Chicken Jerky, Is It Safe?

  By dr.schroeder | February 12, 2013 - 4:34 PM |
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Chicken JerkyBefore you feed your dog that treat….

Since 2007, the US FDA has received more than 2500 reports of dogs that became sick after eating jerky-style treats, predominantly chicken jerky made in China. Ongoing investigations have found no identifiable toxins.

Several companies producing chicken treats for dogs recently recalled the products after the New York State Department of Agriculture found trace residues of antibiotics banned for use in poultry. Included in the recall were Nestle-Purina’s Waggin’ Train  and Canyon Creek Ranch dog treats, Del Monte’s Milo’s Kitchen Chicken Jerky and Chicken Grillers treats, and Hartz’s Chicken Chews and Oinkies Pig Skin Twists wrapped with chicken. The antibiotic residues, however, are not believed to be the cause of the illnesses observed in pets.

In a posting about jerky treats, the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine noted that reports of jerky-induced illness varied widely with regard to details linking the illness to the product. Often a significant amount of time had passed between exposure and onset of symptoms, or the pet had other conditions that could have caused the symptoms.   Symptoms reported included vomiting, diarrhea, and kidney disease, most notably a rare form of kidney disease known as Acquired Fanconi Syndrome.

Veterinarians began seeing this unusual form of kidney disease in dogs in 2007,  apparently associated with chicken jerky treat ingestion. (There is a congenital form of the disease in Basenji dogs, but it is very rare.) In 2008, reports came from Australia of a similar problem associated with dogs eating a specific brand of chicken jerky treat. More recently, veterinarians seeing suspected jerky-associated illness are reporting less of the Fanconi Syndrome (loss of glucose, electrolytes, and amino acids in the urine) and more straightforward renal failure.

At this time, the FDA has not detected any contaminants or toxins in the jerky tested, and researchers agree that the antibiotic residues are not to blame for the illnesses. The FDA has not issued a statement regarding the safety of the treats tested, except to say that jerky treats are not a vital part of any pet’s diet. You can read the FDA’s posting here.

My personal recommendation to pet owners is to feed NO chicken or duck jerky product, and no treats of any kind that are made in China (including yam or sweet potato treats, as these have also been reported to cause illness). Be sure to read labels carefully as some products that appear to be made in the USA use chicken or other products sourced in China. And, if you do feed treats, do so in moderation. Your dog might appreciate a belly rub just as much!

Arsenic in Rice

  By dr.schroeder | February 8, 2013 - 11:06 AM |
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Periodic Table showing ArsenicRecently, the FDA published information about inorganic arsenic levels in rice and rice products. As part of an ongoing study, they analyzed arsenic levels in approximately 200 samples of rice and rice-based products available in the US.

The study quantified inorganic arsenic levels, and found an average of 3.5 to 6.7 micrograms of inorganic arsenic per serving of the rice and rice-based foods.  (Organic arsenic, which is found in high concentrations in some sea foods, is much less toxic, and is not currently considered a health risk.)  A summary of the initial 200 sample findings can be found at www.fda.gov  (search “arsenic”).

There is no known US “RDA” of arsenic.  It is a naturally occurring trace element, but with chronic high level exposure it increases the risk of certain cancers and heart disease.  At this point the FDA is investigating arsenic levels, but is not willing to do more than advise that consumers “eat a balanced diet that includes a wide variety of grains – not only for good nutrition but also to minimize any potential consequences from consuming any one particular food”.

 

So what does this mean for our pets?  Should we be concerned about levels of arsenic in pet foods, since many foods contain rice?

According to Sharon Gwaltney-Brant, a veterinary toxicologist, there is no need to worry.  Our domestic pets are highly resistant to the toxic effects of chronic arsenic exposure.  They can be exposed to low  levels of arsenic over long periods with no evidence of toxicity or increased cancer risk.  As for acute exposure, a 20 pound dog would have to eat about 5000 cups of cooked rice to experience a toxic effect, based on the levels found by the FDA.  (Although I know some labradors who might be interested in giving that a try, it is unlikely to be a problem for most pets.)

If people are still worried about arsenic levels in rice, she suggests boiling the rice in twice the usual amount of water, then draining it.  This reduces the arsenic content by about 50 %.  It also drains off a lot of the nutrients.

Should people be concerned about arsenic levels in rice?  Remember the old adage, the dose makes the poison.  In Asian countries where people eat large quantities of rice, arsenic toxicity is a definite problem.  Some experts recommend that individuals eat no more than two cups of cooked rice a week.   If you look on the FDA website, you can also see the arsenic levels they found in other rice-based products, including Fruity Dyno-bites.  The good news is that now you can feel healthy about NOT eating those dry puffed rice cakes.   Or you can feed them to the dog.

Heartworm Disease

  By dr.schroeder | January 11, 2013 - 11:30 AM |
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A heart infected with heartwormHeartworm disease is caused by a parasitic worm (Dirofilaria immitis) that is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. The adult parasite lives in the heart and pulmonary vessels, and can lead to heart and lung failure, kidney disease, and death if untreated.

Heartworms are found worldwide in temperate and tropical climates and in every state of the US. Certain regions (such as the Southern US) have a much higher incidence of the disease, and there may be local “hot spots” of disease, even in low incidence areas.Map showing incidence of heartworm in the US, 2007Since heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes, a dog does not need to have direct contact with other dogs to contract the disease. Even an indoor dog could be bitten by a mosquito entering the house. Wild coyotes can also form reservoirs for the disease.  Because people and dogs travel frequently in our country, heartworms can quickly be brought into previously low-incidence areas. (For example, after Hurricane Katrina, many at-risk dogs were adopted out to other parts of the country.)

Heartworm is best controlled through testing and prevention, since treatment is protracted and expensive. Several different monthly preventatives are available with a prescription. The preventatives work by killing immature stages of the worm before they can mature into adults. It is important to test dogs prior to starting a preventative, since a dog infected with heartworms may experience a severe reaction to the preventative.

Due to the unpredictability of heartworm disease and the potentially devastating consequences, we strongly recommend that all dogs be given a monthly preventative year-round. Many of these products also help prevent fleas, roundworms, and hookworms, so there are multiple benefits. Dogs 6 months of age or older should be tested before starting a preventative, and retested at least every 2 years, depending on lifestyle. We can help you decide which preventative is best for your dog.

More information about heartworm  prevention and treatment is available through the American Heartworm Society.

Old Dog Blues

  By dr.schroeder | November 7, 2012 - 10:37 AM |
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As pets live longer, we are more likely to see age-related problems in our senior patients.  Osteoarthritis, kidney disease, cancer, and metabolic changes become more common as pets age.  Progressive loss of cognitive function (senility) is also seen in geriatric pets, and can dramatically curtail quality of life for these individuals and their owners.

Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) affects many dogs later in life. Cognitive dysfunction is a result of aging changes in the brain. Oxidative damage to cells, atrophy of neurons, alterations in neurotransmitters, and protein accumulations in the brain (similar to those seen in Alzheimer’s patients) are thought to be responsible for symptoms.

Affected dogs have behavioral changes such as disorientation, decreased or altered responses to stimuli, disruption of sleep/wake patterns, inappropriate elimination, and decreased levels of activity.  Typically, symptoms progress gradually, and often are attributed to arthritis, anxiety, or vision and hearing decline. In all cases, it is important to check for other health problems that may be contributing to the behavior changes.

There is no single treatment for cognitive dysfunction in geriatric animals. Dietary supplements such as anti-oxidants and Omega-3 fatty acid supplements play a major role. Environmental enrichment (play, brushing, petting, exercise) has been shown to help improve cognitive behaviors. In some cases, specialized medications such as MAOIs (mono amine oxidase inhibitors) or anxiolytics may help.  Most patients require a combination of therapies to feel their best.

With my older dog Sky, who has cognitive dysfunction as well as renal disease, I have noted improvement in her symptoms with a combination of anti-oxidants, fish oil, SAM-e, melatonin, and the MAOI selegiline (also known as Anipryl or Eldepryl). I also notice that she does better when she gets more attention. She is still an old dog, and she tends to wobble, fall down, and get stuck behind doors occasionally, but she is a wonderful companion and I’m hoping to keep her around for a lot longer!

In Defense of Outdoor Cats – or, The Ballad of Louie and Haskell

  By admin | October 19, 2012 - 2:23 PM |
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I’ve been thinking about indoor cats vs. outdoor cats recently. Earlier this year, we joined the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP); through them we learned of the Indoor Pet Initiative, the proponents of which contend that pets are better off both mentally and physically if they are kept indoors.

I can’t argue that cats aren’t physically safer if they are kept indoors, but I have to wonder about the mental health issue.

Louie – An Outdoor Cat

We have an outdoor cat, an orange tabby, named Louie. He is the sweetest, friendliest cat in the world – he loves to be held and belly-rubbed, and he hangs around the bus stop by our house to socialize with people waiting for the bus. We would love to have him in the house, curled up in our laps or on the couch, but he absolutely refuses to set foot inside.

Louie was our first cat, but have always had dogs. Many years ago, when we first bought our house, we had a beagle named Cuddles who was getting on in years, and needed to go to the backyard frequently. When we moved in we had a dog door installed in the back wall, so she could go in and out as she pleased. When Louie came along, he spent most of his time inside, but because of the dog door, he was always able to go outside. As time went on he spent more and more time prowling the neighborhood. He never minded any of our dogs, including Heidi the rambunctious terrier, or Bufi the jumbo poodle. That all changed when Haskell moved in.

Haskell – Louie’s Nemesis

Haskell is a sweet dog; a Pinscher mix who looks just like a rare German Pinscher. She is highly energetic, and was an escape artist in her early years (it sometimes took me hours to catch her.) She also has very big ears and a intense predator’s stare – it reminds me of the velociraptors from Jurassic Park. When she focuses those ears, eyes, and nose on you, you KNOW you are being watched. And Louie did not like that one bit.

When I first let Haskell out of her crate, she immediately chased Louie outside, and he did not come back for three days. We thought the worst had happened, but he eventually returned to eat. We brought him in and tried to acclimate him to Haskell, but it never worked; he would always get out as quickly as he could. There was one memorable incident in which Louie’s back feet gouged my belly as he leapt from my lap; he then managed to bounce off three walls without touching the floor before disappearing out the dog door. At that point, we said “enough.”

Now Louie spends his time outside, we know not where. He is usually waiting for his breakfast on the front porch when I get up, or he will come soon after I call. (Sometimes his buddy Sam, another orange tabby, shows up first, and I always imagine him saying “Hello, Father, I am Louie!” in a Peter Lorre voice.) If he has to cross the street, Louie actually looks both ways, and will wait for cars. He is healthy and happy.

There are definitely some environments in which cats should not be allowed to roam – near busy roads, for example. And there are obviously some cats that prefer to stay inside, or have to for health reasons. But I know that Louie would never be happy if he were kept indoors, even if Haskell hadn’t joined our family.

So if you have an outdoor cat – fear not, we will not judge you. Outdoor cats need healthcare (and love!) just as all cats do – probably more so given the risks they face. And if you have an indoor cat, check the Indoor Pet Initiative website mentioned above for help with creating a stimulating indoor environment for your cat.

Rabid Bat found in Eugene

  By admin | September 21, 2012 - 8:58 AM |
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A bat, which could carry rabies

Beautiful creatures, but potentially deadly

The Register-Guard reported this morning that a bat recently killed by a Eugene cat tested positive for rabies. The full article is here.

This is not really news but it serves as an important reminder: cats need to be vaccinated for rabies too! The state requires that dags be vaccinated for rabies, but unfortunately does not have the same requirement for cats, which is a shame, because cats are just as much as risk for rabies as dogs are, especially considering their penchant for killing small flying creatures.

If your cat has not been vaccinated for rabies, or if the vaccination was done more than a year ago, please call us and schedule you appointment today. For more information on rabies in bats, visit the CDC’s website.

Our new hours

  By admin | August 29, 2012 - 4:37 PM |
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Just a quick reminder: we are changing our hours. This Saturday, September 1, will be our last Saturday. Starting on September 4, our hours will be:

  • Monday – 8 AM to 6 PM
  • Tuesday – 8 AM to 8 PM
  • Wednesday- 8 AM to 6 PM
  • Thursday – 8 AM to 8 PM
  • Friday – 8 AM to 6 PM

The reason for this change is simple: it will bring more balance to our lives. Dr. Johnson has been working Saturdays ever since she graduated from vet school. Our son is 12 and he won’t be here forever; we don’t want to miss another weekend with him.

We know that people count on us being available outside normal work hours, which is why we are now staying open late on Tuesday and Thursday nights. We want to thank everyone who has been entrusting us with their pets’ care, and look forward to doing so for years to come!

 

 

 

Exercise caution in dealing with big-box pharmacies

  By admin | August 19, 2012 - 4:42 PM |
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I want to talk briefly about what’s going on in the veterinary pharmacy business, and how it could affect your pet. This is a deep and controversial topic, but I want to skirt the arguable issues and focus on what it means to you and your pets.

First of all: as everyone knows by now, the veterinary pharmacy business has been changing radically over the last few years. Once the exclusive domain of veterinarians, this was first challenged by Pet-Meds; then Internet pharmacies. Now big chains such as Wal-Mart, Target, and Costco are getting into the veterinary pharmacy business. Veterinarians are not happy about this, but most of us recognize that the shift is inevitable.

The reasons veterinarians are not thrilled about this shift boil down to two fundamental reasons: one, it’s not good for business, and two, it may not be good for pets. I’m going to skip the “bad for business” argument, because to be honest, I don’t think it’s legitimate. Right now I want to share some important information I learned of today, and let you know about something you need to look out for if you use big-box pharmacies for your pet medicines.

I and a number of other local practice managers met with a representative of the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association today, to discuss a number of issues that concern us, one of which is veterinary medicine sales through big-box stores. According to the OVMA rep, they have had a number of reports of pharmacists altering prescriptions sent from veterinarians, sometimes in direct contraction of the doctor’s orders. In a few cases, pets have died as a result of these changes. Examples include:

  •  Pharmacists recommending a less-expensive form of human insulin which is not suited for use in pets.
  •  Pharmacists reducing dosages on medications such as thyrozine and phenobarbital.
  •  Pharmacists altering and repackaging drugs obtained from gray-market channels.

The problem is that human pharmacists are not trained in veterinary pharmacy. They are, however, required by law to counsel patients, so they often do even when, frankly, they don’t know what they are talking about. Combine that with pressure from the corporate employer to increase sales in the veterinary market, and you can see why mistakes are made.

We do not want to stand in the way of any clients who prefer to get their pets’ medicines from other sources. We are currently streamlining our procedures for this to make it easier on us and less trouble for clients. However, we do have to warn everyone that vigilance is necessary. When you receive your prescription, please check it against the doctor’s notes to make sure you are getting the correct medicine and dosage. If the pharmacist makes any changes or substitutions, please call us before giving the medication.

For more on this topic, visit http://news.vin.com/VINNews.aspx?articleId=22939

A change in Hours

  By admin | August 19, 2012 - 11:59 AM |
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In order to bring more balance into the lives of our doctors and staff, we find that it is necessary to make a change in our hours.

Beginning on September 4, we will no longer be open on Saturdays. We realize that many of you depend on our availability outside normal working hours, so we are also extending our hours until 8 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Here is a complete listing of our new hours:

Monday 8 AM to 6 PM
Tuesday 8 AM to 8 PM
Wednesday 8 AM to 6 PM
Thursday 8 AM to 8 PM
Friday 8 AM to 6 PM
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed

This is not a decision that we make lightly; however, we believe that being able to spend weekends with our families and pets will help us do a better job of caring for our patients.