bommy

Aatanic, Okay details of Molly's neospora: Rapid/laboured Breathing (for a while we put this down to our tropical climat) Lethargy (again put down to the heat) a bunny hop gait when she did move stiffness in her walk refusal to climb into/out of the car avoiding any activity at all even ball chasing stopped jumping of things (ie lounge to floor she just slithers now) a loss of appetite weight loss 20% of her body weight in a short period. Her back started to roach When we realised it wasnt the heat, we thought pneumonia but the tests came back clear, then we thought cancer, had biopsies & aspirations done & the came back clear as well with the only abnormality as being a high liver count Then I spoke to someone who mentioned the article in an old Boxer mag that spoke of neospora, that is when I went in & requested we test specifically for the disease, the vets did IgA & IgMs & sent them away the titres as I mentioned elsewhere came back at 1:2500, considering elsewhere they traditionally start treatment at 1:125. When we started Molly on the traetment for the Neospora which was as soon as i asked could this be it she had a pick up in about 48-72 hrs, she has stopped losing weight & is able to maintain it. The cancer they have given us 3-6mths with, the neospora will take her earlier if we are not successful in treating it. Sorry got to run the kids are killing each other Jacqui

Anne The pain is still their even after almost a year........ Just remember sweetie, that one day you will meet again & run free together on the otherside of the bridge RIP Zoe. Jacqui

Paula, Thats a fantastic outcome for today....Sure am glad she came through okay for you. Jacqui

We had goodvets a partnership of 3 guys & had used then for 5years, and were very happy, then one day the partnership split up, to cover the gap they bought in a locum. Well to cut a long story short, one sunday Chief had woken with a blocked anal gland & it burst I rang the AH to get in to get medicines etc to treat the locums reply "he's not going to die from it bathe it & come in tomorrow". I was furious, we changed vets then & have been so happy ever since, my new vet charges me cost for all tests etc I have done & I pay cost plu 5% for vaccinations & other treatments, I also consider them good friends now as they are constantly checking up on our babies via phone. The locum consequently left my other partnership after I & a few others had complained & I will use them as a backup if I ever needed to but my current vets will come & see me at the clinic at anytime day or night. Jacqui

Thanks guys, Every day is different, some days she wants to eat other days she doesnt & I sit there & hand feed her, lucky the kids understand she is sick & needs her own mummytime as well. Jacqui

I would love to know where the dirt goes! I think they eat it! We tried the sandpit we have a huge one 9mtrs long & 4mtrs wide, Molly uses it Major prefers the garden, someone on another thread suggested a balloon in the hole, I have burried a few now to wait for it to stop raining to see! Jacqui

We use the advocate, havent had any drams with it Jacqui

Paula, I really feel for you, we are facing cancer at the moment with Molly, in her case though we know that is is malignant... Last June though we had this option with Chief when he went from being happy to being a mess in a few hours a vet visit & a check resulted in the knowledge that he had an internal tumor that had burst, we had the option of puttng him through a blood transfer and an op or PTS, it was heartbreaking, he was 10 & had been my love for many many years, we as a family decided that PTS was the kindest option, even now I sometimes wonder what if but I know in my heart that I couldnt put him through that pain just for my own needs. Sweetie, no one can tell you what to do you have to make that decision but please do what is best for Gremlin & yourself not for others. Goodluck Jacqui

I agree Anne....Ricey tell him combantrim comes in yummy choccy squares & a paste if he prefers.... Our whole house gets done regularly from hubby down to the cats!Ecept we use the Combantrim the animals get the drontal. hee hee Id hate to get em mixed up! Jacqui

Thanks guys, Our plan at this stage is to enjoy every moment & when the time comes to be brave enough to say goodbye & let her pass on to the bridge to join chief with as much dignity as possible. Jacqui

Thats right steve, sorry what I was meaning is that if you have an ill dog the chances of them developing Neospora is heightened due to their low immune system, (especially in middleaged dogs). Not that neospora will cause them to get cancer, its the other way around, if a dog is ill they can develop the neospora when fed the infected meat. Jacqui

HI everyone, Well we have had a weekend of tears, molly's bloodwork has finally come in. She has Neospora. Biopsies have also shown that she has multi cell tumors over her body now, (4 weeks ago when we first started testing to see what was wrong they were clear of any cancerous cells and we had no idea what was wrong) We have been given a maximum of 6mths together. As Molly has had no exposure to fecal matter, or placental matter, we are of the belief that she has detracted the Neospora from her previous diet of BARF. Which given that neospora is transported as Cattle and Bovine animals being the major host with dogs as the secondary host. I fed my dogs raw human grade beef which was generally chest frozen for 2-3 days prior to feeding, she would ocassionally get the odd fresh steak. Please be careful if you are feeding an older or ill dog barf, if their immunity is low then the risks of contracting Neospora from infected meat is higher. Jacqui

Well, I tried natures gift the past 3 days & molly is actually eating a whole 700gm tin at her evening meal! And that is a big improvement she has been turning her nose up at everything else we have been trying. So I think I will stick with that for now! Especially for those busy days when I dont get a chance to cook for her. Thank you all so much Jacqui

I in ctrl west NSW the Chillers are still buying roo like crazy, you will probably find though that it is a cost/supply issue, most of the shooters are allowed to kill 40-50 roos per night for the chillers they have to be between a certain size not too small & have a mximum weight as well, the only difference is now that this roo meat is going for human consumption, mainly overseas, and even though the shooters are only getting 70c/kg, the chillers are getting close to 2.50 - 3.00 /kg. Mind you on the cull I went on at home over Christmas there was 10 guys = 400 roos, but half were that worm infested they were not any good for consumption. Jacqui

Greytmate, where abouts do you get that from? Thanks Jacqui

Thank you Kismet, A variety is just what I was after. Thanks Jacqui

Thanks Nadia, we have already seen this & passed it on to the Uni before I posted this. Recently (3mths) it has been found that freezing doesnt kill the Neospora, thats why I am looking for an alternative, I am happy to keep feeding barf but it will actually be cooked not raw now, but the guys at the uni have suggested that we use a kibble to help supplement teh dogs diet until Molly gains weight again. Liverpool University produced the following, cases seem to be more frequent or more reported in the UK, Canad & the US. NEOSPOROSIS IN DOGS. SUMMARY 1. Usually neuromuscular disease (ascending paralysis), but wide range of signs possible. 2. Most commonly reported in puppies and young dogs, but may occur at any age. 3. Worldwide occurrence. No breed or sex predilections. 4. Serology (a type of blood test) is most useful diagnostic test. Examination of biopsy or post-mortem tissues confirms. 5. Treatment results in functional recovery in many cases. 6. Control/prevention is difficult since the lifecycle and modes of transmission of Neospora caninum are incompletely understood. INTRODUCTION Neosporosis is a relatively recently recognised disease complex, which has most commonly been reported as an ascending paralysis of young dogs, but which can cause a wide variety of clinical signs in dogs of all ages. NEOSPORA CANINUM - THE CAUSATIVE ORGANISM · A microscopic, Toxoplasma gondii-like parasite, causing muscle weakness, was described in three litters of Boxer puppies in Norway in 1984. In 1988 researchers in the United States named the causative organism Neospora caninum. · The parasite was isolated in 1988, grown in tissue culture and tests were developed. There followed many reports of neosporosis, particularly as the neuromuscular form of the disease in litters of young pups, from all over the world. Examination of stored tissue samples revealed that neosporosis was not a new disease, but occurred in dogs at least as early as the 1950s. · N.caninum occurs naturally in cattle (where it is an important cause of abortion), sheep, goats, deer and horses. Experimental infections have been reported in many species, including rats, mice and monkeys but no natural cases have yet been reported in cats or man. · The lifecycle of N.caninum is not yet fully understood. WHICH DOGS ARE AT RISK FROM NEOSPOROSIS? Age Dogs of any age may develop neosporosis. Most reported cases have involved several littermates, with clinical signs developing at between two and twenty weeks of age, but confirmed cases have occurred in dogs as young as 2 days old and as old as 15 years, and many involve isolated individuals, as well as groups of cases in related dogs. It is also possible that neosporosis may result in stillbirths and abortions/resorptions, but neosporosis has not been confirmed in such cases as yet Breed Any breed or type of dog may be affected. Neosporosis has been confirmed in more than 30 breeds, ranging from Yorkshire Terrier, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and West Highland White Terrier through Border Collie, Springer Spaniel and Husky to Great Dane, Bernese Mountain Dog and Irish Wolfhound. Labradors and Boxers have been well represented, but these are very popular breeds. Cases have been reported from owners with a single pet through to large breeders with many animals on the premises, and in dogs from both rural and urban areas. No sex predilections have been found. Other concurrent disease, such as canine distemper, is not commonly found in cases of neosporosis, but immunosuppression may make the disease worse. CLINICAL SIGNS Most commonly - a hindlimb weakness, which progresses to paralysis, forelimb weakness and difficulty in chewing, swallowing and then breathing, resulting in death or euthanasia. The course of the disease is variable, with peracute cases dying within a week of the first signs being noticed, to a much more chronic course in which signs gradually progress over several weeks. Owners often initially notice a bunny-hopping type of gait, reluctance to jump up or a splaying out of legs when squatting. One or both hindlimbs may be affected. In about half of cases a rigid extension of stifle and/or hock develops. Incontinence is rare initially but may develop as the disease progresses. Fever and inappetance are rare, with most dogs remaining bright and alert until the later stages. Dogs may also present with one or more of the following signs:- · Weakness/paralysis of forelimb(s) only · Drunken-type or high stepping gait · Altered behaviour · Blindness · Head tilt · Head nodding / tremors · Seizures (fits) · Sudden death due to inflammation of the heart · Pneumonia (cough, breathlessness) · Skin abnormalities Many other conditions may result in similar clinical signs, including :- · Trauma e.g. bitch must have stood on pup, 'dog fell, etc. · Intervertebral disc disease including 'slipped discs", wobblers · Toxoplasmosis · Other infectious diseases e.g. canine distemper, rabies · Congenital/inherited defects e.g. progressive axonopathy of Boxers, spina bifida · Thrombo-embolic diseases (bloodclots) · Neoplasia (growths/cancer) · Poisoning e.g. botulism etc., etc. DIAGNOSTIC TESTS X-rays are often used to rule out differential diagnoses, as are routine blood tests (haematology and clinical biochemistry). There are no specific changes in these tests in cases of neosporosis. Serology (blood tests to measure antibody levels) - the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) is usually used to measure antibodies to N. caninum. A result (titre) of 1:50 or more (this is the dilution of blood used in the test) is considered positive evidence of exposure to N. caninum, but not necessarily of disease. Virtually all confirmed cases of neosporosis have had high titres (1:800 or more). Although a few clinically normal dogs have had titres up to 1:12800, a titre of 1:800 or more in a dog with clinical signs is good supportive evidence of neosporosis. Most titres fall over a period of weeks following treatment However, antibodies remain detectable for many months or even years. Test titre results depend on many factors and the above information relates mainly to the IFAT used at Liverpool University, and not necessarily to tests carried out by other labs. Collection of the fluid around the spinal cord (CSF analysis) usually reveals non-specific changes, but parasites may be detected Electromyography/nerve conduction studies may reveal nerve or muscle damage. CT/MRI scans are not yet widely available enough to have been used in many cases of neosporosis, but these techniques may be able to detect some CNS changes, such as large cysts and areas of inflammation, as occurs in toxoplasmosis in humans. CONFIRMATION OF NEOSPOROSIS Pre-death biopsies (e.g. of muscle, or skin in dermatological cases), utilising special staining techniques (immunohistochemistry), may confirm the diagnosis. Post-mortem findings may confirm the disease in fatal cases. Parasites are most likely to be found in sections of brain, spinal cord and affected muscle, but may also be seen in heart lungs, liver and/or kidney. DNA tests, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques are likely to be more widely available in the near future to identity parasite nucleic add, in CSF samples, biopsy material or tissue sections. TREATMENT · Clindamycin (Antirobe) [11-22mg/kg twice daily · Potentiated sulphonamides (e.g. Tribissen Co-Trimoxazole) [15mg/kg twice daily] · Pyrimethamine (Daraprim ,anti-malarial drug) [1mg.kg once daily] Treatment should be instituted as soon as possible when neosporosis is suspected. Since the drugs have few side effects and are relatively cheap, this might even be before serological test results are available. If the dog is going to respond, there should be some improvement within a few days of commencing treatment Treatment should continue until the dog has fully recovered or no further clinical improvement is seen (2-9 weeks). Supportive treatment, e.g. aspirin like drugs, low doses of corticosteroids, plus good nursing care e.g. bladder expression and physiotherapy are also beneficial. About half of appropriately treated dogs might be expected to make a full or functional recovery, although many are left with an odd gait, muscle wastage or roached back. Rigid hyperextension is the sign least likely to be reversed. If this hyperextension is unilateral, amputation of the affected limb may improve the dogs mobility. Peracute and very chronic cases are the least likely to respond. There is anecdotal evidence that relapses may occur, but these generally respond well to a further short course of treatment There is also evidence that some, generally more mildly affected, dogs make a spontaneous recovery. CONTROL AND PREVENTION Transmission of the parasite from an infected, but clinically normal bitch to her puppies was for a long time the only confirmed route of infection in dogs. However, the number of puppies infected in each litter varies from none to all of the litter, with overall only about 20% pups seropositive. Fewer than half of these infected pups are ever likely to develop clinical signs of neosporosis. Transmission can occur repeatedly over several consecutive litters. Bitches with an IFAT titre of 1:50 have produced affected puppies, but infections and disease are more likely in pups born to bitches with high titres. Care should be taken in interpreting low IFAT results - the sensitivity and specificity of the tests used are not known exactly, and the risks of producing an affected puppy is actually quite low. Similarly, there may be legal implications if a positive bitch is bred from, regarding whether or not resulting puppies should be tested before sale and whether any results should be disclosed to purchasers when puppies are apparently healthy at the time of the sale. Such matters need careful discussion! There is only limited data available on the preventative treatment of bitches during pregnancy to prevent prenatal infection of pups, or of seropositive littermates, but such treatments have generally been unsuccessful. Since congenital infection is far less than 100% efficient and experimentally, cats and mice have been infected by mouth), infection after birth is also suspected to occur, and studies of infection rates in many dogs of all ages have provided evidence that this is so. The route of infection is thought to be through the ingestion of raw meat (especially beef), so it is sensible to advise cooking meat thoroughly before feeding (including scraped beef used for weaning puppies).It is also possible that infection could result from the ingestion of the parasite from the environment after it has been shed by other infected animals, although the identity of such animals is presently unknown. Finally, although there is evidence that post-natal infection does occur, it is still not known whether disease in adult dogs is due to a relapse of congenital infection or follows from a recent infection in the adult dog. HOW COMMON IS NEOSPOROSIS? Neosporosis occurs worldwide. Cases have been reported from Europe, USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Japan and Costa Rica. There is also evidence of infection in equatorial Africa and South America. Prevalence (of infection, not disease) varies from 0.5% to 17% of dogs tested. Studies in the UK have shown a decline in prevalence over the past 10 years. Whether or not such a decline is also happening in other countries is not known. CONCLUSION Neosporosis is not a common disease, but it may result in a wide variety of clinical signs. It should be suspected in all neuromuscular disorders where another cause has not been confirmed. Indeed, since treatment is relatively sate and not too expensive, early treatment of suspected cases, even before test results are available, is worthwhile. Neosporosis should also be considered in cases of sudden death in pups and young dogs, in ulcerative dermatitis and in cases of pneumonia where serology and/or histopathology will aid in diagnosis. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank Petsavers for supporting the studies on canine neosporosis carried out at Liverpool University, and Prof A.J.Trees and all the members of the Veterinary Parasitology group there. Also all the vets and dog owners who helped in my research. Dr Jackie Barber, BVetMed, PhD, MRCVS formerly at :- Veterinary Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA Phone 01517089393. Now in private practice in North West England. cheers Jacqui

Sorry I am not going to hijack this thread but Greymate has already bought up about Neospora/ neosporosis as well. Here is the link if you are interested: http://forums.dogzonline.com.au/index.php?...topic=13120&hl= Jacqui

Aatanic had Pm'd you but will post here anyway. Hi aatanic just so you can have a point of reference at gatton, my vets are liasing with Terry King & Bruce McKie (not sure of the spelling) Neospora is pretty high in the Greyhound breed and they also believe now that Rotti's & other large breed dogs are more prone as well. They have told us that anything with a titre of 1:125 & over they now treat for neospora, Molly's titre came back at twice that 1:2500 so she now has 3 huge scars where lesions have been cut & sent for immediate biopsy. As you can imagine this "rare" disease now has me all in a flap & our vets & I are spending as much time as we can finding out all we can. My vets at first felt that Neospora was too rare & infact alot dont test for this unless you specifically ask for the test this is what I did, my vets arent the ones panicking it was me. I am not saying dont feed barf I am just saying be aware of all the disease & sum up the risks for yourself, if I had known about neospora I probably would have always cooked not fed raw, now I am wishing I had. Jacqui Edited to correct titre - went back & checked the results.

I'm not feeding my dog cooked bones, now I just cook all bovine meats they are fed... and my dogs were only ever fed Human Grade, I wouldnt give them anything to eat I wouldnt eat myself. Jacqui

aatanic, thats not ver reassuring for me, Molly is facing neospora right at this moment & we are liasing with Gatton re treatment, also it seems that now they are deciding there has been alot of misdiagnosed cased of neospora, feeling that it may possibly be related to some cardiac cases, fading puppy, pnuemonia & liver failure cases. Since Mid Nov there has been 5 incidents from NZ & Australia that I have become aware of with Neospora, 5 dogs isnt alot I know but that is 5 that I one person am aware of & believe me I dont know that many people & these people are form all over Australia, not just where I live. Jacqui

I was an avid BAREFER, loved it, until recently, has anyone here that feeds BARF heard of NEOSPORA? Did you know that it has been found out in the last 3months that freezing your beef/mutton/goat doesnot kill this spore & that your dog can still detract Neospora? SORRY Dont want to alarm anyone & I am still using the BARF principle just cooking it first before the dogs get it, the reason NEOSPORA can kill your dog. I am using Advance as well at the moment since the professor at the Uni in Gatton recommended that we cook & supplement with a dry food. At least until I can find a organic one I like. Jacqui

Thanks guys, now to find sometime to sit down & compare. Jacqui

Okay I have been an avid advocate of BARF for quite a while, but now due to Molly having a high titre of Neospora & her recent op which has given several lumps to be biopsied for confirmation, the Professor & the specialist we & the vet are conferring with have bot insisted we stop feeding BARF or any RAW meats & go to cooked or a high quality drymix. Now my vet has refused to recommend a product telling me to research around & see what I feel is the best & then he will source it for me if I cant. So I am looking for suggestions, I am happy to cook all my meals for the babies but if there is someone out there that has knowledge of an organic quality kibble I would like to know so as I can research it. BTW pricing is not an issue. Thanks Jacqui

;) JUST FOR MIDDIE! Sorry I only just saw this thread I hope everything turns out okay Jacqui PS Keels a good stiff drink in opious amounts helps me out!