Monthly Archives: February 2015

Dogs

Dog is trained to sniff out thyroid cancer in human urine samples

Dogs 26 - Dog is trained to sniff out thyroid cancer in human urine samples

Most of us are aware that dogs have an incredible sense of smell. Despite this well-known fact, dogs keep surprising us again and again with each new achievement. Just recently a rescue German Shepherd-mix named Frankie was successfully trained to differentiate between benign thyroid disease and thyroid cancer simply by smelling a person’s urine!

Frankie participated on a study with 34 human patients who had suspicious thyroid nodules. These patients underwent normal diagnostic procedures and it was concluded that 19 of them had benign thyroid disease and the other 15 had thyroid cancer. All these patients supplied a urine sample that was sniffed by Frankie.

The urine samples were presented to the dog by a gloved dog handler, one at a time, and neither the dog handler nor the study coordinator, the person responsible for recording the dog’s responses, knew about these patients previous diagnostic results. He was trained to turn away when he smelled a sample with benign thyroid disease and to lie down when he detected metastatic thyroid carcinoma, a common thyroid cancer.

Frankie was able to correctly identify which patients had thyroid cancer and which had a benign disease in 30 out of the 34 urine samples! This means that Frankie had an 88% accuracy and was able to detect a benign sample almost 9 of every 10 times.

The use of scent-trained canines to diagnose thyroid cancer has an incredible potential for many reasons. Current diagnostic procedures for thyroid cancer often give patients uncertain results and lead to a large number of unnecessary thyroid surgeries. The method generally used to detect cancer in a person’s thyroid nodules is a fine-needle aspiration biopsy. In this procedure a thin needle is inserted into the patients thyroid gland (located in the front of the neck) in order to obtain a tissue sample. Canine scent detection is non-invasive, inexpensive and the dog’s diagnostic accuracy is only slightly less than the fine-needle aspiration biopsy.

Although it may be too soon to base major decisions and decide a patient’s treatment based on the canine technique, these dogs can help physicians detect thyroid cancer at an early stage and avoid surgery when unwarranted in a non-invasive way. With the help of these dogs many lives are likely to be saved and our current diagnostic procedures will be much easier for people suffering from these conditions.

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Horses

Mud fever

Horse 20 - Mud feverMud fever is a common infection that usually affects the lower limbs of horses that are kept outside in wet weather.

Horses with mud fever show thick scabs with matted hair generally in the heel bulbs and at the back of their pastern. The skin beneath these scabs is usually pink, inflamed and there could be pus as well. If secondary infections manage to settle in the limb will gradually become swollen, painful and it is usually associated with low grade lameness.

This condition is caused by an organism called Dermatophilus congolensis, an actinomycete that is commonly found on the horse’s skin. Normally this organism doesn’t cause any damage but if the skin barrier is damaged for some reason the Dermatophilus will take the opportunity to infect the area.

Mud fever can have several causes such as trauma, mites, ringworm, sarcoids, UV damage and internal diseases such as liver disease but the most common cause for this condition is the prolonged contact of the hair and skin with moisture and mud. The skin becomes gradually softer making it susceptible to infection.

When the same organism causes damage higher up on limbs, the condition is known as ‘Rain Scald’, which can be seen on other areas of your horse including the head, back and rump.

Horses with steep sided heels, a deep groove between their heel bulbs and with thick coats and large feathers are more prone to mud fever. These characteristics contribute to keep the moisture close to the skin, providing a favourable environment for the Dermatophilus to thrive. It has also been suggested that white legs are more susceptible to this problem.

To treat this condition owners must thoroughly wash the affected limb with an antibacterial shampoo to remove the crusts. Some of these can be hard and painful to remove. For this reason the shampoo should be left on for 5 to 10 minutes to soften them up before rinsing it off with warm water. It is very important to thoroughly dry the hair with a clean towel or a cool hair drier afterwards. Then the hair must be clipped around the lesion and an antibiotic ointment should be applied.

The idea is to clean the affected areas, to keep them dry and exposed to the air to promote healing while keeping the organism away. Your horse’s legs should be washed daily until mud fever is gone and please do not pick off the dry scabs. This can lead to the appearance of open wounds and they will become an open gate for infection.

If you notice your horse’s limb is becoming swollen please contact your vet as a course of antibiotics may possibly be required.

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Cats, Dogs

Caring for your dog during the colder months

Caring for your dog during the colder months

Although the evenings are getting a little lighter we are still in the depths of winter with below zero temperatures and reduced daylight hours.  This article is designed to give you some practical tips that will help you to look after your pet during the last few months of winter.

1. Exercise in winter

The short days with dark mornings and evenings may make exercising your dog a little harder and he may not receive the same amount of exercise that he would during the summer months.

It’s important to keep an eye on his weight and food intake as reduced exercise may lead to weight increase.  Make it a routine to check his weight and cut down on total food intake if it seems to be on the increase.

Older dogs, just like humans can also suffer from stiff joints as a result of arthritic changes and these aches and pains can be worsened by cold, damp weather.  There are a wide range of anti-inflammatory medications available from your vet which may help and also joint supplements such as glucosamine can be useful.

When walking your dog in the dark, a fluorescent jacket or collar can help your dog be seen more easily by traffic.  You can also buy flashing lights which attach to the collar.  A microchip is also a great idea (with up to date contact details) as should your pet be lost, it will help a speedy reunion.  Microchips will become compulsory for all dogs in England and Wales from April 2016 onwards.

2. Ice hazards

A wintry scene is very pretty but walking your dog in ice and snow can cause some problems.  Ice and snow can ball-up between the pads of the feet causing sores and lameness.  Always check your dog’s feet on return home and give the areas between the pads a good wipe with a cloth and warm water to remove any ice, snow, grit, salt or dirt.

Frozen lakes and ponds are also a real hazard as the ice can be thin and unable to support the weight of your dog.  There are deaths each year as well-meaning owners try to rescue their beloved pet.  It’s a good idea to put your dog on a lead when near these areas.

3. Feeling the cold

Most dogs are well equipped to deal with any temperatures that the UK can throw at them.  But some dogs with thin coats such as Chihuahuas and Greyhounds may well feel the cold just like us humans and would benefit from a coat when out walking in winter.

4. Beware poisons!

The winter months can expose your dog to some recognised poisons, one of which is antifreeze (ethylene glycol).  This sweet tasting substance can leak from car radiators and it is very palatable to most dogs.  Only a small amount can cause kidney damage which can be fatal.  If you suspect that your dog may have consumed antifreeze then contact your vet without delay.

Also some houseplants left over from Christmas such as the Poinsettia have leaves which contain an irritant sap.  These brightly coloured plants may prove interesting to dogs and although not likely to be fatal can lead to an unpleasant reaction if eaten.  To be on the safe side keep these away from your pet.

By David Babington BVetMed MRCVS

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