Departments:

Staff news p 2

Feature article p3-4 Vaccination Guidelines

Kitty Capers p5

Ultrasound p6

Humor Page p7

“Tails from the Dog House” is published quarterly by theSardis Animal Hospital 7236 Vedder RdChilliwack,British Columbia, Canada, V2R 5K7Phone 604-858-4415

direct inquiries can be made to:staff@sardisvet.com

website:www.sardisvet.com

Winter 2008Vol 6, No 4, pg 1

Tails from the Dog House The Quarterly Newsletter from the Sardis Animal Hospital

Animals Adapt Slowly to Change, Can We?

A recent National Geographic Special on Birds of Prey taught me an important lesson in adaptation and survival. The article focused on scientists and falconers working together to study the remark-able ability of hawks, eagles and falcons to soar, fly fast and dive at incredible speeds to capture prey. Video cameras were attached like little back packs on the backs of trained birds. The film footage shown of the birds eye view during flight and diving attacks was nothing short of remarkable.

The most impressive was the Peregrine Falcon a species uniquely adapted for his role as an aerial dive-bomber at the top of the food chain. The Peregrine circles at a height of 1500 feet searching for prey with keen eyesight; eyes that can detect movement from a distance then change focus when up close and even magnify the visual image to assist in the kill. The hunting Peregrine rolls into a dive, like a jet fighter does in aerial combat. The bird spirals downward at 300km/hr, his movements co-ordinated with the angles of his visual fields so he does not loose sight of the moving target. A special cone like projection in his nostrils creates air flow into his airways in a way that slows the fast moving compressed air into a flow that allows proper breathing. A protective third eyelid that the bird can see through protects the cornea from fast moving dust particles and the drying effect of rapid air. Wings fold for maximum speed and tail feathers stabilize the flight and act as a rudder. then WHAM the strike happens and pity the poor pigeon that didn’t see this feathered missile coming.

Geneticists and evolutionary biologists tell us that a single physical or biochemical mutation that favours adaptation for survival takes about 50,000 years to become established as a norm in the species. The Peregrine with its many unique adaptations has taken eons to be what he is today. And to think this miracle of evolution was nearly wiped out in a few decades by the careless dumping of insecticides into the environment, a change the Peregrine would not be able to adapt to.

Mankind today is a species that is structurally and biochemically adapted to the world as it was 50,000 years ago. It was a very different world, there was not the crowding, noise, toxins, global warming, social and political strife to the degree we have today. We now breath polluted air, fly in airplanes, live in a medium choked full of radio, tv and cell phone transmissions. We commute, com-pete, worry about issues far more complex than a lion in the woods or locusts damaging our crops.

So I ask this question. If we are built to live in an environment that is 50,000 years old, and it takes that long to evolve a single new adaptive feature in our species, what are the chances that we can adapt to the rapid changes we have created in the world. Humans may be intelligent and highly adaptable, but do we have the collective will to do it on our own, or will survival of the fittest produce the changes in us so we can live in the world we have created. Time will tell.

Can you see the small yellow cone in the falcon’s nostril? It slows air flow into the nostril during a dive.

Tails from the Dog House

Vol 6, No 4, pg 2

Staff News

New DVM - Dr Laura Madsen

More celebrity look-alike nonsense

Welcome to Dr Laura Madsen

Dr Laura Madsen is a native of Agassiz. She received her DVM degree at the Uni-versity of Saskatchewan in 1992. She has practiced in Prince George and the Sunshine Coast and has recently returned to her roots to be near family.

Dr Madsen is a talented general practitio-ner with broad experience in small animal medicine and surgery. Her training and skill in small animal ultrasound is a welcome addition to the many services offered at the Sardis Animal Hospital. (see article on pg 5)

When not working, Laura enjoys hiking and mountain biking. She shares her life with her husband, dog

husband, two daughters and their dog. She also enjoys playing the piano and singing in the Harrison Multicultural Choir.

“I have felt a spiritual connection“ “Live Free or Die Hard!”

News Flash - Dr Powell discovers long lost twin brother is actor Bruce Willis

Tails from the Dog House

Vol 6, No 4, pg 3

New Protocols for vacci-nation of pets

Newer vaccines are protecting longer and better than in past.

Puppies and Kittens still need a series of shots

Mature (over one year) pets now get most of their vaccines every 3 years.

Some (eg Leptospirosis and kennel cough) are still given annually

Pets still need to have a check up once a year.

Vaccination Guidelines for Pets -Things “ain’t what they used to be”

About 15 years ago while attending a major vet conference I listened to Dr Neels Pedersen a highly respected professor whose specialty is clinical immunology. He left his audience gasping when he said it was time for our profession to get away from vaccinating pets every year for everything. He challenged drug companies to make better vaccines that protected longer. He challenged vets to stop using the “annual shot” as a hook to bring pets in for a check-up, and concentrate on practicing preventive medicine by offering wellness programs. He left us with a lump in our throat when he said there are many present who have become addicted to and built their livelihood around unneces-sary and far too frequent vaccinating of pets. He ignited a fuse in our profession that has touched off an explosion of controversy, research, soul searching and a shift in thinking. The whole business reminds me of something the Dean of our Vet College told us at graduation. He said “Grads, I will tell you today with some embarrassment that 50% of what we have taught you is wrong. The only problem is we don’t know which 50% that is ! Time alone will tell us”

So where did the idea of annual vaccinations come from anyway. Early regulations required biologics manufacturers to demonstrate protective effect for a period of only 12 months in order for a vaccine to be licensed for use. There was politics involved and regulatory agencies did not impose longer (and thus more expensive) trials. So vaccines became licensed for one year, whether they protected for longer or not. Gradually, it became apparent that some vaccines did protect for longer. Better vaccines with fewer side effects and better protection became available, but the one year license issue was well entrenched and is documented on the package inserts of many vaccines to this day, even though extensive studies now show that most of the vaccines officially licensed for one year protect for much longer.

Following Dr Pedersen’s address, several task forces were struck to study all sides of this issue and several research projects were initiated. The study groups also came up with a new concept, that of Core and Non-Core vaccines. Core vaccines are those that every pet should get regardless of geography or lifestyle. Non Core vaccines are elective or special use vaccines that are given because of local circumstances or unusual risk.

The first to report to the profession was the Feline task force. Their findings and recommenda-tions were published in 2001. The main recommendation was to push vaccination intervals on mature cats to 3 years. I remember that day well and Dr Powell and I decided that we would follow those recommendations. We felt it was the right thing to do and in spite of some fears about effects on company finances, we crossed our fingers and jumped into it. We were the first in our area to embrace the recommendations, and guess what, we are still here and our practice is healthy and growing.

The Canine task force took longer to complete its work and basically came up with the same 3 year intervals for the core vaccines. Their task was more complex because of the number of vaccines available for dogs. They published their findings in the spring of 2006 and we followed immediately by implementing those guidelines.

The following article details the current vaccination guidelines as we have implemented them.

Tails from the Dog House

Vol 6, No 4, pg 4

Vaccination Guidlines for Dogs

Core Vaccines (for all dogs)

Puppies: given a series at 8,12 and 16 wks For Distemper, Parvo, Hepatits Boosted a year later Rabies is done at 12 to 16 wks and repeated one year later

Adult Dogs: after the one year booster on Distemper, Parvo, Hepatitis and Rabies, mature dogs are revaccinated for these every 3 years

Non Core (specific risk based on geogra-phy or life style)

Bordatella and Parainfluenza (Kennel Cough) Generally given to dogs over 16 wks of age 2 weeks prior to boarding in a commercial kennel. This vaccine protects for about a year so needs to be repeated annually for dogs that are boarded regularly, or just prior to boarding for occasional boarders

Leptospirosis for dogs at risk (exposure to livestock, rodents and wildlife in our area) Lepto is given at least twice to puppies and boosted yearly thereafter. Dogs that hike, camp or walk the local trails and dykes should have this vaccine annually

Vaccination Guidelines for Cats

Core Vaccines (for all cats)

Kittens: Panleukopenia, Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus at 8 and 12 wks of age then repeated a year later. Rabiies is given at 12 wks and repeated a year later

Adult cats: after the one year booster of the vaccines listed above, cats are then re-vaccinated every 3 years

Non-Core Vaccines (special risk, generally breeding catteries and multicat premises with turnover of cats.

Feline Leukemia, Chlamidia, FIV, after initial series, are done annually to cats with a proven risk

The following guidelines for vaccinating dogs are based on recommendations of the official Task force on Canine Vaccinations published in the spring of 2006. We have adapted these recom-mendations for our geographic location and risks in our area.

Vaccines that are Not Recommended: Coronavirus, Lyme Disease, Giardia, Ringworm

Cat Vaccines that are not Recommended : FIP, Giardia, Ringworm.

Tails from the Dog House

Vol 6, No 4, pg 5

Kitty Capers

In big cities cats will sometimes fall from high rise apartments.

Cats often survive falls from incredible heights

Where did the saying “Cats have nine lives” come from!

The saying “Cats have nine lives” is a very old one. Shakespeare makes reference to this in Romeo and Juliet: (Act III Scene 1) Tybalt: “What wouldst thou have of me?” Mercutio: “Good king of cats, nothing but one of your nine lives”

Cats are well known for their ability to right themselves when falling and land upright. Their ability to recover from injuries is also legendary. It stands to reason that we may perceive cats to have many chances at life but why nine and not ten or lucky seven?

There is also an old proverb that says “A cat has nine lives. Three to play, Three to stray and Three to stay.”

So where does the number nine come from? The best explanation I have heard dates back to an-cient Egypt where cats were revered, even worshipped. One of the Egyptian gods was Atum-Ra, a sun god who gave life to the gods of air, moisture, earth and sky, who in turn produced Osiris, Isis, Seth and Nephthys. These gods are collectively known as “the Nine” Atum-Ra would take the form of a cat when he visited the underworld. He became the embodiment of nine lives in one creator.

High Rise Syndrome in Cats

The cat’s uncanny ability to survive a fall has been studied by veterinarians at the Animal Medical Center in New York. High speed photographs taken in a cushioned laboratory setting of short drops dramatically illustrate how falling cats right themselves and prepare for contact with the ground. The eyes and balance organs first send signals to the brain to initiate twisting the head into a horizontal position. Then the rest of the body twists in sequence, front legs, spine then back legs until the cat is falling in an upright position with feet extended. The legs fold on contact, distributing the force on all four feet. Whether the cat is injured depends on the degree to which the cat has positioned himself for impact. An injury is more likely in shorter falls where the cat doesn’t have time to right himself. The New York study showed that fatalities are highest (10%) in cats falling from 2-6 stories than in cats falling from 7-32 stories (5%). It is thought that the high falling cat presents more surface area when he is positioned properly and has a partial parachute effect. The falling cat will reach terminal velocity within a short time so speed of impact is not increased with the higher falls. You can watch an amazing video of the laboratory falling cat on the National Geographic website. (www.nationalgeographic.com) On the home page there is a search field where you can enter “a cat’s nine lives” - click on the search button and it will lead you to the video. It is truly amazing and will no doubt increase your respect for the agility of cats. The film relates this ability to the cat’s adaptation as a hunter pouncing on prey from trees.

Tails from the Dog House

Vol 6, No 4, pg 6

Sardis Animal Hospital Installs New Ultra Sound Machine

We are extremely pleased to be able to offer Ultrasound imaging to patients of the Sardis Animal Hospital. We have just taken delivery of a a brand new MindRay M5 Veterinary Ultrasound unit. Offering this service is a major leap in the diagnostic capacity of the Hospital. In the past, we have had to refer Ultrasound testing to distant specialists, often with a waiting list of several months. Now we can offer this powerful diagnostic tool locally with little or no wait time.

Offering this service requires more than just buying the machine. Ultrasound Imaging is as much an art as it is a science, and requires training and experience. We are very fortunate to have Dr Laura Madsen join our staff. Laura has ultrasound training and many years of experience in the field.

The Mindray M5 is a sophisticated, high quality instru-ment. It is configured to do echocardiography (heart studies) as well as basic studies such as abdominal imaging and pregnancy testing. Its Colour Doppler feature allows us to assess and measure blood flow through tissues, major vessels and chambers of the heart. We can now visual-ize abnormal heart structure, valvular diseases and heart muscle disorders. The machine allows us to measure the effectiveness of heart medications by quantifying changes in cardiac output. The structural abnormalities that cause heart murmurs can now be diagnosed accurately.

Pregnancy diagnosis is greatly enhanced with ultrasound. We can check for pregnancy in dogs as early as 18 days post breeding. Visualization of fetal heart activity and measuring fetal heart rates will help assess fetal health. The machine also allows us to take key measurements of fetal structures and calculate the age of the fetus and the due date.

Dr. Madsen and Jocelyn explore the abdomen of a cat with lymphoma of the kidneys. This co-operative feline is fully awake and lying comfortably in a foam trough.

The Mindray M5 Ultrasound

This miracle of modern technology comes with a price tag of just under $60,000 dollars. We are grateful to Envision Credit Union for assistance in financing a purchase that will be a great benefit to pet owners in our community.

Tails from the Dog House

Vol 6, No 4, pg 7

Dr Jack’s Wisdom

A True Hero

-does the right thing when no one can see

- is totally honest when there is nothing to gain

- loves those who others find unlovable

Snow Covered Cat Lines up at Bird Buffet

“Wolfgang” who lives next door to your editor, waits patiently by the fence near my bird feeder as the snow slowly covers him. He thinks if he waits long enough to be totally covered in snow, the juncos and sparrows won’t see him. Pretty good disguise Wolfie !! Reminds me of a scene in a Sylvester and Tweety cartoon.

Who Knew ?

The original TV series “Lassie” ran for 140 dog years!