TOP DOG!
Ivermectin Toxicity in Dogs (Courtesy of Bend Equine Medical Center, April 2014, posted on Facebook)
M
eet Oliver Lotter! Oliver is being highlighted today to remind us all of an important concern regarding Ivermectin dewormer. Oliver is an Australian Shepherd owned by Maria Lotter, a client of Bend Equine. Maria recently performed her routine Spring deworming to her horses with an Ivermectin product. The following day, Oliver began showing signs of neurologic disease (unable to rise, drooling, panting, urinary incontinence, blindness). Maria rushed him to the Animal Emergency Center in Bend where they diagnosed him with Ivermectin Toxicity. Oliver spent 7 days in the intensive care unit and is now recovering at home. He is still not back to his normal self and his veterinarian believes it could take another couple of weeks to return to normal. WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS? 1. Certain dog breeds have a gene mutation that causes them to be prone to Ivermectin Toxicity. These breeds include but are not limited to Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs, Australian Shepherds, English Shepherds, and Old English Sheep Dogs. A test is now available through
Washington State University to determine if dogs have the gene that causes Ivermectin sensitivity. 2. Dogs can be exposed to Ivermectin after eating horse’s manure that have been treated with Ivermectin. Horses pass the Ivermectin treated feces for 9 hours to 11 days after being treated. 3. Onset of clinical signs of toxicity in the dog occurs 4-12 hours after exposure. Signs include: depression, disorientation, vocalization, stupor, ataxia, tremors, vomiting, not eating, unable to rise, blindness, seizures, coma, and death. It is very important that you keep dogs out of the area while horses are being dewormed with Ivermectin or moxidectin (Quest) to prevent accidental exposure of sensitive dogs to spilled product and, as mentioned above, exposure of dogs that eat horse manure even up to 11 days after deworming. Oliver was very lucky to have a diligent owner that noticed the toxicity quickly and to have had excellent care at the Animal Emergency Clinic in Bend. We all wish him a speedy recovery!
Dog Facts… Did You Know? (Courtesy of www.puppyleaks.com)
D
ogs can recognize Hundreds of Words Dogs can recognize over 250 words, they can count to 5 and they can complete simple mathematical equations. Chaser the Border Collie, often called the world’s smartest dog, knows over 1000 words. If your dog doesn’t know 250 words don’t worry, he’s not
alone; the average dog knows about 165. Dogs are as Intelligent as a 2-year old Child One of our favourite doggie facts is that scientists consider them just as smart as a small child. Our dogs are way smarter than we give them credit for. Experts say our dogs are about as intelligent as a 2-year-old child. Dogs can Hear four times Better than Us Dogs have twice as many ear muscles as humans, and it’s estimated that they can hear sounds four times better than us. And that head tilting? It helps them hone in on distant sounds. The first Mammal to orbit Earth was a Stray Dog One of our favourite dog facts is why I named my dog Laika. A Russian stray dog named Laika was the first living mammal to orbit Earth in 1957. And although her journey ended tragically she is remembered today as a hero.
Laika
About 30% of Dogs surrendered to Shelters are Purebred Contrary to popular belief shelter and rescue dogs aren’t just mutts. Approximately 1/3 of dogs surrendered to shelters are purebred. MAY 2018
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