Meet Thunder!

     Thunder is the newest member of the Bixby family. We recently adopted Thunder from the Aspire Therapeutic Riding Program in Waterloo. Like many of you, I had heard of Aspire, but never gave it much thought until now. We were looking for a pony for our children and a local horse trainer, Jenna Pearce, who also works at Aspire, recommended Thunder. Thunder has been living at the Aspire farm for several years and as many people do at some point in their lives, was becoming a little dissatisfied with his job in life and needed a change. This is understandable, because the horses at Aspire have a very important and tough job to do. After visiting the farm myself, I would say the horses there are more like counselors or paramedics for young souls who need someone to connect with.

     I am a veterinarian at Taylor Veterinary Hospital where we care for all small pets. However, once a month I do work at horse sale at a sale barn in northeast Iowa. I know first hand that there are many horses who come through the sale with life stories that include neglect, abuse, abandonment and physical impairments. Sadly, our communities are filled with children who have similar life struggles. Until this week, I didn’t realize that at Aspire, the loving staff there can pair up children whose life stories and struggles mirror an Aspire horse’s life story. I am very proud that there is such a unique and worthwhile program right here in the Cedar Valley. Aspire is so much more than a chance for a handicapped child to ride a horse. The connections that are made between kindred spirits is what is so important between all pets and people, but this program is truly an inspiring testament to the amazing things that can happen when the human-animal bond is fostered.

     Aspire has a fundraiser called Dances with Horses on September 24, 2011 at 7:00 at McElroy Auditorium in Waterloo. This is a night of music, choreographed dances with horses, trick riding performances and so much more. You can go to http://www.aspiretrp.org/ or http://www.danceswithhorses.org/ to get more information about how you can support the efforts of the Aspire program. Anyone who has a pet and understands the importance of the bond shared with that pet, should support the wonderful work done for our Cedar Valley kids through the Aspire Therapeutic Riding program.

Elizabeth Bixby, DVM

Pet Talk - Help for Motion Sickness!

While striving to educate people about issues that may arise with family pets, we would also like to help address concerns that our readers may be currently facing.  It is our goal to answer general questions related to pet health care that will benefit multiple households. Keep in mind that we recommend pet owners contact their veterinarian for assistance if an immediate answer is required.
~A reader writes..."My dog gets car sick, always has and does every time. Is there anything I can do to help her (drugs, etc.) and does it mean she has stomach issues?”
~It sounds like your dog is experiencing typical motion sickness, just like some people. Motion sickness usually begins very shortly after starting the car ride. The dog will begin to drool and then vomit. It’s not serious, but certainly not something that we like to clean up.
To solve the problem, first try acclimating your dog to car rides by a process called desensitization. Desensitization is the gradual exposure to situations or stimuli that would bring on the undesirable behavior, but at a level so low that there is no negative response.
Do this by simply putting him in the car for a few minutes each day without going anywhere.
Then try just going down the driveway and back, and the next day going around the block.
Gradually build up the distance and time the dog rides in the car. Sometimes this will help to decrease the dog’s anxiety over riding in the car and may help to decrease vomiting.
If desensitization doesn’t work, there are some medications that may help. Dramamine (dimenhydrinate) and Dramamine Less Drowsy (meclizine) are common over-the-counter medications to try.
Ask your veterinarian to determine the proper dosage for your pet. (Never give any medications to your pet without your veterinarian’s advice!) These drugs are safe, with drowsiness as the only major side effect. If over-the-counter medications don’t work, your veterinarian may be able to prescribe some tranquilizers which can lessen agitation and motion sickness.

To have your question answered, e-mail it to petdocs@taylorvet.com with Pet Talk in the subject line.

Dr. Chad Smith is a veterinarian at Taylor Veterinary Hospital. He has a special interest in solving pet behavioral problems. E-mail him at cdsmith@cfu.net.

There are some things you shouldn't share.

A zoonotic disease is an infectious disease that can be transmitted from an animal to a human while the opposite, diseases transferred from a human to an animal, is classified as reverse zoonosis. While not all infectious diseases can be transmitted between species (pets to people, or vice versa), there are some that require special consideration.
Any person in contact with an infected animal may acquire a zoonotic disease, however, certain individuals are more at risk. People with compromised immune systems such as
pregnant women, the elderly, or people undergoing treatment for cancer are much more likely to contract the disease. Children are also more at risk due to immature immune systems and poor sanitary practices.
The following zoonotic diseases are just a few of the many that exist.

Roundworms: Nearly every puppy or kitten is born with roundworms contracted from its mother. These worms can be transmitted to people, especially children. Most infections in people are so mild as to cause no signs at all, but the potential for severe illness exists. Migrating worms may damage the liver, eyes or brain. As the eggs are found in an animal’s stool, sanitation is essential; feces should be removed and disposed of daily and everyone who handles the animal should wash their hands. 

This is especially important in young children, who often put their fingers in their mouths. Also remember to cover all sandboxes when not in use to prevent children from contacting contaminated feces. Protect yourself and your family from roundworms by having your veterinarian do a yearly test on a stool sample from your pet. Some veterinarians prescribe regular dewormings even in the face of negative stool tests because of these risks. 
A very effective way to protect your family from roundworms is to use year ‘round heartworm preventative that also treats intestinal worms. These tablets deworm your pet each month as well as providing protection against heartworms.
Rabies: Anyone who saw the movie "Old Yeller" knows that rabies is a zoonotic disease. Rabies is caused by a virus transmitted through animal saliva. In Iowa, the most common carrier of rabies is the skunk while the raccoon is the most common on the East coast. Signs of rabies include personality and behavioral changes, incoordination, difficulty swallowing, seizures, and death. Rabies is fatal -- there is no cure in man or animals. Protect yourself by not handling wild or stray animals and by having all your dogs and cats vaccinated against rabies. 
Bats are also a potential source of rabies infection. While most bats do not carry rabies, CDC guidelines recommend testing of any bat found in a room with a sleeping person, or someone unable to communicate whether they might have been bitten, such as an infant or an incapacitated adult. If you think you, or a member of your family might have been exposed to a bat under these circumstances, call your physician and explain the situation.
Toxoplasmosis: Toxoplasmosis is caused by a protozoan, a one-celled parasite. Hunting cats often contract this parasite by eating small rodents, and then shed the cysts in their stool. The parasite is also found in raw meat. Most cats and people show no signs of the disease, or have only mild flu-like symptoms. Those who have a weakened immune system may develop a much more serious infection. Fetal infection, especially during the first three months of pregnancy, can result in blindness, so pregnant women must take special precautions to avoid contacting toxoplasmosis cysts. Protect yourself by not letting your cat hunt and not feeding it raw meat. Pregnant women and persons with compromised immune systems should wear gloves when gardening, wash thoroughly after handling raw meat, and should not change litterboxes. 
Although the chances of getting a zoonotic disease from your pet are slim, you should be aware that it could happen. The most effective way to prevent zoonotic diseases and ensure your good health is to ensure good health for your pets. Contracting a pet-borne disease usually requires very close contact with animals or their excretions, so zoonotic diseases can be avoided with common sense, cleanliness and regular pet examinations and vaccinations. For more information on zoonotic diseases, talk to your veterinarian, your physician, the public health department, or search reputable internet sites such as the CDC Healthy Pets Healthy People.
Chad Smith, D.V.M.

Have We Seen Your Cat Lately?

The majority of cats are not receiving the medical attention they deserve. Though cats outnumber dogs as pets in the U.S., fewer cats receive annual veterinary exams. Feline visits fell from 70.8 million in 2001 to 63.3 million in 2006, even as the number of cat-owning households increased.

The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) recommend a minimum of one wellness exam per year for cats and more frequent exams for those cats with medical or behavioral issues. Cats don’t always display signs of illness to their owners, and wellness exams and routine blood work can help detect concerns before they become life-threatening problems. Progression of medical conditions like kidney disease or heart disease can be slowed with proper medical treatment resulting in a longer, happier life for your cat.
Of cats that visit the vet at least once a year, only 22% receive vaccinations for any disease other than rabies. With vaccines available to help keep our cats safe and healthy, why take the risk of them getting feline leukemia or distemper? Without a current rabies vaccination, your cat is at risk for contracting this fatal disease from a bat that may find its way into your home. After a potential rabies exposure, your cat may need to be quarantined or even euthanized depending on the circumstances.
Even if your cat is a strictly indoor cat, they can still pick up various parasites such as fleas and intestinal worms. Some of these parasites can then be passed onto the human members of your family. An annual exam and stool sample analysis will help to catch the infestations early and minimize illness to you and your cat.
One reason cats are taken to the vet less often than dogs may be that pet owners feel that traveling is more stressful to a cat. This can be remedied in a number of ways. Start by using a top-loading carrier so the cat can be easily placed into and removed from it. Create a comfortable environment inside the carrier with a favorite blanket and toy. Withhold food before the trip to reduce motion sickness and drape a blanket or towel over the carrier to minimize stress.
It can be very tempting to trivialize the importance of an exam, blood work, vaccinations, and stool sample analysis, but would you consider doing these things to allow your cat to live a longer, healthier life? On behalf of your cat, schedule an annual wellness visit today.
Chad Smith, D.V.M.

MRSA, MRSA, MRSA!



MRSA colonies



There always seems to be one topic that sticks with you and haunts you after attending an informative continuing education meeting. After the fall Iowa Veterinary Medical Association meeting last week in Ames, MRSA was the bug that really had me bugged after the meeting. MRSA stands for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. This nasty bacteria has acquired a gene that reduces the ability of our most common antibiotics, penicillins and cephalosporins, to attach to it. This bacteria can roam around and reproduce quite happily and most antibiotics have little or no effect on it! Not only that, but as many as 1 in 3 people are what are referred to as colonized. This means folks with no clinical signs or evidence of disease what-so-ever are carrying this bacteria and can spread it to others. Those people who have active MRSA infections have fever, wounds, high white blood cell counts and a whole host of other severe problems that stem from a bacterial infection gone wild.

Drug resistant bacterial infections seem to come from two main sources or situations.
1.) Bacteria found in the environment, either in a hospital or in the community.
2.) Bacteria that stems from a patient’s own normal flora ( the normal good bacteria that all people and pets have which normally helps to fight off the bad kinds of bacteria) that over populates because of increased and/or inappropriate antibiotic use.
Risk factors for community acquired MRSA, or drug-related resistant infections, are young age, kids participating in contact sports, sharing towels or athletic equipment, having a weakened immune system, living in crowded or unsanitary conditions, and association with healthcare workers. Risk factors for hospital acquired infections are current or recent hospitalization, living in a long term care facility, invasive devices such as catheters, and recent antibiotic use.
What’s the human - animal connection? The most important multi-drug resistant organisms are MRSA as we described earlier, enterococcus species, enterobacter species, and pseudomonas species bacteria. Colonized animals are a concern due to their potential for future development of infection ( especially if they are scheduled for surgery) and the potential for transmission of these drug resistant bacteria to humans. If an animal or human in a household develops illness, it may be very difficult to tell which way the infection was transmitted because it could pass from human to animal or from animal to human. There has been no evidence to show that giving antibiotics to a colonized individual is a good idea. This would just likely make the resistant bacteria smarter and even more resistant to the next antibiotic chosen.
To quote Dr. Jo Ann Morrison, Senior Clinician and Internal Medicine Service Chief at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, broad, non-targeted antibiotic therapy has caused the following:

• Increased pathogen exposure to antibiotics
• Enhanced the resistance mechanisms of bacteria
• Increased levels and rates of resistance in pathogen populations
• Decreased the effectiveness of medications
• Limited future therapy options
• Favored emergence of resistance by eliminating competing normal flora ( the good bacteria that fights off the bad bacteria)



Ruptured MRSA infection



All that being said, what are we to do. Do what your mother always has told you. Wash your hands. Wash your hands. Wash your hands. Students should never share water bottles or towels in the locker room. Parents need to make their teenagers aware of MRSA and the population of colonized individuals that they are very likely in contact with every day. Disinfecting locker rooms and bathrooms on a regular basis as well as door knobs, locker handles and water fountains is very important. Households should clean bathroom counter and sink surfaces well too. Store toothbrushes upright and away from other toothbrushes and send them through the sanitize cycle in the dishwasher often.

For more information on good disinfecting protocols go to Disinfection protocol.
MRSA Manual I included this just as an example of a management protocol for MRSA because we have used Techni-care at the veterinary hospital for several years with excellent results, but there are many other examples of disinfecting protocol online.
Dr. Elizabeth Bixby