Latest Update: November, 2009

CANINE HEARTWORM DISEASE

Canine heartworm is a parasite that is transmitted between dogs by mosquitos, and lives within the dog’s heart and pulmonary arteries. Due to our climate, the risk of heartworm has previously been considered very low in the Pacific Northwest – our cool temperatures do not allow the heartworm larvae to complete its life cycle within the mosquito. However, in April 2008 a dog born in Cowlitz County with no history of travelling outside the area was diagnosed with canine heartworm disease. There have been other sporadic cases of heartworm positive dogs with no travel history reported in Western Washington over the past several years.

One possible explanation for new cases of heartworm is the massive migration of dogs out of the South, an area with endemic heartworm disease, after Hurricane Katrina. These dogs, many of which were infected with heartworm, may have introduced the parasite to areas that were previously considered low risk for canine heartworm disease.

The clinical signs of heartworm disease in dogs are cough, exercise intolerance, collapse, or sudden death. However, dogs can carry the parasite and appear to be completely normal in the early stages of infection. As a result of this new positive case, Woodinville Veterinary Hospital is now recommending annual heartworm testing for all dogs. This consists of an in-house blood test that checks for heartworm as well as three tick-borne parasites: Lyme disease, ehrlichia, and anaplasmosis. The cost of the test is approximately $35.00, and can be done at the same time as the annual wellness exam.

CAUTION: TOXIC CHICKEN JERKY DOG TREATS

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to caution consumers about a potential association between the development of illness in dogs and the consumption of chicken jerky products. The products-also called chicken tenders, strips, or treats-are imported from China. FDA continues to receive complaints of sick dogs that their owners or veterinarians associate with eating chicken jerky products. FDA issued a cautionary warning to consumers in September 2007.

Australian news organizations report that the University of Sydney is also investigating an association between illness in dogs and the consumption of chicken jerky in Australia. At least one firm in Australia has recalled their chicken jerky product and the recall notification stated the product was manufactured in China.

To date, scientists have not been able to determine a precise cause for the reported illnesses. The FDA has conducted extensive chemical and microbial testing but has not identified any contaminant, but continues to actively investigate the problem. Many of the illnesses reported may be the result of causes other than eating chicken jerky.

Tips for Consumers

• Do not substitute chicken jerky products for a balanced diet. The products are intended to be used occasionally and in small quantities. Owners of small dogs must be especially careful to limit the amount of these products.

• If you choose to feed your dog chicken jerky products, watch the dog closely. Stop feeding the product if your dog shows any of the following signs, which may occur within hours to days after feeding the product: - decreased appetite, although some dogs may continue to eat the treats instead of other foods - decreased activity - vomiting - diarrhea, sometimes with blood - increased water drinking or increased urination.

• Call your veterinarian if signs are severe or last for more than 24 hours. Blood tests may indicate kidney failure, urine tests may indicate increased glucose. Although most dogs appear to recover, some reports to FDA have involved dogs that have died.

• Consumers and veterinarians should report cases of animal illness associated with pet foods or treats to the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator listed for their area at www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html. This article appears on FDA's Consumer Health Information Web page (www.fda.gov/consumer), which features the latest updates on FDA-regulated products. Sign up for free e-mail subscriptions at www.fda.gov/consumer/consumerenews.html.

MRSA TRANSMISSION BETWEEN PETS AND PEOPLE

Most people are familiar with the risks of the resistant “superbug” bacteria – known as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MRSA infections have become more and more frequent over the past decade, and can be very difficult to treat in both humans and animals. These infections are usually diagnosed via physical examination and culture.

There have been confirmed cases of MRSA in animals since 2006, but suspected or presumed cases go back to 1988. MRSA can be transmitted from people to their pets, and then back again, but the mechanisms for transmission are not fully understood. Back and forth transmission can result in treatment failure. Particularly at risk are dogs and cats that visit hospital wards as therapy animals.

There are treatment protocols for eradicating MRSA from the human body, but it is unknown if these protocols would also be effective in pets. If you are diagnosed with a MRSA infection, it is important to keep your lesions covered and do not allow the lesion to contact your pet or other people. Be careful to wash your hands frequently and before handling your pet.

If your pet has any unexplained skin lesions, you should see your veterinarian. This is particularly important if your pet has had any contact with human hospitals or people with confirmed MRSA infections.

FDA Alerts Pet Owners to Voluntary Recall of Premium Edge Cat Food (Taken from FDA webpage)

October 20, 2009

FDA is providing the following information from Premium Edge Pet Foods to alert pet owners of a voluntary recall of certain cat foods manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods for Premium Edge. The affected brands were found to contain an inadequate level of thiamine, which may cause clinical signs of thiamine deficiency in cats eating this food. FDA is working on this situation and will provide additional information as it becomes available. If your veterinarian diagnoses that your cat has become ill from consuming the affected pet food, please ask your veterinarian to file a report with FDA.

Diamond Pet Foods has issued a voluntary recall on the following date codes of Premium Edge Finicky Adult cat food and Premium Edge Hairball cat food: RAF0501A22X 18 lb., RAF0501A2X 6 lb., RAH0501A22X 18 lb., RAH0501A2X 6 lb. The date of manufacture is May 28, 2009. All retail outlets shipped the above lots were contacted, asking them to pull the product from the store shelves. The retailers were also asked to contact their customers via email or telephone requesting them to check the date code of the food. However, if you or anyone you know has these date codes of Premium Edge cat food, please return them to your retailer.

Symptoms displayed by an affected cat will be neurological in nature. Symptoms may include wobbly walking or muscle weakness, paralysis of the hindlimbs, seizures, ventroflexion (bending towards the floor) of the neck, and abnormal eye movement called nystagmus. Any cats fed these date codes that display these symptoms should be immediately taken to a veterinarian.

The company tested the product and found no contaminants in the cat food; however the cat foods were deficient in thiamine. Diamond tracked the vitamin premix lot number that was utilized in these particular cat foods and have performed testing on another lot of Premium Edge cat food that used the same vitamin premix, and it was not deficient in thiamine. No other neurological signs have been reported on any other product manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods.

To contact Premium Edge Pet Foods, please call 800-977-8797 between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm central time, Monday through Friday.