Canada recently lost its measles-free status, in large part because of a slip in our overall vaccination rate. A lot of that has been driven by vaccine hesitancy. The resurgence of measles in people shows what can happen when we aren’t using one of our best control methods (vaccination) optimally.
Vaccine hesitancy is an issue
When I was in general practice, we gave puppies and kittens their first rabies vaccine at 16 weeks of age. I didn’t ask why, it’s just what the clinic did, so as a new grad, that’s what I did. This practice is (unfortunately) still common in a lot of clinics; however, all rabies vaccines approved
Hot on the heels of the H5N1 influenza in ostriches debacle in BC comes a reported outbreak of H5N1 influenza at an animal sanctuary in the same province. The sanctuary (Critteraid Animal Sanctuary) is not one I’ve ever heard of before, but based on their website, it looks like a good operation
New World Screwworm (NSW) is a nasty parasitic infestation (with a very high ick factor) that’s back on the radar in North America, re-emerging after several decades of highly successful control and eradication efforts that had pushed its northern reach back as far as Panama. It has now made to back as far as northern
The other day, I did a half-hearted tick drag while walking Ozzie in our back field (yes, I know that’s strange, but let’s move on…). It was far from a professional job – just me dragging a blanket through the field as we walked, but it did the job. It quickly picked up a tick
Last month, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) issued a somewhat vague notice about an ongoing outbreak investigation of Salmonella infections linked to dog food and treats. At the time they were still unable to identify a specific brand or manufacturer to which the outbreak had been linked.
This week PHAC posted an
There are a couple of new voluntary recalls because of Salmonella contamination of pet diets or treats. Both are US products, and the recalls were posted on the FDA website just before (Canadian) Thanksgiving.
One recall is for possible Salmonella-health risk associated with a raw frozen beef dog food from Raw Bistro Pet Fare
I remember the first case of fly myiasis (aka fly strike, maggot infestation) in general practice. I was a very new grad called to look at a lamb owned by someone who had a few sheep. The complaint was that the lamb wasn’t doing well. It was laying down when I arrived and I grabbed
Oh Darwin’s… here we go again.
Yet again, the FDA has issued a “Do not feed certain lots of Darwin’s Natural Pet Products” warning. It’s a pretty regular occurrence. And, once again, Darwin’s is dragging their feet on responding.
In July, Darwin’s ignored an FDA request to recall diets contaminated with E. coli
The H5N1 influenza situation in North America has been quieter lately (apart from saga with the BC ostriches, but that’s a different story). There’s been less spillover into domestic animals recently and less attention in the news, but the virus is still out there and causing problems. (H5N1 flu activity has already started
