| General Info | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|
Dog licensing applications are now available online Click Here
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Health Commissioner Thomas R. Frieden have announced the launch of a new online licensing system that will make it easier not only for dog lovers to protect their pets, but also for them to comply with the law. The new application cuts the waiting time for new licensed and renewals more than in half to approximately 10 to 14 business days.
License: NY State law (NC Dog licensing law) requires all dogs to be licensed and to have their license renewed each year. NYC Health Code 161.04 requires every dog owner to have a NYC Dog license tag attached to the dogs collar when in public.
Leash: NYC Health Code 161.05 required dogs in pubic to be restrained by a leash not more than 6 feet long.
Don’t Litter: NY State Public Health law 1310 requires owners to clean up after their dogs in public places.
Dog owners may be fined for violation of these laws.
Important facts about your indoor cat
~ Cockroaches, mice, and flies all can carry roundworm eggs – cats are natural hunters and will hunt them! General Concepts in Zoonotic disease control, Lappin, 2005
~ 15% of commercial potting soil contains roundworm eggs. The Veterinary Record, February 18, 2006
~ The Northeast has the highest prevalence of roundworms in the country. National canine and feline parasite and vector-borne diseases prevalence survey, Blagburn et al, 2008
~ Other animals in the household that do go outside (like dogs and people) can bring in different parasites that can affect the “indoor” cat
~ A study conducted in 2007 by the CDC proves that almost 14% of the US population is infected with Toxocara-MUCH higher than what was originally thought. Same study also states “Although most persons infected with toxocara have no symptoms the parasite is capable of causing blindness and other systemic illness”. CDC, 2007
~ Childres and immune-compromised people(cancer patients, people with HIV/AIDS, organ transplants) are more susceptible to being infected with these parasites
~ 40% of immune-compromised people have a pet at home. Green’s infectious diseases, 2007
~ Roundworms(toxocara cati) are prolific egg producers and are estimated to produce as many as 24,000 eggs per day.
~ It is estimated that three to six million people in the United States may be infected with Toxocara(roundworm) larval migrans each year. Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) Guidelines, 2005
~ In just thirty days, twenty-five female fleas can multiply to over a quarter million. Noxon J. Fleas and Flea Control, February 8, 2005
~ All it takes is one adult worm in a cat’s heart to be fatal. Cats that dies from heartworms can be clinically normal 1 hour before death.
~ Over 25% of cats with proven heartworm infection, according to their owners, are kept indoors exclusively. Atkins CE, Defrancesco TC, Coats JR, et al. Heartworm infection in cats: 50 cases(1985-1997) J Am Vet Med Assoc 2000; 217:355-358
Iams Pet Food Recall – July 2010
On July 30th, 2010 the Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) issued a voluntary recall of dry food due to possible salmonella health risks. These products are made in a single, specialized facility. In cooperation with the FDA, P&G determined that some products made at this facility have the potential for salmonella contamination. No salmonella-related illnesses have been confirmed. As a precautionary measure, P&G is suspending operations at this facility and recalling all dry pet food products manufactured at this plant, which include:
| Product Name | Version | “Best By” Dates | UPC Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iams Veterinary Dry Formulas | All dry sizes and varieties | 01Jul10-01Dec11 | All UPC Codes |
| Eukanuba Naturally Wild | All dry sizes and varieties | 01Jul10-01Dec11 | All UPC Codes |
| Eukanuba Pure | All dry sizes and varieties | 01Jul10-01Dec11 | All UPC Codes |
| Eukanuba Custom Care Sensitive Skin | All dry sizes and varieties | 01Jul10-01Dec11 | All UPC Codes |
No canned food, biscuits/treats or supplements, including ProstoraMax are affected by this recall. P&G is taking all the necessary steps to ensure their product quality meets our expectations.
Concerned pet owners can call P&G toll free at 877-340-8823.
Stray Cat in Bronx tests Positive for Rabies – March 2010
On March 5th, 2010 a feral cat from in the North Riverdale section of the Bronx, tested positive for rabies. This is the first animal to test positive for rabies in the Bronx this year since 1992 when raccoon rabies first appeared in NYC. To date this year, a total of 69 animals have tested positive for rabies, including the cat mentioned in this alert. There has not been a rabid dog reported in NYC in over 50 years.
The cat was brought to a veterinary hospital in Westchester on March 1st with epistaxis, lethargy and unusual vocalization. Upon examination the cat was hypothermic (low temperature), tachypnic and had hind limb paresis. Over the course of two days it developed ataxia, became unusually aggressive, and was seen lunging and attempting to bite staff near the cage as wells as trying to climb the walls of the cage. It died on March 3rd and was submitted for rabies testing. Several staff members reportedly had contact with the cat. The Health Department worked with the Westchester Health Department and the hospital and staff members
and identified three persons for whom rabies postexposure prophylaxis was indicated. In addition, three other feral cats were potentially exposed to this animal and were collected and tested negative for rabies.
Rabies is most commonly spread to domestic animals by attacks from wild animals. To date in 2010, 69 animals (67 raccoons from Manhattan, 1 raccoon from Brooklyn, and 1 cat from the Bronx) tested positive for rabies at the NYC DOHMH Rabies Laboratory and Wadsworth. There continues to be an outbreak of raccoon rabies in and around Central Park in Manhattan for which a Trap, Vaccinate and Release (TVR) program has been implemented to help prevent further spread of the virus.
Maintaining vaccination against rabies is required for all dogs and cats in New York City. Any unvaccinated dog or cat that may have been exposed to a rabid animal is required to enter into 6 month isolation in an approved facility or be euthanized. If a pet is up to date with its rabies vaccine but potentially exposed to a rabid animal, a booster vaccine should be given as soon as possible, and the animal should be confined and observed for 45 days in the owner’s home. Any healthy pet dog or cat that has bitten or scratched a person is required to be confined and observed
by the owner (in most instances) for 10 days. If the animal is not current on its rabies vaccine, do not vaccinate it until the completion of the 10 day observation period.
Animal bites are reportable to the DOHMH Veterinary Public Health Services (VPHS) Animal Bite Unit at 212-676-2483.
Additional information about rabies is available on the DOHMH website by Clicking here.
DOHMH has also recently published a guide to human rabies prevention, available by Clicking here.
Raccoon in Brooklyn tests Positive for Rabies – February 2010
On February 12th, 2010, the Public Health Laboratory of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) reported a positive rabies test in a raccoon collected from Brooklyn. The raccoon was captured for rabies testing following a report from a resident of the Boerum Hill neighborhood who saw the animal interacting with his dog through a fence in their backyard. The dog was currently vaccinated against rabies, given a booster rabies vaccine by a veterinarian and is under 45 day confinement at the owner’s home. There were no known human exposures to the raccoon. This is the first ever report of a rabid raccoon from Brooklyn since raccoon rabies first appeared in NYC in 1992. Rabies surveillance in NYC began in 1992, and prior to this rabid raccoon, 5 bats and 1 cat tested positive for rabies in Brooklyn. The cat (2001) was found on the tracks of a subway line and thought to have been transported into Brooklyn. Enhanced surveillance in the area during the months ahead will help determine if this is an isolated event or may represent the movement of raccoon rabies and terrestrial transmission into Brooklyn. Rabies in New York City is most common in the Bronx, Staten Island, and now Manhattan. As of February 16th, 2010, 41 animals have tested positive for rabies this year in NYC; 40 raccoons in Manhattan and 1 raccoon from Brooklyn.
Maintaining vaccination against rabies is required for all dogs and cats in New York City. Any unvaccinated dog or cat that may have been exposed to a rabid or potentially rabid animal is required to enter into six-month isolation in an approved facility or be euthanized. If a pet is up-to-date with its rabies vaccine but potentially exposed to a rabid animal, a booster rabies vaccine should be given immediately, and the owner should be instructed to confine and observe the animal for the next 45 days.
Any pet dog or cat that has bitten or scratched a person is required to be confined and observed by the owner (in most instances) for 10 days. If the dog or cat is not currently vaccinated against rabies, vaccination should not occur until after completion of the 10 day observation.
Animal bites are reportable to the DOHMH Veterinary Public Health Services (VPHS) Animal Bite Unit at 212-676-2483.
Additional information about rabies is available on the DOHMH website Click Here
Influenza Virus December – 2009
In the United States, the influenza virus has been confirmed recently as the cause of respiratory disease in several ferrets and cats resulting in more than one death in each of these species. A dog has also been confirmed with the influenza virus. These infections were believed to have been contracted from infected owners.
Review these recent case studies:
Feline case study, Colorado – January 12, 2010
Feline case study, California – December 20, 2009
Canine case study, New York – December 13, 2009
For up-to-date news on the 2009 H1N1 flu virus outbreak and FAQs from the American Veterinary Medical Association Click Here
The clinical signs of H1N1 virus infection are likely to resemble those of other common respiratory infections. However, more severe respiratory disease, including pneumonia, may be possible.
Clinical signs may include:
- Coughing, sneezing and oculonasal (eye or nose) discharge
- Fever, lethargy and loss of appetite
- Dyspnea and tachypnea
Three rabid raccoons in Central Park – December 2009
Health Department Cautions New Yorkers to Avoid Wild Animals and Vaccinate Pets against Rabies
December 7, 2009 – With the identification of three raccoons with rabies in Manhattan’s Central Park in recent months two during the past week the Health Department is cautioning New Yorkers to stay away from raccoons, skunks, bats, stray dogs and cats and other wild animals that can carry rabies. The recent cluster of findings suggests that rabies is being transmitted among raccoons in the park. The Health Department is increasing surveillance efforts to determine the extent of the problem.
Raccoons are the most commonly reported rabid animal in New York City. Rabid raccoons are a relatively common occurrence in the Bronx, and many were found in Staten Island in 2006 and 2007. In Queens and Manhattan, rabid raccoons have historically been rare, and rabid raccoons have never been seen in Brooklyn. Bats with rabies have also been found in all five boroughs. So far this year, 20 rabid animals have been identified in New York City: 14 raccoons from the Bronx, 4 raccoons from Manhattan, 1 raccoon from Queens and 1 bat from Staten Island.
People and unvaccinated animals can get rabies, most often from a bite by an infected animal. Infection leads to a severe brain disease that causes death unless the person is treated promptly. Despite the risk, there has not been a human case of rabies in New York City since 1953. To reduce the risk of rabies, New Yorkers should avoid all wild animals, as well as any animal that seems sick, disoriented or unusually placid or aggressive. Report such animals by calling 311. Animals that have attacked or may attack should be reported to 911. Any bite or scratch from a raccoon, or other animal capable of transmitting rabies, requires medical attention.
Number of Rabid Animals Identified in New York City, 2003-2009*
| Borough | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009* |
| Bronx | 6 | 13 | 26 | 6 | 14 | 13 | 14 |
| Brooklyn | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Manhattan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Queens | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Staten Island | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 29 | 4 | 1 |
* January 1 through December 3, 2009
To protect yourself against rabies:
- Do not touch or feed wild animals, or stray dogs or cats.
- Keep garbage in tightly sealed containers.
- Stay away from any animal that is behaving aggressively or a wild animal that appears ill or is acting unusually friendly. Call 311 or your local police precinct to report the animal.
- If you find a bat indoors that may have had contact with someone, don’t release it before calling 311 to determine whether it should be tested. For information on how to safely capture a bat, visit HERE.
To protect your pet against rabies:
- Make sure your dog or cat is up-to-date on rabies vaccinations.
- Keep your dog leashed while outdoors unless at a specified off-leash area or park.
- Do not leave your pets outdoors unattended.
- Do not try to separate animals that are fighting.
- If your pet has been in contact with an animal that might be rabid, contact your veterinarian, and report the incident to 311.
- Feed pets indoors.
If you are bitten or scratched by an animal:
- Immediately wash the wound with lots of soap and water.
- Seek medical care from your health care provider.
- If the animal is un-owned and can be captured, call 311.
- If the animal is a pet, get the owner’s name, address and telephone number to give to the Health Department so they can ensure the animal is not rabid.
- Call the Animal Bite Unit (212-676-2483) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the week to report the bite. You can call 212-POISONS (764-7667) during after hours and on weekends.
- You can also file a report online.Click Here.
- For information about medical follow-up, call 311 or your medical provider.
- For more information about rabies in New York City, visit Here.
Leptospirosis in the Parks, Brooklyn – July 2009
Leptospirosis(Lepto) can be picked up from puddles, dogs walking in puddles, and then licking themselves, etc. Where there is food/garbage there are usually rats/mice and rats/mice carry lepto.
Parker the 6-year-old rat terrier dog is believed to have caught leptospirosis, a fast-moving illness transmitted through water infected by rat or mice urine. Doctors suspect that the dog contraced the disease from one of North Brooklyn’s dog runs, which have been awash in mud and stagnant puddles during Junes’ heavy rains.
Within days, parker went from scampering in his Williamsburg home, to suffering from kidney failure so severe that he had to be euthanized. No details were available about the other dog suspected of leptospirosis.
At least two healthy dogs from the area died from leptospirosis in July, which has alarmed those frequenting the three dog runs in Greenpoint and Williamsburg.
City Health Department officials are investigating the two deaths, a spokeswoman said.
The city reported 17 infections amoung dogs in 2007, with two cases linked to Prospect Park, according to the most recent city data. Last year, officials notified Brooklyn Veterinarians to watch for the disease.
Both were young dogs and the infection was so acute. In rare cases, humans can contract Leptospirosis through open wounds or by swimming in infected waters. The disease typically causes flu-like symptoms in humans. In dogs, it prompts vomiting, diarrhea and jaundice, and grows fatal without immediate treatment.
Dog runs in Greenpoint and Williamsburg lack fresh water and suffer from poor drainage, which owners believe could have contributed to the outbreak.
How to protect your pet:
- Have your dog vaccinated against leptospirosis.
- Bring fresh water and a bowl for your pet to drink from.
- See/Call your vet if your pet is vomiting.
- Empty park bowls and refill with fresh water.
- Avoid puddles, especially near curbs, parks, etc. Standing water is worst.
Rabid Dog in New Jersey – Feb. 6 2008
A dog from Salem County was confirmed positive for rabies on February 6,2008. The dog was 5 months old and had never been vaccinated against rabies. On December 19, 2007, the dog owner was chased by an aggressive skunk in her
yard. She returned inside but ran back outside and brought the puppy inside when heard the skunk and puppy fighting. The owner and her children immediately handled the dog without gloves and may have been exposed to the skunk’s saliva. She noticed that the puppy had a wound on its’ nose that she suspected to be a scratch. The skunk was subsequently shot and, although the animal control officer responded to the scene, the skunk’s body was not recovered for rabies testing. The incident was not reported to the local health department at the time and therefore no consultation with the family was conducted. On February 3, 2008, the owner noticed that the dog was wobbly and gagging. The owner contacted a friend who examined the animal, which was now apparently seizuring and having difficulty swallowing. She did an oral examination on the dog without gloves and recommended that the animal be tested for rabies. By the next day, February 4, 2008, the animal had lapsed into a coma and was taken to a veterinary hospital for euthanasia. The veterinarian and his staff wore proper personal protective equipment and therefore, were not exposed to the saliva or neurologic tissue during euthanasia and specimen preparation. The owner, her children, and the owner’s friend who examined the puppy have all begun rabies post exposure prophylaxis.
There are 5 other dogs on the property, 4 of which are currently vaccinated. They will all be vaccinated and put under a rabies confinement by the local health department. There are also goats on the property that are under investigation for possible rabies exposure by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA).
Discussion: In New Jersey, dogs rarely become infected with rabies and this case is only the sixth rabid dog diagnosed since 1956, when the last canine variant case was seen in New Jersey. However, the last rabies case in a New Jersey dog was in October 2007, from Warren County. Tissue from the dog will be sent to CDC to identify the rabies variant involved, but it is most likely the Mid-Atlantic raccoon variant, as has been the case with the other domestic animal cases seen in NJ since 1989, when the raccoon rabies epizootic entered our state. Skunks commonly are infected with the raccoon variant.
This situation illustrates the importance of reporting direct and indirect human contact with animals displaying signs of rabies. The IZDP recommends that local health departments work closely with and offer rabies training sessions for animal control officers to facilitate reporting of all situations involving animals displaying signs of rabies. It should be emphasized that handling a pet immediately after it fights with suspect rabid wildlife may result in human exposures to the saliva of the attacking animal. Whenever possible, suspect rabid wildlife should be submitted for laboratory testing. In addition, pets in contact with suspect rabid wildlife should be put under either a 45 day or 6 month confinement and observation period by the local health department. If currently vaccinated at the time of the exposure, pets should be revaccinated. Unvaccinated pets exposed to rabies must be strictly confined for 6 months and vaccinated one month prior to release from confinement.
Suspect cases of rabies in livestock animals and situations involving exposure to livestock should be reported the NJDA at (609) 292-3965. Local health department staff and veterinarians can contact IZDP for consultation on rabies issues by calling (609) 588-3121 during working hours or (609) 392-2020 on nights, weekends and holidays. Additional Information on rabies is available at this website:
Click Here
As we approach the start of another mosquito season, and anticipate the return of West Nile (WN) virus to New York City, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) is sending information to clinical veterinarians with updated information about the virus and the City’s plan for surveillance and control. Small mammal pets do not appear to be at risk for clinical illness due to WN virus, pet birds (especially psittacines), and horses should be considered at equal risk to humans. We recommend the following:
- Keep birds indoors, particularly at dawn and dusk.
- If pet birds are brought outdoors, provide a mosquito-proof enclosure using screens or mosquito netting.
- Apply fly sprays to horses outdoors at dawn and dusk.
- Check all windows for intact screens.
- Reduce possible mosquito-breeding habitats (standing water) on the property, or report standing water by dailing 311 or by clicking link below.
NYC Dept. Health & Mental Hygiene
On June 11, 2008 there was a human case of pneumonic tularemia in Brooklyn. This person was camping at Gateway National Recreation Area in Brooklyn four days prior to onset of symptoms. Tularemia is rare in New York City.
This disease can be found in cats and many other small animals. Bacteria can be found in infected cat bites and were aerosolized from the fur of a dog. It is highly infectious with as few as 10 organisms needed to cause disease. In animals this has been associated with tick infestation. Puppies and kittens are often more severely affected than older animals. Animal symptoms may include: high fever, listlessness, anorexia, weight loss, abscess at site of bite,and death. In cats, symptoms are similar to feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). Flea and tick control will help diminish transmission to animals.
If you suspect this disease please report to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) at (212)788-9830, M – F, 9am to 5pm or a Poison Control Center at (212)764-7667 or (800)222-1222. For more information about Tularemia visit the following links.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
American Veterinary Medical Association
Please report all broken links to feltonvet@verizon.net
