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