New Tank Syndrome in Fish Similar to "old tank syndrome," new tank syndrome is a fish disease that occurs in aquarium fish that live in water with high levels of ammonia. Symptoms New tank syndrome leads to ammonia toxicity in the fish, which can quickly become fatal. Fish will often die suddenly, without warning. The aquarium water is frequently cloudy and smelly due to the excessive ammonia and nitrite levels. Causes Also known as the "break in cycle," the cause of the high levels of ammonia in a new tank are due to the lack of beneficial bacteria in the water — bacteria that keep the water levels safe by breaking down ammonia and nitrite into harmless nitrogen compounds. In a newly set up tank, these bacteria have not a chance to establish, allowing the ammonia and nitrite levels to quickly become toxic for the fish living in the water. This usually occurs in tanks that are just 1 to 20 days old, and maybe longer, since it takes a few weeks for the bacteria to establish themselves in enough quantity to keep up with the amount of waste the fish are producing. This is not limited to new tanks, of course. Some other reasons for a sudden increase in ammonia levels include:
Prevention The key to preventing new tank syndrome is to allow the new water conditions to cycle through the nitrogen cycle before adding fish. Of course, the cycle cannot even begin until fish have been added to the water, so it is not helpful to allow the aquarium to sit for a few weeks before adding the fish. It is only through the cycle of waste and establishment of beneficial bacteria that will begin the cycle. Using a few "starter fish," to begin the new aquarium — hardy species of fish that are less susceptible to harm from ammonia levels — before adding any new fish will set the cycle in progress. You can then determine the progress of the cycle by checking the water chemistry over the course of about 4-6 weeks. Some owners have also found it helpful to add already established gravel from an older tank to help speed up the process. If you do not have an already established aquarium from which you can take gravel, the handler that you will be buying your starter fish from may be able to help you with a sampling of gravel that the fish have been living in. It is not wise to change the water until the cycle has completed. You can also control ammonia levels by avoiding overfeeding, since uneaten food will contribute to organic debris. Perform regular pH tests on the water throughout the initial process will help you to track the progress of the cycle and make changes accordingly, so that you can determine when to safely add new fish to your aquarium. Your tank will be cycled once you can measure nitrates in the water and ammonia and nitrite levels are at zero. A Peaceful Farewell...Providing compassionate in home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
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According to The Telegraph, “the celebrity-driven fad for Bulldogs and Pugs with wrinkly faces has led to an increase in medical face-lifts for pets, the Royal Veterinary College has warned.” Reportedly, “the numbers of operations on dogs to remove excess skin has increased by more than 80 per cent over the last four years.” This trend of celebrities acquiring brachycephalic dogs isn’t exclusive to the U.K. and Europe. On June 30, 2014 Australian pop sensation Iggy Azalea shared a photo of her new pooch via her TheNewClassic Instragram feed. We see a cuddly black, white, and tan (fawn) English Bulldog puppy nuzzling into Azalea’s embrace accompanying her statement: "Shrinkabull jam don't shake like that Jelli" but you can call her Jelli, for short. Azalea’s photo has received an astounding 277,000 and climbing "Likes" so far. Both the Pug and the English Bulldog are brachycephalic breeds, along with the Affenpinscher, Boxer, Brussels Griffon, Pekingese, Shih Tzu, and others. Additionally, mixes of these breeds, like the Puggle (Pug and Beagle combinations), are typically considered brachycephalic. There are a series of deformities to the head and face associated with Brachycephalism (the condition of being brachycephalic) collectively termed Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome including: Stenotic nares — narrow nostrils, which reduce the ability for air to freely move from the outside world through the nose. Overlong soft palate — extra tissue where the nose meets the throat which flaps while breathing and obstructs air flow. Everting laryngeal saccules — the larynx (voice box) contains parachute-like saccules (pockets of skin) which can inflate and prevent air from moving from the mouth and nose into the windpipe. Hypoplastic trachea — also known as collapsing trachea (windpipe), there can be a reduction in the diameter of the trachea caused by improper formation of or damage to cartilaginous rings, or a sagging of the membrane that lines the uppermost layer of the windpipe. Such conformational abnormalities of the airway lead to a variety of health problems associated with inability to normally breathe, including exercise intolerance, obesity, heat stroke, respiratory failure, hypoxia (low blood oxygen),collapse, and death. Pending the degree of airway obstruction and health problems, there is a strong likelihood that surgical intervention is needed to permit the brachycephalic dog to have a better quality of life and have a reduced likelihood of health problems or dying. If you choose to incorporate a brachycephalic pooch into your life, you’ll likely be facing some some mild to serious health problems for which you are responsible to resolve, with your veterinarian’s help. Dr. Gert ter Haar, of the Royal Veterinary College, has witnessed a significant and steady increase in the number of corrective surgeries on brachycephalic dogs from an average of 30 in 2009 to more than 260 in 2014. Dr. ter Haar states that they "handle four to five of these operations every week and it has increase over the last few years.” Additionally, ”breeding has led to shortening of muscles in their faces, most are fine but we see the ones that have problems because of their breeding. The main problems are that their airways are obstructed and some have problems with their hearing and eyesight. We treat them as soon as possible. We find it is due to the breeds becoming more and more popular.” Extra skin and deficient muscle support can lead to the drooping or inward-rolling of the eyelids, which inhibits normal vision or causes scraping of the surface of the eye (entropion). If such conditions go untreated, irreversible vision problems often occur and dogs can even go blind. Canine rhinoplasty (a nose job, such as the correction of stenotic nares) and face and eye-lifts aren’t performed solely to achieve a more desirable cosmetic effect like they are for most people. Such surgeries are necessary so brachycephalic pooches are better able to function in their day-to-day lives. Dr. ter Haar said they "do not undertake these operations unless there is a medical reason to do so. We find some of them have excessive skin folds which can cause severe infections. It can cause blindness, and if the folds cover the nose they cannot breath.” Corrective surgeries for brachycephalic pets aren’t inexpensive. A reasonable estimate range for corrective procedures is $750-2,500. Fees depend on a variety of factors, including: Geography — major metropolitan areas tend to be more expensive than rural regions. Surgeon experience — board certified veterinary surgeons will cost more than general practice veterinarians. My recommendation is to go the route of the board certified surgeon, who is more-highly trained in challenging or unusual procedures than is the typical general practice veterinarian. Length of hospitalization — shorter hospitalization will be cheaper than a prolonged in-facility stay. Potential for surgical complications — any procedure can go awry, even when done by an experienced practitioner. Since brachycephalic dogs are already at a health disadvantage, the potential for anesthetic complications is often higher than for non-brachycephalic and otherwise healthy patients. Overall, the popularity of performers like Azalea and other celebrities publicly announcing the presence of their purchase, adoption, or rescue or brachycephalic breeds gives a mixed message to the pet-loving public. Although brachycephalic dogs are cute, future owners commonly pursue these breeds due to their appealing “ugly-cute” appearance without fully considering the potentially life-threatening health consequences associated with their conformational malformations. My recommendation for people seeking canine companionship is to acquire a dog that does not have facial, respiratory, or other body conformation problems that will affect their health on a short or long-term basis. Choose a breed or mixed-breed having a longer muzzle and a general lack of excessive facial or bodily skin folds instead of those having a short face and plentiful creases. If you are so drawn to a owning a brachycephalic canine and are determined to get one despite the health obstacles, consider adopting your pooch from a breed-specific rescue in your area instead of potentiating the ongoing reproductive cycles fostered by breeders. A Peaceful Farewell...Providing compassionate in home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
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Consumer: (800) 438-6016 Media: Julie Salley, (816) 489-2458 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 31, 2014 – Bartlett Milling Company has initiated a limited recall of certain horse feeds due to potential Rumensin contamination. The products were distributed to customers and retailers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Rumensin contamination can result in health problems, including mortality, in horses. The products and lot number involved in the recall are: 50 lb. bags of Bartlett Pasture Horse 10 Feed - Lot 288 50 lb. bags of Cleveland Carolina Champion Horse Feed - Lot 288 The recalled products were packaged in typical brand-specific feed bags. Lot numbers are printed on the front and back of each bag. Retailers have been contacted and instructed to immediately withdraw from sale the recalled product and to notify customers who purchased the product. Customers should discontinue feeding the product immediately. Customers who purchased this product should return remaining bags to their retailer. For more information on the product recall, contact Bartlett Milling at 1-800-438-6016 from 8AM to 5PM Monday through Friday. Contact Bartlett at 1-336-655-1840 outside of regular business hours. This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services and the United States Food and Drug Administration. Why so many fecal exams? Because intestinal parasites are quite common in pet dogs and cats. Every year Banfield Pet Hospitals compiles a report based on the medical records of the patients they see. In 2013 they performed fecal examinations on 2,594,599 canine samples and 319,535 feline samples. Here are the percentage of tests that were positive broken down by age and type of parasite found. At first glance, these numbers may not look all that impressive, but digging a little deeper reveals a different story. Let’s look at the puppy and kitten numbers as examples since this is the age group most at risk for intestinal parasitism. What’s missing is the percentage of fecal samples that were positive for any type of intestinal parasite. Adding up the numbers in the columns above gives us a total of 10.78% for puppies and 9% for kittens. These percentages may not be exact since I’m sure some samples were positive for more than one type of parasite, but they give us a ball park figure.
However, a couple of issues suggest that these estimates are actually too low. First of all, whipworms are notoriously hard to diagnose via fecal exam. Their eggs don’t float very well in the most commonly used type of solution, and the worms release their eggs on an intermittent basis (in other words, the worms are present but their eggs are not). Secondly, while hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, and whipworms are the “Big Four,” these tables say nothing about the incidence of Giardia, coccidia, and other types of intestinal parasites that can affect dogs and cats. The incidence of parasitism in pets is probably significantly higher than what the Banfield numbers show. In fact, a study published in 2009 looking at over a million canine fecal samples submitted to Antech Diagnostics revealed that 29.6% of those coming from dogs less than six months of age and were positive for intestinal parasites. Wow! So next time you head to the veterinary clinic, make sure you bring along a sample of your pet’s poop. You might be surprised at what’s hiding inside. DOES YOUR DOG REALLY NEED LAMB, BISON, AND OTHER 'HYPOALLERGENIC' DOG FOOD PROTEINS?
In order to identify what is the best food for dogs with food allergies you must first understand what are food allergies and what causes them. Many different terms are used to describe abnormal reactions to food. The terms “allergy” and “hypersensitivity” describe an immunologic reaction to food allergens and requires previous exposure to the allergen to bring about symptoms. In contrast, a food “intolerance” does not involve the immune system and can occur with the first exposure to a certain food. Both reactions produce similar symptoms and may be difficult to tell apart without veterinary guidance. In fact, according to Dr. Adam Patterson, clinical assistant professor and Chief of Dermatology at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences Small Animal Clinic, “Food allergies in dogs present themselves quite differently than food allergies in humans. For instance, a person who is allergic to shellfish may experience throat swelling and possibly a critical or fatal reaction, but in dogs, the allergy is expressed through the skin and seen most often as itch.” WHAT ARE THE COMMON SIGNS OF FOOD ALLERGIES IN DOGS? Symptoms of food allergies in dogs vary, but the most common complaint is non-seasonal itching that may involve the whole body or be focused on the ears and feet. Chronic or recurrent ear and skin infections are also typical. Some dogs may even develop vomiting, diarrhea, or excessive gassiness. Symptoms often begin when dogs are young (before one year of age), but may develop at any time. WHAT CAUSES FOOD ALLERGIES IN DOGS? Dogs with food allergies are typically allergic to proteins, which come from animal or plant-based ingredients of the diet. The proteins are broken down into molecules that the immune system misidentifies as a potential threat. Beef, dairy, wheat, and chicken are the most common culprits of food allergies in dogs. The development of food allergies, however, takes time. So the dog may have been eating the offending ingredients for quite a long time before symptoms develop. HOW IS A FOOD ALLERGY DIAGNOSED IN DOGS? A food trial using a “hypoallergenic” dog food is the only reliable way to diagnose food allergies in dogs. There are two ways to do this – using a novel protein source or hydrolyzed protein. A “novel” protein source is one that is completely new to the dog, thereby reducing the chance of an immune response. In addition, the diet should contain a novel, single source of carbohydrates since plants also contain protein. Hypoallergenic dog food options include venison and potato, duck and pea, salmon and potato or even kangaroo, as long as the dog hasn’t been exposed to these ingredients in the past. Lamb used to be considered hypoallergenic but is now in so many commercial dog foods that it is no longer novel. Hydrolyzed diets are made when intact animal proteins are broken down into very small molecules that the immune system should not be able to recognize as allergens, virtually eliminating the possibility of an adverse food reaction. Starch or rice are typically used as carbohydrate sources because they are very infrequently associated with allergic reactions. Whatever type of hypoallergenic dog food is used, it should be fed for a minimum of 8-10 weeks to adequately assess the dog’s response. Most dogs experience at least a partial improvement in their food allergy symptoms within the first 4-6 weeks, but several dog breeds (including Labrador Retrievers and Cocker Spaniels) may require a longer period of time to respond. It is important to feed only the hypoallergenic dog food, avoiding all other foods, treats and even flavored medications such as chewable heartworm preventives, antibiotics, and pain relievers. Once the food allergy has been diagnosed using a hypoallergenic dog food, a challenge should be performed to confirm the diagnosis. When the original diet is fed, the symptoms should return within two weeks. Following confirmation of the food allergy, single source ingredients (e.g., slices of chicken or a sprinkling of wheat) may be added to the hypoallergenic dog food to determine exactly which ingredients must be avoided in the future. WHAT IS THE BEST FOOD FOR DOGS WITH ALLERGIES? It is important to work with a veterinarian to determine the best food for dogs with allergies. Novel protein and hydrolyzed diets that are available by prescription only are superior to those that can be bought over the counter because the latter often contain trace amounts (or more) of common allergens, even if they are not listed on the label. Randomly eliminating ingredients from your dog's diet without the input of a veterinary nutritionist is also a bad idea, as it can result in nutritional imbalances and is unlikely to identify the underlying problem. Save yourself the worry and speak with your veterinarian if you suspect that your dog has a food allergy. References Patterson, A. Itchy Dogs: Is Food the Problem? Texas A&M University, Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Accessed February 3, 2014. Thomas, R.C. Food Allergy in Dogs & Cats. Presented at the 2005 Western Veterinary Conference, Las Vegas, NV. |
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