Why not alternative medicine? (Part 1 of a 3 part series)

As I was at the North American Veterinary Conference getting trained in acupuncture a few weeks ago and seeing first hand its benefits and practical applications, I really began to take a look at our western culture and how generally resistant it is to it and many other alternative treatment modalities.  The first question I pondered was, why not explore and offer these treatment modalities as part of an integrative medical approach to patient wellness?  In the process of mulling this around in my mind, in the past two weeks, two experiences/realizations made it abundantly clear exactly why our culture has heretofore been overwhelmingly dismissive of alternative medicine.

Before going further, it is first important to compare traditional western medicine with alternative medicine to provide a clear contrast of these different sides of medicine.  Western medicine is predicated upon the notion of identifying the disease and treating it directly: a pill here, a surgical procedure there, and the patient gets better…a lot of the time.  Alternative medicine is more geared toward boosting the body’s intrinsic ability to heal itself with modalities that include traditional Chinese medical alternatives such as herbal medicine and acupuncture, nutritional and nutraceutical therapy; as well as more high tech alternative options, such as low level laser tissue rehabilitation or electro-acupuncture.

The pros of the western approach is diagnostic capability (x-rays, blood work, ultrasound, blood pressure, etc.), often more immediate results, and the ability to save life through through the application of fluid therapy, pharmacological agents,  and hemorrhage control.  The main con of this approach is that application of these treatment modalities are frequently fraught with side effects.  In the case of chronic disease, long term drug therapy can range from causing side effects that range from mild to severe or even life threatening.  Invasive surgery can carry great risks are post-operative adverse effects that may last a lifetime.

The main pro of alternative medicine, is the management of disease without adverse side effects and often the ability to avoid invasive surgery and potentially harmful drug therapy.  The main con is the lack of diagnostic capability to provided a concrete diagnosis, and often it lacks real strategies for saving life in times of crisis (acute trauma, hemorrhage, shock, etc.).

So which is better?  Which one should we choose for ourselves and for our pets?  The answer it each of these questions is, BOTH.  The truth is that each branch of medicine has important practical application in treating disease and in the maintenance of wellness.  This combination holistic approach is called integrative medicine, meaning that we address the disease, utilizing diagnostics and managing pain, inflammation and life threatening circumstances, but then for the long term look to support the “whole” patient with optimal nutritional considerations and any combination of supplements, herbal therapy, acupuncture, and low level laser therapy.  That is what is best for the patient, and that is how everyone should be practicing medicine.

So why is this so often not the case?  Why do doctors, instead of practicing integrative medicine, opt instead to draw lines in the sand and refuse to acknowledge that both forms of medicine have their place in maintaining the wellness of a patient?  Well, ego probably plays a significant role in this circumstance, but I wish it were that simple.

The truth is, that there are two problems at work here.  The first is that we live in a fast paced, results based society that often demands immediate results and wish for a simple injection or pill to make the patient better so that he.she may get on with his/her life.  As an example, I have a friend who suffers from Crohn’s Disease, an often debilitating inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal system.  During times when he has taken the initiative to eat a well balanced diet with a lot of unprocessed fruits and vegetables, as well as probiotics (good GI bacteria) to promote good digestion, he has felt better and done better.  But…he is a very busy man and is tired when he gets home from work, so rather take the time to prepare healthy meals for each day or even cook at home, he often survives on fast food and vending machine foods for sustenance, and to tolerate it, has to load up on antacid and GI anti-inflammatory pills for days at a time.

 The other barrier for consideration of alternative therapy is from my view, the biggest obstacle: insurance companies.  In veterinary medicine, we do not have to deal with health insurance companies nearly on the same level as on the human side, but a lot of innovation in veterinary medicine has its roots in human medicine.  Pet owners’ expectations in the treatment of their pets also has its roots in their own experience with health care…they are less likely to be open to alternative medical therapy if none are ever offered for their own care.  The bottom line is that human health insurance companies will not cover alternative medical therapy, so even in the cases of western trained doctors that see that value in it (there are many more than people realize), they will not offer it, as they are not willing to offer any forms of therapy that their patient’s insurance company will not pay for.  I had a conversation with a human medical doctor just last week who is CEO of a company that runs five physical therapy locations in the county I live.  When I mentioned to him that I offer low level laser therapy to my patients and asked if he offers it to his, he told me flat out no.  He intimated that he is thrilled to see it gaining such momentum in veterinary medicine because the data is there that proves that it works, but he cannot offer it because none of his patients’ insurance plans will cover it, end of story

In my next post/episode, I will discuss practical applications of integrative medicine that I am using in my practice.

Dr. Roger Welton is the President of Maybeck Animal Hospital in West Melbourne, FL and founder/CEO of Web-DVM.net.

Top 10 2013 Pet Resolutions; Final Thoughts 2012

Watch via live or archived video below:

 

Listen via live or archived podcast below:

Thank you for another great year helping me fulfill my dream of bringing my vision and message to pet owners all over the world. It is beyond amazing to me that what started as a pipe dream to act on my extroverted and opinionated demeanor to start talking and see if anyone would listen – starting with just under 50 listens/views per episode the first year – could lead to attracting an audience of 2000-3000 listeners per episode by BlogTalkRadio podcast/15,000-20,000 views per episode by YouTube webcast and growing each week. It is such a privilege to talk to you week in and week out.

Tonight will be my last broadcast of 2012, an episode where I will share with you my top ten list of things pet owners should strrive for in their day to day lives with their pets. This list is based on my experiences and lessons learned throughout the year that may serve to provide insight into how you may better your relationship with your pets, feed and care for them, maximize your mutual enjoyment and companionship, and avert unnecessary injury, illness, and even tragedy.

Always bear in mind that we “practice” the science and art of veterinary medicine, not master it, because our knowledge is always changing based on insights that research, scientific advances, technology, and personal experience brings us. We need to always be learning and evolving, and for veterinarians that begin to refuse to evolve or allow themselves to stay in modes of practice and philosophy that are dated and archaic…it is time to hang up the stethoscope, retire, and move on to other pursuits.

In case you haven’t noticed, I am far from that point in my career and look forward to coming to you week in and week out to share what I learn for a long time to come…11 years of practice has gone by like a flash, and I feel like I am just getting started.

Enjoy tonight’s episode, have a happy holidays, and may God bless you and your families (furry ones too!). I’ll be with you again in early January 2013!

Sincerely,

Dr. Roger

Top 10 2013 Pet Reslutions:

10.) Increase exercise, curb portions, minimize table foods, and be judicious with treats to prevent OBESITY.

9.) Keep up with regular wellness visits.

8.) Avoid discount spay/neuter clinics and SHOT WAGONS. 🙁

7.) Do not get duped by anesthesia free dentistry and the unlicensed charlatans that offer it,

6.) Resist becoming a “cornphobic.”

5.) Choose your trusted veterinarian – not internet pet forumsm groomers, and breeders – for nutrition advice for your pet.

4.) Engage in regular senior wellness screening starting at 5 years for large to giant breed dogs, 7 years for cats and small/medium dog breeds.

3.) Give to local rescue organizations: money, volunteering, opening your home to foster care.

2.) Take dentistry seriously as an integral component to pet health and wellness.

1.) Carry reputable pet insurance or engage in $50 rule (having a health care account where $50 per pet is faithfully desposited monthly) to be financially prepared for costly unexpected serious injury or illness.

Dr. Roger Welton is the President and chief veterinarian at Maybeck Animal Hospital in West Melbourne Florida, as well as CEO of the veterinary advice and health management website Web-DVM.net.

Disease preventive nutrition

Dear Listeners, Readers, and Viewers:

Tonight I will be talking about an important – and way overdue – trend in veterinary medicine, disease preventive nutrition. To segue into this topic, I have made my best effort in recent episodes to dispel myths about certain unsubstantiated notions about diets in pets, that grain free, preservative free, and expensive does not necessarily translate to a well balanced, species appropriate, and life stage appropriate diet (see my Looking for the Right Pet food episode) and that corn is not the root of all disease in dogs and cats (see my Cornphobia episode). Once pet owners are able to let go of these erroneous but frustratingly prevalent notions about pet nutrition and accept an approach to pet nutrition that is based in intensive scientific research and quantifiable and closely scrutinized feeding trials, then they will be poised to really digest what I have to offer them in this episode. To the rest that reject a practicing veterinarian’s views on pet nutrition and quantifiable scientific research with strict oversight, in lieu of pet forum fodder and unsubstantiated claims made my people with no animal medical background, there is no amount of convincing I can do to change their minds. Despite high powered telescopes clearly showing footprints, the lunar rover, and a planted American flag on the Moon, there are still those that insist on believing that the Moon landing was faked. 🙁

For those of you ready to feed diets that are geared toward preventing the 5 most common health concerns of dogs and cats, this may be the most important episode of your pets’ lives. So please tune in so that you can be poised to start 2013 by putting your pets on the path of wellness through nutrition.

Thanks as always for caring about what I have to say. 🙂

Sincerely,

Roger Welton, DVM

Episode talking points:

1) Pet wellness and health all starts with nutrition.
2.) The Hills Corporation has identified the 5 most prevalent health concerns in dogs and cats, and formulated diets to address these concerns before they arise.
3/) This new approach to pet nutrition is known as disease preventive nutrition.
4.) The diet is a veterinary exclusive line of diet called Science Diet Healthy Advantage.
5.) Healthy Advantage for cats supports optimal health with regard to teeth, immune system, GI, skin and hair coat, and urinary tract.
6.) Health Advantage for dogs supports optimal health with regard to teeth, immune system, GI, skin and hair coat, and mobility (joint health).

Dr. Roger Welton is the President and chief veterinarian at Maybeck Animal Hospital in West Melbourne Florida, as well as CEO of the veterinary advice and health management website Web-DVM.net.

What NOT to give (pet owners) this holiday season

Dear Readers, Listeners, and Viewers

The winter holiday season is a great time to give pet enthusiasts a little something special to pamper their beloved pets…but, there are some things you really should steer clear of purchasing stated furry companions, otherwise risk injury, illness, or worse. I know I may have missed the boat with some of you Black Friday and Cyber Monday crowd, but tonight, I will highlight Dr. Roger’s top ten list of pet holiday gift no-nos this holiday season.

In addition, we have 2 listener/viewer e-mail comments to address this evening. If you wish to e-mail your questions/comments to be addressed on the air, you may do so any time at comments@web-dvm.net. We are also taking live calls, so feel free to call me during the broadcast if you are a live listener/viewer.

Thanks as always, for caring about what I have to say! 🙂

Sincerely,

Roger Welton, DVM

Dr. Roger Welton is the President and chief veterinarian at Maybeck Animal Hospital in West Melbourne Florida, as well as CEO of the veterinary advice and health management website Web-DVM.net.

Post Script

You will note that I did not include talking points in this archive, as I really prefer you watch or listen to this particular episode. However, I will include my Number 1 WRONG gift to give pet owners or ANYBODY for that matter, since the majority of it got cut off from the video at the end (but not he podcast):

DO NOT GIVE ANYBODY A PET OF ANY KIND AS A GIFT FOR ANY HOLIDAY OR OCCASSION, WITH NO EXCEPTIONS!

Folks, this is the reason that we see a spike in shelter turn ins this time of year, because people are given pets as gifts that they did not want, are ill prepared for, or simply cannot accomodate. A pet is not a piece of property to be traded, bartered, passed around, or discarded…it is a living, emotional being that derseves better than to be handed a life a neglect, hardship, or even euthanasia only because some jackass thought it would be cute or fun to bestow it as a gift.

Sorry the last couple of minutes got cut off from teh video…I did not realize I went beyond my 30 minute video limit. 🙁

Cornphobia

Dear Listeners, Viewers and Readers:

In case you are curious about the title of tonight’s episode, please allow me to elaborate. The definition of Cornphobia (my definition, that is, as you will not find it in Websters Dictionary or Wikipedia) is:

The general fear among certain pet owners that the feeding of corn as an integral component to most pet foods is the root of most diseases in dogs and cats. This assertion in most cases comes, not from a veterinarian, but from correspondence with groomers, breeders, and “homeopathic” gurus either in person or, most commonly, through internet forums. This notion often takes precedence in the minds of affected pet owners to the opinion of licensed veterinarians, even in circumstances where disease specific nutrition is medically necessary to maintain the health and quality of life of a patient, and stated prescription diet is shunned or even dismissed because it contains corn.

You may note that my definition carries a bit of a facetious tone to it because, as you may have guessed my position as a doctor is that, for the lion’s share of pets, cornphobia has no medical relevance and is often engaged in to the detriment of the patient. This detriment is clearly evident when aforementioned disease specific nutrition is ignored over corn based ingredients, but also from a general standpoint when owners would be willing to choose any diet out there simply because of its lack of corn, not taking into account that the nutrient breakdown may not be species appropriate, and that such diets often do not come with the AFCO, a certification attainable only for diets that meet the minimum standards of pet nutrition and all claims have been substantiated by actual feeding trials.

This all stated, however, it would be wrong to completely dismiss cornphobia, as most urban myths/legends have some root in reality. As such, I will discuss how cornphobia likely originated, how it so effectively permeated pet owner culture, and how this all realistically pertains to you pets. So please tune in and feel free to offer your comments/concerns by e-mail or live call in (listener/viewer e-mail address is comments@web-dvm.net).

Thanks as always, for caring about what I have to say. J

Sincerely,

Roger Welton, DVM

Episode talking points:

1) There is a growing number of pet owners that feel corn is not good for dogs and cats to eat as a nutrient source that is present in most pet foods.

2.) Many pet owners go so far as to link the root of many major diseases in dogs and cats, to the feeding of pet food with corn ingredients.

3.) Many pet owners will go so far as to dismiss disease specific nutrition because a prescription disease specific diet may have corn in its ingredients.

4.) The truth is that corn is a very valuable and inexpensive source of nutrients, such as amino acids, beta carotene, B complex vitamins, fiber, and carbohydrates.

5.) We will be celebrating an upcoming holiday commemorating Native Americans coming to the aid of sick and starving European settlers, by offering them the means to grow and harvest corn, a crop that was the staple of Native American nutrition and a key to their health and ability to feed their people.

6.) Bonafide corn allergies do exist in dogs and cats, but they are rare, with corn rating higher than 25 on most food allergy statistics.

7.) Many of the corn free diets are not properly nutrient balanced for species and life stages.

8.) Many corn free diets do not have the AAFCO seal of approval, an organization that provides its seal only by a diet meeting minimum standards of pet nutrition and evidence of label claims being substantiated by actual feeding trials.

Dr. Roger Welton is the President and chief veterinarian at Maybeck Animal Hospital in West Melbourne Florida, as well as CEO of the veterinary advice and health management website Web-DVM.net.

Don’t let your pets suffer from pancreatitis

Dear Listeners, Viewers, and Readers:

Every holiday season brings with it, unique inherent dangers for our pets. Tonight, I will be talking about one such danger, a potentially deadly disease known as pancreatitis.

While this is not an uncommon disease to encounter in veterinary practice, the veterinary profession sees a significant spike in these cases every holiday season.

Tune in this evening to find out why this is the case, and what steps you can take to prevent your pets from becoming afflicted with pancreatitis, not only this holiday season, but at any time in their lives.

We also have one e-mail question to address this evening, and let’s not forget that in our new live format, we are also taking live calls. Please direct all e-mail comments/questions to comments@web-dvm.net.

Thanks for all your support and for caring about what I have to say! 🙂

Sincerely,

Roger Welton, DVM

Episode talking points:

1) Each year during the holidays, veterinarians will see many more cases of vomiting dogs than normal. These pets are often suffering from a potentially fatal disease called pancreatitis.

2) Pancreatitis is a painful condition caused by inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is an organ responsible for providing digestive enzymes as well as insulin in our pets.

3) Typically, the digestive enzymes produced by the pancreas are stored in an inactive form that is released into the intestines. Once outside of the pancreas, the enzymes are activated and begin the process of breaking down proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

4) For reasons that are not understood, occasionally the enzymes are triggered early and start damaging the pancreas and surrounding tissues. Veterinarians recognize that this can appear suddenly (acute pancreatitis) or develop slowly over time (chronic pancreatitis).

5) The two things to remember about acute pancreatitis are that it commonly occurs around the holidays and that it is VERY painful for the pet. This disease is more often seen in dogs than in cats.

6) Pet lovers often want to share some of the holiday dinner with their four legged friends, but it is believed that the fatty nature of the foods prompts the disease.

7) Pets with pancreatitis will seem to act “off” and then proceed to a painful abdomen. Diarrhea often develops and the hallmark symptom is vomiting.

8) Cats are more often afflicted with chronic pancreatitis. This is a result of long-standing inflammation and leads to irreversible damage.

9) Pets that are obese or who recently consumed a high fat meal are at highest risk for pancreatitis. Many of these pets have eaten greasy turkey, ham trimmings or even the holiday gravy.

10) Pancreatitis can also develop concurrently with other diseases like Cushing’s disease or diabetes or can occur due to some drugs, toxins or bacterial/viral infections.

11) Without treatment, pets may become dehydrated and suffer life-threatening heart arrhythmias or blood clotting issues.

12) Although there is no clear cut sign or test for pancreatitis, veterinarians may perform blood tests and x-rays in order to rule out other problems. Obstruction of the GI tract and kidney or liver disease are possible alternative causes for the clinical signs.

13) Sadly, there is no direct treatment for pancreatitis. The mainstay of treatment is to control pain and other symptoms. The pancreas can heal itself, but it is important that the affected pet avoid any food or water by mouth for several days.

14) Hospitalization is indicated along with IV fluids and other medications. Proper pain control is vital.

15) Some pets seem to get recurring bouts of pancreatitis. This could be due to a predisposition to eating the wrong things, genetic factors or even other concurrent diseases.

16) Pet owners should avoid the temptation to feed the pet from the table, especially leftover turkey or ham. Also, be aware of any changes in your pet’s stance or eating behavior. These could be early signs of pancreatitis.

17) Call your veterinarian immediately if any of these symptoms are noted…it could save your pet’s life!

Dr. Roger Welton is the President and chief veterinarian at Maybeck Animal Hospital in West Melbourne Florida, as well as CEO of the veterinary advice and health management website Web-DVM.net.

Veterinary Technicians – Trusted Partners in your Pets’ Care

Dear Listeners, Viewers, and Readers:

Tonight, in honor of last week’s veterinary technician week, we are showcasing the unsung hero of veterinary medicine, the veterinary technician. Like their RN human medical counterparts, veterinary technicians are the work-horse of the veterinary hospital, in charge of client communication, administration of treatments, laboratory procedures and diagnostics, rehabilitation, nad much more. Unlike their RN counterparts, veterinary technicians must be educated and proficient in multiple areas of medicine, including orthopedics, clinical pathology, internal medicine, rehabilitation, radiology, and dentistry…essentially, like the veterinarian that takes on multple areas of expertise, the veterinary technician must also be able to navigate through multiple branches of medicine.

Below are the talking points for tonight’s episode. Remember, we are back to live broadcasting by both video and audio streams, so in addition to e-mailing us (comments@web-dvm.net) questions and comments to be addressed on the air, you may call in live as well.

Thanks for all your support and for caring about what I have to say!

Sincerely,

Roger Welton, DVM

Episode talking points:

1) Veterinary Technicians and veterinary assistants are an essential part of many successful veterinary practices. Their primary goal is to assist the veterinarian to ensure the best possible outcome for each and every patient.

2) In helping the doctor, technicians and assistants are called upon to be a nurse, laboratory technician, radiology technician, anesthetist, surgical nurse, grief counselor, patient comforter and client educator.

3) Veterinary technicians can also be found in research laboratories, educational centers, zoos, the military and pharmaceutical companies.

4) The first Veterinary Technology program was actually started by the Air Force in 1951.

5) A Certified, Licensed or Registered Veterinary Technician has completed a minimum of two years of schooling at one of the more than 160 accredited veterinary technology programs across the United States. A Veterinary Technologist has completed a four year, bachelor’s degree program.

6) In both cases, state veterinary practice acts require take and pass a credentialing examination. This ensures the veterinarian and the public that the student has entry level knowledge of the tasks they will be asked to perform in the hospital.

7) Veterinary assistants are also highly skilled individuals in the veterinary practice. They may receive their training through online courses, high school programs or even through a college certificate program. Many experienced veterinary assistants are simply trained “on the job”.

8) Veterinary technicians can also become spets in areas such as dentistry, anesthesiology, emergency and critical care, behavior, equine medicine, surgery, nutrition and even internal medicine.

9) Each year, the second week in October is recognized as National Veterinary Technician Week. This week celebrates the commitment that veterinary technicians and assistants give to veterinary medicine and the hard work that they do each and every day.

Dr. Roger Welton is the President and chief veterinarian at Maybeck Animal Hospital in West Melbourne Florida, as well as CEO of the veterinary advice and health management website Web-DVM.net.

Are our cats plotting against us?

Dear Listeners, Reader, and Viewers,

I am very excited about this episode, as I will be returning to my live format, BUT, in addition to addressing you live and taking live calls again, we are adding live video streaming to the mix.

As many of you are aware, I have another YouTube based show called The Web-DVM that was embedded here in addition to my podcast, where I posted scripted video news stories every other week. As many of you also have correctly observed, I have not done many of those as of late.

The truth is, I really did not enjoy that venue very much…I do not really like reading off of a teleprompter, I am not very good at it, and as many who know me well have observed, nothing of my real personality comes through that style of media. As a close friend of many years simply and bluntly put it, that show made me come off looking like I was constipated. 🙂

At any rate, while I have a great podcast following, I also have a very substantial video following that I must recognize. Some prefer to listen, while others are more visually stimulated, preferring to see the speaker’s body language and expressions to put the words in a better context for them. With the live streaming, I intend to reach both my podcast fans AND video fans all in one shot, with one broadcast.

For those that prefer to listen or watch by archive (and there are many of you) since you can catch the show at your convenience, that will not change…both video and podcast episodes will still be archived within one hour of wrap for your convenience. While this blog is the easiest place to catch either or, you may also catch the archived video webcasts and podcasts at BlogTalkRadio.com/RWDVM, and BlogTV.com/People/RWDVM, respectively.

Regarding the topic of this upcoming show, I leave that to your imagination given the cryptic title, so tune in to find out!

As always, thank you for always caring about what I have to say. 🙂

Sincerely,

Roger Welton, DVM

Episode Talking Points:

1) Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite the can infect almost all mammals and birds. Experts in zoonotic diseases estimate that about 50% of humans worldwide have this parasite.

2) The parasite is considered to be a significant concern because of its zoonotic potential. A recent study that links the presence of toxoplasma to a greater suicide risk in women has alarmed many people.

3) T. gondii has a life cycle that involves two hosts. First, wild and domestic cats are the definitive host, meaning that the parasite reproduces and is shed into the environment only through felines.

4) Cats originally become infected after eating a prey animal already infected with toxoplasma. An interesting note is that the majority of cats will only shed the oocysts (eggs) of the parasite into the environment for a short (8-21 day) period of time.

5) However, cats that are under-nourished, infected with other parasites or under stress can reshed these oocysts at later times. This makes the feral cat population a concern for the spread of this parasite.

6) Other mammals and birds can become infected from ingesting the infective oocysts. The parasite then travel via blood and lymph vessels to other tissues, such as the brain and large muscles. Here, the parasite becomes a cyst and can cause significant health problems for immune-compromised people or pregnant women.

7) Once shed into the environment, the oocysts require about 24 hours to become infective. This is important because daily cleaning of a cat’s litter box along with routine hand washing can greatly reduce any risk of contracting the parasite.

8) Although our domestic cats are often implicated in the transmission of toxoplasma, people can also become infected through eating inadequately washed raw fruits or vegetables, eating raw or undercooked meats and shellfish or even through contamination while working in the garden.

9) The study about female suicide risk did not appear to address how the women may have been infected with toxoplasma, only that antibodies to toxoplasma were present.

10) It should also be noted that many people have antibodies to toxo but don’t have any sort of active disease or suicidal tendencies.

11) The important thing to remember is that although this is a very concerning disease, there are a few simple steps that cat owners can take to minimize the risk.

12) First, keeping cats indoors will greatly decrease the potential for infection. Since cats generally obtain the parasite through their carnivorous activities, indoor cats that don’t hunt are at lower risk.

13) Next, as mentioned above, clean the litter box at least once daily. The oocyst of the parasite requires 24 hours to become infective so a daily scooping of the litter will decrease your risk AND also make your cat happier with a cleaner box!

14) Finally, follow good hygiene practices…wash your hands after handling your cat and/or the litter box and relegate the cleaning duties to someone who is generally healthy. Immuno-compromised individuals (young children, the elderly, pregnant women, etc) will be at higher risk for contracting toxoplasma and develop more severe symptoms.

15) It is NOT necessary to get rid of your cat based on this one study. Ask your veterinarian for more details about toxo and steps you can take to help prevent the disease. He or she is well-trained in understanding zoonotic diseases and will help you understand the risks.

Dr. Roger Welton is the President and chief veterinarian at Maybeck Animal Hospital in West Melbourne Florida, as well as CEO of the veterinary advice and health management website Web-DVM.net.

Jerky Treats for Pets Continue to Cause Problems

Dear Listeners, Reader, and Viewers,

Tonight (9 PM EST), I will be discussing ongoing problems with the ever favorite jerky type meat treats available for pets. Despite their pupoluarity, since 2007, they continue to be linked to serious pet illness and even cases of death. I also will be announcing my return to live podcasting with a new twist, so please be certain to tune in and find out what exciting new changes are in store for this new season’s shows.

To offer a bit of background for this episode, please refer to the talking points below. In addition to this list of talking points for tonight’s episode, there are important links available that are relevent to this evening’s topic:

1) Pet owners and veterinarians are increasingly concerned about an on-going issue with types of dog treats. Chicken jerky treats have been implicated in severe illnesses and even deaths of some pets.

2) People like these sorts of treats for their pets because of their limited ingredient list and the fact that dogs seem to absolutely love them!

3) From 2007 to date, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received more than 2200 reports of sickness in dogs, including approximately 360 deaths. Although a single brand is not to blame, almost all reports are associated with products that are made in China.

4) Symptoms of illness include: vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. Increased water consumption and increased urination are also noted in many cases.
5) Despite many warnings to the public, the treats are still available for sale and pet owners are often unaware of the dangers.

6) These treats are still on store shelves because, despite rigorous testing, a contaminant has not been found. FDA labs have ruled out bacteria, molds, heavy metals and even adulterated ingredients as the problem. Without knowing what is causing the sicknesses, the FDA cannot compel the manufacturers to recall the products.

7) Pet owners are becoming more and more vocal through social media about their concerns. Additionally, several lawsuits have been filed and the US Congress has expressed their interest in finding a resolution to this matter.

8) As with any illness, if your pet is experiencing vomiting or diarrhea, please contact your family veterinarian for advice and treatment. They are your best source for factual information and are well-equipped to help make sure that your dog will receive the highest level of medical care.

9) An unfortunate fact in all of this is that many of the reports sent to the FDA are from people who have never taken their pet to the veterinarian. This is not only potentially disastrous for the dog, but also makes it difficult to truly pinpoint the problems.

10) The bottom line is that you should avoid using these treats for your pets. Try substituting carrots, green beans or even pieces of kibble from their normal diet. You can also find recipes for making your own jerky treats online.

11) In addition, veterinarians and pet owners should report any suspect cases to http://www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints..

12) For up to date and accurate pet health information, visit the Veterinary News Network (www.MyVNN.com) and VetNewsOnline (www.VetNewsOnline.com) on Facebook.

Dr. Roger Welton is the President and chief veterinarian at Maybeck Animal Hospital in West Melbourne Florida, as well as CEO of the veterinary advice and health management website Web-DVM.net.

The Dangerous, Even Deadly, Consequences of Self Treating Pets

Dear Listeners, Viewers, and Readers,

Thanks for all of your patience ladies and gentlemen, as it has been 3 weeks since my last podcast. Other projects have kept me away from the mic, but tonight I am back, and poised to speak to you about this very important topic.

I actually had another topic prepared to discuss this evening, but a recent incident with a canine patient, brought this subject to the forefront, and I must get this off my chest.

We are a little light on the listener e-mail questions with only one this evening, probably because it has been so long since my last podcast. Please feel free to send me questions or comments to be addressed in the next upcoming episode to comments@web-dvm.net, which I promise, will not be 3 weeks from now! 🙂

Thanks as always, for caring about what I have to say! 🙂

Sincerely,

Roger Welton, DVM

Dr. Roger Welton is the President and chief veterinarian at Maybeck Animal Hospital in West Melbourne Florida, as well as CEO of the veterinary advice and health management website Web-DVM.net.