Successful Lyme Disease Treatment and Cure by Homeopathy, part 2 (graphic)

 

One of the most common patterns seen when the mammalian body corrects or cures itself of problems is a "revisit" of earlier symptoms.  Such was the case with Blaze.  After his Lyme diagnosis, his acute fever and lameness resolved with homeopathic treatment.  He then had a return of his upper respiratory symptoms and itchy rash from his early puppyhood.  The rash had shown up after a Rabies vaccine prior to his Lyme diagnosis.  It "went away" after his loving and dedicated owner, Deb, gave him treatment with Aloe ointment, GoldBond powder, and a combination homeopathic remedy.  Likely it was suppressed, not cured.  There is a big difference  This is a good place to make a point that may surprise you.

Homeopathy is not benign.  It can suppress and palliate just like conventional meds.  These reactions are getting rid of the symptoms by covering them up, like bailing out that boat without ever getting to the hole leaking at the bottom.  It is HOW homeopathy is applied that offers the option to use it to stimulate the body to CURE.  That's why it is worthwhile to contact an experienced practitioner for chronic disease problems.  And it's important to recognize that problems that seem to flare up "acutely" every so often, like ear infections, itchy skin, and diarrhoea are actually chronic diseases that are present at all times.  They just lie invisibly latent, or dormant, for long periods in between flare ups that you can then see.

For Blaze, he showed the pattern typical of palliation.  The problem returned with a vengeance.  His rash recurred much worse and had spread quickly to his scrotum, swelling it to 2 or 3 times its normal size.  The photo below shows the swelling all the way up to his abdomen and the deep red inflammation of the surrounding skin.

After further homeopathic treatment with a curative response the pathological activity was corrected and the swelling and redness resolved.  It will likely not return.



The difference is easy to see.  And, as I'm sure you can imagine, it was a great relief for Blaze!  Soon other early puppyhood symptoms recurred.  They resolved on their own after a brief flare up, without any further treatment - belching, sneezing, urinary incontinence, and lipfold pyoderma (infection).  That brings us to October 31, 2012.  Blaze had some stains and matted hair developing between his toes, belching and sneezing again.  After investigating any changes in diet, I uncovered the fact that Deb was using a treat for Blaze in training that was not grain-free.  Being the very active and generous trainer that she is, Deb was giving a lot of these treats.  It was too much for Blaze.  Many dogs, cats, and people can tolerate grains in their diets, but most cannot.  Blaze is one of those who are highly sensitive.  The red staining of the coat (between the toes) was a big tip off.  Deb changed the treats and a (hopefully) final dose of Blaze's constitutional homeopathic drug (remedy) - Pulsatilla nigricans 50M, was given.
I am so happy to report as of the time of this writing Blaze is doing very well with no problems reported!  It's been a real pleasure and an honor to be a part of his journey.  He and Deb are now preparing for their Therapy Dog certification test.  Wish them good luck!






Successful Lyme Disease Treatment and Cure by Homeopathy

A local (Ulster County, Hudson Valley, New York State) dog has been cured of Lyme Disease this month exclusively with homeopathic treatment.  I have long claimed that treating Lyme disease is relatively safe, simple, and easy for a trained homeopath.  This is a classic case with classic symptoms and classic response to homeopathy.

Blaze is a gorgeous, intact, nine month old, male Collie (don't they both look great?  And happy!).  Debi found an engorged tick (deer tick?) on her floor Wednesday, Feb 8, 2012.  He started limping on his right front, with a slightly swollen paw on Friday.  He was also mildly lethargic and mildly anorexic, and seemed to be breathing a little faster.  He had a fever of 102.3 (normal is 100-102).  His very thoughtful owner was willing to wait on conventional treatment for palliation to attempt a true cure by homeopathy.

I took Blaze's case by phone consultation and his treatment was started with Ledum pallustre 30 in multiple aqueous doses.  He showed no response, and was slightly worse the next morning with swelling advancing to his carpus (wrist) in his Right front, and the lameness spreading to his left hind as well.  Several aquesous doses of Ledum pallustre 200c were given on Saturday.  The next afternoon he and his owner attended a local lecture I was giving on how to do a physical exam to your own pets and he was very much improved.  He was bright and bouncy!  His temperature was down to 101.6.  His lameness was reduced, and his energy was great.  The original, early symptom of the swelling in the paw was improved.

The following day, Monday, his fever again spiked to 102.3.  With continued improvement in his specific and general symptoms this indicated an appropriate immune response to the infective challenge.  Treatment was completed with several doses of Ledum pallustre 1M.

Today, 1 week from the onset of illness, Blaze is completely free of his troublesome symptoms.  He has had a return of old symptoms that flared up first after vaccines months ago.  This is a common pattern of curative response to homeopathy.  He has been stimulated to correct his pathology, and once the newest problem had been resolved he started working on older, "deeper set" pathology.

We are now waiting and observing to see if Blaze has had sufficient stimulation to correct the old, unhealthy chemistry (itchy skin, runny eyes, and sneezing - the exact same pattern as right after his second "puppy series" distemper vaccine) without further treatment.  In the meantime, he is enjoying life!

This case illustrates several great points.  One - Ledum is the classic remedy to start (and often finish) a true Lyme disease case.  However, it could have easily been missed if higher potencies had not been tried after the 30c failed.  Two - This case illustrates how successfully homeopathy can be practiced by phone consultation.  Three - This client was well educated in homeopathic principles and therefore had the courage to sit and wait while her little loved one worked on his issue.  Many other dog owners would have succumed to palliating with conventional drugs, which can palliate quite well.  Five - Having cured with homeopathy instead of palliated with conventional drugs, Blaze is now healthier than he was just before the tick infected him.  He is now cleaning out some dysfunctional chemistry (vaccinosis) he got stuck with after his early vaccines.  Lets wish him continued good luck.

Arden and Wonton - Two Canine Seizure Cases, part 8. Wonton is still itchy!

Wonton's progression to cure continues.  It seems Wonton's seizures are responding well, with only one seizure noted this month.  It is the longest he has ever gone between seizure episodes (six months!) since they started when he was two years old.  It was mild and short.  His new homeopathic prescription was started in late October (see blog post, Part 7).  He improved greatly.  His itchiness of his face, paws, and ears was dramatically reduced as was the redness/ inflammation in his skin.  His personality became even brighter.  Great!

  He has also had a new wrinkle (couldn't resist the pun!) in his health.  Wonton had two separate incidents of collapse or difficulty/hesitation on jumping/sitting.  It was not definitively diagnosed but it is not uncommon for Pugs to have spinal troubles affecting the nerves and/or muscles of the legs.  He recovered well without intervention.

His improvement in his skin health has faded and he has finally had another seizure.  My assessment is that the remedy is stimulating a curative, homeostatic, or corrective response, but the interval between treatments has been too long.  So, onto the next higher potency, or strength of the same remedy.

This is a good illustration of the need to proceed in a timely fashion in constitutional homeopathic treatment.  When too much time lapses between points of stimulation in treatment the body tends to slide down that slippery slope back to its familiar chemistry of pathology.  It's a bit like weeding a garden.  If the job is unfinished and some roots of the problem remain, they will slowly return.  Wonton has not lost too much momentum so I expect a full and uneventful return to progression of cure.  His next check-in will be within two months.

Arden, on the other hand, is overdue for his six month recheck, however, his owner reported in late October that he is still happily symptom/seizure free.  This is now a full year of no seizures, which had bothered him every two to twelve weeks, for most of his young life.  He has accomplished this on three single doses of one homeopathic drug.  I suspect at this point he may well be cured as defined by homeopathic standards.  That is to say, he is symptom free, and the chemistry/physiology that created the problem in the first place is likely permanently corrected.  He is not likely to ever have another seizure.  He is much healthier than he was before treatment, and he has likely added to his lifespan.  I expect him to live months or years longer than he would have without treatment.

I've been a homepath well over two decades now and results like this never cease to amaze me.  I'm lucky to witness and be awed by what homeopathy is able to do.

Arden and Wonton - Two Canine Seizure Cases, part 7. Time for Change for Wonton the pug.

Wonton had his eighth appointment today.  He remains seizure free for the past 11 wks!  His skin is still a very significant issue and so I'm concluding that his original, and only remedy thus far has stimulated only a partially curative response.  A fabulous partially curative response, for which we are very grateful, but partial none the less.  We have unfinished business.  So the remedy has been changed to match the current symptom picture, ie., the entire group of all the new, active symptoms, as well as the symptoms from the history.

In cases that respond well to homeopathy we often see this reversal of problems.  They sometimes show up very obviously in the reverse order of how they first appeared.  Wonton had rather severe dermatological issues months or years prior to the seizures.  In fact, suppressing the skin problems may have contributed to the expression of the seizures.  Now we have a chance to heal the "bad chemistry" rather than drive it deeper.  It is likely that treating the skin with suppressive medications would bring back the seizures.  We are looking for a true cure here, and Wonton's wonderful owners are being very patient and dedicated to make this happen.

I feel confident about the case and hope to see Wonton resolve some of his skin issues quickly so he can have some fast comfort.

Notes on Neoplasene for treatment of Cancer in Dogs, Cats and all Animals -

In my veterinary practice I treat more cancer than anything else.  Neoplasene has been extremely useful for increasing longevity and quality of life in my patients.  Doing mostly phone consultation work with patients at long distances, I am often asked for some qualifying details on the use of the new "herbal chemotherapy"  (my label for it) Neoplasene.  Here is a bit of background for understanding this promising new choice in cancer treatment.

History - It is not registered as a prescription drugs as are most chemotherapeutic pharmaceuticals.  The formulator, Dr. Terry Fox, wanted to get the drug out on the market quickly, into the hands of those who could immediately create great benefit with it - veterinarians.  To present it as a drug for humans would have initiated a plethora of legal hoops to jump through and would have cost millions of dollars.  The drug would not have reached patients for years, and it's price would have been much, much greater.  The FDA has visited Dr Fox and examined his facilities and manufacturing practices.  They were satisfied with allowing him to go forward with Neoplasene on the market for animal use only, through sale exclusively to licensed veterinarians.


Neoplasene is a chemotherapeutic agent. Like any other chemotherapy treatment the use and optimal protocol needs to be prescribed and monitored by a veterinarian with Neoplasene experience. This will help ensure positive results and avoidance of many severe or extreme problems. Neoplasene can be well indicated after debulking surgery, although surgery if sometimes not in the best interest of the patient.

Neoplasene is contraindicated in cases where conventional chemotherapy treatment is used. Conventional chemotherapy attacks and depresses the immune system (and other systems needed for optimal health), while Neoplasene stimulates, uses, and needs the immune system (and other systems) for best results. Neoplasene is also contraindicated in cases where antiinflammatories or steroids (like prednisone) are used, though there are exceptions for certain situations. It has been designed to work best in combination with a comprehensive approach including optimal diet and supplementation, as well as homeopathy.

Often the most difficult obstacle for the oral form of Neoplasene (the most commonly used form) is palatability for dogs and cats.  It can be mixed with a strongly flavored food or syringed directly by mouth.  This is something best worked out on an individual basis.

Neoplasene is not a magic bullet, but it is very powerful.  And as is true for all things that are powerful, it can create apparent miracles or (when used without advanced medical knowlege) it can cause great harm.  It may not be appropriate in every case.  But where it is applicable the benefits can be extraordinary.

Arden and Wonton - Two Canine Seizure Cases, part 5. Arden is near graduation!

Arden, the very happy lab came in for a recheck appointment on 6.21.11. His report? NO seizures. Not one. On one day in the previous month he had a moment of a "vacant look" accompanied by tongue smacking. It lasted about 30 seconds. It could have been a very mild petite mal. It could have been something funky tasting he picked up off the ground. We'll never know. It doesn't matter. He is in a very curative pattern, and I hope almost finished ("graduates" I call these patients). Record speed for a seizure case. I like to tell my clients that I like them, but I hope I don't see them very often!

The rest of the 6.21.11 Arden report -
Still calmer and more even tempered. No longer hyper, just energetic. Starting pet therapy training! Amazing. Left hind lameness is gone. No longer eats family's clothing, just carries it around. Ears are fine. Coat looks and feels softer, sleeker, "like silk."

This case is near finished. Treatment was the next higher potency of the same remedy - Thuja occidentalis 1M, and the next recheck is set for 6 months.

I started this case in January. This is what the process of true cure looks like. Arden's chemistry was like a couch potato who needed to train for a marathon. It takes time for the body to change its physiology. When it does, the change is generally permanent. It is reset to the devine default. Just as when a person's body with a fever returns to 98.6. It tends to stay there as that is the default, until of course, something else interferes with the natural functioning.

So there you have it. An "incurable" disease on its way to nonexistence, via homeopathy, proper diet, supplementation, and mostly accomplished by phone consultation with great team work between doctor and owner. Nice job everyone.

I like Arden's mom. I hope I don't talk to her for a while. : )

Arden and Wonton - Two Canine Seizure Cases, part 4. Arden's Good News

First follow up on Arden, the exuberant lab - 3.3.11

Arden is "doing beautifully" per her owner! She has had a remarkable, immediate behavioral response. Her owner, Mary, can see she is "more even tempered" and "a lot less hyper"! She is coming to call better when she is outdoors and giving up her stolen items (a favorite past time of hers) more readily. This alone is astonishing, that a personality that has been firmly in place for the lifetime of this dog has changed dramatically in one month! This alone is life changing for this dog and her family. What's just as pleasing is the seizure report.

There have been none. It has been a total of 3 mos seizure free, including this last month on the start of her treatment with me. This is the longest amount of time Arden has had between seizures. Could it just be coincidence? Sure. She has had 3 consecutive months without seizures before. But it is also possibly a very good start to her road to cure. It is all the more likelywhen considered in context with the improvement in personality and the skin report. The itching/chewing of the paws and tail have stopped completely! Again, a severe lifelong problem resolved in a month! If you have followed the entire Arden/Wonton thread of blog posts you may recall that Wonton the pug had similar skin issues, and a similar, immediate improvement. Interestingly, Mary also reports that the coat texture has changed. The fur is softer to the touch. This is a common response to my treatment.

Do note that these improvements, at their current level, may not be permanent, yet. While the end result of a cured case will be the enjoyment of these improvements permanently, they may wax and wane over the course of treatment. That is why assessment of the progression of a chronic disease hp case is so difficult and best left to a well trained, experienced professional. It is too easy to react quickly to an improvement fading and want to switch remedies or quit altogether. Patience is a vital skill for a homeopath. And a homeopathic client!

Going forward - the supplements and diet are continued, and Thuja is given at a higher potency to stimulate her chemistry to rise to the next level of healthier function. A recheck is set for two months. I am so excited for Mary and Arden. This is such a great start.

Arden and Wonton - Two Canine Seizure Cases, part 3 - Wonton's Amazing Start

The story continues happily.

First some background on Wonton, the pug. Now 6 yrs old Wonton has been suffering from seizures for 4 years. That's most of his young life. They are grand mals that happen about once every two weeks. He also has some chronic dermatitis, with much rubbing of his face and licking of his paws. Very uncomfortable. He has had multiple adverse vaccine reactions - acute facial swelling, generized pruritis, rashes, hives, urticaria. He has also suffered from chronic otitis (ear infections) treated palliatively with topical corticosteroid/antibiotic ointments. His personality remains true to his breed - happy, sweet, bright.

His treatment included a customized supplement protocol, a grain-free home-prepared diet to correct his dysbiosis (poor bacterial mix in his stomach and intestines) and the homeopathic drug Thuja occidentalis. You might notice this is the same hp rx as for Arden, our other seizure case in this blog thread. This is just coincidence. Supplements included a good multivitamin (most multivits on the market are poor quality), and another to help with the environment in his GI tract. This is very important. The environment in the stomach and intestines will dictate the environment in the rest of the body, including even the brain.

First Follow Up Appointment - 3.14.11
Amazing! Wonton's owner, Jenna, has been seizure free for the first time since he was two yrs old! It has been six weeks. He should have had three in that time frame. Once he showed signs of starting one but it never came. I have been a doctor in practice for 26 years and practicing homeopathy for 24. I am still amazed and delighted like a child every time I see results that seem so miraculous like this.

Understand that the homeopathic drug did not do what conventional drugs do. The Thuja did not suppress the seizure chemistry, or alter the brain chemistry in any way. All it did was stimulate Wonton to change it, to correct it himself! Like a coach that trains an athlete, Thuja gave the instructions and Wonton's body did the work. This is why homeopathy can truly be called curative. Once a patient's body returns itself to normal chemistry, a state called homeostasis, it tends to stay there. Homeostasis is the default for body function. That is why, when done properly, there is no need for homeopathic treatment after cure is reached. The body is in "balance" and tends to stay there.

Wonton's paw licking has also decreased by approx. 90%. He used to lick for 20 minutes at a time. Now it is just 1-2 minutes. That's a huge difference. There was an aggravation of his occassional tendency to vomit. He had one week where he vomited three times. A typical flare up of symptoms during a move toward cure.

This is a very promising beginning for Wonton!

The Thuja dose was increased and a recheck set for one month.

Arden and Wonton - Two Canine Seizure Cases, part 2

Background on our seizure cases…

Arden P.

Arden P. is a beautiful, happy, 3 yr old black lab – easy excited and restless in the office. Her photo is not quite ready, yet. I met her Jan 31st. I liked her immediately as she pounded my chest to greet me! She did a great job of self soothing by carrying and shaking a small dog bed that I have in the exam room. Her owner has done a fine job of working with her to redirect her energy. I’m so blessed to work with such wonderful clients.

Arden’s seizures are grand mals, 2 wks to 3 mos apart. A very unusual characteristic is that she does not lose consciousness completely. She is aware of her family around her and can be comforted by them during the seizure. They started in Dec of ’09.

Note, she was given routine annual vaccines 2 days after one of her seizures! This constitutes medical malpractice. No vaccine is tested or approved for use in individuals with any chronic disease. This is a very big issue with me. Most of the pets I treat have vaccine related damage. But that is a huge topic for a huge blog thread at another time. Suffice it to say, it was not in Arden’s best interest.

Also of interest as a homeopathic case, Arden used to eat clothing, once needing surgery to extract a sock that was obstructing her stomach! Can anyone relate? She has very itchy paws and tail, and a “yeast infection” that was suppressed with corticosteroids in ’08.

I assessed Arden as having vaccinosis (chronic postvaccinal disease), sub-optimal diet (a grain-based kibble), and a generalized yeast infection (not just in her ear, though that is where it showed up).

I always give two prognoses to my patients at the first appointment. For Arden, her prognosis for improvement is excellent. I have little doubt that we can make a difference in the quality of her life. Her prognosis for full cure is good. That means a better than 50% chance for full cure, which is defined as no seizures, no meds, and expires as an old lady from natural causes. After all, that is the job of all doctors – to get you to the point where you don’t need them anymore.

Her treatment started with a homeopathic drug for vaccinosis, Thuja occidentalis, in a potency high enough to stimulate a curative change in physiology without excessive aggravation. Aggravation is the phase of curative change where things look worse on their way to getting better. It is similar to the phase of an abscess coming to a head before erupting and draining, or a fever that spikes just before it breaks. Arden also received appropriate nutraceutical supplements, and started a grain-free diet.

Arden’s response to this first step in her treatment will be evaluated at her first follow up appt in early Feb. Let’s all wish her the best!

Arden and Wonton - Two Canine Seizure Cases

I have just started two cases of seizures this week – Arden, a beautiful, bouncy, active, three yr old black lab, and Wonton, a sweet, mellow six yr old Pug. I am treating both by classical homeopathy, and the generous owners have agreed to allow me to blog the cases as they progress. It is a rare opportunity to witness the unfolding of a treatment of a serious and complicated problem.

It is a professional risk for me, I suppose, to commit to documenting my work as it happens, whether I succeed or fail. However, I have given these both these critters a good prognosis, so I am confident we will have some improvement. Also, while it is not legal or ethical to make guarantees in the field of medicine, I do, always, make just two guarantees to every client. One – professionally, I will give you my best. Two – personally, I will treat you like family. On these two counts I cannot fail.

The other aspect of such an open door dynamic, an online reality show if you will, is that even if there are challenging issues, setbacks, surprises, or troubles, there will be something to learn and that is one of my main two goals. The other is to inspire.

Homeopathy is not magic. It can’t cure every patient. However, it can cure many with conditions we conventionally label as “incurable”. When it does that, it surely will seem like magic to many. Of course, those diseases we call incurable are only those which we cannot resolve by standard, popular protocols.

It is interesting to note that both these dogs were diagnosed with Idiopathic Epilepsy. I will give a free phone consult appointment to the first responder to post the definition of idiopathic. Google it. It is very enlightening really. It is a blatant example of how the medical community gives fancy Latin descriptions to create fearful sounding medical jargon, and it can sometimes be quite meaningless, despite the professional and technical aura it creates.

Seizures are all too common in dogs. I was just filmed (do we say filmed anymore? …taped? …dvd’ed?) for CBS News. They are soon to release a series on holistic medicine. It will air nationwide. I’ll keep you posted on that date. The importance to this story is that they asked for two local, successful cases to film as part of the segment. One is a brain cancer, the other is a seizure case. It really hit me as I sat down to compile notes for this blog how horribly common are seizuring canines. It is a sad sign of the times. I want to change that.

Arden and Wonton have just had their first appointments. I will blog their intake with photos as soon as I get them. Let’s all wish them a smooth and successful journey.

Meat for dogs and cats. Organic or ammonia?

I am often asked if one must feed organic meats when starting on feeding a home prepared diet for their pets. Many pet owners are reluctant to start thinking that the meat must be organic. I always reply that it is the same choice as it would be for us humans. Organic is always the better choice for the long run. If you have the room in your budget for organic, then do it. If not, certainly going from most commercial dog/cat foods to a home prep diet with conventional (non-organic) meat is still a huge leap in improvement for the nutrition of most pets. It is far better to start a superior diet that is not perfect than it is to not start at all.

That being said, the relative importance of choosing organic is underscored by the following report (from 1.6.10) on ammonia(!) in conventional ground meat. I believe it may be only one of many contaminants in non-organic foods. You may need to copy and paste into your web browser.


http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/01/04/ill-have-a-burger-and-fries-with-everything-hold-the-ammonia/?icid=mainhtmlws-main-wdl5link5http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/01/04/ill-have-a-burger-and-fries-with-everything-hold-the-ammonia/

Swine Flu found in a dog

Yesterday, the first case of swine flu was confirmed in a dog. Here's what the AVMA release said...

"December 21, 2009, IDEXX Laboratories confirmed 2009 H1N1 influenza virus in a dog in Bedford Hills, New York. A 13-year old dog became ill after its owner was ill with confirmed 2009 H1N1 influenza. The dog was lethargic, coughing, not eating, and had a fever. Radiographs (x-rays) showed evidence of pneumonia. The dog was treated with intravenous fluids, antibiotics, nebulization and other supportive care, and was discharged from the hospital after 48 hours of care. It is currently recovering. Tests submitted to IDEXX Laboratories were negative for canine influenza (H3N8) but positive for 2009 H1N1 influenza."

Here's my take away on this.
• This is not cause for panic, but underscores the importance of taking pets to a veterinarian if they are showing signs of illness. This is especially important if someone in the household has recently been ill with flu-like symptoms.
• Pet owners should remain vigilant. By vigilant I mean touch your pets, palpate them, pay attention to how they eat and play and sleep, notice what they produce when they pee and poop! You are their guardians and advocates, just like parents for human children.
• So far the clinical signs include lethargy, inappetance/anorexia, coughing and difficulty breathing. Some of the animals have developed pneumonia. Any animals showing these signs of disease should be examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
• As always proper hygiene and sanitation measures should be followed to limit the spread of all contagious disease, including this new influenza virus.
• IMPORTANT - There is no evidence to suggest that pets have or will spread the virus to humans or other animals. To date, all of the sick pets became ill after a person in the household was ill with flu-like symptoms.

That's all the info available right now. If you have further questions call me at the office. HolVet 845.338.3300.

Blessings to all this holiday season. Hope this info helps. MY

Poinsettias and Mistletoe - Toxic for pets

Just a quick reminder that poinsettias and mistletoe are toxic if ingested. While most pets will leave them untouched, some will munch them right down to the stem! The most common toxic effect is gastrointestinal irritation, resulting in vomiting and diarrhoea. However, large amounts can be fatal.

It's kind of ironic that plants that represent beauty and romance can be so poisonous, no? Did you know that a homeopathic form of mistletoe is commonly used in the treatment of cancer? There is a very interesting truth I learned in vet school, "the only difference between a drug and a poison is dose." Think about that one for a while!

In the meantime, choose the placement of all your holiday decorations with care. Pet-Proof your seasonal decor and have a wonderful season with all the joy it is intended to bring. And if you do hang some mistletoe be sure to give all your four legged loved ones a big kiss from me!

Rabies found in Central Park Racoons

Recently, three racoons have been found to be positive for Rabies in Central Park. This is the same virus as we have in our dogs and cats, and the same one in the typical vaccination. Interesting to note is that the statistics reveal only about 0.1% of Rabies cases , or one in one thousand, are fatal.

Here's the whole article...

December 7, 2009, 6:04 pm
Raccoons in Central Park Raise Rabies Concerns
By A. G. SULZBERGER
City health officials are warning visitors to Central Park to avoid contact with wild animals and to keep their dogs on a leash following the discovery of three rabid raccoons, two in the last week.

The discovery was a surprise because, in the previous six years, only one rabid animal had been found in Manhattan, with the majority of rabies cases in the city isolated to Staten Island and the Bronx. Another rabid raccoon that was found earlier this year, near the northernmost tip of Manhattan, was believed to have crossed over from the Bronx on a railroad bridge.

“There is concern that it could spread to more raccoons,” said Dr. Sally Slavinski, a public health veterinarian for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. City employees will be enhancing their surveillance of the park to look for signs of other sick animals and are urging parkgoers who spot disoriented or aggressive animals to report them by calling the city’s 311 information line.

There hasn’t been a human infection of rabies in New York City since 1953, around the time that the city began mandating rabies vaccinations for dogs to combat the disease, according to the health department. At the time, the disease, which is transmitted through a bite from an infected mammal and is usually fatal without treatment, was a significant problem in the city. One report described a dog frothing at the mouth racing through the crowd at a public pool and biting the officer who finally captured it.

In the early 1950s, before vaccination programs curbed the cases, about 40,000 people were bitten by rabid dogs nationwide each year, with about 40 people dying annually from the disease, according to news reports from the time. In 2007, the most recent year for which figures were available, just one person contracted the disease, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Worldwide, however, rabies remains a major killer.)

In New York State, 512 animals were identified as carrying rabies, the third most in the nation after Texas and Virginia, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Most rabies cases now involve wild animals, with raccoons being the most common carrier, followed by bats, skunks and foxes. (Nationwide, domestic animals like dogs, cats and cattle account for less than seven percent of all infected animals).

The variant of raccoon-borne rabies did not arrive in New York City until 1992 but now accounts for the majority of cases in the city and the state, said Ms. Slavinski. So far this year, 20 rabies cases have been identified in the city: 14 raccoons in the Bronx, 4 raccoons in Manhattan, a raccoon in Queens and a bat in Staten Island. In the previous six years, the Bronx has had 78 cases, followed by Staten Island with 69, Queens with 7, Brooklyn with 2 and Manhattan with 1, according to the health department.