Counterfeit Pet Drugs - FDA Warning

US - COUNTERFEIT PET DRUGS The FDA has issued a consumer alert to pet owners, warning them about the dangers of buying discounted pet drugs online. The FDA warns that its own investigations have found online companies that sell unapproved drugs or other counterfeit products and some will sell them without a veterinarian prescription. The FDA advises pet owners who want to buy online drugs to place orders at sites that are a Vet-VIPPS (Veterinary-Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites) accredited pharmacy. (Veterinary Advantage)

I know it is sometimes tempting to try to find a "deal" on medication for your animal, but the FDA has issued a very valid warning with good reasoning behind their concerns.  Website pharmacies who dispense drugs without a veterinary exam or try to evaluate your pet through a questionnaire on their website are potentially putting your animal in danger.  It is very difficult to assess and diagnose an animal without an actual hands on examination.  Often, results of blood tests must be reviewed before dispensing certain medications to ensure that your pet will not be harmed by taking the drug.

There are two types of medications sold online through disreputable websites that are especially concerning.

NSAIDS - Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Heart Worm Medication

I've written about NSAIDS before  under the title Is She In Pain? as well as the post titled Top 10 Human Medications that Poison Pets.  In addition to that information there is really only one NSAID that can be given to cats and it is only approved for one injection after surgery.  Otherwise, any NSAID given to a cat can cause life threatening kidney damage.

 Secondly, heart worm medication can be harmful or even fatal to your dog if already infected with heartworm.  Before starting a preventive program, all dogs should be tested for heartworms.

Adult heartworms produce millions of microscopic "baby" heartworms (called microfilaria) into the bloodstream. When you give a monthly heartworm preventive to a dog with circulating microfilaria, this can cause the sudden death of microfilaria, triggering a shock-type reaction. Even if your dog does not have this type of reaction, heartworm preventives do not kill the adult heartworms (although they may shorten the worms' life expectancy). This means an infected dog will remain infected with adult heartworms.

Unfortunately, as long as a pet remains infected, heartworm disease will progress and damage the heart and lungs, which can lead to life threatening problems. Giving heartworm preventives to heartworm-positive dogs can mislead an owner into thinking everything is all right, while within a pet, heartworm disease is worsening.

The moral of the story...look for the Vet-VIPPS certification before buying online.

Barbecue Blues

I always feel like Memorial Day is the official start of summer and barbecue season.  Although in our house we barbecue all year round.  Still, there's nothing like steak and burgers on the grill, the sun sinking low on the horizon, a gentle breeze, some soothing tunes and a refreshing drink or two.  Can you smell the aroma?

So can your favorite four legged friend and she's about to grab the steak off the grill!

As with all events that involve every member of the family there are some aspects about the beautiful picture I painted above that could cause the evening to have a very different ending. As you think about that perfect barbecue you might also notice a grease bucket under the grill, perhaps a rack of ribs on a plate covered by aluminum foil, and some corn on the cob.  For me, each of those items have names and faces of patients attached to them because of visits to our ER.  What?  You may think that's crazy, but give me a little latitude and I'll describe for you the reasons.

First, aluminum foil, which was covering those delectably marinated ribs was simple irresistible to "Lucky" and had to be stolen off the counter or out of the trash.  The outcome is somewhat dependent on the size of the animal and the amount of aluminum foil actually ingested.  Most likely the foil will pass in the next couple days and other than strange looking piles in the backyard, nothing will come of the eating indiscretion.  However, you should watch your pet (dog or cat, both have been known to be equally silly) for vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stools, or nothing coming out at all.  These could be signs that the aluminum foil has caused an obstruction somewhere along the digestive path and needs to be surgically removed.

The same is true of corn cobs.  We have a sweet dog in the hospital tonight for inhaling a corn cob in the few seconds left unattended.  Fortunately the surgeon successfully removed the cob and some other items and he's recovering well.

Remember that rack of ribs?  Where did they go?  "Lucky" did you get into the ribs?  "Lucky"!!!  Has this scene ever happened at your barbecue?

Many dog owners don't hesitate to give their dog the discarded bones from the rack of ribs.  Unfortunately, cooked, brittle bones are more likely to splinter which may cause fractured teeth and possible perforation of the intestine or throat either on the way down or on the way back up if the dog vomits. Cooked or uncooked, small bones or those broken or gnawed down small enough can be gulped down either choking the dog or blocking its digestive tract.  Some bones don't need to splinter to have sharp points.  Any bone that the dog can break up is dangerous.  If you dog does get hold of a bone and you're worried about fragments feed him some bread.  The hope is that the sharp fragments will get embedded in the bread and not cause any danger as it passes through the digestive tract.  Again, watch for vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stools, lack of appetite, a depressed state, or change in behavior.  If you see any of these signs quickly get your dog to your veterinarian or head for the animal ER.  The fragments could be causing a blockage or might have punctured the intestines.

Last, but certainly not least, the grease trap.  Remember that small can or bucket under your grill to catch the grease from getting all over your patio?  Fortunately many new grills have a built-in system that catches the grease inside the grill, but there are plenty of the cans still around.  Dogs find themselves drooling like crazy and licking their lips when they smell all that grease.  Unfortunately, their pancreas is not as excited.  Pancreatitis or excessive vomiting leading to dehydration are risks of animals ingesting lots of fat.  Pet Education.com has a great article on pancreatitis in dogs.

So....before you put your feet up, make sure the offending items have found a safe home, out of the reach of your curious dog or cat.  Then freshen up your favorite beverage and enjoy the sunset.

H1N1 and Pets

Did you know?
It's true, the headlines declaring a cat was diagnosed with H1N1 have been confirmed. But what does that mean for you and your feline friend?

Until recently, experts believed that, with the exception of birds and pet pigs, our pets were not susceptible to the H1N1 virus. In fact, we don't generally worry about our pets with any of the common seasonal flu strains. Now, several cases of H1N1 in ferrets, one cat that tested positive for the virus, and another reported case in a cat, have shown that human transmission of the bug to our pets is possible. So, even though pets bring us lots of comfort, it is best to avoid sleeping or snuggling with your pets if you are ill with flu like symptoms.

The good news is that like most people, it appears that this flu causes a mild illness in pets. Both cats survived and have recovered from the virus. Treatment for pets that contract H1N1 are supportive care and antibiotics if a secondary bacterial infection is present.

Your family veterinarian, the Veterinarians here at VRCC, the AVMA, and the CDC are all continuing to monitor H1N1 in order to make sure pets and people say protected. If pets were especailly susceptible, we would expect infection rates that mirrored the human population.

If your pet is showing any signs of illness, such as lethargy, fever, and runny nose, call your family veterinarian to schedule an exam. Or, if it is after hours, the Veterinarians and technicians at CVES are happy to see you and your pet to relieve your concerns and provide any care that is necessary for your animal.

As Leonardo da Vinci so elegantly stated, "the smallest feline is a masterpiece".

For additional information on the H1N1 virus and pets visit the AVMA website.

Halloween Hints

Halloween Hints

Did you know?
We are about to make the plunge into the holiday season starting with the spooky and candy laden festivities of Halloween. Holidays are fun and offer great memory making moments and fun picture opportunities. They also can pose some safety challenges that aren't normally on your radar. For the sake of safety, and to help ensure a "spooktakular" celebration, I've put together a few tips for keeping your four legged friends safe and healthy on Halloween.

Costumes
There are some fabulous Halloween costumes available for pets and some kid costumes can be adapted to fit your furry "children". When choosing a costume keep the following in mind:
- tie or remove any strings that could be eaten
- keep your animal with you while the costume is on to decrease the chance of ingestion or strangulation
- look for Velcro closures around the neck that can be easily removed
- make sure your pet won't trip on a cape or hanging piece of material
- not all animals find costumes enjoyable - take the costume off if your pet seems anxious or keeps pawing at the costume to get it off.

Food
Halloween is all about the loot. Make sure you have some pet appropriate treats around for the evening and watch out for the following:
- No matter how much "Lucky" begs don't give in to those pathetic eyes and feed him chocolate or raisins, or the double whammy, chocolate covered raisins. See my previous posts on these two food items for the potential toxic results for animals.
- Keep the "loot" bags out of reach of your pet. If "Lucky" decides to devour the bag the wrappers can become stuck in the esophagus or intestines and cause problems. Call your Veterinarian if your pet chooses a night of dietary indescretion.

General Safety
- Do you have a black cat? It's best to keep kitty inside for the night.
- If your pet gets over stimulated by the doorbell consider placing a sign at the front door asking trick-or-treaters to knock; or talk with your family vet about a mild sedative for the evening.
- Place jack-o-lanterns in a safe place where they won't get knocked over by your pet or set a tail on fire.
- Have a designated quiet room for your pets where they can feel safe if you have a party in your home.

By the way, if you are a client of the VRCC, post your Halloween pet pictures on our Facebook page!

Have a safe and happy "Howl"oween!

Updated 11/01/2009