The holiday season is here and All Creatures Veterinary Care Center wants to see all our furry friends stay happy, healthy and safe with the following tips for the winter:

Holiday Food Items to Avoid

• Alcoholic beverages
• Chocolate (baker’s, semi-sweet, milk chocolate)
• Coffee (grounds, beans, chocolate covered espresso beans)
• Moldy or spoiled foods
• Onions, onion powder
• Fatty foods
• Salt
• Yeast dough

Christmas Tree Hazards

• Christmas tree water may contain fertilizers, which, if ingested, can cause stomach upset. Stagnant tree water can be breeding grounds for bacteria, which can also lead to vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea, if ingested.
• Electric cords- Avoid animal exposure to electric cords. If they were chewed, they could electrocute your pet. Cover up or hide electric cords, never let your pet chew on them.
• Ribbons or tinsel can get caught up in the intestines and cause intestinal obstruction.
• Batteries contain corrosives. If ingested they can cause ulceration to the mouth, tongue, and the rest of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Glass ornaments can cut the tissues of the gastrointestinal tract if ingested.
• Potpourris are popular household fragrances commonly used during the holiday season. Pets are often exposed to liquid potpourri by direct ingestion from simmer pots or spills, or by rubbing against leaky bottles or simmer pots containing the potpourri, or from spilling the containers upon themselves. Oral exposures result following grooming. Exposure of pets to some types of liquid potpourris can result in severe oral, dermal, and ocular damage. Dry potpourri generally doesn’t cause those issues, but there may be problems due to foreign body and (possibly) toxic plant ingestion.

Plants

• Lilies that may be found in holiday flower arrangements could be deadly to your cat. Many types of lily, such as Tiger, Asian, Japanese Show, Easter, Stargazer, and the Casa Blanca, can cause kidney failure in cats.
• Poinsettias are generally over-rated in toxicity. If ingested, poinsettias can be irritating to the mouth and stomach, and may cause mild vomiting or nausea.
• Mistletoe has the potential to cause cardiovascular problems. However, mistletoe ingestion usually only causes gastrointestinal upset.
• Holly ingestion could cause vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and lethargy.

Winter Household Hazards

• Antifreeze has a pleasant taste. Unfortunately, very small amounts can be lethal. As little as one teaspoon of antifreeze can be deadly to a cat; less than four teaspoons can be dangerous to a 10-pound dog. Thoroughly clean up any spills, store antifreeze in tightly closed containers and store in secured cabinets. Automotive products such as gasoline, oil and antifreeze should be stored in areas that are inaccessible to your pets. Propylene glycol is a safer form of antifreeze. Low Tox™ brand antifreeze contains propylene glycol and is recommended to use in pet households.
• If you think your pet has consumed antifreeze, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-4-ANI-HELP) right away!
• Liquid potpourris are popular household fragrances commonly used during the holiday season. Pets are often exposed to liquid potpourri by direct ingestion from simmer pots or spills, or by rubbing against leaky bottles or simmer pots containing the potpourri, or from spilling the containers upon themselves. Oral exposures result following grooming. Exposure of pets to some types of liquid potpourris can result in severe oral, dermal and ocular damage.
• Ice melting products can be irritating to skin and mouth. Depending on the actual ingredient of the ice melt and the quantity, signs of ingestion would include excessive drooling, depression, vomiting or even electrolyte imbalances.
• Rat and mouse killers are used more commonly during colder weather. When using rat and mouse bait, place the products in areas that are inaccessible to your companion animals.

Better Safe than Sorry

If you suspect that your pet has ingested something poisonous, seek medical attention immediately by contacting the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-4ANI-HELP) and by calling your veterinarian.

Referenced from VeterinaryPartner.com

Many of us have heard that chocolate is a no-no for our dogs and can be toxic. If you’re wondering what that means for our furry friends when they indulge while we’re not watching and when to be alarmed, then here’s the scoop…

What makes chocolate toxic to dogs?
While fat and sugar in chocolate can cause upset stomach, it is the compound Theobromine which can cause more serious and even life threatening side effects. Theobromine is most concentrated in baking chocolate, making this type of chocolate the worst for pets, followed by semisweet and dark chocolate. Milk chocolate has a lower concentration of Theobromine, followed by chocolate flavored treats being the least likely to cause chocolate toxicity.

Clinical signs of Chocolate Toxicity include:

Vomiting
Diarrhea
Hyperactivity
Tremors
Seizures
Racing heart rhythm progressing to abnormal rhythms
Death in severe cases
Treatment

There is no specific antidote for Theobromine. If chocolate toxicity is suspected, call your veterinarian immediately for treatment recommendations. If the chocolate was just eaten within 2 hours, your veterinarian may suggest inducing vomiting. If more time has passed, hospitalization and supportive treatment is likely needed until the chocolate has worked its way out of the system, which can take several days.

(From VeterinaryParnter.com) Here is a helpful chart to guide you

 A safe and happy holiday season from All Creatures Veterinary Care Center!

Have you been spotting ticks on your pet this summer? Well you are not alone. It seems like each year ticks seem more numerous, and our regions’ damp, dense woods make the area a perfect breeding ground for these external pests.

Ticks are skin parasites that feed on the blood of their hosts. The longer an infective tick feeds, the greater the chance of infection. A tick must be attached for 48 hours in order to transmit Lyme disease. Ticks can transmit diseases to pets and humans that the ticks contract from a previous host. While Lyme disease is one that most people have heard about, other diseases such as Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever can also be transmitted.

Some infected animals will not show any signs of disease, while others develop symptoms including lethargy, decreased appetite, painful joints, lymph node swelling and fever. If not treated, canine Lyme disease can cause severe kidney damage. When Lyme is detected early and treated with antibiotics, pets recover quickly. If you suspect your pet has been infected, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Pet store brand tick collars, dips, and topical prevention treatments may help somewhat but the most effective and safest way to control tick infestation is to prevent ticks from attaching with a prescription-strength flea and tick preventative. Ticks are most active in the spring, summer and fall; however, some species are even active in the winter, so year-round protection is best.

To protect your dog, All Creatures Veterinary Care Center recommends year-round use of Frontline, annual blood screenings and, in addition, an annual Lyme disease vaccination if you live in a high-risk area. We also recommend that you conduct thorough tick checks by running your hands down your pets’ body during tick season.

Tips on how to remove ticks from VeterinaryPartner.com:

The safest way to remove a tick is to use rubbing alcohol and a pair of tweezers. Dab rubbing alcohol on the tick, and then use the tweezers to take hold of the tick as close to the dog’s skin as you can; pull slowly and steadily. Try not to leave the tick’s head embedded in the dog’s skin. Don’t squeeze the tick because it might inject some disease-causing organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, or other agents, into the animal during the process. Risk of disease transmission to you, while removing ticks, is low but you should wear gloves if you wish to be perfectly safe. Do not apply hot matches, petroleum jelly, turpentine, nail polish, or just rubbing alcohol alone (the tick must be pulled out after application of alcohol) because these methods do not remove the ticks and they are not safe for your pet. Once you have removed a live tick, don’t dispose of it until you have killed it. Put the tick in alcohol or insecticide to kill it.

While your dog may be wonderful at home with you and your family and even other home pets, this is certainly no guarantee that your pet will be a good fit for the dog park.  Many dogs do not mean to be aggressive, but become fearful of other dogs and can display aggression as a result.  The first step is to ensure that your pet is friendly with other dogs and people, and does not display fear or aggression toward other dogs in unfamiliar environments.

Before visiting the dog park with your dog, give him a chance to spend time around other dogs in different situations so that you have a good idea of how he will react.  If your dog is not friendly with others, get help to change his behavior before you consider visiting the dog park.  Also, be sure that your pet will come to you when called for, no matter how distracted, so that you are always in control of the situation.  Here are a few more tips:

1.  Know the risks – Dog parks serve as reservoirs for many viruses and parasites since dog owners do not always clean up after their dogs promptly.  Fecal matter, left on the ground, can transmit many diseases, including roundworms, hookworms, Giardia, and Parvovirus, a life threatening virus that causes vomiting, diarrhea and massive damage to gastrointestinal tract. Your dog may also become exposed to air-borne viruses such as kennel cough, canine influenza, and even distemper virus.  Because of these disease concerns, puppies under 6-months old, as well as older or ill dogs should never be taken to the dog park.

2.  Take preventative measures – before visiting the dog park with your dog, make sure to visit your veterinarian who can ensure that your dog is up to date on all core vaccinations and can also provide an effective flea and tick preventative.  Microchipping and spaying/neutering your pet may also be discussed at that time. Regular visits for physical examinations and fecal screenings will help catch and treat infections promptly before they cause major harm.

3.  Where to go? – So your dog is healthy and strong and you have decided it’s time to visit the dog park. The best way to choose a dog park for you and your friend is by visiting several local parks without your pet first to scope out the environment, the park rules, and the visitors.  Check that other visitors are practicing safety and cleanliness with their dogs.  Find out when the slowest days/times are for your first visit with your dog.

4.  Take it slow – During your first few visits, if you are not completely comfortable with how your dog might react, don’t be afraid to muzzle your dog. Introduce your dog to other dogs gradually, staying around the entry area with your dog and allowing him to sniff other dogs before entering the park. Don’t let your dog threaten other dogs and don’t let other dogs threaten your dog – if this occurs, leave the area immediately.  Most importantly, supervise your dog at all times.

Have a safe and enjoyable time!

Your friends at All Creatures Veterinary Care Center

In summertime, the living isn’t always easy for our animal friends. Dogs and cats can suffer from the same problems that humans do, such as overheating, dehydration and even sunburn. By taking some simple precautions, you can celebrate the season and keep your pets happy and healthy.
Tips from The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

•A visit to the veterinarian for a spring or early summer check-up is a must; add to that a test for heartworm, if your dog isn’t on year-round preventive medication. Do parasites bug your animal companions? Ask your doctor to recommend a safe, effective flea and tick control program.
•Never leave your pet alone in a vehicle—hyperthermia can be fatal. Even with the windows open, a parked automobile can quickly become a furnace in no time. Parking in the shade offers little protection, as the sun shifts during the day.
•Always carry a gallon thermos filled with cold, fresh water when traveling with your pet.
•The right time for playtime is in the cool of the early morning or evening, but never after a meal or when the weather is humid.
•Street smarts: When the temperature is very high, don’t let your dog standing on hot asphalt. His or her body can heat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can burn. Keep walks during these times to a minimum.
•A day at the beach is a no-no, unless you can guarantee a shaded spot and plenty of fresh water for your companion. Salty dogs should be rinsed off after a dip in the ocean.
•Provide fresh water and plenty of shade for animals kept outdoors; a properly constructed doghouse serves best. Bring your dog or cat inside during the heat of the day to rest in a cool part of the house.
•Be especially sensitive to older and overweight animals in hot weather. Brachycephalic or snub-nosed dogs such as bulldogs, pugs, Boston terriers, Lhasa apsos and shih tzus, as well as those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.
•When walking your dog, steer clear of areas that you suspect have been sprayed with insecticides or other chemicals. And please be alert for coolant or other automotive fluid leaking from your vehicle. Animals are attracted to the sweet taste, and ingesting just a small amount can be fatal. Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 if you suspect that your animal has been poisoned.
•Good grooming can stave off summer skin problems, especially for dogs with heavy coats. Shaving the hair to a one-inch length—never down to the skin, please, which robs Rover of protection from the sun—helps prevent overheating. Cats should be brushed often.
•Do not apply any sunscreen or insect repellent product to your pet that is not labeled specifically for use on animals. Ingestion of sunscreen products can result in drooling, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy. The misuse of insect repellent that contains DEET can lead to neurological problems.
•Having a backyard barbecue? Always keep matches, lighter fluid, citronella candles and insect coils out of pets’ reach.
•Please make sure that there are no open, unscreened windows or doors in your home through which animals can fall or jump.
•Stay alert for signs of overheating in pets, which include excessive panting and drooling and mild weakness, along with an elevated body temperature.

With the spring and Easter holiday here, dog and cat owners should be aware that many household and landscape plants pose a severe health hazard to their pets.
 
The toxin in Easter lilies (Lilium longiflorum), is so potent that just one ingested leaf or flower poses a risk of kidney failure and ultimately, death.  Symptoms can start within a couple hours after ingestion, beginning with vomiting, depression and loss of appetite.  Kidney failure follows about 48 hours later.
 
If you suspect that your cat has ingested Easter lily flowers or leaves, your pet should be taken to the hospital immediately to initiate therapy. Time is of essence and will determine the outcome.  If hospitalization with supportive therapy is started before kidney failure begins, the odds of recovery are much better.   Easter lilies are not known to be toxic to dogs.
 
Daffodils (Narcissus), a member of the lily family, are extremely toxic to dogs and cats.  All parts of the plant are toxic, with the bulb containing the most concentrated toxins. Just one bulb can be lethal!
 
Symptoms can start as soon as 15 minutes after ingestion, and include vomiting, diarrhea, severe weakness, salivation, and even collapse. Treatment must be initiated as soon as possible.
 
Azaleas are a member of the Rhododendron family, and are toxic to both dogs and cats. Signs of toxicity can become evident just hours after ingestion and include vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, drooling, and in extreme cases collapse. 
 
A complete list of toxic plants can be viewed here:
 
http://www.aspca.org/Pet-care/poison-control/Plants.aspx
 
A safe and happy Easter to all of our clients and patients!

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