Weekly companion animal news: July 11, 2022

Large dogs have a higher risk of getting cancer than smaller dogs, Nationwide analysis finds

Large dogs, whether they’re mixed-breed or purebred, have a higher risk of getting cancer than smaller dogs, according to a new white paper from Nationwide. It’s the latest in the pet insurer’s series on canine cancer, part of a larger research series based on analysis of claims from 1.6 million dogs. The pattern—smaller dogs have the lowest cancer risk, medium-sized have a higher risk, and large dogs have the highest—was found across nearly every cancer type studied, including bone and lymphatic cancers. The trend holds when age is factored in. According to Nationwide, the analysis provides clinically actionable insights for veterinary care teams and pet owners. For example, since large and extra-large dogs are at increased risk of bone cancer as early as six years old, knowing what signs to watch for could help drive meaningful differences in pet health outcomes.

New document offers guidance to help veterinarians prevent antimicrobial resistance

The American Animal Hospital Association and the American Association of Feline Practitioners have published joint Antimicrobial Stewardship Guidelines for veterinarians. According to the announcement, the guidelines “present evidence-guided strategies that veterinarians and their teams can use in choosing appropriate antimicrobial therapy to best serve their patients and minimize the development of antimicrobial resistance.” The document recommends veterinarians practice effective preventive medicine and keep vaccinations updated; use alternatives to oral antibiotics such as bathing, sprays or ointments; and consider “watchful waiting” to observe whether a condition truly needs antibiotics or if patients can clear it on their own.

Fatal ‘staggering disease’ in cats may be caused by relative of rubella virus, researchers say

Researchers in Europe say they’ve found the virus that causes what’s known as the “staggering disease” in cats across the continent. The neurological disease has been known for decades in various species, recently afflicting mostly domestic cats. Symptoms include loss of ability to retract claws, tremors, seizures and loss of control of limbs. Cats with the disease stagger about as if they’re drunk. It progresses over about two weeks and there’s no known cure and very little treatment available. It’s unknown how long it takes to kill cats because most if not all victims have been euthanized for humane reasons, according to Phys.org. In a paper published on the preprint site bioRxiv (meaning it still has to be peer-reviewed), the researchers say they believe the rustrela virus is causing the disease, having found the virus in 28 of 29 brains from euthanized cats they examined. Rustrela is a relative of the rubella virus that infects humans.

New canine sedative from Dechra minimizes cardiovascular side effects, company says

Dechra has introduced Zenalpha (medetomidine and vatinoxan hydrochlorides injection) for use as a sedative and analgesic in dogs to facilitate clinical examinations, clinical procedures and minor surgical procedures. “Veterinarians routinely utilize sedatives in their daily practice to ensure the safety and comfort of their patients and the hospital team. Current canine sedatives carry some concern for cardiac function while the patient is sedated,” said Dr. Nancy Zimmerman, group business development director at Dechra. “Zenalpha’s innovative combination of medetomidine and vatinoxan addresses one of those key concerns about patient safety during sedation by minimizing cardiovascular side effects.”

Young, male, urban dogs more likely to get leptospirosis than other dogs, analysis finds

Young male dogs in cities were found to have a higher risk than other dogs of contracting leptospirosis, according to a new analysis done in Canada. The province of Nova Scotia had the highest percentage in the country of dogs testing positive for the potentially deadly bacterial infection, according to the analysis of more than 10,000 positive cases of the disease in dogs from clinics across Canada over a 10-year period. The rate of cases in Nova Scotia was 19%, followed by Ontario at 10%. “When we see numbers that come that high in close to 20%, I would argue that’s quite concerning,” said Dr. Jason Stull, an assistant professor at the Atlantic Veterinary College, where the study was conducted. The analysis found that dogs have a higher risk of contracting leptospirosis if they are male, less than a year old, a smaller breed and live in an urban area. “I think that lepto is a lot more prevalent than we think it is,” said one Halifax veterinarian. “Just because we only get five to 10 positive tests doesn’t mean that there’s not more out there.” The CBC reports.

Scientists and doctors worry about the growing spread of ticks in New York

Researchers in New York are increasingly concerned with the expanding territory of ticks in the state, which means more cases of new tick-borne illnesses. Given climate change and other environmental factors, ticks in New York and across the country have been expanding their reach. Often using themselves as bait, researchers are trying to track the threat. While the pandemic has disrupted some of this work, experts say that a dozen or more distinct species have now been found in New York, including new arrivals like the Asian long-horned tick. This one is concerning because females can reproduce without mating with males, and the ticks often attack en masse, sometimes bleeding cattle to death. Clinicians and researchers are also watching expanding caseloads of the tick-related conditions anaplasmosis and babesiosis, including in northern and central New York, where these types of diseases were once almost unknown, The New York Times reports.

Bond Vet launches lecture series for veterinary nurses and assistants

The veterinary clinic chain Bond Vet is launching TechTalks, a mentorship and educational program for veterinary nurses and assistants. The lecture series will feature licensed and often specialized technicians with extensive experience, according to the announcement. “TechTalks was launched to provide our support team with a fun and collaborative environment to build relationships and empower themselves with continuing education knowledge,” said Kara Shaffer, a licensed veterinary technician and operations senior associate at Bond Vet.

Seal deaths off Maine this summer are linked to avian influenza, government officials say

Seals are becoming stranded and dying off Maine at an unusually high rate this summer because of avian influenza, the federal government said last week. USDA confirmed that samples from four Maine seals tested positive for the virus. The animals all died or required euthanasia, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Marine mammal rescuers started to notice an unusually high number of seal strandings in June, at which point USDA conducted the tests. The rate of dead seal strandings in Maine is about three times the normal rate for the summer and is close to 60, NOAA said. The source of the bird flu outbreak among seals is being investigated. “There is a national outbreak of avian flu happening, so that was the cause of concern for these animals,” said NOAA spokesperson Allison Ferreira. The Associated Press reports.