I’ve written about this before, but the latest news is a serious reminder that humans can get sick from pet food. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), at least 14 individuals have been infected in a multi-state Salmonella outbreak contracted from contaminated dog food. The news began breaking a couple of weeks ago but there were no confirmed human or animal cases until the CDC news release today, May 4, 2012. A Gaston, South Carolina Diamond Pet Food plant is the source of the infection based on CDC DNA tests performed on recalled dog food and infected human patients. Brands recalled are Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul, Diamond Puppy, and Diamond Naturals Lamb Meal & Rice Formula.

To date, no dogs have been reported as infected. Fortunately, dogs tend to become infected less easily with Salmonella than humans. If you live in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Virginia and purchased one of these foods, discontinue using it immediately and contact the store from which you purchased it.

Common clinical signs of Salmonella infection in dogs are lethargy (acting more tired or sleepy), diarrhea (even bloody diarrhea), fever, and vomiting. Some pets will experience decreased appetite, a low-grade fever, and abdominal pain or tenseness. An otherwise healthy dog can be a carrier of Salmonella and infect other animals or humans. If your dog has been fed any of the recalled foods and has any of these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian at once.

When you’re handling pet foods, use good hygiene.  Wash your hands after handling any pet food or treats. Avoid placing pet foods on treats on counters or surfaces where you put human foods. Wash your pet’s bowls with soap and hot water at least several times a week if not daily. Throw away old or spoiled pet food in an enclosed bag so other animals won’t accidentally ingest it. Remember other animals can harbor Salmonella and other pathogens and transmit them to you through direct contact or feces. Be especially careful with pet food and treats around infants and toddlers.

The good news is this outbreak was identified. The bad news is at least 14 people are known to be sick with a serious bacterial infection. Use proper hygiene and report any suspected food-borne illness to your veterinarian at once.

I’ll be hosting out 19th Annual Open House and Pet Health Fair at my veterinary clinic, Seaside Animal Care and new special services and pet supplies facility, Doggone Healthy on Saturday, May 12 from 12 to 3 pm. Read about it here.

• Free t-shirts, food, samples, and prizes
• Behind-the-scenes clinic tours and demonstrations
• Special kids-only tours and activities
• Bouncy tent
• Face painting
• Dr. Ward’s presentation on “Natural Pain Relief - Pain-free without thePrescription Meds”
• Tour Doggone Healthy and learn about our Day School for Dogs, Manners Meetings, Puppy School, and Dog Training Services
• Learn about our Rehab and Weight Loss Programs
• Nutritional counseling
• Learn about our organic, natural, and raw pet diets and treats
• Pet and Owner contests with fabulous prizes!

This is an event you DON’T want to miss! Bring your pets, family, and friends for a couple of hours of fun and fellowship with Brunswick county’s finest pet lovers.

Dr. Ernie Ward with his senior dog, Sandy

Our pets are living longer. In fact,  11 percent of pets in the U.S., approximately 33 million, are 11 years or older. We can attribute this longevity to several factors including advancements in veterinary medicine and care, the increasing closeness of the human/pet bond and improvements in pet nutrition. Here’s a series of helpful tips to keep your aging pet playing young – and staying young – throughout their  senior years:

• Keeping mental functions sharp – It turns out that old dogs CAN learn new tricks! Studies show that, just like people,  pets need to keep their brains stimulated throughout their lifetime to keep their mental capacities sharp and utilized. Food puzzles are a great way to keep pets intellectually stimulated and challenged. Also, try teaching your old dog – or cat – a new trick. It can be as simple as “Shake” or complex as learning to run an agility course. Even reversing your normal walking route can provide a refreshed view of the world for an older pet.

• Providing your pet with the best nutrition – As your pet ages, their health and nutritional needs change and they require extra support based on the changes their bodies are going through. Feeding your pet the proper nutrition in their senior years, such as Iams Senior Plus formulas (visit www.iams.com for more information), is critical to helping them fight the signs of aging and keeping them active and playful. The new Iams Senior Plus formulas include specific ingredientsfor more mature cats and dogs to ensure they have the right amount of pep intheir step, including:
• Antioxidants to restore immune response to that of a healthy adult pet, including Vitamin E
• Tailored fiber blend,including prebiotics and beet pulp for healthy digestion
• More fat to help maintain ideal weight and body condition andL-carnitine to help pets utilize dietary fat; and high-quality protein fromchicken and egg to help maintain muscle mas
• Exercise is critical to keeping your pet youthful – Keeping a pet lean as they age is one of the most important factors in preventing health issues. I recommend 30 minutes of daily aerobic exercise for most dogs, as well as light daily activity for cats, and items, like ChuckIt! fetch games and FroliCat SWAY, are great ways to keep your four-legged family members on their paws.
• Visit The Vet! – Your veterinarian can help uncover any hidden or internal ailments that require medical attention. As a pet ages, it’s imperative that they see their vet at least twice a year to maintain optimal health.

Dr. Ernie Ward

Last week I had to deliver some bad news to a pet parent: her dog had heartworm disease. “Impossible!” she shrieked. “I give him his medication each month.” I reviewed the fact that we hadn’t dispensed nor written a prescription for her dog’s heartworm preventive in over two years. “I don’t buy it from you. I buy it at the store.” She had made a fatal mistake for her dog in an attempt to save a few bucks. She was buying the wrong preventive.

First of all, I didn’t fault her for trying to save money. We all need to save wherever and whenever we can these days. Where she, and millions like her, went wrong is not involving their veterinarian. This lady was administering a topical flea preventive incorrectly believing it protected against deadly heartworm disease. A big mistake that may cost her dog its life.

This spring you’ll be inundated with a plethora of products promising protection for your pets from fleas and ticks. What they’re not protecting your dogs and cats against is heartworm disease. Heartworm disease is transmitted by infected mosquitoes. Dogs, cats, and ferrets are most susceptible but other species, including humans, can be accidentally infected with heartworm larvae. In our area every dog and cat, even if they live indoors, needs to be protected year-round (Remember those wonderful 70-degree days back in December and January? The mosquitoes do.).

If you bought a preventive without a prescription you’re not protecting against heartworm. The drugs that prevent heartworm are prescription medications governed by the FDA as opposed to topical flea and tick preparations regulated by the EPA. This is an important distinction because heartworm meds are subject to more stringent testing and safety oversight than flea treatments. This is why the EPA has begun issuing “black box” warnings on topical flea and tick solutions; there were so many reported side effects and reactions in 2010 and 2011.

Back to the saving money part. Most vets, including me, have made great efforts to keep heartworm preventives affordable. How much do mine cost, you ask? Whatever you can buy it for from the big online pet sites. It’s been that way since 1999 (when the economy was much better). I’ve always been committed to providing affordable preventive pet healthcare. That may not always be the best business sense, but it always seems to me like the right thing to do. Whenever clients call and say they can buy preventives cheaper elsewhere, we find they haven’t asked how much ours cost. If you’re thinking of buying pet supplies online, I ask you to consider spending your money locally. Your vet employs neighbors, church members and valuable constituents of Brunswick County. If your vet’s price is less than five dollars difference, help our local economy instead of New York, Florida, or California. Unemployment in our area tops 13 percent; we’re all part of the solution.

Make sure you’re protecting your dogs and cats properly this year. And help our local economy recover. Lord knows, we need everyone’s help.

Dr. Ernie Ward

The lid’s off of one of the worst-kept secrets in the world of show dogs and cats: those prancing and preening pure breeds are a genetic mess.  At this year’s prestigious Crufts Dog Show, England’s equal to our Westminster, the Pekingese and Bulldog breeds were expelled from the competition because show veterinarians found visible signs of medical or anatomical problems. You now hear my loud and sustained applause.

Veterinarians have known those prissed-up pooches were far from the picture of good health. For years, even obvious genetic faults such as retained testicles were allowed in the show ring. Winners were prized for their DNA regardless if those retained testicles often turned cancerous and their offspring forwarded the fault. Before long, we had Boxers routinely lacking a normal nut.

Boxers are only one example. German shepherd and Labradors commonly have hip dysplasia. I can’t recall the last time I saw a Boston terrier with normal nose holes. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are studied for their genetic form of heart disease. All of these breeds have been frequent show ring winners. And we haven’t even mentioned cats.

Pure breed cats have it worse. Because the number of show cats is small and desire for their kittens so large, we’ve seen serious problems in breeds such as Persians, Himalayans and Maine Coons. It’s gotten so bad I dread seeing a purebreed kitten because I’ll have to inform the proud parents to be on the look out for a dozen diseases.

The actions by the Crufts Dog Show is a small step down what I see as a very long road. I’d like to see genetic profiling, a thorough examination and testing on all show pets, as well as full medical history disclosure on winners and ribbon holders. They routinely test athletes, why not show animals? Keep in mind the Crufts vets were only looking for problems they could see, not problems such as heart or kidney disease, joint problems or internal diseases. Testing and culling from shows is vitally important because these show dogs and cats largely determine the future of their breeds. A single prized German shepherd male carrying the gene for hip dysplasia is primarily responsible for the hip dysplasia debacle we have in North America. A handful of epileptic and even aggressive, yet beautiful, golden retrievers has caused me to question the entire breed. Increased oversight and vigilance of show dogs and cats and breeding animals in general is critical not only for future generations of cherished breeds, but also to the integrity of the concept of pure breeds.

I love all animals, regardless of pedigree. What I don’t love are many breeding practices in the US and UK. I’m also no fan of the superficial show ring that rewards beauty and color over health and personality. We can do better by the breeds we love. Cheers to Crufts. Now keep it up.

Dr. Ernie Ward

I purchased my first surgical laser in 1999. At the time, there were fewer than 50 veterinary clinics in the US using them. It was cool technology and my patients benefited immediately. Today thousands of vets use surgical lasers on everything from dogs to horses to iguanas. Less blood loss and decreased pain are two big advantages C02 laser surgery has over traditional steel blades. Turns out that was only the beginning of a larger revolution.

A while back I began trying an early healing technique on select patients called photonic biomodulation. In simplest terms, it combined targeting acupuncture points with a special wavelength of laser light. Using a device that looked like a light saber mated with a flashlight, I’d apply light energy for a period of time to facilitate healing or alleviate pain. One of my favorite tricks was using the device to activate a point on the skull to help calm frightened patients. I was hooked on laser light therapy, but it was awkward. Fortunately a better laser was just around the corner.

Class IV lasers or “cold lasers” we’re developed over 50 years ago. At that time lasers were only a scientific curiosity with few real world applications. Gradually lasers were created to cut steel and metals for manufacturing plants, surgical lasers offered safer and less risky operations and Class IV lasers, a special category of low-power laser light, were largely ignored as larger and more powerful lasers were designed. Eventually some very bright engineers, veterinarians, and physicians began experimenting with Class IV lasers to treat inflammation. The results were astounding. Using no drugs, those early pioneers found that tissue swelling responded to certain wavelengths of this special laser beam. Fast forward to today and these high-tech healing devices are being used to treat a wide variety of illnesses and medical conditions in both humans and animals.

In simplest terms a Class IV laser uses an invisible wavelength of light that penetrates into tissues and causes positive cellular changes. Some of these benefits include improved nerve conduction, dilation of blood vessels, increased cellular energy, and decreasing free radical damage by helping cells produce more SOD, the body’s most potent natural antioxidant. Imagine treating arthritic pain and inflammation without drugs and many medical conditions without side effects.

While this may sound like science fiction, it’s now a reality I’m using every day. We’re seeing reduced post-op swelling and pain, decreased pain from arthritis, and improved healing. I recently had a severe dog fight victim with massive skin loss that grew new skin and fur in about two weeks. Normally that would’ve taken at least twice as long.

Most pets will most benefit from one to eight initial treatments every two to seven days followed by weekly to monthly appointments. During each visit, the location of treatment, laser light wavelength, power and interval timings will be adjusted based on the pet’s progress and current condition. Unfortunately, not all medical conditions or illnesses will respond favorably to laser therapy although it won’t hurt to try.

As exciting and innovative as our current understanding and application of Class IV laser therapy is, we’ve only just begun. Our protocols and procedures are being refined quickly and constantly. The future for healing your pet and reducing pain is bright – laser bright!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rK4yV9Mquo

Dr. Ernie Ward joins CNN’ s Josh Levs to discuss the 2011 National Pet Obesity Awareness Day survey results and overweight dogs and cats. Dr. Ernie Ward also answers iReporter questions and gives advice to “Dodger,” a dog whose owner reports he needs to lose 20 pounds. (original air date February 4-5, 2012)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=45PBFnC3iNI

Veterinarian and author of “Chow Hounds: Why Our Dogs Are Getting Fatter” Dr. Ernie Ward stopped by Orlando’s Fox 35 “Good Day” to talk about overweight pets, the pet obesity epidemic and how you can help your dog or cat shed pounds.  original air date January 18, 2012 

Read more: http://www.myfoxorlando.com/dpp/good_day/011812-project-pet-slim-down#ixzz1l3IyJDJe

www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1Lu1RN0Y70

Dr. Ernie Ward contributes to a Good Morning America segment on dog weight loss camps and the pet obesity epidemic. Dr. Ernie Ward and the GMA crew visit the Morris Animal Inn in Morristown, New Jersey to discuss overweight dogs and cats and the concept of a canine weight loss camp. Dr. Ernie also wrote an article “Seven Secrets to Keep Your Pet Slim” for the GMA and ABC News website in support of this televised segment. You can read Dr. Ward’s article here.

original air date January 26, 2012

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvNoZXveh7c

Dr. Ernie Ward and Dr. Lisa Young discuss the importance of regular veterinary examinations and preventive care for your pet on Lifetime’s “The Balancing Act.”  Dr. Ernie reviews heartworm disease, how it is spread by mosquitoes and what you can do to prevent this deadly disease in your dog or cat. Both veterinarians express their concern that many pet owners often fail to recognize the early signs of illness and what every pet owner should look for. original air date August 16, 2011

Additional information: http://www.thebalancingact.com/story/?id=3079