Feline Heartworm Disease

Posted on 04/19/2012 by hahlogin

From the American Heartworm Society

Feline Heartworm Disease

Heartworm infection takes place when a mosquito carrying infective, microscopic-size heartworm larvae, bites into a cat for a blood meal. The larvae then actively migrate into the new host and develop further as they travel through the subcutaneous tissue in the cat’s body. At about 3-4 months, they usually settle into the arteries and blood vessels of the lungs, where they continue to develop to sexual mature male and female worms (Dirofilaria immitis). The average time from when the microscopic parasites enter the host until the females develop into mature worms and produce offspring is approximately eight months and is referred to as the prepatent period. This is about one month longer than in dogs.

As adults, the heartworms can mate and the females can release offspring called microfilariae (pronounced: micro-fil-ar-ee-a) into the blood stream. The cycle begins again when a mosquito takes a blood meal from the newly infected cat and draws the microfilariae into its system.

Cats are resistant hosts of heartworms, and microfilaremia, (the presence of heartworm offspring in the blood of the host animal), is uncommon (usually less than 20% of cases). When present, microfilaremia is inconsistent and short-lived. Some cats appear to be able to rid themselves of the infection spontaneously. It is assumed that such cats may have developed a strong immune response to the heartworms, which causes the death of the parasites. These heartworms may die as a result of an inability to thrive within a given cat’s body.

Cats typically have fewer and smaller worms than dogs and the life span of worms is shorter, approximately two to three years, compared to five to seven years in dogs. In experimental infections of heartworm larvae in cats, the percentage of worms developing into the adult stage is low (0% to 25%) compared to dogs (40% to 90%).

However, heartworms do not need to develop into adults to cause significant pulmonary damage in cats, and consequences can still be very serious when cats are infected by mosquitoes carrying heartworm larvae. Newly arriving worms and the subsequent death of most of these same worms can result in acute pulmonary inflammation response and lung injury. This initial phase is often misdiagnosed as asthma or allergic bronchitis but in actuality is part of a syndrome now known as Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease (HARD).

Which Cats Are Susceptible?Although outdoor cats are at greater risk of being infected, a relatively high percentage of cats considered by their owners to be totally indoor pets also become infected. Overall, the distribution of feline heartworm infection in the United States seems to parallel that of dogs but with lower total numbers. There is no predictable age in cats for becoming infected with heartworms. Cases have been reported in cats from nine months to 17 years of age, the average being four years at diagnosis or death.

Clinical SignsThe clinical signs of heartworm infection in cats can be very non-specific, and may mimic many other feline diseases. Diagnosis by clinical signs alone is nearly impossible, but a cat may exhibit generic signs of illness, such as vomiting intermittently (food or foam, usually unrelated to eating), lethargy, anorexia (lack of appetite), weight loss, coughing, asthma-like signs (intermittent difficulty in breathing, panting, open-mouthed breathing), gagging, difficulty breathing (dyspnea) or rapid breathing (tachypnea).

Signs associated the first stage of heartworm disease, when the heartworms enter a blood vessel and are carried to the pulmonary arteries, are often misdiagnosed as asthma or allergic bronchitis, when in fact they are actually due to a syndrome newly defined as Heartworm Associated R espiratory Disease (HARD).

Some cats exhibit acute clinical signs, with disease often related to the organs where the adult heartworms are thriving. Occasionally such infected cats die quickly without allowing sufficient time to make a diagnosis or offer appropriate treatment.

Clinical Signs Associated with Feline Heartworm Disease
Acute Chronic
collapse coughing
dyspnea vomiting
convulsions dyspnea
diarrhea/vomiting lethargy
blindness anorexia
tachycardia weight loss
syncope chylothorax
sudden death

Diagnosis
Heartworm infection in cats is harder to diagnose than it is in dogs and it is easy to overlook. Diagnostic tests have limitations, so negative test results do not necessarily rule out an infection. Antigen tests, for example, only detect adult female or dying male worms. Immature or male-only worm infections are rarely detected.

The diagnostic plan for heartworm disease in cats can include, but is not limited to, a physical examination, radiography (X-ray), echocardiography (ultrasound readings of the heart), angiocardiography (X-ray of the heart with injected contrast fluid), CBC (complete blood count), serologic testing (antigen and antibody study), microfilaria testing, and necropsy (after death).

Physical Examination
The results of a physical examination may appear to be perfectly normal in cats infected with heartworms. Harsh lung sounds are a frequent abnormal finding and may be present in cats without any respiratory signs. The presence of a heart murmur or abnormal rhythm is uncommon. Only rarely, have there been reports of ascites (fluid in the abdomen), exercise intolerance and signs of right-sided heart failure. In cats, the primary response to the presence of heartworms occurs in the lungs.

Imaging
X-rays
In X-rays of cats, enlargement of the main trunk of the pulmonary artery, blunting and tortuosity (twists) of pulmonary arteries are not as common as in dogs. Typically, the pulmonary arteries are enlarged with ill-defined margins, most prominent in the lower lobes of the lungs. X-ray imaging is generally considered the single most useful test for confirming a diagnosis and for developing a prognosis (outlook for recovery).

Echocardiography
Ultrasonography or echocardiography (noninvasive sound readings for visualizing areas within the body) can be useful for identifying heartworms in the heart, main pulmonary artery and close portions of its right and left branches. However, it is virtually impossible to visualize the extremities of the pulmonary arteries where heartworms, particularly young worms, are frequently found in cats. Visualization of heartworms by ultrasonography gives a definitive diagnosis of infection.

Angiocardiography
A non-specific angiocardiogram (X-ray after a contrasting fluid is introduced) is a relatively simple method of confirming a tentative diagnosis of heartworms. However, this catheterization method is not widely used due to its invasive nature.

Blood counts
The complete blood count (CBC) from cats with heartworm infection may demonstrate anemia, nucleated erythrocytes (immature red blood cells), eosinophilia (increase number of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell) and basophilia (increase number of basophils, a type of white blood cell). The absence of eosinophils does not rule out a diagnosis of feline heartworm infection, because eosinophils are usually present in circulation inconsistently, occurring four to seven months after infection and intermittently thereafter. The presence of basophilia increases the suspicion of heartworm disease.

Microfilaria testing
Routine tests for microfilariae are not generally useful for identifying heartworm infection in cats. Microfilaremia is temporary in the cat because none are present when heartworms are in the immature adult stages. Microfilaria are also not present in a single sex infections or in obscure cases where the microfilariae are removed from circulation by antibodies produced by the host. In those instances, a negative test result does not rule out feline heartworm infection. However, if circulating microfilariae are found, it becomes an absolute confirmation that heartworm disease is present. No other types of circulating microfilariae, confusing the diagnosis, are found in cats in the United States.

Serology
Antigen Tests
Antigen tests detect specific antigens primarily found in adult female heartworms and are used routinely with much success to detect canine heartworm infection. Currently, tests are available in clinics, as well as at many veterinary reference laboratories. Several of these tests are approved for use in cats. Most commercial tests will accurately detect infections with one or more mature female heartworms that are at least seven or eight months old, but they generally do not detect infections of less than five months duration. Unfortunately, these highly specific tests lack the sensitivity to identify many infections in cats. They fail to detect infections of immature heartworms, infections with only male heartworms and some infections with only one or two adult female worms. However, when infection with adult female worms actually exists, antigen tests are more reliable than generally credited.

Antibody Tests
Antibody detection tests detect the body’s immune response to heartworms, and are currently available for routine screening of feline heartworm infection, either as in-clinic tests or at many reference laboratories. Antibody production occurs even if the heartworms do not complete their development. Antibody-positive cats are either currently infected or have been infected previously with Dirofilaria immitis. Such cats may or may not show clinical signs compatible with the disease, depending upon the age of the infection, the stage of the disease and whether or not the cat has spontaneously rid itself of the parasites. Therefore a positive antibody test may only indicate a previous infection with Dirofilaria immitis antigens , and not necessarily an existing heartworm infection. Antibody detection tests are only as specific as the antigen used to detect antibody. The use of a purified, recombinant (genetically engineered) heartworm antigen leads to improved test results.

Since both L5 larvae and adult worms are capable of causing clinical disease in the cat, both antibody and antigen test are useful tools and when used together increase the probability of making appropriate diagnostic decisions.

Comparison of Antigen and Antibody Tests for Cats
Antigen tests Antibody tests
Specificity Virtually 100% Virtually 100%
Age of infection when first detected Approximately seven to eight months As early as 50-60 days
Test detects Adult female heartworm antigens Antibodies to specific heartworm antigen
Detects only male heartworm infections No Yes
Useful as an initial screening test Yes, when looking for adult infections Yes, when looking for immature infections
Detects infections with small adult heartworm burdens Only if older female heartworms are present Yes
Useful to estimate infection prevalence in a region No, it underestimates prevalence Yes, a positive test indicates the cat was successfully infected at some point
‘Positive’ confirms presence of heartworms * Yes No
‘Negative’ confirms absence of heartworms ** No Yes, with approximately 50-90% accuracy
* A positive antigen test is indicative of worms in the heart. It is possible that a cat could clear the infection and circulating antigen would remain detectable for weeks after clearance. A positive antibody test indicates the cat has been infected and does not mean an adult worm is always present in the heart. Antibody probably remains elevated for weeks or months after clearance. ** Antigen tests are not sensitive enough to consider a negative as indicative of absence of heartworms. Current research indicates antibody test have a 25% (50-90%) false negative rate.

Treatments
Currently, there are no products in the United States approved for the treatment of feline heartworm infection. Most cats with heartworm infection that are not demonstrating clinical signs are allowed the time for a spontaneous cure to occur. If there is evidence of disease in the lungs and their blood vessels consistent with feline heartworm infection, such cases (possibly in the early stage) can be monitored with chest X-rays every six to twelve months as needed. Supportive therapy with small, gradually decreasing doses of prednisone (a cortisone-like drug) is recommended for cats with radiographic or clinical evidence of lung disease.

Cats with severe manifestations of feline heartworm disease may require additional supportive therapy, and may benefit from intravenous fluids, oxygen therapy, cage confinement, bronchodilators (which expand the air passages of the lungs), cardiovascular drugs, antibiotics and nursing care.

Heartworm extraction with various surgical devices has been performed in cats in which the worms can be visualized with ultrasound at the tricuspid valve or in the right atrium (of the heart), and especially in those rare instances of caval syndrome (obstruction of blood flow affecting the heart and the liver.

Preventives
It is generally recommended that all cats be tested for both antigens and antibodies (serology) prior to administration of a heartworm preventive. There are four heartworm disease preventive products approved by the FDA for use in cats, Heartgard® for Cats (Ivermectin, orally) from Merial, Interceptor® (Milbemycin oxime, orally) from Novartis, Revolution® (Selemectin, topically) from Pfizer and Advantage Multi™ for Cats (Moxidectin / imidacloprid, topically) from Bayer. All of these products are considered effective in preventing the development of adult heartworms when administered properly on a monthly basis relative to the period of transmission.

New Pet food Recall

Posted on 04/07/2012 by hahlogin

http://www.fox43.com/news/wpmt-diamond-pet-foods-recall-dry-dog-food,0,410852.story

Heartworm Disease in the United States

Posted on 04/02/2012 by hahlogin

http://www.heartwormsociety.org/

<br />
Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition caused by parasitic worms living in the arteries of the lungs and occasionally in the right side of the heart of dogs, cats and other species of mammals, including wolves, foxes, ferrets, sea lions and (in rare instances) humans. Heartworms are classified as nematodes (roundworms) and are filarids, one of many species of roundworms. Dogs and cats of any age or breed are susceptible to infection. Learn more…

Where is Heartworm Disease?
Heartworm disease has been reported in all 50 states. The map below shows particularly endemic areas based on the number of cases reported by clinics.
History
The first published description of heartworm in dogs in the United States appeared more than 100 years ago in an issue of “The Western Journal of Medicine and Surgery.”1 Heartworm in cats was first described in the early 1920′s.2, 3

Since then, naturally acquired heartworm infection in cats and dogs is identified as a worldwide clinical problem. Despite improved diagnostic methods, effective preventives and increasing awareness among veterinary professionals and pet owners, cases of heartworm infection continue to appear in pets around the world.

1 Osborne, TC. Worms found in the Heart and Bloodvessels of a Dog; Symptoms of Hydrophobia. The Western Journal of Medicine and Surgery, 1847.
2 Riley, WA. Dirofilaria immitis in the heart of a cat. J Parasitol 1922;9:48
3 Travassos, LP. Notas Helminthologicas. Brazil-Med. An. 1921;35 2(6):67

How Heartworm Happens: The Life Cycle
First, adult female heartworms release their young, called microfilariae, into an animal’s bloodstream. Then, mosquitoes become infected with microfilariae while taking blood meal from the infected animal. During the next 10 to 14 days, the microfilariae mature to the infective larval stage within the mosquito. After that, the mosquito bites another dog, cat or other susceptible animal, and the infective larvae enter through the bite wound. It then takes a little over 6 months for the infective larvae to mature into adult worms. In dogs, the worms may live for up to 7 years. Microfilariae cannot mature into adult heartworms without first passing through a mosquito.

What Are the Signs of Heartworm Disease?
For both dogs and cats, clinical signs of heartworm disease may not be recognized in the early stages, as the number of heartworms in an animal tends to accumulate gradually over a period of months and sometimes years and after repeated mosquito bites.

Recently infected dogs may exhibit no signs of the disease, while heavily infected dogs may eventually show clinical signs, including a mild, persistent cough, reluctance to move or exercise, fatigue after only moderate exercise, reduced appetite and weight loss.

Cats may exhibit clinical signs that are very non-specific, mimicking many other feline diseases. Chronic clinical signs include vomiting, gagging, difficulty or rapid breathing, lethargy and weight loss. Signs associated with the first stage of heartworm disease, when the heartworms enter a blood vessel and are carried to the pulmonary arteries, are often mistaken for feline asthma or allergic bronchitis, when in fact they are actually due to a syndrome newly defined as Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease (HARD).

How Do You Detect Heartworm Disease?Heartworm infection in apparently healthy animals is usually detected with blood tests for a heartworm substance called an “antigen” or microfilariae, although neither test is consistently positive until about seven months after infection has occurred.

Heartworm infection may also occasionally be detected through ultrasound and/or x-ray images of the heart and lungs, although these tests are usually used in animals already known to be infected.

Prevention
Because heartworm disease is preventable, the AHS recommends that pet owners take steps now to talk to their veterinarian about how to best protect their pets from this dangerous disease. Heartworm prevention is safe, easy and inexpensive. While treatment for heartworm disease in dogs is possible, it is a complicated and expensive process, taking weeks for infected animals to recover. There is no effective treatment for heartworm disease in cats, so it is imperative that disease prevention measures be taken for cats.

There are a variety of options for preventing heartworm infection in both dogs and cats, including daily and monthly tablets and chewables, monthly topicals and a six-month injectable product available only for dogs. All of these methods are extremely effective, and when administered properly on a timely schedule, heartworm infection can be completely prevented. These medications interrupt heartworm development before adult worms reach the lungs and cause disease.

It is your responsibility to faithfully maintain the prevention program you have selected in consultation with your veterinarian.
Please call us at 585-334-3800 for more information on protecting your cat and dog against this fatal disease.

Losing Your Pet

Posted on 01/29/2012 by hahlogin

This article is directly from Cornell Unviversity College of Veterinary Medicine. Although concise it covers basic questions that plague many caretakers when tough decisions are on the horizon.

Pet Loss Support Hotline – Resources for Grieving
Frequently Asked Questions
607-253-3932

As we receive your comments and suggestions to the site, there are questions which have come up several times. We want very much to continue to hear from you and to respond to your individual questions. Below, however, please find responses to questions that have come up several times already.

Question

When is a good time to think about getting another pet? Am I dishonoring the memory of my deceased animal by replacing it with another one?

Answer

Perhaps the best answer to that question is that there is no “correct” time to get another animal. What is disturbing to many pet owners is the pressure from concerned friends to fill the empty place in their home and life as quickly as possible, to “get over it” and find a new pet.

The timetable of an individual’s recovery from loss is intrinsic to the person themselves and their relationship with their pet; some feel that they can and should get another as soon as possible, perhaps they were waiting through some illness to get a new young animal in the house. If so, this was done out of love and courtesy to the previous pet, and the joy that a new puppy or kitten can bring should not be tinged with guilt for having done so quickly. For others, years can pass before the time feels right to get a new animal. The place occupied by that pet was so large, and the loss so overwhelming, that finding emotional space for another is not possible.

When considering getting a new animal, be sure that you are prepared for the time and emotions needed to be given to this new pet. No animal could ever hope to replace the special relationship that was shared with a former animal, expecting this would be cruel to the new animal, as it is simply unrealistic. However, every animal, like every person, brings all of their uniqueness to a new owner. Going to pet shops and shelters, looking around and waiting for an animal to strike your fancy may be the best way to go about acquiring a new pet. If this makes you uncomfortable, or brings up too many bad memories, it is ok to stop and wait. When the time is right, you will know, and a new animal will find you.

Question

I have another animal, and they’ve been acting strangely since the death of my animal. What are the signs of animal grief, and how can I help?

Answer

Here is a short list of things to look for in an animal that is grieving:

Anxiety, restlessness or a need to stay by the owner
Changes in eating, drinking, sleeping or exercise habits
Depression, heavy sighing or disinterest in usual activities
Destructive behavior
High-pitched distress vocalization (especially in young animals)
Housesoiling
Searching the yard, house, and other familiar areas for the animal that has died

The best way to help your animal through this time, which seems to be as difficult for them as it is for us, if not sometimes more so, is simply to give them time, and allow them to grieve with you. It may be helpful for you as well as for your pet to spend time together talking about, or silently remembering the one who has passed on. Trying to spend extra time and attention with your animal will be good for you as well as for them, playing special games with them, giving them special treats, etc.

In cases of severe grieving, when an animal stops eating, cries incessantly, self-mutilates (cats especially), or seems especially anxious, your veterinarian may be able to suggest medication to relieve the anxiety associated with the loss.

What is a Puppy Mill?

Posted on 01/17/2012 by hahlogin

The link below will take you to an expose by Life Magazine @1965. The wrote about “concentration camps for dogs”..later to be dubbed puppy mills.
The black and white image of this dog never left my mind. I wrote to our then Senator Robert kennedy to request federal legislation to ban this industry. 40 years have passed and nothing has changed. Puppy mills are major “crop” industries..initally prmarily in the Midwest..they are rampant in almost every state .

http://books.google.com/books?id=JkwEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA1&pg=PA22#v=twopage&q&f=true

What Is a Puppy Mill?
A puppy mill is a large-scale commercial dog breeding operation where profit is given priority over the well-being of the dogs. Unlike responsible breeders, who place the utmost importance on producing the healthiest puppies possible, breeding at puppy mills is performed without consideration of genetic quality. This results in generations of dogs with unchecked hereditary defects.
Puppy mill puppies are typically sold to pet shops—usually through a broker, or middleman—and marketed. The lineage records of puppy mill dogs are often falsified.
What Problems Are Common to Puppy Mill Dogs?
Illness, disease, fearful behavior and lack of socialization with humans and other animals are common characteristics of dogs from puppy mills. Because puppy mill operators fail to apply proper husbandry practices that would remove sick dogs from their breeding pools, puppies from puppy mills are prone to congenital and hereditary conditions. These can include:
Epilepsy
Heart disease
Kidney disease
Musculoskeletal disorders (hip dysplasia, luxating patellas, etc.)
Endocrine disorders (diabetes, hyperthyroidism)
Blood disorders (anemia, Von Willebrand disease)
Deafness
Eye problems (cataracts, glaucoma, progressive retinal atrophy, etc.)
Respiratory disorders
On top of that, puppies often arrive in pet stores—and their new homes—with diseases or infirmities. These can include:
Giardia
Parvovirus
Distemper
Upper respiratory infections
Kennel cough
Pneumonia
Mange
Fleas
Ticks
Intestinal parasites
Heartworm
Chronic diarrhea
How Are Animals Treated at Puppy Mills?
Puppy mills usually house dogs in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, without adequate veterinary care, food, water and socialization. Puppy mill dogs do not get to experience treats, toys, exercise or basic grooming. To minimize waste cleanup, dogs are often kept in cages with wire flooring that injures their paws and legs—and it is not unusual for cages to be stacked up in columns. Breeder dogs at mills might spend their entire lives outdoors, exposed to the elements—or crammed inside filthy structures where they never get the chance to feel the sun or a gust of fresh air on their faces.
How Often Are Dogs Bred in Puppy Mills?
In order to maximize profits, female dogs are bred at every opportunity with little to no recovery time between litters. When, after a few years, they are physically depleted to the point that they no longer can reproduce, breeding females are often killed. The mom and dad of the puppy in the pet store window are unlikely to make it out of the mill alive—and neither will the many puppies born with overt physical problems that make them unsalable to pet stores.
When and Why Did Puppy Mills Begin?
Puppy mills began sprouting up after World War II. In response to widespread crop failures in the Midwest, the United States Department of Agriculture began promoting purebred puppies as a fool-proof “cash” crop. It is easy to see why this might have appealed to farmers facing hard times—breeding dogs does not require the intense physical labor that it takes to produce edible crops, nor are dogs as vulnerable to unfavorable weather. Chicken coops and rabbit hutches were repurposed for dogs, and the retail pet industry—pet stores large and small—boomed with the increasing supply of puppies from the new “mills.” Today, Missouri is considered the largest puppy mill state in the country.
Seeking a puppy supply source on the East Coast, puppy brokers—the middlemen who deliver the dogs from mills to pet stores—convinced many of Pennsylvania’s Amish farmers in the 1970s that puppies were the cash crop of the future. Brokers conducted seminars to teach farmers how to operate their own breeding facilities. Thirty years later, Lancaster County, PA, has the highest concentration of puppy mills of any county in the nation and has earned the dubious nickname of “Puppy Mill Capital of the East.”
How Can I Help Fight Puppy Mills?
There are many ways you can fight puppy mills, starting with refusing to patronize the stores and websites that sell their dogs.
Do not buy a puppy from a pet store—in fact, do not buy a puppy from any place that does not allow you to see its entire facility and meet the mother dog. This includes websites that sell pets online. Anyone can put up a great-looking website boasting the highest standards of breeding and care, but you really have no way of knowing if such businesses are what they claim. Truly responsible breeders want to meet you before selling you one of their prized pups to be sure that he or she is going to a good home. Read more about online scams here.

You can also take a more active role in fighting puppy mills by working with the ASPCA to pass legislation that ensures that all animals bred to be pets are raised in healthy conditions. Stay up-to-date about current legislation to ban puppy mills by joining the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade . Please also read our Ten Ways You Can Help Fight Puppy Mills .

Canine Influenza update for 2012

Posted on 01/15/2012 by hahlogin

Spike in dog-flu reports attracts media attention

December 22, 2011
By: Edie Lau
For The VIN News Service

An uptick in reports of canine influenza cases in the northeastern United States and Texas has captured the attention of media during what has been so far a quiet flu season in people.

The extent of the “outbreaks” and whether widespread public concern is warranted is unclear, because no central agency or institution monitors influenza in dogs. The virus doesn’t cause illness in humans and generally is not considered serious in otherwise healthy dogs unless it leads to secondary infection.

News outlets including the Wall Street Journal and WCVB-TV in Boston reported this week cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Colorado and Texas.

Dr. Edward Dubovi, director of the virology laboratory at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Health Diagnostic Center, confirmed that he’s seen a spike in positive canine influenza test results on samples taken from dogs in New York City and environs: southern New York, Long Island, northern New Jersey and southern Connecticut.

While his laboratory has seen a distinct increase in positive results, Dubovi said that doesn’t necessarily mean dog flu is circulating more vigorously in greater New York City than before. Dubovi said that New York, as well as Colorado, are enzootic for dog flu, meaning the virus appears in those regions regularly.

“Our data says it’s more this year (in New York) than in a while, but we may not have gotten samples last year,” Dubovi said.

He did not have precise figures on how many positive cases the Cornell lab has detected recently but said the total is several dozen, compared with fewer than five in 2010.

Dubovi noted that the increased detection might be the result of heightened awareness and vigilance rather than a real rise in infections. Because no central database exists for canine influenza, information on national disease incidence often is “done off rumor,” he said.

As for activity outside the New York City area, Dubovi said his lab confirmed cases in several dogs from a kennel in the vicinity of San Antonio, Texas, six to eight weeks ago. He did not know whether the outbreak had spread beyond the single kennel.

Dr. Alice Wolf, a professor emerita at Texas A&M University and a specialist in small-animal internal medicine with an interest in infectious disease, said she, too, had not heard of additional recent cases.

News reports of spreading canine influenza in Texas are circulating nonetheless. An NBC-affiliated news website covering Dallas and Fort Worth reported Wednesday that a local veterinarian, citing cases in the region, is requiring her clients to have their dogs vaccinated. The veterinarian, Dr. Karen Spikes, did not return a call today from the VIN News Service.

As for Massachusetts, the VIN News Service was unable to obtain information about dog flu cases in that state.

Dr. Gabriele Landolt, a researcher at Colorado State University studying the prevalence of canine influenza virus in dogs at shelters in California, Colorado, Florida, New York, South Carolina and Texas, said small outbreaks occur periodically in the Colorado shelter, but she has not heard of a surge in cases in the general population. A spokeswoman in the Colorado Department of Agriculture likewise said the state has received no reports of a jump in dog-flu cases.

Among the states in the shelter-population research, which is funded by the Morris Animal Foundation, Landolt said the virus is most prevalent in Colorado and New York.

Across the United States, canine influenza has been documented in 38 states since the virus first was identified in 2004, according to the website www.doginfluenza.com, which is maintained by Merck Animal Health, maker of one of two canine influenza vaccines on the market.

The Wall Street Journal report cited Merck as the source of information that the virus had been detected in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Colorado and Texas and under investigation in California. The VIN News Service was unable today to reach spokespersons from Merck for comment.

Canine flu first was reported among racing greyhounds in Florida. Up to that point, dogs weren’t known to be susceptible to any influenza virus.

Clinical signs of flu in dogs are similar to those in people: runny nose, cough and fever. Without laboratory diagnostics, canine flu is difficult to distinguish from other respiratory infections, Dubovi said.

The availability of the first canine influenza vaccine in 2009 raised questions among veterinarians across the country about the threat of dog flu and the value of immunizing pets against the virus. Interest in the vaccine appeared high among pet owners, probably because a human flu pandemic occurring at the time was caused by a virus that had transmitted from people to a house cat and ferrets.

By contrast, the big flu story at the moment is the reported spike in dog flu; human influenza has been mild so far this season, judging from the latest surveillance report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Boston’s WCVB-TV, in a brief segment on dog flu posted to its website Wednesday, reported that the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) now is recommending the flu vaccine be given to dogs that regularly are boarded, attend day care or travel. But contrary to the report, officials at the AVMA told the VIN News Service today that the association’s position has not changed since 2009, when it deemed the immunization to be a “lifestyle” vaccine not recommended for every dog.

Its statement on the subject advises: “Dog owners should consult with their veterinarian to determine whether their dog’s lifestyle includes risks for exposure to the (canine influenza) virus and if the vaccine is appropriate for their dog.”

In general, veterinary infectious disease and immunization experts recommended the canine influenza shot only for dogs that come into regular contact with other dogs — show dogs and racing dogs in particular, and pets that frequent dog parks or are kept in day care or boarding kennels in areas where outbreaks are occurring.

Wolf, the small-animal internal medicine specialist in Texas, said the advice given to most human patients to receive a flu shot annually does not apply to dogs because they usually do not mingle with other dogs to the extent that people mix with other people.

“Most dogs I know do not travel extensively in the company of hundreds of other dogs from all over the U.S. nor work eight hours a day in a closed environment with hundreds of other dogs from all over a local area,” Wolf said. “Few ride buses with other dogs, go to school or work in hospitals.”

Memorial Art Gallery Hires Animal Abuser for New Sculpture

Posted on 10/02/2011 by hahlogin

Help petition the hiring of the memorial art gallery’s newest artist Tom Otterness who 20 years ago shot a dog and video taped it as what he thought to be ‘art’. Sign this online petition. Rochester, don’t let this man be a part of our artistic community.

Sign the petition
  https://www.change.org/petitions/memorial-art-gallery-fire-artist-and-sculptor-tom-otterness

Or, join our Facebook Page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rochesterians-Against-Tom-Otterness/172876442795619

Choosing a Pet for My Child

Posted on 09/25/2011 by hahlogin

From the ASPCA.

The Right Pet for Your Child’s Age

Thinking of adding a pet to the family? Make sure you’re bringing home an animal who is appropriate for your child’s age.
Infants
Infants cannot handle or take care of pets. So, if you already have a family pet when your child is born—or if you adopted soon after—make sure to formally introduce your infant to your pet. Supervise them as they get to know each other, gradually increasing the length of time they spend together.
Toddlers
Toddlers are curious and will pull at an animal’s fur, limbs and ears in an attempt to make contact through touching. Make sure that the pet you’ve adopted can handle being touched in this way. As your pet and child spend time together (always under your supervision!), take great care that your child doesn’t hurt your pet by grabbing. Also be sure that your child doesn’t grab your pet’s food and water dishes, your cat’s litterbox or its contents. If you have fish, keep small hands away from aquarium wires and out of aquariums!
3-5 Years
At this age, your child is learning about contact and empathy. ASPCA experts recommend a guinea pig for a pet. Guinea pigs like to be held, seldom bite and will whistle when excited or happy, to the delight of most kids. Your child can also help with responsibilities by filling the water bottle and food dish.
5-10 Years
Kids this age have inconsistent attention spans and are best off with small pets such as gerbils and goldfish. Supervise them during play sessions and while they do chores such as cleaning cages, filling water bottles and bowls, measuring food and scrubbing cage furniture and toys. This is a good time to develop good hygiene habits around pets with an emphasis on washing hands and surfaces when done handling or playing.
10-13 Years
Kids in their early teens have a great interest in animals and a good capacity for responsibility. They are ready for pets such as dogs, cats and rabbits and can handle feeding and walking the pet, cleaning the cat’s litter and cleaning out the rabbit’s cage. Although kids in this age group can be reliable, adults should always check that pets have adequate food and water and that the cage or litterbox is clean. Kids can also participate in dog training classes, which can be an excellent learning opportunity for them.
14-17 Years
Teens tend to be very busy, and animals will have to compete for their time and attention. Recommended pets are birds and aquarium fish. They’re old enough to take on all of the responsibilities of caring for their pet, with adult supervision and guidance. They may even spend their allowance on treats. Parents should note that dogs and cats acquired at this time will probably stay in the home when the child leaves for college.

Pet Hospice is an option for many patients

Posted on 09/25/2011 by hahlogin

Veterinary Hospice is about facilitating healthy living and graceful aging for the animals who enhance our lives.
Traditional veterinary medicine does little to accommodate pets that are coming to the end of their lives. The decision to euthanize one’s companion is never easy.
We provide a hospice unit at the Henrietta Animal Hospital. Our goals are simple; we want to be able to counsel our clients about their pet’s overall medical condition and long term prognosis, review the options and determine what needs can or cannot be met for the patient.
We target pain control, nutrition, hygiene, and hydration while the owners can take time to assess their options. Companions are almost always sent home in the evening where they can be surrounded by their family.

Animal Cruelty

Posted on 09/23/2011 by hahlogin

From the ASPCA Bulletin
Cruelty Alert: Dogs in Pickup Trucks

A few years ago, Julien Roohani of Portland, Oregon, was at work when her roommates spontaneously decided to go on a hike. Not wanting to exclude Julien’s six-month-old Shepherd/Border Collie mix, Niña, they threw her into the back of their pickup truck and set off for an adventure.

Niña had never been in a truck bed before. Whether she was scared or just spotted something of interest, she managed to jump out during the drive. Panicking, the roommates called Julien, who rushed Niña to an emergency veterinary clinic where she was diagnosed with a broken spine and other severe injuries. Julien had no choice but to allow her young pup to be humanely euthanized.

Unfortunately, stories like Niña’s are all too common. It is never safe to drive with an unrestrained pet—especially with that pet in an open truck bed.

“When you drive with a loose dog in the back of your truck, you’re taking a huge risk and placing your dog and other motorists in danger,” says Chuck Mai, a vice president with AAA Oklahoma. “Even if a dog is trained, we’re talking about an animal who responds to stimuli on impulse. This irresponsible decision can start a deadly chain reaction on the road.”

Is It Legal?
Transporting unrestrained dogs in low-sided truck beds has been banned in a handful of states, including California and New Hampshire, and municipalities including Indianapolis, Cheyenne and Miami-Dade. However, in the vast majority of jurisdictions, it’s not even illegal to transport children in this manner, so we must rely on common sense and education to protect children and pets alike.

How You Can Help
One can feel terribly helpless witnessing a loose dog in a pickup truck. The best course of action is to try to get the vehicle’s license number (if you can do so while remaining safe) and call the local police. Rather than dialing 911, Jill Buckley, ASPCA Senior Director of Government Relations, suggests storing your police precinct’s phone number in your cell phone.

Contact Us

585-334-3800

3156 East Henrietta Road
Henrietta, NY 14467

Henrietta Animal Hospital