First Column in Gold Country Monthly - March 2009

FYI for Furry Friends

To one and all this is my first column in the Gold Country Monthly. My writing may sound familiar to some as it is inspired and influenced by my beloved cat, Timmy, who previously created the Pet Corner in the Town Crier. Since he has gone to the Rainbow Bridge, I felt it was my duty to carry on his work as a pet rights advocate, sharing any and all helpful information for those who have been entrusted with a pet.

Here is some interesting information I received about a disease called Zoonosis. It has to do with roundworms which can be transmitted from pets to people. The following is a true story from a Mother’s Perspective on Zoonosis.

Jennifer Ronan never imagined that taking her son Christopher to a neighborhood playground could make him sick. She learned that the most innocent of places can hold hidden dangers if you are unaware. Jennifer took excellent care of her son and her family. Christopher was up to date on his vaccinations. After each annual checkup he got a clean bill of health. After his 4th birthday his checkup stayed the same except his doctor suggested that he have an eye exam which is what optometrists recommend for 4 year olds.

So Christopher went to see Dr. David Milliken for his first eye exam and that was the day that this family’s whole world came apart. Immediately it became obvious that something wasn’t right – Christopher could not see out of his left eye. The doctor confirmed the news that Christopher was partially blind in that eye. Two days later he was diagnosed with toxocariasis by Dr. Tatsua Hirose, one of the best retinal specialists in the country. He confirmed that Christopher had contracted ocular larva migrans, a serious health condition in which one or more roundworm larvae became trapped in the eye, causing a dense scar in the retina.

Dr. Hirose conducted a series of tests and performed an examination, but he wasn’t able to determine the exact source of disease transmission. Ben, their black Lab, and Maggie, their yellow Lab, were eliminated as possible infection sources, as was their calico kitty, Amelia.
All of their pets were on heartworm preventative that controls and treats roundworms and hookworms. Also their pets have never been positive for the presence of worms during their annual checkups.

After an intense investigation about their daily routines and Christopher’s play habits, it became apparent that he contracted ocular larva migrans from playing in a public sandbox or playground. Near where they live is such a place which has a sandbox, swing set, and green lawn for soccer games. It is also a place that could easily harbor roundworm-infected waste. Not once when they were building sandcastles in the sandbox and playing ball in the park did they consider this neighborhood play area or any other such place, like school playgrounds, parks and sandboxes a potential hazard for their son. Today Christopher is a normal kindergartner, learning to write his letters and numbers, doing karate, and enjoying time with his family and friends. However his lost vision will never be restored.

Ask your vets about the risks of these diseases and how to keep your pets and yourselves safe.

Kathy Hanson