On Top of Old Smoky: Missing Pets

On top of old Smoky? No, atop Mt. Fuji, Japan

As parents with children know, with gradually increasing increments of freedom there is a fine line between exploring and belong lost. When I was a child in Cary, my siblings and I complained about the distance from our home on Cornwall Road to Cary Elementary – a distance of less a mile. Thirty years later my son never walked to school even when it was less than a mile.

When Jason attended college at the University of South Carolina, his sophomore and senior years were spent in the international business program at China University Hong Kong. It was not unusual for us during those years to receive a post card from a UNESCO cultural heritage site with the header” Greetings from the Philippines,” for example. To our surprise we thought he was in his dorm room for the weekend.

As a child, we kept him on a short leash and told him if he got lost to go to a fire station. To emphasize it, my husband I even had a birthday party at the Apex Fire Station. Jason progressed from the short leash, to a flexible lead, to off lead, and then in a moment, out into the world.

Although romantic imagery, the truth is that it is terrifying to be missing child. Sure, smart phones and GPS in bracelets and shoes have helped, but disappearances still happen. So what happens when it is your pet that escaped out the door?

WHAT ARE SOME QUICK ACTIONS TO TAKE WHEN YOU ARE MISSING A PET?

1.    Walk and drive through your neighborhood several times a day. Enlist friends to help.

2.    Speak to your neighbors and solicit help to survey the area.

3.    File a lost pet report to animal control and shelters within a 50 mile radius. Visit local ones daily.

4.    Contact veterinarians within a 30 mile radius. Found animals are often dropped off at a veterinarian rather than a shelter. 

5.    Advertise by placing flyers using a recent photo of your pet in public places within 5 miles: neighborhood entrances, pet stores, grocery stores, coffee shops, and drug stores with public bulletin boards.  However, when describing your pet leave out ONE DETAIL /CHARACTERISTIC and ask the person who finds your pet to describe it TO AVOID SCAMS. Kinko’s and other similar places can generate a large number of flyers quickly. Take out ads in local newspaper (not classified section) and monitor LOST & FOUND sections.

6.    Use the Internet: Craig’s list, The Center for Lost Pets, and Fido Finder. List of the sex, age, weight, breed, color, and any special markings.

7.    Lost Pet Recovery systems. These are alert services that owners contract for a fee, and success rate varies. 

8.    Consider leaving food and water outside in case there is a night time visit. Use a humane trap borrowed from local shelters.

9.    Beware! There are cruel people that prey on vulnerable people, especially pet owners, and seek money without even having your pet. (Techniques such as found and took to their home in a distant city, need money for a crate to send home or veterinary care are common.)

WAYS TO ID YOUR PET

The common methods are id tags on collars, tattoos, and more commonly, implanted microchips (last approximately 25 yrs.). It is important to register your pet’s microchip with the microchip company. Options are a onetime registration fee vs an annual fee. Be sure to ask if the chip implanted works with a universal scanner.

WHAT IF YOU MOVE?

It is important to notify the registry company (most can do on line) with the change of address. A move is sadly an excellent opportunity for a beloved pet to escape.

Is there a good template for lost pet posters?

www.lostapet.org ( Missing Pet Partnership) is a good source. On the flyer for your missing pet list the sex, age, weight, breed, color, and any special markings. Provide a contact number. Once found, take down the flyers!!!!!!!!!

Betsy Sigmon DVM, Diplomate American Board of Veterinary Practitioners

Hospital Director, Creature Comforts Animal Hospital

 Taco Belle on top of Mt. Mitchell

I had a few questions from last week about the photo of my brother and I. I thought I would add a grow up photo for those who inquired about the doctors in the house.

YOUR EPIDERMIS IS SHOWING: Skin Problems

When my brother and I were younger, it was a common way to get under each other’s skin by saying this simple phrase “Your epidermis is showing." As a basic biological phrase to describe the outer layer of the skin, never the less, it implied something more sinister. Things turned out okay with no long term psychological damage as my brother became a pediatrician and I became a veterinarian.

In people, the skin can be a window into something more serious going on beneath it . This photo is a picture of a nephew that was recently diagnosed with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. 

The “rash” is actually little holes of bleeders in the small capillaries caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii via a tick bite.

 I recently google searched and saw several companies exploiting such a silly saying on t-shirts and other paraphernalia. It seems skin still has relevance in today’s internet age, and it certainly a significant reason for pets going to the veterinary office.

WHAT IS THE MOST COMMON SKIN INFECTION THAT IS SEEN TODAY? WHAT IS THE CAUSE?

Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is a bacterium that is commonly found on the skin, nose, or intestinal tract of most normal, healthy dogs, and a lot of cats. Normally it causes no problems. However it is an opportunistic organism. This bacterium can infect almost any tissue, with skin (including ears) and soft tissue infections being the most commonly involved.  This is particularly prevalent when the skin has been damaged (due to scratching) by some other inciting cause:  allergies, insect bites, parasites, foreign bodies, chronic wetness, wounds, autoimmune disease, and surgery.

MY DOG WAS DIAGNOSED WITH PYODERMA. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

Pyoderma is an overgrowth of normal bacteria found on the skin. The signs consistent with pyoderma include redness, scales, papules (raised nodules of sudden onset), pustules (zits), collarettes (circular/red/scaly), and patchy alopecia (hair loss). They are rarely life threatening. However a pet’s constant scratching, discomfort, bleeding, and skin odor makes them very uncomfortable. In cats there are often multiple bumps around the neck or tail based that is called  ”miliary dermatitis”.

HOW ARE BACTERIAL SKIN INFECTIONS DIAGNOSED?

Besides the clinical signs, cytology (to rule out malassezia/yeasts vs bacteria), skin scrape for mange mites (demodex vs sarcoptic), and fungal cultures to check for ringworm. Occasionally skin cultures and biopsies will be obtained for complicated cases as well as blood testing for possible hormonal or medical issues.

HOW ARE BACTERIAL INFECTIONS OF THE SKIN TREATED?

With appropriate antibiotics for 14 to 21+ days is the standard protocol for generalized infections. For Topical treatment, antibacterial shampoos, anti-bacterial leave on rinses/sprays, and topical anti-bacterial creams. As a preventative, many dogs go on aggressive skin maintenance with topical antibacterial shampoos, anti-bacterial sprays/rinses on a weekly to twice weekly. This is to lower risk of vicious cycle of return to oral antibiotics on a regular basis. Appropriate antibacterial shampoos contain chlorhexidine, benzoyl peroxide, chlorhexidine- ketoconazole, ethyl lactate, and triclosan.  These remove crusts, scales, and bacteria. In addition they reduce itching, odor, and oiliness.

 In addition, antibacterial wipes such as Preva or Malaket wipes of the feet, rectum, belly, and armpits are helpful to lower pollen levels retained in the fur after being outside and control surface bacteria. Many pets owners body clip their allergy pets to reduce trapping of bacteria and debris in the fur, allow products closer contact to the skin, and decrease post bathing moisture that can lead to hotspots.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO TREAT SKIN INFECTIONS FOR THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF PRESCRIBED TREATMENT OF ANTIBIOTICS? WHAT IS MRSP?

If the skin infection is not treated with prescribed antibiotics for approximately one week past normal, often the bacteria can mutate and become resistant to the next course of antibiotics. MRSP stands for methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius, which is a form of S. pseudintermedius that is highly resistant to many antibiotics, including most of the drugs that are commonly used to treat bacterial infections in dogs and cats. This includes antibiotics such as Clavamox and Cephalexin.

Betsy Sigmon DVM, Diplomate American Board of Veterinary Practitioners

Creature Comforts Animal Hospital

 Nikki Courie and Zeke

HOLY TOLEDO! BLUE GREEN ALGAE AND TOXICITY

After quite a wet summer here, I read with great interest the shutdown of the public water supply to Toledo, Ohio. It was due to a Blue Green Algae bloom at the intake valve in the western part of Lake Erie. Boiling the water would NOT eliminate the toxin; in fact, it would increase the concentration of the toxic poison, microcystin.  Over 400,000 people were forced to drink bottled water for 3 days (could take showers & wash their hands as detected levels of the toxin were low), until the public water supply was deemed safe.  

Factors leading to the water supply shutdown (a potential risk for decades in the Lake Erie area), include fertilizer runoff, sewage, industrial pollution, and agricultural discharge from the Maumee River. In addition, warming of the water itself through environmental changes including heat zones from the nuclear power and coal burning plants's water discharge have encourage the algae to grow at alarming rates in warm , summer months.  Other areas of the world such as the Baltic Sea area have experienced similar bloom concerns.

In the southeastern United States the blue green algae form on stagnant ponds and is called “pond scum”. Although not all algae exposures are toxic, it raises the question how safe is it for dogs to go in these ponds?  This leads to today’s blog story of Blue Green Algae Toxicity.

WHAT IS BLUE GREEN ALGAE BLOOM?  WHY ARE PETS MORE AT RISK?

 It is a photosynthetic,  cyanobacteria  (NOT CYANIDE) that looks like “green paint” as it grows in fresh water when the sunlight, nutrient levels, and water temperature are at high levels, especially in summer months.  Pet owners should note these smelly, microscopic bacteria also can be blue, red, or brownish in color.  Several toxins are stored within the algae cells. Microcystins and anatoxins are the most common.   Even if the water surface is clear there can be algae blooms suspected at various levels beneath the surface. Pets are more at risk of toxicity as they are unselective of the water quality of where they drink or swim.

IS WATER CONTAMINATED BY THE SIMPLE PRESENCE OF THE CYANOBACTERIAL BLOOM?

No. Thirty to fifty percent of the algae blooms are harmless because they contain only non-toxic species. However, it takes a laboratory analysis to determine the difference and determine if a body of water is safe.

HOW DOES A PET OWNER RECOGNIZE BLUE GREEN ALGAE TOXICITY?  

Besides a green staining around the muzzle and local skin irritation & rashes, often acute vomiting, diarrhea, and weakness will be noted.  In addition, pet owners may notice lethargy, difficulty breathing, drooling, staggering, and abnormal urination as soon as 15 to 20 minutes after ingestion. The microcystin toxin (same one that contaminated Toledo water supply) will lead to liver failure within 12 to 24 hours. Seizures may develop in many pets so acutely after exposure there is not time to seek emergency care. Other than supportive care, there is no antidote for these toxins.

Veterinarians in testing exposed pets will often find low blood sugar, rising liver enzymes, and abnormal clotting time

CAN AN OWNER SEE THE BLUE GREEN ALGAE?

Not always, so if in doubt, keep children and pets out of the “Pea soup water” area, especially along the shore line as the wind often blows concentrated amounts of the algae to these areas.

WHERE CAN A PET OWNER DO IS ACUTE EXPOSURE IS SUSPECTED?

Wash off your pet with bottle water, soap, or any non-contaminated water supply. Do not allow your pet to lick itself. Wear gloves to avoid your own contamination.

I AM CONFUSED? ISN’T THERE A FOOD SUPPLEMENT, BLUE GREEN ALGAE?

Yes, this supplement is consumed for the touted benefits to improve energy and mood. Off label use is the treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder, although the benefits are unproven.  The Spirulina variety harvested from controlled ponds or natural lakes does not contain microcystins.  However the non-Spirulina blue green algae (ex. Aphanizomsnon flos-aquae) may contain unsafe levels of microcystin when consumed according to manufacturer recommendations. Caution should be applied when using such products as food supplements are not regulated by the FDA.  

Betsy Sigmon DVM, Diplomate American Board of Veterinary Practitioners

Creature Comforts Animal Hospital

Cary, NC