Zoonotic diseases travel between humans and animals. Find out which ones pose a real threat. Is your dog making you sick? Can you contaminate your pet when you have the flu? Diseases that can potentially pass from animals to humans are called zoonotic diseases, and according to the World Health Organization, approximately 70 percent of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic. These diseases are transmitted by parasites, bacteria, viruses and fungi. Zoonotic diseases significantly impact human and animal health. “Every animal is carrying something that could be transmissible to a person in certain situations,” says J. Scott Weese, D.V.M., DVSc, Dipl. ACVIM, a professor in the department of pathobiology at Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. “The likelihood of disease transmission in a household is low compared to [that of someone] in the hospital. The risk gets higher for a person with a compromised immune system.” More
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Health Off the Beaten Path
Ease canine medical conditions with three non-traditional therapies. Arthritis, joint diseases, heart problems and immune-system disorders are common medical ailments that affect dogs. Many of these conditions cause chronic pain and can decrease the quality of a dog’s life. Non-traditional therapies, often used as an adjunct to conventional veterinary care, offer dog owners some surprising new options. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy First used on humans in the early 1990s to dissolve kidney stones and gallstones, extracorporeal shockwave therapy eliminated the need for invasive surgery to treat the stones. By the end of the decade, veterinarians were experimenting with ESWT to accelerate healing in horses with musculoskeletal disorders. In 2002, ESWT became an accepted therapy used by veterinarians for treating a variety of conditions in dogs, including non-healing fractures, ligament injuries, chronic non-healing skin wounds, lick granulomas, back pain, tendonitis and shoulder instability. ESWT is also used to treat canine arthritis. “Research More
Beam Me Up
Low-level laser therapy offers dogs a noninvasive complement to surgery and medication. Dogs rehabilitating from injury or trauma, healing from wounds, or simply aging may benefit from low-level laser therapy, a high-tech treatment that reduces pain and inflammation, and stimulates healing. Today, LLLT is not commonly used in the veterinary world in the United States. It’s better known as a therapy treatment for horses in the United Kingdom and Europe. “Although it’s still in its infancy here, laser therapy will be a driving force of medical treatment in the future for treating companion animals,” says Ronald E. Hirschberg, D.V.M., medical director at Brockton Animal Hospital in Brockton, Mass., who has been using LLLT for several years. LLLT is a sterile, painless, surgery-free and drug-free treatment for a variety of conditions. It speeds up healing in muscles, tendons, skin and other soft tissues by stimulating the body from within. It can More
Understanding Canine Dementia
Too often just dismissed as “old age,” canine cognitive dysfunction has specific symptoms and treatments. Is it natural for older dogs to gradually lose energy and interest in life? Some of these behavioral changes are predictable and may be linked to aging, but others should be attended to; they could be symptoms of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome. CDS is an age-related deterioration of cognitive abilities characterized by behavioral changes. It’s sometimes referred to as “old dog syndrome” or “senility.” The symptoms are wide-ranging and can be associated with other medical conditions, making CDS tricky to diagnose. Many pet owners assume that nothing can be done when their dogs begin exhibiting senility. A recent study revealed that only a small percentage of dog owners who noticed behavior consistent with CDS reported it to their veterinarian. Often, behavioral changes are written off as a normal part of aging. This isn’t necessarily the More
Against the Grain
Some dog owners are turning to grain-free diets in an attempt to combat health problems caused by food intolerance. Perhaps your dog has eaten the same food for years. And yet, recently, you notice excessive scratching, ear inflammation, tail chewing or hair loss. These canine health issues can be symptomatic of food allergies. Dogs can eat the same food for long periods without any reaction, then like people, suddenly develop a sensitivity or allergy to a particular ingredient. Food allergies occur in dogs when their immune systems react adversely to one or several ingredients in the diet. Adverse food reactions are more likely to occur after repeated exposure to the allergen. “It’s similar to a person who might be allergic to peanuts,” says Jennifer A. Larsen, D.V.M., Ph.D., Dipl. ACVN, assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the University of California, Davis, William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. “You probably More
Understanding Cushing’s Disease
Learn about the signs, symptoms and a new cutting-edge treatment for this devastating condition. Cushing’s disease is a serious and life-threatening illness that affects an estimated 100,000 dogs annually in the United States. The disease can also predispose dogs to other health issues, including pancreatitis, diabetes and infections. Also known as hyperadrenocorticism, Cushing’s disease is a hormonal imbalance related to the function of a dog’s pituitary or adrenal glands. It’s usually associated with middle-aged or older dogs. Out of sync In healthy dogs, the pituitary and adrenal glands work in conjunction to produce a balance of hormones. The pituitary gland, which is located in the brain, produces adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH). When released into the bloodstream, ACTH stimulates the adrenal glands (tiny, paired structures located in the abdomen above each kidney) to produce glucocorticoid (cortisol) hormones. Cortisol regulates how the body responds to stress. It also impacts a variety of bodily More
Stem Cell Therapy
This experimental procedure is a low-risk way to ease pain and boost health. Stem cell therapy is becoming a renewable natural resource for treating a multitude of canine conditions. Because the stem cells are autologous (harvested from the animal to be treated), fewer ethical issues surround it compared to the use of embryonic stem cells in human medicine. “Stem cell therapy rejuvenates joints, reduces pain and increases flexibility, which enables the animal to do things it used to do,” says Robert J. Harman, D.V.M., M.P.V.M., CEO and co-founder of Vet-Stem Inc. in Poway, Calif. “The treatment can change a dog’s lifestyle.” In 2004, Vet-Stem introduced the first veterinary stem cell service in the United States. The only other company that is significantly involved in the United States is Medivet (they provide a do-it-yourself kit to veterinarians.) Initially, the therapy was used in the equine industry to treat horses with tendon More
Beware of Bloat
Learn the signs, prevention and treatment of this dangerous condition. Canine bloat, also known as gastric dilatation-volvulus, is a fast-occurring digestive disorder that often affects large-breed dogs with deep, narrow chests. GDV is an extremely painful condition that if left untreated, can cause death within hours. Although certain breeds, such as the Bloodhound, Great Dane, Irish Setter and Standard Poodle, are highly susceptible to bloat, any dog can be stricken. Bloat (or dilatation) is characterized by a rapid accumulation of gas in the stomach that causes it to enlarge. Dilatation might be followed by volvulus, a twisting or turning of the stomach. When the stomach twists, both the esophagus and the pyloric valve (located at the bottom of the stomach) are crimped. The gas is trapped inside the stomach and the dog is unable to burp or pass gas. Volvulus also blocks food from advancing into the intestines, and prevents More