Celery

Can you spot the creature hiding in the leaves?

If you look closely, you can spot "Celery", a green tree frog.  "Celery" arrived in Massachusetts as part of a shipment of celery from California.  Since green tree frogs are native to Florida, we don't know how he ended up in California, but he probably has some great tales to tell!  "Celery" and his friend live in our reception area.  They are usually pretty quiet, but when they do decide to make noise, it sounds like a Chihuahuas barking!

Cats and Their Kidneys

Easter lillies and other toxins cause acute kidney injury in cats, which can be reversible if treated promptly and agressively.

Many cats, however, develop chronic kidney disease, especially as they get older.  Chronic kidney disease is a progressive disease.  It cannot be cured, but the progression can often be slowed, especially if caught early.  As your cat ages, routine blood work should be performed on a regular basis to evaluate the kidneys. 

Symptoms of advanced chronic kidney disease include excessive thirst, increased urination, listlessness, decreased appetite, vomiting, and weight loss.  Cats who exhibit any of these signs should be evaluated by a veterinarian.

Keep Easter Safe for Cats

Courtesy of ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center

Easter lillies and other plants like this, including day lillies, are extremely toxic to cats.  Lillies do not belong in households with cats--EVER.  All parts of these plants are toxic, including the pollen!

Symptoms include vomiting, listlessness, decreased appetite.  Kidney failure and death can result from lily ingestion.

If you suspect your cat has eaten any part of a lily, if your cat has lily pollen on its nose, paws, or any other part of its body, or if your cat has any of the above symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately!

Snow Hazards

Blizzards and Nor'easters pose special problems for pets. Keep your pets safe and sound during the next storm by watching out for these hazards:

*Skis and snowboards. We've seen lacerations, ruptured tendons, and amputated toes from pets playing too close to this equipment.

*Snowplows. Getting hit by a car is bad enough, but dog/cat vs. snowplow is almost always a victory for the plow. Best to keep pets on a leash or inside when the plows are on the road.

*Snow shovels. Shovels have sharp edges, especially when the snow is flying.

*Ice melting chemicals. Make sure the stuff you use to melt ice is safe for pets.

Update on Grit

See how Grit and her family are doing!  Click here.

True Grit: A Christmas Miracle

It started with a phone call around 4:30 p.m. on Christmas Day.

"Our dog fell through the ice," a man told us.  "She's shivering.  What should we do?"

We gave him directions and our team prepared for their arrival.  Grit, a 2 year old Labrador Retriever, arrived, cold, wet, and non-responsive.  Her temperature was below 80 degrees Fahrenheit (a dog's normal temperature is between 101 and 102.5) and her blood sugar was very low.  As we worked to warm her up, she began seizuring.

Grit's adventure had actually started sometime after noon on Christmas Day, when she came up missing.  After two and a half hours of searching, her owners found her in cold--but fairly shallow--water.  She had fallen through the ice and couldn't get out.  It took the entire family another thirty minutes to rescue her.

Once an intravenous catheter was in place, she was given dextrose to bring her blood sugar back to normal and stop the seizures.  She was dried off, covered in blankets fresh from the dryer, and given warmed fluids.     

Grit regained consciousness quickly and her body temperature rose steadily over the next few hours.  Once she started giving kisses to her nurses, we knew she was well on the road to recovery.  She was discharged from Animal Emergency Care the next day with only a few bruises to remind her owners of their ordeal.

We consider ourselves truly fortunate to have witnessed a miracle this Christmas. 

Happy Christmas to All!

Thanks to everyone who made Santa Paws a successful event for the Chelmsford Dog Association!  And thanks to our photographer, Bill Marshall.  You can find more of his photos here.

Let's have a safe and enjoyable holiday season this year.