Priest Lake Veterinary Hospital Newsletters

Newsletter for June 2004

Hello friends,

E-mail claims that the Swiffer WetJet disposable floor cleaner contains a
substance toxic to dogs and cats.

Description: False Email rumor circulating since May of 2004

Warning for your animal's health:

I recently had a neighbor who had to have their 5-year old German Shepherd dog put down due to liver failure. The dog was completely healthy until a few weeks ago, so they had a necropsy done to see what the cause was. The liver levels were unbelievable, as if the dog had ingested poison of some kind. The dog is kept inside, and when he's outside, someone's with him, so the idea of him getting into something unknown was hard to believe. My neighbor started going through all the items in the house. When he got to the Swiffer Wetjet, he noticed, in very tiny print, a warning which stated "may be harmful to small children and animals." He called the company to ask what the contents of the cleaning agent are and was astounded to find out that antifreeze is one of the ingredients. (actually he was told it's a compound which is one molecule away from antifreeze). Therefore, just by the dog walking on the floor cleaned with the solution, then licking it's own paws, and the dog eating from its dishes which were kept on the kitchen floor cleaned with this product, it ingested enough of the solution to destroy its liver. Soon after his dog's death, his housekeepers' two cats also died of liver failure. They both used the Swiffer Wetjet for quick cleanups on their floors. Necropsies weren't done on the cats, so they couldn't file a lawsuit, but he asked that we spread the word to as many people as possible so they don't lose their animals. .

Though the product label advises (as with all cleaning products) to "Keep out of reach of children and pets," its manufacturer, Procter & Gamble, maintains that the Swiffer WetJet Cleaning System leaves no appreciable residue and is therefore safe to use in a household with pets, even if they lick the floor after it has been mopped.

A low order of toxicity

According to the Swiffer WetJet Material Safety Data Sheet (.PDF file), the product has "a low order of toxicity." It contains the following ingredients:

* Water (90% - 100%)

* Propylene Glycol n-Propyl Ether (1% - 4%)

* Isopropyl Alcohol (1% - 4%)

* Minor Ingredients (< 1%)

* Preservatives (< 0.1%)

Propylene glycol n-propyl ether is a solvent similar to, but much less toxic than, ethylene glycol, the antifreeze ingredient always cited as a hazard to pets and children. The Material Safety Data Sheet for propylene glycol , which is present in no greater than a 4% concentration in the Swiffer WetJet cleaning solution, states that the chemical has "low toxicity in animal studies" where ingested. It is also found in other household cleaning products.

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center has stated the following: "Propylene glycol n-propyl ether and propylene glycol n-butyl ether are very safe ingredients at levels used in cleaning products and do not cause kidney or liver failure."

Note, too, that the email report is anonymous, secondhand and purely anecdotal, offering no means of authenticating its central claim that three animals died as a result of ingesting the Swiffer WetJet cleaning solution — good enough reason to be skeptical.

Procter & Gamble response to the Swiffer WetJet rumor:

Are the ingredients safe?

Answer:

We're glad you came to us for the facts about Swiffer WetJet. Let us assure you, this rumor is completely false. Our Wet cloths and WetJet liquid solution cleaners do not contain antifreeze or any ingredient similar to it.

We have pets too and their health is very important to us. All our products have been evaluated by internal and external veterinarians and scientists, and Swiffer WetJet and Swiffer Wet cloths are safe to use around pets.

We hope you’ll help us put an end to this rumor by letting others know the truth.

Update: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Responds to Swiffer Wet Jet

Rumor - May 7, 2004: "Veterinary Toxicologists regard allegations of liver failure and death from household cleaner as unfounded."

Herbicide Exposure May Increase Cancer Risk In Dogs -
Factual information based on recent research at Purdue University

A study, published in the April 15 issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association , examines the potential for increased incidence of bladder cancer in dogs exposed to lawns or gardens treated with herbicides and insecticides. The case-control study that examined genetically predisposed dogs suggests a greater emphasis should be placed on studying the long-term risk of exposure to herbicides in individuals genetically predisposed to develop cancers.

Lawrence T. Glickman, VMD, DrPH; of the School of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; and colleagues conducted a study to determine whether exposure to lawn or garden chemicals was associated with an increased risk of the most common cancer of the urinary bladder in dogs, transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). The prevalence of TCC in dogs examined at veterinary teaching hospitals in North America increased by more than 600% between 1975 and 1995. Scottish Terriers, Shetland Sheepdogs, Wirehaired Fox Terriers, and West Highland White Terriers, each had a significantly increased risk of TCC, compared with mixed-breed dogs. This suggests a genetic predisposition to TCC in terriers and primarily in Scottish Terriers.

Owners of Scottish Terriers with TCC and Scottish Terriers with other health-related conditions completed a written questionnaire pertaining to exposure to lawn or garden chemicals during the year prior to diagnosis of TCC for case dogs and a comparable period for control dogs. The risk of TCC was significantly increased among dogs exposed to lawns or gardens treated with both herbicides and insecticides or with herbicides alone. Dogs exposed to lawns or gardens treated with insecticides alone had a small, but not significantly, increased risk of TCC compared with dogs exposed to untreated lawns.

In general, the researchers found that the risk of TCC was higher among dogs exposed to phenoxy acid herbicides, the most commonly used chemical in agriculture, or nonphenoxy acid herbicides, compared with dogs exposed to lawns or gardens that did not receive an herbicide application.

Phenoxy herbicides are also thought to be human carcinogens. While the predominant opinion of an expert panel of scientists convened by the Harvard School of Public Health in 1989 was that exposure to phenoxy herbicides could possibly cause cancer in humans, lifetime cancer bioassays of rats, mice, and dogs have not found evidence of carcinogenicity.

As a result of their findings, the authors recommend:

* Although a cause-and-effect relationship has not been proven, owners of Scottish Terriers should decrease their dogs' exposure to lawns or gardens treated with common herbicides, particularly phenoxy herbicides and possibly nonphenoxy herbicides; Veterinarians should perform routine (every 6 months) cytologic urine exams in Scottish Terriers and other "genetically high risk" breeds over six years old.

* Studies should be conducted to identify the specific genes in Scottish Terriers that predispose them to TCC;

* Epidemiological studies with genetically susceptible dogs could provide a humane alternative to laboratory studies evaluating chemicals for human cancer risk.

The AVMA, founded in 1863, is one of the oldest and largest veterinary medical organizations in the world. More than 70,000 member veterinarians are engaged in a wide variety of professional activities. AVMA members are dedicated to advancing the science and art of veterinary medicine including its relationship to public health and agriculture. Visit the AVMA Web site at www.avma.org to learn more about veterinary medicine, animal care and access up-to-date information on the association's issues, policies and activities.

CRANIAL CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RUPTURE REPAIR -

A common surgical procedure performed here at Priest Lake Veterinary Hospital.  Cranial cruciate ligament ruptures are one of the most common injuries in the dog and the major cause of degenerative joint disease in the stifle joint. The first report of cranial ligament rupture was in 1926; since then much has been learned about this ligament yet the cause of rupture is often unknown and the optimum mode of treatment remains controversial.  The ligament is injured when the stifle is rotated rapidly with the joint in 20-50 degrees of flexion. This happens when the animal suddenly turns toward the limb with the foot firmly planted; this causes extreme internal rotation of the tibia with stress on the cranial cruciate ligament. Injury can also occur when the joint is forcefully hyperextended. Hyperextension probably occurs most commonly by stepping in a hole or a depression at a fast gait.  The ligamentous injury may be a complete rupture with obvious instability or a partial rupture with minor instability. Cranial cruciate ligament rupture may be purely traumatic, occurring in a young large dog and associated with an acute history and distinct traumatic event. Most dogs have a more chronic course without a history of distinct trauma. The primary complaint may be acute lameness, but further questioning often reveals that the lameness has been episodic and related to bouts of vigorous exercise. At this point, physical examination and x-rays often reveal chronic degenerative changes (arthritis) in the affected stifle joint. The frequency of bilateral disease (affecting both legs) is as high as 31%.  The medial meniscus may be torn acutely at the time of ligament injury, but is more often damaged as a result of chronic instability of the joint, producing folding and eventual shredding of the caudal horn of the medial meniscus. Some type of meniscal injury is present in about 50% of dogs with cruciate ligament injuries. The menisci can be evaluated at the time of exploratory joint surgery/cruciate ligament repair and a meniscectomy can be performed if necessary.

Rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament occurs in large breeds of dogs more often than in small breeds. Acute traumatic rupture occurs in dogs less than 4 years of age most often. Dogs with more chronic problems are usually between 5 and 7 years of age. Many clinical studies have reported a higher incidence of rupture in females than males, and it may be more common in spayed females compared with intact females.

The strength of a dog's cranial cruciate ligament deteriorates with aging. Degenerative changes develop naturally in all dogs as part of the aging process, thus other factors must be involved in causing rupture. Poor physical conditioning may contribute to ligament rupture since strong and properly conditioned muscles around the knee are important in protecting the joint structures from excessive stresses[. "Many large dogs do not receive regular conditioning exercise but instead are allowed intermittent episodes of exuberant physical activity". Dogs who experience cranial cruciate ligament rupture frequently are overweight. Obesity causes increased loading of what may already be a compromised ligament and is likely to be a contributing factor in many dogs.

Partial tears of the ligament are being diagnosed with increasing frequency. Partial tears in dogs consistently progress to complete rupture, usually within one year of onset of lameness. Joint instability may not be palpable early on in the course but usually becomes apparent as the ligament undergoes progressive failure.  Partial tears therefore seem to be an early sign of a disease that eventually results in complete ligament rupture.

TREATMENT OF CRANIAL CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RUPTURES:

Decisions about types of therapy in dogs with ruptures are influenced by the dog's age, body size and weight, intended use (active hunting dog versus sedentary house pet), concurrent orthopedic or medical problems, economic considerations and anticipated owner compliance.  Conservative therapy (without surgery) often works well in small dogs (< 15 kg). Large dogs clearly benefit from surgical therapy.  Approximately 80% of large dogs (>15 kg) treated conservatively had persistent lameness or worsening of their lameness during a follow-up period of about 10 months in one study.

Numerous surgical procedures have been designed to restore stability and minimize secondary degenerative joint disease. None of these procedures has proven clearly superior to any other, although limb function can be improved in most dogs by using one of these techniques.  One study of the factors affecting the prognosis (outcome) after surgery found that the type of surgical procedure had little influence on the eventual outcome. Different surgeons use different methods of repair, based on their own experiences. Regardless of the type of repair done, most published reports indicate between 85 and 90% good to excellent function at follow-up.

Post-operative care may or may not include the use of a modified Robert Jones bandage for 24-48 hours up to 10-14 days post-surgery. Again, this tends to be based on surgeon preference. Regardless of the method of surgical stabilization, activity is usually restricted for at least 6 weeks after surgery. Initially, activity is very restricted with confinement of the dog to one level in the house and walking outside on a leash for eliminations only; with time, short leash walks can be added. Gradually increasing levels of activity are then permitted until 12-18 weeks post-operatively, when full activity can usually be permitted for companion animals. Performance animals such as field trial dogs must be rehabilitated more slowly, over a 6 month period before entering full training and competition.

Best Regards,
Dr. Pennington
http://www.priestlakevet.com
615-361-4646