Halloween Season Pet's Ghouls and Goblins!

Apple picking, hayrides, Jack-o-lanterns, costumes and trick-or-treat candy. Happy Halloween! The following tips can help keep our loyal family pet safe. Fido and Fancy will fair beautifully, given their own space and no opportunity to share in the sweet edibles (and wrappers) gleaned from our children’s ghoulish adventures.

CHOCOLATE: Delicious to us, toxic to our pets due to theobromine, a type of methylxanthine. Darker chocolates cause more harm than milk or white chocolate. Symptoms vary from vomiting and diarrhea to irregular heart rhythms and seizures. Dogs’ powerful noses allow them to uncover unopened bags and boxes of chocolates in places owners would otherwise consider inaccessible. Chocolate is a powerful motivator: caution!

CANDY: High sugar and fat may cause significant imbalance to the digestive system, including the pancreas. Owners may see diarrhea (possibly with blood), vomiting, abdominal pain and fever. Symptoms may be immediate or delayed by a couple of days.  

CANDY WRAPPERS, RIBBON, PACKAGING: Packing materials may cause blockages in the stomach and intestinal tract, a potentially life threatening condition. Symptoms may include vomiting, decreased energy, no stool production and decreased appetite.

RAISINS: Raisins and grapes may create significant kidney damage. Good for your kids, bad for your pets! Please keep raisin treat bags away from your cats and dogs. If known ingestion occurs, please call your veterinarian immediately. Do not wait for symptoms to occur. Symptoms may include vomiting, decreased appetite, discomfort, kidney failure.  

XYLITOL: Present in many sugar-free gums and in low-calorie snacks, xylitol may cause kidney damage and failure, significant abdominal discomfort, severe low blood sugar and liver damage. 

GLOW STICKS: Cats! Cats are especially attracted to glow sticks (as are some dogs). The contents may cause pain and irritation of their mouths if they puncture the stick. Though not life threatening, exposure would likely cause profuse drooling and foaming at the mouth, and a big mess!

Early detection and treatment are the key elements in speedy recoveries.  

We like to err on the side of caution; it pays to be aware of potential hazards. There are several levels of care, from simple vigilance, to online research, to phone support, to veterinarian care. You are your pet’s caregiver, and we hope we have provided some valuable information to file away during this fun time of year.

If you cannot contact your regular veterinarian, consider calling the National Animal Poison Control Center (1-800-548-2423; $65 per call) to speak directly with a veterinary poison specialist. Of course, have the contact information for your pet’s primary doctor on hand for ease of access.  

Happy Halloween to all!

Courtesy of: 
Norwich Regional Animal Hospital
Jennifer Lesser, DVM
www.norwichanimal.com, 802.296.CARE (2273)

September 28 is World Rabies Awareness Day: How to Prevent This Killer Disease

What would you do if you found your dog outside fighting with a raccoon? Or if you found your inside-only cat playing with a dying bat inside your home? You might think that these are uncommon occurrences, but these scenarios do happen and could have a deadly outcome. Rabies remains a major concern worldwide, killing more than 55,000 people every year.

Rabies is a disease we usually think of as having well under control with vaccines, but despite mandatory vaccines for all pets, hundreds of cats, dogs, horses, and other domestic animals contract this killer each year. The deadly disease seems to emerge each spring and summer as a problem in foxes, raccoons, skunks and bats and can be transmitted to pets and people through contact with their saliva. Rabies is a very scary disease because it is fatal to both people and unvaccinated pets. The good news is with vaccination, rabies is almost 100% preventable in our animals and with some common sense precaution when it comes to wildlife. 

Vaccination of your animals is the best way to prevent rabies. Vermont state law requires that all dogs and cats be vaccinated for rabies. If your pet is not vaccinated and fights with an unknown wild animal (or even a confirmed rabid one), your pet will be required to be quarantined for six months. Please remember that your unvaccinated pet can infect you and your family and that rabies is always fatal to our unvaccinated pets. There is no treatment and the only way to test for rabies in our pets is to examine a post-mortem sample of brain tissue.

Never assume that your "indoor" only pet is safe from rabies, either. Bats, the largest reservoir of rabies virus in North America, can easily find their way into homes. Attracted to their fluttering flight or a dying bat on the floor, our pets, especially cats, risk exposure. And, since bat bites are almost undetectable due to their size, you might miss the fact that your pet has been bitten.

Finally, always contact an animal control officer or wildlife expert if you see a wild animal acting strangely. Wild animals are just that: they avoid humans and should run away when they see you. Most are active at night, too. So if you see a wild animal in your yard that doesn't appear to be afraid of you, especially in broad daylight, or if it is acting strangely, do not attempt to capture the animal on your own. Keep your pets inside so they are not exposed, and call animal control.  It is especially important that cats that spend a significant time outdoors, and thus may come in contact with wild animals without the knowledge of the owner, be fully vaccinated. 

For more information including a county-by-county summary of rabies cases in Vermont, go to http://healthvermont.gov/prevent/rabies/Rabies.aspx or call the Rabies hotline at 1-802-223-8697.

By M. Kathleen Shaw, DVM

Vermont Veterinary Medical Association

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The Vermont Veterinary Medical Association (VVMA), founded in 1898, is a professional organization of over 330 veterinarians dedicated to compassionate animal care and quality medicine.  For more information, visit www.vtvets.org or call (802) 878-6888. 

Ridgelines & Below: Keeping Your Dog Safe and His Tail Wagging!

by Dr. Jennifer Lesser, DVM

First appearing in 4 Legs and a Tail, Fall 2014 Issue

Moosilauke, Cube, Cardigan and Smart’s Mountain trails. Footfalls on rocks and trodden earth, birds chattering, breeze blowing. Is your dog your most loyal and frequent hiking partner? Our community is rich with routes that navigate open ridge lines and narrow lush paths. Our dogs love them as much as we do! This article serves to review safety tips in keeping your dog safe, as well as to outline components of a solid canine first aid kit.

Before leaving the house, consider the needs of your companion.

Exercise tolerance: are they up for a 12 mile day on the trail or do they become winded after 2 miles? Also, does your friend have age limitations? Are they a growing puppy that requires caution of mileage that’s added to those growing joints? Is your dog becoming a bit arthritic? I recommend giving pain medications to many of our patients before and after the trip if they are subject to joint pain.

Pedicures and Haircuts: Another great precaution is to trim toenails before the hike (be careful - not too short!) to keep them from getting caught and tearing on the trail. Long haired breeds - consider a summer hair cut to avoid mats and burr accumulation, reduce the potential for “hot spots” and to aid in cooling. I generally do not recommend hair cuts for Arctic breeds as the regrowth is often terrible.

Food: If the trip requires food for you it likely requires food for your buddy. Bring their food or share some of your own; do not share trail mix that has either raisins or chocolate as both are toxic to dogs.

Water: Dogs pant! To maintain hydration and aid thermoregulation, please carry water for your dog as many natural water sources are unpredictable in volume and in safety. I love the collapsable water bowls by Ruffwear.

Consider the season: Summer has added concern for heat and humidity. Hunting season: your dog should wear a bright orange vest.

Wildlife: Keep an eye for porcupines and skunks. We share our woods with bears though there are generally very few close dog interactions.

Disease: Also, be sure to protect against the unseen dangers of Lyme and Leptospirosis diseases; vaccines are available. Lyme is spread by ticks; Leptospirosis is spread via wildlife urine and may be found in free standing water. Both infections may cause serious, sometimes life threatening, disease.

Almost nothing can ruin a day afield as much as an injured or sick dog companion. Following the precautions above work well to keep your dog happy and safe. As additional protection for lengthy trips (half day to many weeks), I recommend carrying a canine first aid kit. We have kits prepared for our wilderness inclined clients, complete with instruction, as the materials are only as effective as the medical provider. Also some commercial kits are available that may be modified per your needs. Our list details the recommended components to keep your canine friend safe:

Expanded Grooming Services

Our grooming services have expanded to include "By Breed" pricing. We recognize not all dogs are the same, and groomer Heidi Preston is able to accommodate any breed or size.                                                 
Call (802)296-2273 to schedule or talk to Heidi regarding your best friend's grooming appointment.

Feline Friendly Vet Visits

Morris gets a little curious when you bring out the pet carrier.

Visiting your cat's vet can be a positive excursion. At NOAH, we work with clients to reduce fear and emphasize comfort. Read Dr. Lesser's recommendations below. With some planning and extra attention, seeing Fluffy's doctor can be a pleasant experience.

Before the Vet

Getting Fluffy comfortable seeing the vet begins before you schedule an appointment. From the moment you get her, make sure she is comfortable being handled. Perform regular "check-ups" at home, so she gets used to the procedure of an exam. You don't really have to know what you're looking for, just hold her and do a paw-to-paw feel, including looking into her ears, nose, and mouth if possible. Check her paws for cuts or scrapes, hang nails, and in general, get your feline comfortable with handling.

The SleepyPod, cat bed & carrier.

The crate is often the first sign to your cat that something she doesn't like is about to happen. From the start, get her comfortable with the carrier. Leave it out and open for her to explore and sleep in. If you don't own a carrier, our clinic usually has one available to borrow, though we do recommend getting one for her to call her own. We recommend carriers that open from the top. A specialty carrier, called the SleepyPod, receives high marks from us! The carrier also doubles as a bed, so she will feel much safer with the familiar scent and surroundings.

The Trip

Some cats love riding in cars. Some, simply, do not. No matter where Tigger falls on this scale, we always recommend keeping him contained and safe when traveling in the car. Like the carrier, have Tigger get used to a car before you need to take him anywhere. Start by leaving the carrier door open and letting him explore. Once he's had a chance to check it out, build his familiarity by taking him on short drives, starting with something down the block and eventually building in duration. Consider stopping by your vet's office to explore the exam room, to show him that some visits may be fun with toys and treats. We welcome the visit and are happy to help show Tigger that there's nothing to be afraid of.

Paws loves going for a joyride.

Getting Tigger comfortable with a car ride will mean he's nice and calm once you arrive at a vet appointment, giving us a better opportunity to provide a comprehensive exam.

The Appointment

To minimize over stimulating him, drape Tigger's carrier in a blanket or towel from home. You can spray it with a calming feline pheromone made to mimic the pheromones that cats release when they rub up against someone or something. We use and recommend Feliway, which is available in spray or a full room diffuser.

Once in his exam room, remove the towel or blanket and place the carrier on the floor with the door open. Our nurses and vets know that it is easier to work with a cat who is calm and has come out of their carrier on their own. We encourage cat owners to let Tigger out of his carrier and let him inspect the room before our nurses or doctors enter. This gives him a chance to acclimate to a room with someone he feels most comfortable with: you.

During the exam, it's best to have Tigger examined where he is most comfortable. That could be your lap, on the floor, on a bench or perch, or if Tigger chooses to not come out of his carrier, the top can be removed. The rest of the exam can continue while Tigger remains in his bedding in the bottom half. It's also best to take Tigger out of his carrier only once. Each time he will want to become acclimated to the room and the activity of going back and forth may increase his anxiety.

Dr. Lesser performs a check-up on Sasha.

When being examined, allow Tigger to remain in a natural position, keeping him as calm as possible. Some underweight cats or older cats with arthritis prefer to be on thick padding or cloth beneath them, rather than the cold, hard surface of an examining table. This is why our clinic's tables have a cushioned mat for Tigger to sit on, making the examination much more comfortable.

General tips

Throughout the whole process, stay calm and speak in a calm voice. Move slowly with the fewest changes in her environment. Some cats are particularly fearful of travel and/or being examined. For those patients, we recommend anti-anxiety and motion sickness medication to make the trip pleasant.

We hope this information helps ease some concerns over scheduling your cat's next vet visit. When your cat visits our clinic, our staff and nurses are trained to make them feel welcome and comfortable. From including the owner in the examination process to keeping a feline exam room with a Feliway pheromone diffuser, we take pride in how we treat our patients and always hope your cat's visit is a pleasant one.

A healthy Trixie is a happy Trixie.

Contributors:
Dr. Jennifer Lesser, DVM
Norwich Regional Animal Hospital, White River Junction, VT
www.norwichanimal.com

Dr. Ilona Rodan, DVM, DABVP
Cat Care Clinic, Madison, WI

Animal Planet
www.animalplanet.com/pets/less-stressful-vet-visits.htm.

Outside Workers - Protect Yourself from Ticks!

We live in a beautiful area. Flowing rivers, rolling mountains, lush forests. Unfortunately, this environment is also home to many carriers of disease and illness. If your job requires you to spend any time outdoors this summer, make sure you protect yourself from one of the most common carriers of disease, ticks. We've seen an increase in ticks this year, on pets and humans alike. Follow these tips from the New Hampshire Division of Public Health Services, and give yourself the best chance of preventing Lyme and other diseases.

For clickable links, please visit the source material here.

No Bones About It!

"Some people think it's safe to give dogs large bones, like those from a ham or a roast," says Carmela Stamper, D.V.M., a veterinarian in the Center for Veterinary Medicine at the Food and Drug Administration. "Bones are unsafe no matter their size. Giving your dog a bone may make your pet a candidate for a trip to your veterinarian's office later, possible emergency surgery, or even death."

"Make sure you throw out bones from your own meals in a way that your dog can't get to them," adds Stamper, who suggests taking the trash out right away or putting the bones up high and out of your dog's reach until you have a chance to dispose of them. "And pay attention to where your dog's nose is when you walk him around the neighborhood--steer him away from any objects lying in the grass."

Here are 10 reasons why it's a bad idea to give your dog a bone:

1. Broken teeth: This may call for expensive veterinary dentistry.
2. Mouth or tongue injuries: These can be very bloody and messy, and may require a trip to see your veterinarian.
3. Bone gets looped around your dog's lower jaw: This can be frightening or painful for your dog and potentially costly to you, as it usually means a trip to see your veterinarian.
4. Bone gets stuck in esophagus, the tube that food travels through to reach the stomach: Your dog may gag, trying to bring the bone back up, and will need to see your veterinarian.
5. Bone gets stuck in windpipe: This may happen if your dog accidentally inhales a small enough piece of bone. This is an emergency because your dog will have trouble breathing. Get your pet to your veterinarian immediately.
6. Bone gets stuck in stomach: It went down just fine, but the bone may be too big to pass out of the stomach and into the intestines. Depending on the bone's size, your dog may need surgery or upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, a procedure in which your veterinarian uses a long tube with a built-in camera and grabbing tools to try to remove the stuck bone from the stomach.
7. Bone gets stuck in intestines and causes a blockage: It may be time for surgery.
8. Constipation due to bone fragments: Your dog may have a hard time passing the bone fragments because they're very sharp and they scrape the inside of the large intestine or rectum as they move along. This causes severe pain and may require a visit to your veterinarian.
9. Severe bleeding from the rectum: This is very messy and can be dangerous. It's time for a trip to see your veterinarian.
10. Peritonitis: This nasty, difficult-to-treat bacterial infection of the abdomen is caused when bone fragments poke holes in your dog's stomach or intestines. Your dog needs an emergency visit to your veterinarian because peritonitis can kill your dog.

"Talk with your veterinarian about alternatives to giving bones to your dog," says Stamper. "There are many bone-like products made with materials that are safe for dogs to chew on."

"Always supervise your dog with any chew product, especially one your dog hasn't had before," adds Stamper. "And always, if your dog 'just isn't acting right,' call your veterinarian right away!"

Find this and other Consumer updates at www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates

Information from the Food and Drug Administration.