Tag: veterinarian

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Strep search: Don’t blame your sore throat on the dog

It’s tempting to test the dog when a family can’t shake strep throat, but washing your hands proves to be more effective than treating Rover.

It happens at least once a year. Family members taking turns with strep throat, and they bring the dog in to see if he might be the culprit. It’s a completely reasonable concern, although I’m surprised at how often it has been suggested by the family physician or pediatrician. Because the answer is the same every time: No, the dog didn’t give anybody strep throat.

Most of us have probably tangled with strep throat at one point or another, and it’s a notoriously unpleasant experience. Lymph nodes under the jaw become swollen and sore. Horrible pustules line the back of the throat, bringing pain and frustration with them. It quickly responds to a course of antibiotics, but this still requires an inconvenient trip to the doctor and that gag-inducing test where they swab the back of your throat. This test is specifically looking for group A streptococcus—the bacteria that cause all this misery.

The thing about this infection is that it really likes people. We are its victim, but also its source. Many people harboring it have no symptoms at all. There is no vaccine, and the only prevention is good hygiene and a dash of hope. And unlike so many other diseases, recent infection with strep doesn’t prevent you from getting it again, which means that groups of people can continue passing it around indefinitely.

So what about the dog? The simple fact is that there are no clearly documented cases of dogs giving people strep throat. Although the offending bacteria can (rarely) be cultured from dogs, all evidence suggests that they only carry the bacteria temporarily after picking it up from a person. It doesn’t want to live in dogs, and it isn’t there long enough to multiply and become contagious.

You’ve probably noticed that there’s some wiggle room here. If dogs can carry the bacteria even briefly, isn’t it possible—however unlikely—that they might hand it off to a person? Sure. Biology is nothing if not unpredictable. But in these hypothetical cases, the dog would be serving a role no different than a contaminated pillow or a used glass. Testing the dog makes no more sense than testing every other object in the house for the presence of group A strep.

There is a lot of pressure on veterinarians to prescribe antibiotics to dogs when a family is visited by a stubborn round of strep throat. At a glance, what harm can it do? Even if it just makes everybody feel better, isn’t that worth it? Unfortunately, no it isn’t. Among other man-made catastrophes, antibiotic resistance is a threat to every single one of us. Tossing antibiotics at the dog without justification is one more incremental contribution to a global problem.

Strep throat can be frustrating, especially when a family can’t seem to shake it. But there is no need to conjecture about some mysterious culprit when we already know exactly where it’s coming from. It comes from us. Let’s leave the dog out of this.

Dr. Mike Fietz is a small animal veterinarian at Georgetown Veterinary Hospital. He received his veterinary degree from Cornell University in 2003, and has lived in Charlottesville since.

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False promises: The myth of hypoallergenic dogs

The idea that pet owners can find a hypoallergenic dog is not backed by science. Image: Getty Images

Finding a new dog isn’t trivial, and I’m often faced with questions about the process. There are so many variables to consider. Should you adopt a puppy or rescue an adult? What size dog best fits your lifestyle? Some questions have easier answers than others, and many require a degree of generalization that makes me uncomfortable. I can never say for sure that a certain breed will be good with children or that your choice will be easier to house train. But there is one thing I do know for sure: You can give up on your search for a hypoallergenic breed.

Allergies to pets are a very real thing. For many, the symptoms are some mild sniffling and sneezing. But more severe reactions are possible, ranging from rashes to asthma attacks. It is understandable that people afflicted with such allergies might want assurance that their new best friend isn’t going to be a medical liability. And that’s why it is vitally important to make this clear: As pervasive as the idea has become, there is absolutely no evidence that some breeds are hypoallergenic.

Don’t put away the tissues just yet.

Research has shown absolutely no difference in the presence of allergens in homes with supposedly hypoallergenic dogs compared to homes with “regular” ones.

Allergies happen when the immune system overreacts to something that wouldn’t otherwise be a threat. In this case, proteins in a dog’s skin or saliva are the trigger. While direct contact with dogs can produce symptoms, it isn’t necessary. Microscopic flakes of skin are constantly being shed from any animal. These particles, collectively called dander, will spread well beyond the dog’s reach. Some will remain suspended in the air, waiting to be inhaled. Others settle on clothing or furniture, ready to trigger skin allergies on contact.

While many breeds of dog are advertised as hypoallergenic, the most common ones seem to be those perceived as shedding less. The idea is that if they aren’t filling your home with fur, then they must not be filling it with dander either. It’s a completely reasonable supposition. Unfortunately, it also turns out to be a false one. Research has shown absolutely no difference in the presence of allergens in homes with supposedly hypoallergenic dogs compared to homes with “regular” ones.

Wittingly or not, breeders have seized on the popularity of hypoallergenic breeds. These dogs are often sold at premium prices to families willing to spend thousands of dollars for a perceived medical necessity. These families deserve to know that they are buying into a fiction.

If someone in your family does suffer from pet allergies, it is important to speak to your physician or allergist before adding a dog or cat to your home. Perhaps the allergy is mild enough to be managed with air filters, designated pet-free rooms, or medication. But the decision and its consequences are too important to revolve around a myth.

Dr. Mike Fietz is a small animal veterinarian at Georgetown Veterinary Hospital. He received his veterinary degree from Cornell University in 2003 and has lived in Charlottesville since.

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Breathing easier: Getting through reverse sneezing

Your pooch may look frightfully stressed when reverse sneezing occurs, but most cases are temporary. file photo

Anything that looks this terrifying must be an emergency. The poor dog is standing with her legs braced and head thrust forward, and the corners of her mouth are pulled taught in a frightening grimace. Her belly contracts and her ribcage tenses in powerful bursts, and a thundering snort marks each strained breath. She’s distressed, and it feels like it’s gone on far too long. You reach for the phone and before you can dial your vet, it’s over. She wags her tail and goes about her day.

Alarming as it might appear at the time, this describes a typical bout of reverse sneezing, and it is simply an attempt to alleviate some kind of discomfort in the rear of the nasal cavity. In much the same way that a regular sneeze tries to blow an irritant out of the nose with an explosive burst of air, reverse sneezing attempts to suck an irritant back into the throat so it can be swallowed or spit out.

In most cases, the cause of irritation is minor and temporary. Perhaps a bit of dust or a blade of grass from the yard got stuck in the wrong place. If so, you may see a few episodes before it clears up for good. If allergies are responsible, you might see a pattern of symptoms occurring only in certain months. But so long as symptoms are sporadic, there isn’t any cause for alarm.

If reverse sneezing is observed frequently over a long period, however, it could indicate that more is going on. Brachycephalic breeds (like pugs, bulldogs and others with scrunched-up faces) can develop reverse sneezing because their soft palate is too long and hangs in the way. Nasal mites (yeah, that’s really a thing) are another potential cause and stubborn cases of reverse sneezing might be treated just to see what happens. And rarely, tumors and polyps in the nasal passageway can be responsible, but these may require advanced imaging like CT scans to locate.

Regardless of the cause, there isn’t much to do during a bout of reverse sneezing. It will stop on its own once the irritation is cleared. I’ve seen all sorts of suggested remedies. Some people recommend covering one or both nostrils, blowing gently in the dog’s nose or stroking the throat. I don’t know of any evidence that these methods help, but since the problem is self-limiting, I suspect that nearly any action can be misinterpreted as effective. Most episodes are finished in a few minutes no matter what you decide to do. My preference is to leave them alone. Getting in the dog’s face may add a new irritation while they try to manage the first one.

Thankfully, reverse sneezing is one of those things that looks far worse than it is. While some cases eventually warrant a deeper look, most of them blow over in a hurry, and you and your dog can both breathe a sigh of relief.

Dr. Mike Fietz is a small animal veterinarian at Georgetown Veterinary Hospital. He received his veterinary degree from Cornell University in 2003 and has lived in Charlottesville since.

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Living

Pot bellied: When pets get into marijuana

Marijuana toxicity in pets can be resolved fairly easily, so it’s best to come clean if your pet consumes your stash.

I’m suspicious right away. His dilated pupils don’t seem focused on anything in particular, and his usually chipper demeanor has been replaced with a vacant haze unmoored from time and space. His head lists to one side before jerking back to center, like a student fighting to stay awake in a lecture. His eyes squint tight against the beam from my penlight, and he’s startled by the slightest touch. If dogs could giggle, he’d probably do that too. Clinically speaking, my patient is high as a kite.

And that’s good news! Marijuana is pretty benign as far as toxins go, although animals do have a tendency to eat all of what they find, baking themselves well beyond a pleasant buzz. Dogs, in particular, will indulge to the point that symptoms can linger for several days. These patients often need hospitalized support, but it’s typically a matter of keeping them warm and hydrated for their return trip to Earth. With only the rarest exception, they’ll be completely fine.

The biggest challenge in these cases isn’t the treatment. Although prevailing attitudes about marijuana have relaxed in recent years, it’s still a trick getting people to admit what happened. Perhaps they’re embarrassed or afraid of being judged. Perhaps it’s fear of legal repercussions. Regardless, it’s a bad time for reticence because we really need to know. If it’s not pot, then the remaining possible causes are all significantly worse. There’s no sense wasting time and money on unnecessary diagnostics and treatment if the problem can be sorted with a conversation.

If you ever find yourself in this situation, please level with your veterinarian at the outset. Not only is your vet likely to be unfazed, she’ll probably be relieved. And even if your vet is a card-carrying buzzkill, anything discussed in that exam room is confidential. Laws vary state to state, but here in Virginia, “revealing confidences” is regulated as unprofessional conduct. You’re safe to speak freely.

Whether used recreationally or medically, the presence of marijuana is a fact of life in many homes. And assuming laws gradually catch up with reality, it’s going to become more common. As a veterinarian, I hope to one day see the various benefits of cannabis become part of my toolbox (properly dosed, of course). But as pot grows more prevalent, so will cases of toxicity.

It’s not the worst thing that can happen, but keep those stashes well out of reach. And if precautions fail, it’s okay. Get to the vet, for sure. But, in this case, honesty is a huge part of the antidote.

Dr. Mike Fietz is a small-animal veterinarian at Georgetown Veterinary Hospital. He received his veterinary degree from Cornell University in 2003 and has lived in Charlottesville since.

I’m Pepper, and at the CASPCA they refer to me as the “whole package”: sweet, friendly and fun-loving. I’m young, I love to play and I adore people and other cats (but I might overwhelm less energetic felines).

Howdy, I’m Ada, a calm, sweet gal who’s a little shy. I prefer to be an only dog, and while I don’t need a lot of exercise, nothing would make me happier than accompanying you on walks.

Hey there, I’m Bella, your future BFF. I’ll snuggle on your lap, but bust out the toys, and my feisty energy is contagious. I like
to be the center of attention, though, so it’s best if I’m an only kitty.

Buckwheat here, and, as you can see, I’m one fine lookin’ dude. Come hang out with me, and you’ll also see I’m a sweetie who enjoys (in no particular order) playing, snuggling, exploring and long walks.

You can meet us at the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA, where we’re all available for adoption. 3355 Berkmar Dr. 973-5959, caspca.org, noon-6pm, daily.