American Dog Tick

The C. felis parasite usually lives within the white and red blood cells of a bobcat. The bobcat does not typically become clinically ill, and as many as 60% of the population can be persistently infected. Domestic cats are exposed when an American Dog Tick transmits the parasite through saliva after having fed on the blood of an infected bobcat.

After transmission, there is a period of one to two weeks during which the infected cat does not show any signs of illness. In this stage the parasite reproduces within white blood cells. These cells will continue to enlarge with the growing number of parasites. Eventually, parasite reproduction leads to white blood cells so large they block capillaries and cause widespread tissue damage. The cells eventually burst and release the parasite into circulation to invade the red blood cells. Once the tissue damage begins and the red blood cells are infected the cat generally has a very high fever, lethargy, dehydration, and icterus (yellowing of skin).

Diagnosis usually consists of visualizing the parasite within the red blood cells, although in some cases tissue biopsy or other special laboratory tests will be used. Treatment involves supportive care with intravenous fluids, blood transfusion, and parasiticidal drugs. However, even with aggressive therapy, very few cats survive. The disease has a rapid course and the time from diagnosis to death is measured in hours or days.

As with all tick borne diseases, the cornerstone of prevention is limiting access to tick infested areas. Most cases are reported March through September and keeping cats indoors during this time should limit exposure. If that is not possible, a tick control product such as Frontline should be used.

Xylitol is a sweetener with 40% fewer calories than sugar and some reported health advantages not normally associated with sugar alternatives. Clinical studies have suggested xylitol can reduce the incidence of tooth decay, complement fluoride in dental health products and possibly reduce the occurrence of common ear infections in children. Xylitol is widely approved for use in foods, oral hygiene products, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals throughout the world. It is a popular sweetener and is most commonly found in sugar-free gum and other “diabetic” type foods - sugarless cookies, etc. Pure xylitol is a white crystalline substance that looks and tastes like sugar. It has been used as a sugar substitute since the 1960s.

In humans, xylitol has little to no effect on insulin or glucose levels. However, in dogs xylitol strongly stimulates insulin release and can lead to a severe drop in blood sugar. Symptoms can include ataxia (incoordination), collapse, and seizures. Reports indicate as little as one to two pieces of sugar-free gum could be toxic to a five pound dog. At higher doses, irreversible liver damage can occur in susceptible animals. While some dogs develop elevations in liver enzymes for a period of 8 to 12 hours after consuming xylitol and then fully recover, others develop acute liver failure, hemorrhage, internal coagulation abnormalities, and often die. Most of these dogs do not display obvious signs of low blood sugar after ingesting xylitol and do not become ill until almost 48 hours later.

If your dietary requirements include the use of products that contain xylitol, be sure to keep these items well out of the reach of your canine companions. For more information on how to protect your pets against accidental poisonings, visit the ASPCA Poison Control Center web pages at http://www.aspca.org.
 

Simple preventive measures will increase the likelihood of a lost companion’s reunion with its family.

All pets should wear collars with both a rabies tag and an identification tag at all times. Proper identification tags are the most immediate way for a companion to be returned home.

Have you recently checked your pet’s tags to ensure that they are current?

In addition, microchips provide an effective second level of protection if a pet becomes separated from its collar and tags. Veterinary clinics, animal shelters, and humane societies scan lost animals using a handheld scanner. If a chip is detected, the appropriate database is contacted to reunite the pet with its owner.

Providing your dog or cat with both tags and a microchip can help ensure a happy reunion if a beloved pet becomes lost.