OFTCA

Canine flu making making move across the countryby Brian Brus The Journal Record August 24, 2009 OKLAHOMA CITY – Dr. Chris Rispoli doesn’t take a patient’s sneezing lightly. It’s probably just a case of “kennel cough,” but the incidence of potentially deadly canine influenza has been increasing across the country recently. Latest Health Care News Advancia Aeronautics awarded share in contractORU uses grant to recruit studentsHouse Democrats seek info from health insurersRees part of design team selected for Nigerian hospitalSt. Anthony TV ads feature employeesHundreds attend Okla. town hall meeting on health carePoll: Growing worries in U.S. on health care accessStudy: Ibuprofen is best for kids with broken armsLong lines as free health care offered in L.A. areaChinese mayor apologizes for lead poisoningCurrent Edition “It’s out there. It’s rare that we would see it, but we still have to keep an eye out for that potential and stay vigilant,” said the veterinarian at Gentle Care Animal Hospital in northwest Oklahoma City.Dr. Sanjay Kapil, virology section head at the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Stillwater, lately has been finding more positive results from tests for the dog flu H3N8 virus. Of the 80 nasal swabs recently tested, 12 were confirmed with the virus, he said. The laboratory, which is part of Oklahoma State University’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, normally receives samples from across the country for routine diagnosis. “It is only recently that we have detected several nasal swabs positive for the canine influenza virus. To our knowledge, none of the CIV-positive cases are from Oklahoma,” he said. An animal shelter in Virginia was the latest place to be hit by dog flu, resulting in one fatality and about 25 other ill dogs earlier this month. Local officials closed the center for two weeks. Cases recently have also been confirmed in Colorado, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The OSU center lab has been receiving several test samples from clinics in Virginia. The flu is specific to canines and cannot be passed to humans. The first recognized outbreak is believed to have occurred in racing greyhounds in January 2004 at a track in Florida, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Sporadic outbreaks occurred throughout the country over the next few years, and by October 2008, about 1,100 cases of canine influenza had been confirmed by the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Health Diagnostic Center. Kapil said that since the first outbreak, animal health care experts have been watching for the virus. They’ve been warning pet owners lately to be more careful about taking their pets to so-called doggie day-care centers, boarding facilities and dog parks, but weighing those concerns against unnecessary fretting. “We do not want to cause a panic, but we must help people understand that highly contagious nature of this,” Kapil said. “They should not avoid their normal behavior, as long as they understand the risk. … All it takes is the introduction of one dog into an area.” The flu usually hits kenneled dog populations, Rispoli said, “so we’re very lucky, those of us with day practices, that we don’t have large groups of dogs that stay together for any length of time.” Kapil said dogs in kennels or day-care centers tend to be more stressed, too, which increases the likelihood of compromised health and contracting an illness. If a dog does contract the flu, symptoms will include fever, lethargy, loss of appetite and respiratory infection that may last a few weeks. So far, the fatality rate is about 5 percent. But Rispoli said a sick dog can pick up secondary bacterial infections and prolong recovery. Kapil said concerned pet owners should ask their veterinarians about the availability of a new vaccine developed in recent months. The latest survey found about 37 percent of the country’s households have pet dogs, slightly more than households with cats, at 32 percent, the association reported. Dog-owning households spend an average of $356 per year on veterinary care.

The 2009-2010 schedule for trials in Texas has been added to the schedule tab.  Scroll past the Oklahoma schedule to veiw.

Oklahoma trial dates for the 09-10 season have been posted on the schedule tab!

I have a membership available on my Quail Hunting Lease North of Aspermont, Texas.  It is approximately 8,600 acres of good bobwhite quail country located on the south end of King County.  If you are interested, you can e-mail me back for more information.

Thanks,

Dan Hendrickson

Phantom Kennels

www.phantomkennels.com

Also, check back soon for updates on next year’s schedule and other information from the end of last season.

The points standings have been updated for Oklahoma and Texas trials.

Demodicosis (Red Mange)

Demodicosis (red mange) is a skin disease caused by a small mite not visible to the naked eye. This mite lives down in the root of the hair. All normal dogs have a small population of mites, but only certain animals will get a disease from mite overgrowth. In some cases, the tendency to develop demodectic mange runs in families.

The disease is seen in TWO FORMS in dogs. There is a localized form where only small areas of the skin are affected, and a generalized form where the majority of the body and/or the feet are involved. Symptoms include loss of hair and reddening of the skin. Affected areas may be scabby, crusty and sometimes itchy. Skin infections due to damage by the mite are common. Skin infections can become so severe that they threaten a dog’s life, with ulcers, swelling and fever. Juvenile-onset generalized demodicosis is a familial disease and affected dogs and their parents should not be bred. Diagnosis of demodectic mange is made by examining debris from deep skin scrapings under the microscope. Dogs with generalized disease also require further testing for underlying health problems.

Treatment of demodectic mange depends on the patient’s age and the severity of the disease. In the localized form, the dog may heal on its own. Many times a cream or gel will be used to aid in healing. It is important that dogs with the localized form be observed for a worsening of the condition or spread to other areas. Dogs that are intended for breeding should be observed without treatment to be sure the generalized form does not develop. Infrequently the topical medication may cause the affected areas to look worse before the areas begin to heal. If a skin infection is present, antibiotics will be needed.
Dogs with generalized demodicosis may require intensive treatment with amitraz (Mitaban®) dips or oral medications. If a skin infection is present, antibiotics will be needed.

Mitaban dip is the only FDA-approved drug for this disease. WHOLE BODY CLIPPING is required throughout treatment so that the dip solution can reach the mite down in the hair follicle. Dips are usually preceded by a medicated shampoo to fight infection. The Mitaban is packaged in individual dosing vials of concentrate which is diluted in water just prior to applying to the patient. Side affects of Mitaban can be encountered, especially in small dogs, including sedation, decrease in body temperature, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea. Treatment with an antidote, yohimbine, can be used to decrease the severity of some side effects. Dips are usually applied either weekly or every two weeks according to the veterinarian’s prescription. We generally recommend that dips be applied by grooming technicians in the veterinarian’s hospital.

If no severe side affects are seen, treatment will be continued until repeated skin scrapes reveal no mange mites (typically 6 to 9 treatments) and for one more month after that. Scrapings will be performed every 2 to 4 weeks to evaluate response to treatment. Occasionally, another form of amitraz (Taktic®) is chosen because of lack of availability of Mitaban (but it is not an approved formulation). Different dilution instructions are required for Taktic.

Ivermectin or Milbemycin Treatment: Some dogs are very sensitive to amitraz and others do not respond even after many months of therapy. For these dogs, veterinary dermatologists often turn to extra-label use of oral parasiticides that can be used for generalized demodicosis. Ivermectin is available as a cattle worming agent (Ivomec® and generics) and milbemycin is available as a heartworm preventive pill (Interceptor®) for dogs. At very high daily dosages, these can be used to treat generalized demodicosis successfully in a majority of cases.

New litter posted on the comments page!