Eastlake Veterinary Hospital

Congratulations to Sunrise Gray for winning this month’s Pet of the Month Contest!

On November 18th, 2011 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an important bulletin warning consumers that chicken jerky products (also marketed as chicken tenders, strips or treats) may be associated with serious illness in dogs.

Over the past 12 months, the FDA has observed an increase in the number of complaints regarding canine illnesses associated with consumption of chicken jerky products imported from China.

These complaints have been reported to the government by both dog owners and veterinarians.

FDA had previously issued a cautionary warning regarding chicken jerky products in September 2007 and a Preliminary Animal Health Notification later on in December of 2008.

Unfortunately, so far, scientists have not been able to determine a definitive cause for the reported illnesses. The FDA continues to conduct extensive chemical and microbial testing but has this far not identified a contaminant.

What to Watch For:

Chicken jerky products should never be considered a substitute for a balanced diet. These treats should are intended to be fed only occasionally — and in small quantities.

The FDA is advising consumers who still choose to feed their dogs chicken jerky to monitor their animals closely for any or all of the following signs that may occur within hours to days of feeding these products including:

■Decreased appetite

■Decreased activity

■Vomiting

■Diarrhea (sometimes with blood)

■Increased water consumption

■Increased urination

Blood tests may indicate kidney failure. And urine tests may show Fanconi syndrome (increased blood sugar). Although most dogs are likely to recover, some deaths have been reported.

What to Do:

If a dog shows any of these signs, the FDA urges consumers to stop feeding the suspected products immediately.

Owners should consult a veterinarian if signs or symptoms are severe or persist more than 24 hours.

So, take precautions. And be sure to tell everyone you know.

The following in an excerpt from the American Veterinary Dental College’s position statement on nonprofessional dental scaling (NPDS).

Companion Animal Dental Scaling Without Anesthesia:

In the United States and Canada, only licensed veterinarians can practice veterinary medicine. Veterinary medicine includes veterinary surgery, medicine and dentistry. Anyone providing dental services other than a licensed veterinarian, or a supervised and trained veterinary technician, is practicing veterinary medicine without a license and shall be subject to criminal charges…

Owners of pets naturally are concerned when anesthesia is required for their pet. However, performing NPDS on an unanesthetized pet is inappropriate for the following reasons:

1. Dental tartar is firmly adhered to the surface of the teeth. Scaling to remove tartar is accomplished using ultrasonic and sonic power scalers, plus hand instruments that must have a sharp working edge to be used effectively. Even slight head movement by the patient could result in injury to the oral tissues of the patient, and the operator may be bitten when the patient reacts.

2. Professional dental scaling includes scaling the surfaces of the teeth both above and below the gingival margin (gum line), followed by dental polishing. The most critical part of a dental scaling procedure is scaling the tooth surfaces that are within the gingival pocket (the subgingival space between the gum and the root), where periodontal disease is active. Because the patient cooperates, dental scaling of human teeth performed by a professional trained in the procedures can be completed successfully without anesthesia. However, access to the sungingival area of every tooth is impossible in an unanesthetized canine or feline patient. Removal of dental tartar on the visible surfaces of the teeth has little effect on a pet’s health and provides a false sense of accomplishment. The effect is purely cosmetic.

3. Inhalation anesthesia using a cuffed endotracheal tube provides three important advantages – the cooperation of the patient with a procedure it does not understand, elimination of pain resulting from examination and treatment of affected dental tissues during the procedure, and protection of the airway and lungs from accidental aspiration.

4. A complete oral examination, which is an important part of a professional dental scaling procedure, is not possible in an unanesthetized patient. The surfaces of the teeth facing the tongue cannot be examined, and areas of disease and discomfort and likely to be missed.

Congratulations to Kingsley Nugget Wrinklebottom for winning this month’s Pet of the Month Contest!