pet connection

Hormone  therapies that come in easy-to-apply creams, lotions and sprays are proving to be convenient and handy, particularly for menopausal women.  However, according to Edie Lau of VIN News, they’re creating problems for pets and bewildering veterinarians.

Spayed dogs and young female puppies are showing up in veterinary exam rooms with markedly swollen vulvas as if they are in heat. Male dogs present with enlarged mammary glands and abnormally small penises. Animals of both genders experience fur loss.

The phenomenon frequently stumps veterinary practitioners; sometimes patients go undiagnosed for weeks or months because clinicians don’t recognize the connection. Medical doctors in the human realm likewise are unfamiliar with the situation, a Veterinary Information Network (VIN) News Service inquiry found.

The problem appears to stem from the use by pet owners of hormone replacement treatments in the form of lotions, gels or sprays that are applied to the arms — especially inner elbows and wrists — or legs. The users then handle and snuggle their animals, unwittingly transferring the drug to the pets.

Symptoms of hormonal imbalance also may occur in pets that ingest the medications, either by licking where product was applied or eating an improperly stored or discarded transdermal patch or similar item.

The problems in the pet can increase with longer exposure to exogenous (outside) hormones, as illustrated in Edie’s article. Fortunately, the solution for the pet owner is straightforward: Apply the cream or spray using gloves, to a part of the body fully covered by clothing (i.e. under a shirt).  Your pet will thank you.

Flu vaccine fully licensed: After a year of testing, the USDA has fully licensed the first vaccine against the canine influenza virus.  The vaccine is made by Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health. Veterinary Practice News reports the vaccine is known as Novibac Canine Flu.

“Though not considered a core vaccine, Nobivac Canine Flu is commonly recommended by veterinarians for at-risk social dogs, i.e., those regularly receiving Bordetella vaccination because they are frequently in contact with other dogs,” [said aid Steve Shell, head of Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health’s Companion Animal Business Unit.]

The company noted that the vaccine was developed in response to the growing threat posed by the virus as well as to the American Veterinary Medical Association’s 2006 call for the development of a vaccine against the spread of the disease.

Discuss this vaccine with your veterinarian if you think your pet is at risk.

Dog-fighting DNA database: Now THIS is a good concept.    From an ASPCA media release.

The nation’s first criminal dog-fighting DNA database has been established by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), The Humane Society of Missouri (HSMO) and the Louisiana SPCA (LA/SPCA), and will be maintained at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) Veterinary Genetics Laboratory. Known as the Canine CODIS (Combined DNA Index System), the database is designed to help the criminal justice system investigate and prosecute dog fighting cases and address the growing problem of dog fighting using 21st century technology.

The database will contain DNA profiles from dogs seized in dog-fighting operations and samples from suspected fighting venues. Let’s see how it’s applied in practice.

Preventing deaths in hot cars: Temperatures have already risen to mid-summer levels all over the United States, and our friend Shirley at YesBiscuit posted a terrific column warning of the fatal dangers that come with leaving dogs by themselves in hot cars.

1. If the weather can be described as warm, hot, or not cold – do not leave your dog unattended in the car.
2. When in doubt about whether it would be OK to leave your dog in the car, do not leave dog in car.

My thinking is that the overwhelming majority of owners who kill their dogs by leaving them in a hot car thought the dog would be OK.

[...]

Here’s the thing: No matter what your reasoning – which may on its face be sound – you are leaving your dog. As such, you do not know what will be happening to him in your absence. The clouds may shift and place him in direct sunlight or he may become stressed due to a factor other than the temperature – you just don’t know.

It’s simple. When in doubt, do not leave your dog unattended in a car that could become warm or hot.

Southwest Airlines not so funny for bunnies: On the heels of a freshly released survey highlighted on CNN.com that says Southwest Airlines is at or near the top in passenger satisfaction, I was given a sign that not everyone is so happy to “Fly SWA.”  Loyal reader (and rabbit rescuer) Mary Mary alerted me to a formal request asking Southwest to allow domestic rabbits aboard aircraft, as they already allow dogs and cats.  A polite letter requesting an extension of the policy on pets was sent to Southwest last October.  A week ago, the response made it clear that Southwest decided a professional, respectful answer was unnecessary, and they could poke fun at and mock their customers.  An excerpt from Southwest’s response:

Though we certainly agree that rabbits make adorable, beloved pets, I’m afraid that the only ones who could ever “hop” onboard Southwest are Easter bunnies (or perhaps millionhares like Bugs Bunny, only because we really want his autograph!).   Our research indicates that rabbits often display aggression toward people (especially in stressful, hare-raising situations) and have a tendency to dig and chew (especially wires).  Not to mention, we’ve heard that bunnies reproduce at incredible rates, and we don’t want to see some “Bugs and thugs” engaging in a reenactment of Carrotblanca in the air!

We know that the majority of Flopsys, Mopsys and Cottontails are good little bunnies, but we simply can’t resist having a Peter Rabbit in our midst — t would make our Flight Attendants absolutely LooneyTunes!  We understand that your little Napoleon Bunnyparts want to get out and explore the world with you, and we’re sorry that we can’t allow them to fly.

Perhaps you could invest in some Hare Jordans for them instead?

Perhaps I could fly another airline instead.

PETA says no tanks for The Fish:  The Florida Marlins baseball team is in the process of building a new ballpark in South Florida, scheduled to open in 2012.   Copying the Tampa Bay Rays’ touch tank in St. Petersburg, the Marlins want to embed giant aquariums in the backstop near home plate in the new stadium. In a recent USA Today story, PETA insists it’ll be too stressful for the fish.  My solution:  fill the 450 and 600 gallon tanks with PETA executives.  Everybody wins!

Pickle Von Corndog:  VPI has just introduced their annual list of the stupidest, I meant to say most unusual pet names in the United States. The 2010 losers, sorry, winners are now available for your viewing pleasure on msnbc.com.   I warn you, some of these will make you shake your head. Others will make you want to shake someone else’s head. Disclosure: VPI is a PetConnection sponsor.

I always like to hear from readers, especially if you have tips, and links for interesting stories.  Give me a shout in the comments, or better yet, send me an e-mail.

Photo credit:  Marlins aquarium, Miami Herald.

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