Canine Influenza Virus (CIV) is a new and highly contagious respiratory pathogen in dogs.  The clinical syndrome mimics "kennel cough" in many ways, but can progress to pneumonia and serious illness in some dogs.

Flu Facts:
Canine Influenza Virus is an H3N8 enveloped virus thought to have evolved from the Equine Influenza Virus.  Researchers at the University of Florida discovered the illness as a significant respiratory pathogen in racing greyhounds throughout Florida.  The virus was first isolated and identified at The Virology Lab at Cornell University and has been sequenced by the CDC (Center for Disease Control).  There is no evidence of non-canine infection by CIV.  CIV can be killed by quaternary ammonia products or 10% bleach.  It is not thought to survive in the environment for longer than a few hours.  The virus is highly contagious, however, and is spread through respiratory secretions.  People can carry it on their clothing between infected and uninfected dogs, so hygiene is critical when working with affected patients.

All dogs are susceptible, regardless of age or breed, because there is no known naturally acquired or vaccine-induced immunity to the virus.  It is believed that virtually 100% of dogs exposed to the virus become infected, with 80% of these dogs showing some clinical signs and 20% becoming silent carriers/shedders of the virus.
The virus incubates for 2-5 days in a dog before clinical signs appear.  Viral shedding occurs for 7-10 days after the onset of clinical signs.  Death due to severe pneumonia has occurred, but the overall fatality rate is estimated at 1-5%.

Most dogs develop a mild clinical syndrome that involves a soft, wet cough that persists for 10-21 days despite antibiotic therapy.  Others have a dry, hacking cough that might sound similar to a Bordetella/parainfluenza-induced tracheitis.  Many dogs develop malaise, thick nasal discharge, and/or low grade fevers.  A more serious syndrome affects a smaller percentage of patients who develop lower respiratory infections with high spiking fevers which may require prolonged hospitalization and supportive care.

 Testing:
PCR testing from an oropharyngeal swab can be performed, but it is considered to have low clinical yield.  Experts now recommend paired serology 1-2 weeks apart to test for antibodies to the virus. Since natural immunity is not seen yet, all dogs that test positive for the virus are thought to be truly positive for the disease.

Prevention:
Strict quarantine of affected patients and diligent washing of hands and surfaces is critical in preventing spread of the disease.  Dogs should be considered contagious for 14 days after signs appear and should not be boarded, groomed, or introduced into the general population of a veterinary clinic (i.e. waiting room, wards, triage, etc.)

It is advised that all dogs that go outdoors or that may come in contact with other dogs be vaccinated with the Canine Bordatella IN vaccine. This vaccine will not prevent the CIV virus itself but will immunize against the secondary influenza virus.

If you have any questions or concerns about CIV please do not hesitate to ask - your pet's health and well being is our primary goal.

Dr. Lewis J. Gelfand
Dr. Wayne Geltman
Dr. Ric Guzman

*******************************************************

Diamond Dog Food Recall

Permission to Cross post from Judy Zeigler, Crystal Kennels (Judy works for a vet in upstate NY.
Thanks to Kerstin Ottmar for passing this along.

New York State Veterinary Medical Society released a Bulletin today regarding the Aflatoxin found in the
Diamond Dog foods.....
"The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets is aware of a serious Aflatoxin contamination in Dog food manufactured by Diamond Pet foods. Since December 13 there have been reports, primarily from the
Rochester area of at least 5 owners with dogs that became sick after being fed a Diamond Pet
food product. A total of 14 dogs have been affected and 6 of them have died. Testing of three of the dogs that died through Cornell University has confirmed aflatoxicosis as the probable cause of death in all 3 animals. In addition testing of Diamond Pet food samples from these households has revealed at least one sample containing 239 ppb, 2.5 times the toxic level of aflatoxin for dogs."

Most of the reported cases are in the Central NYS area so far..however the food has been shipped all across the Eastern Seaboard. Dr. Center stated dogs can appear normal with blood work only showing slightly increased ALT levels ....these dogs have crashed and bled out hours later.

Symptoms include: Acute vomiting within hours of ingesting contaminated food, anorexia, depression, increased water consumption and urine output and possible death within 3 days of ingesting the contaminated food. Dogs may have evidence of bleeding problems such as blood in the stool or vomitus, bruising or accumulation of blood in chest or abdominal cavities.

Subacute: occurs after chronic ingestion of lower levels over 2-3 weeks. Lethargy, anorexia, changes in liver enzymes and jaundice.

Chronic: immuno-suppression, increased susceptibility to infectious agents. There is also an increased risk of liver cancer in animals exposed to chronic low levels of aflatoxins and in animals that have recovered from acute or subacute poisonings.
There is NO known treatment....only removing the exposure source and supportive care. Please spread the word to anyone possibly feeding this Food............

Linda Flynn
Delegate, South Shore KC

Diamond Pet Food Recall Continued

Despite claims that the brands below are the only brands affected, we have received feedback from pet owners who have recently fed both Cosco"Kirkland" brand pet foods and Chicken Soup Brand Dog Food, whose pets have exhibited the same symptoms as noted with Diamond Brands and the aflatoxin contamination. Please be aware that while these animals had all the same symptoms of aflatoxin illness the test results have not been completed yet and it will be a short time before we know for sure whether their deaths were caused by the food. There are other illnesses and diseases that cause liver failure and may be to blame. But because the foods these animals were eating are all made by Diamond, and the symptoms are the same, we want to warn you to be on the lookout for similar illness in your animals until we know for sure.

If you feed your pet Cosco brands - or ANY other pet food brands (it is possible that other store brands are made at Diamond plants) - and see illness and symptoms as mentioned here, we urge you to get your pet to your veterinarian immediately for a liver profile.

 Because of testing conducted by officials in North Carolina, Diamond Pet Foods has added:

 Diamond Professional for Adult Dogs to the list of recalled products manufactured in our Gaston, S.C. facility and distributed in the eastern U.S. information can be found at www.diamondpet.com, or by calling the Diamond Pet Foods Customer Information Center
toll-free at 1-866-214-6945.

Products manufactured at our Gaston S.C. facility included in the recall:

Diamond Premium Adult Dog Food
Diamond Hi-Energy Dog Food
Diamond Maintenance Dog Food
Diamond Professional for Adult Dogs
Diamond Performance Dog Food
Diamond Puppy Food
Diamond Low Fat Dog Food
Diamond Maintenance Cat Food
Diamond Professional Cat Food
Country Value Puppy
Country Value Adult Dog Food
Country Value High Energy Dog Food
Country Value Adult Cat Food
Professional Chicken & Rice Adult Dog Food
Professional Puppy Food
Professional Large-Breed Puppy Food
Professional Reduced Fat Cat Food
Professional Adult Cat Food

     Dog treats called Greenies are sold in stores everywhere. But Seattle television station KIRO reported that products like them can pose a real danger to dogs.

Matthew Balkman of Issaquah, Wash., uses cheese to reward his dog, Beau. He used to use Greenies, which are designed to clean teeth and freshen doggie breath.

"The dogs do like 'em. They're tasty; he liked eating them," Balkman said. But last May, Beau acted started acting sluggish after eating one.

"He wasn't eating at all," Balkman said. "I took him to the vet, the vet monitored him for a day and said there was something obstructing his bowel, 'We need to go in and operate.'"

Dr. Jayne Jensen performed the operation and removed a large green lump from Beau's intestine.
"She handed it to me, asked me if I knew what this is, and I said, 'Yes, that's a Greenie,'" Balkman said.

The package says Greenies are "100 percent edible," but a company spokeswoman told the station they are "85 percent digestible." "That was not 85 percent digestible," Jensen said. "That was not digestible."

Constance Odle's dog Berkley is recovering from the same emergency surgery. But instead of a Greenie, a similar product was blocking the dog's intestine. "At first, I thought he ate a piece of a toy, and when the vet told me what it was, I felt terrible guilt because I was the one who gave it to him," Odle said.

Berkley is the latest of several dogs Dr. Jennifer McBride has operated on after eating teeth-cleaning products, mostly Greenies.

"We will see things in abdomens that will dissolve like bones and, over time, they will dissolve and go away. But these are mostly indisolvable, so they tend to get stuck more often," McBride said.

The station discovered the results are sometimes fatal. "I tried to revive her," said Gilbert Wright.
Wright lost his prized show dog, "Pompey of the Desert" after feeding him a petite-size Greenies treat. He feels an overwhelming sense of guilt.
"And I will feel that way for the rest of my life," Wright said.

During its investigation, the station tracked down nine people who claim their dogs died after eating Greenies. KIRO passed that information on to the company.

A warning on the Greenies label says to make sure you're giving the right size Greenie for your breed of dog. It also cautions you to "monitor your dog to ensure the treat is adequately chewed".

"They don't chew. They don't even have the muscles to chew. I mean, we chew, we do that. Dogs don't do that," said Jensen.

"They also say on their Web site to avoid gulping or sloppy eating but, heck, people can't even train their children not to do that," said Gilbert Wright.

Company officials with Greenies declined a request for an on-camera interview. They sent a statement expressing sadness over all the dogs in the investigation.

"Millions of Greenies are sold and enjoyed by dogs, every week without incident," it said. And "though injurious incidents are rare, more often than not, the pet is not fed according to our feeding directions."

Beau has recovered from surgery, and Mathew Balkman feels lucky.

"I'm saddened for the people that have actually lost their pets, because we came very close."

Vets say nearly all dog treats, chews and toys can make your pets sick. They say it's important to keep a close eye on them.

*************************************************
Tonsils

I never knew the little buggers could get this...
 This seems to be the season for being scared out of our wits by the little buggers.

Hi guys, Just wanted to calm down some and share my terrifying moment I had today! I am still trembling some from this ordeal! My little 15 lb. baby boy fur dog, scared the death out of me. I was holding my 5 month old grandson at the time and my little snuggles came running up the hallway and fell right at my feet and he stiffened out. I laid the baby on the floor and felt down his throat. I thought I felt something, did not know for sure! His eyes were wide and pleading for me to do something! I kept trying to feel for anything in his throat, I banged his back pushed on his chest blew in his mouth. I know I was going nuts! I cried out to my daughter who tried to get him breathing.

 By this time his little tongue and around his mouth was getting blue and he stiffened out so. I started praying and my daughter finally loosen something up in his throat and he began to breathe better! I grabbed him and rushed up the road to the vets. The vet checked him out and surprisingly he found out my little guy has tonsils the size of an elephant! A piece of food got lodged in his airway. He gave him a shot and he cannot eat for 2 days. I never thought of a dog getting swollen tonsils before. But
the vet said they can just like a child.

The odd thing about it he had no signs whatever before this. The vet said they usually gag and cough before it gets this bad but he never did so I guess it can come on immediately too.

Well anyways tonight I have a lot to be thankful for! My little guy is running around with is little blankey tonight. Lets just be thankful for all the things we take for granted every day! You never know when you can unexpectedly lose them.     Janna

********************************************************

Housebreaking tricks for adult dogs and puppies alike.
By Alta

Steps you take to break an older dog

First it helps to have four or five others and a doggy door.  I put them out every two hours during the day and praise mightily when they perform.  After a while (a week or so) they get the idea. When they have an accident in the house I clean it up with a product called OUT from Wal-Mart.

Most mature dogs will make it through the night without a problem.  If I think that is not the case, I crate them.  The rule of thumb that they can hold it for one hour for each month they are old. This works well for me as a measure of how long they can be crated before an accident.

I think that some people get uptight about the whole thing and over-react.  I have never really had a problem but then I keep the OUT and lots of paper towels handy. Personally I would rather train a dog than a child.

How long to do keep them out there before bringing them in?
3 to 10 minutes, sometimes longer. A lot depends on the weather.

And when do you start extending the time between outside visits?
When they start going fairly consistently every two hours.

If they do have an accident do you promptly bring them outside?
Yes, BEFORE I clean up.

 OUT is a Pet Stain and Odor Remover.  Effective on urine, vomit, blood, feces and more.  You can find it in the pet department in 32oz spray bottles and economy size half gallons for refills. It is not expensive at all. I've tried it on everything but blood (I never thought to) and it works much better than all the high priced stuff that I've tried.

The key is consistency, the harder you work in the beginning to get them broke the faster it will take. Once broke, you are all set.
BACK TO INDEX