Last Saturday, a large group gathered to celebrate a birthday with one of Gilroy’s finest. Dr. James Ebaugh was one of the city’s first veterinarians, practicing for many years. I was one of the lucky ones to work with Jim after I graduated vet school. During those first years of my career, he helped me understand that veterinary medicine is more than just caring for animals. Dr. Ebaugh combined total dedication to his work with a sense of humor that’s important for survival in this high pressure job.
So last Saturday, we shared stories of our days together and again I realized how much this man influenced my approach to medicine and to people. What a great two years that was. And what a great service Dr. Ebaugh gave to this community for so many years. Happy birthday, Doc. And here’s to many more ….
Q:
Rocky, our 8-year-old Irish setter, has a bump on the back of his head. I think it’s always been there, but it seems much larger now. Could it be a growth? Could this be a tumor?
A:
A tumor is possible, but not likely. There’s a bony protrusion on the back of the skull called the poll. It’s covered with muscle and skin and it’s normally difficult to see or feel. But when the muscles over the skull atrophy, this bit of bone becomes more prominent. In older dogs, it’s normal to see this bump become a little more prominent (this is especially true in Irish setters). But since Rocky’s bump seems so much larger, I think a visit to the vet is a good idea, just to make sure that bump on his noggin isn’t something more serious.
Q:
I heard about the FDA warning about jerky treats and other stuff that is killing dogs. Has this happened to any dogs in this area? Why can’t they tell what’s causing this?
A:
There have been several mysterious deaths of local dogs in the recent past. Owners reported they thought their dog had been poisoned, perhaps by someone in the neighborhood. Later, they weren’t quite sure. It’s possible these cases were related to contaminated treats purchased at some store.
As you may have heard, the FDA recently posted warnings about imported dog and cat treats. Contaminated treats have killed as many as 580 dogs and 10 cats over the past seven years. And these numbers represent only those cases that were actually reported. There are likely many more.
Periodically, food products contaminated with bacteria such as salmonella or E.coli make the news. This has happened all too often, and it seems the source of these problems is usually imported pet treats. Quality control in some overseas facilities is not effective. Furthermore, labeling regulations are loose, so consumers can’t be sure where a certain product is actually manufactured.
But FDA’s new warning is different. In these cases, no one’s been able to determine what made victims fall ill and die. It isn’t something easy to identify. It might be a toxin (remember melamine, the substance that made its way into cat food and caused fatal renal disease?). We just don’t know and it’s very scary, to say the least. Pet owners are left wondering what to do. Here are two suggestions.
First, if your dog or cat becomes ill after snacking on a treat, call your veterinarian right away. More important, save some of the product and take it to the vet. The FDA wants to test materials that are suspect. Better yet, here’s another idea. Why not make your own treats for that pooch or kitty-cat? It’s really easy and actually a lot of fun. I have recipes for healthy dog and cat cookies that can be made in your own kitchen. Email me at [email protected] and I’ll be happy to share these with you.
