Dr. Fitz Finds Out
Q: Dear Dr. Fitzgerald,
I am a fan of Emergency Vets. You do a great job. This is the third time I have asked this question. I understand you can only answer a few. But as an Irishman, take pity on a nun with three Shelties. My question is, do adult dogs need yearly vaccinations? There have been recent studies indicating that yearly vaccinations are not good for the dog’s own immune system. Would every two or three years be better for the dog?
Thank you,
Sister Gemma Wilson
A: Your question concerning canine vaccinations is a good one and very timely. In the last decade, it has been determined that there is a relationship between feline leukemia and killed rabies vaccines in cats, while there may be a plausible relationship between vaccinations and fibrosarcoma tumors along with immune-mediated disease in dogs. This has made veterinarians very aware that any vaccination program for companion animals must be tailor-made to your animal's needs. You and your veterinarian must visit, and based upon your animal's health at physical exam, assess his or her risk of exposure. What is the realistic risk of exposure to these ailments based upon your animal's environment and travel history? Also, what is the realistic risk based upon the patient's age and previous vaccine history? Some vaccines are recommended every three years now, and some may not be necessary yearly if the animal has a low exposure to other animals. Don't forget vaccination is a medical procedure, and it is your veterinarian's obligation to assess an individual patient's health statistics in relation to age, living environment, risk exposure and infection, when making such decisions. Your veterinarian will give you the correct advice for your animals. Say a prayer for me, sister.
Q: I have a 4-year-old St. Bernard. He has been diagnosed with pseudomonas. Is there any kind of treatment or cure?
—Robert Weaver
A: I assume that your dog has been diagnosed with chronic ear infection and pseudomonas is the culprit. Pseudomonas is a gram-negative bacteria commonly associated with chronic infections and is resistant to many
first-line antibiotics.
Some factors predispose the canine ear to inflammation and subsequent infection. Larger breeds of dogs with more pendulous ears have poorer airflow, greater humidity and increased temperature, providing a more favorable environment for secondary infection with bacteria or fungi. Breeds with more hair in the ears, more secretions, or with a tendency to have allergies caused by pollen or food, also have a greater incidence of infection. Bacteria are normally found in small numbers in healthy ears, but chronic inflammation itself lends to a microenvironment that favors yeast and bacteria and accentuates the breed's already existing problem.
Successful treatment for pseudomonas may involve oral antibiotics, topical antibiotics and regular cleanings. This therapy or some part of it may need to be regularly repeated. Your veterinarian can help you come up with a comprehensive plan to knock out the infection and show you how to regularly clean your dog's ears.
Q: Can you help me understand how a seemingly healthy cat, 7 years old, visits the vet every year for shots and whatever is needed, lived inside and loved very much loved and cared for, would get liver disease? What causes this horrible disease that killed my precious cat, Patches? We kept dangerous materials, cleaning supplies, etc., out of his reach (just the same as a person would do for a small child), so we don't know how he could have swallowed anything such as that. So I am at a loss as to what could have caused this. Will you please give me an explanation? Does this happen often to cats?
Thank you,
Donna Mathias
A: Unfortunately, liver disease is common in cats. Liver disease is very insidious because often there are no specific signs of illness. Many times there are no specific findings on physical examinations, and unless specific laboratory tests, ultrasonic imaging or biopsy are performed, it is very difficult to determine hepatic health and liver function. Certain breeds are more prone to specific disorders, but sadly the signs of liver disease are very general and nonspecific, (vomiting, lethargy, failure to eat). Exposure to toxins or drugs, as you mentioned, could be one cause of feline liver disease, but hormonal problems like diabetes mellitus, infections, age, breed, and sex predilections and embryological abnormalities can also cause disease of this important organ system. Without biopsy it is usually impossible to get a definitive diagnosis, but very often this condition is due to nothing the owners did wrong. I am sorry for your loss of Patches, and I am sure that your veterinarian can help to answer your questions. I am very sorry.
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