Animal Health

08 June

Number of bats with rabies on the rise

wsvma   |   Animal Health

Virologists at the Washington State Public Health Laboratory routinely test bats for rabies virus if known or suspected contact with people has occurred. Typically, 200 - 300 bats are tested each year. Last month, four bats tested positive for rabies, the highest number identified in the month of May since 1998. In June, one bat has tested positive for rabies so far. During the summer months, when bat encounters typically occur, veterinarians may receive calls from people who have had contact...

Read More
08 June

Food allergies in pets are rarely a thing

wsvma   |   Animal Health

Banfield Pet Hospital® released its 2018 State of Pet Health® Report, which explores the science behind the three most common atopic dermatitis conditions in pets: flea, atopy and food. With food allergies in humans being reported at an all-time high, veterinarians are seeing pet owners become increasingly concerned about food allergies in their pets. However, according to the report, food allergies are diagnosed in relatively few of our patients, just 0.2 percent of dogs and 0.1 percent of cats. More commonly,...

Read More
01 June

Avian infectious laryngotracheitis outbreak alert in King County

wsvma   |   Animal Health

WSDA has received a report of an avian infectious laryngotracheitis outbreak in a small poultry flock located in King County. Avian infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) can be transmitted from acutely infected chickens to the upper respiratory tract and eyes of other birds. Birds that recover from ILT are believed to be infected for life and the avian herpesvirus can be recrudesced when infected birds are stressed, leading to infection of exposed, uninfected/unvaccinated poultry. Gaps in the biosecurity program are responsible for most...

Read More
31 May

IMMEDIATE UPDATE: USDA Confirms Additional Cases of Virulent Newcastle Disease in Backyard Birds in California

wsvma   |   Animal Health

May 30, 2018 From: Washington State Department of Agriculture Virulent Newcastle Disease (vND), formerly known as Exotic Newcastle Disease is a contagious and fatal viral disease affecting the respiratory, nervous and digestive systems of birds and poultry. The disease is so virulent that many birds and poultry die without showing any clinical signs. vND is not a food safety concern.  No human cases of Newcastle disease have ever occurred from eating poultry products.  Properly cooked poultry products are safe to eat.  In very...

Read More
25 May

Local effort to secure vaccine for Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease

wsvma   |   Animal Health

Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) has been approached by local pet rabbit caretakers about the recent recognition of a deadly virus that infects both domestic and feral European rabbits that has been detected in British Columbia. There is a rising interest in protecting owned rabbits in Washington State through use of existing European vaccines for this virus. As a service to the community, RASKC staff have undertaken the exploration of such importation with USDA APHIS and the Washington...

Read More
18 May

Canine influenza H3N2: should you be thinking about it?

wsvma   |   Animal Health

A canine influenza virus (CIV) H3N2 outbreak began in the San Francisco Bay area in December 2017, and cases have since spread throughout the Silicon Valley and into Nevada, southern California and the Pacific Northwest. This outbreak is solely caused by H3N2; the H3N8 strain is not contributing to the outbreak, and the last H3N8 positive U.S. case was detected in August 2017. In February, a 6-year-old, healthy, small breed dog in east King County tested positive for both H3N2 and...

Read More
18 May

Virulent Newcastle disease in a small flock of backyard exhibition chickens in Los Angeles County

wsvma   |   Animal Health

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the presence of virulent Newcastle disease in a small flock of backyard exhibition chickens in Los Angeles County, California. It is important to note that the presence of the disease is not a food safety concern. This is the first case of virulent Newcastle disease, previously referred to as exotic Newcastle disease, in the U.S. since 2003. No human cases of Newcastle disease have ever occurred...

Read More
06 April

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease serotype RHDV2 reported in British Columbia

wsvma   |   Animal Health

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease is a serious disease of rabbits that is easily spread, causes a high rate of infection and death, and the agent (calicivirus) is very stable in the environment. On March 8, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) reported the detection of rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) virus serotype RHDV2 to the Office of International Epizootics.  Media articles had reported the death of rabbits on the Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo campus and in the Rotary Bowl area of Nanaimo, Vancouver...

Read More
30 March

Melatonin use in show animals – potentially unsafe and possibly illegal

wsvma   |   Animal Health

Recent reports suggest that some producers have been using a substance to promote calming and hair growth in cattle and sheep -- that substance is melatonin. But there is reason to be cautious before giving this product to animals. Melatonin is a natural hormone produced by the brain for sleep and used to treat insomnia in humans. Sometimes, it is also used for reproductive synchronization. People showing animals have also been known to use melatonin to calm fractious animals or promote...

Read More
23 March

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Reported in British Columbia, Canada

wsvma   |   Animal Health

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease, or RHD, is serious disease of rabbits that is easily spread, causes a high rate of infection and death, and, as a calicivirus, is very stable in the environment. – and it’s been reported right across the border in British Columbia. On March 8, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) reported the detection of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus serotype 2, or RHDV2. Rabbit deaths were on Vancouver Island on March 2. Canada is currently conducting tests to determine...

Read More