Hi Dr. Barchas,
I know that the feline rabies vaccine has been associated with fibrosarcomas at the site of injection. Is it possible for the vaccine to cause tumors in other locations? Someone told me that the three-year rabies vaccine was more likely to cause cancer - is this true?

Tera
Columbus, OH

You have asked some very good questions. I’ll do my best to answer each of them.

Vaccine-associated fibrosarcomas are cancers that develop rarely at the site of rabies or feline leukemia vaccines. They appear to occur only in cats. The cause of the tumors is very poorly understood.

The cancers develop at the site of injection. I have not seen any reports of vaccines causing tumors in distant locations. Therefore, it is extremely unlikely that your cat’s abdominal tumor was linked to a vaccine. Fibrosarcomas can develop naturally, and if your cat suffered from a fibrosarcoma in her abdomen it likely occurred spontaneously. I sincerely doubt that your decision to vaccinate your cat contributed to her death.

Three-year rabies vaccines usually contain a component called adjuvant that is designed to help stimulate the immune system. One-year vaccines generally do not contain this component. Some people have hypothesized that adjuvant contributes to fibrosaroma development. These people therefore speculate that the one-year vaccine may be less likely to cause cancer than the three-year vaccine. I have not seen conclusive proof of this.

For instance, some studies have suggested that merely inserting a needle into the skin may trigger a cascade of inflammation that ultimately leads to cancer. This implies that the adjuvant is not to blame.

Also, remember that one-year vaccines must be given three times as often as three-year vaccines. The relevant question therefore is whether one-year vaccines are three times less likely to lead to cancer.

A few years ago I attended a lecture by a representative of a company that produces one-year, non-adjuvanted feline rabies vaccines. After the lecture I cornered her (literally–she was trying to get away and I backed her into a corner) and asked the following question. I remember it verbatim.

Can you provide quantitative evidence that three-year vaccines are three times more likely to cause cancer as your one-year, non-adjuvanted vaccine?

Her answer was no. To this day I have not seen any study that proves that three one-year vaccines are safer than one three-year vaccine (if anyone is aware of such a study, please let me know).

It is unlikely that your remaining cat will develop a fibrosarcoma from her rabies vaccine. Fibrosarcomas develop in approximately one out of every 3000 - 10,000 cats that receive the vaccine. I have no reason to believe that your cat is at increased risk.

Although vaccine-associated fibrosarcomas are not common, I still recommend that you never accept a one-size-fits-all vaccination plan for your pet. Good vets always are willing to talk about the risks and benefits of vaccination. Make an informed decision.

Photo: Myriah after removal of a vaccine-associated fibrosarcoma.

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I was wondering what are the “official” signs of an insane cat or as the vet told me a “special edition”?

Jazmin
Montreal, QC

In my opinion “special edition” isn’t the most diplomatic way of describing a cat whose behavior and temperament aren’t “normal”.

Of course, the word normal needs to be in quotes because the truth is that there is no way to define a truly normal personality in any species. And there certainly is no official definition of insanity in cats.

There is no DSM-IV for cats (heck, we don’t even have a DSM-I in veterinary medicine). Nonetheless, it is clear that cats and dogs can suffer from anxiety disorders (including separation anxiety in dogs), obsessive-compulsive behaviors (such as psychogenic alopecia in cats), impulse control problems, and a host of other psychogenic issues. (Vets use the term psychogenic in place of psychological.)

Brains are exceptionally complex organs. Hereditary traits and environmental conditions during development can lead to irregular brain circuitry and chemistry that are linked to behavioral or psychogenic issues in pets.

At this time, the field of veterinary behavior (which is the closest thing vets have to psychiatry or psychology) is still more or less in its infancy. But in due course I am confident we will make great strides towards understanding the basis of “abnormal” behaviors in pets. And maybe, some day, we will even have our own DSM.

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My three-year old spayed female cat is being treated with Clavamox for a UTI. She’s had five doses of the Clavamox over the past 2 1/2 days, but is still spraying urine and also calling loudly as though she were in season. She has never done this before, but has also never had a UTI before. Is this to be expected? How soon should I expect a reduction in symptoms?

Scotti
Cypress, TX

Bladder infections are common in both cats and dogs. In dogs and in older cats, they are the most common causes of uncomfortable urination, bloody urine, and inappropriate urination (cats, dogs). However, in young cats such as yours, another syndrome can have identical symptoms to a bladder infection: feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD).

FLUTD is a process in which urinary chemistry imbalances lead to painful urination. It is linked to crystals in the urine and abnormal urine pH levels. In all cats it is very uncomfortable. In male cats it is linked to a potentially fatal complication called urinary obstruction.

Most bladder infections improve dramatically with one or two doses of antibiotics. If your cat has not had urine tests to confirm a bladder infection, I am suspicious that she may not have an infection. You should talk to your vet about this.

FLUTD usually is treated through dietary changes. It is a chronic problem that can cause intermittent pain and, in male cats, chronic risk of urinary obstruction. It is important to determine with certainty which problem your cat has.

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My 7 month old puppy pees at least 10 times a day and poops like 4-5 times a day. After he goes to the bathroom he comes in and drinks a full bowl of water then an hour later has to pee again.

Kortnie
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania

Anyone who has lived with one knows that puppies and kittens produce proportionately more waste than adult dogs and cats.

Their rapid growth is the reason for this. Young animals must process a great deal of food to make muscles, organs, and tissues. They need to drink large amounts of water in order to process the large amounts of food. And, because they eat and drink so much, they produce large amounts of waste.

Young puppies also urinate more often than adults until they are house trained (this is a behavioral matter). Also, puppies may urinate as a sign of submission. And many different diseases and syndromes may cause changes in urination.

But based on your description, I’m guessing that your puppy is urinating and defecating normally.

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A recent article in The Economist caught my eye.

Medical technology: A new, low-cost design for an artificial heart takes its inspiration from an unusual source—the cockroach

EVOLUTION has favoured cockroaches above human beings, at least when it comes to the functioning of the heart. A cockroach’s heart will continue to beat even when one of its chambers has failed; in similar circumstances, a man will die. Now a team led by Sujoy Guha of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, has created an artificial human heart based on a cockroach’s, which they believe will be unusually robust and affordable.

A cockroach’s heart is a tube that runs the length of its body. It has 13 chambers, linked like a string of sausages. As each chamber contracts, the blood within is pumped to a higher pressure. Each successive chamber increases the pressure. A human

or feline or canine

heart, by contrast, has four chambers. Two of these pump blood to the lungs, where it picks up oxygen, then the other two pump this oxygenated blood throughout the body. One of these four chambers—the left ventricle—contracts most strongly to pressurise the blood.

The artificial hearts developed so far have mostly mimicked human ones. The first devices, developed in the 1950s and 1960s, were large machines placed on trolleys next to the patient and attached by tubes. Modern artificial hearts are less cumbersome, but they are still rather unwieldy because they use compressed air to pump the blood and are powered by heavy batteries. They are used temporarily, usually for a few days or weeks, until a real heart is available for transplant.

Instead of trying to mimic the action of the left ventricle, Dr Guha’s design uses a multi-step approach borrowed from the cockroach. His device, made from plastic and titanium, is the same size as a human heart but with five chambers arranged like the layers of an onion. Each chamber acts in succession to increase the pressure of the blood. The contraction of each chamber is controlled by a motor driven by bulky batteries. The artificial heart is being tested on goats, with human trials scheduled for next year. If these are successful, the device could be on the market in three to five years.

The multi-step approach makes this artificial heart much cheaper to build than those that use compressed air to pump the blood. Dr Guha says it would cost $2,000-2,500.

Add in the costs of protection from liability lawsuits, and I’ll bet the new artificial heart will come in for $50,000 or so.

This article nearly inspired me to make another 30 year prediction for the record: that artificial hearts will be available for cats and dogs by 2039. But, although I am excited by advances in artificial heart technology, I am not going to make that prediction.

Instead, I predict that within 30 years stem cell technology will allow veterinarians to grow new hearts for cats and dogs from their own tissues.

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People who lack common sense may be good for my job security, but their pets often pay a price.

Fleas are vile blood sucking disease spreading parasites that are easy to prevent. They are extremely common in northern California.

A few days ago a client brought her cat to me. The cat reeked of patchouli. It was almost dead.

The cat’s gums were pale–a sign of anemia. It was weak and could barely walk. It was covered in fleas and flea feces.

The client told me that she and her cat had been battling fleas for several months. When the client noticed the fleas she applied witch hazel extract and then tea tree oil to the cat. When those failed to work, she tried bathing the cat in dish soap. Then she fed the cat a garlic-based herbal remedy. Finally, she applied patchouli oil–which was obvious from the way the room smelled.

I had to ask.

“Did you try Advantage?”

Her shocked response was no, she did not want to apply chemicals to her cat.

I resisted the urge to point out that tea tree oil, patchouli oil, and witch hazel extract are made of chemicals. I did, however, tell her that garlic is toxic to cats. Finally, I talked her into giving her cat Capstar and applying Advantage.

Ten minutes later thousands of dying fleas began falling off the cat.

I understand the desire to avoid exposing a pet to synthetic chemicals. In an ideal world it would not be necessary. But if your pet is dying from fleas, it is time to bite the bullet and use something that works.

I am confident that the cat will make a complete recovery. But the cat nearly paid the ultimate price for her owner’s lack of common sense.

Photo: Patchouli. Doesn’t cure fleas. By Kurt Stueber.

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My dog has heartworm. Her old vet recommended HeartGuard but for only six months. We used it but she still got heartworm. Now she has to be caged for a very long time.

Vi, loving mom of Zoey, age three.
Wheat Ridge, Colorado

In humans is well documented that physical health and mental health are closely connected. Depressed people are more likely to suffer from a host of illnesses. Illness often makes people depressed. And sick people who have strong social networks or family support get well faster.

Pets, incidentally, provide companionship and support that have been shown by numerous studies to benefit human health, prevent illness, and help sick people grow healthy.

Clinical depression has not yet been defined in dogs. And I am not aware of evidence-based studies that show happiness and mental health therapies are beneficial for dogs with heartworm.

But, as much as I support the concept of evidence-based medicine, I’m going to break away from it on this one. I think it’s clear that happy pets will heal faster than depressed ones.

Along those lines, I encourage families to visit pets that are hospitalized for treatment when I’m working. Being among loved ones motivates individuals to get well.

In Zoey’s case, I do not recommend antidepressants. Instead, focus on developing new, fun routines that won’t interfere with Zoey’s recovery from heartworm. She can’t play ball, but she can still snuggle, sit on the sofa with you while you watch TV, and sit at your feet while you read a book. You can keep her on a leash in the house if necessary. You can hold her on your lap if she’s small enough.

Be creative. One client of mine purchased a child’s bicycle trailer for her dog when canine arthritis made walks in the park impossible. The dog was thrilled to ride along as her owner pedaled her through Golden Gate Park. Just because your dog can’t exercise doesn’t mean she can’t get out and enjoy fresh air and sunshine.

I agree that weight loss needn’t be a priority at this time. However, remember that decreased activity can lead to weight gain. Excess weight stresses the heart. At the very least, try to make sure that Zoey doesn’t gain weight.

As for six month heartworm prevention . . . it is not recommended by the experts. The American Heartworm Society and Companion Animal Parasite Council recommend continuous heartworm prophylaxis in all dogs and cats. So do I.

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Hi Dr. Barchas,

Name and location withheld

I may have bitten off more than I could chew when I decided to discuss canine marijuana ingestion twice (here and here; you can also check out my website for more information on the subject here) on this blog.

Yesterday I spoke on the phone with a person who tracked me down on the internet. She was interested in using medical marijuana to help with lack of appetite in a dog who was undergoing chemotherapy. The dog had been to a number of specialists and clearly had received the best possible medical and home care. The client was exploring every possible option to promote a high quality of life for the pet. (My answer, in short, was that evidence-based studies on the subject were lacking. However, if adverse side effects could be avoided, the therapy might be beneficial. The legal ramifications of such therapy are uncertain but possibly (although probably not) serious depending upon the jurisdiction. The client elected to experiment cautiously.)

On the same day, I read the question posted above.

I am not a specialist in animal toxicology. This blog is not a clearinghouse for questions about pets and illicit substances.

Nonetheless I feel that rushing to judgment is not in the best interest of the animals involved in these sorts of situations. What follows is my best attempt at an answer. To the questioner:

Methamphetamine vapors almost certainly are harmful to cats. Cats’ lungs are exquisitely sensitive. Second-hand cigarette smoke can trigger or exacerbate a number of feline respiratory problems. Although methamphetamine vapors contain less tar than cigarette smoke, it is hard to imagine that second-hand meth is not deleterious.

That said, it also is hard to imagine that your cat’s lymphoma was caused by exposure to methamphetamine. Meth has numerous adverse effects on the body. It may well be a carcinogen in cats–this matter has not been well studied. But the carcinogenic effects of any substance of are dose-dependent. Second-hand exposure to methamphetamine vapors will not lead to high levels of exposure.

Bottom line: I doubt that methamphetamine exposure played a role in your cat’s illness. It is more likely that a hereditary predisposition to lymphoma was to blame.

I recommend that you monitor your Main Coon’s appetite, thirst and weight. Seek veterinary attention if you note any irregularities. I consider it unlikely that he or she will experience adverse effects from exposure to the illicit substance.

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From the Gulliver Blog over at The Economist:

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES’ announcement that it would allow small pets inside the cabins of its aircraft from June 17th has not been universally welcomed. Or rather, it was not welcomed by people quoted in a report in the Denver Post, which was subsequently picked up by several other media outlets. These interviewees voiced concerns about allergic reactions and the noise the animals would make.

I have a hunch that the announcement will be welcomed by Vet Blog readers who are on the lookout for more pet travel options. When people fly with pets, I always recommend keeping them in the cabin if possible.

Gulliver continues:

It’s unfair to single out Southwest in this context as several other American carriers already allow pets to fly in planes with their owners. And a company spokesman played down the possibility of strife: “We will quickly make accommodations if a pet is causing any disruption in flight,” he said. “This is similar to the peanut allergy, and we do have experience in accommodating customers.”

Well said. And finally, I must agree with the comment writers cited by Gulliver in an e-mail he sent out announcing the post.

Many commenters say they would rather share a cabin with dogs than children.

Hear, hear!

Photo: Paul Carter. Photo license: CC

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As I was walking home from work the other day I saw the following scene.

“CAUTION: THIS LAWN HAS BEEN TREATED WITH A PESTICIDE THAT MAY BE HARMFUL OR FATAL TO YOUR PET”

Perhaps the person who tends the lawn in question had recently applied some horrific pesticide such as snail bait to the lawn. Or perhaps he simply didn’t want dogs or cats on his grass.

My money’s on the latter option. But I wouldn’t bet my pal Buster’s life on it.

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