Antibody titer testing has come to the fore since the vaccine protocols have reduced. These are blood tests that show whether your pet has antibodies against the diseases we vaccinate for. The idea being if your pet has good antibodies , they should have proper immunity. Pet owners are eager to have the blood test because they think that it's the substitute for the yearly vaccine. They'd rather have a test than an unnecessary . Without getting too much into the details I'd like to refer as I often do to folks smarter than I am. Dr.'s Ford and Wolf are two prominent internal medicine specialists who addressed this issue in a recent immunology bulletin. In it they asked; "What are the indications for performing antibody titers?" I quote "Veterinarians cite several reasons for performing antibody titers in individual patients. For example, owners who are particularly concerned about the potential for vaccine-induced injury may request titers in lieu of annual vaccination. Veterinarians who are reluctant to implement triennial vaccination recommendations for core vaccines may elect to submit serum for titers annually before administering a core vaccine. Conclusion Whether a practitioner administers booster vaccines annually or triennially, there are few indications for routinely substituting antibody titers for vaccination. Differences in test methodologies and vaccine types and the ability of the individual patient to mount a protective immune response are significant variables in defining the value of antibody titers in assessing vaccine response."
On the surface it seems a great alternative to vaccine and it would be a huge income boost to my hospital. However, I could not justify offering it on a routine basis to my clients after researching the scientific data and opinions of experts that I trust.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Myth of the yearly vaccine
Myth of the yearly vaccine I think most of my clients have caught on to the trend in veterinary medicine to reduce the frequency of vaccinations for common viral diseases. When I started practicing it was standard to vaccinate dogs and cats yearly for both rabies and distemper combo vaccines. The vaccine companies listed annual re-vaccination on the labels but this was arbitrary timing as there had been insufficient study to show a longer duration of protection. As time went on the research showed that we had great protection up to at least 3 years. This is after a puppy series and first year shots. The experts had felt confident as early as the late nineties that we could start the 3-year protocols in cats. All of the veterinary schools then went to the 3 year intervals in dogs not long after. As soon as I saw the new recommendations were backed by science and well-respected study groups deemed them a standard, I changed the protocols at South Beach Animal Hospital from every year down to every 3 years. Many vets followed suit but many clung to the old protocols for reasons I don't like to think about. This is all old news for most but if your vet is still selling you annual vaccines for distemper/parvo/FVRCP etc. you need to challenge this. If your vet doesn't agree then ask why every vet school in the country has adopted the three-year protocols. Keep in mind there are a few circumstances in which a yearly vaccine is needed. Some countries and municipalities don't recognize the 3-year rabies so if you travel with your pet you may need yearly rabies. This does not apply to bordetella, lyme or Feline leukemia vaccine. Those are still given yearly. By the way, Indoor cats shouldn't need leukemia vaccine but should still get the 3 year distemper vaccine. Beware the corporate hospitals that frequently sell every possible vaccine every year including those most vets don't even carry. I feel badly for folks that go to these clinics to save money but get taken on procedures the pet doesn't need. I'll finish here dispelling the myth of the yearly vaccines. See the next blog about a blood test for vaccine efficacy called Antibody titer testing. Is your vet selling this to you?
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Keep your eye on the sparrow!
As I was driving along a beautiful mountain road a few weeks ago I was reminded of the Sammy Davis Jr. theme song to Barrettta. A little bird swooped down in front of my car. I could tell by the trajectory that I clipped him and looked in the rear view to asses the damage. I saw the poor thing fluttering on the side of the road. I race to turn around and go help her. She was sitting up panting but looking quite conscious. I immediately headed toward a little animal hospital nearby where they told me about a wildlife aid facility just up the road. There , a nice young lady took her in where the nurses would try to save her. I wanted to check out the place and told the receptionist that I was a veterinarian, however the policy was that no one could enter the work area of the facility. As it often does my admission of my profession led to an impromptu consultation about the receptionists poodle. Her 13 year old poodle had developed cataracts this year and was slowly blinded by the condition. She was sold a solution by her vet called ocu-clear, and according to her, was told that it would help dissolve the cataracts and help her dog see again. She paid $125 per bottle and was on her second bottle. So far the dog was still blind after months of use. I cringed when I heard this as I know that there's no medical cure for this condition. There is a cure though and many pets can regain their vision with a surgery.
I can't be sure if this person was told that the product would fix the problem but she sure seemed to have that expectation. Sometimes this could be a miscommunication. I checked the website for the product and they don't make the claim that it's a cure. They do make the following statement: "Other nutrients in Ocu-clear help to reduce the incidence of cataracts in dogs and cats by promoting optimal eye health" .
I can't find any scientific data to back this claim. I advised that she see a specialist to evaluate and make a recommendation and it's likely that if she gets the surgery her beloved poodle will regain her sight.
The moral of the story is Buyer Beware. Please seek second opinions and get as much info on remedies as possible.
By the way, I don't know if I want to call the facility back to find out if the sparrow made it. I don't want to know if it's bad news. She looked pretty good when I dropped her off. If someone wants to check , her case number is 1924 and she's at the greenwood facility.
http://greenpeople.org/webpage.cfm?memid=18858&pmtlevel=0&linkpage=http%3A%2F%2Fgreenwoodwildlife%2Eorg%2F
Could someone check and only tell me if it's good news?
I can't be sure if this person was told that the product would fix the problem but she sure seemed to have that expectation. Sometimes this could be a miscommunication. I checked the website for the product and they don't make the claim that it's a cure. They do make the following statement: "Other nutrients in Ocu-clear help to reduce the incidence of cataracts in dogs and cats by promoting optimal eye health" .
I can't find any scientific data to back this claim. I advised that she see a specialist to evaluate and make a recommendation and it's likely that if she gets the surgery her beloved poodle will regain her sight.
The moral of the story is Buyer Beware. Please seek second opinions and get as much info on remedies as possible.
By the way, I don't know if I want to call the facility back to find out if the sparrow made it. I don't want to know if it's bad news. She looked pretty good when I dropped her off. If someone wants to check , her case number is 1924 and she's at the greenwood facility.
http://greenpeople.org/webpage.cfm?memid=18858&pmtlevel=0&linkpage=http%3A%2F%2Fgreenwoodwildlife%2Eorg%2F
Could someone check and only tell me if it's good news?
Monday, August 27, 2007
Raw Food Myth
This is a preview of the weeks topic, Nutritional myths. This is a biggie so I'll have to give a teaser for now until I can devote proper attention to one of the most important areas of health.
I had a nice couple come into the hospital last week who were preparing for the arrival of a new puppy. They're very smart and thoughtful so they were interviewing me and the hospital to make sure they were comfortable with us as their puppy's Doctor. Two of the major questions they had were about things that were "toxic" to dog's and what diet would be best. This is where I have to undo much of the mis-information that my clients get from personnel at pet stores and the double edged internet. The information that will follow will come mostly from lectures and information from board certified veterinary nutritionists and veterinary toxicologists. My favorite nutrition website, petdiets.com site is run by a board certified veterinarian who is amongst the world's premier experts in the field of pet nutrition.(please view this in contrast to the counter sales people and local pet boutique owners.)
Directly from Petdiets.com website; Myth "Pets should be fed bones and raw foods as they ate in the “wild.”
The belief that dogs and cats “need” bones to chew on has been sadly demonstrated as false throughout the veterinary clinics and hospitals in this country. Feeding bones (raw or cooked) should be discouraged—they have caused intestinal obstruction, perforation, septic peritonitis, and death. Intensive medical and surgical therapies are needed to survive a bowel obstruction. There is no nutritional value in feeding bones, whereas the risk of illness and death is very real.
In the “wild,” the dog and cat had very short life spans. If you would like your pet to live a long and healthy life, always cook the meat and eggs you feed him or her. There is no nutritional advantage to feeding raw foods over a commercially prepared pet food product, but there is the very real risk of illness and death.
Dogs and cats are just as susceptible to food borne illnesses as people. Animals that roam freely or are fed raw foods are at risk for suffering from food borne illness. Bacteria and bacterial toxins, fungal mycotoxins, and other contaminants all can cause food borne illnesses. The most common signs of food borne illnesses are vomiting and diarrhea; however, disorders of the liver, blood and nervous systems, kidney damage, and skin sores may also result. Please realize that dogs and cats do die of food borne illnesses.
Feeding washed raw vegetables is relatively safe. However, a few such as onions and garlic, can be dangerous. Onions and garlic are from a family of plants that contain an alkaloid disulfide compound that is toxic to red blood cell membranes and irreversibly denatures hemoglobin. This compound is toxic to several species including dogs and cats. Plants such as rhubarb, spinach and beets contain high levels of oxalates and glycosides, which can seriously irritate the gastrointestinal tract in some pets. Other strong-flavored, sulfur-containing vegetables (beans, brussels sprouts) may cause excessive gas production in the large bowel and flatus, which is usually not harmful but quite annoying. Some pets eventually develop a tolerance for these vegetables, but others do not, and these vegetables must simply be eliminated from the diet.
Federally regulated, commercially prepared foods have processing methods and quality assurance programs that limit potential food borne illnesses in pets.
Dr. Tenzer
I had a nice couple come into the hospital last week who were preparing for the arrival of a new puppy. They're very smart and thoughtful so they were interviewing me and the hospital to make sure they were comfortable with us as their puppy's Doctor. Two of the major questions they had were about things that were "toxic" to dog's and what diet would be best. This is where I have to undo much of the mis-information that my clients get from personnel at pet stores and the double edged internet. The information that will follow will come mostly from lectures and information from board certified veterinary nutritionists and veterinary toxicologists. My favorite nutrition website, petdiets.com site is run by a board certified veterinarian who is amongst the world's premier experts in the field of pet nutrition.(please view this in contrast to the counter sales people and local pet boutique owners.)
Directly from Petdiets.com website; Myth "Pets should be fed bones and raw foods as they ate in the “wild.”
The belief that dogs and cats “need” bones to chew on has been sadly demonstrated as false throughout the veterinary clinics and hospitals in this country. Feeding bones (raw or cooked) should be discouraged—they have caused intestinal obstruction, perforation, septic peritonitis, and death. Intensive medical and surgical therapies are needed to survive a bowel obstruction. There is no nutritional value in feeding bones, whereas the risk of illness and death is very real.
In the “wild,” the dog and cat had very short life spans. If you would like your pet to live a long and healthy life, always cook the meat and eggs you feed him or her. There is no nutritional advantage to feeding raw foods over a commercially prepared pet food product, but there is the very real risk of illness and death.
Dogs and cats are just as susceptible to food borne illnesses as people. Animals that roam freely or are fed raw foods are at risk for suffering from food borne illness. Bacteria and bacterial toxins, fungal mycotoxins, and other contaminants all can cause food borne illnesses. The most common signs of food borne illnesses are vomiting and diarrhea; however, disorders of the liver, blood and nervous systems, kidney damage, and skin sores may also result. Please realize that dogs and cats do die of food borne illnesses.
Feeding washed raw vegetables is relatively safe. However, a few such as onions and garlic, can be dangerous. Onions and garlic are from a family of plants that contain an alkaloid disulfide compound that is toxic to red blood cell membranes and irreversibly denatures hemoglobin. This compound is toxic to several species including dogs and cats. Plants such as rhubarb, spinach and beets contain high levels of oxalates and glycosides, which can seriously irritate the gastrointestinal tract in some pets. Other strong-flavored, sulfur-containing vegetables (beans, brussels sprouts) may cause excessive gas production in the large bowel and flatus, which is usually not harmful but quite annoying. Some pets eventually develop a tolerance for these vegetables, but others do not, and these vegetables must simply be eliminated from the diet.
Federally regulated, commercially prepared foods have processing methods and quality assurance programs that limit potential food borne illnesses in pets.
Dr. Tenzer
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Maiden Voyage
All who read this forum are welcome to call me, Dr. Tenzer, at South Beach Animal Hospital to discuss any info presented in my blog. 305-534-8404
This is a forum created from the need to get my proverbial panties unwadded after reading an email sent to a coworker espousing the dangers of commonly prescribed veterinary flea control preparations. I don't have the email in front of me but I know the type well. A few years ago it was about the toxicity of Febreze to pets. This was a gem. The author had suffered through the horrible illness of a beloved pet all caused by exposure to Febreze. The illness, the visits to the vet, expenses , heartbreak and tragic loss ensued. There was a strange statement in the email that was circulating amongst pet owners saying that febreze's composition was "one molecule away from antifreeze" Antifreeze is a well known kidney toxic household chemical. The veterinary community is really good at mobilizing thoughtfully and as I investigated my veterinary community website for real time responses from experts someone pointed out that the affected dog didn't suffer from renal (kidney) toxicity, but had liver failure. Why would a kidney toxin analogue not cause kidney failure? There were many inconsistencies in the story and eventually it was debunked as either a hoax or misguided accusation. The ASPCA eventually chimed in deeming the product safe.
This brings me to my original point which was a recent email about the veterinary distributed flea products. Some of the products named were advantage, capstar, and frontline. The email made the statement; I'm paraphrasing, "My vet said that using these products is like feeding your pet a teaspoon of Raid pesticide" This got me in the gut. This could hardly be further from the truth. The products listed have a very high margin of safety and are relatively non-toxic. They work on chemical and metabolic processes that, although deadly to insects, are completely absent in mammalian systems. If your pet had to form a chitinous exoskeleton, it would then be highly toxic.
I gave the explanation to my co-worker and will pass it on to my client.
My hope is that this forum will be a safe haven of medically correct information directly responding to pet myths that my clients and the pet loving public everywhere may access, and hopefully participate in. I'd love it if readers would share the stories they've read, or supply any new emails to us here before passing them on to "infect " other's if there is no basis in fact. Of course it's important to advise folks of the actual dangers such as the recent pet food recalls. We can point folks in the direction of valuable information and reduce casualties from real risks just as effectively as debunking myths and rumors.
Thanks for listening. My panties are sufficiently unwadded!
Dr Mike Tenzer, Pet Myth Buster
This is a forum created from the need to get my proverbial panties unwadded after reading an email sent to a coworker espousing the dangers of commonly prescribed veterinary flea control preparations. I don't have the email in front of me but I know the type well. A few years ago it was about the toxicity of Febreze to pets. This was a gem. The author had suffered through the horrible illness of a beloved pet all caused by exposure to Febreze. The illness, the visits to the vet, expenses , heartbreak and tragic loss ensued. There was a strange statement in the email that was circulating amongst pet owners saying that febreze's composition was "one molecule away from antifreeze" Antifreeze is a well known kidney toxic household chemical. The veterinary community is really good at mobilizing thoughtfully and as I investigated my veterinary community website for real time responses from experts someone pointed out that the affected dog didn't suffer from renal (kidney) toxicity, but had liver failure. Why would a kidney toxin analogue not cause kidney failure? There were many inconsistencies in the story and eventually it was debunked as either a hoax or misguided accusation. The ASPCA eventually chimed in deeming the product safe.
This brings me to my original point which was a recent email about the veterinary distributed flea products. Some of the products named were advantage, capstar, and frontline. The email made the statement; I'm paraphrasing, "My vet said that using these products is like feeding your pet a teaspoon of Raid pesticide" This got me in the gut. This could hardly be further from the truth. The products listed have a very high margin of safety and are relatively non-toxic. They work on chemical and metabolic processes that, although deadly to insects, are completely absent in mammalian systems. If your pet had to form a chitinous exoskeleton, it would then be highly toxic.
I gave the explanation to my co-worker and will pass it on to my client.
My hope is that this forum will be a safe haven of medically correct information directly responding to pet myths that my clients and the pet loving public everywhere may access, and hopefully participate in. I'd love it if readers would share the stories they've read, or supply any new emails to us here before passing them on to "infect " other's if there is no basis in fact. Of course it's important to advise folks of the actual dangers such as the recent pet food recalls. We can point folks in the direction of valuable information and reduce casualties from real risks just as effectively as debunking myths and rumors.
Thanks for listening. My panties are sufficiently unwadded!
Dr Mike Tenzer, Pet Myth Buster
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