Posted on January 26, 2018
St. Croix
Photo courtesy of the ASPCA
Thanks to all of you who requested information about my recent deployment to St. Croix where I worked at an emergency shelter established by the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Over the course of three months at this shelter, the ASPCA cared for nearly 600 animals displaced by Hurricane Maria.
This was a truly remarkable experience for me on so many levels. As anticipated, I encountered some physical and emotional challenges, none of which detracted from my experience to any significant degree. I had the opportunity to practice medicine in a way that I’d not done in years. And, I absolutely loved it. Preventive medicine was the name of the game in terms of vaccinations, heartworm testing, and deworming. There were also basic medical issues to contend with such as ringworm, malnutrition, diarrhea, ear infections, and injuries sustained during the hurricane. I was involved in caring for the horses housed at the shelter, a true treat for this horse-crazy woman.
Most enjoyable was the opportunity to practice pediatrics, something I’ve not done for decades. Pediatrics translates into spending a lot of time playing with puppies and kittens. Early on in my deployment a litter of nine puppies arrived at the shelter at death’s door, suffering from a massive load of intestinal parasites, malnutrition, and hypothermia. Watching these babies recover in response to the treatment we provided was richly rewarding for all of us. Within a few days, they transformed into active content puppies with voracious appetites. I got a big smile on my face every morning upon entering the shelter and hearing these babies telling us in no uncertain terms that it was time for breakfast to be served.
I arrived on the island well after the Hurricane Maria hit St. Croix. Prior to my arrival, ASPCA staff members and volunteers spent countless hours conducting search-and-rescue to save injured and homeless animals on the island. Some dogs and cats were brought to the shelter because their owners no longer had suitable housing and were unable to continue caring for their pets. By the time I deployed, hundreds of animals- either homeless before the hurricane or surrendered by their owners afterward- were relocated via airplane to shelters and rescue groups in the States where they were made available for adoption.
I must tell you that the ASPCA simply rocked in terms of how each and every sheltered animal was cared for. Decisions about how to proceed with an animal with severe illness, injury, or behavioral issues were made only after considerable thought and discussion. Animals requiring medical or surgical care that we could not provide within the emergency shelter were transported to a veterinary hospital on the island with expenses covered by the ASPCA.
Every animal received daily enrichment of some sort. The kitty cages were filled with toys (plus they had one another to play with). The horses received large goodie balls that they could push around to release yummy treats. The dogs were walked multiple times daily and playgroups were created. Volunteers from all over the United States were on site providing daily care for the animals, including walking dogs and cleaning cages. They all worked amazingly hard all day given the intense heat and humidity. Huge plastic containers were filled with toys for enrichment. These were stuffed with peanut butter or pet food before being handed out daily to each and every dog. Two animal behaviorists were on site assessing all of the dogs to determine how best to place them. The entire staff benefited from their advice dealing with issues such as leash biting, fearfulness, and dog-on-dog aggression.
I observed firsthand the ASPCA philosophy of providing the resources necessary to ensure that each and every animal received physical support and emotional comfort. In all honesty, I was blown away by all of this. I did not expect this over-the-top level of care and concern. I’m pleased to say that the ASPCA has maintained an ongoing presence on St. Croix to continue to improve the lives of animals living there. The ASPCA is also working with local agencies on the island to support their efforts as they get back on their feet and work to enhance their disaster preparedness and response capabilities moving forward.
I left the island on December 25th, just two days before all of the homeless animals at the shelter were transported to various shelters all across the United States. There, many of the dogs will require some behavior rehabilitation and/or treatment for heartworm disease prior to being rehomed. Take a look at the video of some of puppies I described being loaded onto the plane. I never met the pilot, but learned that, on his first transport (before I arrived on the island) he adopted two kittens. Prior to this final transport, additional animals in the care of the ASPCA were reunited with their families on the island or adopted by local residents.
To learn more about the ASPCA’s Hurricane Maria response efforts and to see some awesome photos, I invite you to access these links:
ASPCA Assists Nearly 22,000 Animals Impacted by Hurricane Maria in St. Croix
Exclusive photos: Inside Our Emergency Shelter for Animal Victims of Hurricane Maria
I have nothing but high regard for the ASPCA disaster relief ethics I saw in action. And, most of all, I feel immensely fortunate to practice a profession that provides me with such amazing opportunities. The days I spent working at the St. Croix shelter were long, arduous, and hot. I’ve never sweated so much in my life! Would I deploy with the ASPCA again? In a heartbeat!
If you have interest in becoming an ASPCA disaster response volunteer, let me know and I can point you in the right direction.
Warm best wishes,
Nancy Kay, DVM
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Author of Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life
Author of Your Dog’s Best Health: A Dozen Reasonable Things to Expect From Your Vet
Recipient, Leo K. Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award
Recipient, American Animal Hospital Association Animal Welfare and Humane Ethics Award
Recipient, Dog Writers Association of America Award for Best Blog
Recipient, Eukanuba Canine Health Award
Recipient, AKC Club Publication Excellence Award
Become a Fan of Speaking for Spot on Facebook
Please visit http://www.speakingforspot.com to read excerpts from Speaking for Spot and Your Dog’s Best Health. There you will also find “Advocacy Aids”- helpful health forms you can download and use for your own dog, and a collection of published articles on advocating for your pet’s health. Speaking for Spot and Your Dog’s Best Health are available at http://www.speakingforspot.com, Amazon.com, local bookstores, and your favorite online book seller.
Posted on December 10, 2017
Dear Friends
Dear friends,
I want you to be the first to know that I am taking a sabbatical from writing my weekly blog posts. I will be embarking upon a couple of other projects that will consume my creative writing energy.
Looking back, I’m reminded just how long I’ve been at this business of blogging. Believe it or not, my very first blog post was on September 24, 2008. Wow, that’s a whole lot of writing!
My passion to write has been fueled by your ongoing enthusiastic feedback. Hearing from you that my blog posts have made a positive difference for you and your animals was all I ever needed to keep my fingers busy at the keyboard.
I carry profound gratitude for your loyal readership. During my absence, if ever you need to research a canine health issue, I invite you to use the search engine at “Spot Speaks”. Chances are I blogged on the topic at one time or another!
I will be spending this holiday season in St. Croix working at a post-Hurricane Maria ASPCA shelter. While excited about this opportunity, I suspect I’ll encounter some significant physical and emotional challenges. I hope your holiday season is filled with light and laughter, and I wish you and your four-legged family members much good health and happiness throughout 2018.
Warm best wishes,
Nancy Kay, DVM
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Author of Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life
Author of Your Dog’s Best Health: A Dozen Reasonable Things to Expect From Your Vet
Recipient, Leo K. Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award
Recipient, American Animal Hospital Association Animal Welfare and Humane Ethics Award
Recipient, Dog Writers Association of America Award for Best Blog
Recipient, Eukanuba Canine Health Award
Recipient, AKC Club Publication Excellence Award
Become a Fan of Speaking for Spot on Facebook
Please visit http://www.speakingforspot.com to read excerpts from Speaking for Spot and Your Dog’s Best Health. There you will also find “Advocacy Aids”- helpful health forms you can download and use for your own dog, and a collection of published articles on advocating for your pet’s health. Speaking for Spot and Your Dog’s Best Health are available at http://www.speakingforspot.com, Amazon.com, local bookstores, and your favorite online book seller.
Updated on December 3, 2017
Were You Smarter Than a Puppy Miller?
Thanks to all of you who participated in my puppy mill quiz. Stacy McClain from Fort Collins, Colorado was the lucky winner of a copy of Speaking for Spot.
Below are my opinions about the puppy miller versus responsible breeder quotes I provided in my last blog post.
- “Our insurance agent has warned against having visitors because our policy could be cancelled should someone get injured during a visit.”
This is a flimsy excuse used by a puppy millers who will do most anything to prevent outsiders from seeing their facilities and/or their dogs. Conversely, responsible breeders want their puppy adopters to come visit. They’re proud of their dogs and want to show them off. Additionally, they want the opportunity to assess their potential buyers face-to-face. Most responsible breeders are unwilling to sell a pup to someone they’ve not met in person.
- “Our ultimate goal as Mini Goldendoodle breeders is to provide healthy, happy, well socialized family pets. Our farm has lots of room to run and a creek to play in! With our kids, our nieces and nephews and extended families, the puppies get lots of love, playtime and socialization. This allows them to be more well adjusted little puppies when they go their new homes.”
One of the first clues that this comes from a puppy miller is the designer hybrid breed being sold- Mini Goldendoodles. Responsible breeders tend to have a long-standing love affair with a particular breed, and they spend lots of time and energy researching all of its nuances with hopes of producing puppies that enhance the breed. Purposefully creating mixed breed dogs detracts from this mission. Because designer hybrids have become all the rage, it’s not surprising that puppy millers have jumped on this lucrative bandwagon.
Secondly, the long-winded description about how the puppies are socialized is simply over the top. Puppy millers try to create a fantasy image for their website visitors by providing such wordy descriptions. A responsible breeder invites you to come visit and create the description for yourself.
- “I am not being secretive, nor do I have anything to hide by requesting visits to be scheduled. If I’m not going out then I am generally grooming, cleaning, etc. and either me, my house, or my dogs are not in a state in which I care to entertain strangers, usually it’s me covered with dirt and/or dog hair from grooming.”
If a puppy miller allows any sort of visit, preparations are necessary to properly stage the facility so as to appear as something other than a deplorable breeding factory. Yes, most responsible breeders would deter drop in visits, but something like, “Please call to schedule a visit,” would suffice. The drama and wordiness in the quote above is a dead giveaway.
- “We warranty your puppy for ten years. No cash refunds, no vet bill refunds, only credit towards new puppy will be awarded.”
Is this breeder selling appliances or puppies? A puppy miller doesn’t much distinguish significantly between the two. Besides, once victimized by a puppy miller, no one in their right mind would want to tackle the heartbreak of a second puppy with significant health and/or behavioral issues.
- “Nobody handles a puppy unless it is ‘their’ puppy that they already have a deposit on. The deposit is $350 and non-refundable.”
The puppy miller counts on customers falling in love with online photos of puppies and willingly handing over hundreds of dollars. Once such a nonrefundable deposit is paid, it’s difficult for folks to walk away from a litter without a puppy in hand, whether or not it feels like a healthy match.
- “I do allow you to come and visit if you have a deposit on a puppy. I do not allow my breeding dogs to be touched/handled. You will be able to see how our dogs are housed, exercised and to view the heated and air conditioned whelping houses from my viewing room.”
As with the first quote above, puppy millers have a lot to hide and they use flimsy excuses as to why potential customers cannot tour their kennels and meet their dogs.
- “We offer the convenience of shipping your puppy to you via plane or we can drive and meet you halfway. This way, you don’t have to spend time driving all the way to us.”
The goal of puppy millers is to handle everything online. If the puppy and the purchaser ever meet, it is well away from their breeding factory and only after money has exchanged hands.
- “We offer financing with 0% interest for six months.”
For the puppy miller, puppies are nothing more than merchandise such as a car or appliance. A responsible breeder would question selling a pup to someone with a need to make payments over six months. What would this say about the adopter’s ability to provide quality food and medical care for their new dog?
- “If there is a specific puppy you want, but you do not want to put a hold down and you start to drive- that is your choice! If the puppy is purchased online ANYTIME PRIOR TO YOUR ARRIVAL, (yes, even 5 minutes), there is NOTHING WE CAN DO! This is the nature of things. It’s the same with cars, boats, clothes, phones, etc…. whoever puts the money down first gets the puppy.”
This has puppy miller written all over it! A responsible breeder’s goal is to find a “forever home” for each and every one of her puppies. She would never dream of letting a puppy go solely on the basis of who was the first to get out their wallet.
- Under frequently asked questions and answers, the question is, “My new dog is shying away from hands in his face and yelling/loud noises. Has he/she been abused?”
The response is, “No, your dog is just nervous and is shying away because he has probably never been yelled at or hit and it is terrifying to him. Most abused dogs get used to it and hardly react, opposite of what most people think!”
This is out-and-out deceit intended to hide puppy miller abuse. A 2011 study confirmed that puppy mill progeny consistently exhibit strong fear behaviors resulting from cage isolation and negative social interactions with humans.
Thank you for participating in this puppy mill quiz. I encourage you to share it with folks you know who may be thinking about getting a puppy. Provide them with the telltale signs of puppy millers versus responsible breeders and remind them to never purchase a pup online without meeting the litter face-to-face and touring the breeding facility. Helping spread the word will get us one step closer to eradicating puppy mills.
Wishing you a joyous holiday season,
Nancy Kay, DVM
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Author of Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life
Author of Your Dog’s Best Health: A Dozen Reasonable Things to Expect From Your Vet
Recipient, Leo K. Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award
Recipient, American Animal Hospital Association Animal Welfare and Humane Ethics Award
Recipient, Dog Writers Association of America Award for Best Blog
Recipient, Eukanuba Canine Health Award
Recipient, AKC Club Publication Excellence Award
Become a Fan of Speaking for Spot on Facebook
Please visit http://www.speakingforspot.com to read excerpts from Speaking for Spot and Your Dog’s Best Health. There you will also find “Advocacy Aids”- helpful health forms you can download and use for your own dog, and a collection of published articles on advocating for your pet’s health. Speaking for Spot and Your Dog’s Best Health are available at http://www.speakingforspot.com, Amazon.com, local bookstores, and your favorite online book seller.
Posted on November 12, 2017
Are You Smarter Than a Puppy Miller?
California recently banned the sale of puppy mill dogs from pet stores, and I hope this legislation becomes contagious throughout the United States. Unfortunately, in addition to selling their “merchandise” to pet stores, puppy millers have a huge online presence where their business is thriving.
The problem is, folks who are newish (and even some who are not so newish) to purchasing puppies fall prey to the allure of puppy mill websites. They see dozens of images of adorable fuzzy faces, healthy and happy appearing dogs lounging on couches in beautiful homes, and puppies playing in yards filled with lush green grass. One need not be super-gullible to buy into all this pretense.
Case in point- my friends who are both medical professionals (they’re not stupid people) are ready to adopt a puppy. They searched kennels online and found one they liked. Emails were exchanged with the breeder and my friends were ready to take the next step. Thankfully, they called me first to get my opinion. I hopped online, spent about a minute on the website and found a dozen or so red flags that shouted, “Puppy Mill!!” I shared this information with my friends, gave them a tutorial on where and how to adopt, and patted myself on the back for putting the kabosh on a puppy mill purchase.
Let the games begin!
Ready to take a little quiz? Read each quote below and determine if you think it came from a responsible breeder’s website or one behind which a puppy miller is lurking. I will provide you with my opinions next week.
Post your responses and your name will be entered into a drawing for a copy of Speaking for Spot or Your Dog’s Best Health (the choice will be yours). Also, let me know if you share this quiz with a friend or two or three or five, and your name will also be entered into the book drawing. The more people who learn to sniff out puppy mills, the better.
- Puppy mill or responsible breeder?
“Our insurance agent has warned against having visitors because our policy could be cancelled should someone get injured during a visit.”
- Puppy mill or responsible breeder?
“Our ultimate goal as Mini Goldendoodle breeders is to provide healthy, happy, well socialized family pets. Our farm has lots of room to run and a creek to play in! With our kids, our nieces and nephews and extended families, the puppies get lots of love, playtime and socialization. This allows them to be more well adjusted little puppies when they go their new homes.”
- Puppy mill or responsible breeder?
“I am not being secretive, nor do I have anything to hide by requesting visits to be scheduled. If I’m not going out then I am generally grooming, cleaning, etc. and either me, my house, or my dogs are not in a state in which I care to entertain strangers, usually it’s me covered with dirt and/or dog hair from grooming.”
- Puppy mill or responsible breeder?
“We warranty your puppy for ten years. No cash refunds, no vet bill refunds, only credit towards new puppy will be awarded.”
- Puppy mill or responsible breeder?
“Nobody handles a puppy unless it is ‘their’ puppy that they already have a deposit on. The deposit is $350 and non-refundable.”
- Puppy mill or responsible breeder?
“I do allow you to come and visit if you have a deposit on a puppy. I do not allow my breeding dogs to be touched/handled. You will be able to see how our dogs are housed, exercised and to view the heated and air conditioned whelping houses from my viewing room.”
- Puppy mill or responsible breeder?
“We offer the convenience of shipping your puppy to you via plane or we can drive and meet you halfway. This way, you don’t have to spend time driving all the way to us.”
- Puppy mill or responsible breeder?
“We offer financing with 0% interest for six months.”
- Puppy mill or responsible breeder?
“If there is a specific puppy you want, but you do not want to put a hold down and you start to drive- that is your choice! If the puppy is purchased online ANYTIME PRIOR TO YOUR ARRIVAL, (yes, even 5 minutes), there is NOTHING WE CAN DO! This is the nature of things. It’s the same with cars, boats, clothes, phones, etc…. whoever puts the money down first gets the puppy.”
- Puppy mill or responsible breeder?
Under frequently asked questions and answers, the question is, “My new dog is shying away from hands in his face and yelling/loud noises. Has he/she been abused?”
The response is, “No, your dog is just nervous and is shying away because he has probably never been yelled at or hit and it is terrifying to him. Most abused dogs get used to it and hardly react, opposite of what most people think!”
Sending you much gratitude during this season of Thanksgiving,
Nancy Kay, DVM
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Author of Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life
Author of Your Dog’s Best Health: A Dozen Reasonable Things to Expect From Your Vet
Recipient, Leo K. Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award
Recipient, American Animal Hospital Association Animal Welfare and Humane Ethics Award
Recipient, Dog Writers Association of America Award for Best Blog
Recipient, Eukanuba Canine Health Award
Recipient, AKC Club Publication Excellence Award
Become a Fan of Speaking for Spot on Facebook
Please visit http://www.speakingforspot.com to read excerpts from Speaking for Spot and Your Dog’s Best Health. There you will also find “Advocacy Aids”- helpful health forms you can download and use for your own dog, and a collection of published articles on advocating for your pet’s health. Speaking for Spot and Your Dog’s Best Health are available at http://www.speakingforspot.com, Amazon.com, local bookstores, and your favorite online book seller.
Posted on November 5, 2017
Updated Canine Vaccination Guidelines
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has released their 2017 Canine Vaccination Guidelines, the first update of this document since the 2011 version. A task force of veterinary experts who prepared the guidelines based their recommendations on vaccine research, immunological principles and clinical experience.
The two core vaccinations (those that every dog should receive barring special circumstances) discussed within the guidelines are:
- Rabies
- DAPP: a combination of Canine Distemper Virus, Adenovirus-2, and Parvovirus +/- Parainfluenza Virus
The roster of noncore vaccinations (those that may be warranted depending on the dog’s lifestyle) now includes:
- Bordetella bronchiseptica + canine parainfluenza virus (kennel cough)
- Bordetella bronchiseptica only (kennel cough)
- Leptospirosis
- Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease)
- Canine Influenza Virus– H3N8
- Canine Influenza Virus– H3N2
- Crotalus atrox (rattlesnake vaccine)
Antibody testing versus revaccinating
The 2017 Vaccination Guidelines provides in-depth information about antibody testing (also referred to as titer testing, vaccine titers, and vaccine serology). Antibody testing involves analyzing a small blood sample to determine the level of protective immunity against a particular disease, for example parvovirus or distemper. We know that a distemper/parvovirus vaccination protects for a minimum of three years, but beyond this time period the duration of immunity varies from dog to dog. For some, protection lasts a lifetime.
Distemper, canine adenovirus-2, and parvovirus antibody testing have become readily available. Many veterinarians use a tableside test that provides results within minutes. A negative test result supports revaccinating. Conversely, a positive test result indicates that revaccination is likely not warranted at that time. Antibody testing for rabies is also available but is rarely warranted given that state law dictates the frequency of revaccination.
Antibody testing is becoming more popular amongst people who prefer to rely on test results rather than automatically give a distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus booster every three years. Vaccine serology is also useful for determining if a puppy who has just completed the vaccination series has mounted an adequate immune system response. Additionally, antibody testing can be helpful in situations in which revaccinating might not be a wise choice such as:
- A dog with a chronic illness
- A dog who is very elderly
- A dog who has experienced a prior adverse reaction to a vaccination
- A dog with a history of immune-mediated (autoimmune disease)
- A dog who is receiving drugs that could suppress the immune system’s response to a vaccination
Something new
The 2017 version of the Vaccination Guidelines contains a brand new section devoted to “therapeutic biologics.” While these products are often referred to as vaccines (for example, the melanoma vaccine), they behave quite differently compared to traditional vaccines. Rather than protect against disease, therapeutic biologics are designed to elicit an immune system response that alters the course of a disease such as cancer, or modifies an animal’s response to an immune mediated (autoimmune disease). The Vaccination Guidelines includes discussion of therapeutic biologics as treatments for:
- Canine oral melanoma
- Canine B-cell lymphoma
- Canine T-cell lymphoma
- Canine atopic dermatitis (atopy)
- Canine cancers
- Tumor-derived immunotherapy for canine cancer
- Mammary cancers in dogs
How often should vaccinations be given?
The recommended timing and frequency of vaccinations hasn’t changed to any significant degree, particularly for the core vaccinations. Rabies and DAPP vaccinations need not be administered to adult dogs more than once every three years. Recommended schedules for the noncore vaccinations vary based on type of vaccine and route of inoculation.
Keep in mind that, just as is true for any other medical procedure, vaccinations carry inherent benefits as well as the potential for adverse side effects. Giving unnecessary vaccinations exposes the dog to all the inherent risks without any possibility of benefit. There’s simply no way this makes any sense whatsoever.
Keep in mind, the AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines are guidelines only. The recommendations within this document are not mandatory or enforceable in any way. So, if your veterinarian is one of the holdouts who insists on administering unnecessary vaccinations (those that are unnecessary based on your dog’s lifestyle or those given more frequently than recommended), I encourage you to step up to the plate as your dog’s medical advocate and find a new veterinarian.
How have your views on vaccinations for your dog changed over the past decade?
Best wishes,
Nancy Kay, DVM
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Author of Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life
Author of Your Dog’s Best Health: A Dozen Reasonable Things to Expect From Your Vet
Recipient, Leo K. Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award
Recipient, American Animal Hospital Association Animal Welfare and Humane Ethics Award
Recipient, Dog Writers Association of America Award for Best Blog
Recipient, Eukanuba Canine Health Award
Recipient, AKC Club Publication Excellence Award
Become a Fan of Speaking for Spot on Facebook
Please visit http://www.speakingforspot.com to read excerpts from Speaking for Spot and Your Dog’s Best Health. There you will also find “Advocacy Aids”- helpful health forms you can download and use for your own dog, and a collection of published articles on advocating for your pet’s health. Speaking for Spot and Your Dog’s Best Health are available at http://www.speakingforspot.com, Amazon.com, local bookstores, and your favorite online book seller.
Posted on October 23, 2017
California Takes Us One Step Closer to Eradicating Puppy Mills
California has been making lots of history as of late some of which has been wonderful and some really terrible. Last week I reported on the terrible- the horrific firestorms in Northern California. This week it’s all about the wonderful.
Approximately one week ago, California Governor Jerry Brown signed off on Assembly Bill 485. This new law stipulates that, beginning in 2019, all dogs, cats and rabbits sold in pet stores within the state of California must be obtained from shelters, rescue organizations or animal control agencies. The law also demands greater transparency from pet store proprietors who will be required to keep clear records on how each animal was obtained and post this information on each animal’s cage. While several cities and jurisdictions have already passed such legislation, California is the first state to do so.
Puppy mills and pet stores
As it stands now, puppy mills supply the vast majority (as in 99%) of puppies sold in pet stores. Every puppy sold puts cash in the pockets of a ”puppy miller” perpetuating the heinous practice of breeding dogs and raising puppies under horrifically inhumane conditions. In helping to write AB 485, Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell is hoping to suppress the puppy mill industry as well as decrease the number of animals in California shelters. He stated, “This is a big win for our four-legged friends, of course. But also for California taxpayers who spend more than $250 million annually to house and euthanize animals in our shelters.”
For and against
The usual parties are voicing their opinions for and against this newly passed California legislation. The ASPCA and Humane Society of the United States believe the new law will help break the supply chain of animals coming into pet stores from puppy mills and irresponsible breeders. According to Matt Bershadker, president and CEO of the ASPCA, “By prohibiting the sale of commercially bred dogs and cats in pet stores, California will cut off the supply of inhumanely bred puppies into communities across the state, and prevent consumers from unwittingly supporting this cruel industry.”
Predictably, on the other side of aisle is the American Kennel Club. Sheila Goffe, AKC Vice President of Government Relations, stated that the new legislation “blocks all of California’s pet lovers from having access to professional, licensed and ethical commercial breeders.” Why oh why does the AKC continue to insist that puppies sold in pet stores come from ethical breeders? I’m hard pressed to come up with a reason other than the obvious direct correlation between numbers of puppy mill dogs and the revenue stream that flows into the AKC when they become registered.
How do I feel about California AB 485? The only way I could be more pleased is if other states jump on this bandwagon. Yes, I think it’s possible that a small percentage of ethical breeders could be negatively impacted by this new legislation. I also believe this is a small but necessary price to pay on the road to eradicating puppy mills.
Way to go California! Now, let’s hope other states follow your lead.
How do you weigh in on this new legislation?
Best wishes,
Nancy Kay, DVM
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Author of Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life
Author of Your Dog’s Best Health: A Dozen Reasonable Things to Expect From Your Vet
Recipient, Leo K. Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award
Recipient, American Animal Hospital Association Animal Welfare and Humane Ethics Award
Recipient, Dog Writers Association of America Award for Best Blog
Recipient, Eukanuba Canine Health Award
Recipient, AKC Club Publication Excellence Award
Become a Fan of Speaking for Spot on Facebook
Please visit http://www.speakingforspot.com to read excerpts from Speaking for Spot and Your Dog’s Best Health. There you will also find “Advocacy Aids”- helpful health forms you can download and use for your own dog, and a collection of published articles on advocating for your pet’s health. Speaking for Spot and Your Dog’s Best Health are available at http://www.speakingforspot.com, Amazon.com, local bookstores, and your favorite online book seller.
Updated on October 12, 2017
Firestorms in California
Facebook photo of kitty rescued from Northern California fire
September and October are blissful months for me now that I live in the mountains of western North Carolina. I am treated to a feast of color and the quality of the light and crispness of the air create a deep sense of relaxation and a feeling of, “Ahhhhhh….”
I can’t help but compare this to the way I felt during Northern California Septembers and Octobers. There, the autumnal changes in the light and air signaled a need to be on guard for fear of firestorms, the likes of which are currently raging. It was never a matter of if there would be fires, but rather where they would occur. The need for hypervigilance resolved only when the rains arrived sometime in late October or early November.
I’ve been glued to the news watching the progress of the current Northern California infernos. My heart is filled with sadness and my mind with disbelief. Every person I’ve communicated with who lives in my old stomping grounds has been significantly impacted by the fires, be it by the intense smoke, sleep deprivation from maintaining a rooftop vigil with hose in hand, or the loss of homes, animals, places of business, community landmarks, houses of worship, and complete neighborhoods.
Veterinary hospitals have burned to the ground. The hospital where I worked is bursting at the seams with burn victims and patients transferred from evacuated hospitals, and staff members tell me that, depending on the changing winds, evacuation may be imminent.
Facebook is filled with images of animals displaced by the fires. Some of the photos are of cats and dogs with singed whiskers and hair coats who somehow managed to survive the inferno. Other images are of healthy appearing dogs and cats, posted by people who are hoping beyond hope to be reunited with a beloved pet who was unintentionally left behind.
Two Facebook pages have already been established to reunite pets with their people. Check out Napa/Santa Rosa Fires: Lost Animals and Napa/Santa Rosa Animal Evacuations Info.
The Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported an amazing and uplifting survival story about Safari West, an exotic animal habitat located in the hills surrounding Santa Rosa. As the article stated:
Peter Lang had a heart-wrenching choice — save his house in the fire-ravaged hills above Santa Rosa or protect the more than 1,000 animals trapped at his wildlife preserve, Safari West. The 77-year-old owner of the 400-acre facility on Porter Creek Road didn’t give it much thought.
As the flames approached, Lang ushered his wife, employees and 30 overnight guests off the hill, grabbed a garden hose and began dousing hot spots threatening his collection of primarily African species, including cheetahs, giraffes and rhinoceroses.
When dawn broke, they were all alive but Lang’s home was destroyed.
“I did not lose a single animal,” he said Tuesday as he walked the grounds, dense smoke still shrouding pens and other outbuildings. “It is amazing.”
As hot embers landed in the animals’ enclosures, Lang ran between them, putting out small fires and coaxing hyenas and other animals from one enclosure to another in a hopscotch manner to protect them. Small patches of ground burned but no animals were hurt, he said.
“I have a thousand souls I’m responsible for,” he said as he walked the grounds, dense smoke still shrouding pens and other outbuildings. “It wasn’t even a decision. This is what I had to do.”
I invite you to consider making a donation to an organization involved in rescuing/fostering animals who have been displaced by the fires. Here are some to consider. No doubt, there are plenty of other organizations pitching in who would welcome your donation.
Hopalong and Second Chance Animal Rescue
The firestorms are ravaging places where I lived, worked, and played for more than three decades. Having left the bay area just shy of six years ago, no doubt, “survivor’s guilt” plays a role in all that I am feeling. Thank you for letting me indulge in wearing my heart on my sleeve.
Best wishes,
Nancy Kay, DVM
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Author of Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life
Author of Your Dog’s Best Health: A Dozen Reasonable Things to Expect From Your Vet
Recipient, Leo K. Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award
Recipient, American Animal Hospital Association Animal Welfare and Humane Ethics Award
Recipient, Dog Writers Association of America Award for Best Blog
Recipient, Eukanuba Canine Health Award
Recipient, AKC Club Publication Excellence Award
Become a Fan of Speaking for Spot on Facebook
Please visit http://www.speakingforspot.com to read excerpts from Speaking for Spot and Your Dog’s Best Health. There you will also find “Advocacy Aids”- helpful health forms you can download and use for your own dog, and a collection of published articles on advocating for your pet’s health. Speaking for Spot and Your Dog’s Best Health are available at http://www.speakingforspot.com, Amazon.com, local bookstores, and your favorite online book seller.
Posted on October 9, 2017
Telemedicine: Gaining Steam Within the Veterinary Profession
Although the practice of telemedicine has been around for quite some time, only recently has this technology been embraced by the veterinary profession. In July of this year, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) provided a game changer by providing unanimous endorsement for the practice of telemedicine.
What exactly is telemedicine?
Telemedicine is a form of “remote consultation,” meaning the doctor and patient are not in the same location. Telemedicine is a means of providing evaluation and treatment recommendations via either telephone (verbal or text messaging) or electronic means (email, Skype). Here are a few examples of how telemedicine might work.
Your dog has torn a toenail and is limping. You describe the situation to your veterinarian via email and include a photo of the torn nail. Your vet advises you on cleaning the site, restricting your dog’s activity, and watching for things such as an infected appearance or persistent limping that would warrant an office visit.
You send a text message to your veterinarian letting her know that you switched brands of cat food a week ago and your kitty has vomited once daily for the past three days. She seems completely normal otherwise. Your veterinarian responds requesting that you discontinue the new food and resume feeding the previous brand. If the vomiting doesn’t disappear within a couple of days or any other symptoms develop, bring your kitty in for an exam.
Your dog has just returned home from a foray in the neighborhood and has a gash on his head. You’re wondering whether or not stitches are necessary. You snap a photo of the wound and text it to your veterinary hospital with the question, “Are stitches needed?” The response is, “Yes, please bring your dog in for stitches and don’t feed anything between now and then in case anesthesia is needed.”
Veterinarian-client-patient relationship
A critical component of telemedicine within the veterinary profession is prior establishment of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR). What this means is that the veterinarian providing the telemedicine service (or another veterinarian within the practice) has already met the animal in person, performed an examination, and established a medical record.
The only situations in which telemedicine is condoned without prior establishment of a VCPR are poison control centers calls. In such cases, advice is rendered without any prior hands-on evaluation of the animal.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Telemedicine exchanges between veterinarians have been happening for years. For example, a general practitioner might email x-rays or an electrocardiogram tracing to a specialist for interpretation. Telemedicine exchanges between veterinarians or veterinary staff members and their clients offer several potential advantages some of which include:
- Convenience of timing: an email or text message exchange doesn’t rely on both parties being available at the same time
- Avoidance of unnecessary office visits (thereby avoiding unnecessary expense for client and stress for patient)
- Easy exchange of educational materials
- Potential to readily assuage client’s worries and concerns
- A convenient way to deliver a progress report on how a patient is doing
Telemedicine is also fraught with disadvantages including:
- Potential to miss something of significance because of lack of “hands on” evaluation
- Mistakes can be made because of lack of a “hands on” evaluation
- Potential challenges in record keeping (transcribing emails and texts into medical records)
- Inability to adequately perceive and address client’s emotional needs
- Clients hoping to avoid office visits may abuse the system
If you are interested in learning more about veterinary telemedicine, take a look at the Final Report on Telemedicine authored by the AVMA Practice Advisory Panel. Be forewarned, it is not light reading- you may want to have a cup of coffee in hand!
Is telemedicine available through your veterinary practice?
Best wishes,
Nancy Kay, DVM
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Author of Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life
Author of Your Dog’s Best Health: A Dozen Reasonable Things to Expect From Your Vet
Recipient, Leo K. Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award
Recipient, American Animal Hospital Association Animal Welfare and Humane Ethics Award
Recipient, Dog Writers Association of America Award for Best Blog
Recipient, Eukanuba Canine Health Award
Recipient, AKC Club Publication Excellence Award
Become a Fan of Speaking for Spot on Facebook
Please visit http://www.speakingforspot.com to read excerpts from Speaking for Spot and Your Dog’s Best Health. There you will also find “Advocacy Aids”- helpful health forms you can download and use for your own dog, and a collection of published articles on advocating for your pet’s health. Speaking for Spot and Your Dog’s Best Health are available at http://www.speakingforspot.com, Amazon.com, local bookstores, and your favorite online book seller.
Posted on October 1, 2017
Real Versus Fake Assistance, Service, Therapy, and Emotional Support Animals
Photo Credit: © Kathie Meier
Are the Labrador Retriever guiding a blind person and the miniature pony providing emotional support considered to be the “same animal” in terms of the assistance they are providing, their legal description, and where they are allowed access? Is it possible to know which ones are legitimate and which ones are fraudulently being represented as assistance animals in order to achieve public access or avoid pet-related fees?
Given the increasing numbers of animals used for support, service, therapy, and assistance in public places, answering these questions has become rather complicated. And, even the following legal definitions pertaining to these animal helpers leave a great deal open to interpretation.
Assistance Animal (as defined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development)
An animal that works, provides assistance, or performs tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, or provides emotional support that alleviates one or more identified symptoms of effects of a person’s disability. Individuals with a disability may be entitled to keep an assistance animal as a reasonable accommodation in housing facilities that otherwise impose restrictions or prohibitions on animals. In order to qualify for such an accommodation, the assistance animal must be necessary to afford the individual an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling or to participate in the housing service or program.
Service Animal: as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not service animals for purposes of this definition. Miniature horses have been added as a specific provision to the ADA. The miniature horse must be housebroken, under the handler’s control, can be accommodated for by the facility, and will not compromise safety regulations.
Service Animal: as defined by the Air Carrier Access Act
Any animal that is individually trained or able to provide assistance to a qualified person with a disability; or any animal shown by documentation to be necessary for the emotional well-being of a passenger.
Emotional Support Animal, aka ESA: as defined by the Fair Housing Act and Air Carrier Access Act
An emotional support animal may be an animal of any species, the use of which is supported by a qualified physician, psychiatrist, or other mental health professional on the basis of a disability-related need. An ESA does not have to be trained to perform any particular task. Emotional support animals do no qualify as service animals under the ADA, but they may be permitted as reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities under the Fair Housing Act. The Air Carrier Access Act provides specific allowances for emotional support animals traveling on airlines, though documentation may need to be provided. Emotional support animals are not recognized as service animals.
Therapy Animal: as defined by Air Carrier Access Act the AVMA policy, “Animal Assisted Interventions: Definitions”
A therapy animal is a type of animal-assisted intervention in which there is a goal directed intervention in which an animal meeting specific criteria is an integral part of the treatment process. Animal-assisted therapy is provided in a variety of settings, and may be group or individual in nature.
American Veterinary Medical Association Perspective
Earlier this year, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) released a report titled, “Assistance Animals: Rights of Access and the Problem of Fraud.” Its intended purpose is to guide veterinarians in providing support for their clients with legitimate service or emotional support animals while discouraging other clients from fraudulently representing their pets as service animals.
The document states that fake service dogs are an ever-increasing problem, in large part thanks to the multiple online sources for paperwork and supplies that provide service animal “proof”. As a result, disabled people using legally compliant assistance animals are reporting that they’re now subject to more reluctance and suspicion when entering public places.
According to the AVMA report, “Part of the problem is that the lack of centralized or standardized form of proof that can be used to ascertain an assistance animal’s status makes fraudulent animals difficult to identify. The ADA does not require any standardized training or certification program for service animals, nor does it require the handler to provide any form of documentation stating the necessity for a service animal. Such documentation is considered a barrier or unreasonable burden that could limit access to a service animal. Conversely, people who use ESAs may need to provide documentation stating the need for an ESA, but that documentation can easily be counterfeited.”
What are potential solutions for supporting valid use of assistance animals while deterring the frauds? Some suggestions include cracking down on the availability of materials that provide fraudulent proof of assistance animal status, increasing access for companion animals in housing and public spaces, and reconciling conflicts in federal and state laws.
What assistance animal observations have you made as of late? What solutions do you recommend to weed out the fakers?
Best wishes,
Nancy Kay, DVM
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Author of Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life
Author of Your Dog’s Best Health: A Dozen Reasonable Things to Expect From Your Vet
Recipient, Leo K. Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award
Recipient, American Animal Hospital Association Animal Welfare and Humane Ethics Award
Recipient, Dog Writers Association of America Award for Best Blog
Recipient, Eukanuba Canine Health Award
Recipient, AKC Club Publication Excellence Award
Become a Fan of Speaking for Spot on Facebook
Please visit http://www.speakingforspot.com to read excerpts from Speaking for Spot and Your Dog’s Best Health. There you will also find “Advocacy Aids”- helpful health forms you can download and use for your own dog, and a collection of published articles on advocating for your pet’s health. Speaking for Spot and Your Dog’s Best Health are available at http://www.speakingforspot.com, Amazon.com, local bookstores, and your favorite online book seller.
Posted on September 3, 2017
Were You Smarter Than a Vet Student About Ear Infections?
Thanks to everyone who took this ear infection quiz. Congratulations to Arlene Millman of Huntington, New York, winner of the book drawing. She’ll be receiving a copy of Speaking for Spot!
Below are the correct responses to the quiz questions along with explanations. I hope you learn something new!
- Ear infections can be caused by:
- Allergies
- Water in the ear canals
- Hormonal imbalances
- All of the above
Most ear infections have an underlying predisposing cause that alters the health of the ear canal thereby setting the stage for yeast or bacteria to set up housekeeping. A moist environment within the ear canal is one such predisposing cause. Hormonal imbalances and allergies can cause inflammation within the lining of the ear canals which can result in secondary infection.
- Which of the following is not a cause of ear infections?
- Yeast
- Foreign bodies
- Viruses
- Tumors
Anything that disrupts the normal architecture of the ear canal, such as a tumor or foreign body, can result in secondary infections. Those of you who live west of the Mississippi are likely familiar with foxtails, far and away the most common foreign body to land in a dog’s ear canal. Yeast organisms thrive in warm moist environments, and are a common cause of canine ear infections. Viruses are not a cause of ear infections.
- Ear mites are common in
- Adult dogs
- Adult cats
- Kittens and puppies
- Feral cats
Ear mites are readily contagious with close contact, so it makes sense that they are common within feral cat colonies. While ear mites do occur in dogs and cats of all ages, these creepy crawlies are a relatively uncommon cause of ear infections.
- The cause of an ear infection can be reliably determined by
- The appearance of the discharge
- The odor of the discharge
- An otoscopic exam (looking in the ear canal with an otoscope)
- None of the above
Microscopic examination of discharge from the ear canal is the very best way to diagnose whether an infection is caused by yeast, bacteria, or mites. This determination cannot be made simply by smell or visual inspection.
- Infection-associated tears in the eardrum (tympanic membrane)
- Are very uncommon
- Dictate a change in treatment strategy
- Cause deafness
- Are typically very slow to heal
Infection-associated tears in the eardrum are relatively common. When this is the case, it’s presumed that there is also infection within the middle and inner compartments of the ear, a condition referred to as otitis media interna. These tears tend to heal rather quickly. The tear itself does not typically cause deafness, but chronic inner ear infections certainly can. Finding a tear within the tympanic membrane definitely changes treatment strategy compared to finding infection only within the external ear canal. For example, systemic rather than just topical antibiotics might be used and ear cleaning is avoided for fear of flushing debris deeper into the middle and inner ear compartments.
- Patients with recurrent or chronic ear infections are sometimes referred to:
- A veterinarian who specializes in dermatology
- A veterinarian who specializes in neurology
- A veterinarian who specializes in surgery
- Any of the above
Referral to a veterinary specialist makes really good sense when ear infections recur frequently, cannot be resolved, and/or lead to other abnormalities. Given that the lining of the ear canal is an extension of the skin, referral to a dermatologist (skin doc) is a logical choice. If the ear infection affects the inner ear and neurological symptoms such as a head tilt or dizziness develop, help from a neurologist may be recruited. A veterinarian who specializes in surgery may be called upon to either open up or entirely remove the external ear canal. These are last resort treatments, used when the ear canal has become profoundly scarred and narrowed as a result of chronic inflammation.
- Which of the following is not a potential strategy for preventing ear infections?
- Regular ear cleaning
- Regular swimming to help flush out the ear canals
- Ear canal surgery
- Feeding a special diet
Food allergies can create ear canal inflammation that sets the stage for infection, hence the need for a special diet. Regular ear cleaning works well to manage some dogs and cats with recurrent ear infections. As mentioned in question 6, surgery is used to treat some animals with severe ear canal changes caused by chronic inflammation. Water deposited in the ear canals as a result of swimming can be a cause of recurrent ear infections for some dogs. It is never considered a preventive strategy.
- Which one of the following statements is true?
- The treatment for ear infections is typically the same regardless of cause.
- Most ear infections are contagious from one ear to the other.
- Most ear infections arise because of some other underlying issue.
- Ear infections invariably cause scratching at the ears and/or head shaking.
The treatment strategy for ear infections varies from patient to patient depending on the type of infection present as well as its underlying cause. Other than ear mites that trundle over the top of the head from one ear to the other, ear infections are not considered to be contagious from ear to ear. Because both ear canals are typically impacted by the same underlying issue (water in ear canals, allergies, hormonal imbalances, etc.) that sets the stage for infection, it makes sense that both ears are often affected. Lastly, while head shaking and ear scratching are common indicators of an ear infection, not all dogs and cats demonstrate these symptoms.
Have these answers surprised you? Have you learned anything new?
Best wishes,
Nancy Kay, DVM
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Author of Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life
Author of Your Dog’s Best Health: A Dozen Reasonable Things to Expect From Your Vet
Recipient, Leo K. Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award
Recipient, American Animal Hospital Association Animal Welfare and Humane Ethics Award
Recipient, Dog Writers Association of America Award for Best Blog
Recipient, Eukanuba Canine Health Award
Recipient, AKC Club Publication Excellence Award
Become a Fan of Speaking for Spot on Facebook
Please visit http://www.speakingforspot.com to read excerpts from Speaking for Spot and Your Dog’s Best Health. There you will also find “Advocacy Aids”- helpful health forms you can download and use for your own dog, and a collection of published articles on advocating for your pet’s health. Speaking for Spot and Your Dog’s Best Health are available at http://www.speakingforspot.com, Amazon.com, local bookstores, and your favorite online book seller.
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