Revelstoke dogs are being poisoned.  As word flashed around town many dog owners I talked to jumped to the same conclusion I did, that some heartless cretin was intentionally luring dogs with strychnine-laced meat or some other irresistible bait. 

The weekend of April 16 two dogs from Revelstoke and one from Salmon Arm fell critically ill after ingesting toxic substances.  After talking to two vets and the RCMP the consensus seems to be that the culprits are Mother Nature, and us.

“We’ve received no complaints about dogs being intentionally poisoned,” said RCMP Corporal Rod Wiebe.  “We rely on the veterinarians to give us evidence, and I can confirm at this time that no complaints have been received.”

“Because the dogs came from three completely different areas, and had similar substances in their stomachs or vomit, I think we’re seeing poisoning from toxic vegetation, particularly coarse grasses,” explained veterinarian Jim Clark of the Shuswap Vet Clinic in SA.

Revelstoke vet Lisette Valdamanis agrees with Clark, “I have zero suspicions that we are dealing with someone intentionally poisoning dogs. that glaze of white you see on last year’s grass is mold,” explained Valdamanis, “and it can be deadly.”

“Just like our ancestors craved fresh greens in spring like dandelion, which they used medicinally and as nutritional supplements, dogs crave their own tonic, new grass,”

Clark said.  “Unfortunately molds ingested from vegetation and food stuffs can induce tremorgenic mycotoxin toxicity (TMT).”  in lay terms, an attack on an animal’s nervous system.

Potentially lethal toxins can be found in a host of decomposing substances;  feces (which many dogs love to gobble) and very dead critters such as mice, snakes, birds, fish, and large carcasses like deer.

In an article Clark sent me, Linda Shell, DMV (neurology) explains the symptoms of TMT.  She says a small amount of ingested tremorgenic mycotoxin can cause fine muscle tremors of a dog’s face, ears, eyelids, and/or ataxia – confusion and inability to coordinate voluntary muscle movements.  Increased exposure causes severe tremors, seizure and possible death.

A dog thus poisoned will be seen to be twitching, staggering, have a glazed look and may convulse, and will not likely have gastrointestinal upset, ie vomiting or bloody stools and diarrhoea.  If your dog experiences these symptoms, get him to the vet immediately, or call for advice as one Revelstoke dog owner did.

“There were lengthy delays on the west on the Trans Canada Sat, April 16, due to repairs on the  Malakwa Bridge,” said Clark. “The owner of one of the Revelstoke dogs exhibiting symptoms of TMT couldn’t get to Salmon Arm so called in and I was able to assist him to induce vomiting.”  that quick action probably saved the dog’s life as the disease manifests quickly, within half an hour to two hours said Clark.  All three dogs survived.

According to Shell, tremorgenic mycotoxins are found in a range of food stuffs mainly moldy dairy products, moldy walnuts and peanuts, stored grains and moldy garbage and compost.

“A compost that is not “hot” enough can produce deadly molds on a variety of food stuffs, including coffee grounds and fermenting cottage or cream cheeses,” said Clark.

To be safe follow the rules of successful composting – put no oils, meats, fats (cheeses), or cooked table scraps into your bin.  and if there are dogs running in your neighbourhood, cover the compost securely.  The dog you poison might be your own.

Clark also said he has treated dogs with severe symptoms from marijuana poisoning as some people think it’s cool to deliberately feed dogs recreation drugs and watch them get stoned. “In August we start to see dogs sick from ingesting common mushrooms that grow on lawns,” Clark said.

If you suspect poisoning of any sort and can’t get to a vet, the American SPCA has an animal poison control centre.  “For a fee, you can talk to a veterinarian 24/7 who will give advice for poisoning,” said Valdmanis.  The poison control centre number is 1-888 426-4435.  Consult fee, $65. your pet’s life, priceless.

The ASPCA website lists the top 10 toxins from the 167,000 calls they received in 2010 as follows; human medications, insecticides, rodenticides, people food, vet meds, chocolate, household toxins, indoor and outdoor plants, herbicides and outdoor toxins.

It also clarified that yes, raisins, grapes, onion and garlic can be lethal to dogs, if enough is consumed.

According to Cheryl Hermansen at Home Hardware, society is going green and reducing and replacing the use of harmful substances. “We’re phasing out products laced with poisons like strychnine and warfarin,” said Hermansen.  “There are now pet-friendly antifreezes and rodent poisons.  we carry Green Earth products made from powdered corn cobs that are not dangerous to pets.”

Dogs will be dogs. they love to run off leash and they love to eat crap. Clark’s best advice, “If you want to keep your dogs safe, keep them leashed, or within range, and pick up their poop wherever you walk.”

To which I’ll add: be prepared to sprint over and extract suspicious substances from your dog’s mouth (owning a Lab, affectionately known as ‘pig dogs’ or ‘bottom feeders’, I’m doing a lot of sprinting!); keep vet and poison control numbers handy; get a good canine first aid book; google Dog Poisoning and educate yourself – the list of potential poisons for dogs is staggering.

And finally, most important, report any suspected intentional bait poisoning of dogs to the vets, RCMP or Crimestoppers.

Barbara J. little is a regular contributor to The Revelstoke Current

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Every year brings news items about Lyme disease. Here is some information about this disease: how it is transmitted; how to avoid it; its diagnosis and treatment.

How Lyme Disease is Transmitted: the Blacklegged Tick

The culprits spreading Lyme disease to people are the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, and the western blacklegged tick. Their more common names are "deer tick" and "bear tick", respectively. Alternate spellings are "black legged tick" or "black-legged tick".

Infected blacklegged ticks (deer ticks) are found in Minnesota and Wisconsin, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and the Atlantic coast from Virginia through Maine, new Brunswick and Nova Scotia. the western blacklegged tick (bear tick) inhabits western states and provinces.

Blacklegged ticks normally live on wild animals – not just deer, but also rodents and birds. These ticks, a type of mite, will also spend time on plants such as trees or grasses. a blood meal may last five days.

A deer tick may take in the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme disease, from an animal she bites. When the infected tick next wants a meal, she will climb a plant and wait to ambush the next convenient host – perhaps a hiker in the woods. Surprisingly, the chance of infection is rather low since the tick must carry the bacteria, and must stay attached long enough for the bacteria to travel to the person.

These ticks may also transmit other diseases, whether caused by bacteria or parasites.

Avoiding Lyme Disease by Avoiding Deer Ticks

Most city dwellers may never hike in woods inhabited by the blacklegged tick. Part of planning a camping trip should include a check with the local conservation authority, to learn whether blacklegged ticks are common in the area. Alternatively, public health officials issue warnings about Lyme disease in affected areas. Protective clothing includes long pants tucked into boots, and long sleeves that are snug at the wrists. Repellant containing DEET should be worn.

Prompt removal of ticks will also help prevent infection. a willing partner is an important asset in this task; so is a pair of tweezers. the method is to take the head nearest the skin, then to pull the tick out quite slowly and without twisting or crushing it. (Squeezing the abdomen would propel contaminants into the victim). a wash with soap and water, and then a swab with rubbing alcohol or disinfectant completes the removal. Saving dead ticks in a pill bottle may aid in later diagnosis. It is also wise to log the date of the bite.

It is not easy to see a hungry blacklegged tick. It ranges in size from poppy seed to sesame seed. the abdomen becomes much larger after a blood meal, so it would be easier to see the tick.

The blacklegged tick has no need for deer as a host population, since it also thrives on blood from birds or rodents. the bacteria, in fact, are more common in mice than in deer. there is no evidence that reducing the deer population reduces the tick population. Likewise, avoiding or hunting deer does not make a difference in the likelihood of encountering blacklegged ticks. Again, not every tick carries infectious agents, and not every bite passes bacteria into the "victim".

Diagnosis of Lyme Disease

Diagnosis can be difficult, since Lyme disease may affect various body parts and different people display a range of symptoms. Diagnostic guidelines in Canada include taking the patient’s history – was she exposed to these ticks – and symptoms into account. Blood tests for Lyme disease are fallible, especially in the early stages, so proof of exposure is very important. (Having dead blacklegged ticks in a bottle is useful evidence).

The most common first sign is a target-shaped rash. this may develop one day or one month after being bitten. It usually clears up within a month after it starts. Other early symptoms may include fever or chills, painful or swollen joints, headache and fatigue.

For the next several months, other symptoms might develop. they include heart palpitations, fatigue and weakness, rashes, symptoms mimicking arthritis, and problems with the nervous system. without treatment, these latter symptoms may continue for years.

Treatment of Lyme Disease

Once diagnosed in an early stage, antibiotic drugs such as amoxicillin, ceftriaxone, or doxycycline are usually prescribed for a period of two to four weeks. Intravenous ceftriaxone or penicillin might be necessary depending on the patient’s other conditions. if the diagnosis was delayed, treatment might be more lengthy and complex.

Sonja Puzic filed a report in the Windsor Star (Windsor, Ontario): "Lyme Disease on Rise". In it, she described one patient’s lengthy bout of Lyme disease in which the diagnosis was delayed.

Hope for the Hiker

Most hikers will not encounter these ticks. Not all blacklegged ticks carry Lyme disease. It is possible to get rid of the tick before it transmits Lyme disease to the hiker. Effective treatments are available.

References:

Kids Health (online): kidshealth.org, referenced July 21, 2010.

Ontario Ministry of Health, modified Dec. 17, 2009, referenced July 21, 2010.

Public Health Agency of Canada, referenced July 21, 2010.

Sonja Puzic, "Lyme Disease on Rise", Windsor Star, June 21 2010, referenced July 21, 2010

USA Center for Disease Control, referenced July 21, 2010.

Disclaimer: the information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.