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.

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!

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.

Happy Valentine's Day!

This is Jackson, a Miniature Schnauzer with a BIG heart.  Jackson came to us almost two years ago with symptoms of congestive heart failure.  Although Jackson had never had a problem with his heart, he now had a severe heart murmur and labored breathing.

Jackson was admitted to the hospital and given oxygen as well as a diuretic, to help remove fluid from his lungs.  Diagnostic testing showed that his mitral valve was not working at full capacity.  This caused the tendons in his heart, called chordae tendineae, to rupture.  In a larger dog, this may have been a fatal event, but Jackson's small body was able to compensate until he received treatment.

His heart will never return to normal, but proper medication, lifestyle management, and regular checkups have helped him maintain a good quality of life.  He also receives plenty of tender loving care!

Happy Valentine's Day, Jackson!

The Merit of Microchips

Is your pet microchipped?  If not, I would encourage you to consider this service carefully.  Microchips are a safe, permanent way to identify your pet.  Many lost pets are returned to their owners each year because they could be identified via microchip.    

Microchips are easily implanted using a needle and syringe (similar to how a vaccine is administered).  In dogs and cats, the microchip is placed under the skin on the back of the neck or between the shoulder blades.  Most microchips remain in place and are readable throughout the life of the pet. 

Microchips can be seen on an x-ray, but the microchip number can only be read by a scanner.  Most scanners available today are universal, which means they read most types of microchips.

A microchip (green circle) implanted in a dog 

Close-up view of the microchip.

Once your pet is microchipped, you'll need to register with the manufacturer.  Be sure to keep your contact information current so you can be easily contacted in an emergency.  Microchip number and manufacturer information should be kept for the life of your pet.

Winter Wonderland

When the temperatures dip below freezing, it's time to get most pets inside. 
One exception is dogs that are bred for colder climates, such as Huskies and Malamutes.  These breeds seem to love the cold and may stay outdoors for longer periods of time if they have adequate shelter, such as an insulated dog house, access to fresh, unfrozen water, and are given adequate amounts of food.  Pets that spend a lot of time outside in the cold may need more calories, so be prepared to increase their daily food allowance.
 

"Ginger"

Photo courtesy of Shane Meyer

First Case of Rabies in a Massachusetts Resident Since 1935

A Cape Cod man contracted rabies at the end of 2011, most likely from a rabid bat.  This marks the first case of rabies in a human in Massachusetts since 1935. 

Most rabid animals show symptoms of rabies, such as aggression, foaming at the mouth, or paralysis.  Bats are unique in that they can infect other animals (including people) with the rabies virus without appearing sick.  Rabies is most often spread through bite wounds.   

Bats found indoors in a room where a person was sleeping or in a room with a child or mentally incapacitated person, should be captured and sent to the State Diagnostic Lab for testing.  This can be arranged through your town's Animal Control Officer, Animal Inspector or through your veterinarian.  A physician should be consulted immediately if the bat is unavailable for testing. 

Rabies in people can be prevented with post-exposure immunization.  Any person who gets bitten or scratched by a potentially rabid animal or an animal that is unavailable for a ten day quarantine should contact their primary care physician for instructions.

Pet owners can do their part to limit the spread of rabies by keeping dogs and cats vaccinated for rabies.

Happy Holidays!

Pictured:  Bonnie, "Goose", and Bubbles

From our family to yours, may you enjoy the company of loved ones this holiday season!