Spring is the Time for Leptospirosis

By Amy Rader, DVM, Residency Trained, American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care

 

Spring is the season when we see an increase in certain infectious diseases. There are several reasons for this phenomenon. First our pets our outside playing and we are taking them on weekend excursions so they have more exposure to potential infections. Second, with warmer weather, bacteria, viruses and parasites live longer in the environment. And, the third reason is that vectors (parasites like ticks and fleas, and wildlife like raccoons, opossums, foxes and skunks) are more active in our environments.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that can cause severe illness in our pets (dogs, horses, cows) and it can cause severe illness in people. Cats are more resistant to the infection so they rarely show any signs of illness. Dogs on the other hand, can become severely ill and some dogs die from this infection. Depending on the type (strain) of the bacteria it can cause kidney failure, liver failure, bleeding, and spontaneous abortions.

The leptospirosis bacteria are transmitted through the urine of infected animals.  Wildlife (opossums, raccoons, coyotes, foxes) can all be infected and spread the bacteria. When the soil is wet or there is standing water, the bacteria can live in the environment for several days. This allows the bacteria to still be present and infective when your pet walks through a wet area or when they drink from a puddle of standing water.  Once your pet ingests the bacteria it can replicate in the kidneys and liver causing inflammation in these organs leading to organ damage and failure.

The clinical signs that you will see are: lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and possibly yellowing of the skin or mucous membranes.  It is very important that this disease be diagnosed and treated aggressively very early on. Delays in treatment can lead to permanent damage to the kidneys, liver and / or the death of the pet.

Treatment includes intravenous fluids to replace fluid losses from the vomiting and diarrhea, nutritional support since pets are not eating, and antibiotics that are effective against this bacteria. Most pets are in the hospital for 1-2 weeks while they are being treated.  Special precautions have to be taken while the pet is in the hospital to prevent transmission of the infection to people.

Leptospirosis can be difficult to definitively diagnose. You can help decrease your pets risk of infection by keeping your pet away from standing water. This includes ornamental ponds and fountains that we may have in our yards. Replace any bowls of water that are left outside with fresh water every morning. Wild life are more active in the evenings and early morning, they will use our pets water bowls and our ornamental ponds as a water source.  Discuss vaccination against leptospirosis with your primary veterinarian. This vaccine is not 100% protective but it may help boost a dogs immune system if they are at higher risk of being exposed to the bacteria.

If you pet shows any signs of illness, please seek medical attention for your pet as soon as possible. The earlier any illness is treated the better the outcome for your pet.

Just Old Age or Something More Serious?

By:  Rebecca Ball, DVM, MS, DACVS-SA

 

As spring time and warmer weather return, you may notice your older dog breathing heavier and not being able to play as long as he once had.  Many pet owners attribute this to aging, but heavy breathing and exercise intolerance are not always just due to old age.  

Laryngeal paralysis is a disorder of geriatric large breed dogs where the larynx (the opening to the trachea or breathing tube) is not able to open as it should when the dog inhales.  This is due to a failure of the recurrent laryngeal nerve that innervates the muscles of the larynx.  As a result, the airway remains closed and dogs are not able to get enough air into their lungs when they inhale.  Clinical signs include loud breathing and panting, a change in bark, a dusky bluish color to the mucous membranes when exerted and in severe cases or in a crisis, collapse and potentially death. 

 

 The cause of laryngeal paralysis is not fully known, but may be part of a generalized neuromuscular disorder.  Patients should be evaluated for underlying causes such as a low thyroid level, masses in the neck or chest or other neurologic disease. 

Treatment of this disorder typically involves surgery to pull one side of the Laryngeal paralysis  open and hold it in an open position called a laryngeal “tie-back” procedure.  Possible complications postoperatively include aspiration pneumonia (due to food or water getting into the lungs) or failure of the suture holding the larynx open leading to a recurrence of clinical signs.  Aspiration pneumonia is treated with antibiotics and dogs can recover quickly if diagnosed early. 

If you feel your dog is showing signs of laryngeal paralysis, talk to your family veterinarian about a consultation with one of our surgeons.

 

 

Visiting Varmints, Control, and Unintended Consequences

Over the last decade, our Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been delving into the safety and control of commercial rodenticides (mouse and rat poison).  Now they have begun banning many of those products for ‘do-it-yourselfers’ in an attempt to reduce the risk of accidental exposure to children and pets.  But, before we breathe a sigh of relief, let’s review what was and what will be available after the EPA is finished with their good intentions. 
Traditionally, mouse and rat control products available at your local store came in the form of pellets in a small container. You could open the container to expose the pellets and the little critters would come to feed.  The pellets were easily accessible and were often carried back to the nest.  These pellets contain anticoagulants that, when ingested at toxic levels, will cause the animal to bleed internally to death.

The bad news – exposure to pets and children can produce the same results if not treated promptly.

The good news – Treatment to combat the affect of these household rodenticides is decontamination (vomiting, activated charcoal to limit absorption of the toxin) and then a regimen of Vitamin K to combat the anticoagulant. Even in cases where discovery is delayed and internal bleeding has begun, blood transfusions will increase the patients clotting factors.  The pellets often have bright food coloring that can alert a parent or pet owner to a possible ingestion, the anticoagulant is relatively slow acting, and the prognosis for a complete recovery is very good.    

The items now available over-the-counter for consumers contain different chemicals that, depending on which is used and how much is consumed will, cause seizures or  high blood calcium levels that lead to organ failure. 

The good news – These new traps are self-contained and no poison is exposed.  The rodent walks in, can’t get back out, eats the poison, and dies.  They are ‘technically’ child and pet resistant. 

Hooray for the EPA, right?  Not quite…

The bad news – “Pet resistant” does not mean “Pet proof”.  Our canine friends can, and will, chew these products open and ingest the poison.  Once eaten, there is little that can be done.  There is no test and no antidote!  Immediate treatment with standard decontamination, IV fluids and/or steroids may help in low exposure, but if your pet eats a lot, death is almost certain.

Licensed, regulated pest control companies still have access to the anticoagulant type rodenticides so if you have a chronic or severe infestation, you might want consider that option.  No matter what you choose, vigilance and following instructions can prevent accidents when combating those visiting varmints.  

And remember - there is still the timeless, tried-and-true, method of ‘pest control’…own a cat!  J    

NOTE:  The ASPCA Poison Control Center received 2,271 reported cases of rodenticide exposure in Indiana last year.  Those are just the reported cases; the count is likely much higher because veterinary hospitals typically treat without calling.  The majority of reported poisonings were from the treatable anticoagulant type poison, but as time goes on and these become limited, we will see those percentages change. 

Callie's Care - Remembering the 'Purple Cow'

Callie

We may have thought the 'olden days' where neighbor helped neighbor in times of need were long gone, replaced instead by governmental programs to solve problems for us, fostering apathy in its wake.  Not true, not yet anyway!  Here is a delightful story of a determined pet owner who bypassed traditional solutions to provide for her dog's care, looking instead to her own creativity, and while doing so, brought an entire community along with her:

"After a play session with friends, Callie came away limping and favoring her left leg. Then, just when she seemed to be getting back to normal, she fell down the stairs and couldn't get up. A trip to Dr. Dana Graham at Carter Veterinary Medical Center revealed the unfortunate truth about her injury; she needed a complex, and expensive, surgery. When I found out that Callie had sustained a rupture of her cruciate ligament, I was heartbroken. She is such an active, bouncy girl, who loves long walks and rough-housing with other dogs.

Callie is a rescue. She had a rough start in life, having been neglected, mistreated, and eventually given up. Though many would say I saved her life when I adopted her, I argue that it is she who rescued me with her pure devotion, unconditional love, acceptance, and appreciation.  So, when faced with news that Callie would need a specialized surgery to correct her injury, there was no question in my mind that she would have it. What I had no idea about was how I was going to afford her care. Single and self-employed, I had no clue where I would find the funds to get her back to the quality of life she loves and deserves.

First, I cried. Then, with a month before Callie’s surgeon, Dr. Kate Fitzwater, was available to do her procedure I had time to figure something out! Realizing I had to get creative, I summoned what I'd learned while studying for my degree in public relations, and knew I had a chance. I was going to run a public relations campaign for Callie to raise the money for her care, and it worked!


Callie After Surgery



In four weeks I went from an evening of hand-wringing and crying to organizing and managing three different fundraisers, all entitled "Callie's Care." My combined efforts gathered a small army of supporters, including a handful of key individuals who became very involved and recruited others for monetary and in-kind donations.

My three fundraisers consisted of a page on GiveForward.com for those who simply wanted to donate dollars, a special 'Groupon-style' sale for bodywork or yoga sessions with me, and a benefit dinner and raffle at a favorite locally owned restaurant, Moe and Johnny's, in Broad Ripple. I made sure that everybody was kept in the loop about progress with regular Facebook updates and an email campaign. Callie has a separate bank account in her name and I included photos of her in my outreach whenever possible.



Callie's Get Well Card



I never knew what my little endeavor would generate; I just focused instead on Callie and set the intention that she was going to get what she needed...somehow. I chose to stay positive and I told her story to anyone who would listen, anyone at all. In the process, I've not only raised the funds we needed, but also made new friends and amazing contacts. Moreover, I have experienced firsthand the power within a community and their heartfelt willingness to lend a hand to a neighbor. I still haven't been able to talk about this much without getting teary-eyed, but I'm working on it.




Brigid, Betsy, & Callie at Circle City

I am proud of my friends, their friends, and the local business owners who reached out to help - they are a special lot - each and every one! I am so honored to have had the chance to go to work for my dear Callie. Finally, I am grateful that I had access to the attentive, compassionate, and expert care Callie received at Carter Veterinary Medical Center and Circle City Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital."




*For those of you who have not heard of the term, 'Purple Cow', it's the one who stands out from a crowd of brown ones.  The 'Purple Cow' represents a belief that we can accomplish anything with new ideas and determination. 

Old Sayings Ring True When it Comes to Fluffy’s Care!

Because we, as a society, LOVE good news with easier and more affordable ways to accomplish our tasks, and we have an innate tendency to focus on the positive and believe what we are told, we can be easily persuaded by clever marketing campaigns. The American pet industry is no different. Our pets have transitioned into full fledged family members and we are targeted with new ways to get what we want cheaper and faster.

“Buyer beware!”

There are countless producers of pet products and services, all with the intent of ‘selling’ them to us, and we need to be just as skeptical about those as we are about every other item we purchase.

“You get what you pay for.”

Every service and product in our society has a cost. And, with every product or service, someone makes money. Cheaper just means LESS of something - less product, less service, less skill, less safety...

“Tried and true”

When it comes to your pet’s life long care, your VERY BEST BARGAIN is to develop a long standing relationship with a reputable veterinary hospital and allow licensed veterinary professionals to advise you in all regard.

Our furry friends are solely dependent upon us to make the best decisions on their behalf. This is an awesome responsibility so arm yourself with knowledge and seek advice and care from a trusted veterinarian first.

When You Hear Hoofbeats...

A common rule in the practice of medicine is, “When you hear hoofbeats look for horses, not zebras”. This basically means to look for the most common health problems first and rule them out before doing extensive diagnostics for more uncommon conditions. This is typically a good common sense rule to follow…but then Suzy came along.

Suzy, a beautiful eleven year old Visla mix, presented to Circle City Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital in mid October for sudden onset of severe joint pain. Dr. Rader and her team forged ahead meticulously looking for those ‘horses’. What they found instead was an uncommon and challenging ‘zebra’ named Bartonella, an infectious agent seldom found in Indiana!

Bartonella infections can cause a myriad of clinical signs. In Suzy the infection primarily affected her spinal cord and the big nerve complexes that come off the spinal cord so she had tremendous pain and weakness in both rear legs and her lower back. Even with very strong pain medications she was unable to stand up or walk, and as a result, she suffered significant muscle wasting.

Before her illness Suzy could go for runs with her owner and play with her family. Seeing her in such a depressed state was difficult and not for the faint of heart! Without patience and determination from Suzy’s owner and a ‘can do’ attitude from Dr. Rader and her team, Suzy’s outcome would have been far different.

Suzy’s recovery benefited greatly from physical rehabilitation in the underwater treadmill and therapeutic laser treatments. The laser uses light energy to increase blood flow to the tissues and it directly affects nerves to help turn off the pain and release analgesic endorphins. She enjoyed her treatments so much she would independently shift herself over so that her other side could be treated, making that behavior probably one of the most obvious affirmations that she felt the benefits!

After three months Suzy has recovered from her infection, finished her treatments, her rehabilitation therapy, and is regaining muscle mass and strength. We hope she is back to running with her owner this summer. You will want to watch this video as it takes you through her brave recovery and success.

Footnote: Bartonella is a family of bacteria that infect red blood cells. The bacteria are transmitted from one individual to the next by a vector (blood sucking insect), the most common vector being ticks. Ticks also spread Lyme’s Disease, Ehrlichia, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever to name a few. Bartonella transmission has also been linked to fleas, biting flies, and lice. Dogs, cats, and humans can all be infected by Bartonella, if bitten by an infected flea or tick. Although Bartonella is usually only found in the southern half of the United States, the best way to prevent an infection is by keeping an effective flea and tick preventative on your pets all year long.

The New American Christmas Tradition?



Did someone say presents?

The message in this blog came to us through an email. We have no idea where it began or where it is going, but we like the way this author thinks and thought we would add our own suggestion for those shoppers still looking for great gift ideas this year.  Here is our idea to add to the list:

• How about purchasing gift cards to locally owned full-service family veterinary hospitals? Not only does this help the pet owners on your list, it definitely helps sustain those neighborhood hospitals. This gift can facilitate a life-long relationship with a family veterinarian, which is where the real value lies, making it the best gift for the pets on your list too!

Yes, we really do like this idea of community.  Read this author's thoughts below and happy shopping!

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. 

This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is!

It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?

• Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?
• Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.
• Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.
• Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down the Benjamines on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.
• There are bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.
• How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck, or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?
• Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.
• My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.
• OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.
• Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre.
• Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy, or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

  

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine. THIS can be the new American Christmas tradition.