🦠 Eye Drop "Superbug" is Spreading to Dogs

A superbug from human eye drops is spreading to dogs.

Two dogs treated at a veterinary hospital in New Jersey last year have tested positive for a rare, drug-resistant strain of bacteria linked to a fatal outbreak blamed on now-recalled eye drops that had been used in humans, a CDC investigator said Friday.

The animals were infected by a bacteria known as carbapenemase-producing carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, found in swabs of the lung and ear of two dogs from different owners at the hospital.

Testing of the bacteria from the dogs found it to be "highly genetically related" to the germs behind an outbreak last year that ultimately sickened 81 human patients across 18 states. By the end of that outbreak, 14 patients lost their vision and four died.

Germs that produce carbapenemase are especially worrying to health officials in part because they can break down carbapenem antibiotics, a class of drugs typically reserved for infections resistant to other treatments, and can easily spread their resistance genes to other pathogens.

"So now that this bacteria has been introduced into the U.S. from the artificial tears, this resistance could spread," the CDC's Emma Price said Friday, presenting her team's findings at a conference of the agency's Epidemic Intelligence Service. 

The initial outbreak was blamed on contaminated eye drops produced at a factory in India where Food and Drug Administration inspectors ultimately found dirty equipment and a long list of shortcuts in hygiene procedures. Other factories have also turned up worrying issues, ranging from barefoot workers to falsified records.

The FDA this year issued a warning for veterinary hospitals and pet owners urging them to check their supplies for recalled eye drops, after a report of an infection.

"The adverse event was in a cat that developed an eye infection after being treated with the drops. However, testing was not able to conclusively prove that the eye drops caused the infection," an FDA spokesperson told CBS News in March, after the warning.

Your aggressive dog may have “rage syndrome”…

Dog aggression can be unsettling, stressful, and even dangerous, not only for the dog but also for other pets, family members, and strangers.

Because some forms of aggression are rare and unexpected, such as rage syndrome, Dr. Lori Teller, a clinical professor at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, provides guidance on how owners can recognize and respond to the varying signs of aggression.

Rage syndrome? Tell me more…

Rage syndrome, a serious and complex condition that causes dogs to become aggressive without any apparent trigger, can be challenging to diagnose and treat effectively.

"Dogs with rage syndrome have episodes of extreme aggression toward a person or other animals that occur seemingly out-of-the-blue and without provocation, yet they otherwise appear friendly and happy," Teller said.

The exact cause of rage syndrome remains unclear, though Teller pointed out that there can be genetic and neurological factors involved. Nevertheless, owners should remain vigilant for varying signs of the disorder.

"No identifiable trigger leading up to the attack is one clear sign of rage syndrome," Teller said. "Additional signs include confusion or seeming dazedness during or immediately after an episode, glazed eyes, dramatic escalation of aggression without any warning, and unpredictability of episodes."

On the other hand, it's important not to confuse conflict- or fear-based aggression with rage syndrome. Aggressions stemming from conflict or fear are more common than rage syndrome because they are natural responses to perceived threats or conflicts in the environment.

"There is usually an identifiable trigger for other forms of aggression, unlike with rage syndrome, but some owners have a hard time reading a dog's body language or recognizing the trigger, making it challenging at first to determine what type of aggression a dog may have," Teller explained.

"With fear-based or conflict aggression, a dog will often exhibit warning signs before attacking, such as a hunched body posture, lip-licking, trembling, baring teeth, growling or snapping."

 What should I do if I feel like my dog experiences this?

When a dog is in the midst of an aggressive episode, owners should avoid intervening physically, as this could lead to injuries. Once the dog has calmed down, owners should take them to their veterinarian for a thorough examination.

"The veterinarian will obtain a complete behavioral history and probably perform some diagnostic tests to rule out a medical problem that has led to the aggressive behaviors," Teller explained. "An example of a medical problem that may trigger an aggressive response is when someone touches a painful area, such as with osteoarthritis or an ear infection."

Teller also noted that rage syndrome can be caused by seizure-like activity in the brain, so veterinarians may recommend an electroencephalogram, a test that measures electrical activity in the brain, or an advanced imaging modality such as an MRI or CT scan, which takes detailed images of the brain to identify any abnormalities in its structure.

Managing aggression in dogs, however, will require a comprehensive approach that addresses both the underlying causes and immediate behavioral issues.

"Depending on the underlying cause of aggression, the dog may be put on an anxiolytic medication to relieve anxiety, an anticonvulsant to control the risk of seizures, or a combination of medications," Teller said. "A behavioral modification plan will also be instituted, and in some cases, a referral may be made to a veterinary behaviorist."

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Today’s Last Laugh:

If you forget your lunch at home, Cooper’s got your back…

@jen.jennings

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