Medical Terms That Sound Like A Diagnosis But Really Are Not: Otitis

Infections are one of the most common causes of inflammation. It is always important to determine what type of infection you're dealing with.

But things are not always as simple as that.

Let's say your dog was diagnosed with otitis.

Otitis is often used as a synonym for an ear infection, though the word really stands for inflammation of the ear. Infection, however, is usually involved.

The most common type of ear infection is “otitis externa” where the infection and inflammation is limited to the outer ear canal. You might have noticed a bad odor or discharge, redness or swelling, head shaking, scratching or rubbing at the ears …

The  infection can be bacterial, fungal or parasitic (ear mites).

You don't want a treatment based on an assumption; you want to know for sure what the cause is because the treatment is different for each type of infection.

Now the question is what caused the infection in the first place.

A one-time infection can have a simple cause and might not come back after appropriate treatment.

For example, a bacterial infection could have been caused by a foreign body (e.g., a grass awn or Foxtail) or trauma that disrupts the normal protective mechanisms of the ear. (Of course the foreign body must be removed for the infection to go away).

A yeast infection might follow after antibiotic treatment of bacterial otitis.

When he was grading our papers, our English professor would always say, “One mistake – no mistake,” and give an A on a paper with just one error.

Chronic cases, however, are a different story.

In some dogs, the anatomy of the ear itself can make it susceptible to infections. Think Cocker Spaniels with their floppy ears – cute, but they trap dampness and debris inside making them virtual Petri dishes for infection.  With some extra care, owners can often manage these types of situations.

However, ear infections can be secondary to other conditions, such as allergies or other systemic diseases!

Dogs suffering with allergies are also susceptible to ear infections. In fact, recurring otitis can be the first warning sign of an allergy problem.

Some hormonal imbalances also lead to frequent infections, including otitis.

For example, Cushing's disease (hyperadrenocorticism) is caused by overproduction of the hormone cortisol. High cortisol levels suppress the immune system and make dogs more susceptible to infections.

As you can see, as medical and definitive as the term otitis might sound, it requires further qualification and in recurring cases warrants  additional investigation for an underlying cause.

It's your dog's health!
Jana

Further reading:
External Ear Infection (External Otitis) in Dogs
Ear Infections (Otitis Externa) & Ear Cleaning in Dogs
Ear Infections (Otitis Externa)
Can allergies cause my dog's ear infection?
Ear Mites FAQ 

Related articles:
Phoenix's Chronic Ear Infections
Medical Terms That Sound Like A Diagnosis But Really Are Not (Part I)
Medical Terms That Sound Like A Diagnosis But Really Are Not: One-thing-or-anotheritis

Helping Penelope Get Hip Dysplasia Treatment

A friend in need is asking for our help. Many of us had been through hard times (I am no stranger to desperation), let's help her.

***

We brought my Rottweiler puppy, Penelope, home New Years day. We call her our lucky little Penny because she has brought us so much joy and happiness since we lost our 2 year old Rottweiler, Roxy, to hip dysplasia.

It was beyond devastating when we realized that Roxy’s hips were damaged beyond repair when she slipped on wet grass one summer morning last year. 

We believed Roxy brought our little Penny to us to help heal our broken hearts—but instead we are realizing it is meant for us to help heal Penny’s misshaped hips.

When we got Penelope  I was told she had good hips, but I guess luck wasn't on her's or our side. She was diagnosed with hip dysplasia at only 5 months old (1 month ago). 

We always refer to Penelope and my newborn son as “twins” since they were both born on November 6 of last year. Although it has been very hard raising both, every day I am reminded how lucky I am to have such a great puppy.

She is very calm and loving towards my son, as if she knows he needs the extra gentleness because he is an infant. It is always so cunning when he giggles as Penelope gives him his morning kisses while he is playing in his jumper. Her spirit is strong and she is filled with a lot of life and is charged with energy.

She tries to make the best of her puppy-hood, but some days are harder than others.

As time went on, we realized that Penelope started to seem off, as sometimes she would be walking and randomly let out a horrifying yelp. There would be days she would lay down and would scream; she could not get up without our help, as her back legs would be spread apart as in a split.

After a battery of tests, she was treated for a urinary tract infection, as the veterinarian said that was the source of her pain. Over the course of 3 months she was constantly treated for a urinary tract infection, which we found out was non-existent as Penny’s urine was clean, but the samples were contaminated afterwards.

Our hearts dropped when X-rays showed that she has severe hip dysplasia on one side. 

With Roxy, I wished I knew about her condition earlier so I could have helped her before it was too late. Penny’s condition is very treatable if we act while she is still a puppy.

The time is right for Penelope, but the timing for us is not good because of our very limited income.

Her treatments to strengthen and build the cartilage in her hips are expensive, as it is a twice weekly shot that needs to be given at the veterinarian’s office.

Later on, she will be eligible to receive surgery to reshape her hip to better fit her leg bone so she can be pain free; she will need to be full grown before the surgery is to be completed.

All of this comes at a very expensive price, but I just cannot bear the idea of burying my baby girl in 2 years due to the inability to pay for the surgery in a timely manner. 

I want to help our girl fight off her condition, as I know that is what Roxy would want for our little Penny; she is my world.

We are getting treatment, but there are 16 treatments ($75 dollars each, and another series of treatments with an injection that builds cartilage.

She will also need 2 exams and x-rays at 307.79 each and then the costly hip surgery that will be approximately 3,000 depending on severity (it was the best Estimate they could give me)

Total estimate approximately: $4,500 

She will then be put on joint health supplements and have to be re-evaluated (by X-Ray, which would require sedation once again) when she reaches a year old on my sons birthday (surprisingly they were born the same day!)

I am a stay at home mom with my 6 month old son and my husband work's hard at a factory but it is impossible for us to come up with $4500; but we don't want to lose her!

A friend suggested we create a ChipIn where people can help. I was hesitant, thinking who is going to help a starnger, but where I am. I have to try all I can.

We had a Care Credit card but in became maxed out while caring for our dog with the same health issues who passed.

Penelope hip dysplasia and UTI treatment

Theresa Perry

Dog Allergies: Common, Commonly Misdiagnosed, or Both?

by Jennifer Coates, DVM

Watching an itchy pet scratch to the point of self-mutilation is an agonizing and all-too-common experience for dog owners.

The veterinary visits that usually (and should!) follow often result in a diagnosis of allergies.

While allergies are extremely common in dogs, owners should be aware that this very fact can sometimes lead vets to diagnose an allergy when something else is to blame for a dog’s symptoms.

First, an overview of allergies.

Dogs can be allergic to almost anything in their environment:  ingredients in food, flea bites, pollen, mold spores, dust mites, etc.  The topic of food allergy has been elegantly discussed by Dr. Schaible, so I won’t go into it here, other than to say that every dog with non-seasonal itchiness needs to be assessed for a food allergy.

The importance of flea allergies also cannot be overstated.  

A flea allergic dog can be driven to desperation by the bites of only one or two fleas. Owners often give their dogs a once-over, don’t see any fleas, and discount the little buggers as a cause for their pet’s itching.

But, EVERY itchy dog needs to be on an effective flea preventative medication all year long.  

The good news is that many of these products also kill other parasites that cause itching in dogs (e.g., Sarcoptes mites, lice, etc.) so owners get a lot of bang for their buck.

Back to what most people think of as typical allergies – the pollens, molds, etc.  

These are often called inhalant allergies, but this is a bit of a misnomer. Unlike people who typically develop runny and itchy eyes, sneezing, etc. after inhaling allergens, the cells responsible for these reactions occur primarily in a dog’s skin, which explains why dogs are itchy rather than sneezy when suffering from allergies.

The correct term for the genetic predisposition to this type of allergic reaction in dogs is “atopy.”

What does this mean for dog owners?

Perhaps most obviously, if your dog has chronic respiratory symptoms (e.g., a runny nose, sneezing, coughing, etc.) the most likely diagnosis is NOT allergies.  

If, however, your dog is itchy, atopy will be towards the top of a vet’s list of potential causes.  As tempting as it may be (especially in the middle of a busy day in the clinic or when faced with a client complaining about prices), a vet shouldn’t rush into an allergy diagnosis but first rule out some of the other common causes of itching including:

• a thorough physical exam looking for fleas, lice, and other obvious causes of a dog’s symptoms,
• a skin scraping for mange mites,
• a fungal culture to rule out ringworm,
• skin cytology to diagnose bacterial and fungal skin infections,
• and sometimes empirical treatment for some of the more hard to diagnose “itchy” diseases (e.g., sarcoptic mange).  

Only after all this is a TENTATIVE diagnosis of atopy appropriate.

Why do I say “tentative?” Because all of the potential causes of canine itching have not yet been ruled out, and atopy is a diagnosis of exclusion.

Definitively diagnosing allergies and identifying a dog’s triggers can involve such things as skin biopsies and intradermal skin tests, and these advanced diagnostics are not called for in every case.  

It is appropriate to begin treating most dogs for allergies without these tests, as long as everyone understands that if the pet does not respond to treatment, the initial diagnosis should be reevaluated. 

An allergic dog’s symptoms should quickly get MUCH better with aggressive treatment.  

This often consists of medications to control the allergic response (corticosteroids and cyclosporine are typical examples), weekly baths using an appropriate, medicated shampoo, and nutritional supplements like omega 3 fatty acids.

Keep in mind that your dog’s symptoms will probably recur if you stop treating him, but if you are concerned that he was misdiagnosed in the first place, talk to your veterinarian or seek a second opinion, ideally with a veterinary dermatologist.

***

Jennifer Coates, DVM graduated with honors from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1999.  In the years since, she has practiced veterinary medicine in Virginia, Wyoming, and Colorado.  She is the author of several books about veterinary medicine and animal care, including the Dictionary of Veterinary Terms: Vet-speak Deciphered for the Non-veterinarian. 

Jennifer also writes short stories that focus on the strength and importance of the human-animal bond and freelance articles relating to a variety of animal care and veterinary topics.  Dr. Coates lives in Fort Collins, Colorado with her husband, daughter, and pets.

Related articles:
Why Is My Dog So Itchy? Top 5 Causes Of Itching In Dogs
Food Allergies in Dogs

Articles by Dr. Coates:
The Perplexities of Pancreatitis
The Other Side Of The Coin: The Cost Of Defensive Medicine
To Neuter Or Not To Neuter… That Is The Question
Don’t Forget the Physical Therapy
Common Misdiagnoses (Part 1)
Common Misdiagnoses (Part 2)
Picking the Right Dog to Breed
When Is It An Emergency?

In The Beginning There Was Fat: From Vanity To Revolutionary Therapy

by Jennifer Febel of Avivagen Animal Health Inc.

It seems everywhere you turn these days people are talking about stem cell therapy and fat. But how exactly does this process work and what made researchers look to fat in the first place?

While we now know that fat tissue is an abundant source of mesenchymal stem cells , this was not always the case.

In fact, it was plastic surgeons that first noticed fat’s ability to increase vascular activity at an injection site.

Who knew liposuction would prove to be so useful?

Before dermal fillers became all the rage, wrinkles were treated by injecting them with a person’s own fat cells.  While the effects were only temporary, plastic surgeons noticed that, even once the wrinkle had returned, the skin at the injection site appeared healthier and had an obvious lack of signs of aging such as discoloration and age spots.

Further investigation revealed that the skin had increased vascular activity wherever the fat was injected!

Up to that point, the primary role of stem cells was thought to be differentiation; that is, it was believed that they worked by differentiating into other cell types and regenerating tissue in the affected areas.

Stem cells: the conductors of regeneration

But we now know is that this is only a small part of a much bigger picture.

What the liposuction process taught us was that mesenchymal stem cells work not only by regeneration, but also by releasing specific chemicals that communicate with other cells in the area.

Think of stem cells like conductors in an orchestra: Not only are they able to play an instrument, but they also tell other musicians what to do.

What do stem cells do?

Most of the time, adult stem cells are in a dormant state, pretty much waiting around for something to happen.  As cells die off through normal cellular aging they release chemicals that stimulate the dormant stem cells into action.  The adult stem cells then direct the surrounding cells to ensure the right type of cell is created and ends up where it needs to be.

In this way, stem cells are not just blank slates that can morph into different cell types; they are also responsible for orchestrating the response of the surrounding tissue.

And you thought fat was just something to whittle away at the gym!

***


Vet-Stem has been providing stem cell training and services to hundreds of veterinarians in the U.S. and Canada since 2004. Over 6,000 animals have been treated for arthritis and/or tendon and ligament injuries, many of which were not responding to other treatment methods.


You can follow latest Vet-Stem news on Arthritis in Dogs Blog
or connect with Vet-Stem on Facebook or Twitter


Further Reading:
Stem Cell Technology – Where Did It Come From?
How Do Stem Cells Really Work in Arthritis Treatment for Dogs?
Getting the Skinny on Fat

Related articles:
Stem Cells for Dogs? Oh yeah, baby!
Interview with Dr. Robert J. Harman, D.V.M., M.P.V.M. - CEO and founder of Vet-Stem
Digging Deeper: The Science Behind Adipose Derived Stem Cell Therapy
Jasmine is Vet-Stem's poster child! 
Zeus Gets Stem Cell Treatment 
Jasmine Is Headed For Her Next Stem Cell Treatment 
Jasmine's Stem Cells Are In 
Running With The Wind: Trago's Elbow Dysplasia Surgery And Stem Cell Treatment

Diagnosing Precious: GI Issues That Are Not Going Away

My friend has asked me for help for her beloved Rottie Precious. Precious has been ill since the end of the last year. Today, an exploratory surgery, three vets, four months, and several treatments later, he is not getting any better.

I realize that a dog cannot get diagnosed over the internet but they are working with a third vet now and it doesn't seem that they are any closer to a solution than when they started.

We are looking for are any ideas or suggestions you might have.

***

Precious is a 3 year old Rottweiler, happy and always healthy prior to this event. He weighs 40kg.

The problem started on the 29th of December 2010 after Precious overindulged at the Christmas dinner on the 27th of December.

On the 29th he woke up feeling miserable threw up and had diarrhea.

His vet prescribed Enroxil [enrofloxacin] 150mg, 2 per day for 5 days. The problem got better for a while only to return with something worse after only a few days.


The vet suggested we change his diet to Hill's i/d.

In a few days the condition got worse.  

The vet prescribed Metronidazole 250mg 8per day.

Still the condition continued to worsen. Precious was straining unproductively and when he did manage to pass something it was an explosion of terrible smelling greenish liquid.

I went to the vet again and was told that it could be another month of taking this medicine before I could see some improvement. Asking what do I expect during the month I was told that his condition may worsen or get better at times.

The vet who has known him since he was a puppy never examined him.  

I wasn't comfortable with this, a month had passed and Precious was worse than day 1. I couldn't imagine let him suffer for another month.

I took a video of Precious doing his thing and I called another vet who visited Precious at home. 

He said he suspected IBD but recommended we take x rays and ultrasound just in case there was an obstruction. And so we did on the 29th of January 2011.

Xrays didn't show any swollowed object and I was confronted with the difficult decision of an exploratory surgery. 

I was told that something could be hidden in his colon like for example a ball of bones and precious could die if we don't act immediately.

I signed the paper for surgery.

After a while I was told that no object was found but his intestines are very sick.  

I asked if it was cancer and the answer was definitely not but his whole intestines and the colon are very inflamed.

I asked for a biopsy but the vet said that the inflammation was so bad that he would be risking perforation.  

Precious was given Rodogyl [Spiramycin, Metronidazole a combination of two antibiotics] for 10 days after the operation.

His incision healed well and things were for the following 2 weeks. 

The straining was gone and the stools were solid.

After the two weeks, however, the straining and explosive diarrhea came back.  

Precious was given one medicine after another, Rodogyl, Salazopyrin [Sulfasalazine], Rodogyl again.

Up to all this time besides this problem, Precious remained quite happy looking forward for his drives and walks, playtime and ate as usual.

The vet decided to give him 20mg of Prednisolone a day. 

In the evening of the 2nd day I noticed that Precious was panting and was very restless. His tummy was very hard and felt swollen.

I took him out walking and he passed a lot of gas and the biggest explosion of poo ever.  

The color was yellow and the smell terrible!

I reported this the next morning and prednisolone was to be tailed off.

After this the vet wanted to try another medicine. after another course of Flagyl, Prifinial chien, he said, would help regulate intestinal motility.

Although hesitant I gave him this medicine and this was the end of happy Precious. 

He would just lay there, miserable, his tummy swollen  and he didnt even pass gas.

On his walks he strained and strained only to pass a few drops of poo. 

I just couldn't keep up the trial and error of different medication and decided I should after all seek another opinion. I hoped to find someone who wasn't scared of my baby.

So I finally got to the 3rd vet on the 1st of April. 

Although I hoped for a miracle medicine that could make my Precious better the vet told me that he will definitely not give Prednisolone to Precious unless further testing is done and he is sure of his organs, mainly the liver. He sent out for more labs.

He gave Precious Hyoscinth to help with the flatulance problem and Lactulose to cleanse him whilst reducing the straining. 

The following week was the worst ever!  

Precious just lay on a quilt and just slept. He ate very little and didnt even want to go for his walks.

His lips and mouth were cold and he just stayed curled up alone.

On the 7th of April Precious woke up and vomited something that looked like plastic.

I thought I was imagining things, afterall it was just 4AM, but in the afternoon during his little walk he vomited again.

My dad was with me and said I should probably keep it and show it to the doctor. I kept it in a bag and the vet told me to take a picture, however I did not and just threw it away thinking it was all in vain.

On Saturday 9th April after some serious straining, I couldn't believe what went out of Precious' behind!

With an explosion of poo came out what looked like a whole roasting bag all covered in mucus!!!

After that Precious seemed to have been gaining back his health. He was eating and up from his quilt again.

It seemed that with the plastic the problem went away.

However, it did not. Precious seemed fine, however, his stools were still watery and they looked like clay!!

Precious was put on Denosyl [S-Adenosylmethionine] 225mg tablets twice a day and

While it could be a coincidence, explosive greyish stools appeared on the same day. 

The lab results suggested possible EPI (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency) combined bacterial overgrowth.

We started Precious on a sulphur antibiotic and some digestive enzymes.

Precious refuses to eat the "enzyme tainted" food and is back to straining and explosive diarrhea.

Where to go from here?

Update on Precious

April 27, 2011

Unfortunately the ultrasound didn't happen yesterday, long story. Scheduled for tomorrow. Meanwhile, Precious' stools started smelling of ammonia ...

Update on Precious

April 28, 2011

Nothing detected in ultra sound. Waiting for blood work result.

The doctor said Precious needs to be taking the digestive enzymes and gave me in pill form. He said Precious is suffering from Irritable bowel disease and when I said I wanted to find out what is causing the inflammation he said the only way is a biopsy and test it abroad, the test is not available in Malta.

He suggested I give Precious digestive enzymes twice a day and see what happens. About the ammonia or rancid smell, he said since the food is not being digested it is causing fermentation in the intestine hence the bacterial overgrowth. He is almost certain that there is no obstruction  however we could do a barium x ray. Am not willing to take the risk for this (Precious won't drink it).

Update on Precious

May3, 2011

Precious is getting better, he's taking the digestive enzymes in capsule form and eating ZD hypoallergenic diet 4 times a day. Still taking antibiotics.

His stools yesterday and today: no explosion, not watery, still greenish in colour but no ammonia smell and solidifying. checking for Giardia again.

Nothing abnormal in blood work.

Although Precious is still a little slow and sleeps more than he used to, he's barking again, happy with his new toys and playing, and looks forward to his walks even at 3 in the morning

Hugs to everyone thinking of him. Marthese

Update on Precious

May9, 2011

Precious is improving every day. Even his energy is coming back and his lovely barks are back. stools still greenish but forming, no explosions and no ammonia or rancid smell. He is taking 4 meals a day ZD which surprisingly is looking forward to. I give him also Florentero every day and digestive enzymes before each meal.


***

Precious' fecal results:

Stools culture and microscopy

Salmonella/Shigella species Negative

Campylobacter species Negative

No parasites and ova observed using high power magnification.

pancreas elastase (EIA):
PE-Konz.: > 180.00 µg/g > 40 (fragl. 10-40)
*Interpretation
Pancreas elastase reflects the endocrine function and is not influenced by sample age or inflammatory processes like the TLI-test.
The test is specific for the dog and not suitable for other species.


Microscopical examination
Starch granules : negative
Starch : negative
Neutral fat : negative
Fatty acids : negative
Fatty soaps : negative
Muscel fibres : moderate concentration
Connective tissue : negative
Elastic fibres : negative


total fatty acid (near-infrared-spectrography):
total fat faeces / g/24h < 4.5g/24h
total fat faeces 3.38 g/100g < 2.5
Gallensäuren
total bile acids 3.6 µmol/g < 2.5


Interpretation of results:

The identification of muscle fibres in faeces indicates an altered  digestion. In the differential diagnosis a pancreas insufficiency,  resorption abnormalities in the small intestine or an impaired stomach digestion are to be considered.  High concentrations of fat in faeces are indication for insufficient fat  digestion. One reason can be EPI, quite common cause as well is bacterial  overgrowth Estimation of bileacids in the feaces can give further  information.

High bile acid values are found as a consequence of a bacterial deconjugation in the small intestine or in short small intestine cases. Because of the hygroscopic properties of bile acids,aqueous explosive diarrhoea can be produced.

Initially an antiobitic treatment with sulfonamide and trimethoprim (3-5 days) should be performed.

By clinical signs of bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine an antibiotic treatment with sulfonamids and trimethoprim or tylosin should be performed (3-5 days).

Phenole, nitrosonaphthole and indican: the result shows a bacteriological overgrowth in the small  intestine or an increased protein decomposition in the small and large intestine.

Food Allergies in Dogs

by Dr. Laci Schaible, DVM

When my friend Jana Rade asked me to help write on food allergies in dogs, I was delighted to. I know Jana and her dog Jasmine have been to hell and back when they were struggling with what would take years to diagnose as Jasmine's food allergies.

Food allergies are gaining more and more recognition, both by pet parents and by veterinarians.

I am happy to take this opportunity to explain just what they are and how a diagnosis can be reached.

A food allergy is a reaction to the food by the body's immune system.

Food allergies are not food intolerances despite common confusion. 

Food allergies are among the top three most common cause of allergies in dogs, at least allergic itching that is. The others are flea allergy dermatitis and canine atopy, both which are far more prevalent than food allergies, which compromise approximately 10% of all dog allergies.

Unlike canine atopy, food allergies are not seasonal, however, when pets present with GI symptoms they may wax and wane to some extent.

Most often, a protein in the food causes the immune system to react.  

Often the protein source is animal based, such as meats eggs, or dairy, but sometimes a carbohydrate source can be involved too.  The most common ingredients that dogs have allergies to include beef, chicken, eggs, milk, fish, horse meat, potatoes, soy, corn, wheat gluten, or additives.

The most common clinical signs are severe itching, scratching, and chewing.  

Sometimes it may be accompanied by the small red bumps, pustules, and infection.  In dogs, the paws, flank, groin, neck, and ears are commonly affected.

Dogs with food allergies often suffer from recurrent ear infections.

These signs are usually year round unlike canine atopy.

Other times, food allergies present with gastrointestinal components instead of the skin component. 

GI signs include chronic vomiting, diarrhea or loose stools, belching, and frequent bowel movements and/or flatulence.  GI signs do fluctuate a bit more than skin problems, and a long history of "troubled GI system" is not uncommon.  Dogs may suffer from both skin and GI symptoms.

Since food allergy is less common than canine atopy and flea allergy dermatitis, the vet often starts by treating the easiest of those--flea allergy dermatitis--by recommending topical flea meds.  This is reasonable in my expert opinion.

No single specific test can diagnose a food allergy.  

Allergen blood testing is available, but it is more appropriate for canine atopy and is not a reliable way to identify what food ingredients your dog may be allergic to. 

The diagnosis is slowly made by placing your pet on a trial diet in which you are introducing a new, highly digestible protein source, and/or carbohydrate source, with no food additives.  

You in essence are eliminating the potential offending allergens and thus it is often called an "elimination diet."

You can prepare this diet at home if you consult with a veterinarian with expertise in nutrition.  

Usually it is advised to select a single novel protein (such as duck, rabbit, kangaroo), a novel carbohydrate source (such as snow peas), and a source of fat.  If your pet responds and the itching decreases, it will be of crucial long-term importance to ensure the diet is balanced and complete. 

Commercial diets with novel food sources are available, but in my opinion, if you want a commercially prepared diet, it is wiser, simpler, and more affordable to choose a hydrolyzed diet. 

Hydrolyzed protein diets contain proteins that are broken down into pieces too small to to fit into the receptors that stimulate the pet's immune system.  In other words, they sneak right past the dog's allergic alarm system due to their tiny size.  

These diets are already complete and balanced for adult dogs.  It is rare for a kitten or puppy to develop true food allergies, as the dog has to be exposed to the allergen repeatedly, and it is repeated exposure that intensifies the allergies and their symptoms.

Itching may start to decrease within a couple weeks, but in most cases it does take longer (around 6 weeks).  

The test diet should be fed for two to four months. For dogs that respond positively, the diet should be continued provided it is balanced and complete.

The pet parent must remember that table scraps, treats, chews, and flavored medications (such as heartworm meds) must not be given not only while the pet is on the trial diet, but no offending allergens can be given the rest of the pet's life after the offending allergen is identified.

The prognosis for pets with food allergies is great as long as the pet is not re-exposed to the food ingredient(s) that triggered the immune response initially.  

The pet owner must be vigilant to maintain the strict diet.

Though it is indeed a very frustrating diagnosis to arrive upon, once it is made the pet parent can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that if the offensive allergens are avoided there pet will no suffer the skin or GI side effects associated with food allergies again.

***

Dr. Laci Schaible, DVM is a veterinarian in Pennsylvania.  With her husband Dr. Jed, also a veterinarian the two have founded VetLIVE.com, the world's first and only site that allows pet owners to connect with unbiased and licensed veterinarians 24/7.  If you have a question about your pet, you can ask a vet online and get an answer immediately.

Articles by Dr. Laci:
A Tale of Many Tails—and What Came Out From Underneath Stories from My Diary-rrhea (part I)
Acute Small Intestinal Diarrhea
Acute Large Intestinal Diarrhea (Acute Colitis)
hronic Large Intestinal Diarrhea
Chronic Small Intestinal Diarrhea


Related articles:
Why Is My Dog So Itchy? Top 5 Causes Of Itching In Dogs

Blog The Change: Help PetFinder Win the Webby Awards

I was thinking long and hard about what cause to pick to Blog the Change.

Just this week I got a request for advertising on my blog. The email already smelled fishy to me, as it was sent from gmail address with no indication who it was really from. When I requested more details it turned out that they wanted me to advertise Ebay Classifieds puppies section!

So I was going to write this post about puppy mills.

Then I came across a post my friend Dr. Huston wrote. She blogged about helping PetFinder win the Webby Awards.

I think that's a brilliant idea!

Winning this award would provide more exposure to PetFinder and in turn promote dog adoptions.

More people might adopt. And people who adopt don't buy puppy mill dogs.

More adoptees, less puppy mills.

So I am joining Dr. Huston's cause in asking you to help PetFinder Win the Webby Awards.

What Are the Webby Awards?

According to the Webby Awards About page, “The Webby Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet. Established in 1996 during the Web’s infancy, the Webbys are presented by The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, honoring excellence in over 100+ Website, Interactive Advertising, Online Film & Video, and Mobile & App categories.”

Vote in the Webby Awards Today

The Petfinder.com iPhone App has been nominated for the Webby Awards. It’s the only pet-related app in the category, so it would be a big win for adoptable pets if the Petfinder app won.

Please help by voting today:

1. Register to vote (you can use your Facebook account to register).
2. Vote in the Utilities and Services Category.
3. Ask your friends to do the same and help us help homeless pets WIN!
4. Don’t forget to tweet and share on your Facebook pages also!

 Let's get PetFinder the award!
Jana

Medical Terms That Sound Like A Diagnosis But Really Are Not: One-thing-or-anotheritis

There is quite a long list of conditions that fit in this category; from arthritis to vulvovaginitis—yeah, I did have to look that one up—they cover most of the alphabet.

What are they?

The suffix -itis stands for inflammation. The word before the suffix indicates the involved organ.

Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints, dermatitis inflammation of the skin, gastroenteritis inflammation of the stomach and intestines, and so on.

These all sound very authoritative, but if  you look them up and find out what the medical words stand for, they become less threatening and more understandable.

The important question is, are these good enough diagnoses to go on?

And the answer? It depends.

To better understand this, let's take a look at what inflammation is.

Inflammation is immune system's response to harmful stimuli, such as trauma, pathogens or irritants.

It is body's self-defense mechanism to protect itself and initiate the healing process. In fact, without inflammation, wounds and infections would never heal!

Ok, wait a minute—if inflammation is such a good thing, how does it become a medical issue then?

The most obvious reason is – it hurts! (or itches in case of dermatitis for example).

More importantly, though, often the immune system needs some help to get the job done. If you get a splinter, you can leave it up to the immune system to force it out—which eventually might work—or you can help it along by taking the splinter out.

And there also lies the answer to our earlier question.

The best way to deal with inflammation is by dealing with its underlying cause!

That is sometimes easier said than done though.

The potential causes can be many. Injuries, foreign bodies, invaders real (parasites, fungi, bacteria, viruses) or imaginary (allergies or autoimmune disease). Clearly, some of these are easier to deal with than others.

Injuries and foreign bodies are a pretty straightforward matter. Infections not so much; allergies and autoimmune diseases—those are a real nightmares.

Why would your dog's immune system need help with infections?

That is a good question. The world is full of bacteria and fungi and viruses … isn't that what the immune system is for?

True, but sometimes the defenses can be overwhelmed.  An infection isn't  really the presence of the bacteria, fungi or viruses … infection is when they make it through the fortifications and start taking over.

Inflammation is a battle in progress.

The inflammation is the problem that we see—that's what we want to treat. 

But what would be the result if we made that happen in this case? We'd be handing the enemy the key to the castle!

What we need to do, is to deal with the enemy.

To complicate matters further, each of these invaders requires different weapons.

"Never bring a knife to a gun fight!"

Antibiotics won't work against fungi or viruses, antifungal medications won't do anything for a bacterial infection ...

***

Le's say we identified an infection as a cause of the inflammation. We also identified the invaders and chased them out.

Are we done? What do you think?

It's your dog's health!
Jana

Related articles:
Medical Terms That Sound Like A Diagnosis But Really Are Not (Part I)

Functional Strengthening Exercises: the What, Why and How

by Susan E. Davis, PT

Have you ever heard the term “functional exercises” and wondered what it means?

Not only are these helpful to human beings in physical rehabilitation or sports enhancement programs, they are also used in canine recovery and fitness. So, what are they?

For an exercise to be considered functional, it utilizes the full body, using dynamic movement.  

It is an activity that replicates or mimics something that a person or animal normally performs in their daily life. It is performed without weight or machines, relying on the body’s weight and gravity for resistance.

In human physical rehabilitation after an injury or surgery, this type of exercise can also be referred to as “closed kinetic chain” and examples include squats, lunges, step-ups, etc.

These exercises do not replace stretching, isolated muscle-specific strengthening or cardiovascular conditioning.  

They are one component of a total exercise program, needed not only in rehabilitation but in maintenance of overall fitness levels.  Think of functional exercises as those that link the entire body in a manner that carries over into everyday activities.

Why are they important?  

They are safe, relatively simple, and do not require expensive elaborate equipment.  They are efficient not only time-wise but also in improving performance by working multiple muscle groups together, optimally as cohesive units.

They prepare your dog for daily life movements, reducing potential injuries, strains, etc.

Wow—so how?

I am going to list and describe various examples of functional strengthening exercises with word of advice and caution.  It is good to be educated and aware of all possible types of exercises but even the most basic can potentially be harmful depending on a particular dog’s medical condition, age, breed, etc.  For example, some of these might not be appropriate for a young developing puppy, a geriatric dog with cardiac issues, a dog with spinal disc conditions, instabilities such as Wobbler’s, etc.

Ultimately a program should be designed and guided by your Vet (especially if they have received rehabilitation training) or an animal-trained licensed Physical Therapist who has consulted your veterinarian.  

These professionals will custom- tailor the activities and give you initial guidelines on reps, durations and other parameters so you can implement the program with your dog at home safely, with a favorable outcome.    

Here are some examples.

Step-ups:  use a raised platform such as a palette, hard durable plastic or wood box, oversized thick book or similar object that is approximately 15-20% the height of the distance measured from the ground up to your dog’s withers.  Have the dog start off with placing one front paw up onto the platform, then the other, then paws back to the ground.  During this exercise, the rear legs stay on the ground. 

Example: Up 1, Up 2, Down 1, Down 2.  Although it will appear to be strengthening the front limbs, it actually builds the thoracic and lumbar spine extensors and hip/upper thigh musculature.  This can be advanced to having the dog completely climb up on the platform with all fours, and then back down, repeated several times.
 
Sit to Stand: best done from a tight corner with the dog’s hind end backed into the corner.  Repeat 5-10 times.  If you do not have a good corner to use, place the dog’s stronger side next to/ against a wall and have him/her stand from there. 

You may find that some instructions tell you to place the weaker, surgical side next to the wall, but I have found that placing the strong side up next to the wall forces the dog to shift weight away from the wall and on to the weaker side, achieving a better result.

Dancing:  You can hold your dog’s front paws, but I prefer holding the dog’s upper arms, just below the shoulders for better control.  Have the dog hold the dance position in a “standing still” or” static” position. Then sway from side to side or “dynamic”.  

Progress the exercise by having your dog take dance steps with you going forward, to the left, to the right and backward.  Backward or “retro” dance walking is the hardest. Dancing can also be performed in a pool, with “chest high “water level. 

Wheel barrowing:  this involves standing behind your dogs, holding up the hind limbs and having the dog bear weight on the front limbs.  You can gently guide them forward to take a few steps with the front paws.  Be careful and check with the vet first if there is elbow dysplasia, spinal conditions. 

Weight shifting while your dog is standing on a piece of foam or thick carpet:  gently pick up a front paw; hold a few seconds, then place it back down.  Then the other front paws.  After that, lift a back paw, followed by the other.  

Progress the exercise by simultaneously lifting an opposite front/back paw at the same time, called “contralateral” (left front paw with right back paw).  Follow this by the right front paw with the left rear paw.  Final progression is lifting both right paws at the same time, then both left, called “ipsilateral”.  

Jana’s /Jasmine’s vet likes to recommend using a foam mat or pad 4-8 feet long, ¼ to ½ inch thick , then thicker as the legs get stronger, to encourage higher hip flexion by the dog actively raising up of the paws, also called “High Stepping”  Have the dog walk back and forth on it, turning around at the end.  You can also try using a toy or treat to have them take some steps backward on the foam. 

High Stepping can also be performed over a ladder placed horizontally on the ground, or logs spaced a few feet apart or low hurdles. 

Use toys for functional play.  

One of the best is “tug of war”, using a braided rope toy, encouraging the dog to “crouch down”, bending knees and elbows and to move sideways (“lateral”) and backward.  Use caution if there are any dental or neck issues.  If your dog likes to play with balls, you can quickly roll a small ball sideways between your palms to encourage the dog to lunge from side to side in response, following the ball. 

Rolling:  assist your dog to roll from side to side, initially by placing your hands on his/her shoulders and hips.  Progress this by using a toy or treat and moving it from side to side over the dog’s head, encouraging them to roll and “follow” the toy.  You can also hold the toy or treat over their tummy area and have them “reach” for it, simulating a partial “curl-up”.  These exercises will work the abdominal core region of their body.  

Timed Up And Go (TUG):  use a stopwatch (you may have this function on your cellphone) to time your dog, starting from a sitting position at a distance of 8-10 feet away.  Ask them to come to you and measure the speed at which they stand up and come to you across the room.  This is a basic measure of their mobility skills and is helpful for older arthritic dogs that show slower movements in getting up to stand.  Make it a fun game for them, gradually getting faster.  Currently there are no standards for this test in the canine world, so just start with your dog’s initial time as your baseline and try to increase it 5-10% per week.  In my experience, an older arthritic dog should be able to do this in 7-10 seconds. 

There are many other examples of functional strengthening exercises, but hopefully this list will give you a good starting resource. Functional strengthening activities offer great variety for your dog to exercise efficiently and effectively from head to tail!


Further reading:
Walking with Your Dog: A Fun and Cheap Form of Dog Physical Therapy
A Dog Workout: Exercises and Activities

***

Susan E. Davis (Sue) is a licensed Physical Therapist with over 30 years of practice in the human field, who transitioned into the animal world after taking courses at the UT Canine Rehabilitation program.  She is located in Red Bank, New Jersey.

For the last 3 years she has been providing PT services to dogs and other animals through her entity Joycare Onsite, LLC in pet’s homes and in vet clinics.

She also provides pro bono services each week to a shelter and sanctuary for neglected and abused animals.  Sue is the proud “dog mommy” to Penelope, a miniature Dachshund with “attitude”.  For more information see her website www.joycareonsite.com , or follow on Twitter @animalPTsue.

Further reading: 
Assessing Lameness
Comparative foot morphology
Measurement method on static weight distribution

Articles by Susan E. Davis:
Functional Strengthening Exercises: the What, Why and How
One Thing Leads To Another: Why The Second ACL Often Goes Too
Compensation: An Attempt To Restore Harmony
Paring Down to the Canine Core
Canine Massage: Every Dog ‘Kneads’ It”
Photon Power: Can Laser Therapy Help Your Dog?  
Physical Therapy in the Veterinary World  
Reiki: Is it real? 
Dog Lessons: Cooper  
The Essentials Of Canine Injury Prevention: 7 Tips For Keeping Your Dog Safer 

The Challenge Of Degenerative Myelopathy (DM): Knowledge Is Power (Part I)
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM): Top 10 Management Suggestions (Part II) 
Great (Or Not So Great) Expectations with Femoral Head Osteotomy (FHO) Part (I) 
Great (Or Not So Great) Expectations with Femoral Head Osteotomy (FHO) Part (II)

It's Not Just Walking, It's Therapy! 
Treatment And Prevention Of Canine Intervertebral Disc Disease (Part I)
Treatment And Prevention Of Canine Intervertebral Disc Disease (Part II Physical Therapy)
Range Of Motion: It’s A Matter Of Degree…
The Weight Of Water And How It Helps Dogs 
By Land or By Sea? A Comparison of Canine Treadmills 
Unraveling The Mystery Of Fascia And Myofascial Trigger Points (Part I)
Unraveling The Mystery Of Fascia And Myofascial Trigger Points (Part II) 
Scar Tissue: Is it Too Much of a Good Thing? 
Physical Therapy Tip Of The Month: Ramps! 
Physical Therapy Tip Of The Month: Indoor Duo Dog Exercises!
Physical Therapy Tip Of The Month: Best Practices After Your Dog’s Surgery 
Physical Therapy Tip Of The Month: Ideas to Chew on - Can Physical Therapy Help with my Dog’s Digestive Problems? 
 
Related articles:
Don’t Forget the Physical Therapy
Why The Second ACL Often Goes Too
Compensation: An Attempt To Restore Harmony

Eagle's Den Rescue: Hope For The Desperate

This is another story from Eagle's Den Rescue. These people are true angels, offering hope to dogs who have none. You might remember the story of heartworm positive Hunter, we helped raise money for his treatment.

Today I will share a happy update. But so many dogs need help!

Boo Boo... the ash tray puppy.

My name is Boo Boo. I started life out very confused because at a very young age, when I still needed my mother, I ended up at a place called the County Animal Shelter. I was all alone and so tiny in a huge kennel all by myself. I cried all the time and I was so hungry and cold. I could not eat the large kibble in my bowl because all of my teeth were not in.

Then, one day, a kind volunteer saw me there all alone and crying. 

She really did not know what to do except to put me in with a nursing mother and her two pups. And from that day on, I was confused with a Staffordshire Terrier.

The mother and all of us pups were so tiny that no one really noticed I did not belong there. I was better for awhile, but I still hurt all the time.

My stomach hurt because I had worms, and there were these sores on me that people would make comments about.

Then one day something terrible happened.  The mother that I had come to depend on was declared a dangerous dog and they were taking her from me too. The three of us were going to either starve or have to die before we started to live. What did we do? That is all the other two could think, and I was wondering that same thing, even though I was here quite by accident.

Then an amazing thing happened. It was a sad day, because we lost our “mother,” but this lady came and took us away.

She refused to let them kill us too. 

She cried over our mother, and so did we... and she whispered to us that we had to live for her now. I don’t think anyone thought we were going to live. We were a sad sight.

They pulled me out of the food dish, there curled up in the kibble. I was so small I thought they were not going to see me. The other two were a lot bigger than me.

But the lady took us to a place called the vet and I heard her tell him: PLEASE HELP THEM TO LIVE. GIVE THEM WHATEVER THEY NEED TO LIVE.

That was a relief. And the vet did. He gave me blood and I felt so much better after. 

The other two began to do better with regular food and an IV and ... all I know is I was not hurting any more.  Then the lady came back for us just like she promised. She was so surprised to see us... looking so well.
That is when the vet told her about me.

I was a little scared when I heard him say that I did not belong with the other two. 

I was worried I would be taken back to that place where I was always cold and alone.

Then I heard them talking about the sores, now scars, on me. 

The vet said they were burns. And they looked a lot like cigar burns. He had been putting some special ointment on them that made me feel so much better.

So, now I was really scared though. Now they knew that I had been used as an ash tray. 

Would they take me back to be alone and cold and to eventually die?

Then the most wonderful thing happened. The lady picked me up and held me very close and whispered to me that I would never be hurt that way again. She kissed my scars and told me my name was Boo Boo. I KNEW THAT! But I was glad she did. And I was glad to feel the kisses on my sore skin. But mostly, I was glad to be rescued.

TLC worked wonders for Boo Boo. But he still needs a home.

He had a place to go twice, that backed out. Finally we decided to help him to heal... he has and needs a soft heart where he can land.

***

If you would like to donate to help our animals... your donations ARE tax deductable and 100% goes to the care of the animals.

Eagle's Den Animal Haven & Rescue, Inc
We are located in Southeastern NC, in Bladen County. If you would like to contact us you may do so at our mailing address
PO BOX 281
Dublin, NC 28332

Thank You and May Creator smile upon you.
Eagle's Den Rescue

Reading About Heartworm Is One Thing; Watching A Dog Suffer Is Another

Ashley of Swamp Dog Blog agreed to share her first hand experience with heartworm infection.

It is one thing to hear about it, and it is another to watch an actual dog suffering. 

Next time you hear or read about the importance of heartworm prevention, don't only take note, take action.

To read more about heartworm, check out Don't Let Heartworm Become A Heartbreak! by Dr. Lorie Huston.

Newton's Story

First time I met Newton was on his last leg of transport from Ohio, USA to Barrie, Ontario, Canada where he would live in foster care with me for the next month or so.

Newton entered into rescue (Barlee's Angels Rescue Network) having tested positive for heartworm.

He wasn't the first heartworm positive dog that the rescue had brought in, but he was the first I'd had direct experience with.

I'd heard the term heartworm before, seen the posters and prevention brochures in vet clinics, and definitely researched it before he arrived, but seeing the effects of the disease and treatment first hand was a totally different ball game.

When I brought Newton home, I was immediately hit with the realization that this dog was really not healthy.

All of my foster dogs before had been young and in tip-top shape. Newton just couldn't seem to lie down and sleep enough. He moved slowly, fatigued extremely quickly, and occassionally coughed.

Going up the stairs to go out to pee and then back in the house made him lay down and go to sleep for hours. He also had the stinkiest pee I have EVER smelled. However, his big ol' tail thumped away whenever you spoke to him, looked at him, or even muttered to yourself.

A few days after transport, we were off to the vet for x-rays, bloodwork, and urinalysis. He was nearing 6 weeks or so post treatment by then. Thankfully, despite all of the signs being there, there was minimal enlargement of his heart. Urinalysis results were odd, but turned out to be a false alarm.

Slowly, Newton began to show signs of improvement.

He began showing more interest in my own dog, and then one day, they were playing! (Video of them playing)

Newton has moved on to a new foster home, and he's absolutely thriving. I got the chance to see him again not long ago, and he is a completely different dog.

He may not feel the effects of heartworm anymore, but I will never forget how terrifying it was seeing a dog so sick, where the treatment is as excrutiating as the disease.

Prevention is a negligible price to pay compared to the potential alternative.

 ***

Ashley grew up on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. After completing one year of university at Malaspina University-College (now Vancouver Island University), I transferred to the University of Guelph to complete he Bachelor of Science with a major in Zoology. In 2008, she graduated, and contemplated what to do with her life.

She still doesn't know what she wants to do with her life. ( That's a lie; but it's a secret.)

You can connect with Ashley on Twitter.

Note: fostering is a mighty good life mission, Ashley.

Further reading:

Heartworm: The Parasite

What Happens in Heartworm Disease

Heartworm Treatment

How To Protect Your Pet From Severe Heart Problems Almost Immediately

Heartworm Testing in Dogs

Related articles:

Don't Let Heartworm Become A Heartbreak!

Hunter, Heartworm Positive

Heartworm Testing And Why You Can't You Just Buy Heartworm Preventative