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.

The Wonderful World of Toys!

There are so many pet toys on the market today, it can be difficult to pick one appropriate for your pet.  Before you bring home something to make your pet smile, be sure it won't cause them harm. 

Buyer beware! 
Some of the edible dog toys/treats have been implicated in Salmonella poisoning, such as pig's ears and snouts. 

Dogs susceptible to bouts of stomach upset or pancreatitis shouldn't be given any type of edible toys.

Balls can be easily swallowed, especially when coated saliva.  Make sure the balls available to your pet are appropriate for the size of their mouth.

Toy stuffing can cause intestinal blockages if your pet eats it!

Looking for something different? 
Dogs who like a challenge may enjoy puzzle-type toys, where they have to 'solve' a puzzle in order to get a treat. 

Stuffable toys, such as Kongs, are great for food-motivated dogs.  They can be filled in advance and frozen.

Blue Kongs, available through veterinarians, have a built-in safety feature--they show up on x-rays!

 

Don't forget the cats!
Examine cat toys closely prior to use.  Long strings or feathers should be removed. 

And remember:  NEVER leave your pet unsupervised with a new toy.  After all, no one wants to visit the ER during Christmas dinner!