Warner Center Pet Clinic

07/24/2024

Important information regarding bringing pets into the US after August 1st, 2024

There are four requirements for dogs that have ONLY been in countries that are dog-rabies free or lo

06/14/2024

IMPORTANT NEE INFORMATION REGARDING ANIMAL IMPORTS TO THE US.

Dear Veterinary Colleagues:

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have announced new regulations for all dogs entering the United States. These new rules go into effect August 1, 2024, and apply to foreign dogs entering the United States, as well as dogs from the United States who traveled abroad and are re-entering the United States, including service and working dogs.

All dogs entering the United States must:

Be at least 6 months of age at the time of entry or return to the United States.
Have an implanted International Organization for Standardization (ISO) compatible microchip.
Appear healthy on arrival.
Have a receipt proving they filed a CDC Dog Import Form (free of charge, online form for owners to complete, does not require veterinarian exam or signature).
Have additional documentation which will vary depending on where the dog has been in the 6 months before entering or returning to the United States, or if the dog has a current rabies vaccine administered in the United States.
Some additional documentation requires USDA-accredited Veterinarians to complete the forms. USDA Accredited Veterinarians should familiarize themselves with the requirements, forms, and educate clients who are planning to travel with their dogs.
For additional information about requirements:
https://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/dogs-entering-us-after-august-1.html
https://www.cdc.gov/importation/pdf/PRA-2-1-Template-Change-TI-for-US-Vaccinated-Dogs_USDA.pdf
CDC Dogbot tool: https://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/dogs.html
CDC is offering a webinar for USDA-accredited veterinarians on June 27, 2024, from 2:00 - 3:00 pm PST, to discuss CDC’s new dog importation requirements. Staff from CDC's Zoonoses Prevention and Import Regulations Team will describe the updated dog regulation (effective August 1, 2024), with special emphasis on how the regulation affects USDA-accredited veterinarians and their clients. There will be a Q&A portion and the session will be recorded.

Registration is limited.

Webinar Registration - Zoom (zoomgov.com)



Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS) for USDA-accredited veterinarians:

For questions or concerns regarding the Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS), please contact USDA or use the helpful links below:

Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS) Help Page
Quick Reference Guides for VEHCS Users
Accessing VEHCS for the First Time
FAQ for VEHCS
Step-By-Step Guide to Using VEHCS
How to Provide a Pre-Paid Return Shipping Label
VEHCS Training for Accredited Veterinarians: NAVP Module 34
For VEHCS Help:

User ID, password, and technical support related to login: eAuthentication Support: [email protected]
VEHCS/PCIT technical support, organization administration issues: VEHCS/PCIT Help Desk: [email protected]
Issuing export certificates, interpreting regulation and requirements, payment (user fees), etc.: APHIS Endorsement Offices


The importation of animals into the U.S is under the jurisdiction of the federal government and not local government. However, the importation of foreign animal diseases and vectors including insects occurs and can affect humans and animals in the local community. If you are a veterinarian who works with imported animals or international animal rescue organizations, please educate your staff and clients about best practices to mitigate disease risks including:

Having imported animals examined, treated, and healthy prior to arrival in the U.S.
Scheduling a veterinary exam for each imported pet following arrival into the U.S and ensuring the pet is healthy, all vaccinations, ectoparasite, and internal parasite prevention are up to date.
Quarantining all imported animals for 30 days prior to introducing them to other local pets.
Reporting imported diseases to VPH. Please refer to the 2024 Reportable Animal Disease List for Los Angeles County.
Veterinary Public Health is available if you have questions or concerns. Please reach out to us by phone at 213-288-7060 (Monday – Friday, 8am-5pm) or email at [email protected].

Sincerely,

Karen Ehnert, DVM, MPVM, DACVPM

Director

Veterinary Public Health

Starting on August 1, 2024, dogs entering or returning to the United States must meet new, specific requirements depending on where they have been in the 6 months before entering the U.S. and where they received their rabies vaccines (if required).

05/20/2024

05/19/2024

Experienced bulldog owner preferred..Bulldog named Harley approximately two years old, 70 lbs.
Harley is neutered and he needs a loving home. He loves his walks and he loves to play. He prefers males, unsure about children..

Requires strict prescription diet for urinary stones. Also has normal bulldog issues i.e. ear issues and tail fold cleaning. Harley is currently in a rescue situation, was previously neglected. Has come a long way, still needs confidence.

Contact: Cathi at 818-478-0924. Please text first.

04/02/2024

Salmon Poisoning from local lakes (from raw trout)

Salmon Poisoning Disease is an infectious disease in dogs caused by the bacteria Neorickettsia helminthoeca, contained in a trematode parasite called Nanophyetus salmincola. It is not a poisoning. Most cases in LA County are associated with exposure to raw trout, not salmon.
Infected dogs can become seriously ill with lethargy, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and enlarged lymph nodes. Affected dogs often need hospitalization.
Dogs in Southern California usually become infected after exposure to raw trout, specifically trout that has been caught for sport fishing in local lakes, or water used to rinse raw trout. Trout farmed in the Pacific Northwest are used to stock local lakes for sport fishing.
Dear Veterinary Colleagues:

On March 22, 2024, an emergency veterinary practice in Pasadena, in Los Angeles County, reported four cases of Salmon Poisoning Disease in dogs that had become seriously ill. The cases spanned between June 2023 and March 2024. All four dogs were hospitalized but ultimately survived. Two of the dogs live in Los Angeles County and two live in San Bernardino County.

June 2023 – A Belgian Malinois in LA County was exposed to raw trout fished from a lake in San Bernardino County. The dog had vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, mild thrombocytopenia and peripheral and abdominal lymphadenopathy. Neorickettsia helminthoeca bacteria were visualized on a biopsy from lymph node. The dog then tested PCR positive for the bacteria.
Jan 2024 – Two Boxer dogs in San Bernardino County were exposed to raw trout fished from a lake in Orange County. Both dogs developed fever (104 deg F), vomiting and diarrhea. One dog was hospitalized, and enlarged abdominal lymph nodes and thrombocytopenia were confirmed. This dog also tested PCR positive for the bacteria.
March 2024 – A Bull Terrier in LA County was exposed to raw trout fished from a lake in LA County. The dog had transient high fever (105 deg F), and also had vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal lymphadenopathy, and thrombocytopenia. When raw trout ingestion history was revealed, dog was PCR tested for the bacteria and was positive.
What is Salmon Poisoning Disease?

Despite its name, Salmon Poisoning Disease (SPD) in dogs is caused by an infection, not a poison. Moreover, in Southern California, dogs usually get infected after exposure to raw trout fished from local lakes, not salmon. SPD causes illness in dogs primarily via bacteria called Neorickettsia helminthoeca. The bacteria are contained in a trematode parasite called Nanophyetus salmincola, which can infect trout, salmon, and other species of fish raised in waters that contain certain species of snails or salamanders. Fish that are infected with the parasite and bacteria may appear normal.

The life cycle of the Nanophyetus salmincola parasite involves species of freshwater snails or salamanders which are capable of serving as the intermediate hosts for the parasite. An infected mammal releases parasite eggs in its stool into the water. A free-swimming life stage of the parasite infects snails, then matures to another free-swimming life stage which then infects fish. When a mammal eats the infected fish, the parasite matures to the adult stage and produces eggs which are then passed in the f***s of the mammal. This parasite is primarily found in fish in freshwater locations in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, including Northern California.

How do dogs become infected?

Dogs become exposed to SPD when they eat raw infected fish. In Los Angeles County, most reported cases have been associated with raw trout that were caught during sport fishing in local lakes, which are stocked with trout that typically originate from farms in the Pacific Northwest.

In the four recently reported cases, dogs became infected by eating raw trout heads or filets. In past reported cases of SPD, one dog became infected after digging up and consuming raw trout that had been buried in a garden as fertilizer. Another dog in the past became infected simply by drinking from a puddle of water in an area where raw tout had been rinsed. Dogs can also become infected by licking raw fish.

What are the clinical signs of SPD in dogs?

Dogs usually start to become ill after an incubation period of 5-7 days after exposure. Infected dogs can become seriously ill with lethargy, high fever, vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes bloody), and sometimes enlarged lymph nodes particularly in the abdomen. The fever may be transient or persistent, based on locally reported cases. In one of the recent cases, widespread lymph node enlargement in the abdomen was noted.

How is it diagnosed?

F***l sedimentation test to look for the eggs of the trematode parasite Nanophyetus salmincola. The eggs may sometimes be seen on standard f***l flotation / centrifugation or a direct f***l smear. Note that if parasite eggs are not seen in a f***l sedimentation test, the dog may still be infected.
PCR test for the bacteria Neorickettsia helminthoeca on a whole blood sample (lavender top tube), lymph node aspirate, f***s, spleen, or liver tissues.The UC Davis Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory performs this test: https://pcrlab.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/veterinary-diagnostics/veterinary-submission-formsdiagnostic-tests-and-panels.
How is it treated?

Supportive care. Infected dogs often require hospitalization, close monitoring, and supportive care such as IV fluids.
Antibiotic and antiparasitic treatment. Since the clinical signs occur primarily because of the bacterial infection, antibiotic treatment is essential. Dogs may occasionally clear the parasitic infection on their own, however anti-parasitic treatment is typically given. Note there are other antibiotic and antiparasitic medications that may be used than those listed below, and veterinarians are encouraged to review the recommended reading below for more information. A common choice for treatment is:
Doxycycline 5 mg/kg IV (or PO once eating) BID for 7-14 days
Praziquantel 10-30 mg/kg PO q 24 hours for 1-2 days
Can SPD affect humans?

The bacteria that causes SPD is not considered to be zoonotic. However, the trematode Nanophyetus salmincola has occasionally infected humans and can cause mild, self-limiting gastrointestinal signs.
Reporting Cases

Veterinarians practicing in Los Angeles County are required to report cases of Salmon Poisoning Disease. Complete this form and send it, along with the medical records, to [email protected], or fax to 213-481-2375.
Recommendations

Never feed raw fish caught during sport fishing to a dog. Most reported cases of SPD in LA County were linked to raw trout caught during sport fishing in various lakes across Southern California. Do not allow dogs to drink water used to clean raw fish.
If a dog ingests raw fish, especially salmon or trout caught during sport fishing, the dog should be monitored for clinical signs of SPD for 10-14 days.
For dogs presenting with vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy, include questions about sport fishing and raw fish exposure when taking a medical history.
Trout and any other fish caught during sport fishing should be cooked before being consumed. Always wash hands thoroughly after handling raw fish.
Additional resources:

Salmon Poisoning Disease – Veterinary Public Health, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health - http://ph.lacounty.gov/vet/spd.htm
Diniz, PPV (2020). Chapter 94: Salmon Poisoning Disease. In D. Bruyette (Ed.), Clinical Small Animal Internal Medicine (pp. 913-915). John Wiley & Sons. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781119501237
Sykes, JE. (2023). Chapter 47: Neorickettsiosis. In JE Sykes (Ed.), Greene’s Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat, 5th Edition (pp. 571-581). Elsevier Saunders. https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/9780323509343/greenes-infectious-diseases-of-the-dog-and-cat
Veterinary Public Health is available if you have questions or concerns. Please reach out to us by phone at 213-288-7060 (Monday – Friday, 8am-5pm) or email at [email protected].

Greene's Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat, 5th Edition provides a comprehensive, clinically useful reference on the management of infectious dis...

01/09/2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M15FZb6Hibs

Every night, a mouse emerges inside a man’s shed in Powys, Wales, to — wait for it — tidy the place up, as seen in a bizarre video blowing up online.“It happ...

12/12/2023

If you are planning to fly with your pets this holiday, please plan ahead! We had 8 health certificate appointments today! For International travel, the USDA will not endorse certificates that are not submitted at least 4 business days prior to travel. Appointments are required for all International certs. Please bring a valid Rabies Certificate, with all pet info, including signature and microchip number with you..

11/21/2023

Holiday hours:
Tuesday 8:30-4pm
Wednesday 8:30-noon
Thursday Closed
Friday 8:30-noon
Saturday 8:30-11am.
Please have a safe and happy holiday!
If you need to come in, please plan accordingly and arrive early!

10/29/2023

Please be kind 🙏🏼

💙💗💜
The next time you have to go to a veterinary emergency room and are mad that it is taking so long remember this picture. The next time you are angry with the vet assistants, the technicians, or the front desk for how long it’s taking for your dog to be seen for an upset tummy or to look at a torn declaw- behind the scenes we are desperately trying to stabilize someone else’s best friend. The next time you are yelling at the hospital staff for not bringing your pet out in ten minutes- because you “paid your bill so bring my pet out to me” - you really have no idea what is happening behind those doors. Please remember there is so much more happening that you don’t see. Next time you are angry and think I just need some medicine for your furry friend remember an animal Emergency room - we work just like a human emergency room; critical Patients come first. Every time you yell at us for the time it’s taking- behind the scenes we just preformed CPR for 15 - 30 minutes and then comforted and owner that just lost their pet. We are in the industry to be an advocate to those you don’t have a voice. The next time you go to an animal emergency room - we are doing the best we can- be kind, be compassionate, we are there to help.

Photo Cred- Erin Woodman

05/16/2023

We are looking for EXPERIENCED receptionists and technicians. Please email [email protected] if interested. If you don't have veterinary experience, you can email too! Let me know your pet experience etc..

Thanks

Cindy
[email protected]

10/31/2022

Happy Halloween, please vote for your top 3 pumpkins!