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Show B18 Castle Valley Review, March 2009 ANIMAL LIFE Animal Reproductive Diseases Still a Threat Dr. Glen Jensen, DVM On Dec. 15, 2008 a stallion in Kentucky was diagnosed with contagious equine metritis . This is first diagnosed case of CEM since an outbreak in Kentucky in 1978 and one in Missouri in 1979. Federal and state veterinarians in 46 states are now involved with exposed or confirmed cases of horses in their states. One mare in Utah that was bred to a now known positive stallion from Kentucky is now under quarantine and after she foals will be tested for the disease. Contagious equine metritis is caused by the bacteria Taylorella equigenitalis and is transmitted sexually through direct breeding or artificial insemination. Stallions and mares can become chronic carriers of CEM and then source of infection for continued outbreak of the disease. The transmis- sion rate is high in natural breeding and may also be spread by contaminated instruments or equipment used for breeding. Infected stallions are usually asymptomatic; mares may have a mucopurulent vaginal discharge in 40 percent of affected mares, abortion and infertility is also seen. CEM can be treated with disinfectants and antibiotics. CEM-positive mares, and mares from CEM-positive countries, are required to go through a treatment protocol and remain in quarantine for no less than 21 days. Stallions that have CEM or come from a CEM-positive country are required to remain quarantined until a treatment protocol is completed and they test negative for the disease. The positive stallion in Kentucky was diagnosed through a routine screening test for export, and then later confirmed. Diagnosis of the disease is done by culturing the bacteria, but must be done with special media and in a few certified laboratories. Eleven stallions and three mares have been confirmed with CEM. An exposed horse is any horse bred to a positive horse through natural or artificial breeding. Only a few years ago Equine viral arteritis was diagnosed in New Mexico in a popular stud. This disease also involved many states, quarantines and epidemiologic investigations to contain the disease. The diligence of these processes has saved potentially millions of dollars in losses to the equine industry. Outbreaks of animal diseases are diagnosed and controlled through both private and government veterinarians. Testing for and controlling these diseases occurs through government required testing as in CEM and through good vigilance of owners and private veterinarians going through the regular processes of testing for and identifying diseases. Trichomoniasis and brucellosis are two bovine reproductive diseases that ranchers are also familiar with, and have used similar processes to help decrease the spread and economic problems of reproductive diseases. National, state and local control measures have minimized the impact of these cattle diseases. These are just great reminders that we all need to stay aware of and continually run needed tests to stop the spread of reproductive diseases. CEM will hopefully soon become a disease of the past. If not, we should be able to once again identify it quickly and it will have a minimal impact on our animal industries. (Dr. Glen Jensen is with Emery Animal Health in Castle Dale.) Dogs: Your Best Friend or Your Worst Nightmare Dr. Sharmon Gilbert, DVM ‘S A dog is man’s best friend… or can be his biggest nightmare. When thinking about getting a dog, there are some things you should consider. People make the decision to adopt a dog for many different reasons. Sometimes many months of research is put into this decision and sometimes it is spontaneous. Researching different breeds may help you get a dog that fits better into your lifestyle. If you are more spontaneous, and have acquired a dog a little more unexpectedly, researching the type of dog you have may give you a better idea of what to expect and what can be done to prevent behavior and health problems. Every puppy needs obedience training and socialization to be a good pet. With some time spent every day with your new pet, most puppies turn out to be what we want, good companions. Different breeds of dogs can have some very different characteristics. These traits can make it easier or harder for it to fit into your lifestyle and family. It would be a good idea for prospective owners to make a list of traits that are endearing and those traits that are unwanted in a dog. They should decide where the dog will live and how much time they expect to spend with it. For example, if you hate dog slobber, don’t buy a mastiff. If you don’t want a house dog, you may steer away from a dog that has long hair and needs to be groomed frequently, because it probably won’t do well outside. If you have a small yard or apartment and little time to spend with a dog, a border collie probably would not be a good choice. This breed is very smart and needs lots of activity and things to do. If left in a small yard it may develop some bad habits like digging or barking excessively. Some dogs are easier to train. Some breeds tend to be nippy and may not be appropriate in a house with young children. Some dogs shed more than others. Some dogs have more medical problems. I once Tropical Fish Feeders t t t t t t t t Angels Neons Tetras Gouramis Mice Rats Crickets Goldfish t Many Others 1510 So Hwy 10, Price worked for a vet that jokingly said he would buy and give away Chinese Shar Peis if the new owners promised to bring them to him for all of their medical care. Make a picture in your mind of why you want a dog, or what you expect to do with it. Do you want a dog for protection, to be a companion, to work livestock, to hunt, or to be your child’s best friend? Again, some breeds are going to be better suited for some of these things than others. There are many books available that discuss different traits and other issues according to breed. Specific breeds can also be searched on-line. A book I liked was: The Perfect Puppy: How to Choose Your Dog by its Behavior by Benjamin L. Hart DVM and Lynette A. Hart. Mixed breeds make excellent pets and can be found many places. Dogs from pounds and shelters are lower cost and the spay or neuter surgery is usually included or already done. Sometimes there are pets that are already housebroken and trained. When looking at a dog from the pound or shelter, spend some time playing with it and don’t make a snap decision. At our pound here in Emery County, you can foster a pet for 30 days. This means you can take it home and see how it fits in your household. If the pet does not work out, it Continued on Next Page. Kritter Klips animal grooming “I will Match or Beat Anyone’s Prices!” •Grooming •Dog Training •Pet Boarding •Pet Photos Have Your Pet Groomed in the Month of March and Receive a FREE Pet Photo Shoot ! Working with animals for over 24 years 435-637-9663 Jackie Barney Groomer/Trainer 385 W. Main Ferron, UT 435-609-1007 We offer Equine Reproductive Services Glen Jensen, DVM Sharmon Gilbert, DVM 490 West Hwy 29 Castle Dale • 435-381-2539 t "* XJUI GSFTI DIJMMFE PS GSP[FO TFNFO t .BSF DBSF PO TJUF XJUI PQFO DPWFSFE PS JOEPPS TUBMMT t 3FQSPEVDUJWF FYBNT BOE EJBHOPTUJDT PO NBSFT t 8F DBO DPMMFDU BOE TIJQ PS GSFF[F TFNFO t )BWF TUVET PO TJUF |