AVMA’s report on the highlights of 2013 deserve comments.

Animal illnesses and deaths linked to jerky treats made in China continued to stump researchers, and an FDA alert to veterinarians and the public intensified the scrutiny of the issue.

DR. C – Why would we purchase treats when our own locally raised food make the best treats for many animals? While it is fun to try different treats (I was sent samples of Whole life treats – “chicken breast”; “beef, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, parsley flakes”; and my cat loves them. Now I need to research where the meat come from, were the chickens fed GMO, how sustainable is the factory and shipping and how well treated are the staff.)  If I were cooking meat at home for myself, I could simply dehydrate a few strips of meat and have my own “jerky”.  Or, if my neighbor hunted, I could do a jerky making day and dry enough for the year. Avoid processed as much as possible, and seek out the most reliable processed foods when you do use them.

Another mystery that has yet to be worked out involves a possible emerging disease in dogs linked to but likely not caused by circovirus alone. Emerging zoonoses such asMiddle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus and H7N9 avian influenza were among important One Health topics, as was speculation about the next zoonotic pandemic and how to stop it.

DR. C – Focusing on causes of illness from the outside misses the joy of true health. While a very healthy individual can certainly become “infected” they usually recover quickly. Our goal is to maximize our health – discover what we and our animals each need to be as healthy as possible – not to worry about new viruses.

Researchers continued to advance our understanding of animal diseases, including feline infectious peritonitis, and novel treatments, such as for canine osteosarcoma.

DR. C – again, rather than looking for novel treatments, maximize the tried and true treatments you can do yourself like Reiki, Flower essences, Essential oils, massage, acupressure, homeopathy, Healing Touch for Animals, etc. If you do these regularly, eat and feed healthy foods, avoid toxins (including emotional ones), your dog will be less likely to get osteosarcoma or you cat to get FIP.

Strides are being made in clinical care with a new route for administering feline vaccinations

DR. C – this one is really bizarre. Since a few animals do get tumors at injections sites (dogs do too), they are now saying to give the rabies vaccine in the tail, so you can amputate if a tumor appears. Hmmmm.  I am appalled at my profession. Let us instead build health, minimize vaccines and if legally required use alternatives to minimize risk.

and a new tool for sterilizing dogs expected to be available by the end of the year.

Dr. C – from that article, the good news is that the 40-year movement to convince Americans that they should spay or neuter their pets has resulted in 83 percent of owned dogs and 91 percent of owned cats being spayed or neutered. they go on to say that “surgically removing the reproductive organs of every pet is still time-consuming for veterinarians, unpopular among a subset of pet owners and ethically troubling to animal welfare advocates.’ So researchers (and drug companies ) are now moving to chemical sterilization. Do not try it. Stay away from that, at least for now. Many holistic veterinarians feel that it is best to not spay or neuter as long as there zero chance of pregnancy or wandering. Others encourage waiting for maturation, which may include one heat cycle, again only if zero chance of getting pregnant. Others encourage pre heat spaying and neutering every male. Do your own research and thinking on this issue.

Please share your thoughts on these topics.