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
H5N1 Flu in Cats Fed Raw Pet Food… Again
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
Raw Food Contamination: Deflection and Denial
Yesterday I wrote about a FDA notice regarding H5N1 contamination of RAWR pet food that killed a cat in California (and likely sickened others, but that’s a guess). A sharp reader pointed me to the manufacturer’s response that must have gone up shortly after I looked at their website. I’ve seen lots of responses from
H5N1 in Raw Pet Food: Out of Sight, But Still Killing
H5N1 avian influenza has dropped of the media radar lately (apart from the BC ostrich farm debacle, but that’s a different story), but that doesn’t mean it’s gone away (and with the fall wild bird migration season looming, we need to stay on alert). The same applies to H5N1 infections in pets from contaminated
Rabies in a Cat Colony
Cat colonies present some interesting infectious disease challenges. Anytime we have animals congregating, there’s an increased risk of disease transmission, and when they’re outside, it also increases the risk of diseases from wildlife. Thus cat colonies can become a bridge for diseases between wildlife and people.
I’ll pause here to add a perspective that I’d
Tritrichomonas Infections in Cats: Treatment Dilemma
Tritrichomonas blagburni (formerly T. foetus) is a frustrating cause of diarrhea in cats. This parasite causes chronic diarrhea that will most often ultimately resolve on its own, but it can take months (or longer). During that time, most cats are largely healthy but with very messy feces (and they’re infectious). Some cats do feel
Ultrasonic Tick Repellants: Drug-Free Protection Or Opportunistic Profiteering?
In areas where ticks and fleas are a concern (which is much of the world), dogs (and to a lesser degree cats) may receive regular tick prevention medications. Some people would rather not use them, whether it’s because of cost, concern about adverse effects, a desire to use more “natural” products or internet misinformation. This
My “Dear Veterinarian” Letter: Nitrofurantoin
Regulatory bodies sometimes issue “Dear Veterinarian” (or similar) notices about important issues pertaining to drugs and rug use, like the recent FDA’s letter to veterinarians about extralabel use of fenbendazole in dogs. These notices are used to get important information out to veterinarians, to try to head of future problems.
My topic
Using Half-Doses of Vaccines in Dogs and Cats
Veterinarians sometimes ask me, “Can I give a half dose of a vaccine to small breed dogs?” But more often they say, “An owner wants me to give their small dog a half dose of a vaccine because they are worried about adverse effects. Should I do that?”
The short answer
Capnocytophaga canimorsus Infection From a Cat
If I’m talking to veterinarians or veterinary students about infectious diseases and I mention Capnocytophaga canimorsus, I usually get a blank stare (or “capno-what?”). If I’m talking to physicians, it’s usually the same response, unless they’re infectious disease physicians or trainees (but I still get “capno-what?” from some of them on