A new cure for skin cancer in dogs!

Mast Cells the real cause for skin cancer in dogs — The “Jekyll and Hyde” of Tumor Growth

Mast cells have been called the Jekyll and Hyde of tumor growth because they can be both beneficial and detrimental in a tumor. “Mast cells are involved in the body’s immune responses to bacteria, ticks and intestinal parasitic worms, but they also cause allergic reactions that contribute to diseases such as asthma, rhinitis and atopic dermatitis,” explains Starkey.

“We compared the levels of the initial products — called ‘messenger RNAs’ — of about 20,000 genes in 20 primary cutaneous mast cell tumors that metastasized and 20 primary cutaneous mast cell tumors that did not metastasize, and found differences between the levels of over 200 gene products,” says Starkey. “The majority of the gene products were present at a lower level in the mast cell tumors that metastasized. Based on what is known about the genes concerned, it appears that reductions in the levels of the gene products assists cancerous mast cells to detach from surrounding cells in a primary tumor and gives them the ability to move.”

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The mast cell tumors included in the research study were from 12 breeds, including Labrador and golden retrievers, and boxers, and 6 cross breeds.

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Dogs don't smoke yet get lung cancer! And now there is a cure!

THE TRANSLATIONAL GENOMICS RESEARCH INSTITUTE PHOENIX, Ariz. found that

Despite those velvet paintings of poker-playing dogs smoking pipes, cigars and cigarettes, our canine friends really don't use tobacco. But like many humans who have never smoked, dogs still get lung cancer.

And, like many women who develop a particular type of breast cancer, the same gene -- HER2 -- also appears to be the cause of lung cancer in many dogs, according to a promising new study of pet dogs led by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), an affiliate of the City of Hope, and The Ohio State University.

Published today in the journal Clinical Cancer Research, this study could have significant implications for people who have never smoked.

TGen and Ohio State found that neratinib -- a drug that has successfully been used to battle human breast cancer -- might also work for many of the nearly 40,000 dogs in the U.S. that annually develop the most common type of canine lung cancer, known as canine pulmonary adenocarcinoma, or CPAC.

Neratinib inhibits a mutant cancer-causing form of the gene HER2, which is common to both CPAC and HER2-positive human breast cancer patients.

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"With colleagues at Ohio State, we found a novel HER2 mutation in nearly half of dogs with CPAC. We now have a candidate therapeutic opportunity for a large proportion of dogs with lung cancer," said Dr. Will Hendricks, an Assistant Professor in TGen's Integrated Cancer Genomics Division, Director of Institutional Research Initiatives, and the study's senior author.

Based on the results from this study, a clinical trial using neratinib is planned for dogs with naturally occurring lung cancer that have the HER2 mutation.

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Breakthrough in Cure for Hemangiosarcoma in dogs!

A breakthrough in the treatment of hemangiosarcoma in dogs came with the development of a genetically engineered drug called EGF bispecific angiotoxin or eBAT, said  Dr. Jaime Modiano at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine.

Hemangiosarcoma is a highly invasive type of cancer that grows rapidly, and is very similar to angiosarcoma, which affects humans.

“hemangiosarcoma in dogs was initially recognized as an entity in the biomedical literature during the 1950s and 1960s, coinciding with the time when the relationship between dogs and humans had started to evolve from one where dogs largely served working roles such as herding, guarding, and hunting to one where they were considered members of the family,” says Modiano.

The Blood Test

The blood test is based on work Modiano’s team completed in the early 2000s. “It showed that we could detect a small, but a unique population of cells in the blood that seemed to be preferentially found in dogs with canine hemangiosarcoma,” says Modiano.

“The test uses a technology called flow cytometry, which allows us to identify very rare cells that are ‘hidden’ among hundreds of thousands or even millions of normal cells in the circulation.

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These rare cells are present more often and in greater numbers in dogs with hemangiosarcoma than in healthy dogs, or dogs with other diseases

The Prognosis

The prognosis of dogs diagnosed with canine hemangiosarcoma is dependent on where the tumor is located.

“Hemangiosarcoma in dogs that start in, or spread to internal organs, muscles, or the bone marrow are almost invariably fatal,” says Modiano.

“The principal goal of treatment for these tumors is not necessary to achieve a cure, but rather to slow down or delay the spread of the disease and to prevent or delay the occurrence of life-threatening bleeding episodes. This is why surgery to remove any visible tumor mass may be recommended for hemangiosarcoma patients whose condition is otherwise stable even if there is widespread metastasis.”

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Outbreak of deadly parvovirus in Darlington, Bishop Auckland and Redcar!!

Dog owners are being urged to ensure their pets' vaccinations are up to date after the deadly, and highly contagious, Parvovirus broke out in the Redcar area.

There have also been cases confirmed in Darlington and Bishop Auckland in recent weeks.

Dog owners alerted

Katherine Claxton, White Cross Redcar's clinical director, said: "Like many other local veterinarians, we have treated several cases in recent weeks and we want to alert vigilant dog owners for symptoms, as they can take up to two weeks for dogs to display them after being exposed to the virus.

"All dog owners in the area should be aware of this outbreak, which is one of the most contagious and dangerous diseases that dogs face and which can often kill in a few days." The bowel attacks the white blood cells, and when the Young dogs are infected, the virus can damage the muscles of the heart and cause heart problems throughout life. 

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Treatment Costs

Parvovirus treatment cost ranges from $500 to $12000.

Their standard treatment consists of:

• Hydration via IV fluids or Sub-Q ($150 or more for a bag of salt water)


• Antibiotics


• Some prescribe an anti-nausea/anti-emetic


• Some prescribe pain medication


• They may perform an in-house Parvo test. These are very unreliable as they often come back with False Negatives, i.e. the vet tells you that your dog does not have Parvo when in reality he does.
  
  To compound this mistake, they coerce people into getting a Parvo shot based on the test results.
  
  This means your dog is exposed and probably infected, and now the vet has introduced a ton of live Parvovirus particles into your dog, encased in a toxic chemical mix disguised as a delivery system, end result: your dog now will come down with full-blown Parvo.
  
  This little exercise will cost you about $200 USD and a whole lot of grief shortly thereafter.

This is why dog owners are asked to get their dogs vaccinated

What Do We Vaccinate our Dogs for?
Vaccinations protect against infectious diseases which can be fatal.
Vaccinations protect your dog against:
1. Parvovirus
A highly contagious virus spread through contact with infected feces. The virus can also live on shoes, clothes, and floors for many months. Symptoms include vomiting, severe bloody diarrhea and lethargy. Parvovirus can be fatal in up to 90 percent of cases. Puppies are especially susceptible.
2. Canine distemper
A contagious virus spread through saliva, blood, or urine. Initial symptoms include red, watery eyes, nasal discharge, and fever. Later symptoms include lethargy, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea and seizures. It can also cause hardening of the footpads and nose. It is fatal in up to 50 percent of cases. 
3. Leptospirosis
A bacterial infection spread through infected rat urine and contaminated water. Symptoms include fever, muscle tremors, vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst, jaundice, and breathing difficulties. In severe cases, dogs can develop kidney damage and liver failure. It can be fatal even with the best treatment.
4. Infectious Canine Hepatitis
A viral disease spread through urine, saliva, blood, feces and nasal discharges. Symptoms include fever, lethargy, vomiting, coughing, diarrhea and abdominal pain. In severe cases, the disease can cause jaundice and liver failure and can result in seizures and coma. Even with the best treatment severe cases of infectious canine hepatitis can be fatal.

dog owners are expected to follow a proper vaccination schedule. Another option to save such high cost of treatment is to get your pet insured. 

Recent development in the treatment of parvovirus infection.

In-house treatment can also be done with modern medicine. 

 The treatment relies on two drugs recently released by Pfizer Animal Health (which funded the CSU parvovirus study): Maropitant, a strong anti-nausea medication given under the skin once a day; and Convenia, an antibiotic given under the skin once, and lasting two weeks; as well as administration of fluids under the skin three times daily.

This new protocol is developed at the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital may help save "parvo puppies" and give their families a chance to give their dogs a healthy life.

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Scientists discovered Dogs Understand What You’re Telling Them!!

We all know that dogs can learn to respond to human words, but it’s not always clear what’s happening in a dog’s brain when they hear and recognize words like “cookie” and “fetch.” Do they have to rely on other clues, like gestures, to figure out what we mean by that word?

Do they picture a dog biscuit when you say “cookie,” or just the sensation of eating? In a new study, scientists from Emory University and the New College of Florida tried to get to the bottom of this question by training dogs to associate certain objects with words like “blue” and “duck,” then using fMRI brain scanners to see what was happening in the dogs’ heads when they heard that word.

Science daily says :

When some dogs hear their owners say "squirrel," they perk up, become agitated. They may even run to a window and look out of it. But what does the word mean to the dog? Does it mean, "Pay attention, something is happening?" Or does the dog actually picture a small, bushy-tailed rodent in its mind?

Frontiers in Neuroscience published one of the first studies using brain imaging to probe how our canine companions process words they have been taught to associate with objects, conducted by scientists at Emory University. The results suggest that dogs have at least a rudimentary neural representation of meaning for words they have been taught, differentiating words they have heard before from those they have not.

"Many dog owners think that their dogs know what some words mean, but there really isn't much scientific evidence to support that," says Ashley Prichard, a PhD candidate in Emory's Department of Psychology can be credited for this finding. He is first author of the study. "We wanted to get data from the dogs themselves -- not just owner reports."

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Leptospirosis Spike Threatens New Jersey Pets!!

NorthStar VETS veterinary emergency and specialty veterinary hospital in New Jersey is issuing a warning to people in the area with pets.
Over the past several months, there has been a marked increase in the number of Leptospirosis cases treated at the hospital and at other veterinary hospitals in the NJ/NY/PA areas.

Dr. Steven Berkowitz, Emergency and Critical Care veterinarian for NorthStar VETS, said, "We want pet parents to be aware of Leptospirosis, and to consider vaccinating their at-risk pets to help prevent the spread of the disease. Each individual patient should be assessed by their family veterinarian."

Leptospira can occur in human

Sign and Symptoms of Leptospirosis in human

According to a center for disease control and prevention

In humans, Leptospirosis can cause a wide range of symptoms, including:

• High fever


• A headache


• Chills


• Muscle aches


• Vomiting


• Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes)


• Red eyes


• Abdominal pain


• Diarrhea


• Rash

If left untreated, Leptospirosis may cause kidney failure, brain damage, massive internal bleeding, and death.

Previously this disease was rare, but now it is becoming more and more common. There was a recent epidemic in Kerala India where as many as fifty people became sick due to leptospirosis. 

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="850"] WHO describes the transmission of leptospirosis as shown in the below gure. From the illustration it is shown that complications can happen to some organs if leptospirosis attacks. Therefore, leptospirosis cannot be considered as a mild disease .[/caption]

Leptospirosis in Pets

Signs and symptoms of leptospira infection in dogs

• Fever


• Vomiting


• Abdominal pain


• Diarrhea


• Refusal to eat


• Severe weakness and depression


• Stiffness


• Severe muscle pain


• Inability to have puppies

Generally younger animals are more seriously affected than older animals.

If you think your pet may have Leptospirosis, contact your veterinarian immediately. Your veterinarian can perform tests to determine whether or not your pet has the disease.

People at risk:

People those are at risk for leptospirosis are outdoor occupation types or those which require people to be in direct contact with animals, such as ranchers, farmers, veterinarians, field workers, and military personnel.

Leptospira is no longer a disease of third world countries, it is now knocking our doors too. Therefore, if you see above symptoms in your pets, better rush to veterinarian.

 

 

 

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Funding for Pets4OurVets

Kaitie Swedlund with Humane Society of Southern Wisconsin says Alley was left all alone after her owner, a Vietnam veteran, passed away. Kaitie says he did not leave any provisions for her care or have any family to take her in. Alley ended up spending a month in the empty house alone and without electricity.

On Friday, the Wake Up Wisconsin team had the pleasure of meeting this dog who is truly a bundle of love!
Kaitie says Alley is about 11 years old. She says they think that she would do well in a home with people of all ages as well as cats and other dogs. She mentions Alley does have a preference for smaller dogs though and can get a little intimidated by larger dogs.


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Kaitie says the shelter has been so inspired by Alley’s story that they are holding a fundraiser until Veterans Day called Pets4OurVets in partnership with Housing4OurVets.

Kaitie says all funds raised will be split down the middle between the shelter to help more dogs like Alley and Housing4OurVets to allow to help more veterans like Alley’s owner.

If you’d like to take part in the fundraiser, Click here

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Canine Distemper virus epidemic in India killed 20 Gir Lion

The Canine Distemper (CD) virus that killed 204 Gir Lions

Gujarat belongs to one of the groups of viruses called the morbillivirus. This virus group has some of the deadliest pathogens. Just like the immunodeficiency viruses for humans (HIV), primates (SIV), cats (FIV) and even cattle (BIV), there are morbilliviruses infecting various taxa.

In humans, we have the measles virus, in goats/sheep, the PPR (Peste des Petits Ruminants) virus, in large ruminants the rinderpest virus, in seals the Phocine virus, and in whales and dolphins, the Cetacean virus. They are all morbilliviruses.

The viruses are all genetically closely related, as they can adapt and/or mutate and evolve to become a new pathogen for a range of new taxa. For instance, the nuclear protein of human morbillivirus is said to be 65 percent similar to the CD virus.

Rinderpest, that created havoc along with livestock, including wild ruminants like gaur, has been eradicated from the planet by systematic vaccination program.



The CD virus in lions is a recent phenomenon as evident from large scale deaths in Serengeti, Africa, and Gir, India. This means the CD virus is a recent entrant to felids like a lion.

It is when viruses mutate to take advantage of a new host of species that they turn highly pathogenic. Because CD is a contagious disease, the virus can be transmitted airborne. The mere presence of a deceased individual in the vicinity or near proximity is enough.

Needless to say that the virus can also be transmitted directly when coming into contact with the body fluids of infected animals, and through contaminated water and food.

How did the CD virus get into Gir in the first place?

CD is endemic to the Indian subcontinent, which means dogs regularly suffer from CD. The chances of survival among pedigree dogs, especially puppies, is negligible.

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Dogs could have been the source of infection for the lions, but that doesn’t mean they will continue to be the source of infection every time. The virus might also be present in other free-ranging wild carnivores, but confirmation on these possibilities is possible only by conducting routine serological surveys and epidemiological studies.



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Vets warned to be on lookout after pet suffers ‘burr tongue’ !

Burr tongue is the common name for burdock tongue (also called granular stomatitis or granulomatous glossitis) caused by ingestion of burrs from the burdock plant (Arctium lappa), a form of thistle. The hooked scales of the burrs become embedded in the tongue and gums and can cause an intense foreign body reaction (Thivierge, 1973).

Ruth Wadsworth, who works at Priory Lodge Vet Group, Tonbridge in Kent, contacted Veterinary Times after her long-coated male border collie, Finley, became ill with burr tongue. Neither she nor her colleagues had seen a case before, despite having been in practice for many years. She wants to know how many other vets have come across the condition and to raise awareness of the potential hazard of burdock burrs.

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Dozens of dogs sick eating popular dog food Advance Dermocare

More than 70 dogs across Australia have been struck down by a debilitating and incurable illness, 7.30 can reveal, with a popular pet food being investigated as the cause.

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Melbourne University have confirmed 74 cases of megaesophagus, and in all cases the dogs ate Advance Dermocare.

Advance Dermocare dry dog food was voluntarily recalled at the end of last month after a spike in megaesophagus cases was discovered.

The rare condition causes the oesophagus to become enlarged and lose the ability to move food down to the stomach.

Melbourne University said it would likely take months to determine whether there was a definitive link to the food.

The manufacturer said its investigations had not revealed a root cause, but it had offered to reimburse vet bills.

7.30 has spoken to a number of owners who say their dogs have megaesophagus and were being fed Advance Dermocare.

The condition can be fatal and 7.30 is aware of eight cases where the dogs have been euthanased.

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Euthanasia drug found in dog food !

the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) bans pentobarbital in animal meat for animal or human consumption, pet food consumer advocate Susan Thixton told the outlet that tragically, such substances often end up in pet food.

It came from the process of killing the animal for making dog food. 

Dogs, cats found in dog food

Because pentobarbital is used to euthanize dogs and cats at animal shelters, finding pentobarbital in rendered feed ingredients could suggest that the pets were rendered and used in pet food.

CVM scientists, as part of their investigation, developed a test to detect dog and cat DNA in the protein of the dog food. All samples from the most recent dog food survey (2000) that tested positive for pentobarbital, as well as a subset of samples that tested negative, were examined for the presence of remains derived from dogs or cats. The results demonstrated a complete absence of material that would have been derived from euthanized dogs or cats. The sensitivity of this method is 0.005% on a weight/weight basis; that is, the method can detect a minimum of 5 pounds of rendered remains in 50 tons of finished feed. Presently, it is assumed that the pentobarbital residues are entering pet foods from euthanized, rendered cattle or even horses.

Finding levels of pentobarbital residues in dog food

Upon finding pentobarbital residues in dog food, the researchers undertook an assessment of the risk dogs might face. Dogs were given known quantities of pentobarbital for eight weeks to determine if consumption of small amounts of pentobarbital resulted in any physiological changes that could indicate potential effects on health. In short, the scientists wanted to find the level of pentobarbital dogs could be exposed to that would show no biological effects. The most sensitive indicator that pentobarbital had an effect is an increase in the production of certain enzymes collectively called cytochrome P450.

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FDA DIRECTOR SAYS PENTOBARBITAL IN PET FOOD A PROBLEM!

The resurgence of recalls and dog illnesses related to pentobarbital contamination of pet foodsstartled Steven Solomon, D.V.M., now in his second year as director of the Center for Veterinary Medicine in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.). The cycle of pentobarbital-related recalls needs to be halted with preventive…

Establishing risk-based preventive controls designed to protect your animal food and the
consumer (humans purchasing the animal food and animals consuming the food) from
biological, chemical (including radiological), and physical hazards, enables you to apply a
proactive and systematic approach to your food safety program. Risk-based preventive controls
will not give you a zero-risk system for manufacturing, processing, packing, and holding animal
food; rather, risk-based preventive controls are designed to minimize the risk of known or
reasonably foreseeable animal food hazards that may cause illness or injury to humans or
animals if they are present in the animal food you produce.

This guidance document covers facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold food intended
for all animal species including food-producing animals (e.g., livestock, poultry, and aquaculture
species), companion animals (e.g., dogs, cats, horses, and guinea pigs), laboratory animals, and
animals maintained in zoological parks. “Animal food” means food for animals other than man
and includes pet food, animal feed, and raw materials and ingredients

Learn more

 

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Wedgewood, Vetsource Partnership for home-delivered compounded drugs

Wedgewood Pharmacy, a U.S. compounding pharmacy specializing in animal health, and Vetsource, a veterinary-industry home-delivery pharmacy provider, have partnered to add thousands of commonly prescribed compounded medications to Vetsource’s home-delivery catalog. Wedgewood makes customized medications for pets and horses when commercially available drugs do not meet their needs. Vetsource provides innovative pharmacy, technology and business services to more than 8,000 veterinary practices across the country. Using Vetsource’s mobile-optimized ScriptRight e-prescribing tool, veterinarians can write, review and approve prescriptions from any web-enabled device, even when they’re away from the practice. Pet owners also can use Vetsource’s tools through their veterinarians’ online stores to request prescription refills and order nutritional and over-the-counter healthcare products. Read more

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Scratch Financial-No-interest payment option for veterinary treatment

Scratchpay, a provider of pet care payment plans, has announced a new zero percent APR financing option.
The new payment plan provides qualified pet owners with a three-month, interest-free option for financing veterinary care, from routine pet checkups to emergency visits.

Scratchpay’s payment product does not result in a hard credit inquiry for veterinary clients; applicants receive a soft credit inquiry when their rate is checked, leaving their credit scores unaffected.

There are also no deferred interest charges, hidden fees or prepayment penalties. The cost to veterinarians is a 5 percent fee per Scratchpay transaction.Read more

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VetVance mobile application for veterinary student

The mobile version of the VetVance website is a free educational resource that provides on-the-go access to the online content offered through the VetVance platform. Available for use on iOS smartphones and tablets and Android smartphones, the app features many of the tools found on the VetVance website, including courses, course progress tracking and registrant profiles. It also provides students and recent graduates with content relating to professional development, business skills, professional stewardship, financial literacy, and personal wellness. It also assists in building a professional community among registrants with similar areas of interest and allows eligible students to apply for the Zoetis Veterinary Student Scholarship. Read More

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FDA approves NexGard for Lyme prevention!

Merial, now part of Boehringer Ingelheim, has received approval from the FDA to expand the label claims for NexGard (afoxolaner). The flea and tick control product is now approved to prevent Borrelia burgdorferi infections as a direct result of NexGard killing Ixodes scapularis vector ticks, commonly called black-legged ticks (or deer ticks). The FDA approval is based on two controlled laboratory studies that showed that NexGard effectively prevented the transmission of B. burgdorferi infections after dogs were infested with wild-caught I. scapularis ticks 28 days after treatment with NexGard. In addition to killing black-legged ticks, NexGard also kills lone star ticks, American dog ticks and brown dog ticks, and it prevents flea infestations by killing adult fleas before they lay eggs. Read more

 

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