: Proper vaccination offers the best protection against CPV.  Puppies receive a parvovirus vaccination as part of their multiple-agent vaccine given at approximately 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age.  After this initial puppy series the vaccine is boostered in one year and then every three years thereafter.  The final decision about a proper vaccination schedule should be made in consultation with your veterinarian.

December 2009
from Dr. Tom Mason, Director of Veterinary Services
at Pets Unlimited Veterinary Center

H1N1 Virus and Pets

There have been several cases of confirmed H1N1 flu virus infecting dogs and cats.  In all cases a person in the household was infected with the virus and it was presumably transmitted to their pet.   The following are the major points related to H1N1 flu virus and companion animals:

• This is not cause for panic, but underscores the importance of taking pets to a veterinarian if they are showing signs of illness. This is especially important if someone in the household has recently been ill with flu-like symptoms. 
• Pet owners should remain vigilant in monitoring their pets for signs of illness.
• To date, animals infected with the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus have shown the following clinical signs: lethargy, inappetance/anorexia, coughing and difficulty breathing. Some of the animals have developed pneumonia. Any animals showing these signs of disease should be examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible. 
• There is no evidence to suggest that pets have or will spread the virus to humans or other animals. To date, all of the sick pets became ill after a person in the household was ill with flu-like symptoms.
• Proper hygiene and sanitation measures should be followed to limit the spread of the influenza virus.  This means washing hands frequently and avoiding or minimizing contact with uninfected people and animals.
• Turkey and pork are still safe to eat. Nonetheless, proper food hygiene and preparation are very important when it comes to protecting your family from any food borne illness.
  

November 2009
from Dr. Tom Mason, Director of Veterinary Services
at Pets Unlimited Veterinary Center

Lily Ingestion in Cats: An Aviodable Plant Poisoning That Kills

Numerous houseplants can be toxic to our pets, with virtually all species of lilies causing acute kidney failure in cats. At Pets Unlimited, we see several cats every year who die of acute kidney failure after ingestion of lily plants. In most cases, the owner had no idea of the severely toxic effect this beautiful flower has on our feline companions. Other pets, such as dogs and rabbits, do not seem to be affected.

The toxic principle within the plant is unknown, but all parts of the plant, including the leaves, stem and flower, appear to be toxic.

Clinical Signs
After a cat has eaten part of a lily plant, signs of stomach upset (vomiting, lack of appetite, or lethargy) may be present.· It is imperative to seek emergency medical treatment as soon as possible to ensure proper treatment. In approximately 2-4 days after ingestion of the plant, signs of kidney failure may begin which can include loss of appetite, depression, vomiting, and lack of urination.

Diagnosis
Diagnosis of lily ingestion is based solely on the history of witnessing the ingestion of a portion of the plant, or seeing part of the plant in the vomit. There are no known diagnostic tests to check for lily toxicity.

Treatment
Treatment must be performed early in order to be successful, and focuses primarily on emptying the stomach within 4 hours of ingestion of the plant, and administering medications to prevent absorption of the toxin from the gastrointestinal tract. When you call your veterinarian or an emergency clinic, you may be directed to induce vomiting at home using hydrogen peroxide, or you may be advised to bring your cat into the hospital right away.

For more information, please click here to download Pets Unlimited's informational handout.

Final take home message for all cat owners:
Do not bring lilies of any type into your home under any circumstances.

May 21, 2009
Although we do not sell Nutro Products in our Retail Center, we wanted to alert you to this information in case you use these products for your cat.

The following letter was sent to our doctors from Nutro Products, Inc:

Voluntary Recall of Limited Range of Nutro Dry Cat Food Products

Dear Doctor:

Out of an abundance of caution, on May 21, 2009, Nutro Products announced a voluntary recall of select varieties of NUTRO(R) NATURAL CHOICE(R) COMPLETE CARE(R) Dry Cat Foods and NUTRO(R) MAX(R) Cat Dry Foods with "Best If Used By Dates" between May 12, 2010 and August 22, 2010. This recall is due to incorrect levels of zinc and potassium in our finished product resulting from a production error by a US-based premix supplier.

Two mineral premixes were affected. One premix contained excessive levels of zinc and under-supplemented potassium. The second premix under-supplemented potassium. Both zinc and potassium are essential nutrients for cats and are added as nutritional supplements to NUTRO(R) dry cat food.

As soon as we became aware of the issue, we made the decision to hold shipments of affected dry cat product, and took immediate action to verify with our mineral premix supplier that no other products were affected. We then contacted the FDA to notify them of the voluntary recall. A full list of affected product and available alternatives for your clients is available at
http://aci-direct.net/c.asp?770197&5cfd2ea1852dafab&1

We have completed a comprehensive audit of premixes for all NUTRO(R) products, and have confirmed that this issue only affects certain dry cat food products. No other NUTRO(R) products are affected, including dry dog food, wet dog and cat foods and dog and cat treats.

Consumers who have purchased affected product should immediately discontinue feeding the product to their cats, and switch to another product with a balanced nutritional profile. While we have received no consumer complaints related to this issue, cat owners should monitor their cat for symptoms, including a reduction in appetite or refusal of food, weight loss, vomiting or diarrhea. We have suggested that cat owners contact their veterinarian if their cat is experiencing health issues or is pregnant.

Consumers who have purchased product affected by this voluntary recall should return it to their retailer for a full refund or exchange for another NUTRO(R) dry cat food product.

Affected product was distributed to retail customers in all 50 states, as well as to customers in Canada, Mexico, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Israel. We are working with all of our distributors and retail customers, in both the US and internationally, to ensure that the recalled products are not on store shelves.

At Nutro Products, our top priority has always been and continues to be the health and welfare of pets and their owners. If you have any further questions, including the need for additional information on clinical signs, please call 1-800-833-5330 and identify yourself as a veterinary professional or visit
http://aci-direct.net/c.asp?770197&5cfd2ea1852dafab&1

Sincerely,

Dr. Tiffany Bierer
Health and Nutrition Manager
Nutro Products Inc.

April 2008
from Dr. Tom Mason, Director, Veterinary Services
at Pets Unlimited Veterinary Center

What Should I Feed My Adult Cat?

Greater than 35% of cats in the United States are overweight. This is not only an “aesthetic” issue, but a serious health issue. We now know that overweight animals have serious disruptions in the healthy balance of hormones and chemical mediators that are produced in fat cells. This imbalance leads to a deranged metabolic state that makes overweight felines prone to developing various degenerative and inflammatory diseases such as asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes and pancreatitis.

Cats are prone to weight gain for a variety of reasons:

• Inactivity due to an indoor life style

• Overfeeding by their owners (especially “free-choice” feeding unlimited amounts of food)

• Decreased metabolism that occurs after neutering (their metabolic rate decreases 25 to 30% after neutering)

• The common tendency to feed dry kibble-type diets

The Feline Nutritional Dilemma:
High Protein, Low Carbohydrate.

Cats are carnivores and require a diet high in animal protein. They also poorly utilize carbohydrates (grains, starches and sugars). If their diet contains a high amount of carbohydrates, those carbs will go directly into their fat stores since they will always preferentially utilize the protein in their diet for energy. Dry foods always have a much higher amount of carbohydrate because they are essentially “biscuits” and require high levels of grain in order to be manufactured. They are also are packed with calories, so it takes very little dry food in order to meet the calorie requirements of most cats. This very easily leads to the overfeeding of dry food, with those excess calories (especially in the form of carbohydrates) going directly into their fat stores.

Why canned diets are better than kibble.
High quality canned diets are much better for most cats. They always contain less carbohydrates and higher protein than dry kibble and it is much easier to feed an appropriate amount because of the natural portion control that occurs when feeding canned food. In addition, when cats are fed canned diets they will usually not be constantly hungry, which is a commonly seen when they are fed carbohydrate-rich dry kibble. Finally, canned diets increase a cat’s water consumption, which is critical in maintaining urinary tract and bladder health.

Keep your cat as healthy as possible. Feed them a high quality, canned diet.
We strongly urge all cat owners to consider switching their cats to an all canned diet if their cat will accept it. This is particularly important if your cat is overweight as part of an overall weight loss program. Because some cats fed a dry kibble develop a strong preference for this type of food, you must work with your veterinarian to ensure a successful transition to a canned diet.

Microchipping -- Is it dangerous for my cat or dog?

There have been recent news reports regarding concerns about microchips causing tumors in animals. These reports cite studies that have shown an increased risk of soft tissue tumors related to the microchips developing in mice and rats.

We do not feel there is any reason for pet owners to be concerned about microchips in their dogs and cats. Here are important points to remember:

• These studies specifically involved mice and rats, which have a much higher tendency of developing tumors in general.
• Despite the wide spread use of microchips in dogs and cats for over 15 years, there have been no studies linking the development of soft tissue tumors related to implanted microchips in dogs and cats.
• At Pets Unlimited, we have not seen one case of an animal developing a tumor that was associated with a microchip since we started implanting them in the mid 1990s.
• The benefits of microchips far outweigh any theoretical risk. Animals are lost all of the time, and any animal found with a registered microchip is much more likely to be quickly reunited with their owner than an animal that is not microchipped. We see stray animals regularly that are brought to Pets Unlimited, and we are much more able to locate their owner quickly when they are microchipped.

Pets Unlimited continues to recommend the routine microchipping of all dogs and cats.

Vaccination Update

Annual vaccinations for most dogs and cats have been standard practice for years. Recently, however, complications from vaccination of healthy animals have brought this practice under scrutiny. Several veterinary schools across the country, most notably Cornell University, have been conducting research to determine just how long immunity lasts after a pet has been vaccinated.

At the moment there is no widespread consensus on this issue, but many veterinary practices and institutions have begun decreasing the frequency of so-called annual vaccinations. There are important issues to consider when deciding what to do with your own pet.

In favor of vaccination we have the following points:

1. Most health professionals agree that routine vaccination has decreased the incidence of many deadly diseases, including parvoviral enteritis and feline panleukopenia.
2. Requiring vaccination is the best way for kennels and shelters to ensure protection of all animals housed in close quarters.
3. Risks associated with routine vaccination are generally thought to be quite low. Determination of what constitutes an adequate level of immunity is not an exact science.

Opposition to vaccination is based on the following considerations:

1. In cats, feline leukemia and certain rabies vaccines have been definitively linked to the development of a deadly cancer called fibrosarcoma, which arises at the injection site. Additives to the vaccines, called adjuvants, have been seen in the cancerous tissue under the microscope.
2. Certain researchers have proposed that auto-immune diseases may result from over-stimulation of the immune system by repeated vaccination.
3. Vaccine manufacturers have not been required to determine the duration of immunity afforded by their vaccines prior to marketing them. Thus, the recommendation to revaccinate on an annual basis is fairly arbitrary.
4. If humans do not continue to receive vaccinations throughout their lives, why is it necessary for a dog or cat to receive a collection of vaccines year after year?

1. All puppies and kittens should receive the series of standard vaccines.
2. Certain researchers have proposed that auto-immune diseases may result from over-stimulation of the immune system by repeated vaccination.
3. Booster vaccination should occur one year following the last vaccine in this series.
4. If the two guidelines above are satisfied, a healthy pet probably will not need not to be re-vaccinated for 3 years, except as required by law (i.e. for Rabies).
5. Some cats or dogs may be at higher risk of exposure to certain infectious diseases and under these circumstances the veterinarian will recommend more frequent vaccination than outlined above in item.
6. We advocate use of a new non-adjuvanted Rabies vaccine for cats, which have been proven to confer proper immunity.

Pets Unlimited is part of a program called VAX-Testing, available through the Cornell University Veterinary School. Their diagnostic laboratory has been researching these issues for a few years and they have developed guidelines and standardized tests to help determine the need for boostering (repeating) of vaccinations. A blood sample from your dog or cat can be sent to the lab for determination of certain vaccine antibody titres.

Based on the results of this test, your veterinarian can counsel you as to whether it is time to re-vaccinate your pet or not. In this way, we are using a more scientific and individualized approach to the vaccine dilemma. Furthermore, as more and more data are compiled at this laboratory, cumulative research reports are sent to us to further assist in our understanding of this complex issue.