When Raccoons Go Bad By Dr. John Jones

                                                                                            
              

        

             We've  been invaded by wildlife again! Not bats this time, though, but raccoons. Fortunately, this didn't occur in our house, but in my home away from home- the barn.

             There have been visitations in the past, after all, a woods sits forty feet from the backside of the barn. Raccoons have come in for an occasional meal of cat food, and possibly a romp in the haymow, but they haven’t taken up residence or done any real damage. That is, until now.

            I first suspected we had a guest when for several mornings in a row the cat food bowls were empty and flung to the ground from their perch on a ledge beside a ram stall. The telltale sign, however, was the water bowl, nearly drained except for a scant amount of mud left over from the raccoon’s habit of washing his little paws and moistening the food. Of course, the extra cleanup duty was annoying, but it wasn’t that big of a deal. The dragged-on winter, I’m sure, was literally hitting him where he lived, too, out in the woods.

            So I put up with the varmint until one morning I discovered he had crossed the line of decency, even for a raccoon.  That’s when things got personal.

            Dianne, our newest barn cat, had been missing for 36 hours, when I found her hunkered down at the back of one of those ram pens. Calico in color, but not personality, she is probably the sweetest cat we’ve ever had, and considered many times to be a housecat candidate. A quick physical revealed no lesions until I got back to her rump, squishy to the touch and oozing a fetid, brown fluid. It was a bite abscess, several bites actually. Who would have done this? She had no enemies amongst the other barn cats.

            Later that same day, after Dianne had been taken to our hospital to have her wounds attended, I found Clark, another barn cat, in the mulch beneath our kitchen window. He had wounds on his neck, not as severe as Dianne’s, but bad enough to follow her to DAH.

            As a serious rodentophobe, my cats are important to my barn life, not just as companions, but as bodyguards as well. This perpetrator had to be stopped. Thus, my introduction to using a live trap, where my new found skills, and some honey ham, yielded not one, but two raccoons. 

The nuisance factor notwithstanding, readers should know that raccoons can carry many serious diseases. Among these is canine distemper virus, which is not good news for dogs. Moreover, although raccoons in this area are not known to harbor rabies, there is always the potential, and that isn’t good for anybody. Two bacterial diseases, leptospirosis and salmonella, can be spread in their urine and feces, respectively, and I can attest, when a coon is caught in a live trap there is an abundance of each released.

            On that note, perhaps the greatest threat posed to humans is through a parasite they carry, Baylisascaris procyonis, a member of the roundworm family. If the eggs of this parasite are inhaled or ingested, the larvae released can create a condition known as visceral, ocular, or neural larval migrans, depending on where they locate. When our body detects an aberrant larva migrating through it, an immune inflammatory response is initiated which can result in the formation of cysts. Some of these can be quite large, and mimic the effects of a tumor. And depending on the location, they can be difficult to treat, even fatal.

            As for the two raccoons, they were dealt with humanely, but, regrettably, justice was delivered. When raccoons become a menace, second chances aren’t an option. If I had let them loose in the woods, they would have just come back to the barn or gone to the neighbors. Obviously, they had no respect for the cats, nor fear of me or the trap.

            Clark was able to return home two days after the second coon was trapped, and the barn deemed safe. Dianne’s wounds required more extensive treatment, including daily lavage. She wasn’t real keen on that, I have to say, but she did take a liking to overall office life, and made a lot of new human friends. She’s actually still there as I write this, five weeks after the incident. And if she plays her cards right, Dianne may get that housecat promotion, yet!

 

 

Great Scott! My Journeys with Marty McFly

 

                       

            My dog's name is Marty McFly. There are a few things people should know about Marty if you are ever going to hang out with him. He has bad breath but is generous with his kisses. He doesn't like being picked up under his arms and he'll let you know if you cross that line. He always wants to snuggle and will get his white hair all over your clothes. If you're in “his seat” he'll make sure that you make room for him but ever so subtly. He also thoroughly enjoys going places but doesn't like being places other than his own home.
 

             This last tidbit is always an interesting combination. Marty gets excited and jumps around like a madman when he realizes that there's even a slim chance of a possibility of a trip. When he's in his own home confines he's more than ready to strap on that leash and hit the road. When he's on the road – he sleeps for the most part. He'll occasionally stand on the arm rest and leave some wet nose prints on the window.
 

            However, there's usually a hiccup whenever he gets wherever I'm taking him. You see Marty prefers his home turf where there is no possibility of a cat being around (I'm allergic). If there is a feline to be encountered in the place that we are visiting – forget it. He transforms into a shivering 17 pound ball of scaredy dog. We've worked with him – tried several different methods of counter conditioning and positive reinforcements but through the years I have learned it's simply easier to not take him anywhere near cats.
 

             As a pet owner, being aware of things like Marty's feline phobia helps me to navigate life with a happier pet. As a modern American, travel is a part of my regular lifestyle. Which means that it's also a part of Marty's regular lifestyle. Whenever we hit the open road there are a few things that I need to ensure prior to setting out. Safety is foremost while comfort is also important.
 

             You may think it pretentious of him but Marty has his own booster seat for car travel. It straps to the seat using the seat belt and then I can strap him to the booster seat itself using his harness. So not only does he get to ride on a cushioned fleece throne, he can also see out of the window. Most importantly, he is more secure than if he were free roaming in case of a jolting stop or car accident. Many people travel safely with pets in pet carriers. A hard sided carrier or even a metal cage may help contain Fluffy in case of a car accident.

 

            There are several other factors in play when I travel with Marty. Firstly, he is kept up to date with his immunizations which drastically decreases the likelihood of picking up many infections from strange dogs that he may encounter. Secondly, he is always up to date with his monthly flea, tick and heartworm control. This helps keep him parasite free whenever we make rest stops or visit new places. And thirdly, he is microchipped and wears a collar with his most current license and rabies tag. He also has a separate tag that has his name and my contact number listed. These things give me the peace of mind that if he were to get loose while we are out and about there's a better chance of getting him home safely.
 

            Some pets require sedation for safest travel – especially for plane trips or cross country travel. See your veterinarian if you think this is the case for your pet. If you plan on taking your pet with you to travel internationally (yes, Canada counts as international travel) make sure to get a health inspection done by an accredited veterinarian prior to your trip.
 

            So even if you have your own homebody pet like my Marty McFly, eventually, you may need to take him places. When you do set out with your pet in tow it is important to keep things like their safety and proper identification in mind. If your pet has an anxiety trigger like Marty has his irrational fear of cats – be aware and avoid those situations as much as possible.
 

            Marty is a wonderful little traveling companion, and maybe there's a lesson to be learned from him – sometimes in life it's more about the journey than the destination. And as long as I continue to factor his needs into our trip, I know that it will be a great journey for us both.

 

 

By Dr. Marisa Tong

 

Pet Dental Health Tips

                                  

 

                        Pet Dental Health Month has drawn to a close.  I take exception with this annual awareness campaign because I worry that pet owners may only focus on their pet’s dental care during the month of February.  In reality, pets need dental care daily, and definitely all year round. 

                        Professional pet dental cleanings are done via ultrasonic scaling with pets under general anesthesia.  We know plaque and tartar will begin to return to pet teeth as quickly as the cleaning and polishing have been completed.  Therefore, all pet dental cleanings need to be followed by educating pet owners on long-term preventive dental care.

                        When I teach pet owners about dental health, my discussion is centered on how to physically approach the mouth. This information needs to be relayed as early as the pet's first visit.  For frustrated owners of older pets that resist dental care efforts, I first listen to what the pet owner has tried, then I make individualized suggestions to set them up for success.  With the knowledge that daily tooth brushing or wiping is most effective, this process needs to be laced with a lot of praise and positive reinforcement for the pet to permit repetitive care as recommended.

                        Flavored pet pastes can turn dental care into a highly anticipated food treat experience.  Such is the case for my own canine family as each dog lines up after dinner to have a turn at tooth brushing while lying on a comfy pet bed.  Each pet is allowed to lick any remaining paste off the toothbrush when the cleaning is done.  While brushing, I talk to my pets with soothing, happy tones, using all of their "magic words" employed during training when they were young.  Pets, especially dogs, want to please you! Let them know that they are, through kind words and a gentle touch during tooth brushing.

                        Pets also thrive on consistency.  Routines give them a sense of security, making them more willing participants when it comes to dental care.  Daily tooth brushing at the same time of day in the same location while employing plenty of verbal, physical and edible encouragement, will make the pet more accepting.

                        I also recommend offering healthy dental treats (MilkBone or Greenies), hard rubber chew toys (Kongs), tartar control diets (Hill’s Science Diet Oral Care or Prescription Diet T/D), water additives (Breathalyser), and enzymatic dental sprays.  Avoid soft or canned foods and hard chew toys such as Nylabones, deer antlers, knucklebones, and rawhides that are notorious for breaking teeth.  My advice and the advice of veterinary dental specialists is to employ as many of these options as possible for greatest success. 

                        Veterinary professionals perform multiple dental cleanings daily, making this procedure among our most popular.  However, studies have shown that a pet owner will receive a minimum of three recommendations for a dental cleaning before acting on this important advice.  Meanwhile, many pets suffer quietly with not one, but several, painful and/or infected teeth. 

                        Amazingly, even in the face of their pet's "dragon breath," pet owners still overlook their pet's dental hygiene.  The common denominator in these situations is that the pet has shown no "obvious" signs of pain. Please be advised that many pets do not show their discomfort overtly, especially cats, as they are masters of disguise, and "weakness" in the animal world makes you "prey."

                        Probably the best indicator of dental discomfort comes too late.  And by that, I mean AFTER a professional dental cleaning when the pet is "re-born" by the elimination of painful gingivitis and abscessed teeth.  Previously sedentary pets will become more interactive and act rejuvenated.  It breaks my heart that so many pets endure unnecessary oral pain for too long.  If you have ever had a single tooth ache, you know what I mean, then consider the plight of pets with multiple diseased teeth!

                        Help your veterinarian provide your pet with the best dental care possible.  Perform daily oral exams and dental care for your pet.  If your veterinarian recommends a professional dental cleaning, heed her advice expediently!  Not only will your pet reward you with fresher breath, the added bonus will be a longer life through prevention of potentially life-threatening heart, kidney or liver disease originating from something as preventable as dental disease.

By Dr. Bonnie Jones

A Friend, a Fever, and a Letter Not Forgotten

            I’m sure glad my friend, Harold, didn’t die.  I only wish his veterinarian had been smarter, at least smarter, sooner.

            Harold’s illness began several weeks ago.  He thought he had the flu.  But instead of getting better in a few days, his symptoms worsened.  He became more tired and weak, his lungs more congested, and he had a strange skin rash.  By the time he went to his doctor, his temperature was 104 degrees.  Harold was diagnosed with pneumonia and hospitalized for 4 days, where he received I.V. antibiotics.

            Following his release, he felt better for a week or so, but then his symptoms returned.

            I met Harold soon after I arrived in Delphos.  His farm was one of the first my boss, Dr. Laman, took me to, and we vaccinated and castrated baby pigs.  I have a feeling Dr. Laman thought Harold and I would become friends, and he was right.

            Early on, I realized Harold was a special person by how he respected and cared for his elderly parents.  If how you treat your parents is any indication of whether you will get into Heaven, Harold’s ticket was punched years ago.

            Harold has always been the “go-to” guy neighbors and friends could rely on to help with any situation.  He has been a big supporter of 4-H and has helped several neighbor kids get started in the sheep business.

            Harold is the kind of person I wish I was.  He’s the kind of person I wish everyone was.  It was distressing to see such a nice man be so sick.

            I didn’t fully realize how bad he felt, though, until he asked me to vaccinate his lambs.  Usually, Harold did this himself, but he just didn’t feel strong enough.

            We arranged to do this on Good Friday morning, so his posse of neighbor kids could help me.  In a little over an hour, we vaccinated, dewormed, and castrated the male lambs – 45 in all.  I would like to thank these kids – Zac, Kellen, Jared and Megan.  They were some of the best helpers I have ever had.

            A few evenings later, I got a late start on my chores.  Along about nine o’clock as I was watering the last group of sheep, I heard one of them cough.  That is when it dawned on me – Harold had Q-fever!

            I turned on the computer, typed “Q-fever”, clicked the mouse a couple of times, and there it all was – the history, the symptoms, the relapse.  The only thing missing was a picture of Harold.

            Q-fever is a zoonotic disease, spread from animals to humans, and is caused by the bacteria, Coxiella burnetii.  Commonly found in cattle, sheep, and goats, it doesn’t usually cause clinical disease in these species, although it can cause abortion in sheep and goats.  The organism can be excreted in milk, urine, and feces.  Q-fever is one of the many reasons why only pasteurized milk should be consumed.

            The bacteria may also become dried in the manure, aerosolized and inhaled.  This may be how Harold was infected, although he did admit he sometimes delivers lambs without wearing gloves.  Shame on you Harold; although, I probably won’t be tossing any stones your way.

            In addition to causing flu symptoms and pneumonia, left untreated, a chronic form of Q-fever may develop, affecting the heart, causing death in up to 65% of patients. Q-fever can also cause abortion in humans, so pregnant women should avoid being around sheep and goats.

            Since it was getting late and I didn’t want to wake him, I decided to call Harold the next morning.  That was good timing.  He had another doctor’s appointment two hours later.

            Harold’s physician checked his sources, agreed with our presumptive diagnosis, drew some blood for testing, and started Harold on doxycycline, the antibiotic of choice.  Within 2 days, Harold was feeling much better and has continued to improve.  Talking with him on the phone a few minutes ago, as I write this, he sounded like his old self again. 

            This wasn’t the first time I’ve played an R.D. (real doctor).  Numerous clients have taken it upon themselves to show me various skin lesions and oozing infected incisions.  Yuck!  Harold’s case has been my most successful and certainly most important one thus far. 

            If you raise sheep or goats and acquire a mysterious ailment, don’t forget to tell your physician you do so.  Conversely, if you are receiving treatment for a condition and are not responding, don’t forget to tell your veterinarian.  Sometimes we vets can out “D” even the real doctors!

Author: Dr. John Harvey Jones

The American Southdown Journal- Fall 2007