Mission Valley Pet Sitting Services

“Woodruff and Smith, with the help of the Social Science Research Center’s Wolfgang Frese Survey Research Laboratory, surveyed 413 animal shelters across the country. The survey was limited to brick-and-mortar shelters and those that adopt out dogs. They also compared animal shelter lists from different sources to estimate the number of shelters in the U.S. The survey results were extrapolated to create a nationwide picture of the movement of dogs into and out of shelters.

The study found that shelters take in 5.5 million dogs every year, 2.6 million dogs are adopted from shelters, 969,000 are returned to an owner, 778,000 are transferred and 776,000 are euthanized.”

Canine Vasectomies 

                              by Nancy Kay, DVM

"Do you know that vasectomy surgery can be performed on dogs? Indeed this is true, and, as we learn more and more about the impacts of traditional canine neutering (castration), vasectomy surgery is becoming increasingly popular.What exactly is a vasectomy?Whether performed on a human or a dog, vasectomy surgery involves clamping, cutting, or ligating (tying off) the vas deferens, the duct that transports sperm out of the testicle and into the semen. Local anesthesia is all that is needed to accomplish this surgery in men. (Most men will lie still when told to do so.) Vasectomy surgery is performed in dogs using general anesthesia. Vasectomy versus castration. Castration is referred to as “neutering” because the reproductive organs (testicles) are removed. With vasectomy surgery, the testicles remain in place, so the dog is not considered to be “neutered.”Whether castrated or vasectomized, the end result is a sterile dog. And, there is a period of surgical recovery with both procedures. Castration tends to be a “bigger deal” surgery in that the incisions are larger and there is more overall tissue trauma. Performed by someone with significant experience, a vasectomy tends to be considered a relatively minor procedure.The testicles are where testosterone is produced. So, it makes sense that castration (removal of both testicles) reduces testosterone production to almost nil. A very small amount of testosterone continues to be produced by the adrenal glands. Vasectomized dogs maintain normal testosterone production.Choosing whether or not your dog should live his life with or without testosterone is a big-deal decision these days. There is mounting evidence (pun intended) that removal of testosterone, particularly in dogs under a year of age, might be associated with negative health implications. There are plenty of pros and cons to consider, and they should be discussed at length with a veterinarian you hold in high regard. Be sure to do some investigating yourself. I have compiled a bibliography on canine spay/neuter research, including that which is most current. Please shoot me an email if you would like a copy.Be forewarned. If you opt to sterilize your dog via vasectomy, here are some things to consider:– There is no “Vasectomy 101” course being taught in veterinary schools (yet). Most veterinarians who perform vasectomies are somewhat self-taught. While this surgery is pretty darned simple, be sure that you are working with a surgeon who has several vasectomies under his or her belt (pun intended). If you are having difficulty finding an experienced surgeon, look for a surgical specialist. He or she will be able to handle your request.– If ever you become unhappy with the role testosterone is playing in your vasectomized dog’s life (he’s humping everything in sight, he’s jumping the fence to be with the neighbor’s dog who is in heat), you can always opt for castration at a later date.– Following vasectomy surgery, a male dog can successfully breed for up to two months. Do not let your vasectomized dog interact with a female in heat during this time period.– You might be ostracized and/or interrogated at dog parks and other public venues where only neutered dogs (those without reproductive organs) are allowed.– Proprietors of doggie day care facilities may refuse your vasectomized dog because they hold negative and sometimes inaccurate impressions of testosterone-driven behaviors."

Lots to think about here but it is great to have an alternative..

"For the first time in a very long time, a new drug has been approved for dogs with lymphoma. The drug is called Tanovea-CA1 and it is produced by VetDC Inc., a startup company associated with Colorado State University. Earlier this month, Tanovea-CA1 received conditional approval from the Food and Drug Administration for treatment of dogs with lymphoma.What is lymphoma?Lymphoma is one of the most commonly diagnosed forms of cancer in dogs. Golden Retrievers are the unfortunate poster-puppies for this disease. Lymphoma arises from lymphocytes, normal white blood cells involved in the immune system. In dogs, lymphoma most commonly arises within the lymph nodes, spleen, and bone marrow, but because lymphocytes circulate virtually everywhere, it makes sense that lymphoma can grow anywhere within the body.Lymphoma cells tend to be quite responsive to chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and it’s not unusual to achieve complete remission (no obvious trace of the cancer remaining) in response to treatment. What is very rare, however, is for lymphoma to be cured. Invariably, there is relapse of the cancer. While “rescue chemotherapy protocols” are often capable of zapping the cancer back into remission, over time those crafty lymphoma cells figure out how to develop significant drug resistance. With rare exception, lymphoma is a terminal disease.Tanovea-CA1The active ingredient in Tanovea-CA1 is rabacfosadine, first developed for use as a cancer-fighting drug in people. In dogs rabacfosadine has been documented to have anti-tumor activity in “naïve” lymphoma patients (those who have not yet been treated) as well as in those with a relapse of their cancer following treatment with other chemotherapy drugs. Tanovea-CA1 is an every-three-week treatment administered intravenously for up to five dosages. For now, Tanovea-CA1 has received “conditional” FDA approval, meaning it can be given to a dog for up to one year. The conditional approval may be extended with ongoing evidence of effectiveness. How does Tanovea-CA1 compare?The gold standard treatment for canine lymphoma utilizes a drug called doxorubicin that is often combined with three other drugs (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone) in what is called a CHOP protocol.In a study combining Tanovea and doxorubicin in 54 dogs with lymphoma, an 81% positive response rate was observed. This Tanovea/doxorubicin one-two punch was found to be generally safe and well tolerated.The rate of response and duration of remission using the Tanovea/doxorubicin combination were both comparable to CHOP regimen results. Here’s the big difference. The CHOP protocol typically requires 12 to 16 treatment visits to complete. The Tanovea/doxorubicin treatment protocol was accomplished in only six visits. What a monumentally positive difference this would make, not only for the dogs, but for their human companions as well. I don’t yet know how pricing of the two protocols compares.From my point of view, this is really great news on the canine lymphoma front. I’m on board with anything that makes effective treatment of this disease more efficient and less taxing for everyone involved."

     Support For Responsible Breeding by Nancy Kay, DVMThe American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) Animal Welfare Committee has proposed a policy pertaining to breeding of dogs, cats, and other companion animals. The policy titled, “Inherited Disorders in Responsible Breeding of Companion Animals” is up for approval when members of the AVMA House of Delegates meet later this month.The policy reads as follows:The AVMA supports the responsible breeding of companion animals such that only animals without deleterious inherited disorders are selected for breeding. Companion animals exhibiting inherited characteristics that negatively affect the animal’s health and welfare should not be bred, as those characteristics and related problems are likely to be passed on to their progeny. This would include inherited conditions such as brachycephalic syndrome, some joint diseases, bone deformation (e.g., radial hypoplasia “twisty cats”, munchkin), heart and eye conditions, or poor temperament (e.g., Springer rage syndrome). The AVMA encourages veterinarians to educate breeders, pet owners and the public on the responsibilities involved with breeding and selecting pets to ensure that they are not contributing to poor welfare issues.The potential impact of the policyAssuming the AVMA will adopt this policy in January (they darned well better!), how will this policy statement be put to use? It’s not as though the AVMA has any direct control over the actions of people who want to breed their animals.It sounds like the intent of this policy is to give veterinarians a kick in the pants to have more intentional conversation with their clients about breeding their pets (or not breeding them). Every veterinarian has exposure to irresponsible breeding yet, goodness knows, most of us have been far too silent on this topic. Guaranteed, there’s not a veterinarian whose been in practice for more than a few years who hasn’t been in the exam room with a sobbing client while euthanizing a beloved pet because of an inherited defect. And we’ve all examined animals with faddish extremes of conformation that we know will ultimately result in pain and suffering. How many of us have performed artificial insemination and cesarean sections on dogs who are unable to breed and whelp normally on their own?Without question the majority of veterinarians could be doing a much better job advocating for responsible breeding practices. Perhaps this AVMA policy will help us step closer to this goal.It’s about time!While I’m certainly pleased to see that the AVMA is considering this policy, part of me wants to ask, “Where have you been all my life?” To my way of thinking, not only is this policy a “no brainer” now, it would have been so when my career began some 30 plus years ago. Call me impatient, but I can’t help but wonder why good things take so friggin’ long to come to fruition within large organizations. The bottom line is, whether now or then, anything that favors responsible breeders and removes others from the gene pool makes really good sense.How do you feel about this policy? Thumbs up or thumbs down?If you would like to respond publicly, please visit: http://www.speakingforspot.com/blog/?p=5348.Best wishes,Nancy Kay, DVMDiplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Author of Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life
Author of Your Dog's Best Health: A Dozen Reasonable Things to Expect From Your Vet
Recipient, Leo K. Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award
Recipient, American Animal Hospital Association Animal Welfare and Humane Ethics Award
Recipient, Dog Writers Association of America Award for Best Blog
Recipient, Eukanuba Canine Health Award
Recipient, AKC Club Publication Excellence Award