DNA Tests for Pets Help Us Understand Genetic Disease

Transcript from this week’s episode of The Web-DVM:

For thousands of years, humans have selectively bred a variety of domesticated animals, creating many different breeds. While these historic breeders were focused on producing the highest quality of wool from sheep or the muscular build of a Rottweiler, they were unaware of other, more destructive traits that were passed on as well.

Genetics is the science of heredity and how specific physical traits are passed from generation to generation in any organism. Serious, life threatening diseases are also often governed by our genes and this holds true for pets and other animals as well.

Take Penny, for instance. She was a Pembroke Welsh Corgi, a breed of dog known for excellent cattle herding skills. Sadly, these Corgis are also known for a genetic condition known as Degenerative Myelopathy, or DM. This disease essentially causes damage along the spinal cord, leading to progressively worsening weakness in the rear legs. Eventually, Penny was unable to move her rear legs due to paralysis. She was humanely euthanized after a long life with a family she adored.

DM is not a treatable disease, but scientists have now pinpointed the mutation responsible for this illness. Recent research has shown that only dogs who receive a copy of the mutated gene from both parents will develop the condition. This is known as a “recessive trait”.

Not all genetic diseases are this simple. Some are passed as dominant traits, some are linked to specific physical attributes and still others have multiple genes affecting the eventual outcome. Even the environment can influence the process of the disease or condition.

Dr. Gus Cothran, professor at Texas A & M University’s College of Veterinary Medicine says that genetic testing will continue to prove to be of great value to veterinarians and even pet owners. “Imagine doing blood tests to find animals that are carrying certain mutations that might lead to deleterious conditions or diseases. Now, we can remove these animals from breeding programs before they are bred and help reduce the incidence of some very serious problems in our domesticated animals.”

Tests for degenerative myelopathy in dogs and polycystic kidney disease in cats are just two of the dozens of genetic screenings that are now available. Facilities like Texas A&M’s Animal Genetics Lab and the University of California at Davis’ Veterinary Genetics Lab provide testing for animals ranging from our dogs and cats all the way up to horses, llamas, pigs and cattle.

While these tests may not remove the possibility of genetic disease, they still can be very valuable. Knowing the chance for disease exists can prompt pet owners and veterinarians to start intervention programs, such as swimming or increased exercise in the case of Corgis, which might delay the onset or progression of the condition.

Anyone interested in breeding domestic animals should familiarize themselves with the potential for genetic diseases. Your veterinarian can be very helpful in determining what kind of conditions are considered hereditary and even help you find the resources to test the animals you want to breed.
This is Roger Welton reporting, for The Web-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.

Why cats should be kept indoors. Is anesthesia free dentistry for real?

Airs Wed, May 2, 2012, 9PM EST. Listen to this podcast directly from my show page by CLICKING HERE.

Dear Listeners, Viewers, and Readers: This evening, I will likely be peeving off some cat owners, as I will be discussing why I feel very strongly that cats should not be allowed free roam outside. Even if you disagree with my stance, please tune in anyway, as everyone at least deserves a listen. At any rate, after I offer my reasons on the air, if you still disagree with me, you can broadcast your disagreement for many to hear by posting an e-mail comment that I will read on the air next show, or all of you deserve a fair listen as well.

I also will be delving into a new fad that has garnered some attention, anesthesia free dentistry for dogs and cat. Can this really be done? Tune in and find out.

As always, I invite you to post comments right here at the blog or submit e-mail comments/questions to be addressed by me on the air, by sending them to comments@web-dvm.net.

Thank you as always for caring about what I have to say!

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.

Spinal injuries: prevention, recognition, treatment options.

Airs Wed March 28, 2012, 9PM EST. Listen to this podcast directly from my show page by CLICKING HERE.

Dear Listeners, Viewers, and Readers:

Tonight’s episode deals with a very common disease area in dogs and cats: the spine and spinal cord. Most pet owners would likely be astounded by the frequency with which I see injuries and disease of the spine, a frequency which approaches 3-5 newly diagnosed cases per week. Whether we are dealing with simple muscle strains, intervertebral disc injuries, autoimmune disease, infection, vascular accidents, or degenerative spinal disease, the bottom line is this: disease of this region is common, and recognizing it as soon as possible to get treatment on board ASAP is the most effective way to deal with it.

This evening, I will tell you how to recognize disease of the spine and spinal cord, as well as highlight treatment options and prognosis for given disease ailments. If you have a dog or cat that suffers from chronic spinal disease, pay particular attention, as I will also be discussing the latest advances in treating the most common spinal diseases.

As always, I invite you to post comments right here at the blog or submit e-mail comments/questions to be addressed by me on the air, by sending them to comments@web-dvm.net.

Thank you as always for caring about what I have to say!

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.

What does it take to become a veterinarian?

CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO AT MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Transcript from this week’s episode of The Web-DVM:

Whether meeting a client for the first time, it’s not unusual for a veterinarian to hear something similar to “Oh, I always wanted to be a veterinarian!” Veterinary medicine consistently ranks among the most respected and admired professions. Pet owners and animal lovers do think highly of veterinarians, but many don’t know about the incredible schooling these animal doctors must complete.

Additionally, when asked what a veterinarian does, most people will respond with a phrase about “taking care of animals.” While that is certainly true, most are unaware of the incredible diversity of careers found in the veterinary profession. Not only do veterinarians care for our companion animals and our livestock, but they are also found doing important research that benefits both people and pets. Veterinarians are active in the military and in the public health sector.

So, what does it take to become a veterinarian?

First, good grades throughout high school and an undergraduate program in college are essential. Course work should be strong in math and sciences, but it is also important for the student to be well rounded.

These early years are also a great time to focus on finding a job or volunteer opportunity that gives hand on experiences with animals. Veterinary hospitals and animal shelters often accept school age volunteers, but don’t forget about the possibilities offered by Future Farmers of America programs or the local 4H.

After a minimum of four years of undergraduate work, the process for applying to veterinary school can begin. Competition for the open spots is extremely fierce. There are only 28 schools of veterinary medicine in the United States with 4 in Canada and another 4 located in the Caribbean. Compare that to the 134 human medical schools in the US!

Once accepted, new veterinary students will find that their school days will be very regimented and filled with an incredible amount of information. For the first two years, the focus is on the sciences. Lectures on the anatomy of various animal species, physiology, microbiology and many more subjects are the focus on the student’s days.

Then, as the students progress into their third and fourth years, all of the information they committed to memory can now be used in a practical manner as they move towards more hands on work in the veterinary teaching hospitals and labs. These “soon to be veterinarians” also find opportunities to assist in surgeries, extensive dental procedures and, of course, daily rounds with the attending veterinarians at the hospital.

When graduation finally arrives, the learning and education process is not over for these brand new animal doctors. In order to practice veterinary medicine, new graduates must pass national and state board exams. Then, even as they are learning the expertise of daily routines at their new job, continuing education (CE) is a requirement of all veterinarians.

As you can see, becoming a veterinarian not only takes passion and intelligence, but a fair amount of sacrifice and commitment as well. The degree of “Doctor of Veterinary Medicine” or “Veterinary Medical Doctor” is one of diversity and certainly a rewarding profession.
This is Roger Welton Reporting, for The Web-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.

Recuperating!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO AT MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Greetings Pet Owners:

I just got back from competing in the Nautica South Beach (Miami) Triathlon, and as such, I do not have a new video for you today. Please enjoy the re-run above of a popular video I posted earlier this season about smoking and pets, as my body recuperates from the pounding it just took.

I will be posting a new video Wednesday, April 11, 2012, detailing what it takes to become a veterinarian. This will likely be an eye opener for many people that faithfully bring their pets to us for health care, yet never really knew what journey brought us here.

For those interested in making an actual career as a veterinarian, this upcoming episode will most most helpful, as it will give you an idea of the amount of preparation, rigorous study, and years of sacrifice necessary to achieve a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. It certainly is much more than just playing with cute, fuzzy creatures all day, although I must admit…that is one part of the joys of my job. 🙂

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.

Keeping pets healthy, keeps your family healthy

Airs Wed March 28, 2012, 9PM EST. Listen to this podcast directly from my show page by CLICKING HERE.

Dear Listeners, Viewers, and Readers:

This evening, I am following up on my latest You Tube show, The Web-DVM, which was an objective outlook on recent news reports that were sparked by a 2010 journal article written by veterinarian, Dr. Bruno Chomel, warning against the dangers of sleeping in bed with one’s pets. In this video cast, I acknowledged that the dangers these news reports warned of are real, but that for the sake of attracting an audience, were a bit overblown and I ventured to present it more realistically and less sensationally.

I personally am not against people sharing their bed with their pets, but I am against people sharing their beds with pets that are not properly monitored and cared for properly to keep them free of disease that is potentially communicable to humans. I am especially against this when it comes to children sleeping pets not properly cared for. Sometimes this lack of proper preventive and wellness care that protects both pets and the family they live with is due to pet owner apathy, laziness, stubbornness, or cheapness. For others, the intentions may be there, but the information has not yet come their way. This evening’s broadcast is for the latter, and I will be highlighting diseases and less than ideal circumstances where pets can pose an infectious disease risk to their human families, as well as how to prevent those diseases and less than ideal circumstances. This goes far beyond just vaccines folks, so be sure to tune in and find out how you can protect your family, while still enjoying the unconditional love of your pet.

As always, I invite you to post comments right here at the blog or submit e-mail comments/questions to be addressed by me on the air, by sending them to comments@web-dvm.net.

Thank you as always for caring about what I have to say!

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.

Sleeping With Pets…Deadly Nightmare or Sweet Dreams?

CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO AT MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Transcript from this week’s episode of The Web-DVM:

Most pet owners don’t read or keep copies of the periodical, Emerging Infectious Diseases. But, when a newspaper cited this journal in an article describing the dangers of sleeping with pets, people took notice. When the same story was repeated hundreds of times, across all kinds of markets over 18 months, more and more individuals began to wonder if their pets should be on the floor instead of their bed.

It all started in 2010 when a professor at the University of California at Davis, Dr. Bruno Chomel, published an article stating that sleeping with your pets includes the possible risk of zoonotic disease. Zoonoses are illnesses that have the potential of spreading from animals to people.

Despite knowing that it would be an unpopular opinion, Dr. Chomel flatly stated that “pets don’t belong in your bed.” News outlets across the country took the opportunity to share this information with their audiences, generating headlines like “Sleeping With Pets Can Endanger Your Health”.

Make no mistake, the risks of contracting a disease or a parasite are very real. Fungal diseases like ringworm, bacterial infections like the plague and even certain parasites are all capable of transmission from our pets directly to us. The real questions, though, are just how common are these issues and what can pet owners do to prevent the diseases?

The good news is that it is not difficult to prevent or minimize the risks for zoonotic diseases. Dr. Elizabeth Bradt, a veterinarian in Salem, MA says that “maintaining good hygiene practices and always washing your hands after interacting with your pet goes a long way to prevent these sorts of problems.”

Beyond routine hygiene, regular preventive care for your pets is another great safety precaution that any pet owner can take to avoid zoonotic diseases. Pet owners should carefully consider their veterinarian’s recommendations in order to keep the whole family healthy.

As an example, fleas are the natural carriers of the bacteria causing the plague. Keeping pets on safe and effective flea medications can help prevent this deadly illness. In a case listed in Dr. Chomel’s article, a young boy contracted plague because he slept with his flea infested cat. If this cat had been on a flea preventive, the likelihood of the boy contracting this illness would have been greatly reduced.

Dr. Bradt also says that “the bottom line is that you can catch a disease from your pet whether you sleep with them or not. There is nothing inherently dangerous about sleeping with a pet.” Don’t let unfounded fears keep you from the unconditional love of a pet. Ask your veterinarian how you can keep your pet healthy and a part of your family.

So, what about those headlines? Keep in mind that any news media outlet has a strong desire to keep and build their audience. Controversial and edgy subjects will always draw or “hook”, more viewers and readers. The media was not purposefully misleading anyone; they simply were doing their job and encouraging people to “tune in at 11:00”!

This is Roger Welton reporting, for The Web-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.

Separation anxiety with special guest, Steve Brooks, CPDT

Airs Wed March 14, 2012, 9PM EST. Listen to this podcast directly from my show page by CLICKING HERE.

Dear Listeners, Viewers, and Readers:

Tonight I will be discussing the common behavioral disorder in dogs known as separation anxiety. You are in for a treat tonight, as I have the pleasure of discussing this topic with L.A. based Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Steve Brooks. From recognizing the problem, to managing dogs affected with this behavioral issue, Steve enlightens us on all aspects of this long recognized behavioral disease in dogs. For more about Steve, his expertise, and services, we encourage you to visit SteveBrooksK9U.

As always, I invite you to post comments right here at the blog or submit e-mail comments/questions to be addressed by me on the air, by sending them to comments@web-dvm.net.

Thank you 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.

Spring Break

CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO AT MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Dear Fans:

I will be taking this week off for a little “spring break” to play catch up with various matters at my clinic that need to be addressed, as well as prepare for the rest of my spring media season. For my podcast fans, I will be returning with a new show airing Wed, March 14, 2012, with a special interview with canine behaviorist Steve Brooks. He will be educating us about the common canine behavioral disorder, separation anxiety, while taking behavioral questions from listeners submitted by e-mail (comments@web-dvm.net). Feel free to post your behavioral question to be addressed by Steve on the air.

I will return with a new YouTube webcast Wed, March 21, 2012. In the mean time, please enjoy this popular repeat episode from earlier this season. I look forward to talking to you all again soon! Thanks for your support!

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.

Raw food diet controversy

Airs Wed February 29, 2012, 9PM EST. Listen to this podcast directly from my show page by CLICKING HERE.

Dear Listeners, Viewers, and Readers:

Tonight I will be tackling the ever so controversial raw diet movement. I will present you with the history of who started this movement, what the theory behind it was, whether or not it is as effective as its proponents say it is, whether or not it is as dangerous as its opponents say it is.

This is one of the most polarizing topics in the animal care industry, so I am looking foreward to listener feedback. As always, I invite you to post comments right here at the blog or submit e-mail comments/questions to be addressed by me on the air, by sending them to comments@web-dvm.net.

Thank you 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.