Kat's Korner

Unless otherwise stated, these editorials do not reflect the opinion of A Pet For Life, Inc. Factual information will be gathered through research and Pat's experiences. Any comments, suggestions, or questions will be welcome. If there is anything you'd like to learn more about, feel free to email myself or Pat at apetforlife@comcast.net.
Thank you. ~ Kneicea A. Tull (Kat)

Ever heard of black dog syndrome? Many people, especially those familiar with shelters and rescues, know all about it. For some reason, all black dogs, even those pure breeds such as black Labrador Retrievers, are quite often passed over in favor or other colored dogs. It seems as though any other color dog does better -- even if they are the same breed. A golden, yellow, white, or chocolate Labrador will almost always be chosen over black Labs.

Although we claim to not believe in superstitions, our subconscious proves we do. Many times, we pass over anything black because of the negative bias toward the color black. Where dogs are concerned, there are many myths, legends, and stories about black dogs being somehow bad. Probably the most famous black dog was the Hound of the Baskervilles, which went after the legendary Sherlock Holmes. Many scholars and psychologists think the reason why the Hound of the Baskervilles is so famous is because a large black dog fits our subconscious idea of what an evil creature looks like, even when the black dog has a cute face and floppy ears. Countless people don't realize that in some pre-Christian pagan religions, black dogs were seen as sacred animals.

A good dog is never a bad color, so if you are considering adopting a dog, be sure to take a second look at all of the different colors and personalities. Too many of these lovable dogs are missing out on good homes and happy lives due to superstitions or to visions of black hair on light-colored sofas, rugs, and clothes. Please give ever dog a second look, even the dark-haired beauties, because all dogs deserve a chance. Look past the outside cover and you may just find a very special four-legged addition to your family.

Source: DogAge - Tip of the Week, 08/07/2008
Isnare.com Article: Black Dog Syndrome, 08/07/2008
Published Here: 08/21/2008

(This article is to inform you about Heartworms. Before starting any treatment, discuss all Heartworm Preventative Treatments with your veterinarian. He/She can recommend the best product for your pet.)

Canine heartworm disease can be successfully treated in most cases. The goal of treatment is to kill all adult worms with an Adulticide and all Microfilariae (offspring) with a Microfiliaricide. It is important to accomplish this goal with a minimum of harmful effects and a tolerable degree of complications created by the dying heartworms. Mild cases of heartworm disease have a high success rate with treatment. Severe cases can be successfully treated, but the possibility of complications and mortality is higher.

There is currently one drug approved by the FDA for use in dogs for the elimination of adult heartworms. That drug is Melarsomine dihydrochloride (Immiticide, Merial) and is injected into the lumbar muscles. The most effective drugs to eliminate microfilariae are the macrocyclic lactone (ML) anthelmintics, i.e., milbemycin oxime, selamectin, moxidectin, and ivermectin. These drugs are the active ingredients in commonly used heartworm preventatives. The simple administering of ML preventatives is most widely used today to slowly clear the microfilariae over a period of about six to nine months.

Currently, there are no products in the United States approved for the treatment of feline heartworm infection. Treatment with small, gradually decreasing doses of prednisone (a cortisone-like drug) is recommended for cats with radiographic or clinical evidence of lung disease. Cats with severe manifestations may require additional supportive therapy, and may benefit from intravenous fluids, oxygen therapy, cage confinement, bronchodilators (which expand the air passages of the lungs), cardiovascular drugs, antibiotics, and nursing care. Extraction surgery can be done in cats in which the worms can be visualized with ultrasound at the tricuspid valve or in the right atrium of the heart, or in those rare instances of obstruction of blood flow affecting the heart and liver (caval syndrome).

While treatment of canine heartworm disease is usually successful, prevention of the disease is much safer and more economical. There are a variety of options for preventing heartworm infection, including monthly tablets, chewables, and topicals. These products are extremely effective and when administered properly on a timely schedule, heartworm infection can be prevented.

The American Heartworm Society is now recommending year-round prevention, even in seasonal areas. One reason for this is compliance -- to make sure the pet owner has given the medicine properly. In addition, most monthly heartworm preventatives have activity against intestinal parasites. Many of these same intestinal parasites that infect dogs can also infect people, with estimated infections occurring in three to six million people every year. So this added benefit of monthly deworming makes great sense.

Canine Heartworm Preventative Comparison
            1) Heartgard for Dogs (oral) - active ingredient against heartworms - Ivermectin
           2) Heartgard Plus for Dogs (oral) - active ingredient against heartworms - Ivermectin
                        Other active ingredient - Pyrantel Pamoate
                                     Treats roundworms and hookworms
           3) Tri-Heart Plus for Dogs (oral) - active ingredient against heartworms - Ivermectin
                        Other active ingredients - Pyrantel Pamoate
                                    Treats roundworms and hookworms
           4) Iverhart Max for Dogs (oral) - active ingredient against heartworms - Ivermectin
                        Other active ingredients - Pyrantel Pamoate and Praziquantel
                                    Treats roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms
           5) Interceptor for Dogs (oral) - active ingredient against heartworms - Milbemycin oxime
                        Also treats roundworms, whipworms, and some hookworms
           6) Sentinel for Dogs (oral) - active ingredient against heartworms - Milbemycin oxime
                        Other active ingredient - Lufenuron
                                    Treats roundworms, whipworms, some hookworms, and flea eggs
           7) Revolution for Dogs (topical) - active ingredient against heartworms - selamectin
                        Also treats fleas, flea eggs, ear mites, sarcoptes mange, and American Dog Ticks
           8) Advantage Multi for Dogs (topical) - active ingredient against heartworms - moxidectin
                        Other active ingredient - Imidacloprid
                                    Treats fleas, roundworms, hookworms, and ear mites

For cats, there are four products in preventing the development of adult heartworms. To be effective, the product must be administered properly on a monthly basis.

Feline Heartworm Preventative Comparison
            1) Heartgard for Cats (oral) - active ingredient against heartworms - Ivermectin
            2) Interceptor for Cats (oral) - active ingredient against heartworms - Milbemycin oxime
                        Also treats roundworms, whipworms, and some hookworms
            3) Revolution for Cats (topical) - active ingredient against heartworms - selamectin
                         Also treats fleas, flea eggs, ear mites, one type of hookworm and one type of roundworm
            4) Advantage Multi for Cats (topical) - active ingredient against heartworms - moxidectin
                        Other active ingredient - Imidacloprid
                                    Treats fleas, roundworms, hookworms, and ear mites

* Heartgard and Heartgard Plus are manufactured by Merial
   Tri-Heart Plus is manufactured by Schering-Plough
   Iverhart Max is manufactured by Virbac
   Interceptor and Sentinel are manufactured by Novartis
   Revolution is manufactured by Pfizer
   Advantage Multi is manufactured by Bayer

For further information about Heartworms, visit the American Heartworm Society website at www.heartwormsociety.org.

Sources:
            American Heartworm Society Articles
                        "What Is Heartworm Disease?"
                        "Canine Heartworm Disease"
                        "Feline Heartworm Disease"
            Drs. Foster & Smith Educational Staff
                        Heartworm Preventative Comparison Chart
Published Here 08/07/2008

For both dogs and cats, clinical signs of heartworm disease may not be recognized in the early stages, as the number of heartworms of an animal tends to accumulate gradually over a period of months, sometimes years, and after repeated mosquito bites.

Recently infected dogs may exhibit no signs of the disease, while heavily infected dogs may eventually show clinical signs.
            1) Early Infection - No abnormal clinical signs observed
           2) Mild Disease - Cough
           3) Moderate Disease - Cough, exercise intolerance, abnormal lung sounds
           4) Severe Disease - Cough, exercise intolerance, difficulty breathing (dyspnea), abnormal lung sounds, enlargement of the liver (hepatomegaly), temporary loss of consciousness due to poor blood flow to the brain (syncope), fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity (ascites), abnormal heart sounds, death

The clinical signs of heartworm infection in cats can be very nonspecific and may mimic many other feline diseases. Diagnosis by clinical signs alone is nearly impossible, but a cat may exhibit generic signs of illness, such as vomiting intermittently (food or foam, usually unrelated to eating), lethargy, lack of appetite (anorexia), weight loss, coughing, asthma-like signs (intermittent difficulty in breathing, panting, open-mouthed breathing), gagging, difficulty breathing (dyspnea) or rapid breathing (tachypnea).
1) Acute Clinical Signs - collapse, dyspnea, convulsions, diarrhea/vomiting, blindness, tachycardia, syncope, sudden death
2) Chronic Clinical Signs - coughing, vomiting, dyspnea, lethargy, anorexia, weight loss, chylothorax

The diagnosis of canine heartworm disease depends upon the following:
            1) An accurate patient history
           2) The recognition of varied clinical signs
           3) The use of several diagnostic procedures that may include:
                        a) Blood (serological-study of antibodies and antigens) testing
                        b) Microfilarial (heartworm offspring) detection and differentiation
                        c) Physical examination and clinical laboratory tests, x-ray (radiology)
                        d) Angiography and
                        e) Ultrasound (echocardiography)
                        f) In the worst case scenario, examination after death (necropsy)

Heartworm infection in cats is harder to diagnose than it is in dogs and it is easy to overlook. Diagnostic tests have limitations, so negative test results do not necessarily rule out an infection. The diagnostic plan can include, but is not limited to:
            1) Physical examination
            2) Radiography (x-ray)
            3) Echocardiography (ultrasound readings of the heart)
            4) Angiocardiography (x-ray of the heart with injected contrast fluid)
            5) CBC (complete blood count)
            6) Serologic testing (antigen and antibody study)
            7) Microfilarial testing
            8) Necropsy

For further information about Heartworms, visit the American Heartworm Society website at www.heartwormsociety.org.

Sources:
            American Heartworm Society Articles
                        "What Is Heartworm Disease?"
                        "Canine Heartworm Disease"
                        "Feline Heartworm Disease"
Published Here 07/31/2008

Canine and feline heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition caused by parasitic worms (classified as nematodes, aka roundworms) living in the lungs, heart, and associated blood vessels of dogs, cats, and other species of mammals.

The disease is transmitted after a mosquito carrying infective heartworm larvae bites a dog or cat. Over several months, the larvae grow inside the animal's body, maturing into male and female worms. Once mature, the worms mate and the female worm releases their offspring into the dog or cat's bloodstream. Offspring can be detected in a dog's blood about six to seven months after being infected, and detected in a cat's blood about seven to eight months after being infected. The male heartworms (four to six inches in length) and the females (ten to twelve inches in length) become fully grown about one year after infection and their life span in dogs appears to average up to five to seven years and in cats approximately two to three years.

The onset and severity of heartworm disease in a dog is mainly a reflection of the number of adult heartworms present, the age of the infection and the level of activity of the dog. Higher numbers of worms generally cause more severe heart and lung disease and result in their presence in the right chambers of the heart. In such infections, the most common early pathological changes are due to inflammatory processes that occur in and around the arteries of the lower portion of the lungs in response to the presence of the heartworms. Later, the heart may enlarge and become weakened due to an increased workload and congestive heart failure may occur. A very active dog (e.G., working dog) is more likely to develop severe disease with a relatively small number of heartworms than an inactive one (e.G., a lap dog or couch potato). Occasionally, a dog with a large number of heartworms may not only have worms in the heart, but also in the large primary vein of the lower body between the liver and the heart. Without surgical removal, a dog can suddenly collapse and die within two to three days after the worms infect this vein.

Cats are resistant hosts of heartworms with some appearing to rid themselves of the infection spontaneously. In infections of heartworm larvae in cats, the percentage of worms developing into the adult stage is low (0% to 25%) compared to dogs (40% to 90%). However, heartworms do not need to develop into adults to cause significant pulmonary damage in cats, and consequences can still be serious when cats are infected. Newly arriving worms and the subsequent death of most of these same worms can result in acute pulmonary inflammation responses and lung injury. Often misdiagnosed as asthma and allergic bronchitis, this initial phase is actually part of a syndrome now known as Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease (HARD).

Canine heartworm infection is widely distributed throughout the United States. Infections have been found in dogs as young as one year of age, with most being diagnosed between the ages of three and eight years.

Feline heartworm infections in the United States seem to parallel that of dogs, but with lower total numbers. There is no predictable age in cats becoming infected. Cases have been reported in cats from nine months to seventeen years of age, with the average being four years of age at time of diagnosis, or at the time of death.

Cats normally have five toes on their front paws and four on their back paws. Cats that have more toes than the norm are polydactyl.

* A cat in Ontario, Canada, named Jake holds the Guinness World Record for the most toes. This ginger tabby has 28 digits (seven toes on each paw).

* A cat from North Carolina named Five Toes has five toes on his front and back paws and, perhaps more surprisingly, he has two tongues.

Cats commonly give birth to four to six kittens at a time. However, a litter can consist of fewer offspring, (a single kitten is rare) or more, with eight kittens at the high end of the range. Female cats can produce three litters of kittens per year and at four to six kittens per litter, the average cat and her offspring, could produce more than 400,000 cats over seven years. This fact shows just how important it is to have your cats spayed / neutered to prevent having so many unwanted kittens.

Grooming, chewing, and barking are all natural canine behaviors, but sometimes a dog can become compulsive and a seemingly normal behavior becomes abnormal. The actions are considered compulsive when they become excessively repetitive or routinely displayed out of context. In the beginning, the behavior may seem odd or be a minor annoyance, but if it continues, there may be an underlying cause such as physical health, or the dog's environment.

Dogs typically direct obsessive behavior toward himself or objects. This can include grooming, such as chewing, licking, tail chasing, pacing, fly catching, barking, destructiveness, spinning, or chasing shadows or light. These actions become compulsive when the dog constantly licks his feet or an object in the home, or he chases unseen flies. Although his actions may not be destructive or harmful, it can indicate a problem.

The first step is a physical examination by a veterinarian. There are physical ailments, such as parasites, allergies, or neurological disorders, which can cause compulsive behaviors. A veterinarian can make recommendations to treat the problem, whether it's a physical or an emotional problem. The treatment may include medical treatment in conjunction with training or behavior modification to help change the unwanted behavior.

Environmental triggers include anxiety, boredom, conflict, frustration, or stress. Examples are:

* Changes in routine, such as a previously unemployed owner returning to the workplace, leaving the dog home alone more, can lead to separation anxiety.

* Lack of physical activity and / or mental stimulation through exercise, play, or training, can lead to boredom.

* Conflict can be caused by inconsistency in training, or by confusion with positive and negative reinforcement for the same action.

* Excessive stimuli with no outlet or with long-term confinement can lead to the venting of frustration through compulsive behavior.

* Stress can be caused from fear or from being uncomfortable, such as being in noisy locations or large crowds.

Once the cause of the compulsive behavior has been determined, the proper steps can be taken to reduce or stop the behaviors. Reducing sources of stress and excess stimulation may mean more owner control of the dog's environment. Make light of your arrival and departure to help decrease separation anxiety. Save special toys that provide mental stimulation, such as those that the dog can maneuver to release treats, for times when your dog must be left alone. Reduce the time your dog is left alone and increase exercise and training time. Physical stimulation is absolutely necessary for your dog's physical and mental health. Exercise and play can help release energy, reduce stress, and can help in the prevention of unwanted behaviors. (Options for those people who have limited time to spend with their dog, are doggie daycare or pet sitters. This will ensure your dog receives the activity and interaction he needs.) Use calm praise or treats to maintain a low-stress training environment while making sure everyone in your household is consistent with the commands and rules.

Whatever the cause may be of the compulsive behavior, identifying that cause and preventing the source is the most effective solution. Being patient and consistent can reduce or eliminate compulsive behaviors.

Source: Purina - Today's Breeder - Issue 62 - pages 32-33
Published Here - 06/27/2008