Q: Our neighbor told me that his dog has been vaccinated to protect against the poisonous venom of rattlesnakes. Is there really a vaccine for this?
A:
There is, indeed, a vaccine available for dogs that will help lessen the severity of a rattlesnake’s bite. The crotalus vaccine has been available for a while now and has generated good reports. People have stated their dog’s snake bite symptoms (swelling and pain) have been mild compared to that of other, unvaccinated dogs. Vaccinated dogs also have a higher survival rate if they are bitten.
The inoculation is given once and then boosted one month later. After that, it’s given annually. If a dog is out in open spaces where snakes are encountered, this vaccine is probably a good idea. But as the old saying goes, nothing works better than avoidance. So even if your neighbor’s dog is vaccinated, tell him it’s still best just to avoid contact with any rattlers.
Q:
I like to hike with my golden retriever, Seppy, and we go all over the hills near Coyote Lake. Seppy is like any other dog and he likes to pick up “things” in his mouth. He found a dead fox the other day, and he was licking the carcass. Are there any dangers to this when he finds something that smells good (at least to him)?
A:
You shouldn’t let Seppy ingest anything from a dead animal. It’s far too dangerous for several reasons.
First, nasty bacterial overgrowth might give him a bad case of gastroenteritis. The indigestion and dehydration that goes with this could be severe enough to put him in the hospital.
But there are more serious dangers. Certain contagious organisms and toxins can be found in the flesh of a dead animal. Leptospira is a bacterium that occasionally infects wildlife. It causes life-threatening problems with the liver and kidneys and can survive in the carcass for a long time after the death of its victim.
Another threat is a bacterium called clostridium. Several different clostridial organisms are out there in the wild, but the one that causes the most concern is clostridium botulinum, the organism that causes botulism. Needless to say, you wouldn’t want Seppy to get into this one.
Finally, let’s talk about bacillus anthracis, the anthrax bacterium. Anthrax organisms are in the soil in many parts of South County, and their spores survive for many, many years. Anthrax thrives in necrotic flesh or a dead animal’s carcass.
So here’s the bottom line: If you’re going to be careful, keep Seppy away from any dead animals and any animal excrement. You never know what he might pick up and bring home.
Q:
Our cat was recently diagnosed with hyperthyroid disease. The vet started him on a medication called Tapazole and for the first few weeks, he did great. His coat started to shine as he groomed himself, and he started to act more like his old self again. But these past few days have been different. He feels crummy and isn’t eating well. He even vomited last night. The vet thinks he’s having a reaction to the medication and wants to have him treated at a special clinic where they use a special iodine treatment. Is this a good idea? Mikey is only 11 years old and we want to do what’s best for him.
A:
Some cats just don’t tolerate certain medications and when this occurs, we look for alternatives. There really isn’t any other effective medication for Mikey’s condition. So you’re stuck with a difficult decision … or maybe it’s not so difficult after all. Here’s why.
Treatment with Tapazole works with most cats. But its effectiveness usually wears off after a few months to a year or two. Mikey is middle-aged and might live for four to five more years if he can regain his health. And the iodine treatment is not only safe, but also very effective in completely eliminating the disease in most cats. Hyperthyroidism is caused by a tumor on one of the thyroid glands. Tapazole doesn’t treat the tumor at all. It simply reduces the amount of thyroid hormone circulating in the blood. That’s why Mikey felt good for a while.
The radioisotope iodine treatment actually destroys the tumor cells and leaves behind the healthy thyroid glands. So in the end, a hyperthyroid cat is able to resume life normally, just the way he did before the disease first struck. The tumor is destroyed and the symptoms are cleared.
Several tests will be necessary to make sure that Mikey can handle the treatment. But he should do fine. And I really think this is the right treatment for your kitty. Here’s to four or five more years!
