Atlantic Veterinary College's Animal Welfare Centre tops $2 million in funding for projects
Twelve service and research projects that will benefit companion animals, horses, and wildlife recently received a total of $240,000 in funding through the Atlantic Veterinary College's (AVC) Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre (SJDAWC) at the University of Prince Edward Island. Since the Animal Welfare Centre was established in 1994, more than a hundred projects have together received more than $2 million.
"We are very grateful to the Friends of the Christofor Foundation for their ongoing support which has allowed us to reach this significant milestone," says Dr. Alice Crook, Coordinator of the SJDAWC. "This year the Centre has approved support for ten new exciting projects, and renewed funding for two highly successful service projectsand#151; the neutering of feral cats on PEI in cooperation with the PEI Cat Action Team and the AVC humane dog training programme with the PEI Humane Society."
This year's projects were deemed successful for funding through the SJDAWC's 2005 funding competition and will be carried out by AVC faculty and students. To date, approximately 85 faculty, 12 graduate students and hundreds of veterinary students have been involved in these projects.
The breakdown of projects funded through this year's competition is as follows:
and#149; Improving testing for platelet function in dogs (Dr. Shelley Burton)
and#149; Pedometer-based physical activity in dogs (Dr. Cathy Chan)
and#149; Fecal survey of parasites infecting humane society animals (Dr. Gary Conboy)
and#149; Stress reduction by environmental enrichment in shelter cats (Dr. Susan Dohoo)
and#149; Neutering feral cats on PEI (Dr. Peter Foley)
and#149; Chlamydial status of genital tracts of cats on Prince Edward Island (Dr. Les Gabor)
and#149; Comparing two treatments for epilepsy in dogs: graduate student funding (Dr. Cynthia Gaskill)
and#149; AVC humane dog training programme (Dr. Norma Guy)
and#149; Litterbox size preference of domestic cats (Dr. Norma Guy)
and#149; Improved pain control for surgery on the front leg of dogs (Dr. Kip Lemke)
and#149; A diagnostic test for French heartworm (Drs. Fred Markham and Gary Conboy)
and#149; Improved diagnosis in equine diarrhea (Dr. J McClure)
A backgrounder is attached with information on each project.
Originally established as the Animal Welfare Unit in 1994, the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre at the Atlantic Veterinary College, UPEI funds projects that will benefit companion animals, horses, and wildlife. For information on the Centre, visit the website at: www.upei.ca/awc
-30-
Contacts:
Dr. Alice Crook, Coordinator, Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre (902) 628-4360
Lauranne MacNeill, External Relations, AVC (902) 566-0533
Backgrounder
Atlantic Veterinary College and#149; University of Prince Edward Island and#149; 550 University Avenue and#149; Charlottetown, PEI
Phone: (902) 566-0533 and#149; Fax: (902) 566-0958
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centreand#151;2005-funded Projects
Improving testing for platelet function in dogs (Dr Shelley Burton)
Dogs experience a variety of potentially fatal bleeding disorders. Some, such as von Willebrand's disease or disseminated intravascular coagulation, are due to alterations in platelets which are essential to normal blood clotting. Existing tests of platelet function are crude in nature and somewhat uncomfortable for patients, or require shipment to specialized laboratories, which is expensive and time-consuming. The situation has improved recently in human medicine with the development of a simple machine, the Platelet Function Analyzer (PFA)-100, that assesses the function of platelets through a measurement called closure time. The machine has been validated for use in dogs, and the AVC Diagnostic Services Laboratory has acquired a PFA-100. An objective of this project is to establish normal values for closure time in healthy dogs, prior to using it to assess platelet function in dogs with bleeding disorders. A second objective arises from a report that low red blood cell counts in anemic animals may interfere with the analyzer results. This project will also assess the red blood cell level below which a patient sample can no longer be reliably evaluated.
Pedometer-based physical activity in dogs (Dr. Cathy Chan)
Nearly half of pet dogs are overweight, but there has been little research done, outside of diet studies, to determine the best means of helping dogs to reach and then maintain a healthy weight. In people, an increase in physical activity is a crucial component of weight management. Dr. Chan's previous research has shown the use of pedometers, small devices that count steps taken, can help motivate people to increase their physical activity. The objective of this project is to determine if pedometer-based physical activity programmes can also motivate people to increase their dog's physical activity levels. Owners enrolled in the study will receive pedometers for themselves and their dogs.
Fecal survey of parasites infecting humane society animals (Dr. Gary Conboy)
Dogs and cats are susceptible to infection with a range of intestinal parasites, including worms and Giardia, a protozoan parasite. These can seriously affect the health of dogs and cats, and some, such as the roundworm Toxacara canis, and some strains of Giardia, can also infect people. This project will provide for fecal examination of all dogs coming to the PEI Humane Society to determine if the current parasite control programme is appropriate. It will also provide fecal examinations for all cats available for adoption. Another benefit of the project will be to furnish information about the parasites of greatest regional importance in PEI. Such information is necessary in order to design efficient and effective parasite control programmes and to determine whether drug manufacturers' recommendations for frequent dewormings are warranted or excessive. No survey of this type has ever been carried out on PEI and none in Atlantic Canada since 1986.
Stress reduction by environmental enrichment in shelter cats (Dr. Susan Dohoo)
Thousands of cats enter shelters in Canada each year. Initially, they are brought to a receiving and assessment area where they are vaccinated and held for several days. Some are claimed by their owners, some are euthanized, and as many as possible are moved into the adoption area of the shelter. Regardless of the fate of the cats, each is under stress in the strange new environment. It may be their first time in a cage; there are strange sights, sounds and smells of other animals; and unfamiliar humans caring for them. Stressed cats are at increased risk of disease and may be difficult to handle which lessons their chances of adoption. Cats offered places to hide within their cages generally have reduced anxiety and fear. The BC SPCA has developed "hide and perch" boxes which give cats a place to hide or an elevated spot for resting, within their cage. These boxes are becoming more widely used by humane societies. However, the boxes are generally too big for the cages in the initial receiving area.
Working with the PEI Humane Society, Dr. Dohoo will assess a simple method to provide cats in these smaller cages a place to hide by placing a curtain over half of the door. This allows anxious cats the choice of hiding behind the curtain. Using various objective observations, the stress levels will be compared between cats in the modified cages, and those in unmodified cages. If the curtain reduces stress, this will provide a simple, cheap and effective way to improve emotional well-being and reduce the risk of infectious disease for large numbers of shelter cats.
Neutering feral cats on PEI ( Dr. Peter Foley)
Most communities have populations of feral cats in their midst, that are a source of concern to community members, veterinarians, and animal control agencies. These semi-wild cats are the offspring of stray or abandoned animals. These cats are often unhealthy, with a significantly reduced lifespan due to illness and injury, mostly related to uncontrolled reproduction. An alternative to euthanasia of these cats is a "trap, neuter and release" programme. These programmes are being carried out in many areas of North America, and result in cat populations that are more stable (zero to low birth rate) and healthier (tested, vaccinated, and with reduced fighting associated with mating behaviour).
Such a programme was established through the SJDAWC at AVC in 2001, in cooperation with the PEI Cat Action Team (CAT) and the Town Council of North Rustico. Bi-monthly neuter Saturdays are held at the AVC, wherein cats are trapped and brought in by CAT; anesthetized, tested for two common serious infectious diseases, vaccinated, neutered, and tattooed for identification; and, after recovery from anesthesia and surgery, released by CAT members back to the original area. The veterinary services are provided voluntarily by AVC students, staff, and faculty. Since 2001, over 1400 feral cats have been neutered through the efforts of CAT, over 600 of them though this project. The most recent renewal of funding will continue to support bi-monthly neuter days over the next two years, to neuter approximately 30 cats on each occasion.
In a separate project funded though the SJDAWC by the Pegasus Family Foundation, a further 300 feral cats were neutered at AVC during 2004. Additional feral cats are neutered at participating Island veterinary clinics with funds privately raised by CAT. Continuing this neuter programme is beneficial to the individual cats by decreasing fighting and preventing the spread of disease. The programme is also decreasing the proportion of reproducing feral cats on PEI, with the ultimate goal of achieving negative population growth.
Chlamydial status of genital tracts of cats on Prince Edward Island (Dr. Les Gabor)
Chlamydia is a common cause of upper respiratory disease and eye infections in cats, and can progress to pneumonia. It has been speculated that persistent infection in the genital tract is one of the main routes of infection for the general cat population, particularly for kittens, and may be a major cause of infertility in breeding catteries as well as wild populations. In humans and in koalas with chlamydiosis, genital persistence occurs, and may be both a major route of infection and a reservoir for infection.
Through this project, in cooperation with the feral cat neutering project, the genital tracts removed during neutering of female cats will be examined and tested for Chlamydia using a new diagnostic procedure (polymerase chain reaction testing). This study will determine whether Chlamydia is present in PEI's cat population, by determining if genital persistence occurs. Dr. Gabor will also catalogue the general genital health of feral cats at the time of neutering and correlate that with the presence or absence of Chlamydia.
Comparing two treatments for epilepsy in dogs (Dr. Cynthia Gaskill)
Epilepsy is a fairly common condition in dogs. Most dogs can not be cured, but with appropriate therapy, seizures can be satisfactorily controlled in 70 to 80 per cent of epileptic dogs. Phenobarbital and potassium bromide are the anticonvulsant drugs most commonly used, either alone or in combination. Until recently, phenobarbital was considered the drug of choice. However, the use of this drug sometimes causes serious liver damage. To avoid this, potassium bromide is being recommended more and more as the first line treatment for epilepsy. This increased usage of potassium bromide is occurring despite a lack of studies to determine its safety and effectiveness.
In this study, originally funded in 2003, Dr. Gaskill monitors epileptic dogs treated with phenobarbital or potassium bromide, to compare the safety and effectiveness of these two drugs to develop more appropriate recommendations for treatment. The additional funding in 2005 will provide support for a graduate student to carry out various aspects of the project, completion of which is expected in spring 2007.
AVC humane dog training programme (Dr. Norma Guy)
Funding has been renewed for two years for this programme, initially funded by the SJDAWC in 2001. Through this project, a well-established component of the daily activities at the PEI Humane Society (PEIHS), veterinary students with an interest in shelter issues and dog training are employed to work at the PEIHS on a full-time basis during the summer months and a part-time basis during the school year. The students' responsibilities are primarily for the social enrichment and training of the dogs on the adoption floor using only positive reinforcement (clicker training). This contact helps reduce anxiety in the dogs, while they learn behaviours that can make them more appealing to potential adopters. The students' secondary responsibilities include interacting with, and educating, potential adopters and other visitors, and assisting the shelter manager in the management and evaluation of some of the dogs that are brought to the shelter. The students themselves gain hands-on knowledge of shelter issues, as well as experience working with shelter dogs and their new owners, which will serve them well as veterinarians advising clients on pet behaviour.
Litterbox size preference of domestic cats (Dr. Norma Guy)
Inappropriate elimination, or failure to use a litterbox, is one of the most commonly reported behaviour problems in cats. It is a frequent reason for relinquishment of cats to shelters, abandonment of cats, and euthanasia. Owners and veterinarians alike express frustration in the management of this problem. Most cats with inappropriate elimination are apparently normal on physical examination and diagnostic testing. Many treatments are used, sometimes including anti-anxiety medication.
It is believed that the most common reason for a cat to fail to use a litterbox is that it is in some way considered to be inadequate by the cat. The significance of the level of litterbox cleanliness, for example, is well-recognized. Yet the normal preferences for cats for an elimination area remain poorly described. Experience with cases referred to the AVC has indicated that markedly increasing litterbox size can have a dramatic and immediate positive effect on litterbox use. This project is a trial to determine whether indoor cats show a significant preference for a larger litterbox, as compared to the area provided by commercially available litterboxes. Given the high frequency of this behaviour problem, and the significant outcome for the cats and their owners, this project has the potential to identify a simple and effective component of the successful treatment and prevention of inappropriate elimination in cats.
Improved pain control for surgery on the front leg of dogs (Dr. Kip Lemke)
Regional nerve blocks are used to reduce requirements for general anesthetics and improve heart and lung function during surgery and to reduce postoperative pain and stress after surgery. Injection of local anesthetics blocks sensation to the part of the body that will be operated upon, which reduces the need for other anesthetic and analgesic (pain-relieving) drugs.
In veterinary medicine, effective regional anesthetic techniques are used for surgical procedures of the head, chest, abdomen, and hind limb, but a reliable technique for procedures of the front limb has not been developed. A new paravertebral regional technique has been developed at the AVC that addresses the deficiencies of previous techniques. This study will compare traditional therapy (general anesthetics with opioids) to a combined anesthetic technique (general anesthetics with opioids and paravertebral blockade) in dogs undergoing surgery of the front limb. The objectives are to look at the effects of the paravertebral blockade on intraoperative anesthetic requirements and cardiopulmonary function, postoperative pain, stress responses, and platelet function. The ultimate goal is to improve pain management and reduce perioperative complications in dogs undergoing front limb surgeries.
A diagnostic test for French heartworm (Drs. Fred Markham and Gary Conboy )
French heartworm (Angiostrongylus vasorum) is a parasite, a roundworm, which infects the blood vessels in the lungs and heart of dogs and red foxes. It causes serious disease and death, through damage to the heart and lungs and potentially other organs. The main sign of infection is a chronic cough, for which there are also many other causes, and eventually, heart failure. The parasite was first diagnosed in Newfoundland in 1996 and has not yet been found in other regions of Atlantic Canada, but given the frequency and speed of travel between Newfoundland and other areas, and the abundance of red foxes and slugs, the intermediate host, in the rest of Atlantic Canada, it seems likely the parasite will spread.
Standard stool tests for parasites do not always detect French heartworm larvae, leaving some dogs undiagnosed. In a previous SJDAWC-funded project, Drs. Markham, Conboy, Miller, and Vezburger developed a blood test to detect Angiostrongylus worm antigensand#151;proteins excreted by the wormsand#151;in the blood of infected dogs. This test shows great promise in detecting infection sooner and in dogs not shedding larvae, before damage has already occurred to the heart and lungs, which would greatly improve the chances for a complete recovery.
One goal of this project is to further refine the test by purifying the antigen and obtaining a continued supply of specific test reagents. The second purpose is to screen dogs at a Newfoundland clinic including apparently healthy dogs, those with signs suggestive of Angiostrongylus infection, and hunting dogs to confirm the accuracy of the test, compare it to newer versions of the test, and to determine the general prevalence of infection in this area.
Improved diagnosis in equine diarrhea (Dr. J McClure)
Acute diarrhea is a life-threatening and costly disease in horses. The three most common infectious causes are bacteriaand#151;Salmonella, Neorickettsia risticii, and Clostridium difficile. Clinically speaking, these three bacteria cause similar illnesses, but the appropriate antibiotic therapy differs amongst them. To reduce mortality and the duration of illness, it is important to start appropriate antibiotics early, and yet current diagnostic tests for these diseases require three to five days, or longer, before the results are available.
Real-Time PCR has promise as a diagnostic test because it can give rapid and reliable same-day results at an affordable cost. Real-Time PCR tests have been developed for Salmonella and Neorickettsia risticii in horses, but not for Clostridium difficile. This project is a pilot study to determine if, as anticipated, a Real-Time PCR assay developed for the identification of Clostridium difficile in people will work in horses affected with the same bacterium. If the project is successful, the next step will be to develop a Real-Time PCR test that can detect all three bacteria, if present, from one fecal sample. Having a reliable rapid test for these common pathogens will greatly improve the ability to diagnose and treat horses with acute diarrhea in a timely manner, thereby reducing the duration and severity of their illness.
