H1N1 update: Cat death in Oregon from presumed 2009 H1N1

The Oregon state public health veterinarian has reported that a pet cat has died from presumed 2009 H1N1 influenza virus infection. The cat was one of 4 cats in the household and became ill approximately one week after a child in the household had a flu-like illness. It developed labored breathing and was presented to a veterinarian on November 4. The cat was not coughing or sneezing but had pneumonia. The cat's condition deteriorated over the next 3 days, and it died on November 7. Samples were obtained and tested (PCR) positive for the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. Additional samples were sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) for confirmation and are still pending. At this time this is a presumed, not confirmed, case of 2009 H1N1 influenza infection.

The three other cats in the household also became ill with different degrees of sneezing and coughing, but recovered from their illnesses. Samples collected from these cats were negative for the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus.

Key Points To Remember:    

* This is not cause for panic, but underscores the importance of taking pets to a veterinarian if they are showing signs of illness.  This is especially important if someone in the household has recently been ill with flu-like symptoms.  
* Ferret and cat owners should remain vigilant.  
* To date, all of the sick pets became ill after a person in the household was ill with flu-like symptoms.  
* There is no evidence to suggest that pets have or will spread the virus to humans or other animals.  
* Proper hygiene and sanitation measures should be followed to limit the spread of the influenza virus.  

We will watch this story closely for you.  

Sneaking through back alleyways and abandoned lots, millions of feral and stray cats make their homes in our cities and rural areas.  Often fearful of people, these “wild” cats are blamed for everything from decimating bird populations to killing sea otters.  What’s the truth behind these feral felines and why are some people so determined to save their lives?

Cat lovers are abundant across this country as is evident by the more than 80 million pampered felines sharing our homes.  But, living outdoors is another huge population of cats that has far fewer admirers and lives in constant danger of imminent death, usually at our hands!

There is no way of knowing for certain, but experts estimate that the feral cat population in North American equals or even exceeds the “owned” cat population.  A feral cat is one that is unsocialized to humans and actively avoids contact.  Stray cats, on the other hand, are often ones that have left home or are cats that have been abandoned by their owners.  These “strays” will often approach humans and even allow petting.  All cats, feral, stray and owned cats who are simply roaming the neighborhood are all members of our domestic species, Felis catus.

Traditionally, feral and stray cats are caught whenever possible and taken to local animal shelters.  There, if they are calm enough for adoption, they might find a new home, but the vast majority of these felines end up dying at the end of a euthanasia needle.  According to Alley Cat Allies (www.alleycat.org) 70% of cats who make it into a shelter are killed, making euthanasia the number one documented cause of feline deaths in the U.S.

Alley Cat Allies started in 1990 proposing to stop the killing of millions of cats.  Becky Robinson, one of the founders, remembers walking in an alleyway and seeing a whole colony of “tuxedo cats”.  Watching the cats interact gave her insight into the social lives of these “wild” animals and prompted her to work towards their preservation.  Since that memorable night, Becky and her volunteers have introduced Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) to the United States.  Originally conceived in England, these TNR programs have helped improve the health of many feral cats through vaccinations and sterilization.

In a nutshell, TNR allows volunteers to capture feral cats using humane cage traps.  The cats are then taken to participating veterinarians who anesthetize, neuter and vaccinate the animals.  After an identifying notch is placed in the cat’s ear, they are allowed to recover in the cage and then returned to their original capture site and their home colony.  Caretakers then monitor the overall health of the colony and conduct a population census while providing feeding stations for the cats.

The TNR programs are not without critics though.  Bird watchers worry about how feral cats impact songbirds and other wildlife.  Neighbors living near feral cat colonies are concerned about cats urinating and defecating in their yards.  And, public health officials are concerned about potential transmission of diseases like toxoplasmosis, plague, and rabies.  The website TNR Reality Check (www.tnrrealitycheck.com) maintains that there is little proof that TNR programs work to control populations of feral cats.

Ms Robinson disagrees and points to several recent scientific articles that show TNR is a valid principle for controlling and even reducing the size of a feral cat colony.  Furthermore, she questions the validity of claims by groups such as the American Bird Conservancy that these cats are the biggest threat to songbird survival.

Cat owners should take care that they are not adding to this controversial issue.  Many of the cats in these colonies are abandoned at the site by their owners.  Some people fear taking their cats to shelters and feel less guilty about leaving the cat alone outdoors if they know the colony has a caretaker providing food.  This, however, is unfair to the people trying to maintain the colony and also exposes your unprepared cat to the dangers of the outdoor world.

If your personal circumstances change so that you are unable to keep your cat, don’t simply leave him or her at the mercy of the outdoors.  Contact your local humane groups or shelters for their advice and assistance in re-homing your feline friend.

Dealing with the millions of feral and stray cats in this country will be a controversial topic for many years.  But, as Becky Robinson says, “cats have lived on the outskirts of our society for almost 10,000 years.  This is a fact we shouldn’t try to change.”

To learn more about the work of feral cat organizations across the country, you can visit www.alleycat.org.  Also see my video on this topic at: MyVNN.com

Prosthetics are commonly seen in people, but uncommon in pets.  Now, veterinary surgeons, engineers and prosthetic specialists are teaming up to look at new ways of giving our pets the support they need!

Three legged dogs and cats are not an unusual sight in veterinary clinics.   Whether the loss of the limb is due to severe trauma, cancer or even a hereditary defect, many pets live out their lives on three legs. But, on-going research in the field of prosthetics may allow these pets to function like their four-legged friends and just might benefit humans as well!

Dogs and cats appear to move almost normally with three legs and amputation is often done in severely traumatic injuries or with certain cancers.  But, new insights into how our pets manage pain and disabilities may soon change pet owner perceptions.

Dr. Kim Danoff, a veterinarian certified in canine rehabilitation says that “a three legged gait can take a toll on other limbs and the spine due to abnormal posture.”  Young pets could experience even bigger problems.  “Living longer with 3 limbs makes these animals more prone to disc problems and possibly severe cases of arthritis”, Danoff adds.  Additionally, pets with concurrent problems, such as hip dysplasia and cancer, could do worse after amputation.

But, help appears to be on the way.  Martin Kaufmann of Orthopets (www.orthopets.com) is working with veterinary surgeons to utilize titanium implants in the pet’s leg bone as an attachment for prostheses.

Most prosthetic devices are known as “socket prosthetics”, that is, the stump of the limb is placed inside the prosthetic and everything is held up with straps and other attachments.  Owners often find these cumbersome and pets are likely to chew on the apparatus. For human amputees, small variations in their body weight can change the balance and fit of the device.  

New technology, known as an integrated prosthetics, may open up more possibilities for how prosthetics are used in humans.  By using the implants, Kaufman says that these devices appear “to allow the patient a greater sensation of the ground.”  

Kaufman also says that one day the use of integrated prosthetics will allow amputees to change their prosthetic foot as easy as someone can change their shoes.  These functional prosthetics will allow amputees, or pet owners, to change their device as weather or environment demand.

Many animals benefit from the work at Orthopets. In his workshop in Colorado, Kaufman has developed orthotic braces and prosthetic devices for llamas, orangutans, and even sheep.  

One of his famous cases involves Kandu, a small terrier mix born without front legs.  Occasionally, this rare birth defect shows up in dogs and many have been euthanized because of this handicap.  Although Kandu was very capable of moving himself with just his back legs, his owners worried about damage to his chest.  Kaufman used his expertise to design a rolling ball to ease Kandu’s movements, a padded vest to stop rug burn, and a ski to use during the snowy Colorado winters!

Although all of this is great news, there are still some obstacles to overcome.   A big concern with the new integrated prosthetics is how the skin of the pet will mesh with the titanium of the implant.  Additionally, providing the needed education to pet owners and veterinarians will likely take time.  Both integrated and socket prosthetics require that enough limb is left after amputation to control the device.  Finally, many pet owners may be concerned with how much a prosthetic might cost in relation to simply removing the leg.

Kaufmann says that his prosthetics will generally start at $600 for the device and can run as high as $1800.  The higher priced equipment is known as a “dynamic foot” and is similar to the devices worn by the Olympic hopeful, Oscar Pistorius, a double amputee who is known as the “Blade Man”.  

These prices are for the prosthetics only and don’t include surgeries, implants, rehabilitation and therapy, or any follow up visits with the veterinarian.

The good news, though, is that options are available for pets whenever serious disease or trauma threatens one or more of their four legs.  If you are faced with an unfortunate circumstance where you and your veterinarian need to contemplate removing a pet’s leg, ask how the surgery will affect your pet and whether prosthetics is an option.  Visit OrthoPets site to read some heartwarming stories and see some amazing pictures.  

Today, it is tough to turn on the local news and not hear reports about the Human Swine flu (H1N1).  Later this month, a vaccination is going to be released addressing this specific virus.  But did you know that dogs also have a flu virus, Canine Influenza (H3N8).  Like the Swine flu, a vaccination for Canine influenza has been developed.  

In January 2004, there was a sudden outbreak of respiratory disease among 22 racing greyhounds at a Florida racetrack. Most of the dogs developed a mild fever followed by a cough that lasted about 14 days, and then recovered. But slightly more than one third of the dogs died after developing hemorrhaging in the lungs. Within six months, the virus turned up in other racing greyhounds at tracks in six other states- then at 20 tracks in 11 states, and now the virus has affected pet dogs in over 30 states.  However, it is most prevalent in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Colorado.

The canine flu virus actually mutated from a virus that has affected horses for over forty years. And since there has never been a case of the equine virus affecting humans, experts are fairly certain that the canine influenza virus will not infect humans either. But with the recent news and hype about the human swine flu, the canine influenza virus will continue to be monitored closely.  

Canine influenza should be considered in dogs presenting with a cough and a recent history of exposure to other dogs.   The biggest predisposing factor would be the pet’s lifestyle.  If within the last 10 to 14 days, the dog was at a shelter, rescue facility, pet store, boarding facility, groomer, or doggie day care, canine influenza is a possible diagnosis.  This new virus is easily transmitted between dogs in much the same way that flu spreads among humans, but not all dogs get sick and not all dogs who get sick will die. However, because this is still considered a new virus, all dogs are considered susceptible to infection because they have no naturally acquired or vaccine induced immunity. Another problem is that the canine flu virus may initially be misdiagnosed as another respiratory disease in dogs known as “kennel cough” which could further cause the rapid spread of the disease.

Dr. Cynda Crawford, University of Florida Veterinary School veterinarian and researcher, in a scientific paper when the virus was first identified said, “Canine influenza is really the new kid on the block for vets to consider in the differential diagnosis for kennel cough.”  She further cautions veterinarians that while 80 percent of flu-stricken dogs will have a mild form of the disease, even dogs who are not overtly sick could be contagious.  When asked why we haven’t heard much about this disease in recent years, she states, “I think when it was first reported in 2004 it was a very newsworthy item.  I think the virus has now become commonplace in many communities throughout the United States and so it has lost its newsworthy glamour.”  This may change with the release of  the new vaccination and the hype of the Swine flu vaccine about to be released.

Dog owners should take heed that if their dogs are coughing, sneezing, or have runny nose, they should not “shrug it off” as just kennel cough, “a little cold” or even allergies. Canine influenza usually starts out with coughing or gagging that may last as long as three weeks. Symptoms typically appear within 7 to 10 days post exposure.  Clinical signs in dogs include coughing, runny nose, lethargy, depression, and a fever as high as 103-107 degrees. In the acute and severe form, a viral pneumonia can develop.  

While highly contagious, some good news is that the virus is easily killed by soap and water, disinfectants and 10 percent bleach solutions. Transmission can be prevented by isolating all suspected dogs, thorough cleaning of all cages and exposed surfaces such as floors, kennels food dishes and bedding. Animal caretakers should be diligent about wearing disposable gloves or washing hands in between handling dogs and any urine, stool, or saliva, and before entering or leaving any facility that houses dogs.

In September 2008, the AVMA News Update stated, “The AVMA believes there is an urgent need for an effective canine influenza virus vaccine to improve the health and welfare of animals and reduce the financial impacts of the canine influenza.”  Intervet Schering-Plough Animal Health has developed a vaccine for the Canine Influenza Vaccine (H3N8).

Intervet Schering-Plough Animal Health developed “this new vaccination (to) aid in the control of the disease associated with canine influenza virus infection.  It has been demonstrated to reduce the incidence and severity of lung lesions as well as duration of coughing and viral shedding.”  Pet owners will want to discuss the new vaccination with their veterinarian and decide if it is right for their pet.  The initial series is two vaccinations given two (2) to four (4) weeks apart.  It can be administered to pet’s six (6) weeks or older.  Annual vaccination is recommended.

While veterinarians do want dog owners to be aware and cautious of the canine influenza flu, they do not want people to panic. They warn owners to take their dog to their veterinarian at the first sign of any respiratory illness or problem. The virus has been identified in dogs of all ages.  Dogs may be at higher risk if they are young, old, have an immune problem, or are undergoing chemotherapy. Diagnosing the Canine influenza virus is difficult based on the shedding periods and the onset of clinical symptoms.  Depending on the stage of presentation to the veterinarian, there are multiple tests that can be preformed.  Blood testing during several phases of the illness may be the most common recommended by your veterinarian.

Dog owners should contact their veterinarians for more information and to stay current on news about this disease.  Don't be panicked, Be informed!