Dr. Nelson's Veterinary Blog
Dr. Nelson's first book, Coated With Fur: A Vet's Life is available in hardcover and e-book formats at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, independent bookstores nationwide and Smashwords.com.
Dr. Nelson's Veterinary Blog

Veterinary, Medical & Dental College

One of my greatest joys the past several years has been assisting young people pursue their dream of professional school.  This is the time of year when college juniors who aspire to Veterinary College, Medical College and Dental College face the prospect of writing a personal statement (also called the personal comments essay).  This is a critical part of their application.  Most often, they are science majors not English majors, so the prospect of writing is not their first love. 

While this is a vital portion of the application, it is even more a chance to rise above other applicants with a thoughtful and moving essay.  So, I want young people to know of my guides to drafting these documents.  I can also review essays prior to submission.  Here are links to the websites.   These guides are also available at Amazon, Apple Ibooks and Barnes & Noble.

www.vetschoolapp.com

www.medschoolapp.com

www.dentschoolapp.com



Aloe Vera for Animals

Aloe vera has been used to treat skin conditions in humans and animals for many years.  Although there are a lot of personal testimonies regarding its therapeutic effects, I have not found many controlled research studies to back up the claims - until now.  Dr. Mahsa Tarameshloo and colleagues conducted a study comparing aloe vera to thyroid hormone cream and silver sulfadiazine.  They compared the tensile strength of skin wounds in rats after 14 days of treatment and found that aloe vera had much better tensile strength than the other two compounds. 

Unfortunately, aloe can cause vomiting and diarrhea if ingested.  Therefore, licking must be prevented.  According to Pet Poison Control, "Aloes contain anthraquinone glycosides which are purgatives.  When ingested, these glycosides are metabolized by intestinal bacteria forming compounds that increase mucous production and water in the colon."  Other rarely observed signs include tremors and a change in the color of urine. 

Sources:
-Pet Poison Helpline, 'Aloe Vera', www.petpoisonhelpline.com
-Tarameshloo,
M. et al., 'A comparative study of the effects of topical application of Aloe vera, thyroid hormone and silver sulfadiazine on skin wounds in Wistar rats.' Lab Anim Res. March 2012;28(1):17-21.

Ginger for Animals

When I hear the word ginger, I automatically think of gingersnaps and gingerbread houses.  But there is far more to ginger that simply using it as a spice.  Ginger may be used to treat nausea and promote digestion.  It is thought to act by reducing stimulation within the gastrointestinal tract thereby blocking nausea signals to the brain.  I recommend it for dogs who suffer from motion sickness when their owners want an alternative therapy.  I know an avian veterinarian who uses it to treat motion sickness in parrots.

Beside treating nausea, ginger extract is being studied as a treatment for gastric ulcers. In the past, the effects of ginger were limited because it transverses the stomach quickly, limiting contact time with stomach ulcers.  In a study conducted by Dr. Singh, ginger extract and probiotics were loaded into floating beads that attach to the mucosa of the stomach.  The beads stay in the stomach for approximately ten hours to increase exposure.  So far, the results look promising but more research is needed to verify this study.

Another potential use of ginger is to treat anemia.  Inadequate red blood cell production is a problem in mammals of all kinds.  The most common cause of chronic anemia I deal with is anemia secondary to kidney failure in cats.  When the kidneys fail, they stop producing an important hormone called erythropoietin.  A synthetic form of it is available but not without problems.  Erythropoietin is expensive, must be injected and the patient may develop resistance over time.  In 2012, Dr. Ferri-Langeau led a team of researchers who studied the effect of ginger in zebrafish embryos.  Ginger and the active ingredient, 10-gingerol, stimulated maturation of red blood cells,  They hope that their "results will provide the basis for future research into the effect of ginger during mammalian hematopoiesis to develop novel erythropoiesis promoting agents."     

Before giving ginger or any other nutraceutical to your pet, please check with your veterinarian.  High doses should not be used during pregnancy or in patients on anticoagulants.   

Sources:
-Ferri-Lagneau, K. F. et al, Ginger stimulates hematopoiesis via Bmp pathway in zebrafish. PLoS ONE. Jan. 2012;7(6):e39327.
-Mowrey, D. et al, Motion sickness, ginger and pyschophysics.  Lancet. 1982;1(8273):655-657.
-Orosz, S. Common Herbs and Their Use in Avian Practice (670) AAV. 2006.
- Singh, P. K., et al, Synbiotic (probiotic and ginger extract) loaded floating beads: a novel therapeutic option in an experimental paradigm of gastric ulcer.  J. Pharm Pharmacol. Feb. 2012; 64(2)207-17. 
-Warren, A. Nutraceuticals, VIN, April 4, 2007

Flamingos at Parque das Aves

In April, I had the privilege of visiting Parque das Aves, a bird park located in Iguassu Falls, Brasil.  This park is dedicated to four core principles:  1) Rescue and shelter  2) Reproduction of native species  3) Reforestation 4) Environmental education.  While touring the facilities, I encountered an exhibit of flamingos.  I was surprised to see mirrors surrounding the back of the exhibit.
 


The flamingos were brought to the park in the hope of breeding this endangered species and releasing their offspring back into the wild. Unfortunately, nothing happened.  Even though the enclosure had everything the birds needed, they refused to mate.  Flamigos in their natural habitat live in large flocks for protection from predators.  The park installed the mirrors hoping to make the birds feel like they were part of a larger flock.  The plan worked brilliantly.  Evidently, these birds are anything but modest!  More information can be found at http://www.parquedasaves.com.br/news/view.not_ing.php?id=34


You Make The Diagnosis: Swelling In A Puppy With Parvo

Finn, is an 8 week old mixed breed puppy who presented for severe vomiting and diarrhea.  Testing revealed that he had parvovirus, a severe viral infection in dogs. Finn was hospitalized for intensive care including I.V. fluids, antibiotics, medication to help with the nausea and more medication to protect his gastrointestinal system.  Finn continued to vomit and had large amounts of bloody diarrhea.  His feces looked like raspberry jam.  Eventually, he required a blood tranfusion to counteract the loss.  A day after the transfusion, his entire body swelled up.  Look at the picture below and then answer the following questions:  Is this a reaction to the blood transfusion or something else?  How is this treated?  Is it fatal?




Diagnosis:  Edema Caused by Hypoproteinemia
(Low levels of protein in the blood stream)


Parvovirus destroys rapidly dividing cells in the bone marrow, lymph nodes and gastrointestinal tract.  The virus damaged the lining of Finn's intestines causing blood to leak out.  Beside white and red blood cells, blood carries an important protein called albumin.  Finn's albumin dropped so low that water diffused out of his blood vessels and accumulated under his skin.  It felt like jelly.  He was given a synthetic protein called Hetastarch to counteract this condition.  Left untreated, this condition is often fatal.  Most blood transfusion reactions occur during or within a few hours of treatment, not twenty-four hours later.  Another difference is the location of the swelling.  Finn's entire body was swollen.  His swollen paws looked like something out of a cartoon.  In allergic reactions, the swelling is normally confined to the face.   The bandage around Finn's neck is holding his I.V. catheter in place.  It is loose and not the cause of the swelling.    

Here is Finn's picture a week later.  He had just eaten and wanted to take a nap.  He could barely keep his eyes open.  He was one of the lucky ones that survived.  Please vaccinate all puppies to prevent this deadly disease.     
 

Parvovirus in Puppies

I work at a large hospital located in central Phoenix.  For the last two weeks, we have seen a surge in parvovirus infections in puppies.  While some of them were not vaccinated to prevent the disease, I am also seeing some dogs who were vaccinated.  Here is the problem, in an effort to save money the pet owners bought vaccines from a feed store, pet store or on-line.  Some paid their the pup's breeders to give the shots.  In each of these cases, I am concerned that these vaccines were either stored, handled or administered incorrectly which rendered them ineffective.

Parvovirus (CPV-2) attacks rapidly dividing cells within the pup's body.  Specifically, the virus destroys immature white blood cells in the bone marrow, lymphoid tissue in the lymph glands and the cells that line the intestines.  This means that the lining of the intestines that absorb nutrients and water are destroyed causing profuse vomiting and diarrhea.  In addition, bacteria that normally live in the gut may get into the pup's blood stream through the damaged intestines.  Since the virus also destroys the immature cells in the bone marrow, there are no white blood cells waiting to destroy them.  The bacteria spreads throughout the body leading to sepsis.  

Treatment for parvovirus is founded on supporting the puppy until their body can fight off the virus and repair the damage.  Most patients require intensive care to survive including fluid therapy, antibiotics, anti-emetics and gastrointestinal protectants.  This more than negates the few dollars the owner's thought they were going to save as the cost of treatment is high.  Sadly, despite our best efforts and quite intensive care, many pups do not survive this terrible disease.  Pups who survive may shed the virus for two to three weeks after the clinical signs are gone.  Therefore, it is import to isolate parvovirus survivors for at least three weeks to prevent environmental contamination.       

Source:

-Shell, Linda 'Canine Parvovirus', VIN Associate, updated 2008.     

Xylitol Poisoning in Dogs

Xylitol is an artificial sweetener used in many products including gum, mints, candy and even baked goods.  When dogs ingest this compound, it causes insulin release from the islet cells of the pancreas.  The insulin causes a drop in blood sugar.  The drop is dose dependent which means the bigger the dose the more severe the drop in blood sugar.  Dogs who ingest toxic doses of xylitol may be depressed, shaky on their feet, tremor and even seizure if blood sugar drops low enough.  This effect lasts about twelve hours. 

In addition to causing excessive insulin release, xylitol also harms the liver by causing necrosis. In my experience, the liver enzymes begin to rise about 12 hours after ingestion and peak about two days later.  The full extent of liver damage may not be known for several days.  Unfortunately, there are no antidotes for this poison in dogs.  Victims of xylitol toxicity are treated symptomatically.

The key to treating this disease is to know how much xylitol was ingested.  Doses of 1.6 to 2.0 mg/kg causes hepatic necrosis while doses of 0.2 to 0.4 mg/kg cause insulin release.  Unfortunately, finding out how much xylitol is contained in a product can be difficult because manufacturers consider this information proprietary.  

If you pet has ingested xylitol, seek medical help immediately.  A great resource is Animal Poison Control Center.  For $65.00 US, this 24 hours service will calculate the exact dose of poison ingested and provide guidance on further care.  Their number is (888) 426-4435.  

Sources:

-DeGioia, Phyllis. Once mum, gum maker to disclose xylitol content, VIN News Service, 4/16/2013.
-Shell, Linda Zylitol Toxicosis, VIN Canine Associate, 2/2/2006.
   

Feline Oral Resorptive Lesions

Feline Oral Resorptive Lesions (FORL's) are a common, painful problem in cats.  In this disease, the cat's own body destroys their teeth by resorption. In the early stages, the gums are inflamed around the affected tooth as the outer layer of cementum is destroyed.  As the disease progresses, more layers of the tooth are destroyed all the way down to the pulp.  Eventually, the entire top or crown of the tooth is lost and the area will be covered with gingiva.  Look closely at the base of the canine tooth to see the destruction of the tooth. This is called a 'neck lesion' because it affects the neck of the crown.   

FORL's are extremely painful!  When I touched it with a probe the cat's jaw shook even though she was under anesthesia.  After the extraction of this tooth, the cat woke up with a smile on her face.  She was pain free for the first time in months.



Since the cause of FORL's is unknown, prevention is impossible.  I recommend weekly oral exams at home for all my feline patients to catch the disease early. Look for inflamed gums around the teeth combined with foul breath.  Other clinical signs include problems eating, decreased appetite, weight loss, drooling and quivering of the jaw from pain. 


You Make The Diagnosis: What is special with this dog's vulva?

Last week, I had the privilege of examining a darling Beagle.  She stood patiently on the table for me while I looked in her eyes, ears, mouth and listened to her heart.  When I parted the lips of her vulva to look into her vagina, I encountered something unexpected.  Please examine the picture below then answer the following questions:  What condition does this dog have?  What is the pink structure protruding through the vulva?




Diagnosis:  Hermaphrodite with Os Clitoris

This girl is hermaphrodite which means she is actual a boy as well as a girl.  The structure sticking out of her vulva is an os clitoris which translates as a bone clitoris.  I think of it as a rudimentary penis.  She also had testicles that were combined with ovaries in her abdomen.  So she was spayed and neutered all at the same time!


 

Desert Dog Police K9 Trials are April 13th & 14th, 2013

This is one of the best annual events in Scottsdale.  For a donation of $1 you can witness police, military, government and security dogs display their immense talent and lust for biting handlers in protective gear.  While the handlers look to have fun, the dogs have even more.  They love their work as evidenced by the tail (or whole body) wagging as they trot onto the field.  Please support this great cause and cheer for your favorite with the best bite technique.  Be glad you're not a bad guy in Arizona!  More information is at http://www.desertdogk9trials.com/.