Archive for January 20th, 2010

Preparing your pets for outdoor adventure
Greg Benoit DVM presentation at REI Spokane on April 16, 2009

Canine Fitness Immunologic Rabies Leptospirosis Distemper Parvo Bordatella (kennel cough) Parasitism Minimal annual deworming, prefer twice annually. Use a broad-spectrum dewormer. (Fenbendazole or Panacur, for example.) Physical Cardiovascular Hydration Energy What’s Normal? Temperature: 100.5 – 102.5 Pulse / Heart Rate: 60 – 100 for large breeds, 100 – 140 for small breeds Respiration: 10-30 breaths per minute (unless panting) Capillary refill time: less than 1 – 2 seconds Common Injuries Pad injuries Sprains, strains, breaks Lacerations Stings, bites Ears – lacerations and foreign bodies (i.e. foxtail) Restraint Muzzle Headlock Lateral recumbency First Aid Kit Tape Scissors Cast padding Spika or Meta Splint Roll guaze Vet Wrap Telfa pads Antibiotic ointment Benadryl (1mg/1lb) Bandage scissors Quickstop for broken nails Elastikon tape Tweezers or hemostats for ticks or foreign body removal Tissue glue Antiseptic wipes (betadine) Vet-prescribed pain relief (NSAID) – no safe human equivalents! Ear wash Eye flush *Note – we also discussed QuikClot to stop bleeding.	Checking heart rate
	Applying a muzzle
	Lateral recumbency – hold lower leg for control
	Applying a bandage

Washington’s Tick-transmitted Diseases

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (Bacterium-Rickettsia) (Dermacentor)
Tick Paralysis (neurotoxin) (Dermacentor, Ixodes)
Babesiosis (protozoal blood parasite) (Ixodes)
Lyme Disease (Bacterial-Borrelia) (Ixodes)
Tularemia (Rabbit fever) (Dermacentor)
Tick-borne Relapsing Fever (Bacterial-Borrelia) (Ornithodoros)

Recommended Prevention:

Frontline Top Spot or Plus
Apply monthly during the warm months, usually starting in March-April.
Ticks will go through a hyperactive period before dying. You may see these ticks or dead ticks on their pets.

Important for any pets that wander through tall grasses, shrubs, any native habitat.
Recommend for pets traveling to west of the Cascades for flea and tick prevention any time of year.

What are ticks?

• Ticks are not insects, they are arthropods (related to spiders, scorpions, & mites). Count ‘em-there are 8 legs!
• Blood-feeding ectoparasites.
• Can transmit diseases during feeding (the BLOOD meal). Ticks transmit more diseases in North America than mosquitoes!

Tick Life Cycle

Most perch on the edges of low-lying vegetation and wait for an unsuspecting animal host to brush against them, while some ticks prefer to do their waiting in the comfort of the host’s nest. Once aboard, ticks crawl until they find a suitable spot to feed, then burrow their mouthparts into the skin for a blood meal. Ticks feed anywhere from several minutes to weeks depending on their life stage, type of host, and species of tick. Amazingly, their bodies slowly enlarge to accommodate the amount of blood ingested. Engorged ticks can be many times their original size! It is during feeding that infected ticks can transmit disease to their hosts.

Southcare Animal Medical Center in the news
Video: Dr. Benoit discusses the recent H1N1 feline case with KREM2 news.
Click here for KREM2 transcript.

Related H1N1 News

• Frequently Asked Questions by Veterinarians about 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus
  From the AVMA
• Frequently Asked Questions about the 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus and Pets
  From the AVMA
• H1N1 (Swine) Flu Confirmed in Iowa Cat
  From About.com Veterinary Medicine
• H1N1 and Animals – News Archive
  From About.com Veterinary Medicine

Dogs have their own version of flu virus that is making the rounds. So far, it has been confirmed in several US states.

From the AVMA
Backgrounder: Canine influenza

From the About.com Veterinary Medicine site:

Originally discovered in 2004, the canine influenza virus is believed to have jumped from horses to dogs in Florida. This virus, H3N8, is a subtype of the influenza A virus, a highly contagious pathogen that can cause disease by itself or in conjunction with other respiratory pathogens. Full article

Related: Canine H3N8 Influenza Vaccine