Visit with a Vet: Animals in the Cold

Originally published in the Jan. 22, 2014, issue

 

Visit with a Georgia veterinarian in this monthly feature. This edition comes from Associate State Veterinarian Dr. Wendy Cuevas-Espelid in Atlanta, Ga.

 

All too often we think animals can withstand a certain amount of cold weather because they have fur and are "animals.” I know my dog is accustomed to air conditioning in the summer and a nice warm house in the winter. What advice can we offer to others that may not consider inclement weather a hazard to our companion animal friends and to livestock?

 

Equine

Horses have become strong family members and are treated as such. They have air-conditioned barns, wear nice blankets during the winter and even the lucky ones receive manicures on a regular basis by a farrier. However, they are not exempt with the elements nature has to offer us.

 

Horses will start growing winter coats when there are fewer than 12 hours of daylight. They remain healthier if they stay outside, and healthy horses can tolerate cold temperatures if they have adequate hay, grain and water.

 

In cold weather, horses require more calories. However, they can get impaction colic if they don’t drink enough water on cold days. To combat that, sprinkle salt in their feed. This, along with Gatorade in their water, will encourage water consumption – just make sure water is always available at feeding time and any ice in it is broken.

 

Occasionally, ice will form on a horse’s back, which actually helps them retain heat. For old, skinny horses, offer adequate shelter or a winter blanket and additional care to help them stay warm.

 

Bovine

Last October approximately 100,000 cattle died due to exposure by an extreme blizzard. This cost the state of South Dakota as much as $1.25 million. Although Georgia does not experience such extreme changes in temperature, recognizing good management of cattle due to intense fluctuations in temperature is always a good idea.

 

Beef cows exposed to cold stress require more energy for maintenance. Cold stress occurs when the wind, temperature and humidity affect bovines’ critical temperature.

 

If a farm has woods, hills or other types of shelter, this can provide some protection against wind. Once a bovine reaches its lowest critical temperature, it begins to shiver, which requires more energy to maintain internal body temperature.

 

Try to reduce mud in and around feeding areas. This can reduce energy stores and internal body temperature, especially for calves.

 

The best and easiest way to manage a winter feeding regime is to know how to monitor cattle’s body conditions. Forage should be tested for its true nutritional composition. If hay doesn’t provide a sufficient amount of energy, then cattle need to be supplemented with another form of energy-dense ration. Keep a mineral supplement, especially with magnesium, in an effort to reduce grass tetany, which can be triggered in cold weather.

 

Canines and felines

As spoiled as our furry friends are, dogs and cats, can suffer from the elements.

 

Small pets, especially young and geriatric ones, should be kept indoors. Long-haired breeds such as Huskies will do better outdoors than short-haired breeds such as Dachshunds. Though there are stylish dog sweaters and raincoats available, be aware that most heat loss occurs from ears, the respiratory tract and foot pads. If there is ice on the ground, wash dogs’ feet with a wash cloth. Rock salt or chemical ice melts can cause foot pads to get chapped and raw, and excessive licking of it can cause digestive problems.

 

Make sure there is plentiful food and water. Pets with pre-existing conditions such as cardiac disease, kidney insufficiency, diabetes and hormone imbalances will have more difficulty regulating body temperatures.

 

Cats will hide anywhere to stay warm, including under the car hood. If you park outdoors, tap your hood to scare away felines that might be hiding there. They can get seriously hurt or killed by moving engine parts.

 

This is just a small amount of information to get us all thinking of how to protect our animals. If there are any issues not addressed, please consult your veterinarian for further advice.

 

Additional questions? Contact the Department’s Animal Industry Division at 404-656-3667.



Many Factors to Consider When Choosing Food for Felines and Fidos

Originally published in the Jan. 8, 2014, issue

 

By Dallas Duncan

 

Pet foods run the gamut – raw, dry, wet, organic and more – so there’s a lot to choose from when trying to decide what diet is best for the furry friend Santa left under the tree.

 

“Nutritionists believe that ingredients do not matter. What matters is nutrients,” said Dr. Susan Wynn, nutritionist at Blue Pearl Georgia Veterinary Specialists in Sandy Springs, Ga.

 

The one exception is in felines: nutritionists would not recommend vegetarian diets for cats.



Meat and meat meals are the primary sources of protein in dry and wet cat
foods. Because cats are "obligate carnivores," meaning some of their essential
nutrients come from animal proteins, nutritionists do not recommend
vegetarian diets for felines. Photo by Dallas Duncan

 

“Cats are obligate carnivores. They must have animal protein. In the wild, they will die without animal flesh. Animal flesh contains unique amino acids and fats that you cannot get from plant proteins,” she said.

 

Dogs, on the other hand, are omnivores.

 

Two important nutrients in feline diets are the amino acids arginine and taurine, said Associate State Veterinarian Dr. Wendy Cuevas-Espelid. Arginine prevents toxic ammonia buildup in the bloodstream, and without taurine, cats could suffer from blindness, deafness, heart failure and a host of other diseases, she said. For dogs, protein needs vary by breed, age and activity level.

 

“Kittens need large amounts of energy provided by their food. Their energy requirements are about two to three times more than an adult cat. About 30 percent of their energy should come from protein,” Cuevas-Espelid said. “Puppies need to be fed accordingly for growth to be at an average rate, not a maximum rate, for the breed. This helps to prevent skeletal deformities.”

 

She said puppies and kittens should be on a growth formula until they reach adulthood, and adults should be on a maintenance diet. Older pets should eat a senior diet formulated to provide nutrients for aging animals.

 

Cuevas-Espelid said the primary source of protein in canine and feline diets comes from meat or meal.

 

“A byproduct meal just means they throw a lot of scrap pieces together and they grind them up into a flour, or a meal,” said Alan Lowman, Department ag inputs program director. “The fat content will probably be higher because fat is one of those things that’s discarded, but fat is a high-energy compound. It’s going to make that coat look really shiny.”

 

Meat meal, according to the Associationof American Feed Control Officials, is a more concentrated source of protein because it doesn’t contain the same water content as whole meat. It can be added to dry foods to increase protein content.

 

But not all byproducts are created equal, Wynn said. A large pet food company has come under fire in the past for using byproducts, but what blogs might not tell pet owners is that this company’s byproducts are entire chicken carcasses.

 

“That’s about as Paleolithic and natural as you can get,” Wynn said. “There are cheaper companies who use the cheapest parts, feet and head and things like that, because they are cheap.”

 

Because AAFCO regulations do not allow pet food labels to disclose specific byproducts, Wynn recommends pet owners contact companies to learn more about their byproduct ingredients, and said reputable companies will disclose what they use.

 

The concept of byproducts can turn some pet owners to a raw foods diet, but some experts caution that raw or refrigerated foods can be more susceptible to potential foodborne pathogens and mishandling. Pet foods can be recalled because of bacterial contamination, such as Salmonella, said Jessica Badour, recall outreach specialist for the Department’s Food Safety Division.

 

“Anything that comes refrigerated should be properly held at 41 degrees or colder,” she said. “And again, when you’ve got that raw component, there’s just a higher risk that you could cross-contaminate by handling it and touching something else in your kitchen.”

 

Contaminated pet food is a human safety risk as well, as people can get sick from handling it. Badour advises consumers to keep the bags pet food comes in, or cut off the brand name, UPC code and lot code to keep in case that food is recalled.

 

“Studies that have been done on both commercially available and homemade raw protein diets have found a high percentage, 30 to 50 percent, of them contaminated with pathogenic organisms, and up to 30 percent of the dogs fed such diets may shed pathogenic organisms in their stool,” Cuevas-Espelid said, quoting a statement from the American Animal Hospital Association.

 

Because of these potential health risks, it’s recommended to not feed therapy dogs a raw protein diet. These are animals most likely to be in contact with humans who have compromised immune systems and could be more susceptible to illness, Cuevas-Espelid said.

 

Lowman said cooked food and those which has a “kill step” will be less likely to contain foodborne bacteria. Typically this is a heating step to ensure that pathogens are killed.

 

Wynn said reputable raw diet companies will test products to make sure there are no pathogens as part of their quality control procedures.

 

“Raw diets are typically higher in protein and fat. They tend to be – they don’t have to be – but they tend to have low starch or no starch in them. That’s a very calorie-dense diet and high in fat,” Wynn said. “If you’re talking from a nutrient point of view, it’s a very efficient way to keep weight on a dog with high metabolism.”

 

She said raw meat can help keep weight on some show breeds of canines and felines, as well as those with high activity levels, such as herding breeds and sled dogs. Overweight animals and those with certain diseases, however, should steer clear of raw and other high-fat diets.

 

“There is no proof that a raw diet is better than a processed diet,” Wynn said. “There are raw diets that are dangerous, but there are raw diets that could be good. Raw diets come with problems because there are so many types of raw diets.”

 

Possible problems include injury from whole bone ingredients, though Wynn said reputable companies will finely grind bones ingredients, and diets not being properly balanced. The latter is a problem in homemade raw diets, she said.

 

Making homemade pet treats is a popular trend, and Lowman said consumers should be aware that the sale of pet food and treats is regulated in Georgia.

 

“They all need to have a license and it’s going to have a product registration associated with it,” he said. “If you’re a baker, and you use the leftovers to make dog treats and you put those for sale on your counter, it’s regulated. If you give it away, that’s not. But the first time you sell it or barter it, you need to be licensed.”

A fictional pet food label demonstrates some key requirements
for licensed products. By Dallas Duncan

 

The license is to make sure pet foods and labels meet AAFCO standards. Required label components include name and purpose, such as Beef Dog Food or Beef Flavor Dog Food; name of animal species the product is for; net quantity of both weight and volume; a guarantee analysis, which lists the percentage of each nutrient in the food; an ingredient statement, listed in order of predominance by weight; a nutritional adequacy statement showing food is complete and balanced for a particular life stage; feeding directions; and the name and address of the manufacturer or distributor.

 

Wynn said to research the company thoroughly.

 

“I’m looking for a company that has been around for a long time. They must have a nutritionist formulating all the foods, preferably a veterinary clinical nutritionist that they work with or on staff,” Wynn said. “You can’t make a determination of how good a food is just by the label.”



Visit with a Vet: Feral Swine -- More Than Just a Nuisance

Originally published in the Dec. 25, 2013, issue

 

 

Visit with a Georgia veterinarian in this monthly feature. This edition comes from State Veterinarian Dr. Robert Cobb in Atlanta, Ga.

Free-ranging populations of wild pigs, or feral swine, exist in at least 39 states. Some estimate their numbers to be more than 4 million, with the largest populations located in California, Florida, Hawaii and Texas. Georgia’s large population of feral swine resides mostly in the river swamps of south Georgia, but can be found statewide.

Today’s feral swine population is a combination of escaped or neglected domestic swine, Eurasian wild boar and feral pigs that have been captured and transported for the purpose of starting wild, free-living populations. The intentional movement of trapped feral swine resulted in extensive crossbreeding of feral populations, producing many variations.

Feral swine regularly tear through livestock and game fences; consume animal feed; destroy field crops such as corn, milo, watermelon, peanuts, hay, turf and wheat; and, when given the opportunity, will prey upon young livestock and other small animals.

Moving untested feral swine to new areas or allowing them onto farms with domestic pigs is illegal in Georgia and can have disastrous consequences to the commercial swine industry. Feral swine can be imported into Georgia only by a special permit issued by the state veterinarian. Three feral swine agreements are utilized by the Department in cooperation with the US Department of Agriculture. Individuals wishing to have feral swine facilities must meet strict testing, fencing and reproduction prevention protocols. The feral swine facilities are regularly inspected by the Department to assure compliance with the rules in order to maintain separation of feral swine from domestic herds.

Feral swine are carriers of a number of diseases: swine brucellosis, pseudorabies, leptospirosis, tuberculosis, tularemia, trichinosis, plague, anthrax, African swine fever, classical swine fever  or hog cholera and swine vesicular disease. USDA eradicated hog cholera from the US in 1976.

Though they’ve been eliminated or controlled from US commercial production swine herds, some are still found in Georgia feral swine and can be readily transmitted to humans and other animals:

Brucellosis is a bacterial infectious disease of animals and humans, caused by Brucella bacteria. Swine brucellosis is a reproductive disease, causing abortions in sows and infertility in boars. Infected swine are disease carriers for life and can serve as sources of infection. The only way to remove the disease is to detect infected swine through blood tests and cull the animals. In humans, the disease may mimic severe flu and may cause crippling arthritis or meningitis. Animals and humans are exposed to the swine Brucella bacterium by contact with infected blood, reproductive tissues and fluids from animals during farrowing, abortion or carcass dressing.

Pseudorabies: Viral PRV attacks the central nervous system and is fatal to cattle, horses, goats, sheep, dogs, cats, raccoons, skunks, opossums and small rodents. Though not fatal in swine, it causes abortions and stillbirths. Pseudorabies is caused by a herpesvirus in swine. It is not related to rabies and it does not infect humans. The spread of PRV from feral swine to domestic cattle has also been documented in Florida and Texas. Feral swine are known to break into feed bunks and congregate around areas where supplemental feed is distributed, providing a source of contamination of feed and potential spread of infection through contact with domestic herds.

Parasites: Feral swine are also host to several disease-causing parasites. These parasites include lung worm, kidney worm, thorny-headed worm, ascarid roundworm, hog lice and the parasite that causes trichinosis.

The more feral swine populations increase and expand, the greater the chances that they may transmit diseases to domestic animals, wildlife and humans as well as destroy expensive crops. To minimize the threat feral swine pose to domestic swine operations, farmers should not introduce wild pigs into herds or attempt to market wild-caught pigs. Before transporting breeding swine, perform blood tests according to state and federal guidelines, and blood-test all new stock before adding them to existing herds. Fence out feral swine and do not butcher feral swine on the farm, or feed offal from field-dressed wild hogs to domestic ones.



Visit with a Vet: Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus

Originally published in the Oct. 30, 2013, issue

 

Visit with a Georgia veterinarian in this monthly feature. This edition comes from Dr. Jeremiah Saliki, director of the Athens, Ga., Veterinary Diagnostic Lab.

 

In April and May 2013, multiple Midwestern American pig farms were simultaneously hit with a disease characterized by diarrhea and vomiting. These symptoms led clinicians and diagnosticians to suspect the coronavirus transmissible gastroenteritis virus, or TGEV, as the cause. Testing fecal samples from sick piglets using standard laboratory techniques failed to confirm these suspicions.

 

However, when the same samples were examined under an electron microscope, coronavirus particles were detected. The unexpected discovery of coronavirus particles that were negative for both US swine coronaviruses – TGEV and porcine respiratory coronavirus – prompted further testing. Tests done at Iowa State University and the Federal Laboratory at Ames were done for exotic coronaviruses, and resulted in the confirmation of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus for the first time in the US.

 

Geographic distribution, transmission and clinical signs

 

Coronaviruses are highly contagious, and the outbreaks in the US spread rapidly. Within six weeks the virus had been confirmed in about 200 hog facilities in 14 states including Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and South Dakota.

 

Sporadic outbreaks of porcine epidemic diarrhea were first identified in the United Kingdom in 1971, and this infection has become endemic in most Asian countries since 1982. There was one incursion into Canada in 1980, but it has not been reported in North America since then.

 

The virus is transmitted by the oral-fecal route, with an incubation period of three to four days. Contaminated personnel, equipment, or other fomites may introduce PEDV into a susceptible herd. The disease is difficult to distinguish from TGEV, with the main clinical sign being watery feces that may resemble tufts of wool and have an unpleasant smell. Vomiting may occur and dehydration is a secondary sign.

 

Morbidity and mortality can surpass 90 percent in suckling piglets fewer than 14 days old, but gradually decreases with age. During necropsy, histological examinations – where thin pieces of tissue are mounted on slides and viewed under a microscope – show the small intestine is inflamed with shortened villi, which indicates nutrients are not being properly absorbed, causing diarrhea.

 

Diagnosis

 

The most useful diagnostic specimen is feces or a loop of small intestine. A variety of diagnostic tests, including negative-staining electron microscopy, fluorescent antibody staining, immunohistochemical staining and virus isolation, commonly used for TGEV diagnosis are available in our laboratory for presumptive PEDV diagnosis. However, a test known as polymerase chain reaction is the only technique that can differentiate between TGEV and PEDV. The diagnostic labs in Tifton and Athens, Ga., offer a PCR technique that can detect both viruses, and  a positive result is followed by an additional test – sequencing – for definitive diagnosis.

 

PED and Georgia

 

The rapid spread of PED across the US and its occurrence in neighboring North Carolina raise concern for its possible introduction into Georgia. Fortunately, we are poised to rapidly detect the virus if it was to enter the state. The vigilance of swine practitioners and animal owners is key to detecting its incursion into our state. We recommend that PEDV testing be requested for all cases in which an acute TGEV-like disease is observed with high morbidity.

 

Some information in this column comes from the USDA Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Technical Note and the 2012 publication “Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus: a comprehensive review of molecular epidemiology, diagnosis, and vaccines.”

Visit with a Vet: BVD Testing at the Georgia Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories

Originally published in the Sept. 18, 2013, issue

Visit with a Georgia veterinarian in this monthly feature. This edition comes from Drs. Lee Jones, Roberto Palomares, Sree Rajeev, Susan Sanchez, Murray Hines and Jeremiah Saliki of the diagnostic laboratories in Athens and Tifton. 

BVD – one complex disease, one simple sample, one simple strategy!

Bovine viral diarrhea is a significant cause of economic losses to the cattle industry. Clinical signs include reproductive failure, respiratory disease or diarrhea. About 70 percent of infected cattle don’t become sick, but are susceptible to other diseases. Moreover, some animals showing no symptoms are dangerous to the herd as they can be virus carriers, also known as persistently infected animals, or PIs.

PIs are calves infected with certain non-cytopathic strains of BVD in the womb. Although many infected calves die or are culled within six months, some grow into adults. These shed large amounts of the virus in secretions such as saliva, feces, urine and milk throughout their lives, exposing the herd to BVD.

PIs can transmit BVD by direct contact, such as nose-to-nose, or through contaminated veterinary equipment, farm equipment or facilities. To manage BVD, vaccinate all dairy calves at 2 to 3 months old and all beef calves at 4 to 5 months. Add biosecurity procedures to prevent introduction of the disease – isolate and confirm that new animals are BVD-negative; bio-containment to interrupt virus spread; and laboratory testing of samples for BVD presence.

To diagnose a disease such as BVD in an animal or herd, laboratory testing is required. The same is true for whole-herd screening as part of a herd health program.

Diagnosis

When an animal is sick, it is recommended to take eight milliliters of whole blood in EDTA, a combination of a specific acid and a colorless, water-soluble solid typically placed in a purple-topped tube for veterinary purposes. In the case of abortion or death, it is recommended to take samples of lung, spleen, lymph nodes, kidney or the entire fetus.

Herd screening or animal marketing:

To test the herd for PI screening, or to market an animal after confirming it is not BVD-PI, it is recommended to take one ear-notch sample in a screw-capped tube or blood in a red-topped tube. When BVD-free bred heifers are purchased, it is still necessary to test the calf after birth to ensure BVD won’t be accidentally introduced. Diagnostic labs can pool up to 24 ear-notch or blood samples and run one test, called a PCR, to reduce costs per animal, with a turnaround time of two to three business days. If any pool is positive, all members of that pool will be re-tested for BVD using the Antigen Capture ELISA test. This individual animal testing may present an additional cost and turnaround time, but will identify and allow removal of PIs.

Table 1: Testing strategy for PIs. Tests, price and turnaround time of laboratory testing

# of samples received at once	PCR pool size	PCR cost per head	Time to results (PCR)	ACE cost per head	Time to results (ACE)
1-5	NA	NA	NA	$5.00 plus $10 Setup fee	24 hours
5-23	NA	NA	NA	$4.50	24 hours
24 or more	24	$2.5*	2-3 business days	$3.50	24 hours

 

To contact the diagnostic labs, call 706-542-5568 for Athens, 229-386-3340 for Tifton.