Raccoon Rabies Update

Veterinary Alert

Update: Raccoon Rabies Hamilton Ontario December 10, 2015

On December 2, 2015, a sick raccoon in Hamilton ON had a significant altercation with two dogs. The raccoon was euthanized and tested for rabies as a precaution. Test results were received on December 4, and were positive for rabies (raccoon variant). Subsequent surveillance testing of wildlife carcasses collected by municipal animal services in the preceding weeks confirmed three additional positive raccoons with raccoon-variant rabies on December 9.

These are the first cases of raccoon-variant rabies ever detected in Southwestern Ontario. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) annually distributes wildlife rabies vaccine baits along the US border in the Niagara region and along the St. Lawrence River in order to help protect wildlife from incursions of raccoon-variant rabies from New York State. As of December 7, the MNRF has initiated hand and aerial baiting in the Hamilton area where the positive raccoons were found.

This is a reminder to veterinarians, particularly in Hamilton and Niagara regions, to remain vigilant for cases of domestic animal exposure to potentially rabid animals. The last case of raccoon-variant rabies in Ontario was detected in 2005, and the last case of fox-variant rabies was detected in 2013. However, there continues to be a risk of incursion of fox rabies from northern regions of the province and of raccoon rabies from New York State. Contact with rabid bats also remains a risk in all regions.

The best protection against rabies for both domestic animals and people is to avoid contact with potentially rabid wildlife and to keep domestic animals up-to-date on rabies vaccination. Rabies vaccination for dogs and cats is a regulatory requirement in most of the province. If you suspect a domestic animal may have recently been exposed to a potentially rabid animal, it should be vaccinated (or revaccinated) as soon as possible if it isn’t possible to have the offending animal tested.

Reminder of who to call in cases of potential rabies exposure:

1. Human exposure to a potentially rabid animal - Local Public Health (PH) Unit

2. Domestic animal exposure to a potentially rabid animal, no human exposure - Local veterinarian / OMAFRA

• Animal owners should be directed to contact their local veterinarian as the first step for any animal health concerns.
• Veterinarians can call the OMAFRA Agricultural Information Contact Centre: 1-877-424-1300 for assistance.

3. Abnormal wildlife, no domestic animal exposure, no human exposure - MNRF or CWHC

• For terrestrial wildlife, call the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) Rabies Hotline: 1-888-574-6656.
• If a sick or injured bat is found, consider contacting the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC) at 1-866-673-4781.

 

Halloween Tips

To ensure you and your pet have a safe and Happy Halloween here are some tips that will make the night fun for everyone!

• Your pet can easily become anxious and frightened with the doorbell frequently ringing to reveal children in unfamiliar clothes and masks. Confining your cat or dog to their own safe haven for the evening (like their crate or a closed room) can help calm their nerves, make them feel secure and ultimately prevent them from running out of the frequently opening front door.
• If you walk your dog around the neighborhood while children are trick-or-treating, be sure to use a sturdy collar or harness and leash, and be careful around unfamiliar children and adults. Again, the costumes and masks may make your pet uncomfortable and frightened with people they are usually comfortable with.
• Be sure your pet is wearing identification tags with your name and phone number clearly indicated on them in case you become separated from your pet or they escape from the house.
• If you're dressing your pet for Halloween, use safe, non-flammable and non-toxic items that your pet is comfortable in and that don't restrict their movement, breathing or vision. Even though pets in costumes are very cute, some cats and dogs are very unhappy wearing them.
• Lastly, keep all candy out of your pet's reach — especially chocolate, which is toxic to dogs and cats. Consumption of even small amounts can cause seizures, muscle tremors and vomiting while larger doses can be fatal. Stick to their own treats and they will be just as happy.

Following these simple tips will help keep your pet safe, healthy and out of any scary trouble this Halloween.  Please let us know if you have any questions, we would be more than happy to help.

-Jennifer

Xylitol Poisoning

We want to make our clients aware of a sugar substitute which is toxic to dogs and is now being used in some peanut and other nut butters.  This product is called Xylitol.  Because peanut and other nut butters are a treat that pets commonly enjoy, we feel that it is important that our clients are aware of this potential danger.

Xylitol is safe for humans to consume due to our different metabolic rate.  Xylitol is absorbed relatively slowly in humans causing little to no reaction and quite rapidly in dogs causing blood sugar levels to drop which can be quite harmful. 

Although we are not certain why, Xylitol can also cause damage to the liver.  Signs and symptoms typically develop 8 – 12 hours after exposure.  How a pet reacts is dependent on the amount of xylitol ingested in relation to the size of the dog. Complications can range from temporary illness to acute liver failure and even to death.

Symptoms of Xylitol poisoning include:

·         Vomiting
·         Lethargy and weakness
·         Diarrhea
·         Collapse
·         Seizures

At Streetsville Animal Hospital, we often hear from clients about how their pets enjoy peanut butter as a treat, as a filling for their Kong or as a way to administer medication.  It is very important that labels are checked before offering any type of nut butter, especially ones purchased at health-food stores. 

Some alternative names for Xylitol are:

·         1,4-anhydro-d-xylitol
·         Anhydroxylitol
·         Birch bark extract
·         Birch sugar
·         D-xylitol
·         Xylite
·         Xylityglucoside
·         Zylatol

Treatment for Xylitol poisoning differs depending on how quickly it is discovered.  If it is within 30 minutes, vomiting can be induced although beyond that timing, hospitalization and aggressive supportive care is required.

If you have any additional questions regarding this information, as always please feel free to give us a call and we would be more than happy to help!

-Jennifer

Frequently Asked Questions - Fleas

Along with the warm weather comes flea season!  To help keep our clients informed, here is a list of our most frequently asked questions about fleas.

 

How can my pet get fleas?

There are a number of different ways your pet can get fleas:

·         From a dog or cat your pet associates with that has a flea infestation

·        From an environment frequently exposed to wild animals such as squirrels, rabbits, raccoons and skunks

·        From a previously infested environment.  Flea pupae can lay dormant in environments for weeks before emerging as adult fleas ready to infest

·        From facilities that offer services which require boarding and have recently housed an animal infested with fleas such as kennels or grooming facilities

 

How can I confirm my pet has fleas?

Fleas are most commonly found around the base of your pet’s tail but not exclusively. You can try parting your pet’s fur to see if you notice fleas moving around on your pet’s skin.  You may also be able to see small dark flecks that look like pepper which is flea dirt.  You can try transferring some flecks on to a white piece of paper and then wetting your finger tip before applying pressure to the fleck and moving it across the paper.  If it leaves a red streak, it is flea dirt.  Of course if you are suspicious of fleas and would like us to check your pet for you, we would be more than happy to!

 

 Adult Flea

Won’t my pet be itchy if they have fleas?

Not always!  Only animals with flea allergy dermatitis react to being bitten by a flea.  Some animals are diagnosed with a flea infestation without showing any sign of discomfort.

How do I treat fleas?

The treatment Dr. Dunn recommends for fleas is a topical (meaning it is applied directly to the skin) medicine called Advantage.  This solution is applied between the shoulder blades and absorbed through your pet’s skin.  Advantage kills 98-100% of the adult fleas on your pet within 24 hours of the first application.  Dr. Dunn recommends two treatments for two consecutive months to kill the adult fleas on your pet and to interrupt the life cycle of any eggs that have been laid in the fur.

 

                                                     

Do I need to treat my house?

Yes!  This is a very important step.  As mentioned earlier, flea pupae can lay dormant in cracks and crevices in your house and emerge as adult fleas ready to infest your pet.  The rooms and furniture that your pet has access to as well as their bedding needs to be thoroughly cleaned and treated with a spray called Siphotrol.  This product kills fleas in all life stages and has residual properties as well which will ensure no future infestations related to this episode if used properly.

How can I prevent fleas?

We provide a number of different options for prevention when it comes to fleas.  All flea prevention is given from June until November:

·         Advantage – topical ointment applied once a month that prevents all life stages of a flea

·        Sentinel – heartworm and flea prevention in the form of a chewable tablet.  The tablet is administered once a month with a full meal

·        Revolution – heartworm and flea prevention that is applied topically once a month

·        Nexgard – flea and tick prevention in the form of a chewable tablet which is given monthly

We hope this article was helpful, please let us know if you have any further questions, we would be more than happy to answer them!

-Jennifer

 

 

 

 

Canine Influenza Information

As of April 15, veterinarians in Chicago and the American Midwest had reported more than 1,000 cases of canine influenza, as well as six deaths.

The outbreak was originally attributed to the H3N8 virus, which has been circulating in the U.S. dog population since 2004. However, testing by scientists at Cornell University and the University of Wisconsin has revealed that the virus is H3N2, which can be found among dog populations in South Korea and southern China but has never before been identified in North America. There is no reported outbreak of the virus in Canada at this time.

There is no evidence that this strain of canine flu can be passed to humans, but it is known to cause infection and respiratory illness in both dogs and cats. Symptoms typically include high fever, loss of appetite, coughing, nasal discharge and lethargy. Severity can range from showing no signs to illness resulting in pneumonia and sometimes death.

All dogs, regardless of breed or age, are susceptible to the virus, which is spread through the air from dog to dog or on contaminated objects and people. The virus can survive on hard surfaces, clothing and hands, continuing to infect other dogs.

Cornell University is advising veterinary professionals that diagnostic testing of samples can be done using a broadly targeted Influenza A matrix reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay (Rt-PCR). The canine-specific Influenza A H3N8 Rt-PCR in use in several laboratories will not detect this virus.

Serology is currently not available, according to Cornell, because the H3N2 virus is different enough from H3N8 that antibodies may not cross react. It’s not known if the current vaccine for H3N8 will also protect against the new virus.

Advice for pet owners

In the event of an outbreak in Canada, veterinarians should advise pet owners to avoid areas frequented by other dogs and practice good hygiene, such as thorough hand washing, changing clothes after seeing an infected dog and disinfecting hard surfaces. If an owner suspects their dog is ill, they should call their veterinarian to make arrangements for examination.

Pet owners considering travel to areas affected by the outbreak should speak to their veterinarian about how to keep their pet safe. Upon returning to Canada, pet owners should monitor their dog for symptoms, including fever, loss of appetite, coughing, nasal discharge and lethargy. Pet owners who suspect their pet may be infected should contact their veterinarian immediately.

 

 

Heartworm

It is that time of year again - heartworm season is upon us!  We have compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions to help keep our clients informed and ensure you are making the best decision for you and your dog!

What is heartworm?
Heartworm is a serious disease that is passed from dog to dog by mosquitos.  When a mosquito infected with heartworm bites another dog, the disease is then transmitted.  In infected dogs, worms grow in the heart and pulmonary arteries causing clogs which prevent normal blood flow and normal function of the valves. 

Is it fatal?

Yes.  If left untreated heartworm is a fatal disease.  Because signs of heartworm are not immediate, the disease can go unnoticed for a number of years until symptoms appear.  This is why it is important to test your dog even if they seem healthy. 

Why does my dog need to be tested if he/she is on the medicine?

Dr. Dunn recommends a test every other year for the following reasons:

1. It is possible the medicine has not been administered properly (missed doses, started before May 1^st or after June 1^st)

2. A dog can be underdosed if they gained weight during the course of the treatment
3. A heartworm preventive dose may be ineffective if the dog had vomiting or diarrhea when the medicine was administered
4. Bad luck – no medicine is 100% effective and occasionally animals with no breaks in the treatment will develop heartworm

It is vital that we know if your dog has heartworm before they show signs of illness.  Dogs can be treated for heartworm but the effectiveness of the treatment is based on how long they have had the disease and how severe the signs are.  We want to diagnose dogs before they show any signs so they can be treated and be perfectly healthy after the treatment is completed.  Based on the typical progression of heartworm disease in our area that means testing every other year.

Can my dog get heartworm from contact with another dog?
No.  Heartworm requires an intermediate host (mosquito) to be transferred from one dog to another.  The exposure of your dog to other dogs has no influence on the chances of your dog contracting heartworm.

What is involved with a heartworm test?
A heartworm test is a blood test.  We will draw 1 mL of blood which will then be sent to a lab and tested for the heartworm antigen.  It is not tested through feces like intestinal parasites.

Why do you recommend my dog be tested between April and June?
Once a dog is bitten by a mosquito infected with heartworm it takes 6 months for a heartworm test to show a positive result.  Therefore, we recommend testing 6 months after their last possible exposure from the previous year.  We recommend testing before June 1^st because it is preferable to have a negative heartworm test result before starting the prevention.

Why is heartworm medicine only given from June to November?
Because heartworm is passed by mosquitos it is only necessary to place dogs on prevention in the warmer months when mosquitos are present.

What kind of medicines do you prescribe to prevent heartworm?
We offer a number of different options to prevent heartworm, here are our 3 most popular methods:

Heartgard: a chewable treat given on the first of every month.  Prevents heartworm only.
Sentinel: a chewable flavour tab given on the first of every month.  Prevents heartworm as well as fleas.
Revolution: a topical treatment applied to the skin on the first of every month.  Prevents heartworm as well as fleas.

If you have any additional questions or need clarification on anything that is discussed here, please give us a call or send us an e-mail!  We are always more than happy to answer questions and discuss which decisions make the most sense for you and your pet!

-Jennifer

Valentine's Day Treats

Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to show your pet a little extra love!  Follow these recipes to surprise your dog or cat with a tasty homemade treat on Valentine’s Day or any day of the year!

Cinnamon Honey Hearts
1/4 Cup Water
1/4 Cup pureed Banana
1/2 Cup plain Yogurt
1 Tablespoon Honey
1 Tablespoon Canola Oil
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2 Cup Oat Flour
1/4 Cup Rice Flour
1 Cup Wheat Flour

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300 Degrees F (150 degrees C)

In a small bowl combine the cinnamon, oat flour, rice flour, and 1/2 cup wheat flour. Set aside. In a separate bowl mix water, banana, yogurt, honey, and canola oil with an electric mixer. Add the dry ingredients and mix until well blended. Mix in remaining wheat flour 1/4 cup at a time until a stiff dough forms.

Place on floured surface and roll to desired thickness. Cut into desired shapes. Bake at 300 degrees. If rolled to 3/8″ baking time is 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Tip: After shutting off the oven leave the dog biscuits in the oven for a couple hours to make sure they are completely dry and crunchy. Then they can be stored for a long time without worrying about spoilage.

Source: doggingtonpost.com

Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Biscuits

1 egg

1/3 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup mashed banana

1 tablespoon honey

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup wheat germ

1 egg white lightly beaten, for brushing

 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet

Stir together the egg, peanut butter, banana and honey in a medium bowl; blend thoroughly.  Stir in the flour and wheat germ; mix well.  Turn dough out onto a floured board and roll to 1/4 inch thick. 

Cut into desired shapes with a cookie cutter, place on prepared baking sheet and brush tops with egg white.

Bake biscuits in preheated oven until dried and golden brown, about 30 minutes, depending on size.  Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.

 

Source: allrecipes.com

Crunchy Tuna Cat Treats

1 (5 ounce) can tuna, no salt added and packed in water, drained

1 cup oat flour*

1 large egg

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 heaping tablespoon dried catnip

*It’s easy to make your own oat flour. Simply grind old-fashioned oats in a spice grinder until it is transformed into a light powder. There you have it — oat flour!

Directions:

Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade attachment, combine drained tuna, oat flour, egg, olive oil and catnip. Blend until mixture is smooth. It will be thick but pliable and not terribly sticky.

Roll dough into 1/2 teaspoon balls and place on prepared cookie sheet. Use a skewer to press an X-shape into each cookie ball.

Bake cookies for 10 to 12 minutes until they are dried on top and slightly browned. Allow to cool completely before offering to your kitty.

Place treats in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to seven days.

 

Source: designsponge.com

Please let us know if you try any of these recipes and how your cat or dog liked them – we would love to see photos as well!

-Jennifer

Why Do We Recommend Fecal Tests?

At Streetsville Animal Hospital we recommend fecal tests on 12 week old puppies and kittens as well as annual testing on dogs and outdoor cats.  So why does Dr. Dunn recommend fecal checks?  What are we looking for in there? When we check your pet’s stool we are looking for the larvae of intestinal parasites which can only be seen under a microscope.  An undetected burden of parasites can cause vomiting, diarrhea, a poor hair coat, scooting and irritation around the back end and dangers to humans as well.  There are many different parasites but the following are some of the most common parasites we diagnose and how they are transmitted.

Roundworms:

Roundworms are the most common intestinal parasite.  In fact, approximately 80% of puppies and kittens are born with them as they are often transmitted through Mom.  These worms can also be transmitted through ingestion after they have been passed in an infected animal’s stool.  Heavy burdens can cause diarrhea, vomiting as well as a potty abdomen in puppies and on occasion in adult dogs as well.  These worms are zoonotic which means they are also transferrable to humans.  A roundworm infection in a human will manifest as a skin or an ocular issue and children are specifically at risk.  

                                                               Roundworm Larvae

Hookworms:

Hookworms can be transmitted to cats and dogs four ways: orally, through the skin, through Mom’s milk as well as through Mom’s placenta before birth.  These little guys can lead to anemia, poor appetite, diarrhea and failure to thrive in puppies and kittens.  Although adult hookworms do not infect humans intestinally, their larvae can burrow into the skin and cause itch and irritation.

 Hookworm Larvae

Coccidia:

Coccidia are single celled organisms - they live in the intestinal tract and are transmitted through ingestion.  Adult dogs often do not show signs of this parasite but signs can be dramatic in puppies and kittens presenting as watery diarrhea, abdominal distress and vomiting.  The type of coccidia dogs and cats contract is not transmissible to humans.

                                                               Coccidia Oocysts

Tapeworms:

There are two different tapeworms that cats and dogs are most susceptible to.  One is through the ingestion of an infected flea and the other is through the ingestion of an infected rodent.  Tapeworms can lead to weight loss when they occur in large numbers, especially to puppies.  They are diagnosed when owners notice segments around the anus that look like little pieces of rice.  After a segment is submitted to us, we are then able to examine it under a microscope to confirm that it is a tapeworm as well as which type.  Tapeworms are transmissible to humans but it is not very likely due to the fact that an infected host must be ingested by a human for an infestation to start – ingestion of the segments does not lead to an infestation.

Tapeworm segment

All of these intestinal parasites are treated with oral medication and as long as strict hygiene is enforced they should not pose a threat to owners. Please let us know if you have any questions or would like any further information on fecal testing or parasites, we would be more than happy to help!

- Jennifer