Does your dog need to be vaccinated against canine influenza? It depends. There may be circumstances in which your dog should be vaccinated. However, the canine influenza vaccine is not a vaccination that all dogs need to receive.

Recent Reports About Canine Influenza

VIN News Service recently published this article about canine influenza. Among the allegations published in the article is the insinuation that the risk posed by canine influenza has been greatly overstated and that the introduction of a vaccination against canine influenza may have played a part in that overstatement.

“A rash of news reports late last year about outbreaks of canine influenza left the impression that dogs in various parts of the United States were at imminent risk of catching the flu during the winter holidays.

A look at dog-flu diagnoses documented by major veterinary laboratories suggests that the reality was less dramatic and more nuanced. Some veterinarians believe aggressive marketing of dog-flu vaccines was behind the hype.”

While I find it more than a bit disturbing that the marketing of a pet product might deliberately mislead the public into believing that the product is more crucial than it may actually be, I’m not going to try to figure out whether that has happened here. I’ll let you reach own conclusions on that based on the VIN News article. What I would like to do is give you a better idea about whether your dog needs to be vaccinated against canine influenza or not.

Does Your Dog Need To Be Vaccinated Against Canine Influenza?

The answer to this will depend on whether your dog is at risk of contacting canine influenza. The vaccine against canine influenza is considered a non-core vaccine, a vaccine that is not needed by all dogs and which should administered based on an assessment of the risks versus the benefits of the vaccine.

There are several things to take into consideration when deciding whether vaccination against canine influenza is right for your dog.

• Is canine influenza being diagnosed in your community? If not, it may not be necessary to vaccinate your dog. Of course, it’s impossible to tell when or if the disease will move into your area.
• Do you board your dog or frequent places where your dog comes into contact with many other dogs? If so, vaccination against canine influenza may be worth considering. Some boarding kennels may even require vaccination against canine influenza for admittance.
• How serious is the risk of canine influenza? For the majority of dogs infected with canine influenza, the infection will be mild and self-limiting with full recovery. However, the potential for complications does exist and it is impossible to determine whether your dog will be in the minority of infected dogs that suffers more serious symptoms with canine influenza.
• Vaccination against canine influenza may not necessarily prevent infection. Here’s what Merck Animal Health has to say about their vaccine: “The vaccine has been shown to protect dogs against CIV infection by significantly decreasing clinical signs, reducing viral shedding, and reducing CIV-induced lung consolidation.”

The decision to give your dog the canine influenza vaccine should be an educated one, based on the information we have available to us currently. It should be a decision made by your and your veterinarian based on your dog’s risk, and should not be based on panic or fear. Hopefully, you now have the information necessary to make an informed choice.

Photo Courtesy of annethelibrarian/Flickr.com

It happens to all of us. Whether the medication is an over-the-counter medication or a prescription that we simply don’t need any more, we all end up with medications that we need to get rid of from time to time. The medications may be for you, for your spouse, for you children, or for your pets. Either way, there’s a proper way to dispose of unused medications. And, unfortunately, if medicines are not disposed of properly, they can pose a threat for members of our community, for our pets and even for the wildlife in our area.

How do you dispose of medications properly? The Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant has an entire page dedicated to safely disposing of unwanted medicine. Among the suggestions offered are these:

• Never flush unused medications down a sink or toilet.
• Take advantage of take-back programs in your community.
• If no take-back program is available, place the medication in a sealable container mixed with cat litter or coffee grounds and dispose of them in the trash.

Please see the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant link for more information.

For veterinarians, the AVMA provides more information about the proper disposal of unwanted medication also.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, commonly known as NSAIDS, are frequently used drugs in veterinary medicine. However, because of the potential risk of side effects with these drugs, it is mandatory that they be used with caution and within proper protocols.

NSAIDs and Pain Relief in Dogs

There are many different types of NSAIDS available today. Many of the newer medications are more specific in their actions than their older counterparts and are therefore somewhat safer. Older examples of NSAIDs include aspirin and phenylbutazone. Newer examples include Rimadyl, Deramaxx, Metacam and others.

Though phenylbutazone is not commonly prescribed for our canine patients now, it was once used pretty regularly before many of the newer safer NSAID products became available. The drug is still available though and is sometimes used to treat horses for pain.

Likewise, I don’t normally recommend aspirin to treat pain for my patients (although there are other uses for it). However, often a pet owner will decide on their own to administer aspirin to their dog as a pain reliever. There are some veterinarians who do still recommend aspirin as well, especially in cases where the pet owner has limited finances and may not be able to afford the safer medications. In these types of cases, you may find yourself in a situation where your dog needs to be switched from one of these older medications to another NSAID.

NSAIDs and “Wash Out” Periods: Switching to a New NSAID Safely

In most cases, when NSAIDs are necessary, only one of them should be given at a time. Two NSAIDs generally are not recommended to be administered to the same dog at the same time. As a result, when it is necessary to switch a dog from one NSAID medication to another, oftentimes a “wash out” period is necessary. The “wash out” period allows the dog’s body to clear the previous drug from its tissues before the new NSAID is administered. This “wash out” period helps reduce the potential for adverse effects from the medications.

But the harder question remains: How long should the “wash out” period be? The answer to this question will vary depending on the drug being administered. If the original NSAID being used is one of the older drugs, such as aspirin or phenylbutazone, the recommended “wash out” period is anywhere between 4 to 14 days. (Source: RIVMA 2011 annual conference lecture presented by Dr. William Tranquilli)

On the other hand, if the previous NSAID being used is one of the newer more selective medications, such as Rimadyl, Deramaxx or Metacam, according to Dr. Tranquilli, there may be no need for a “wash out period”. To be honest, in my practice, I’m not that brave and usually recommend a “wash out” period of at least 24-48 hours before beginning a new NSAID medication. Though it may not be absolutely necessary, I feel safer in doing so. With medications like NSAIDs, I would rather err on the side of caution. However, this is merely my personal preference and other veterinarians may disagree and, like Dr. Tranquilli, feel safe switching medications without a “wash out” period. I certainly cannot fault them if the pet does not experience any ill effects.

What Happens During the “Wash Out” Period?

What do you do for the dog during the “wash out” period to relieve his pain? There are other treatment modalities that can be utilized. Other drugs, such as tramadol, gabapentin or amantidine, can be used during the “wash out” period or other forms of rehabilitative therapy may be pursued instead.

Photo Courtesy of ralph and jenny/Flickr.com

It has been recently discovered that maropitant, a drug normally used to control vomiting, is also effective in relieving pain for dogs and cats. This may not sound like a big deal to most people but it’s actually bigger news than it may sound. Right now, our choices for pain medication in cats are somewhat limited, especially compared to what we have available for dogs. So any new options for feline pain control come as good news.

Our friends at the Winn Feline Foundation recently published this post/article about using maropitant to treat pain in cats. The timing of this post is interesting because I recently attended a veterinary seminar (Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association annual conference/seminar, lecture presented by Dr. William Tranquilli) in which the same topic was discussed. Dr. Tranquilli indicated that maropitant may also be effective for relieving pain in dogs as well.

What Is Maropitant?

Maropitant is also known as Cerenia. Up until now, it has been used primarily as an anti-emetic, a drug that helps to control vomiting, in both dogs and cats. The discovery that maropitant also helps relieve pain is a relatively recent development but it is an exciting one.

Maropitant is available in an injectable and an oral form. It is frequently prescribed as a method of controlling vomiting for dogs that get car sick. It is also frequently used in a clinical setting to control vomiting.

Maropitant for Pain Control in Cats and Dogs

You can read the Winn post yourself but this is the conclusion that is reached in the post:

The “apparent ability (of maropitant) to minimize the pain of surgical manipulation could indicate that it will be useful as a pain medication for cats. This drug has very few side effects, and is approved for use in cats; thus, this study has added a safe drug to the choices available for treating pain in cats.”

Currently, our options for pain control in cats are limited. Opioid medications such as tramadol, buprenorphine and others can be used and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. In addition, there are a few non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that are available for use in cats also but, although they are effective, their safety is worrisome. Maripotant adds a new option that was previously unavailable.

Though I haven’t used it for pain relief yet, I’ve been using maropitant as an anti-emetic for quite some time now. It is a safe drug and my patients have experienced very few, if any, side effects resulting from its use. When side effects are seen, they most commonly include diarrhea and a depressed appetite. When injected, maropitant has also been known to cause minor swelling and discomfort at the injection site.

Increasingly, we are recognizing that controlling pain is an important part of caring for both our canine and feline friends. The addition of another safe alternative for pain relief, especially in cats, is welcome news. Hopefully, it will prove to be as effective for this purpose as these initial reports seem to indicate. Personally, I’m looking forward to seeing additional information pertaining to the proper dosage of maripotant for pain control, how long it can be used safely and effectively, and whether any additional side effects are seen when using the medication for this purpose.

Photo Courtesy of Tomas Aleksiejunas/Flickr.com

Just a quick post to let everyone know that there has been another pet food recall. This one involves River Run and Marksman dry dog foods, both of which are manufactured by Cargill Animal Nutrition.

Both types of dog food have been recalled as a result of aflatoxin levels which were found to be above the acceptable limit. Currently, no animals have been reported to have become ill as a result of eating the food and the recalls are voluntary.

The following foods are affected:

• PROFESSIONAL FORMULA RIVER RUN HI-NRG 24-20 Dog Food, 50 pound bags
• RIVER RUN PROFESSIONAL FORMULA 27-18 Dog Food, 50 pound bags
• RIVER RUN 21% Protein Dog Food, 40 and 50 pound bags
• RIVER RUN Hi-Pro No-Soy Dog Food, 40 and 50 pound bags
• MARKSMAN DOG FOOD 24% Protein 20% Fat, 40 pound bags
• MARKSMAN DOG FOOD 20% Protein 10% Fat, 40 and 50 pound bags
• MARKSMAN DOG FOOD 28% Protein 18% Fat, 40 pound bags

The recall only applies to the above products with the following Packaging Date Codes (lot numbers): 4K0335 through 4K0365, LL0335 through LL0365, 4K1001 through 4K1335 and LL1001 through LL1335.

The recalled foods were distributed to stores in the following states: Kansas, Missouri, Northeast Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Western Kentucky, Southeast Indiana, Southern Illinois, Hawaii, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and limited areas of Florida and California.

If you have purchased one or more of these recalled diets, the product can be returned to the place of purchase for a full refund.

If you have additional questions, Cargill Animal Nutrition can be reached toll-free at (855)460-1532.

I first became aware of the concept of psychoacoustics several years when a favorite musician/composer of mine began working with Alegent Health to create what has become known as Ambience Therapy.

Chip Davis and Mannheim Steamroller

Chip Davis, for those of you not familiar with him, is the mastermind behind Mannheim Steamroller. The group is most well-known for their Christmas music, so I guess it’s appropriate that we’re talking about them at this time of the year. But when I first became familiar with Chip and his music, he was just starting his Fresh Aire series.

Mannheim Steamroller’s style of music is sometimes referred to as “16th century rock-and-roll” but what first attracted me to this music, especially the Freshe Aire series, was the use of sounds from nature and from different animals within the music itself. Many of the music tracks feature sounds like birds singing, frogs croaking, the sound of ocean waves crashing on rocks and even the sounds of dolphins singing.

Ambience Therapy and Psychoacoustics

This use of animal and nature sounds seems to figure prominently in Chip’s Ambience Therapy as well. This is how Ambience Therapy is described on their website:

“Ambient Therapy combines specially-recorded sounds of nature with distinctive music content that helps guide emotional perceptions. Actualized through sophisticated electronic technology and based on recording algorithms, the programs have the ability to mentally transport patients from their hospital rooms to a different and positive environment. In doing so, Ambient Therapy counteracts feelings of anxiety, isolation and other negative distractions – replacing them with an overall sense (of) comfort and well-being.”

Dogs, Music and Psychoacoustics

Lisa Spector, co-creator of the Through a Dog’s Ear CD series, has also taken advantage of the theory of psychoacoustics, this time using classical music played at a specific tempo, to calm the fears of anxious dogs. I can personally attest to the fact that her music works, both on people and dogs. I’ve recommended her CD series to several of my veterinary clients and they have had success using Lisa’s music to calm their dogs. It also seems to have the same effect on me!

This week, Animal Cafe’s travel correspondent Edie Jarolim talks with Lisa about her newest endeavor. You’ll find the interview included in this post: Calming Your Dog with Classical Music and Classical Conditioning. You’ll have to listen to the interview to get the details but I’ll give you a hint or two. Lisa’s latest endeavor involves helping dogs that are fearful of riding in a car. And you’ll find that she’s teamed with another familiar name, Victoria Stilwell of Animal Planet’s It’s Me or the Dog.

Just as an interesting side-note, I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with Lisa in Denver last year at the BlogPaws conference. We spoke about her music and its effect on dogs and cats. It turns out that apparently cats react differently than dogs to psychoacoustic principles and music. Lisa told me that the music and tempos that are calming for dogs may be different than what would be necessary to accomplish the same effect in cats. Perhaps at some point, Lisa or one of her colleagues will work out these differences and we’ll have a similar product for cats.

Many pet owners like the idea of using herbal remedies to treat their pets. There is a common belief that these remedies are safer than more conventional treatment methods.

Herbal Remedies and Your Pet

Some of the companies that produce herbal and other natural remedies for pets (or even for people) have less than stellar reputations though. It’s not unusual to hear about nutriceutical products (food supplements that have a health benefit) that do not contain the actual ingredients that are listed on the label. They may contain a higher or lower concentration of the active ingredients listed. They may even contain other contaminants that could be dangerous for your pet.

Realizing this, a responsible pet owner will understand that choosing a reputable company that practices good quality control and uses pharmaceutical grade ingredients is important when choosing an herbal supplement.

Enter Renew Life and Dr. Joel Murphy

When Renew Life approached Dr. Joel Murphy, a veterinarian who practices both holistic and conventional medicine, to endorse their pet line of herbal remedies, Dr. Murphy was delighted to find that not only did the company wish him to endorse the products, they also wanted him to formulate the products.

Renew Life uses a third party to test all of their products and ensure that what is on the label is what actually goes into to the products. They also use pharmaceutical grade ingredients in all of their products and practice the most rigid of manufacturing regimens.

Interview with Dr. Murphy About Herbal Remedies for Dogs

This week on Animal Cafe, I had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Murphy about herbal and other natural remedies for dogs. Dr. Murphy shared that his interest in herbal remedies involved a trip to the rainforest to observe birds (a special interest for Dr. Murphy) in their native habitat and eating their native diet.

Among other things, Dr. Murphy speaks about glucosamine and other substances that are beneficial for joint health. He also discusses at length the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. Probiotics are part of the interview as well. I don’t want to give away too much. You’ll have to listen to the interview to hear what Dr. Murphy has to say about these topics. Suffice it to say that the interview was very informative and even I, a long-time veterinarian, learned a thing or two from talking with Dr. Murphy.

So, without further ado, here’s the interview. Enjoy. And feel free to leave a comment below if you have experience with any of the ingredients or supplements that Dr. Murphy speaks about or if you have other thoughts.

Photo Courtesy of juliana_lop/Flickr.com

An update on this post can be seen here: Update on Alleged Iams Pet Food Recall.

I’ve been reading since yesterday in several online sources, including Iams Recall on Truth About Pet Food and Iams Pet Foods Recall – 3 varieties on US Food Safety blog, and Recalls and Alerts on EFoodAlert blog, about a recall on certain Iams pet foods.

Unfortunately, at this time, I see no confirmation from Iams or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about a potential recall on any Iams pet foods. In addition, I see no indication of any recall alert from the grocery chain who supposedly is notifying customers of the recall, Price Chopper.

At this point, with no confirmation of the recall from any official source, I am questioning the legitimacy of the claims of the recall. However, I will keep you posted if and/or when I either hear differently or am able to confirm that a recall does indeed exist.

In the meantime, if you are feeding one of the three Iams food listed below, it may be safest to discontinue feeding the product until we know for certain about the legitimacy of the claims of a recall.

Here are the supposedly affected foods:

• Iams Original with Chicken Cat Food, UPC 1901403915, Lot Number 12794177D3, Size 6.8 lbs.
• Iams Original with Chicken Cat Food, UPC 1901410504, Lot Number 12794177I5, Size 4 lbs.
• Iams Lamb Meal with Rice Dog Food, UPC 1901403735, Lot Number 12794177J4, Size 15 lbs.

NSAIDs, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are commonly used to control pain and inflammation for pets. They are frequently used before, during and after surgery to control pain and reduce inflammation. They are also frequently used in chronic conditions that cause pain, such as arthritis.

Some examples of NSAIDs that are used for pets are Rimadyl, Etogesic, Metacam and Deramaxx.

You may also have heard that NSAIDs are dangerous for pets. Let’s take a look at that statement and see how true it really is.

NSAIDS and Your Dog

NSAIDs are frequently used in dogs in a variety of different situations. But NSAIDs, like any other medication, can have side effects.

Before you start your dog on an NSAID, you should schedule a thorough examination with your veterinarian. Besides a physical exam, your veterinarian may want to perform some basic blood tests before starting your dog on an NSAID, especially if it is likely your dog will need to be on the medication for more than a day or two.

Some of the side effects that you may see with an NSAID medication are:

• depressed appetite
• vomiting
• diarrhea, with or without blood, or other changes in your dog’s bowel movements
• increased water consumption and/or increased urination
• icterus (a yellow coloration of your dog’s gums, skin or the white’s of his eyes)
• redness or irritation in the skin, itchiness, or hives

Naturally, if you notice these types of reactions, you should stop giving the medication and notify your veterinarian.

Though NSAIDs do have the potential for causing side effects, they also have the ability to greatly increase the quality of your dog’s life by decreasing any pain he may be feeling. While there are other choices for pain control, NSAIDs are often the most appropriate because not only do they have the ability to reduce pain but to reduce inflammation as well.

Obviously, it would be better not to have to give your dog NSAIDs. On the other hand, if your dog is in pain, you may need to consider giving this type of medication, especially if other forms of pain relief are less than successful in controlling your dog’s discomfort. Needless to say, watching your dog suffer without pain control is not an acceptable alternative.

If you do find yourself in this situation, follow your veterinarian’s recommendations. Do not increase the dose of the medication without approval from your veterinarian, be aware of the potential side effects and report them if noticed, and bring your dog to your veterinarian for regular blood screening if you need to use the medication on a long-term basis. Check with your veterinarian before administering other medications for your dog as well.

I do use NSAIDs in my veterinary practice when needed and I have seen them make a significant impact in the quality of life for many dogs. However, I am careful about where and how I use them. Not all dogs are candidates for NSAID therapy and sometimes other means of pain control are a better option.

NSAIDs in Cats

There are a few NSAIDs that can be used in cats as well. However, I’m not nearly as comfortable using NSAIDs in cats as I am in dogs. Cats oftentimes do not seem to tolerate NSAIDs as well as dogs. The veterinary profession seems to be split about how safe NSAIDs are for cats, with many using NSAIDs such as Metacam to control pain in a surgical setting. Others, often as a result of having bad experiences with NSAIDs in a similar setting, are much more cautious.

More information is available about NSAIDs and the potential for kidney disease in cats in this article about an NSAID known as Onsior.

Photo Courtesy of Mojave Desert/Flickr.com

A couple of months ago, I was contacted by a representative for the makers of a product called The Missing Link. I was offered a sample of the product for my cats in exchange for consideration of writing a review. A short time later, I received my samples. I was generously supplied with six packages of The Missing Link.

I began adding the product to the regular food that I give my cats. The Missing Link is a powder that is simply sprinkled into the food. I found it worked better in the wet diet that I feed my cats because of its nature as a powder. But I’m happy to say I was impressed with the product.

Here’s what The Missing Link website has to say about the product:

“Formulated with natural, quality whole foods and whole food concentrates, The Missing Link® Feline Formula reintroduces unprocessed, nutrient-rich foods into your cat’s diet.”

The website goes on to say that the product supports “healthy skin and coat, sustained energy levels, healthy digestive system, normal weight.”

Following the directions on the label, I started by adding only a small quantity of The Missing Link to the food daily and gradually increased the amount added. The fact that the package is resealable is a nice convenience.

While my cats have always had healthy skin and coats, I certainly didn’t see a decline in their skin health while on the supplement. The digestive systems remained healthy, with no unusual vomiting or diarrhea. Their weights remained constant as did their energy levels from what I could tell.

What I did notice though for Rusty was a marked decrease in the amount of sniffling and sneezing that he normally experiences when we started the supplement. Rusty was infected with herpesvirus as a baby, leaving him with frequent episodes of sneezing, sniffling and runny eyes. I suppose it may be coincidence that these symptoms disappeared shortly after starting the supplement but, as of now, the symptoms have not returned. My theory is that the supplement, perhaps because of the fatty acids included in it, has helped to improve his immune system, leading to a decrease in his symptoms.

Will his symptoms return? I don’t know. We’ll have to wait and see. At any rate, I’m happy that they are resolved for now. And I’m pleased to be able to recommend The Missing Link to other pet owners.