Vets to Pets Blog

Demodex and Puppies

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

The picture above is of either Tank or Tucker (they pretty much looked exactly alike at this point) and was taken right after they were rescued from the animal shelter by a local rescue organization called “Its the Pits.” The puppies were just 8-weeks old when they were scheduled to be euthanized because of their skin condition--an absolutely treatable disease with the proper medication and time. Unfortunately, in a shelter setting where there are always too many animals and too little space, time is a luxury that cannot be easily granted.

Once “Its the Pits” was alerted to the situation the puppies were in, they quickly adopted them from the shelter and brought them to a hospital where they could be treated. The puppies had lost all of their hair, were oozing and covered in crusts, and were bright red from a skin infection and scratching themselves. They looked like little hippos or little elephants. The picture below is the puppies when they were in the shelter, huddled together on the floor.

DEMODECTIC MANGE, also called demodicosis or “red mange,” which is caused by an overgrowth of a microscopic mite that lives inside the dog’s hair follicles. Demodex mites are transferred to a puppy from their mother during the first week of life and are considered normal residents of the skin. Dogs are generally able to live with the mites with no adverse affects, but if the immune system is compromised the mites can overproduce and cause a serious skin disease. Once the mites start proliferating, they secrete substances that suppress their host’s immune system which allows them to reproduce even more. This is how Demodectic mange can get so out of control...

The first sign of the condition is hair loss since the mites are living and reproducing in the hair follicle. When the number of mites becomes too large, they displace the hair in the follicle and it falls out. This results in scaly bald spots, which typically start on the face/around the eyes or on the chest/front legs but can be found over the entire body. In some cases, secondary infection occurs with the signs of redness and itching.

Demodicosis is NOT considered a contagious disease. All dogs that were with their mother in early puppyhood have demodex mites in low numbers living in their hair follicles. It is when the mites overproduce that they cause a problem. In order for them to reproduce at such a high rate, the animal host’s immune system must allow it. It is usually puppies and young dogs that acquire the condition because their immune systems are immature and Demodicosis is seen fairly commonly.

Because Demodicosis can look like other diseases, like Scabies, a diagnosis is made with a SKIN SCRAPING. A veterinarian uses a scalpel blade to gently scrape off a thin layer of tissue (most dogs don’t even notice). This skin sample is then looked at under a microscope to see if Demodex mites are present. This is what an adult Demodex mite looks like...

There are three types of Demodicosis:

1. Localized: With localized Demodicosis, the bald spots are restricted to one or two regions of
the body. Usually the lesions are on the face, but may be in another area as well. This
localized disease will often resolve without treatment of any kind, but it can progress to a
more generalized form of Demodicosis and must be monitored closely. This is considered
almost exclusively a disease of puppyhood.

1. Generalized: In generalized Demodicosis, the entire dog is affected with hair loss, scaly skin and secondary infection. Sometimes there are large areas that are affected or multiple small bald spots covering the dog or the entire body is affected (as was the case with Tank and Tucker). There can be a secondary infection present with the generalized form, so the skin is often itchy and smelly and red.

Most cases of Demodectic mange occur in dogs under 1.5 years of age because they have
immature immune systems. An adult dog usually doesn’t get the disease unless the immune
system is compromised in some way. When an adult is diagnosed with Demodicosis a more
serious condition--such as cancer, kidney disease, liver disease, or an immune-suppressive
disease--may be present, so diagnostics to look for underlying illness will be indicated.

3. Demodectic Pododermatitis: With this type of Demodicosis the disease only occurs on the
paws, but it can be the most difficult form to treat.

Treatment of Demodectic mange depends on how widespread the disease is and whether or not there is secondary infection present. There is a topical ointment called Goodwinol that can help to control the isolated lesions in localized Demodicosis. In cases that require more intensive treatment, IVERMECTIN is the treatment of choice. It is usually given as a daily oral dose of the medication for an extended period of time. Bi-weekly skin scrapings are performed to monitor the infestation and the treatment is stopped after there have been two consecutive NEGATIVE skin scrapings (meaning NO mites were seen).

The problem with ivermectin is that some breeds--especially COLLIES and SHELTIES, but other herding dogs as well--are extremely sensitive to it, therefore, it cannot be safely used as a treatment. No matter what breed of dog you have, if they are ever given ivermectin your veterinarian will discuss the side effects of the drug with you in depth.

Other treatments include daily dosing of the heartworm medication called Interceptor (the active ingredient is called milbemycin oxime), and Amitraz (Mitaban) dips. The Amitraz dip is the older, traditional treatment for Demodicosis and involves weekly or bi-weekly bathing in a benzoyl peroxide shampoo followed by application of the Amitraz with a sponge. When there is a secondary skin infection, oral antibiotics will be a part of the treatment protocol.
(*At the time of this writing, Interceptor is not available but the manufacturer hopes to have it on the market again as soon as possible...)

The prognosis for Demodicosis in a young dog is typically excellent with the proper treatment and the patience for a 2-4 month treatment course. Adult-onset generalized Demodicosis is rarely seen and the prognosis is dependent on the underlying cause of the suppression of the immune system.

Tank and Tucker stayed in the hospital for a few weeks for treatment and monitoring. They did great--their skin looked better and better everyday! With time and treatment, they ended up healthy and beautiful!!! (See pictures below) They were sweet and spunky and loving from the very beginning. And when they looked like the ridiculously cute puppies they always were under their elephant skin, they were adopted into loving homes. They had a very treatable disease, but they were very close to becoming victims of our overpopulation problem. “Its the Pits” gave them a second chance and literally saved their lives.

“Its the Pits” is a local rescue organization, and they are AMAZING! They do so much good in the world, and they do it with heart and intelligence and passion. Check out their website at: http://www.itsthepits.org to look for adoptable dogs or to find out how to make a donation and support their wonderful efforts! You can also “Like” them on Facebook; their page is full of the sweet faces and compelling stories of the dogs in their care!

Smokey the Pit Bull

Sat, 28 May 2011 00:00:00 -0700

This is a horrible story, but it is one of my favorites because it has a very happy ending. It is a story of a sweet, forgiving, happy boy named Smokey with an old soul and a brave heart. I was so lucky to have met Smokey and he will forever be one of the best patients I ever had!

Smokey was found as a stray in East Bakersfield. He was about 3-months old, and taken to the local shelter. He had extensive chemical burns over his entire back... from the back of his neck all the way past his ribs. Treatment of the wounds would require a lot of work and months of healing, so he was scheduled to be euthanized. That was when an independent pit bull rescuer from San Diego got involved and saved his life--much to the thanks of all who have had the pleasure of meeting him!

His wounds were large and deep, but his body had already started to try to heal itself and there was some healthy tissue present in the middle of the burns. Smokey was hospitalized for weeks with daily bandage changes, antibiotics, and pain medications. He was amazingly cooperative through it all, even when it hurt! He was always smiling and ready to get attention in whatever form it was given. His gentleness was immediately apparent, and he won all of his caretakers over... especially me! The most discomfort he showed was intense itching, which was likely because of nerve damage associated with the burns.

While in the hospital, he was also treated for his severe intestinal parasite infestation. Parasites are commonly found in puppies--which is why all puppies are dewormed--but puppies with an unhealthy background tend to have large numbers of multiple parasites. Smokey had a huge worm burden, but luckily did not have any serious clinical signs or consequences because of them.

Smokey went into foster care with his rescuer and continued with his bandage changes. There was one area on his neck where the skin healed abnormally, and it required surgical correction. The rest of the wounds had healed well and contracted to the point where surgery could be minimally invasive. So the damaged tissue that remained was surgically removed, and Smokey was neutered at the same time.

Smokey was adopted by his rescuer (she couldn’t resist!), and lives a happy, fulfilling life in a home with three other Pitties. He passed his basic obedience classes, registered for Canine Good Citizenship, and will start training in October to become a certified therapy dog! And as a bonus, now that the damaged skin is gone or healed, he no longer itches...

The infuriating addendum to this story is that 3 months later, another Pit bull puppy was found in the same area with the same type of burns on his back. The same rescuer stepped in, got him the necessary treatment and surgery, and found him a forever home! Despite lots of effort and even a reward offered, the full story of what happened to these two poor puppies remains a mystery. Having seen those wounds, I cannot fathom how it could have been accidental... especially twice. Was it some sort of acid? Meth lab chemicals? We may never know, but those puppies suffered at the hands of cruel and horrible people. Thankfully, dogs live in the moment and these two now only know love!

Smokey’s story has all of the elements of a classic tale--the heartbreaking and exasperating EVIL of humanity; the GOODNESS of all of the wonderful animal rescuers making the world better everyday, for one creature at a time; and most importantly-- the HEROES: Mr. Smokey with his amazing spirit, and all of the other animals who rise above their lives into superstar status!!!

You can follow Smokey the Pit Bull on Facebook--it is so fabulous to see how much he is loving life!

Have a Non-Toxic Holiday

Sat, 27 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0800

It is a horrible feeling to come home to evidence that your dog (and less likely your cat) has gotten into something that they shouldn’t have and that it could potentially be dangerous. Because we have more food and plants around during the holidays, are in and out of the house more often than usual, and are sometimes in too much of a hurry to secure the excess food and goodies, there is an increased chance that our pets could ingest a toxic substance.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER IF YOUR PET INGESTS SOMETHING TOXIC:
The sooner your pet is brought in for veterinary evaluation, the better the outcome is likely to be! Some of the toxic affects may be avoided entirely by receiving early and appropriate treatment. If you know or think your pet may have ingested something dangerous, get them in to the vet right away. Don’t wait for them to become sick!
It is helpful to know approximately WHEN your pet ingested the toxin and approximately HOW MUCH was eaten. Nobody expects you to be exact, but it helps to determine how aggressively the situation needs to be approached.
Individual sensitivity to a toxin varies between animals, so the amount of
toxin needed to cause a reaction is different in every animal. It is wisest to assume that your animal is the MOST sensitive of all individuals and may even have an idiosyncratic, or unexpected, reaction to the toxin. It is much better to be too cautious and a little freaked out about the possibilities, then to look back and wish more would have been done.
The ASPCA Poison Control Hotline is AMAZING!!! 1-800-426-4435.
They have veterinarians available 24 hours for consultation, and these vets have a wealth of experience and a huge database of knowledge about toxicities in animals. If you make the initial call, you will be given a reference number and your vet can call them at any time for treatment recommendations, guidance, and to give them clinical updates on your pet (to add to that incredible database and help future animals!). The cost is $50 for the call, but it is more than worth it!

Typical treatment of a toxicity consists of decontamination procedures to decrease the toxin’s affects on the body. Depending on what was ingested and when, an animal may be induced to vomit to get rid of the toxic substance that is still in the stomach and prevent any more from being absorbed. This can be very rewarding as I have seen innumerable huge puddles of chocolatey liquid be vomited up, complete with foil wrappers and sometimes even extra surprises (like rocks).

Another part of decontamination is intravenous fluids to help to flush the body of toxins. Many toxicity cases require hospitalization, and fluids may be recommended for a minimum of 24 hours to days (depending on the particular toxin and case). Activated charcoal is also used as part of the decontamination process--if given soon enough it can reduce the absorption of some poisons by 75%! It is actually wood pulp that has gone through an activation process making it super absorbent and able to bind toxins that are remain in the gastrointestinal tract. More specific treatment recommendations are made based on the specific toxin and on the clinical presentation of the pet--ie, if they are having seizures or in shock or in liver failure.

Below is information about of some of the more common toxicities seen in veterinary medicine, in order of how often we have personally seen them in our own careers... CHOCOLATE, XYLITOL, GRAPES/RAISINS, ONIONS, LILIES, MACADAMIA NUTS, RANDOM CHRISTMAS PLANTS.

CHOCOLATE: Chocolate may be the most common holiday toxicity seen in the animal emergency room. The toxic components of chocolate are theobromine and caffeine, both of which are classified as methylxanthines. Dogs are extremely sensitive to the effects of methylxanthines, and the clinical signs depend on the amount and type of chocolate that they ate. Chocolate can also be toxic for cats, but it is rare to find a cat that will eat chocolate, let alone in the indulgent, gluttonous way that a dog will if given the chance.

Clinical signs include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, increased drinking/urination, increased heart rate and arrhythmias, hyperactivity, tremors, seizures, and potentially death. Sometimes the only evidence of chocolate toxicity is a missing plate of brownies or a bunch of wrappers on the floor. Do not wait for your dog to show clinical signs of chocolate toxicity before you bring it to a veterinarian for evaluation.

The amount of methylxanthine in the chocolate depends on its type. In general, the more bitter the chocolate the more toxic it could be to your pet. Baking chocolate is the most toxic, followed by dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and then white chocolate. Any amount could be harmful, so it is wise to seek veterinary care as soon as you discover that your pet ate your Halloween candy or your Christmas goodies.

Early treatment is important--if caught early enough, your dog can be given a medication to cause vomiting so then no more methylxanthines can be absorbed. Other treatments include intravenous fluids, gastroprotectants, activated charcoal to bind the toxins in the GI tract, and close monitoring of the heart rate and rhythm.

The prognosis with chocolate toxicity depends on the type and amount ingested. With the proper treatment (which ranges from outpatient exam and minimal treatment to hospitalization), most patients will do well but there are always extreme cases--such as the dog that eats chocolate-covered espresso beans...

XYLITOL: Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that is gaining in popularity, and is very toxic to dogs. It can be found in sugarless gum, candy, baked goods, pudding, and some oral care products like mouthwash and toothpaste. Dogs would love to chew your gum and eat your candy if given the chance, but if these products contained xylitol they could experience a rapid, life-threatening drop in their blood sugar level (hypoglycemia). Obviously and luckily, this affect is not seen in humans.

Xylitol can lead to a 2.5-7 fold increase in insulin compared with an equal volume of sugar resulting in a severe hypoglycemia as quickly as 30 minutes after ingestion. Depending on the amount ingested or an idiosyncratic reaction of the dog, liver failure can also result. The liver has many functions. One of our professors in vet school referred to it as the body’s “temple,” I thought he was making the point that it is so critical to life that it should be revered. Some of the liver’s jobs are: filtering harmful substances from the blood, maintaining the proper level of glucose in the blood, producing substances that break down the fats that we eat, making the building blocks of proteins (called amino acids), storing energy in the form of glycogen, and storing vitamins and minerals. You never realize how important the liver is until it fails--a dog in liver failure will be gravely ill.

Initial clinical signs of xylitol toxicity include vomiting, lethargy, weakness, ataxia (uncoordinated movement), depression, seizures, or coma, but if you know or have a suspicion that your dog may have ingested xylitol do not wait for the clinical signs to get them to a veterinarian. If the liver is in failure, the bloodwork will show elevation in liver values, the body’s clotting mechanism may not be functioning

Treatment consists of typical decontamination procedures with additional monitoring of glucose levels, liver values, and electrolyte measurements daily. The prognosis is excellent for dogs that only develop an initial hypoglycemia. Those that go into liver failure have a poor to guarded prognosis. If liver failure occurs, treatment will need to be much more aggressive with plasma transfusions, the addition of liver protectants, and more intensive monitoring. The course of a xylitol toxicity tends to be fairly acute--they don’t survive or are ready to go home in about 2-4 days.

GRAPES/RAISINS: The ingestion of grapes and raisins can cause sudden kidney failure in dogs. It is a fairly commonly seen toxicity, but the quantity of grapes/raisins that must be ingested to result in kidney failure is undetermined and the mechanism for the kidney failure is not clear. Therefore, it should be assumed that eating any amount has the potential to be dangerous, especially since dogs show marked individual sensitivity in toxicity to raisins and grapes.

Clinical signs of acute kidney failure are vomiting and diarrhea within the first 24 hours, with progression to anorexia, lethargy, depression, and decreased urination. Without aggressive treatment, kidney failure will result in death.

Grape/raisin toxicity is treated as the other toxins listed above, with the addition of serial measurements of the kidney values while the patient is in the hospital to make sure that they stay within normal limits. If the patient is already in kidney failure by the time they are brought to the veterinarian, the treatment will be much more aggressive

Of all the toxicities, this is the one that often shocks pet owners the most because they have given their dog grapes or raisins in the past with no adverse consequences. Well... just because a food is toxic does not mean that an animal is going to have all of the clinical signs that can be seen with a toxicity. Toxicities are dependent on the amount of the substance that was ingested, so it may be that there was never enough to trigger a toxic affect. And as stated above, every animal has an individual reaction to the food (or the toxin, or the medicine, etc) and some are better able to tolerate certain amounts of a dangerous food. Others will not be so lucky, therefore, it is not worth testing the limits. If something is known to be toxic to animals, there is no reason in the world to give it to your pet.

ONIONS: Onions--cooked or raw, dehydrated or powdered--can damage red blood cells which may result in a life-threatening anemia in cats and dogs. Red blood cells have the extremely important job of delivering oxygen to every cell in the body. With exposure to the toxic component in onions, called n-propyl disulfide, the membrane of the red blood cell is compromised and the cell is then removed from circulation in a process called hemolysis (break down of the red blood cell). The amount of functional red blood cells can be drastically decreased resulting in the body being depleted of the oxygen it needs to survive!

Onions can be a sneaky and found as an ingredient in foods like spaghetti sauce, pizza, or guacamole, so be very careful when feeding your dog table scraps. Onion powder may be found in some commercial baby foods, which are sometimes fed to pets as a treat or when they are not eating their regular diet very well.

The clinical signs of onion toxicity are associated with anemia and include weakness, lethargy, pale gums, abnormal colored urine (this is the hemoglobin from the break down of the red blood cells), increased breathing rate, and sometimes vomiting.

Treatment consists of the decontamination procedures described above (induction of vomiting, intravenous fluids, etc) and administration of activated charcoal, as well as blood transfusions when necessary. The PCV (packed cell volume) is the amount of red blood cells present in a blood sample, and this will have to be monitored closely in the hospital to determine when the levels are stable.

If the anemia resolves and there is not permanent damage because of the tissues being depleted of oxygen, the prognosis is fairly good. Again, early treatment is imperative! Garlic contains the same toxic component found in onions but in much smaller quantities. A “safe” amount of garlic has not been determined, so our pets should just not be exposed to it! Cats are more sensitive to garlic that dogs.

LILIES: Many houseplants can be toxic to our pets, but members of the Lilium and Hemerocallis genera of lilies (such as Easter lilies, Tiger lilies, Day lilies, Asian lilies, Rubrum lilies) are particularly dangerous and can cause acute kidney failure in cats. The toxic principle within the plant is unknown, but all parts--the leaves, stem, flower, and even pollen--seem to be toxic. Even minor exposures like biting a leaf or licking the pollen off its paws, should be considered potentially life-threatening in a cat. You may witness your cat eating a part of the plant or find pieces of it in their vomit or pollen on their face.

Most cats vomit within a few hours after exposure to lilies, and within 1-4 days signs of kidney failure may be evident. These signs include a decreased appetite, depression, vomiting, dehydration, and little to no urination. Treatment must be performed early to be successful; the mortality rate from lily toxicosis is high.

The baseline treatment consists of decontamination procedures (induction of vomiting if practical, activated charcoal, and intravenous fluids) as well as gastrointestinal protectants. The treatment for a cat who is actually in acute renal failure and producing little to no urine is is much more aggressive. Labwork should be taken initially to look for evidence of kidney failure--high kidney values (BUN and creatinine), abnormal electrolyte measurements, inappropriately concentrated urine, and then monitored to look for evidence of kidney damage.

If started within 18 hours of ingestion, decontamination and fluid therapy at high rates for 48 hours have been effective in preventing lily-induced acute renal failure. Conversely, delaying treatment usually results in death or euthanasia. Depending on the degree of toxicity, some cats require several days in the hospital. The damage sustained by the kidneys from lily toxicity may be permanent, but if it is not severe the cat may be able to recover over time. The cat will need to be monitored closely and have routine labwork performed to assess kidney function.

MACADAMIA NUTS: Macadamia nuts are around in greater numbers during the holidays. If ingested in sufficient enough quantity, macadamia nuts can cause weakness, depression, vomiting, ataxia (uncoordinated movement), tremors, and an elevated temperature in dogs. The cause for the dog’s sensitivity is unknown, but the clinical signs typically occur within about 12 hours of ingestion and have only been seen in dogs. (But how many cats do you know that would eat a macadamia nut?)

There is a huge range in the toxic dose, so some dogs will get quite sick from just a small amount of nuts ingested and others may need to eat a lot to show any clinical signs.

Basic treatment for toxicity, once again, consists of decontamination, activated charcoal, and gastroprotectants. The temperature is monitored and any other supportive care is based on clinical signs... for instance if the temperature rose enough to compromise the body’s clotting mechanism, a plasma transfusion will be necessary. The prognosis in most cases is very good as most dogs return to normal within 1-2 days.

PLANTS: Ingestion of small amounts of any number of holiday plants--like poinsettias, mistletoe, Christmas cactus, and holly--will cause gastrointestinal upset, vomiting, and/or diarrhea but these signs are usually self-limiting. Eating large amounts of these plants or amaryllis bulbs can lead to a true toxicosis, and require decontamination procedures and treatment. Eating Christmas tree needles can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, decreased appetite, and depression. It is hard to keep a dog or cat away from a new plant, but consider it just another challenge of this marvelous season.

Wishing you and your furry friends a SAFE and HAPPY holiday!!!

Holiday Hazards

Sun, 31 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Oh, the holidays... a time for fun, for family, for food. And a time where our dogs and cats are at risk because of all that fun, family, and food. Having worked in the animal emergency room on all of the major holidays, the Thanksgiving/Christmas time is synonymous with vomiting/diarrhea. The question becomes WHY? is there vomiting/diarrhea--gastroenteritis? pancreatitis? foreign body obstruction? There are so many things for our pets to get into, and it can be difficult to keep the chaos of the season from making our pets ill. Halloween is not as infamous in the ER, but comes with its own dangers... like chocolate toxicity, twisted individuals who might harm animals in the name of mischief, and glo-sticks.

SILICA GEL PACKS: The number one call to both human and animal poison control hotlines is for questions regarding silica gel packs. These are the little white packets that say “Do Not Ingest” on them and are found in shoeboxes, bottles of medications, boxes containing electronics and some foods. They contain white powder or small granules that contain dessicants, which are used to absorb excess humidity that may degrade products that are sensitive to moisture.

The silica gel packs could be fun for a cat because they are easy to bat around and make an interesting sound. Dogs simply eat things they shouldn’t sometimes. Usually, the ingestion of one of these packs does not result in any clinical signs. Occasionally a mild gastrointestinal upset may result with a decreased appetite, vomiting, or diarrhea. If the entire intact packet is swallowed, it may cause an obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract in a cat or a small dog. Signs with a blockage would be more severe and would not resolve on their own. Diagnostics such as abdominal x-rays and/or ultrasound would be needed to assess the presence of an obstruction, and surgery performed to remove the foreign material.

TABLE FOOD: As tempting as it may be to share the feast, just don’t give your pets any table food. Just don’t. Maybe they have an iron gut and will be fine. Maybe at the very least they will have a mild gastroenteritis (inflammation of the GI tract) and some diarrhea. Maybe they will develop a raging, potentially life-threatening pancreatitis and spend several days in the hospital on intravenous fluids and anti-nausea medications.

Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which is the organ responsible for secreting digestive enzymes that break down starches and proteins in the intestines. (It also secretes the insulin that allows the body to utilize the energy found in food by bringing glucose into the cells and to regulate blood glucose levels, but that is another story...) These enzymes are called amylase and lipase and they belong either in storage granules within the pancreas or within the confines of the intestines. When the pancreas becomes inflamed these digestive enzymes “leak” from the storage granules and begin to damage the pancreas. The pancreas is situated next to the liver, so it becomes inflamed as well. The pancreatic enzymes reach high levels in the blood, and along with inflammatory toxins, can begin to damage other tissues in the body.

In most cases we never find out what caused an episode of acute pancreatitis, but it can happen in association with getting into the garbage, eating a high-fat meal or ingesting something that is not usually a part of the diet. This is why it is so often seen during the holidays... Clinical signs of pancreatitis include vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, and abdominal pain. These same signs can be seen with severe gastroenteritis and a foreign body obstruction. If you see any of these things, your pet should be evaluated by a veterinarian to determine the cause and the specific treatment.

ORNAMENTS/TINSEL/RIBBONS: As difficult as it is, since they are ubiquitous during this time of year, these items must be kept away from our dog and cat friends. We have a strict “no ribbons or tinsel” policy in our house. Cats are notorious for playing with ribbons, and as fun as that can be in the moment, it is no fun when that ribbon becomes a foreign body that is lodged in their stomach or intestine.

The unique problem with ribbon, tinsel, and anything else that is “linear” or string-like, is that one end can attach itself somewhere (like the stomach or at a spot in the intestine) while the intestines attempt to move the rest of it down the tract by peristaltic motion. Peristalsis is the undulating movement of the muscles of the digestive tract used to push food through the system. With this constant movement against an object that is anchored, there is a chance that the string will saw into the intestine and cause it to perforate (form a hole). Any foreign body is a huge, serious deal... a foreign body that has perforated the intestinal tract endangers the patient even more.

Dogs can and do eat ribbons too, as well as any and everything else. The first time I worked an emergency shift on Christmas Eve, a poor sweet Springer Spaniel came in bleeding from the rectum and vocalizing in pain. He had eaten a glass ornament and it had passed all the way through his digestive tract and was now ripping his rectum and anus to shreds as it came out in his stool. As painful and horrible as it was for him, he was lucky that more damage wasn’t done.

ELECTRICAL CORDS: Any animal may chew on an electrical cord at any time, but this is especially a problem with puppies and kittens. Although some animals are lucky enough to have minimal to no complications after chewing on an electrical cord, electrocution should be considered a life-threatening emergency. Even if your pet appears to be normal, immediate veterinary care should be sought.

You may witness your pet chewing on a cord or actually being electrocuted. If you have to separate your dog or cat from the cord, remember not to touch them until the electrical source has been unplugged or turned off. In some cases this is not possible, and a non-conductive object--such as a wooden broom--should be used to move the animal away from the source of electricity. After they are removed from the electrical source, check for breathing and a pulse, and get them to the veterinarian as soon as possible. While in transit to the vet office, cover the animal with a blanket to prevent heat loss and check for injuries to the mouth if it is safe to do so. Cool compresses can be applied to the injuries if possible.

Electrocution can cause severe tissue damage, and in the case of animals biting a cord, it is usually injury to the lips, gums, tongue, and palate. It can also lead to serious internal complications like abnormal electrical impulses in the heart and/or pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs), both of which may be fatal. Usually the electrocution event is not witnessed, and the signs may be more subtle--such as not wanting to eat because of painful injury to the mouth, excessive salivation, or an increased breathing rate and effort.

In most patients with known or suspected electrocution a thorough oral examination is performed and chest x-rays are recommended. The pet should be closely observed for several hours or overnight to make sure they are breathing normally and comfortably. A faster-than-normal respiratory rate (tachypnea) or difficult breathing (dyspnea) may be observed within a few hours of the incident, but x-ray evidence of fluid on the lungs may be delayed. Lesions in the mouth may not be apparent for 24-48 hours, and as with any burn wounds the oral tissue may continue to die and slough off for 2-3 weeks after the injury.

You can expect recheck appointments, repeat x-rays, or delayed surgical correction of lesions in the mouth as the full extent of damage secondary to electrocution is not always immediately apparent. In addition to the concern for electrocution, chewing on electrical cords can also lead to a foreign body obstruction of the stomach and/or intestines if pieces are swallowed. Cord protectors or PVC pipe or cord protectors can be placed around electrical cords to prevent them being chewed on by mischievous little pets. If you suspect it will be a problem based on observed behavior, securing your new puppy or kitten in a crate or small room when you are not at home is always an option.

RISING BREAD DOUGH: The ingestion of rising bread dough can be life-threatening to dogs. The dough may rise in the stomach because of the animal’s body heat and expand to several times its original size. Ethanol is produced when the bread rises, which can increase the acidity of the blood leading to signs of illness.

Clinical signs associated with bread dough ingestion, which causes ethanol toxicity and foreign body obstruction, may include severe abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, depression, and incoordination. Treatment of dogs that are not yet showing clinical signs involves induction of vomiting to get rid of the dough present in the stomach. Pain medication will be used if the animal seems painful. A stomach tube may be placed and cool water passed through to stop or slow the rising process. And in some cases surgery will be necessary to remove the dough from the stomach.

OUTDOORS AND BLACK CATS: Halloween is a creepy, creative, super fun holiday, but people being people can turn it into just plain creepy. Keeping your dogs outside during prime trick-or-treating time makes sense because of the repeated ringing of the doorbell. But when all of the kids have gone home to drool over their loot, the dogs should be brought back into the house. Cats should be kept inside for the whole night, especially if they are black. Sick, twisted, malicious things are sometimes done to innocent animals on a night that is supposed to be about mild mischief, not immoral misdeeds. That’s all I can really say without getting really emotional and on a very tall soap box...

GLOW-IN-THE-DARK STICKS: Glow-sticks and glow-in-the-dark jewelry are most popular around Halloween. The agent that causes them to glow is called dibutyl phthalate and has a low toxicity. Its horrible taste usually limits the amount of exposure that a dog or cat will have, but even a small amount can produce a dramatic effect. Within seconds of biting into the item, you may see profuse salivation and foaming at the mouth, with occasional retching or vomiting, head shaking, and agitation. These signs are usually resolved once the taste of the product is out of the mouth. The taste of the dibutyl phthalate can be diluted with water, milk (not usually advisable to give pets, but in this case a little is fine), or a highly palatable food like tuna or canned food. Make sure that all of the chemical is removed from the skin and fur to prevent re-exposure when the animal grooms.

You can read the next BLOG for information about specific toxicities, from chocolate to macadamia nuts, that can be seen during the holiday season!

Eradicating Fleas

Sun, 19 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0700