Dog

Reflections Back on 2017 from the New Year

/ Dr. Christine McFadden / Leave a comment

I can’t speak for you, but let me start this by saying that I spent my first night of the new year sleeping on the floor. No, you too? So let our first resolution be to stay home next year! Nothing stronger than water had crossed my lips, we missed the ball drop in New York because we were arguing too much as we channel-surfed at the last minute and I couldn’t tell you if there were midnight fireworks because we were all asleep long before the year crossed over. Some of us on the floor. I was there mostly because the makeshift mattress set up for the kids was very narrow. If you were next to your mom you would be snuggling, but if forced to share the same space with your sister it would have been a war zone all night. I chose “some sleep” over “none”. The great thing to come out of this? Everything settled to the down side and I’m convinced my silhouette, as seen from the left, is much slimmer.

I had lots of time to think while performing this balancing act. I remembered the faces of some I’d said goodbye to in the previous year. “Nella” was a gallant Golden Retriever. He was named as a young dog by a child too young to know a girl name from a boys and owned by a war veteran too kind to correct the child. Nella was the color of a vanilla wafer cookie. He was a big-hearted dog, always gently greeting me with a wave of his plumed tail, no matter the exams, the blood tests or x-rays that were needed. At 16 years of age, he suffered from severe arthritis. His owner always had a kind smile and a silly joke when he came in. He thanked us for our efforts to keep the big dog comfortable. He cooked for Nella when needed. On the bad days we hugged. And finally there was no denying that the most loving thing he could do for his dog was to let him go.

I started 2017 with a C-section delivery on Jan. 1. Ring in the new!

I ended 2017 with an 18 pound cat, Shrek, that had his bladder obstructed by tiny bladder stones they call “sand.” He couldn’t urinate. His bladder filled up tight as an over-filled balloon and the plumbing backed up until the pressure shut down his kidneys. It is hard to walk when your bladder feels like a large boulder in your stomach. When your kidneys shut down you feel tremendous nausea. It’s called uremic poisoning, because the body waste that the kidneys should filter out are reabsorbed into the bloodstream, poisoning you. It is impossible to eat when your kidneys shut down. A true emergency, his bladder at risk of rupture, we rushed Shrek into surgery. Under anesthesia we spent long minutes trying to break down the plug of small grit blocking his urethra until we could place a bladder catheter and empty his bladder. Then we pumped him full of intravenous fluids to encourage his kidneys to go back to work. Shrek looked a little odd, with one tube dripping fluids in at the front end and another dripping out more fluids (urine) at the back end. Key to prevent recurrent formation of this “sand” in Shrek will be his conversion to a diet of food developed specifically to prevent urinary sand of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) syndrome.

My final thoughts before drifting off to sleep were of the first stanza of a poem I memorized years ago. The poem is by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,

The flying cloud, the frosty light:

The year is dying in the night;

Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

 

May the new year be kind to you and your pets.

Christine B. McFadden, DVM

drmc@mcmenagerie.com

Heatstroke

/ Dr. Christine McFadden / Leave a comment

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May 24, 2016
Summer is coming. In Merced that can mean baking temperatures over 100 degrees. Even if the day doesn’t go over the 90’s, the black asphalt paths that line Bear Creek, Black Rascal Creek and many other favorite walking paths will heat up significantly, holding the heat well into the evening hours. People walking in rubber soled sneakers may not notice how hot the ground feels. I actually recommend that clients who take their pets out for an evening stroll bend down and place a flattened palm to the sidewalk or path – only then will they recognize what their dogs’ feet are feeling. Sometimes my hand has burned at 9 o’clock at night! If at all possible, consider early morning walks with your dog – they can be quite refreshing and you might take in an egret or hawk flying overhead.

Dogs are digitigrade (love words!), meaning they stand and bear their weight on their toes, not a sole or heel like a person. Each toe is covered by a protective pad of keratin, a horned callus that protects them from injury. Inside that is thick fatty tissue, a good shock absorber. This pad is soft in young puppies, thickening and hardening with the use they get from exercise and exposure to different terrain. A dog that has sat on the couch all summer will have tender feet if suddenly expected to go game hunting for miles in the fall. That bicycle ride you took, with your dog running gamely behind? Don’t be surprised if he or she comes up lame the next day, bare patches of pad rubbed away to expose bleeding sores. This goes way beyond blisters and will take weeks to heal, as the lost tissue can’t be sewn back on, but must slowly granulate in from the sides of the wound. Walking on soft grass is about all those dogs can bear to do for some time. Don’t take your dog’s feet or athleticism for granted – they need regular, planned exercise for peak performance and health. This is your chance to shine as a Personal Trainer! Don’t blow it!

I would like to believe everyone knows not to leave a dog in a car in a parking lot during our summers. Forget cracking the windows. A CRACKED WINDOW WILL NOT PREVENT HEAT BUILD UP IN THE CAR. It has been estimated that even on a day when the outdoors temperature is in the mid-70’s, that the interior of a car can rise to over 100 degrees or higher in less than 30 minutes. Seventy degrees? Can you imagine how quickly that temperature spikes in our area on a real summer day? One estimate I read stated that on a 90 degree day the inside of a car could reach 110 degrees in less than 10 minutes! The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) posts some interesting and horrible facts from several studies on Pets in Vehicles.  The car acts like a greenhouse, with the air unable to circulate or get back out through the windows. The pet cannot breathe in the overheated air and dies from heatstroke. The dogs core (inside) body temperature may go over 104 degrees. The highest temperature I ever recorded in the stomach of a dog that had died from heatstroke was 110 degrees – our thermometer didn’t register any higher. It was too hot to keep my gloved hand inside to perform the necropsy. (The word “autopsy” is reserved for post-mortem examinations of humans or “self”. An autopsy is an examination done to determine the cause of death. In animals we most commonly use the word necropsy.). These are very sad moments, indeed. California does have laws restricting leaving pets confined inside a car under conditions that endanger the pet’s life. Please, leave your pet at home while you run errands. Here in the Valley make sure your outdoor kennels are not all concrete, baking in the sun. Shade cloth is not enough protection, either. Mature trees, watered and shaded grass, even outdoor misters should all be considered for your dog’s health and comfort during the summer days when they are outdoors. As we see each summer, it is a matter of life or death.

Christine B. McFadden, DVM
drmc@mcmenagerie.com

 

Biteth Like A Serpent

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March 29, 2016
It was near the end of four years of vet school and we were feeling pretty tough. With Board exams behind us, jobs or vacations all set, my classmates and I were just wrapping up the final pieces. Among other things this included looking into health insurance now that campus charity would not be there to cushion us.

The American Veterinary Medical Association, or AVMA, at that time offered a group insurance plan for veterinarians. Enticingly, full coverage was extended to everyone, no exclusions or waivers, as long as you signed up before actually graduating (this was in 1982). And they brought it right to our doorstep, holding a meeting in a classroom setting. Their plan was offered by one insurance company. We had the choice of one insurance agent, who handled the Sacramento area and probably made a bundle in June commissions before we scattered far and wide into others’ territories. If female and interested in maternity coverage you had the choice of one plan. The decision being out of my hands I was only mildly interested in what the man had to say. The charts and overlays flipped past. Plans A, B, and C. Daily hospital rates. Deductibles. Don’t die in San Francisco if you’re trying to save money.

Then came the part that was just for us, customized care for the lucky veterinarian. Rabies coverage. Disability coverage, strongly recommended for the solo practitioner. Hunh? Before I could take in the implications of “disability”, he threw out “dismemberment”. Enthusiastically the presenting agent gave a few examples, vividly sharing several gory stories. Hot stuff. I sat up straight. Dismemberment? DisMEMberment? What kind of profession was I going into? What would my mother say? I personally was going forth to save lives, perform miracle surgeries, educate the world about the wonders of modern veterinary medicine………….and someone was suggesting that an ungrateful little wretch of an animal might try to chew my face up and tear me limb from limb? Unheard of! Monstrous! I had been bitten, kicked and had my nose broken all in the line of duty but it had never crossed my mind that I might come way eyeless or armless. Too startled to absorb this information quickly I was still on “indignant” and barely registered when he got to “death”. Disability, dismemberment and death. Satisfied that he’d covered the fine print the insurance agent moved on. I never heard another word of his presentation.

I’m happy to report that the above never happened. Not that some pretty good efforts haven’t been made by some less-than-pleased patients. The danger of a pet attacking you is slight, but everyone should keep in mind a saying that a veterinarian once passed on to me, “ALL dogs bite”.  In March, 2015 the AVMA published a study, available to view on-line “Dog Bite Risk and Prevention : The Role of The Breed”. If you peruse the article and lists of breeds you will note that popular breeds are higher on the list, perhaps incorrectly black-listed simply because there are a LOT more of them. You are certainly more likely to be bitten by a Chihuahua in Merced than a Briard. Be cautious around stray dogs. Don’t tolerate mouthing by your own pet. Don’t give your dog bones when children are near. In short, never let your dog think that it’s alright to bite you or anyone that you have introduced to your dog. Including (smile!) your veterinarian.

Christine B. McFadden, DVM
drmc@mcmenagerie.com

 

Variety Is The Spice Of Life

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February 17, 2016
They say variety is the spice of life. I am fortunate to have an extremely interesting career! In the past eight days I have seen one rabbit with an ear ache and spayed another. A lizard presented with scoliosis, curvature of the spine, caused by underlying malnutrition. I saw a cat with a very odd skin mite that may not have been diagnosed in Merced before! By the simple act of pressing scotch tape over the cat’s dander and looking at this under the microscope I found a mite I’d never seen before. My colleague, Dr. Klingborg, identified it from a derm (skin) meeting he’d attended in November and now we’ve held several discussions on the presence of this mite in Merced (it is considered to be contagious between cats). And always, the “usual” mix of cats, dogs, and birds. Today while performing spay surgeries (an ovariohysterectomy surgery) on cats I opened up one female cat only to find parts of a mummified fetus in her abdomen, causing no known distress to her before today. I completed the surgery and explained the situation to her owner, using digital photos taken during the surgery. Another veterinarian in the practice, Dr. Lauppe, was doing an orthopedic surgery on an injured knee while Dr. K removed a cancerous mass and attended to a dog that had been attacked by another dog (BBBD – Bit By Big Dog). A guinea pig with an eye ulcer came in and the Zoo needs a review on the Mountain Lion’s diet. A delightful Labrador had five enormous rotting teeth extracted and went home on antibiotics and painkillers. In two weeks he’ll be soooo much better! A lady called about a duck she thought might have eaten a tiny battery (the battery could corrode the stomach and cause heavy metal poisoning. All waterfowl are at risk of ingesting odd metal objects – they just like shiny objects). A woman (I never got her name) brought in a hummingbird that “fell from the sky”. We mixed up sugar water, revived the uninjured bird and sent it off with her to be released where she found it. An abuse case was brought in by Animal Control and a pregnant dog with three puppies stuck inside presented for a Caesarean section, performed beautifully by one of the other vets. I saw a Sulcata African tortoise with a mild upper respiratory disease and discussed the special dietary needs the new owner would want to address. Obtained from a Tortoise rescue group, the Sulcata’s shell mounded up on top, called pyramiding of the carapace. Much like the lizard with the deformed spine, it indicated an improper calcium and vitamin D ratio, the tip of the iceberg for signs indicating malnutrition.

February is National Dental Month for Dogs and Cats and most veterinarians who care for companion animals focus special attention on dental care this month. In veterinary medicine we are not focused on the whitest smile to impress someone! You are most fortunate if you have never experienced a tooth ache. Some dogs present with teeth so brown with mineralized plaque and calculus that it looks like moss has grown on them. That bad breath smell is from the bacteria growing along and under the gum line. The same bacteria that can dislodge and spread to the heart or kidneys. Cats demonstrate “jaw chatter” if you touch a tooth with a neck lesion cavity near the gum line – you can observe this incredibly painful response after you peel your cat off the ceiling. Most dogs and cats continue to eat despite foul teeth – please do not judge your pet’s dental pain by whether they haven’t starved to death! Over the years I have heard countless times of pets that “acted years younger” once their abscessed teeth were removed, their mouths healthy again. Call your vet today – there are some great deals out there this month!

Christine B. McFadden, DVM
drmc@mcmenagerie.com

Canine Obstetrics

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January 5, 2016
Have you ever wondered about the similarities between pregnancies for dogs versus people? If you were to ask a dog, you might be surprised. Molly was a Miniature Schnauzer, black and silver, who had undergone a planned breeding. Following the textbook, Molly was bred on Days 9 and 11 after showing the first signs of her heat, or estrus cycle. She “took”. Early on Molly cried when she tried to jump onto the couch. Only 3 weeks into a measly 63 day gestation (compared to a woman’s 40 week gestation), we were pretty sure she felt tugging in her tummy as her uterine ligaments stretched to support the expanding womb. Her owner made a step-up to the couch for her. She was switched to a high protein, calcium-rich puppy food during the pregnancy and would continue this food through her lactation. Her girlish figure didn’t change much during the first 5 weeks when, kaboom, she blossomed out with a full tummy (anyone relating here?). Although her appetite had been ravenous after the intial weeks, in late pregnancy Molly began to eat small meals as the pressure from her pregnancy compressed her stomach and diaphragm. She waddled. She was easily winded, no more chasing butterflies. Treats sounded fantastic and had to be closely rationed.

One of the interesting things about dogs is the shape of their bicornuate uterus, which has a tiny uterine body but very long “horns”, tube-like structures along which multiple fetal puppies can attach and grow. As the uterine horns expand with the growing puppies, the support cradle of uterine ligaments must also stretch and a close outside observer may witness the primparous (first pregnancy) dog’s discomfort as she moves about. After day 45 of the pregnancy x-rays may be taken to ascertain the number of pups to expect, as the skeletons are well-calcified. On an x-ray the puppies look like little fish. We count only the skulls, as backbones and legs can appear tangled together (though in reality each puppy is safe inside its own placental sac). An ultrasound can also be performed to assess the number of puppies (ultrasound may be less accurate in determining fetal number) and check for fetal heartbeats. Knowing how many puppies to expect is very helpful when the time comes – for the mothers sake you want to be certain her labor is over and there are no retained, unborn puppies stuck inside.  As the pregnancy progresses, it is fascinating to note that the puppies in one sense send out a signal to the Mom that they are ready to be born! Each puppy has its own placenta, the little birthing sac they grow inside. Puppy and placenta will secrete hormones to start the birthing process, relaxing the pelvic ligaments and assisting the body to open up for delivery. It has been suggested as hypothesis that singleton pups (only one inside) are more likely to need a Caesarean-section (a surgical delivery) because one puppy placenta may not make enough hormones to set things in motion. The hormone oxytocin facilitates actual contractions, and may be given by injection if your veterinarian needs to assist the labor process. An oxytocin intravenous drip, as used in people, is not effective in dogs.

Molly tried to make a nest in her owner’s closet, carefully raiding the hamper for suitable soft clothes. Doubtless the scent of her owner was reassuring – nevertheless, they put her own bed in place and retrieved their things. Birthing is messy. As the time for the whelping (parturition) drew near, her owners found it valuable to take her temperature rectally twice a day. The body temperature drop is caused by the sudden drop in the hormone progesterone when birth is imminent. At home a dog’s temperature may normally run between 100 to 101 degrees. In many expectant dogs, the temperature will drop sharply within 24 hours of going into labor. If you see the thermometer registering 97 degrees, time to stay close!

One Thursday night Molly went into labor. She had skipped her breakfast and seemed to be distracted during the day. Finally, it was obvious that she started contractions. You could see her stomach scrunch up as they became harder! Molly huddled near her owner, panting furiously. She was a little surprised by the pain, scared. After about an hour, Molly delivered her first puppy with a short scream (it hurt), then turned to help open the placenta and lick her firstborns face. Had the dog pushed hard with no results for over an hour her owners would have brought her in to the veterinarian.  The pup squealed with it’s first breath and Molly properly chewed through the umbilical cord. In 20 – 30 minute intervals, she delivered a litter of 5 healthy puppies. After a change of bedding, she rounded them all up and they began to nurse. A most successful outcome. Fourteen hours later, Molly’s owner delivered her own healthy baby. It was a busy house!

Christine McFadden, DVM
drmc@mcmenagaerie.com

 

Chemotherapy in Lymphoma

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November 30, 2015
Chemotherapy is a long word. The definition doesn’t do justice to the fear derived from a term that means only “chemical treatment”. In reality, “chemotherapy” is a word primarily used for a group of cytotoxic drugs, cell killing medicine used in the treatment of cancers. Cancer is a disease that can occur in any body part, any cell line of the body. Cancer occurs when that particular type of cell goes haywire and starts to divide abnormally, faster and faster, so these abnormal cells become a big mass that invades and overgrows the normal healthy cells. This abnormal mass of cells will eventually infiltrate, overwhelm, and kill the normal cells of the organ or body part they grew from. Finding medicine to combat all the different types of cancer that occur is a challenging job, and the drugs used often come with side effects which are themselves feared.

“Ruby” is a beautiful mahogany coated Irish Setter. She’s a little over 7 years old now, and enjoyed some success in the show ring when she was younger. Her owners bred her after careful consideration and her pups were highly sought after. She was retired from the show ring and breeding and had been happily ensconced as a beloved house pet for many years when one night while brushing her out her owners noted two firm lumps along her jaw line. They didn’t seem painful to Ruby, but on closer examination it looked a little like she had human Mumps. Ruby ate all her dinner that night and was playful on her walk but they decided to get this checked out anyway.

We saw her two days later and found things much as her owners reported. Bright eyed, active, in good weight, Ruby was playful for her exam. Pressure on the swellings below her jaw seemed a bit uncomfortable – she wiggled backwards during that part of the exam. The swellings were located where the back of the mandible, or jaw, meets the neck, a common site for lymph nodes. Lymph nodes filter lymph, a body fluid, cleaning it of bacteria and other toxins before the lymph is returned to the general blood stream. As sentinels for infection trying to enter the body, many kinds of disease might cause them to swell up a bit as they swing into action to defend the body. Ruby was examined along the several key points of external lymph nodes found over her body. We detected two more suspect lymph nodes that seemed enlarged.

As with so much of medicine, there is a standard protocol that is usually initiated, sort of the building blocks of investigation into diagnosing a disease. These steps cannot be lightly skipped, as one should always start out looking for the most common of problems and adding on further tests as deemed necessary to answer and understand the disease completely.

On this day we recommended performing needle aspirates of the masses and a blood panel.  A needle aspirate is a straightforward procedure: a needle is attached to a medium sized syringe and gently inserted into the antiseptically cleaned mass in question. The syringe must be large enough to exert enough suction to withdraw a sampling of cells from the mass. Sometimes liquid is present, sometimes nothing appears to come back into the syringe. The needle is carefully separated and then the open syringe reattached to “blow” the cells collected onto clean glass slides. These slides will be stained and examined at the laboratory to identify WHAT the mass is, if there are signs of infection, abnormal cells, perhaps what type of organ it is from. The blood panel does a general check for all body systems and functions, though it will not detect a specific cancer (barring a blood cancer leukemia).

Ruby’s aspirate confirmed that the masses under her jaw were her lymph nodes. In a normal adult dog over 80% of the lymphocyte cells are small, round “Mature” cells. In Ruby’s aspirate more than 50 % were big immature blobs of cells. Ruby’s blood panel was actually normal. Additional tests of x-rays and an abdominal ultrasound were recommended to check for enlargement of any internal lymph nodes. Her chest x-rays were clean, but the abdominal ultrasound revealed another enlarged node.

These tests were completed in less than a week. With this information we were able to stage Ruby’s Lymphoma cancer and she was considered a good candidate for chemotherapy. This started as a once a week treatment as she cycled through four different medications each month. Vincristine, Doxorubicin, cyclophosamide, asparaginase and prednisone may all be used in the treatment of Canine Lymphoma. Side effects from the chemotherapy can include the same kinds of problems many people report, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hair loss and worse. The reality is that we treat multiple dogs and cats with chemotherapy for a variety of cancers every year and rarely see discomfort from these things. This is a blessing for both pet and owner and allows us to both recommend and administer chemotherapy comfortably.

Within 2 weeks the lymph nodes under Ruby’s jaw had dramatically returned to normal size. Her owners were unable to tell that she was on medication of any kind, except for a healthier appetite spurred by the prednisone, a steroid. Without chemotherapy, Ruby might have lived 90 days. Although chemotherapy has put Ruby in remission, it is not a permanent cure, and she still requires treatment every couple of weeks, but Ruby is an 8 month cancer survivor and going strong!

Christine B. McFadden, DVM
drmc@mcmenagerie.com

 

Seizure Disorders

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Dr Mc Blog

 

September 9, 2015
There was a tremendous commotion at the front door. I looked up to see a tiny ball of fur writhing in circles in the open doorway as her owner struggled to balance the door and simultaneously pick up her pet. Just as I reached them, the dog suddenly stopped her flailing, stood up, shook her coat and trotted the rest of the way in. Her owner looked up at me and shrugged wearily. “Coco does this every time she comes in for a bath.”

Really? Her dog had a SEIZURE every time she was groomed? I found this incredible. Actually, I didn’t believe it. There were some gaps in my medical training which Coco was going to neatly plug. Oh, I knew a lot about seizure disorders. A seizure or convulsion is when the brain has an electrical misfire and the body loses control, most often recognized when a pet falls to the ground, its legs jerking uncontrollably. In humans this is called a grand mal seizure. Any kind of animal may suffer from a seizure, sometimes as simple as staring blankly at a wall, to chasing butterflies to a full-blown fit.

There are many causes for seizures. One big group that lumps many chemicals together is “poison”. Thirty years ago strychnine poisonings were still being seen here in Merced – leftover coyote bait? I don’t know. Most of those chemicals are long gone and illegal today. Some have been replaced by less toxic yet effective products. The snail bait metaldehyde that can lead to seizures and death in pets is slowly disappearing as an iron chelate compound takes its place.

Many pets which have their first seizure at home scare their family no end, but are up and running around like normal by the time they arrive – emergency! at the clinic. Why do we ask you to come in? Because we don’t know if your dog will stop seizing on its own, and when the seizure continues over 10 minutes or longer, called status epilepticus, your pet may be at risk of dying. Dogs in status epilepticus, for example, may need to be completely anesthetized to allow his or her muscles to unclench from their rigor, and may have to be kept heavily sedated for a prolonged period of time. This requires hospitalization, IV fluid support and intensive nursing care.

If your pet DOES have a seizure, try to time it (yes, it feels like an eternity!). Most last less than 2 minutes. Do NOT try to grab your pet’s head – it may bite you. Dogs do not swallow their tongue while seizing. Most pets recover quickly from a seizure. If not on emergency, have your pet seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible.

If the pet is not still seizing when brought to the hospital we will want to run some blood tests. There are a wide variety of organic diseases that may lead to a seizure. Oddly enough, low blood calcium is one. Calcium is not only needed for strong bones, but it is vital for every muscle contraction, including the beating of the heart. A mother dog with a large litter of pups or possibly a poor diet may present in tetany when milk production drains her body of calcium. Low blood sugar is a common problem in toy breeds. Electrolyte disturbances, the body’s salts, can lead to seizure like activity. The liver, the pancreas, the parathyroid glands, the brain! It all becomes very complicated. Many times when we find a problem on the blood tests we can treat the underlying disease specifically and the seizures will disappear. Sometimes, when the blood tests are normal and the seizures recurrent, we diagnose Epilepsy. If there is reason to be concerned about brain cancer a test by CT brain scan is available for pets at several centers in the Valley.

Epilepsy is still incompletely understood. It may be inherited or may occur secondary to severe head trauma, like being kicked by a cow. Often we diagnose “idiopathic” epilepsy meaning “I don’t know why”. Most epileptic cases are treated with similar medications, regardless of underlying cause. Anticonvulsant medications work through their sedative effect on the brain, calming the electrical impulses so they do not cross the excitement or seizure “threshold” that results in a “fit”.

While the onset of most seizures is never understood – so there is no preventing nor anticipating the next one – Coco set out to prove that yes, doggie drama queens do exist! We ran her blood work. Normal. We started her on anticonvulsants. She seizured “like always” at her next bath. We changed meds. Another seizure with the suds. Her owner swore that Coco never had a seizure at home. We never saw a seizure with vaccinations! Not over a blood draw! Not with the clippers! Something about running water and shampoo just pushed her over the edge. It was not worth medicating her for such infrequent events. Though possibly less stylish, Coco was home bathed after that and sternly warned to stay out of mud puddles!

Christine B. McFadden, DVM
drmc@mcmenagerie.com

 

 

 

 

Canine Distemper

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Dr Mc Blog

June 24, 2015
There has been much dialogue and soul searching among the people of California after an outbreak of human measles occurred last Christmas. The source of contagion was traced to a child visiting Disneyland. Ultimately over 100 people were affected across many states. Part of the controversy? There is a preventative vaccine against measles, but many of these sick children had not received it. You see, there is a group of people who are opposed to vaccinations (immunization) for children. Some believed measles to have been “eradicated” in the United States since 2000. The problem is, we don’t live in a bubble. We share our earth with an ever-changing flux of people. Exposure to other people’s viruses and bacteria is as simple as going to the grocery store, sight-seeing in San Francisco, a vacation to an exotic locale. I repeat, we do not live in a tidy self-preserved bubble (gated community attempts aside).

Neither does your dog. So let’s talk about the canine distemper virus, which most of todays’ veterinarians in the big cities have never seen. Come practice in Merced County. Where, simply because of the lack of proper vaccination starting between 6 to 8 weeks of age, we do in fact see this disease. Puppies are at highest risk because of their still-developing immune system, but even older unvaccinated dogs can contract distemper. Did you know that the Canine Distemper virus is actually a relative of the human measles virus? (Your dog cannot make you sick).

The virus is passed directly from one infected dog to another, often by a cough or snotty nose sprayed into the face of another dog. Surprisingly, the virus doesn’t live long in the environment by itself, but people can transmit it accidentally if they’re handling one puppy’s sick nose and spread its mucous to another dog through petting – dogs always run up to you nose first, right?

The first signs of illness start 10 to 14 days after initial exposure to another sick dog. Your dog might have a horrible runny nose, goopy eyes and a deep cough. In the early stages the dog may run a very high fever, 105 degrees or more. It is always on our list of rule-outs for a coughing dog. If we are secure that your puppy is properly vaccinated we will place it lower on our list, but not eliminate distemper entirely. Definitive laboratory diagnosis can be difficult. When clinical signs are present, both blood tests and an oral cheek swab of saliva can aid in the diagnosis of distemper.

There are more than one strain of distemper viruses, some more virulent than others. Sometimes the virus moves quickly through its phases, sometimes an owner believes their pet has recovered, only to come down with “new” and very serious problems 2 to 3 months later. There is no cure for Distemper.

After the upper respiratory signs, the virus may affect the gastrointestinal tract. The “gastro” part or stomach responds by vomiting. The intestinal part responds with diarrhea. The dog is miserable and dehydration and weight loss are quick to follow. Many dogs die at this stage.

If the dog’s body continues to fight, the virus may attack the nervous system, creating palsies and seizures. One particular seizure is called the “chewing gum fit” – it looks as if the dog is chewing gum as its jaws work up and down. This a pathognomonic (classic, diagnostic) seizure disorder of Canine Distemper.

Once neurological signs are seen the dog is not expected to ever fully recover; though some may be partially stabilized with anti-convulsant medications, other will carry a twitching paw or be prone to seizures for the rest of their life. More than 80% of affected puppies and non-vaccinated older dogs who contract this disease will die of it. The survivors may never be wholly healthy.

And all this for lack of a vaccine. Even dogs enjoy getting together for the good times with their fellow doggie and human friends! Whether your dog is a globetrotter or a stay-at-home please protect your pets : Vaccinate your loved ones.

Christine B. McFadden, DVM
drmc@mcmenagerie.com
Valley Animal Hospital, Merced

Femoral Head Ostectomy and Mercy

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Dr Mc Blog

June 3, 2015
She named her “Mercy”, a nod towards her future as an elementary school mascot. She was a cute little black and white ball of fluff, guaranteed part Border Collie. Part what else wasn’t mentioned. A bright puppy, Mercy suffered no fools. People wielding needles were not popular with her (picture a grown veterinarian trying to explain how vaccinations are lifesaving to a tiny puppy throwing a tantrum. Score : Puppy 1/ vet 0). By the time she’d been through all her puppy visits and spayed Mercy had had it! She began to stalk me when she saw me, sounding the alarm far and wide to all who’d listen. If I ignored her and walked away she’d bounce after me, stiff legged and barking in staccato yaps. If I turned to her she’d stop and lower her head to graciously allow me to pet her – but growled under her breath the entire time. Mercy is not good advertising for me.

Mercy takes her school duties seriously, snuggling up with children who need a friend and a furry hug while they find their way through problems. Mercy doesn’t choose sides on the playground. She has been known to dress up in ridiculous costumes for a rally or fundraiser. Most of all, Mercy can be depended upon to dispose of unwanted lunch items without tattling.

The dog has it made.

So I was a little surprised to find her in my office early one Monday morning. At a family picnic over the weekend she had joined in some doggie games and got rolled. She came up limping in back and hadn’t used the leg since, though bravely she didn’t cry. Her big brown eyes followed me quietly. After a gentle exam I recommended we start with a set of x-rays taken under sedation, so she wouldn’t feel further pain during the necessary manipulation to get good pictures of her bones.

We discovered that Mercy had dislocated her hip. The head or ball of the upper thigh bone is cupped inside a socket, called the acetabulum, of the hip. It swivels securely here, held in place by the depth of the socket and one very strong ligament.   This ball-and-socket joint allows tremendous range of motion and is very difficult to separate. Usually only blunt trauma, like hit-by-car can create a strong shearing force that breaks the ligament, yet not the bones. Mercy had not had a severe accident, but the clue to the underlying cause for her leg to succumb to a lesser injury was there on the x-ray : Mercy’s hip socket was flat, not deeply cupped. It had been so much easier for a quick blow to snap the ligament since the whole set-up was already relatively unstable. Once knocked out of place the strong thigh muscles kept the leg pulled forward.

Mercy was already under anesthesia for the x-rays, so after notifying the owner of her diagnosis we manipulated the head of her femur or thigh bone back into place. This is called a “closed” reduction of a dislocated leg (as opposed to an “open” or surgical reduction).The procedure went smoothly, probably for the wrong reasons : it was easier to pop back in place because it was more of a slide over the flattened edges of the acetabulum than a real “pop” into place. We bandaged her leg in an old fashioned sling and sent her home. On re-check 2 weeks later we found, not surprisingly, that her femur had slipped back out of place and we moved on to a salvage surgery called a femoral head ostectomy – translated backwards it means “to cut off the head of the femur”. It sounds awful and I’m surprised more people don’t faint when confronted with this description. The ligament cannot be repaired or replaced. Left alone, the ball part of the bone will grind into the pelvic bones, creating severe pain. However, remove the ball, leaving an unconnected “stick” of thigh bone but with all muscles attached and the leg will align where it should and a strong band of scar tissue called a “false joint” will form over time. Small dogs and cats will often have 100% recovery, larger dogs may exhibit a small sway to their gait. Mercy was walking on her injured leg before the sutures came out.

It’s been a couple of years now and I suspect most people have forgotten she ever had the injury. A testament to the benefits of orthopedic surgery, Mercy walks and trots just fine. (Mercy does not deign to run. A dog of her stature has no need to comport herself in such common fashion. My suggestion that a few too many corn dogs might be slowing her down was rejected with disbelief. Shame on me!).

Though Mercy continues to energetically terrorize me whenever we meet, I have one small revenge. As she has grown, it’s become obvious that very little of a Border Collie’s genes are included in her genetic makeup. In fact, while she was routing me one day I was reminded of a scene straight out of the Wizard of Oz, where a little dog of similar build bit the leg of a neighbor lady (soon to become the Wicked Witch of the West) and started that whole journey through the tornado…… I now call her “Toto” and darned if she doesn’t come running up to me for a long pet, growling the entire time. We have reached a mutual understanding and I am content.

Christine B. McFadden, DVM
drmc@mcmenagerie.com
Valley Animal Hospital, Merced

Merced’s Loss

/ Dr. Christine McFadden / Leave a comment

Dr Mc Blog

 

May 5, 2015
In the wake of this weeks’ horror story it has been very difficult to write about a pet disease or the function of a particular body organ. I have been in practice in this town, this community for over thirty years. I have seen incredible acts of kindness towards all manner of animals and I have witnessed cruelty and abuse towards many pets. The story of Lucious is perhaps the most violent case of pet abuse I have ever heard of in Merced.

Dogs and cats are called “companion” animals because of all that they give to humans in the way of companionship. Companion by definition being “a helpful friend”. Some say there are more pet dogs and cats in this country than children. That homes with children are very likely to own a pet dog or cat. Seniors are noted to have special bonds with their pets. The handicapped rely on service pets to assist them physically (and may be their best buds). Peace Officers and Military personnel count on them to have their backs. Dogs and cats, it seems, are everywhere, there is one to fit anybody, a pet to fill virtually every need.

Pets love you. You will never feel alone with a pet. They follow you around the house. Like kids, they wait outside the bathroom door until you’re done. Or inside, if you forget to shut the door. They’ll garden with you. When the kids have all grown up and left home they’re there, waiting to be touched and petted when maybe you don’t get the hugs you were used to. Pets are right there for the child who needs to talk to someone when no one else understands. Pets cuddle and will often sleep under the covers.  They hog the bed. They help you brave the dark. Pets coerce you to join them in outdoor outings, get some exercise. They bring you back to the simple things in life, like enjoying a nap in a sunbeam coming through the window. They are there to go on walks with you. They rarely snore when you’re talking to them. They won’t switch channels on you, either. They’re pretty much always willing to join you in the kitchen and in case your clock batteries run down they’ll keep you on time for meals. You are loved whether or not you have wrinkles, a bad hair day, or belch. They aren’t impressed by a degree nor do they care how much money you make. Their love is the closest you may get to “unconditional”. Dogs and cats do require some food, water, a few basics. Veterinary health care will fulfill most of their medical needs. Vaccinations, deworming, parasite prevention being key for all life stages. You add food and love to the recipe and it usually turns out alright.

As I write this my dog is at my feet, having followed me over to the computer. A cat sleeps nearby, having considered the situation and being somewhat put out that I won’t (cannot) make lap space at present. The rest of the household is asleep. I am not alone. According to the American Humane Society of the United States, in 2012 62% of all American households owned at least one pet.

I am not alone in the greater community of Merced that was horrified to learn of the brutal attack and ultimate death of a Merced dog last week. No need to repaint the ugly scene. I find words inadequate at such times. Animal abuse is reportable for the sake of the animals. Animal abuse is reportable for the sake of people, as pet abuse has been linked with a heightened risk of domestic violence towards children and women especially. Our lives are intertwined, all peoples, all animals on this planet.  Laws are in place to process this catastrophe in our community.

Dogs and cats serve many roles throughout our lives. We hear of the “human-animal” bond – is that just some fancy jargon for a college paper to label or define the inter-dependence we all share in this world? Looking past the analysts and academic studies of people and how we relate with pets (which most of us understand intuitively), there was a shocking reality that came to light when Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005. Disaster preparedness plans were in place – rescue groups swung into action – and the world watched in horror as some people chose to perish rather than leave their pets behind to die in the flood, because the plans called for saving people first – and only. Resources were limited, time of the essence. But leaving people right in front of you, to die, was unthinkable. The numbers of people who refused to abandon their pets was high enough that the Red Cross and communities have since been advised to redraw their plans so that people with pets can be accommodated without compromising the priority of rescuing all people in a disaster.

Take note : the human-animal bond is very, very strong. Respect for all life is paramount in our interactions on earth.  My sincere condolences to the community of Merced for our recent loss.

Christine B. McFadden, DVM
Valley Animal Hospital, Merced