Santa Paws is Coming!

That's right, Santa Paws!

When:  Saturday, December 1
             Noon - 3 p.m.

Where:  Animal Emergency Care
              164 Great Road, Acton, MA
               (978) 263-1742

Cost:      $10 for each photo, with proceeds benefitting the Chelmsford Dog Association

Professional photographs will be taken by Bill Marshall Photography. 

Refreshments will be served. 

Hope to see you there!

Hurricane Safety

Don't forget your pets when you're planning for a hurricane, nor'easter, or blizzard!  Here are some tips to help your pets stay safe during a weather emergency:

*Make sure all pets have adequate shelter BEFORE the storm hits.  Don't let cats outdoors before or during a storm.  Walk dogs in a fenced-in area or on a secure leash.

*Add food and water for your pets, as well as pet dishes, to your emergency provision box.  You may also want to store extra bedding and a back-up leash.  And don't forget any daily medications your pet might need.

*Small dogs and cats should have a designated pet carrier to use in an emergency.  The carrier should be labelled with the pet's name and your contact information.  Line the carrier with clean bedding. 

*Pets should wear an identification tag as well as their current rabies tag.  Keep a copy of your pet's rabies certificate in your emergency box.

*Get to know the emergency shelters in your area.  Before you show up with pets in tow, be sure they will be accepted.  Your veterinarian may be able to suggest alternatives if your local shelter isn't pet-friendly.

A little advanced planning can make weather emergencies less stressful for you and your pets.  Let's keep all our pets safe!


Cat Safety 101

Check out the July 2012 issue of Cat Fancy Magazine.  The article "Safety First" was written by one of our veterinarians, Dr. Janice Barnhart.  Dr. Barnhart has been treating patients at Animal Emergency Care since 1998 and is a canine/feline diplomate in the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners.

Download this issue of CatFancy here.

The Little Dog That Lived

Hard to believe this adorable puppy couldn't even hold his head up when he came to Animal Emergency Care two months ago.  Without his owner's knowledge, he'd been stealing rat bait.  When it finally caught up with him--it can take several days before dogs and cats become ill--he was bleeding internally and needed a blood transfusion. 

Fortunately, this pup's tale has a happy ending.  After spending four days in intensive care, he's back to being a carefree, bouncy, tail-wagging puppy.  And that's good news for everyone!

Rodent Bait Kills More Than Just Rats and Mice

There are many types of mouse and rat bait on the market.  Unfortunately, these types of poisons don't just kill rodents.  They are capable of killing dogs, cats, and other pets who eat them.

One of the most common types of rat poison prevents the blood from clotting normally.  Pets who eat this substance may vomit green or blue-green liquid containing poison pellets, or they may have green stool a day or two after they eat it. 

What to do if you believe your pet has eaten mouse or rat bait:
1.  Don't panic. 
2.  Try to find out what type of poison is in the bait.  The chemical name should be listed on the box, but if it isn't, the name of the product will also be helpful.
3.  If it has been less than four hours since your pet has eaten the poison, contact your veterinarian immediately.  Sometimes, decontamination procedures--making your pet vomit and/or feeding it activated charcoal to absorb the poison--can decrease the amount of poison in your pet's body.
4.  Your veterinarian can prescribe an antidote--usually prescription strength Vitamin K--to counteract the toxin in your pet's body.  Your pet may need to take Vitamin K for a month or more.
5.  Do not try to treat this type of poisoning on your own!  Only a specific type and strength of Vitamin K will prevent your pet from bleeding internally.  Always seek veterinary assistance when dealing with rodenticide poisoning.

Signs and symptoms of rodenticide poisoning:
1.  Bruising.  This may be noted on the gums, the whites of the eyes, or on the skin.
2.  Coughing.  May indicate bleeding into the lungs.
3.  Labored breathing.  Caused by bleeding into the lungs or chest cavity.
4.  Limping or lameness.  Can occur when an animal has bleeding or hemorrhage in its joints.
5.  Listlessness, decreased appetite, weakness.  Usually occurs with other symptoms, such as those listed above, and are indicative of a pet whose life is in danger!

Caution: Easter May Be Harmful to Pets

A basket filled with chocolate bunnies and marshmallow chicks on a bed of colorful grass seems innocent enough.  But typical Easter baskets are filled with things that can harm your pets.

• Chocolate.  Dangerous and possibly fatal to dogs and cats, depending on the type of chocolate and the amount consumed. 

• Easter grass.  Cats, especially, like to play with and eat strands of plastic grass.  Easter grass can cause an intestinal blockage and may need to be removed surgically.  Use paper or edible Easter grass if you have pets. 

• Candy.  May cause gastrointestinal upset (vomiting and/or diarrhea) or even pancreatitis in pets that eat too much.

• Sugar-free gum or candy.  Make sure your Easter basket is xylitol-free.  Xylitol is found in some sugar-free foods and is not harmful to humans.  It can, however, be fatal to pets.

• Toys.  Anything that can be chewed apart and swallowed may harm your pet.

Tails From Ireland

Today we celebrate everything Irish, including the many types of dogs imported from the Emerald Isle:  Terriers, spaniels, retrievers--even a giant breed, the Irish Wolfhound.  No, they're not green, but some of them are redheads!

For more information on Irish dogs, visit the AKC St. Patrick's Day page.