Health Significance FAQ
Brucellosis in Dogs
General Information
Brucellosis is caused by bacteria known as Brucella canis. The disease spreads from one dog to another during breeding or oral contact with vaginal discharges, aborted fetuses and placentas, semen or urine. It occurs most frequently in breeding kennels, though family pets may become infected also.
Pregnant females with brucellosis abort their puppies, while nonpregnant bitches may fail to conceive when bred. Males develop swelling of the testicles and usually become sterile. Some dogs appear to be in excellent health yet are infected and capable of spreading the disease.
Diagnosis is by blood culture and/or blood testing. More than one blood sample is usually required.
Public Health Significance
Brucellosis can affect people, though the chance of infection appears to be remote. Have your physician contact your veterinarian.
Important Points in Treatment
There is no effective treatment for dogs with brucellosis, and no vaccine for prevention is available. Since the disease may spread to other dogs and may also be a threat to human health, the pet may have to be euthanized (put to sleep). Treament can be attempted and testing done to confirm success. Infected animals should be neutered if they have not been prior to diagnosis
Disease Control
The only practical method for controlling brucellosis is identification of infected animals by blood test. Any dog used for breeding purposes should be tested prior to each breeding period. The mate to be used for breeding should be tested PRIOR to exposure for breeding purposes.
Understanding your pet's diagnosis
Brucellosis 
Brucellosis is a disease caused by Brucella canis which is a bacteria that was first isolated from dead puppy fetuses in the middle 1960’s. It is the most common bacteria that can infect bitches and their fetuses. It seems that over the years much has been written on brucellosis in breeding dogs but despite it all, infection rates may run as high as 8-10%. That’s right, it is suspected that one in ten dogs in this country may carry Brucella canis.
Brucella canis also poses a significant public health hazard since it is transmissible to humans especially those handling aborted fetuses. Humans may develop a serious liver impairment or arthritis.
Medical advancements in controlling this disease have been few and far between. Contrary to some opinions, it is a very difficult disorder to treat and in most cases, treatment is unsuccessful. A prevalent attitude among many people is that "if my dogs get it, then I will treat it." This is a serious mistake because you probably will not cure it and if you do, the individual will probably be sterile or be a poor breeding specimen.
Transmission of Brucella canis
B. canis is sexually transmitted by the mating of infected males and females. Brucella canis in the female dog will live in the vaginal and uterine tissue and secretions for years and except in rare cases, for life. The infected female usually appears healthy with no signs of disease or indication that she is a "carrier" or harborer of the organisms. She can spread the bacteria to other animals through her urine, aborted fetuses, or most commonly through the act of breeding. Once pregnant, the bacteria will also infect the developing fetuses causing illness.
In males, the Brucella bacteria live in the testicles and seminal fluids. An infected male is just as dangerous as the female as he can spread the Brucella bacteria via his urine or semen. Often times there are no signs except in advanced cases when the testicles may be uneven in size.
Litters are commonly aborted, usually in the last two weeks of gestation, or the puppies may die shortly after birth. If a pregnant dog aborts after 45 days of gestation, you should be highly suspicious of brucellosis. Usually the fetuses are partially decayed and accompanied by a gray to green vaginal discharge. This discharge can have very high numbers of Brucella canis. If embryos die early, they may be resorbed and the female may never appear to be pregnant at all.
What are the risks?
The risks are great. Since the Brucella canis organisms are transmissible to humans, it is best to avoid all contact with the dead fetuses and their associated vaginal discharge. The infected mother will likely be unable to sustain a pregnancy in the future. Furthermore she would likely transmit the disease to any male which breeds her causing fertility problems in him as well.
Testing
Testing for Brucellosis usually requires a blood test by your veterinarian and all positives should be retested for a confirmation. Since Brucella canis is mainly spread by the act of breeding, it is paramount to test all canines, male and female, prior to breeding. Test between every breeding of different animals. In other words, if a male (or female) was tested one year ago but has bred since, it must be tested again. In the case of a male, if he serviced a female since his last test, then he must be tested again even if his last test was as recent as four weeks ago. Testing is the only sure way to detect carriers.
In cases of abortion, the bacteria may be isolated from the aborted fetuses. Blood tests can also be performed on the mother's blood to help confirm a positive diagnosis of Brucellosis.
Prevention
When possible, all incoming breeding dogs should be isolated for two weeks upon arrival at the kennel. At the end of two weeks, have the individual (male or female) tested by your veterinarian for brucellosis. Do this even if the dog was tested before shipment. This may seem excessive but you will spend a lot more money if Brucellosis creeps into your kennel, not to mention the disruption in your breeding program and loss of genetic potential.
Artificial Insemination (AI) can lessen the risk of Brucella transfer at breeding. While rare, transmission of Brucella canis to a bitch can occur during AI, especially if infected semen is used. However, AI will protect an infected female from transferring it to a noninfected male.
All positive males and females should not be bred. Surgical spaying or neutering of these individuals is recommended. Various blood tests are available to screen breeding dogs (male and female) and identify those who are infected (carriers). All individuals used for breeding should be routinely tested prior to breeding.
Treatment
There is no reliable treatment for Brucellosis. Brucella canis lives inside of the dog's cells so it it difficult to reach the bacteria with antibiotics. Any attempt at treatment would require the use of multiple types of antibiotics. Various antibiotics such as doxycycline, minocycline and dihydrostreptomycin have been partially effective at causing a temporary reduction in the bacterial organisms after several weeks of treatment. A complete cure is unlikely. It is recommended that infected animals be castrated or spayed.
As a rule, do not breed with an individual that is said to be treated and cured. (Unless of course it is the last of its breed and even that would be questionable.) "Cured" patients often begin shedding the bacteria months to years after treatments...Don't knowingly take a chance.
Human health hazards
People can become infected with Brucella canis. People should avoid contact with dead fetuses or the discharge from aborting dogs. Transmission has also occurred from contact with secretions from male dogs.
In conclusion, test and isolate. Do not rely on an uncertain cure. If you do not heed these suggestions, then you are playing with fire in your kennel and perhaps with your own health. Remember, statistically one out of ten dogs may be carriers and those are very disturbing odds.
The information on this page was obtained from the site http://www.peteducation.com/
Antifreeze Poisoning (Ethylene Glycol)
Antifreeze is one of our most frustrating poisonings and one of our most common. We want to encourage you to be VERY careful in handling antifreeze around your home. I am a big fan of the low toxicity antifreeze. I use it exclusively in my truck and have found it to very effective. I am not an expert on cars but "it's worked for me". Low toxicity antifreeze is NOT non-toxic so be careful with it too!
We often have to test for antifreeze even when we don't know that a poisoning has occured. Early identification of the problem is the most important factor in treatment. The following info is from VetMedCenter.com.
Understanding Your Pet's Medical Diagnosis
What is ethylene glycol poisoning?
Ethylene glycol poisoning occurs when animals swallow substances containing ethylene glycol. Ethylene glycol is the principal component of most antifreeze products. Antifreeze is readily available, especially in winter or in cold climates. Antifreeze has a somewhat pleasant taste that attracts dogs and cats. Only a small amount of antifreeze may be a lethal dose. Ethylene glycol poisoning is common in pets; the poisoning frequently is fatal. Fatality rates are higher for cats than for dogs.
What is the cause of ethylene glycol poisoning?
The cause of ethylene glycol poisoning is the ingestion of ethylene glycol, usually in the form of antifreeze. The poisoning usually is accidental. If antifreeze leaks or if a person changes the antifreeze and allows it to spill into the environment, a dog or cat will lick or drink the antifreeze.
What are the signs of ethylene glycol poisoning?
The signs of ethylene glycol poisoning vary, depending on the animal species, the volume of antifreeze, and how rapidly the antifreeze was ingested. Early signs can occur 30 minutes after ingestion. Signs include mild to severe depression, nausea, vomiting, unsteady gait, and knuckling (the paws are bent over so that the animal appears to be walking on the front part of the paw). Other signs are small muscle contractions, rapid movements of the eyeball, head tremors, impaired reflexes, and low body temperature. As depression continues, dogs may drink less but urine output increases causing dehydration. Dogs may appear to recover after approximately 12 hours. Cats usually remain markedly depressed. Late signs can occur after 12 hours in cats or 36 hours in dogs. Late signs may include severe lethargy, coma, seizures, vomiting, mouth ulcers, drooling, and complete shutdown of the kidneys (kidney failure).
How is ethylene glycol poisoning diagnosed?
Ethylene glycol poisoning is based upon history (if exposure is known), clinical signs, physical examination, and diagnostic tests. The veterinarian will be concerned about any recent history, especially about any foreign substances the pet may have eaten. Similar signs can occur in other conditions, such as diabetes and disorders of the liver, kidneys, or nervous system. Ethylene glycol is a common cause of sudden kidney failure. The veterinarian will want to differentiate poisoning from other causes of kidney failure, especially if the pet had been healthy prior to the onset of signs. Blood will be taken for testing and is helpful in diagnosing kidney failure. Urinalysis is helpful in ruling out ethylene glycol poisoning because protein and blood usually do not occur in the urine of pets with ethylene glycol poisoning. Blood can be analyzed using a special test for the presence of ethylene glycol; however, the ethylene glycol usually is not detectable 72 hours after the animal ingested it. Kidney biopsy (removal and examination of tissue) may be necessary for a definite diagnosis. Calcium oxalate crystals (a by product of ethylene glycol) in the tubules of the kidneys are diagnostic.
How is ethylene glycol treated?
If the pet is known to have ingested ethylene glycol or antifreeze within one-to-two hours, and can be treated immediately; the veterinarian will make the pet vomit and will flush the stomach with water and activated charcoal. This procedure is of little benefit after the one-to-two hour time period. After two hours, drug therapy (antidotes) can be given intravenously (through the vein) and in an attempt to stop the affects of the poison on the body. If the pet is in kidney failure, antidotes will not be effective. Treatment may include fluid therapy, diuretics, or peritoneal dialysis. The body temperature of cats tends to drop with ethylene glycol poisoning, so they need to be kept warm.
What is the prognosis for animals with ethylene glycol poisoning?
The prognosis (outcome) for animals with ethylene glycol poisoning varies. It depends on the length of time between ingestion of the ethylene glycol and treatment, the species (dog or cat) involved, and the speed of diagnosis and initiation of treatment. Complete recovery may be expected in dogs treated within five hours of ingestion using intravenous drugs. Most dogs will recover if treatment is initiated as late as eight hours after ingestion. Outcome for cats is good if treatment is started within three hours of ingestion. The outcome is poor in animals that have progressed to kidney failure.
Ethylene glycol is a highly toxic substance. Antifreeze without ethylene glycol is available; antifreeze products containing propylene glycol are relatively nontoxic.
The majority of the information in this page is has been taken from VetMedCenter.com. For further information about this useful source of informtion follow the link or look, on the internet, at http://www.vetmedcenter.com/.
Parvovirus Infection in Dogs
General Information
Dogs become infected with parvovirus through contact with the stool of an infected dog or a contaminated environment. The virus is very hardy and remains infective in the environment for a long time (we beleive this to be about 5 years in protected.dirt). Puppies are most susceptible to parvovirus infections however all unvaccinated animals that have not had the disease are susceptible.
Parvovirus causes severe and often bloody vomiting and diarrhea. Infected animals rapidly dehydrate, and severe cases progress to shock and death. In our experience animals of all ages are affected. Puppies are seen more frequently than older dogs since most dogs will have either been vaccinated or had the disease by the time they are a year of age. We have seen fatalities in all breeds and ages of dogs. We beleive that dogs of all ages are susceptible to the disease unless vacciantion status is maintained.
Occasionally parvovirus attacks the heart muscle of puppies, and can cause sudden death.
A vaccine is available for prevention of canine parvovirus infection, and all dogs should be vaccinated annually with a good quality vaccine. There are many different qualities of vaccine available. I beleive that there are licensed vaccines that protect less than half of the dogs vaccinated even when given according to the directions. I beleive that I have seen some cases where the vaccine caused disease. No vaccine will protect all dogs if not given strictly by the recommended directions. I beleive that high quality vaccines protect very close to 100 % of dogs if given by the directions. I recognize that many people will vaccinate their own pets but caution that it is very difficult for the average pet owner to be aware of the different qualities of vaccines available. If you are going vaccinate your own pet make sure that you use a high quality vaccine and follow the directions strictly. Almost all vaccines sold at feed stores, etc. are "6, 7 or 8 way" vaccines. To know whether a vaccine is a high quality vaccine you must know the company of manufacture and the nature of the individual antigens included in the vaccine.
During the initial vaccination sequence you do not know when immunity occurs. The vaccination schedule should be adhered to strictly and exposure to the disease should be avoided. This is why we never allow animals that have not completed immunization to be on the floor at our hospital. Owners of young, unvaccinated animals should avoid contact with other unvaccinated animals. Immunity cannot be assured until about 2 weeks after the last vaccine of the series.
Treatment
Treatment of parvovirus is diffucult at best. It is true that some dogs will survive parvovirus infection even without treatment (in our experience about 10%). We do treat some dogs with parvovirus on an outpatient basis. This may be less expensive than hospitalization but the survival rate in our experience runs about 50%. If your pet is treated on an outpatient basis it is essential that you maintain contact with our office every day during regular office hours so we can advise you on how to proceed. We have our best success with intensive care hospitalization for dogs with parvovirus infection. Because most animals with parvovirus have difficulty holding down even water for as much as 10 -14 days we treat hospitalize animals with intravenous fluids and medication. The typical stay for hospitalized animals is 4-10 days but some stay even longer. The cost of hospitalization is high and depends on many factors including the size of the patient. The cost of hospitalizing a 10 pound dog will typically be between $200 and $400 and a 80 pound dog may be as much as $500 (or more). We wish it did not have to be so expensive but it takes lot's of expensive medication to treat these patients. Treatment is not always successful and the cost of treatment is not based on survival. In our experience we see about 90% survival with intensive care treatment. We do require a deposit for hospitalization of dogs with parvovirus. It may seem like all we are talking about here is money. However, our finacial experience with hospitalization of dogs with parvovirus has been dismal. We have without question lost money over the life of the hospital in performing hundreds and hundreds of hours of work trying to help very sick animals. We would much prefer to prevent this disease and NEVER see another case like the one pictured above.
Distemper in Dogs
General Information
Canine distemper is a paramyxovirus which appear very similar to the paramyxovirus causing human measles. The virus in the canine can affect a wide range of organs including the skin, brain, eyes, intestinal and respiratory tracts. The virus is transmitted through the air in addition to body secretions such as urine. Dogs of any age can be affected, however most are puppies less than 6 months of age.
What are the symptoms?
Distemper virus can affect many systems of the body. The most common signs are nasal and eye discharge, coughing, diarrhea, vomiting and seizures. Mildly affected dogs may only cough and be misdiagnosed as "kennel cough." Others may develop pneumonia. Puppies that recover may have severe enamel damage. The nose and foot pads of the young dog may become thickened, hence the nickname "hardpad disease."
What are the risks?
Distemper is serious and can spread rapidly through a kennel especially if unvaccinated individuals are present. Not all patients will die, however a significant number may. Dogs of every age are susceptible, however the very young and old have the highest death rate. Death rates may be as high as 75%. It is erroneously believed by some that all older dogs have a natural immunity. Although some may have immunity, many do not. Patients that recover from distemper may suffer permanent damage to vision as well as the nervous system. Puppies which recover can have severely mottled teeth due to abnormalities of the developing enamel.
How is canine distemper treated and prevented?
There is no specific treatment for canine distemper. Therapy is largely supportive. intravenous fluids are administered to prevent dehydration. Anti-seizure medications can be used if neurologic signs develop.
Excellent vaccines have been developed to prevent distemper. The vaccines have been widely used for many years and have made significant strides in reducing the frequency of this disease. In the past, vaccines comprised of the human measles virus were occasionally utilized as a preventative. Using measles vaccines is a seldom practiced procedure today. Excellent vaccines with minimal side effects are available to give to puppies and dogs of every age. It must be emphasized that many older dogs do not develop a life long immunity to distemper. The vaccinations should be given yearly for life.
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Important Points in Treatment 
1. Distemper is a serious disease that is often fatal. Currently we have no drugs to destroy the virus. Treatment is aimed at supporting general health and preventing bacterial infections. In many cases, hospital treatment is necessary.
2. Give all medication as directed. Call the doctor if you cannot give the medication.
3. Wipe away any secretions from the eyes, nose and mouth several times each day. Call the doctor if you cannot keep the nostrils unplugged.
4. Diet: Good nutrition is vital to recovery from distemper.
____Feed as follows: ______________________________________
5. Special instructions: _______________________________________________
Notify the Doctor if Any of the Following Occur:
* Your dog refuses to eat or drink.
* Your dog has difficulty breathing.
* Your dog vomits or has diarrhea.
* Your dog has seizures or convulsions.
* Your dog's signs worsen.
The information on this page was obtained from the site http://www.peteducation.com/
Coprophagy in Dogs
(eating its or other animals crap !)
General Information
Many dogs develop the unpleasant habit of eating feces. In some animals, it becomes almost compulsive behavior. These pets eat not only their own feces, but also those of any other animal.
Several theories have attempted to explain this behavior. Among possible causes are boredom, too much confinement, lack of certain enzymes in the digestive system, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and neuroses.
Coprophagy usually does little harm except transmission of intestinal parasites and fecal bacteria, which may cause tonsillitis or intestinal upset.
Important Points in Treatment
In some pets, nothing seems to stop this behavior. However, here are a few suggestions that may help:
1. Remove the feces from the premises daily. Prevent access to cat litter boxes.
2. Do not confine your dog to an area where it has bowel movements.
3. Provide regular exercise for your pet.
4. One or more laboratory stool examinations may be required to rule out hidden causes.
5. Provide your veterinarian with an accurate description of the pet's current diet, including snacks.
Notify the Doctor if Any of the Following Occur:
* There is blood in your pet's stool.
* Your pet's bowel movements are abnormal.
* Your pet's general health changes.
info above was obtained from the site http://bobmckee.com/