Proportions, a division of SmartPak Canine, launched their Canine Nutrition University which features a series of articles, how to read dog food labels 101 and an ask the experts section.

I did like the “How to read dog food labels” article as it easily explains the tricky methods used by some companies to split ingredients, the “Dogs are Carnivores, not CORN-ivores! ” is spot on but I would take it one step further and promote a raw diet

If you would like to learn more about Canine Nutrition visit the University for some on-line course work!

“Five people have been hospitalized due to anaphylactic shock from bee or wasp stings, and that’s an unusual number,” said Joby Winans of the Pierce County Health Department.

Hospital officials stated it is normal to see one or two bee sting victims a year,  to see so many in  one week is very unusual.  Public health officials have taken notice.

With what appears to be a healthy population of Yellow Jackets and Bees this year in the Pacific Northwest be sure to be prepared for treating your pets in case of a sting.

Below is an excerpt of the AKC Pet First Aid Advisory:

Bee and Wasp Stings can be painful and frightening for a dog. Follow these procedures if your dog is stung:

• Carefully remove the stinger with tweezers, if possible. (Only bees leave stingers.)
• Make a paste of baking soda and water and apply to the area.
• Apply an ice pack to relieve swelling and pain.
• Comfort the dog until the pain has diminished.

Usually a single sting does not present a serious problem. If the sting is on the nose, mouth or around the head, watch your dog carefully to make sure that any swelling does not interfere with breathing or swallowing. If the swelling increases dramatically just a few minutes after the sting, see a veterinarian immediately.

Multiple stings can cause more damage, and may be life-threatening. If you see your dog disturb a hive or swarm of wasps or bees, call the dog to you and run, or, if necessary, pick up your dog and carry it away. Try to put distance between your dog and the swarm as quickly as possible. Once you and the dog are safe, get medical attention as soon as possible.

If possible, give antihistamines to your dog right away (Your veterinarian can give you a supply for your dog’s first aid kit, and advise you on dosage and administration). Then take your dog to the closest veterinarian. Treatment for massive stings usually involves intravenous catheterization, the administration of fluids, giving of corticosteroids and monitoring of vital signs. The goal of treatment is to prevent shock and circulatory collapse and to minimize damage to organ systems.

"Treating Your Pets Like Family?"

A recent lawsuit filed by a disgruntled veterinarian launches some pretty serious accusations against Banfield such as “unethical medical and business practices that endangered the well-being of patients and gouged their owners”.

Banfield uses a “performance based incentive” or “commission” to pay their veterinary employees, I have often wondered how this practice effects patient treatment, diagnosis and outcomes.  Personally I avoid all corporate owned veterinary hospitals and prefer private practices.

While these statements of “unethical medicine” are only accusations at this point the 28 page complaint outlines some very specific cases as examples, which are more than concerning.  A well written report of the case is reported over at VIN.

I found it curious that  The Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board could not comment on these complaints and has no jurisdiction because the board licenses individual veterinarians, not medical facilities.

So, who is policing Banfield ? to what standards are they held to ?

“A prescription drug is a licensed medicine that is regulated by legislation to require a prescription before it can be obtained. The term is used to distinguish it from over-the-counter drugs which can be obtained without a prescription….In the United States, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act defines what requires a prescription. Prescription drugs are generally authorized by veterinarians, dentists, optometrists, and medical practitioners.” (Source Wikipedia).

Okay, most of us understand that a prescription only drug has to be prescribed in order for you to obtain it, use it, etc…   Did you know that most topical pesticides such as Advantage and K-9 Advantix flea and tick prevention products are not required by law to be prescribed?

Pharmaceutical companies have for many years teamed up with veterinarians to market their products exclusively in order to increase sales for the pharmaceutical company and increase profits for the veterinarian hospital.

In a bold and I feel honest move, “Bayer Animal Health announced Tuesday an end to its decades-old policy of selling Advantage and K-9 Advantix flea and tick prevention products exclusively through veterinarians. Citing ongoing consumer demand for more convenient access, the company said it will sell its parasiticides directly to pet specialty retailers and pet specialty Internet sites beginning in March.”

Reading a recent article over at VIN, I was shocked by some of the veterinarians reactions, several reportedly stated that as a result they would cease carrying the Bayer products from fear this move would decrease their profits.

These reactions and the practice of selling/marketing  non-prescription products as “prescription only” creates several questions.

• If a clinic is pushing a particular pesticide such as Advantage exclusively, is it because they really believe in the efficacy of the product ?
• Or is the profit margin the real motivator?  With some veterinarians threatening to drop Bayer simply because other retailers will be able to sell the product implies to me that profit margin not product efficacy as the main motivator.
• Will Bayer’s move to sell their products openly lower prices ? Maybe.
• Marketing or insinuating that a product is “prescription only” is not only accepted but expected in the veterinarian community ?

One Veterinarian wrote “I hope that Bayer understands that losing their highly educated, motivated and dedicated free sales force may have long-term impacts on their business, and it may be difficult for them to regain the trust of the profession“.  

Free sales force? I don’t want to think of my veterinarian as a sales man!  I want to trust that when he writes me a prescription it is because he believes that the drug is the best medication to treat my animal, not because he only carries the drug because a pharmaceutical company gave him a great price or promised him exclusivity.

I want the veterinarian who wrote “Pesticides are a nice source of income, but I will not live or die on those sales…. I will continue to dispense and recommend the products that I feel are the most useful…“.  I wish I believed this poster represented a majority but from reading through the comments and years of observation I believe this world of “make believe prescriptions” and sense of deserved exclusivity has really permeated the veterinarian culture.

• How many other products fall into this world of “make believe prescriptions”?
• How does this falsehood affect client / doctor relations?
• Do “make believe prescriptions” facilitate honesty?

I understand that a large portion of any hospitals income is derived from products not only pharmaceuticals but dog food, toys, etc.. but to create a world of “make believe prescriptions” that forces clients to only purchase a particular product from you?

Just my thoughts

When your dog has an open wound or infection, Vetericyn should be the product of choice because it is easy to apply into the affected area to treat infection while accelerating healing. Vetericyn works quickly to treat the infections or open wounds. In addition, it is safe as water so it will not harm your dog or the environment. Dogs typically lick their injury so any treatments applied should be non-toxic. Vetericyn is non-toxic so it will not cause injury if it happens to be ingested or licked after application. This is possible because Vetericyn works in the same way as your dog’s immune system. As such, the body recognizes it as a friendly infection-treating ally. Vetericyn also creates an optimal environment for healing.
Wounds treated with Vetericyn have demonstrated a reduction in healing time by up to 60%. Vetericyn significantly increases the oxygen content at the wound site within 30 seconds and maintains that oxygen level for up to 36 hours. This increase in oxygen along with the reduction of infection is responsible for these accelerated healing times. As a one-step cleanser and dressing, it eliminates the need for multiple products while reducing the application time and requirements.
Since it is “no-rinse”, it leaves no film or residue to clean off. And unlike traditional antiseptics and topical antibiotics it does not damage healthy tissue. Finally, it is compatible with most gauzes and acrylics and can be used prior to application of other treatments.

Indications:

• Hot spots
• Eye infections
• Skin irritations
• Rashes
• Cuts and scratches
• Outer ear infections

The Website also includes a number of testimonials and detailed product information.  Sounds like good stuff and definitely worth a try next time Rover gets a hot spot !

Hopefully you don’t have to use it but if you do we’d love to hear a review.

After all, if we can help a practice run smoother, ensure the check in and check out of our pet is quick and efficient than your veterinarian can focus on what it is he primarily there for..to treat your pet.

Recently over at Dolitter blog Dr. Khuly touched on her Top 10 Things her Clients can do,  here are a few of my own ideas:

1.  When possible, schedule Veterinarian appointments when the kids are in school or you have a babysitter.  Although I understand going to the Vet can be a great experience for the kids, “The Kids” aren’t always a great experience for other clients.  Also, you want to be focused on your pets needs at the Vet office and our two legged kids can be very distracting !

2.  When possible, weather permitting, park your car and walk into the clinic first, check out the waiting room and see if your room is ready.  If the clinic is way behind and the waiting room is already hectic offer to wait outside and ask the receptionist to let you know when the doctor is ready for you.

3. If your waiting inside, and the scale is in the room go ahead and weigh your pet – one little time saver for the check in person.

4. Cats should be in a carrier and dogs on a leash!

5. Use your time with your Vet efficiently , bring a pad and pen be prepared with your questions and write down recommendations.  Your appointment is scheduled for a certain amount of time, not that health care should be rushed !

6.  If you are bringing your pet in for a follow up and you have concerns about his condition or progress, write down your questions and concerns so you can present them fully.  Many times we leave the clinic and “oh, I should of asked this or that”.

7.  My last three recommendations are related to research.  If you have been researching your pets health condition and you find information on the internet or from your breeder or a friend:

1. Internet sources: Print out the page, be sure you are looking at a reliable source of information.  Wikipedia isn’t always reliable!  If you do find information from a questionable source, then google the info you found on that source and see if you can find additional sources.  Most Veterinarians will only give credence to sites that have citations that are verifiable or published in a credible journal.
2. Present the information in a respectful manner!  “Doctor I found this information and was wondering what your thoughts were on it?” and then hand the papers over.  If you have considerable amount of information to go over with your vet, it is considerate to call ahead and schedule a consultation appoint letting them know you want to discuss various treatment options for Fluffy.
3. Information from a friend or breeder is often valuable information, unfortunately most walk in a say “my breeder said to bla bla bla”.  Your vet doesn’t know your breeder, doesn’t know their history or time in the breed and chances are most have little respect for breeders.  In this case you need to write down or have your breeder email you so you can bring  in exactly what their recommendations or thoughts were.   And again approach it respectfully, “I was discussing Fluffy’s condition with my breeder and he had a few ideas since he has been in the breed for 20 years and has the bloodline, he thought maybe we should consider this drug combination or this treatment, but of course I wanted to discuss this with you, What do you think Doc ?”

Establishing a good relationship with your veterinarian is very important for the overall health of your pet and your piece of mind.   Be sure to let your Vet know you appreciate them!  Also, one last piece of advice – don’t forget to be nice to the front end staff !

Dr. Khuly had some great tips as well, Visit her Top 10

Have a Great Day !

Worms & Germs Blog is a joint venture of the Ontario Veterinary College‘s Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses and the City of Hamilton Public Health Department.  It is coordinated by Drs. Scott Weese and Maureen Anderson with the assistance of veterinarians, physicians, public health personnel and researchers.

The focus of this site is zoonotic diseases – diseases that can be transmitted from animals to people, particularly those involving companion animals (dogs, cats, horses, pocket pets and various other household critters). In reality, we take a broader approach, considering diseases that can be spread from animals to people AND from people to animals.

Zoonotic diseases have been recognized for centuries but we’ve often neglected to consider the role of pets, the animals most people have the closest contact with. That’s why we’ve created this blog, and the associated Worms & Germs Resources page. There, you’ll find information sheets about safe pet ownership and zoonotic disease topics. The sheets are reviewed by professionals from the veterinary, medical and public health fields to provide the most up-to-date information possible.  Some information sheets are still in development and there will be many more posted soon.

I spent a quite awhile perusing the site, WOW what a great resource of information.  I love science and research of course but I also love holistic approaches and believe strongly in raw feeding for MY pets and this site is very much against raw feeding and anything not totally Western based in philosophy.  That’s okay, I still love the blog and will add it to my daily list, I think it is good to always keep your mind open

Hope your all stayin warm !

Worms and Germs Blog

It is easy to be distracted with visitors  and all the errands to run this time of year, so remember to crate your pet or place him in a safe room with a good chew toy if you can’t supervise him.

A good tip is to take your pet out for a nice long walk and ball throwing session before the day gets to hectic!

Have a paw slappin Holiday !

Additional Resources:

Poisonous Holiday Plants

Pet Poison Helpline

Preliminary Animal Health Notification

December 19, 2008

FDA Continues To Receive Complaints about Chicken Jerky Products for Dogs and Cautions Consumers

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to caution consumers of a potential association between the development of illness in dogs and the consumption of chicken jerky products also described as chicken tenders, strips or treats.  FDA continues to receive complaints of dogs experiencing illness that their owners or veterinarians associate with consumption of chicken jerky products. The chicken jerky products are imported to the U.S. from China.  FDA issued a cautionary warning to consumers in September 2007.

Australian news organizations report the University of Sydney is also investigating an association between illness in dogs and the consumption of chicken jerky in Australia. At least one firm in Australia has recalled their chicken jerky product and the recall notification stated the chicken jerky product was manufactured in China.

FDA believes the continued trend of consumer complaints coupled with the information obtained from Australia warrants an additional reminder and animal health notification.

Chicken jerky products should not be substituted for a balanced diet and are intended to be
used occasionally and in small quantities.  Owners of small dogs must be especially careful to limit the amount of these products.

FDA, in addition to several veterinary diagnostic laboratories in the U.S, is working to determine why these products are associated with illness in dogs.   To date, scientists have not been able to determine a definitive cause for the reported illnesses.  FDA has conducted extensive chemical and microbial testing but has not identified any contaminant.

FDA is advising consumers who choose to feed their dogs chicken jerky products to watch their dogs closely for any or all of the following signs which may occur within hours to days of feeding the product: decreased appetite, although some may continue to consume the treats to the exclusion of other foods; decreased activity; vomiting; diarrhea, sometimes with blood; and increased water consumption and/or increased urination.  If the dog shows any of these signs, stop feeding the chicken jerky product.  Owners should consult their veterinarian if signs are severe or persist for more than 24 hours.  Blood tests may indicate kidney failure (increased urea nitrogen and creatinine).  Urine tests may indicate Fanconi syndrome (increased glucose). Although most dogs appear to recover, some reports to the FDA have involved dogs that have died.

The FDA continues to actively investigate the problem.  Many of the illnesses reported may be the result of causes other than eating chicken jerky.  Veterinarians and consumers alike should report cases of animal illness associated with pet foods to the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html in their state.