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Beat the heat - how to keep pets safe this summer!

5/15/2018

9 Comments

 
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Spring went by in the blink of an eye this year and it's HOT outside. Here are 3 tips to keep your 4-legged friends cool and comfortable - and out of the emergency room.

#1: NEVER - and I mean NEVER EVER - leave your pet in the car
I know you're only running into the store for 1 thing and it'll just take a minute, you promise. Or you just need to sign your kid out from school. But then there's a line at checkout or your kid has to say goodbye to her friend - and your dog has now collapsed in the back seat. Don't believe me? A quick google search finds hundreds of news stories of dogs (and children) killed in cars - including highly trained police K-9's and well-meaning owners who knew the danger, left the a/c running, but still lost their pets when it malfunctioned. Contrary to popular belief, cracking the windows has minimal effect on the temperature inside the car.
Heat stroke is real, and I don't want to treat it this summer. While in the best case we can revive our furry friend, most of the time their organs have shut down and we can't get them back.  Too many dogs have died inside cars. Don't let yours join the list. 

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#2: Provide relief from the heat
Bring dogs and cats inside with you during the heat of the day. If you're enjoying that a/c, chances are your pet will enjoy laying on the vents. When outside, provide shade and plenty of cool water to drink. Many dogs won't drink once their water gets hot, so change the water frequently and use ice cubes to help keep it cool longer. Dogs out on tethers can get tangled and trapped out in the sun, so make sure they are supervised and have access to shade and greenery. ​ Kiddie pools with water and even ice can be a fun backyard water activity for dogs as well as humans.
A note on grooming: unless you own a breed that is routinely shaved, resist the temptation to shave your dog for the summer. Brushing to remove matts and dead hair, including the undercoat in double-coated dogs, allows air to circulate under the guard hairs of the coat and actually keeps your pet cooler than being shaved. It also protects against sunburn.  Dogs with sparse fur on their noses or ears can benefit from sunscreen. There are pet-specific products available, or pick a human one with broad spectrum (both UVA and UVB) that does NOT contain zinc. If your dog licks too much of the zinc sunscreen it can cause anemia.

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#3: Plan your day around the weather
Snub-nosed dog owners, take heed. Bulldogs, pugs, and Boston terriers are especially susceptible to overheating because of their narrow airways, but any overweight or older pet is also at risk. Take your walks in the early morning or late evening, and avoid exercise in the heat of the day. 
Think about the ground - remember the last time you walked barefoot on a hot sandy beach? Asphalt roads and concrete sidewalks can heat up under the summer sun and cause burns to your pup's unprotected feet. Plan for morning excursions before the temperatures get too high, or choose grassy paths that are less likely to be scorching hot.

With these 3 tips, you and your pets can enjoy a safe and active summer. Enjoy!

9 Comments

How to have a safe Easter

3/22/2018

0 Comments

 
Spring is here! Well, at least according to the calendar - someone better tell the weather! But here are a couple reminders to keep your dogs and cats safe during Easter festivities.
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​Easter Lilies - true lilies are incredibly toxic to cats who chew on them. All parts of the plant are toxic, and even drinking water from the vase can be dangerous. These cause kidney failure and can be fatal. If there is any chance your cat was exposed to a lily, don't wait. The sooner your veterinarian starts decontamination and fluid therapy the better your cat's chances of surviving the poison. 
The most dangerous lilies are:
  • Tiger lilies
  • Day lilies
  • Asiatic hybrid lilies
  • Japanese show lilies
  • Easter lilies
  • Rubrum lilies
  • Stargazer lilies
  • Red lilies
  • Western lilies
  • Wood lilies

Peace lilies and calla lilies can cause local mouth irritation but won't cause the fatal kidney damage. If your cat is drooling after chewing on one of these, offer some milk or chicken broth to help your cat flush out her mouth.
Easter grass - curious cats and puppies can chew and swallow the plastic grass, potentially resulting in GI obstruction and requiring surgery to remove. They are especially tempted by baskets with goodies hidden in the grass and can accidentally swallow the plastic strands in their search for other treats.
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Chocolate - dark chocolate is the most dangerous, but any chocolate can be harmful if the cat or dog is small enough. So count those plastic eggs before and after the hunt!
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Symptoms of chocolate toxicity include vomiting, diarrhea, nervousness, fast heart rate, and seizures. 

Did your pet eat some chocolate? Go to the chocolate toxicity meter at www.petmd.com
 for an easy to use calculator to see if your pet needs medical treatment. 
Easter lunch - pets who get special treats (especially ham or bacon) or get into the holiday trash are at risk for pancreatitis, a painful illness that causes vomiting and can require intensive care.
Never give your dog the bone after the meal - it can break teeth or fracture into shards that can cut the stomach.
Desserts sweetened with xylitol will cause dangerous blood sugar drops in pets. (And while we're on xylitol, check your peanut butter. Some brands now use it as the sweetener, so you'd never want to hide a pill in it for your pet.)
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Lastly, remember that baby chicks and bunnies do not make good gifts. They require years of proper care, so make sure you are truly committed and have done your research before making that impulse buy.
So now that you're forewarned, break out the eggs and have a safe Easter for the whole family!
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6 Winter Pet Care Tips

1/11/2018

2 Comments

 
Winter temperatures, snow, and ice can pose hazards for our pets. But with a few easy steps you can keep your furry, feathered, or scaley friends safe and comfortable and still get out and enjoy the great outdoors.
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1. Dress them up
Small and older dogs will probably want to spend less time outside in the cold weather, so let their behavior guide you on your excursions and return indoors if you see shivering or lifting up their feet. Short-coated animals may appreciate a coat when going outside to play or eliminate. Fleece is a good material that holds warmth and dries quickly, and wool stays warm even when wet. If your dog picks up his feet a lot when outside, try booties. Booties will protect their feet from salt, ice, and snow. Avoid shaving your long-haired pet during the colder months of the year. Instead, let their fur grow to allow them to stay warm in a natural way. 

2. Wash Those Pads
During the winter, sidewalks, parking lots, and the streets are often covered in road salt and other chemicals to melt snow. These can irritate the skin of the paws, or cause nausea and mouth sores if licked off. Fur can trap icicles between the toes as well. Wash and dry or wipe off paws with a wet washcloth once you come back inside.  You can apply petroleum jelly to your pet’s pawpads if they become dry or cracked.

3. Provide shelter
A snug house with straw, heated beds, and heated water bowls provide shelter from the elements to outdoor animals, whether cat, dog, rabbit, or chicken. Check any electric components daily to make sure they're functioning and decrease risk of electrical fire. Outdoor pets may need some extra food to maintain their weight since they're burning more calories to keep warm. Lastly, winter is a good time to evaluate your reptile's habitat - make sure humidity and temperature labels are appropriate for the species and your pet's winter needs. Hibernating or brumating creatures should have their weight checked regularly to make sure their metabolism has slowed correctly.
   
4. Avoid Antifreeze
Antifreeze has a sweet taste and is very tempting to dogs and cats - but extremely poisonous. It causes kidney failure and death if not treated quickly. Keep pets away from stored antifreeze and avoid any contact with leaked antifreeze until the area is properly cleaned. If you think your pet may have been exposed to antifreeze,  seek veterinary care immediately. Signs of antifreeze poisoning include: drunken behavior, wobbling or falling over, lethargy, vomiting, change to urination (too much and then later too little), diarrhea, and depression.
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5. Check those cars
Outdoor cats can find their way under the hood of a parked car to seek warmth and shelter.  Banging on your hood before you start your car can wake up any sleeping cats and gives them the chance to make a quick exit. Be just as cautious about leaving your pet unattended in the car in the cold weather as in the heat - heat stroke gets all the publicity, but a cold car can cause hypothermia in a small or short-coated pet.


6. Keep up the exercise
Just because it's cold outside doesn't mean you can't have fun! Take walks in wooded areas that are more sheltered from the wind. Play indoor games with your pets, teach them new tricks, find agility or flyball classes, or invite friends with pets over for a playdate. All these will give you and your pet some much needed mental stimulation and can help stave off those winter blues.
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By doing what you can to keep your animals warm, protect their feet, and avoid toxins, you can make sure winter is just as enjoyable for your pets as it is for you. 
2 Comments

The common pet toxins you have in your house

5/15/2017

1 Comment

 
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I'm speaking from personal experience here - my own dog has gotten into the pantry and tried to poison himself - twice - with raisins. Each time I've had to make him vomit with hydrogen peroxide, take him to the clinic,  and give him activated charcoal and lots of extra fluids. Thankfully he's fine, but learn from my mistakes: keep all these items well away from your pets!

1. Chocolate (and coffee) - the darker the bar, the more toxic. Chocolate can cause vomiting/diarrhea, agitation, and seizures. It becomes most dangerous in large quantities, so smaller dogs are most at risk for the toxic effects (or large dogs who eat entire bars).

2. Raisins/Grapes/Currants - not all dogs and not all raisins, but they can cause fatal kidney damage so need quick treatment. We don't know exactly what the toxic compound is and we can't predict which dogs will be affected, so the safest course is to decontaminate as quickly as possible and support the kidneys with fluids.

3. Onions - cause damage to the liver and red blood cells. Avoid both cooked or raw onions.

4. Xylitol (found in sugar-free gum, baked goods, and some peanut butter) - causes our pets' blood sugar to drop dangerously low because they release a flood of insulin in response to the xylitol. It can lead to coma and even death. Exposure often requires hospitalization and IV dextrose support until the blood sugar returns to normal.
Easter lilies are bad for cats


​5. Lilies - all parts of the plant are toxic to cats and cause injury to the kidneys when the cat chews on it. Prompt hospitalization and fluid support can flush the toxins out of the system and minimize the kidney damage.


6. Human pain relievers - do not give any over-the-counter human pain relievers to your pets without talking to your vet! Too often well-intentioned owners give their limping animal a dose (or several) of their own medication, and we have to then treat the pet for poisoning on top of the injured limb. The amount of injury to your pet will increase with higher dosages of these medications, but not even the children's versions are safe. Acetominophen (Tylenol) will irreversibly damage the red blood cells in cats and cause liver damage in dogs. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) can cause stomach ulcers and severe kidney damage in both cats and dogs. 
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So, what to do in case of exposure?
If you know your pet has eaten any of these items recently, induce vomiting at home with hydrogen peroxide (ask us for a dose before this happens so you know what to do in an emergency). Then call us so we can get your pet the treatment needed as soon as possible to hopefully prevent serious injury. Remember - an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure - keep these away from your pets!
1 Comment

How to keep pets safe in winter cold

1/16/2017

2 Comments

 
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Winter temperatures, snow, and ice can pose hazards for our pets. But with a few easy steps you can keep your furry (or feathered, or scaly) friends safe and comfortable and still get out and enjoy the great outdoors.

1. Provide shelter
A snug house with straw, heated beds, and heated water bowls provide shelter from the elements to outdoor animals, whether cat, dog, rabbit, or chicken. Check any electric components daily to make sure they're functioning and decrease risk of electrical fire. Short-coated indoor animals may appreciate a coat when going outside to play or eliminate.  Avoid shaving your long-haired pet during the colder months of the year. Instead, let their fur grow to allow them to stay warm in a natural way. Lastly, winter is a good time to evaluate your reptile's habitat - make sure humidity and temperature labels are appropriate for the species and your pet's winter needs. 

2. Wash Those Pads
During the winter, sidewalks, parking lots, and the streets are often covered in road salt and other chemicals to melt snow. These can irritate the skin of the paws, or cause nausea and mouth sores if licked off. Dog shoes can protect their paws, but your pet might not find them very comfortable. Instead, wipe off their paws with a wet washcloth once you come back inside. You can apply petroleum jelly to your pet’s pawpads if they become dry or cracked.   

3. Avoid Antifreeze
Antifreeze has a sweet taste and is very tempting to dogs and cats - but extremely poisonous. It causes kidney failure and death if not treated quickly. Keep pets away from stored antifreeze and avoid any contact with leaked antifreeze until the area is properly cleaned. If you think your pet may have been exposed to antifreeze,  seek veterinary care immediately. Signs of antifreeze poisoning include: drunken behavior, wobbling or falling over, lethargy, vomiting, change to urination (too much and then later too little), diarrhea, and depression. 


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By doing what you can to keep your animals warm, protect their feet, and avoid toxins, you can make sure winter is just as enjoyable for your pets as it is for you. 

Photos Maja Dumat and M C Morgan www.flickr.com

2 Comments

Holiday Hazards

12/6/2016

0 Comments

 
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1. Decorations
Dogs and cats love to explore new things, usually with their mouths. So keep decor, tinsel, and garlands up and out of reach, or block access by your climbing kitty. Your ornaments will thank you, and your pet won't shock him or herself by chewing on the electric light cord or swallow something that gets stuck. Lilies, holly, and mistletoe are toxic to pets, so keep them out of reach as well.

2. Sweets
Baking chocolate, macadamia nuts, raisins, and the artificial sweetener xylitol can all be dangerous for our pets. If you think your pet may have eaten any of these, call us right away. We may need to have you induce vomiting at home depending on how much your pet has eaten.  
3. Gift Wrap
Small pets often like to play with wrapping paper, bows, and ribbons. Supervized play is fine - just make sure they don't get tangled up, stuck inside, or swallow any of the material.

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4. Feasts
Sometimes those feasts are unintentional... but we do like to spoil our pets around the holidays. A little bit of lean cooked meat makes a great treat. Just beware that too rich a meal can cause a painful condition called pancreatitis. If your pet vomits, has decreased appetite, or seems lethargic, seek veterinary care. 
0 Comments

5 Toxins to Watch Out for this Fall

11/14/2016

0 Comments

 
As the cooler weather sets in, here are some things to watch out for to keep your pets healthy this fall.
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1. Rat poisons
Rats and mice like to move indoors during the cool fall weather, so people are more likely to use baits to kill them this time of year. There are different types that cause different sets of symptoms in our family pets. Watch for: weakness, lethargy, vomiting, coughing blood, difficulty breathing, tremors, seizures, and even death. If you have rodents in your home, we advise the snare or glue traps as safer alternatives to the poisons.

2. Chocolate 
​Hello holiday baking! Dark and baking chocolates contain the most theobromine, a compound toxic to dogs. Symptoms include: agitation, racing heart rate, panting, vomiting, and diarrhea. Milk chocolate is less toxic, but smaller dogs are still at risk.
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3. Compost/mulch piles
​Compost piles can grow certain molds that are toxic to dogs. Signs that your pet has eaten these dangerous mycotoxins include: tremors, seizures, agitation, incoordination, drooling, vomiting, and panting. So make sure that compost pile is secured away from your pets.

4. Mushrooms
​Most mushrooms are harmless, but there are a few (like the amanitas) that are incredibly harmful. The safest plan is not to allow your pet to chew on any backyard mushrooms. Symptoms include: drooling, vomiting, weakness, tremors, seizures, and even death.
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5. Mothballs
The original napthalene mothballs are the most toxic, but even the newer chemical ones can cause illness. If ingested, your pet can experience lethargy, vomiting, pain, tremors, and changes to their red blood cells. Keep closets and chests containing mothballs securely closed to avoid pet snooping.
If you think your pet has been exposed to any of these poisonous substances, call us and the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 so we can start treatment right away. Not all of these poisons are curable, but with quick intervention many lives can be saved.

Images and subject matter credit the Pet Health Network - Dr. Justine Lee
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Montgomery Animal Hospital

7670 Montgomery Rd
Cincinnati, OH 45236
Phone: (513) 791-7912
AAHA, veterinarian, animal hospital, pet hospital

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Your pet care needs occurring after  business hours can be addressed by one of the local veterinary emergency hospitals.
  • MedVet (Fairfax): (513) 561-0069, 3964 Red Bank Rd.
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