WRVC NEWSLETTER
FALL 2005 Newsletter 8

Many of you are familiar with ear infections. It is difficult to have a pet or pets and not deal with an ear infection at some point in time.

The most common causative agent of ear infections in dogs are yeast organisms. For years, the product Otomax®, or its equivalent, has been the medication of choice for treating yeast infections in ears.

A new product is currently on the market for the same thing - as Mometomax®, which is a derivative of Otomax®. The biggest difference is that Mometomax® is labeled for once a day usage.

Treatment failures are often due to poor compliance with drug administration. Quite simply, the more often a medication needs to be given the worse compliance is going to be. The convenience of once a day dosing with Mometomax should make it a practical, effective alternative to treating ear infections.

We have recently been receiving information from the state health department regarding outbreaks of a new canine flu. This is a viral infection which is thought to have mutated from a horse virus. The virus causes severe respiratory problems characterized by coughing, labored breathing, high fevers, etc.. Many of the symptoms mimic those of “kennel cough”, a more common, milder respiratory disease of dogs.

Canine flu will be more prevalent in areas where dogs are concentrated - kennels, dog shows, humane societies, etc.. It is very contagious, and while rare, some deaths have been reported. Some sick animals require hospitalization for supportive care, while others will recover on their own.

It is interesting that we experienced a brief, but highly contagious outbreak of a respiratory illness in dogs in the New London area in early August. In hind-sight, I suspect that this may have been a mini-outbreak of the canine flu.

I am sure that we will be hearing more and seeing more of this new disease. If your pet does show signs of a respiratory disease, please take it seriously and have it examined. Better safe than sorry.

Fall “Foreign Bodies”

As we progress into the Fall season, there are a lot of plant seeds, burrs, etc.. that are becoming prolific. These things can cause a number of problems in dogs who are active and spend time running through fields, swamps, and the woods.

It is not unusual to have cases of weed seeds lodged under a dogs third eyelid. We also see these work their way deep into a dogs ear canal and cause a lot of irritation and discomfort. Recently, we have also had cases involving dogs with blades of grass lodged in their nasal passages.

These conditions obviously cause a pet a lot of pain. A typical history involving a “foreign body” is a sudden onset of runny eyes, squinting, holding the eyelids shut, repetitive sneezing, congested breathing, a head tilt, pawing at an ear and head shaking, depending on where the problem is.

The treatment for any of these problems is careful removal of the plant seed, burr, or grass blade. Often times, this has to be done under sedation or anesthesia.

If your dog exhibits signs suggestive of one of these conditions, have it attended to promptly. Waiting can only make matters worse.

When you love every creature, you will understand the mystery of God in created things.

                                                                                    Fyodor Dostoyeusky

The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. I hold that the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection by man from the cruelty of man.

                                                                                    Mahatma Ganda

How are we to build a new humanity? Reverence for life. Existence depends more on reverence for life than the law or the prophets.

                                                                                    Author Unknown

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