Why can’t I feed my cat the same food as my dog?

The main reason you should not feed cats and dogs the same food is that they have different nutritional requirements and pet food is formulated to meet these different requirements.  This difference in requirements stems from their differences in metabolism and metabolic adaptations.  Dogs are omnivores and cats are obligate carnivores.

The canine digestive tract has developed characteristics that allow digestion and usage of a diet with a variety of ingredients.  For instance dogs have enzymes to digest starch effectively and so tolerate dietary carbohydrates well.

Cats on the other hand have dietary requirements that other mammals do not such as their requirement for taurine and arachidonic acid.  Also cats have a much higher dietary protein requirement than dogs.  As carnivores, cats must have part of their diet made up of meat to obtain nutrients such as arachidonic acid while dogs do not.

If you only feed your cat a pet food made for dogs, your cat’s nutrient requirements will not be met and your cat will suffer nutrient deficiencies and die.

-Jennifer D'Amato-Anderson, MS (Animal Nutrition)

Reference: Applied Veterinary Clinical Nutrition, First Ed. Edited by Andrea J. Fascetti and Sean J. Delaney.

Meet Buddy

We sat down for an interview with a member of SPVC staff, who's face most all of you have seen at some point or another.  His name is Buddy.  Here's some basic info about the furry orange felid.

Name: Buddy, Budward, Buddy-licious, Boday and a few other aliases

Age: Unknown

Favorite food: Friskies Party Mix or just about any cat treat unless it's a pill pocket with a pill hidden in it

Favorite past time: Tossing pens, pencils, medications, keys, and credit cards on the ground and making you pick them back up.

Arch Enemy: Anything that is or looks like a dog

Favorite color: Orange

Favorite person: Wanda (And me, though Wanda would disagree)

Best trick: Standing up to get a treat

Employment position: Master of the Universe, Ruler of the World

Weaknesses: Kittens, lots of kittens

Least favorite things: Getting monthly flea prevention, getting vaccines, dogs, and weekends

Hope you enjoyed getting to know our most valuable staff member.  Please feel free to stop by and visit with him anytime!

Equine Herpes Virus Detected in Marion County Horse

Please visit this website: http://odanews.wpengine.com/news-release-equine-herpes-virus-detected-in-marion-county-horse/ for information regarding equine Herpes virus in the Willamette Valley

Kennel Cough?

Hello again!  Hope everyone has been enjoying this lovely weather we've been having lately.  On this post I wanted to talk a little about what most know as "kennel cough".  First off, kennel cough goes by several different names.  The most commonly used terms to describe "kennel cough" in the veterinary practice are canine infectious tracheobronchitis or canine respiratory disease complex.  The important thing to know about this complex disease is that it is most often caused by more than one organism.

Here is a list of organisms that can cause "kennel cough"
-Bordetella bronchiseptica (bacterial)
-Mycoplasma spp. (bacterial)
-Staphylococcus zooepidemicus (bacterial)
-Parainfluenza (viral)
-Canine distemper virus
-Canine respiratory coronavirus
-Canine adenovirus
-Canine herpes virus

(see citation below)

As you can see there are MANY organisms that can cause "kennel cough".  I often get the question as to why I diagnose some dogs with kennel cough, who have also had their "kennel cough" vaccine.  The "kennel cough" vaccine should more appropriately be called the "Bordetella" vaccine, which as you know is a common cause of kennel cough.  In addition, if your dog is vaccinated with his or her annual vaccine (DA2PP+CV) then they are also protected against 4 other causes (distemper, parainfluenza, coronavirus and adenovirus).  I should note that this still does not mean your dog can't get kennel cough.  Depending on your pets natural immunity, protection may only be partial.  Meaning they may get kennel cough but the severity won't be as bad as it would be without the vaccine.

Unfortunately, full protection cannot be achieved with any vaccine because there are so many issues to take into account with this disease complex.  So we all try our best to do what we can to prevent an infection from happening.  Boarding facilities, grooming salons, pet stores, dog parks are all risk factors.  This shouldn't prevent you from allowing your dog to visit these places, afterall that's no fun for them!  This is why it is so important to vaccinate your pet to reduce that risk.  

If your dog does end up getting canine respiratory disease complex treatment is approached in several different ways.  Sometimes if the infection is minor the disease can be self-limiting.  In other words, the dog will get better on its own.  This is more often seen in those dogs that have been previously vaccinated.  Many veterinarians approach treatment differently.  Some may prescribe antibiotics if they feel a bacterial component is more likely involved or cough suppressants if they feel this will make the dog more comfortable.  Sometimes radiographs are taken to see the extent of the disease but this all depends on severity.

As always, please let us know if you have any questions.  Enjoy the sun out there with your furry friends.

Reference : https://oregonvma.org/files/Kommedal-Canine-Infectious-Respiratory-Disease-Complex.pdf

New in-house lab equipment!!!

We just finished setting up our new in-house lab equipment!  This enables us to offer hematology (red blood cell and white blood cell counts), blood chemistry (kidney, liver, electrolytes) and thyroid hormone testing.  We are all extremely excited for this because blood work can now be done faster and at a more affordable price.  Let us know if you have any questions!

Dog vaccinations...now what exactly are they for?

Hello again!  It's been a little bit since our last post.  Spring is in full effect and we have been staying quite busy.  I thought I'd talk about our "core" vaccinations we do for our canine friends each year.  I often get the question "What's this vaccination for?" which is definitely a valid question.  Sometimes we may just spout out a bunch of acronyms without explaining what we're talking about and I apologize for that.  So here it is!

Each year your beloved canine pet should come into see us for a physical examination and core vaccinations.  The physical examination is done annually in order for us to get an idea of overall health of your pet each year.  In addition, it is required by Oregon law for us to do an exam before any medication or vaccination is prescribed.  The core vaccines we recommend are DA2PP+CV and Leptospirosis.  Rabies is also included but this was discussed last month (still if you have any questions about that one, don't hesitate to call).

DA2PP+CV stands for Distemper, Adenovirus-2, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza and Coronavirus.  This is what is considered a combination vaccination and includes protection against 6 pathogens.  It is given subcutaneously and done once a year in adults.  In puppies we usually do a series of 3.  Now I'll break down what each one is.

Distemper:  This is a viral disease that usually affects dogs from 3-6 months of age, though it may occur in a dog of any age.  A key point is that it can be carried by wild animals such as foxes, raccoon and coyotes.  The disease is most of the time spread by air (ie. an infected animal coughs or sneezes on another animal, object, floor etc) although it can be spread other ways.  An infected animal will usually be "infectious" after the 7th day of exposure and can shed the virus up to 90 days.  Clinical signs vary from gastrointestinal signs (diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy) to disorders with the central nervous system (ie. brain-->tremors, seizures).  It can also cause problems with the animal's eyes and skin (classically hard stiff paw pads).  The virus is deadly so prevention is the best.

Adenovirus-2:  Although it seems like one virus, Adenovirus-2 actually protects against Adenovirus-1 as well.  Adenovirus 1 is involved in causing hepatitis (liver disease) in dogs and Adenovirus 2 is often a culprit in the complex disease known as "kennel cough".  Adenovirus can be spread in urine, feces and saliva.  It can also be carried by wildlife like foxes, wolves, coyotes.  Clinical signs usually start as inappetance, fever, excessive thirst and corneal opacities (spots on the eyes).  This is another deadly virus.

Parainfluenza:  Different from influenza (the flu), this is a respiratory virus also sometimes involved in the complex known as "kennel cough".  The virus can be shed via aerosolized droplets from infected dogs for up to 2 weeks after infection.  Most infections occur in areas where many dogs are confined in close quarters (ie. Kennel facilities, doggie day care).

Parvovirus:  A lot of people know parvovirus as a nasty puppyhood disease.  Parvovirus is a virus that infects the intestinal crypts of the intestines.  It causes inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract leading to profuse bloody diarrhea, inappetance, fever and vomiting.  If the animal is not given treatment it can often result in sepsis (infection of the blood) and eventual death.  The virus is incredibly hardy and can last in the environment (ie. sand, grass) for more than 7 months!  This is why we are so adamant on making sure your puppy is fully vaccinated before any trips to the dog park, beach, etc.

Coronavirus:  Coronavirus is similar to parvovirus in that it infects the gastrointestinal tract and is transmitted via the fecal-oral route.  It can cause diarrhea (sometimes bloody), inappetance, vomiting and fever.  Usually not as severe as parvovirus, but can often accompany parvovirus and turn out to be very serious.  Infected animals can shed the virus 6-9 days.

So those are the important points of one of the vaccinations we do each year for your pup.  We now also recommend Leptospirosis.  Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that can cause liver and kidney failure after infection.  It is carried by wildlife (rodents, deer, opossums, raccoon) and shed via urine usually into ponds, streams or puddles of water.  I would say a majority of our dogs LOVE drinking dirty, stinky water while on hikes or walks, which is why we recommend this vaccine to all our canine patients.  In the past, the Leptospirosis vaccine was associated with allergic reactions in some dogs.  The vaccine we use now has been improved and the rate of allergic reaction due to the vaccine has gone down quite a bit.  When it does happen is generally not a big concern.  Most of the time a little diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is all that is needed to relieve the reaction.

To sum it up, we vaccinate against the most serious diseases that can potentially infect our dogs.  These diseases can all be deadly, which is why it's so important to stay up to date on prevention measures.  In general, like any medication side effects are possible but rare.  If you have any questions please feel free to write or call.  Thanks for reading!
-Dr. C

From: https://www.pinterest.com/LLUSPH/humor-in-public-health/

Reading a Pet Food Label

Reading a Pet Food Label

Required Information:

*Several rules concerning the percent of ingredient present exist and these determine how the product name can be stated.    For example, each of these statements has a different meaning and is subject to a different naming rule: "Chicken Dog Food," "Chicken Recipe Dog Food," "Dog Food with Chicken," and "Chicken Flavor Dog Food."   In the label above for Chicken & Rice Formula the 25% rule applies.  At least 25% of the food must be made up of the indicated ingredients (chicken, rice) with the ingredient listed first (chicken) having the greatest amount among the ingredients in the product name listed with a descriptor such as “dinner,” “formula,” “entrée”, or “recipe” (Fascetti, AJ and Delaney, SJ 2012).

**The minimum percent of crude protein and crude fat, and the maximum percent of crude fiber and moisture are always required in the guaranteed analysis.  Depending on manufacturer label claims other nutrients may be listed.  It is important to note that the guaranteed analysis is generally listed on an as fed basis; however, to make adequate comparisons to other pet foods you must convert to a dry matter basis (see sample calculations below).

***The ingredients must be listed by weight on an as formulated basis.  The ingredients must be Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS), approved food additives, or sanctioned animal feed ingredients such as those as defined by AAFCO.

Terms related to pet food to know and understand:

As-Fed (AF) – refers to how food is generally fed to an animal (it includes moisture). 

&

Dry Matter (DM) – refers to the part of the food left after water removed.

% Dry matter = 100% - % Water

Use these formulas to convert from a dry matter percent to an as fed percent and from an as fed percent to dry matter percent:

% nutrient (dry) = % nutrient (as fed)/% dry matter x 100

% nutrient (as fed) = % nutrient (dry) x (% dry matter)/100

For example from the label above there is a minimum of 28% crude protein (CP) and I want to know the % CP in dry matter.

First I need to figure out the %DM of the food:

%DM = 100% - % Water (listed as moisture on guaranteed analysis)

%DM = 100% - 12% water

%DM = 88%

Then I can calculate %CP on a dry matter basis.

% nutrient (as fed) = % nutrient (dry) x (% dry matter/100)

28% CP = ____% CP x (88%/100)

28% CP = ____%CP x 0.88

%CP on a dry matter basis = 32%

Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) – establish current guidelines for pet food labeling including nutritional standards for complete and balanced pet foods.  These guidelines are generally adopted by state legislatures as law (Fascetti, AJ and Delaney, SJ 2012).

State Feed Control Official – regulates pet food to ensure laws and established rules are complied with so that unadulterated and correctly labeled products are sold (http://petfood.aafco.org/NutritionalLabeling.aspx).

Meat – muscle tissue from slaughtered mammals but may include overlying fat, skin, sinew, nerve, and blood vessels.  It may include the heart muscle, diaphragm, tongue, and the esophagus.  It does not include bone.  The manufacturer may identify species, but if “meat” is used without identifying species it must be from cattle, pigs, sheep, or goats.  If it comes from any other mammal, the species must be identified.  Also, if the muscle is from non-mammalian species, such as poultry or fish, it cannot be declared as "meat” (http://www.aafco.org/Consumers/What-is-in-Pet-Food).

Meat by-products – the non-rendered, clean parts, other than muscle tissue, derived from slaughtered mammals.  It may include lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, livers, blood, bone, partially de-fatted low temperature fatty tissue, and stomachs and intestines freed of their contents.  It does not include hair, horns, teeth and hoofs.  Unless the by-products are derived from cattle, pigs, sheep or goats, the species must be identified (http://www.aafco.org/Consumers/What-is-in-Pet-Food).

Poultry – the clean combination of flesh and skin with or without accompanying bone, derived from the parts and/or whole carcasses of poultry.  It does not include feathers, heads, feet and entrails.  If bone has been removed it may be listed as “deboned” (http://www.aafco.org/Consumers/What-is-in-Pet-Food).

Poultry by-products – must consist of non-rendered clean parts of carcasses of slaughtered poultry such as heads, feet, and internal organs, free from fecal content and foreign matter (http://www.aafco.org/Consumers/What-is-in-Pet-Food).

Rendering – process where the materials are subject to heat and pressure (cooking), destroying disease-causing bacteria and removing most of the water and fat and leaving primarily protein and minerals.   In the case of “meal” the products are ground to form uniform sized particles (http://www.aafco.org/Consumers/What-is-in-Pet-Food).

Meat meal – rendered product from mammalian tissues.  It does not include blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach, and rumen contents.  This ingredient may be from mammals other than cattle, pigs, sheep or goats without further description. However, a manufacturer may identify species if appropriate (http://www.aafco.org/Consumers/What-is-in-Pet-Food).

Meat and bone meal – rendered product from mammalian tissues, including bone.  It does not include blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach, and rumen contents (http://www.aafco.org/Consumers/What-is-in-Pet-Food).

Animal by-product meal – rendered product from mammalian tissues.  It does not include hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents.  This ingredient is not intended to be used to label a mixture of animal tissue products.  It may consist of whole carcasses, but often includes by-products in excess of what would normally be found in "meat meal" and "meat and bone meal" (http://www.aafco.org/Consumers/What-is-in-Pet-Food).

Poultry by-product meal – the ground, rendered clean parts of the carcasses of poultry such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs and intestines.  It does not include feathers.  It is similar to "poultry by-products," but most of the water and fat has been removed to make a concentrated protein/mineral ingredient (http://www.aafco.org/Consumers/What-is-in-Pet-Food).

Poultry meal – dry rendered product from a combination of clean flesh and skin with or without accompanying bone, derived from the parts and/or whole carcasses of poultry.  It does not include feathers, heads, feet, and entrails.  It is similar to "poultry," but most of the water and fat has been removed to make a concentrated protein/mineral ingredient (http://www.aafco.org/Consumers/What-is-in-Pet-Food).

-Jennifer D'Amato-Anderson, MS (Animal Nutrition)