Science Studies Raw v Kibble FINALLY

The lack of science-based evidence is one of the objections to feeding dogs and cats a diet of raw meaty bones. To respond, researchers have undertaken a study to weigh the differences in raw, cooked and kibble fed to cats. We hope it portends a long look at pet food. Our fur babies deserve the best.

So, with that in mind, the objectives of this study were to determine differences in the digestibility, fecal characteristics, urine characteristics, and serum chemistry of 9 domestic cats fed 3 different diet treatments.  The dietary treatments were the raw beef-based diet that we feed to our cats at the zoo (Raw); the same diet but cooked (cooked) and a high quality grain-free kibble cat food (kibble).

H/T: Judy Frison-Schor

INDIANA Petitions for Rabies Medical Exemption

Pet owners in Indiana have launched an online petition urging the state to grant rabies medical exemption for dogs and cats judged by a licensed veterinarian to be too stressed, ill or aged to withstand rabies vaccination.

This petition by responsible pet owners requests the Indiana State Board of Animal Health to include a medical exemption clause in the Rabies Immunization Rule 5 Section 345 IAC 1-5-1 for unhealthy animals whose medical conditions have been deemed by a veterinarian to preclude immunization against rabies. A medical exemption clause would allow Indiana’s veterinarians to write waivers for animals -- such as those who have had anaphylactic reactions to vaccination, or suffer from cancer, kidney/liver failure, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, grand mal seizures, and chronic autoimmune disorders -- whose medical conditions would be exacerbated by rabies vaccination. Fifteen states currently have medical exemptions: Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

If you are an Indiana resident or know a dog or cat owner in Indiana, please sign this important petition and share the link.

Texas Study Shows Gains in Vaccination Rates After 3-Year Interval

News flash: when it comes to vaccinating companion animals against rabies, less is more. 

A new study undertaken by Austin Community College subsequent to the State of Texas adopting a 3 year rabies revaccination protocol in 2003 indicates that the fears of its opponents were unfounded. There have been no negative consequences of extending the interval between rabies shots. Indeed, the rate of vaccination among dogs and cats has improved overall.

When states or territories weigh the public health safety concerns of adopting similar requirement changes, the results of this Texas study should be considered. The hypothesized decrease in rabies vaccination rates after the introduction of a triennial vaccine interval in Texas were not realized. In fact, vaccination rates appear to have improved across the board after the code change. Even among age groups in which the annual vaccination requirement was preserved, vaccination rates increased. 

This is good news to the veterinarians who stridently opposed the rabies protocol to 3 years. Their fears that pet owners would "forget" to revaccinate and that lapsed rabies licenses would cause rabies outbreaks and so much more that never came to pass.

It's also good news for rabies law reform activists who are pushing local communities to get on board with State guidelines. Now there is empirical evidence to support the move to relax rabies control and prevention policies at the city and county level without endangering public health.

Since the 1950's, the goal of public health officials has been to vaccinate dogs against rabies to create a buffer between wildlife and humans. It has been a highly successful public safety program.

According to the Center for Disease Control in 2007, canine rabies has been eradicated from the United State.

Concomitantly, vaccine-related reactions among dogs and cats have increased. This is the unintended consequence of vaccinating the same animals annually rather than expanding the universe of animals vaccinated.

The ACC study supports the view that rabies laws can only go so far before they become counter-productive.

Due to the cost and potential for vaccine damage inherent in annual rabies vaccination, many pet owners stop vaccinating companion animals altogether. Given the opportunity to vaccinate less frequently, it appears that more pet owners are willing to comply with rabies laws.

Some time ago, National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV) made the same observation in its rabies control and prevention "bible."

The Center for Disease Control’s National Association of State Public Health Veterinarian's (NASPHV) Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control 2008 states that, “Vaccines used in state and local rabies control programs should have at least a 3-year duration of immunity. This constitutes the most effective method of increasing the proportion of immunized dogs and cats in any population (50).” They specifically warn that, “[n]o laboratory or epidemiologic data exist to support the annual or biennial administration of 3- or 4-year vaccines following the initial series.” Also endorsing the NASPHV’s Rabies Compendium are the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)[1] and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).

OT: How Old Is Your Pet?

Forget that old saw, every dog year is 7 times human years. I mean. Really.  Veterinarians are giving it a second look. A chart calculates it for both dogs and cats.

Many veterinarians agree that a pretty good guess on the age of pets can be made using the following formula. Although still simple, it is much more accurate than the seven-year method.

Assume that a 1-year-old dog is equal to a 12-year-old human and a 2-year-old dog is equal to a 24-year old human. Then add four years for every year after that. (Example: A 4-year-old dog would be 32 in human years.)

PS Please ignore all the ads for Purina Dog Food. Raw food is the best choice for your furry babies. 

New Rules for MN Veterinarians Who Give Rabies Shots

Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine has revised its practice guidance rules to curb off-label use of rabies vaccine and get the consent of pet owners before administering it contrary to the manufacturer's label directions.

Minnesota veterinarians are advised to vaccinate dogs and cats according to the recommendations of the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV) Rabies Compendium, to issue rabies certificates that accurately state the duration of immunity on the vaccine label, to obtain and document the owner's consent if administering rabies vaccines counter to the manufacturer's label and to have "credible, scientifically-based information....in the possession of the veterinarian and available for review" if the veterinarian chooses to adopt a booster protocol other than that recommended in the Compendium.

According to Kris Christine, The Rabies Challenge Fund, this is a major victory for Minnesota pet owners thanks to Jane Anderson and Chris Addington, who prompted the measure with the aid of the Rabies Challenge Fund.

Concerned at the implication that Minnesota veterinarians may be vaccinating more often than medically necessary and not informing owners, the Veterinary Board surveyed its members to learn how the rabies vaccine is currently administered and reported.

Of respondents, 90 percent were giving rabies vaccine with a three-year duration. 40% of these were repeating the vaccine more often without informing owners that the annual or bi-annual booster shot is not medically unnecessary.

Helping owners comply with local rabies prevention and control ordinances, which often require annual rabies shots, was the primary reason for the deviation. The desire to see their pet-clients more often than every three years was secondary. Unsurprisingly, no respondent said that off-label use was motivated by the income derived from yearly office visits and shots.

The Minnesota Veterinary Board, which is responsible for setting and maintaining license and minimum practice standards for all its members subsequently issued a new rule.

In general, state veterinary boards do not have the power to compel their members to follow practice rules. Their rules are more like guidelines. But publicly declaring that there is no medical necessity for annual rabies vaccine is a very strong commitment on their part. This rule puts veterinarian members on notice that they better have scientific fact in hand to back up any decision to use this potent biologic agent counter to the manufacturer's label.

It also gives Minnesota pet owners a strong stand to challenge yearly rabies shots after administration of a three-year vaccine as well as when a vet wants to vaccinate a companion animals who is ill, pregnant or stressed.

According to the label directions written by its manufacturers, rabies vaccine is "for healthy animals only."

Kudos to all who made this happen.