Triangle Veterinary Referral Hospital Blog

A little hair in your tea?

2012-01-10T13:15:00.000-05:00

Did you know that there are cafes in Japan that you canvisit where you pay to sip tea and pet cats??? They are called Cat cafes andthey are extremely popular.

The first cat café opened in Taiwan in 1998. In Japan thefirst cat café opened in 2004. Now there are over 30 different cat cafes inJapan.

Some of the cafes cater to a certain type of cat like black cats or fatcats. The popularity of these café’s is due to most apartmentsforbidding animals, people working long days and not having time for their ownanimals. People tend to get very lonely so they will head over the cat cafesfor a little 4 legged interactions.

All cafes must obtain a license and comply with strictrequirements under the Animal Treatment/Protection laws. The cat cafes adhereto strict guidelines regarding cleanliness and the treatment of their cats.They have rules like letting the cats approach you, no children, and notdisturbing the cats while sleeping.

Coming soon near you?

Submitted by Beth Bardell

Cold Weather Safety for Dogs and Cats

2012-01-03T10:23:00.000-05:00

T he average temperature at night in North Carolina duringthe January month is 27 degrees Fahrenheit. Most dogs and cats stay inside during the cold nights but here are somehelpful tips on how to protect them if they do have to go outside.

Small dogs and dogs with thin hair coats should wear coatswhen going outside for walks during very cold temperatures. The best type of coat should be one that hasa high collar and covers from the base of the tail on top to the bellyunderneath. Sick or older dogs shouldonly be walked outside to do their business and then they should come rightback in. During winter months, ifpossible keep pet beds away from cold drafts and make sure older animals havewarm cozy beds or blankets to sleep on.

Here are a few tips if you take your dog on longer walks inthe winter months. Some dogs can have dry and sensitive paw pads. These becomeirritated when walking on cold concrete. You can spray a little cooking sprayon your dog’s paw pads just before you take them on a walk. Keep a bucket ofwarm water and clean cloths by the door for when you get back. You shouldalways wipe down paws when coming back from a walk. This will get any chemicalsoff paws that were picked up during the walk. Make sure to clean any snow orice out of your pet’s paws also when they get back so their feet do not becomeirritated.

Please remember that antifreeze and the salt that meltssidewalk ice is extremely toxic to animals. Pay very close attention to whatyour pet is doing while outside and do not let them drink any melted snow orwater.

The winter months can be a great time for animals.Remembering the above safety tips can make sure great months do not turn intodeadly months.

Submitted by Beth Bardell, TVRH

We've done it!

2011-01-12T22:47:00.003-05:00

Well, we’ve finally made it! We have moved into our new location and we can’t be more excited! We’ve been fairly busy moving these past few weeks but we are starting to get settled into our new location. We also have changed our name - we are now Triangle Veterinary Referral Hospital. Please don’t worry - we will still continue to offer 24 hour emergency care! We also offer our specialty services by appointment. Our phone number remains the same but please update our address in your phone, address book, GPS, etc before you need us! We are planning our Open House for the spring but if you want a sneak peak, just come on by!

Triangle Veterinary Referral Hospital
608 Morreene Rd
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 489-0615

Amost there!

2010-12-13T13:12:00.003-05:00

We're almost ready to move!

Why Endoscopy?

2010-10-21T13:14:00.000-04:00

ENDOSCOPY: The Non-surgical Way of Foreign Object Removal, and Obtaining a Diagnosis and Treatment of Various Diseases

Our pets supply us with an endless amount of love and affection, as well as many hours of joy and entertainment with their silly antics. Anyone who has a puppy or kitten (or an energetic adult pet) can attest that they are curious, and some of these antics involve swallowing things they should not. Pets will sometimes ingest the strangest things like toys, bones, clothing – including underwear & socks, string, plastic, and even fish hooks! Unfortunately, these objects do not always pass through the intestines, and as a result, obstructions can occur, and without treatment can lead to serious illness and even death. Obstructions are not the only life threatening consequence if your pet eats something it should not. Did you know that ingestion of just 1 penny made after 1982 can cause acute zinc toxicity as the penny degrades, and can kill a healthy animal?

Endoscopy means looking inside, and typically refers to looking inside the body for medical reasons using an endoscope. An endoscope is an instrument used to examine the interior of a hollow organ or body cavity. There are different types of endoscopes (fiberoptic and video endoscopes) that may be long and bendable, or sometimes rigid – both having flexible tips that allows the veterinarian to actually visualize what’s inside. An endoscope could be used to remove some ingested items from the esophagus, stomach, a small portion of the upper intestines, and even the trachea if the object is accidentally inhaled. Inhaled objects, in some instances, could obstruct your pet’s airway, or potentially migrate to the lungs, causing – as you could imagine, a myriad of health concerns, or even fatality. In the past, a surgical incision was required to remove all foreign objects. However, with medical advancement for both humans and animals, surgery is no longer the only option. Retrieving a foreign object with an endoscope is advantageous because a potentially life threatening obstruction can be removed without surgery, there is no pain or surgical incision, thereby shortening your pet’s period of recovery. Endoscopes also have channels that allow the doctor to pass various tools used to grasp or snare foreign objects. I’m sure we can all agree that endoscopes are wonderful tools for veterinarians, but it has its limitations. They are not able to remove all foreign objects, and your pet may still require surgery. For example, foreign objects stuck in the lower intestines cannot be reached by an endoscope or cats/dogs sometimes have ingested more than one object that has traveled past the stomach and the portion of the upper intestines that can actually be seen with an endoscope, and surgery is still required. However, despite these limitations, endoscopy should be considered to remove foreign objects before going to surgery.

Although retrieving an object our beloved pet has recently ingested is a great reason for an endoscopy, foreign object retrieval is far from its’ primary use. It is an excellent, non-invasive diagnostic tool that acts as the veterinarian’s “eyes” and it is also used for investigating gastrointestinal disorders. Biopsies can also be collected through the endoscope using special instruments, allowing for diagnosis of GI disorders, cancerous growths, polyps, and more. A common reason for endoscopy is to investigate chronic vomiting problems. Colonoscopy (an endoscopic procedure where the tube is inserted into the rectum) can be used to help diagnose large bowel disease. Pets requiring colonoscopy are typically fasted, and given a liquid orally to gently cleanse the colon to make viewing the walls of the intestine easier. Mild anesthesia is typically required to keep your pet relaxed and still during the endoscopic procedure; however, the amount of anesthesia and subsequent recovery time is far less than that required for a major surgical procedure.

Very few veterinarians are trained to perform endoscopic procedures. In fact, according to the October 2010, Volume 22 issue of Veterinary Practice News, “less than 5% of U.S. veterinarians are trained in the modality”. Triangle Veterinary Emergency Clinic (soon to become Triangle Veterinary Referral Hospital) is extremely proud to be among the few hospitals that provide this service. We understand that your pet is a well loved member of your family, and is honored to work alongside your primary veterinarian in their care. Triangle Veterinary Emergency Clinic wishes all of you the best, and if you need us, we are there every step of the way. Please ask us about the other services offered here at TVEC.

Leetrice N. Lynn

It's Veterinary Technician Week!

2010-10-11T15:44:00.002-04:00

The week of October 10^th through the 16^th is National Veterinary Technician Week. What does it mean to be a veterinary technician? Many of us consider ourselves pet “nurses”. We do many things that valued human nurses do and more. Veterinary Technicians wear many hats from holding pets for doctor exams to taking radiographs to treatments and procedures. When most clients meet a technician initially what they see is us holding an animal for the doctor’s exam. Behind the scenes it’s a whole other story.

Here at the emergency clinic, the technicians have quite a bit of responsibility because the doctors rely on us for help while they are busy seeing patients, writing records and figuring out the best treatment for the animal. For a typical patient that is staying in the hospital, the doctor will give us orders for what they want for the patient like blood work, x-rays, etc. Usually this will mean placing an intravenous catheter, drawing blood and running blood work, medications to be calculated and given, IV fluids to be given, getting supplies prepared to do a procedure like sewing up a laceration or unblocking a urine obstructed cat.

Do you ever wonder who does anesthesia for your pet during surgery, dental cleanings, or any procedure requiring sedation? Technicians do it all from setting up the OR, calculating drug doses, monitoring anesthesia, to recovering the patient post operatively. We don’t do the surgery however. We are also care givers because during this time it can be very scary for a pet. They are with people they don’t know, receiving drugs that make them sleepy then waking up in a strange place. We do our best to comfort them during this time. We are also care givers for the clients as well. Sometimes clients have to make very tough decisions regarding their pet and we try to make every situation as pleasant as possible.

Other technician responsibilities include walking patients, feeding, cleaning, and administering drugs, client education, discharge instructions, answering client’s questions and more. These are just a few things that technicians do. We enter this field of work because we love animals. It’s much more than playing with puppies and kittens. Many of us have a variety of our own pets. I have had the privilege of working with some of the most caring people I have ever met (doctors and receptionists included). To many people a pet is part of their family and the same is true for us. I treat patients the way I would like my own treated and so do my co-workers.

Being a veterinary technician is more than being a glorified holder. Veterinary technicians are an integral part of the veterinary team. Working alongside the doctors we try to provide the best possible care for our patients.

Michele Kendall, RVT

Do you feed your dog ham bones?

2010-09-20T15:23:00.009-04:00

I had an interesting case this weekend. Sandy presented with a ham bone caught on her lower jaw . In the first two pictures you will see the bone is completely around the lower jaw and caught behind both canines. Even with sedation, I had a very difficult time removing the bone and was considering cutting it with a bone saw when it finally managed to pop back over the canines. The last picture is Sandy (sedated) with the bone next to her.

I'm sure there are a large number of people that give bones to their dog without ever having a problem. When problems do occur, however, they can be serious. Take a look at the following warning from FDA’s website. Item number three specifically discusses Sandy’s condition as well as more serious problems that can occur with bones.

http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/ResourcesforYou/AnimalHealthLiteracy/ucm204796.htm

I do not recommend feeding any type of bone to dogs, especially since there are safer alternatives out there.

Jeffrey A. Nunez, DVM

A Letter of Thanks

2010-09-16T22:52:00.006-04:00

Below is a letter we received this past week - we wanted to share it with you because we appreciate the kind words. Working in this field can be very stressful and depressing at times - letters such as these remind us why we are here.

9/7/10

Mike Grafinger, DVM, DAVCS
Triangle Veterinary Emergency Clinic
3319 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd
Durham, NC 27707

Dear Dr. Grafinger,

Last tuesday as I got ready to go to work our 15 year old beagle, Sheba, fell off our deck 15 feet onto a flagstone path below. At 6 am in the morning our regular vet referred us to your clinic.

Like many of the animals you probably see, Sheba is a dear member of our family, growing up with our children, so gentle with our daughter Rae, who was 7, and in particular "raising" her boy Max from the time he was 10 and we got her as a puppy.

I heard the sickening thud as she hit the ground and the pitiful sounds that followed. As a physician myself, the images of broken bones, cord or neurologic injuries or internal bleeding that filled my mind as I tried to stabilize her spine and drive to your facility were distress beyond words. While she was breathing and even awake in my arms riding into Durham, with a fifteen year old dog the likelihood of choosing between suffering or euthanasia seemed almost inevitable.

I think you know the "miracle" or "ninja dog" story from there. Not a break or a bleed, hardly a bruise, home that same day with some IV hydration and off sedation in 48 hours. For the labor day weekend the kids were all home, and Sheba was her "old" self--I am attaching 2 pics of her on her favorite couch and with her boy.

It was my understanding that you are the owner of TVEC, and I am writing this email to you not only as the doctor who took over her care on day shift, but also on behalf of your facility. While I am sure you know in detail the comfort and support that your team provided to Sheba during her stay with you, I am writing to share with you how much the TVEC team meant to me and to our family during the 11 fearsome hours from arrival to discharge.

I particularly want to single out Dawn Lanza and the receptionist/technician who worked with her, a woman whose name I am sorry to say I did not get in the chaos of events. Quite literally from the moment I walked through the door of TVEC I was awash in a sense of compassion and competence. Sheba was briskly but lovingly taken into the back, and I was seated in the waiting area, filling out the basic forms. It seemed like Dr. Lanza came out every few minutes with an update, as well as with a brief and clear explanation of the next steps, from vital signs to x-rays, blood tests, IVs, and what each was intended to explore or reveal over the range of concerns for an elderly animal after this kind of fall. As she looked me straight in the eye with each of these encounters, I simply felt Blessed to have urgently plunged into the presence of a true health care partner, who seemed as able to do what had to be done first for Sheba, and yet remain so aware of her "family" in the waiting room.

As an interventional cardiologist for the past 3 decades, I have participated in a large number of acute care scenarios, from shock/trauma to acute cardiogenic shock and heart attacks. I know well that to be able to move briskly without giving the family or patient a sense of panic or a 'fire drill" in motion reflects a unique balance of experience, expertise and compassion. I can only say that if our emergency group at Duke Medical Center performed on a par with your team last tuesday am, I would be very proud of them.

I expect you get a lot of letters like this, judging from the kind of service you provide in the setting of veterinary emergencies. But all I can say, both as one doctor to another and as a family member from our entire family, is thank you all so very much for being there, for doing the kind of work that you do, and for taking care of our beloved Sheba when she, and we all, needed it most.

BELOW: Sheba “after the fall” on her favorite couch and with her “boy”, Max.

With very best regards,

M. W. Krucoff MD FACC, FAHA
Professor Medicine/Cardiology
Duke University Medical Center
Director, CV Devices Unit
Director, eECG Core Lab
Duke Clinical Research Institute

While Mommy's away, cats will play!

2010-09-09T23:42:00.006-04:00

Sophie, a 3 year old kitty, had some fun with her favorite toy recently and had to come see the TVEC emergency service. She started playing with her favorite toy which her mom had tied to a few feet of fishing line. When Mom got home, Sophie had the toy and a few inches of line hanging from her mouth. Her mom acted quickly and brought her right in where an x-ray showed her intestines all bunched up together.

Sophie went to surgery and the length of the string had traveled from her mouth all the way down her esophagus into her stomach. It pleated her small intestines like an accordian and continued on into her colon! The line was removed and Sophie is doing great - but will have to find a new toy!

On another note - if you ever see a string hanging from your pet's mouth or rectum, you should never pull on it! If it is snagged then it can cause serious damage!

Congratulations Bethany!

2010-09-04T01:51:00.000-04:00

Triangle Veterinary Emergency clinic is proud to have one of our own starting veterinary school at North Carolina State University. Dr Jeffrey Nunez presented Bethany with her “white coat” during the 2010 White Coat Ceremony in August. Each year, NC state host the ceremony to honor the incoming veterinary class. Each incoming freshman chooses a sponsor that has been influential in their career to present them with the coat. Receiving the white coat is the first of many milestones the veterinary students will pass in their goal of obtain their doctorate.

Good luck Bethany! We know you will be a great veterinarian.

An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure

2010-08-19T23:33:00.002-04:00

Ben Franklin once said "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Being an attentive and proactive owner will give your pet a better quality life. One of the most important things you can do for your pet is having an established relationship with your regular veterinarian. Vaccines for rabies, parvovirus and leptospirosis are important in lowering your pet's risk of contracting these diseases. Rabies and leptospirosis are also zoonotic, meaning they can transfer between different species. Regular deworming is also important as intestinal parasites can cause problems like vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, anemia, and dehydration. Many parasites can be picked up by children as well. Protect both your children and your pets by deworming your pets. Routine bloodwork is also important as serious diseases and conditions can be caught early and treated successfully if managed before it becomes an emergency. For example, many signs of diseases can be vague or easily missed. Common sign of diabetes are increased drinking and urination - these can easily be overlooked if one has several indoor/outdoor cats. Uncontrolled diabetes can be very serious and life threatening. If one has a purebred pet, do your research! Large breed dogs like Great Danes, Labrador Retrievers, Standard Poodles and German Shepherds are prone to "bloat" or GDV (Gastric Dilatation Volvulus). Bloat is a life threatening condition where the stomach inflates with air and rotates, this process compromises the dog's blood supply throughout its body. Bloat requires immediate veterinary attention. Some other purebred dogs that can develop problems are the brachycephalic dogs like English Bulldogs, Pugs, Pekingese, and Shih Tzu to name a few. Brachycephalic refers to the short noses or squished faces that these dogs have. These dogs can have compromised ability to deal with exercise and heat due to their confirmation. Be diligent in monitoring these dogs and seek immediate veterinary care if they show any signs of respiratory distress! Another recommendation is to have your pet spayed or neutered. Not only does this reduce the risk of any unwanted puppies or kittens, but it can also prevent you from having to deal with your older dog's infected uterus (also known as pyometra) or your cat's difficult and unproductive labor (dystocia). We, as an emergency and referral clinic, know that not everything is preventable but being an informed owner allows you to be better prepared for emergencies!

Another Pet Food Recall

2010-08-05T08:58:00.002-04:00

If you use Iams food for your pets, please check out the following information:

http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/681249

Progress!

2010-07-13T16:53:00.003-04:00

Progress! Isn't that stone nice?

Moving Update

2010-06-16T14:17:00.005-04:00

Things at the new building are moving right along. It's not really much to look at, but to us, it's beautiful! Enjoy the pictures.

Procter & Gamble Company recalls specific lots of Iams canned cat food

2010-06-10T08:51:00.001-04:00

The affected Iams canned cat food is:

Iams ProActive Health canned Cat and Kitten Food, all varieties of 3 ounce and 5.5 ounce cans, with "09/2011" and "06/2012" date stamps on the bottom of the can.

The date stamps are found on the first line of the two lines stamped on the bottom of the can. All cans of this food marked with these two date stamps should be discarded.

More information from Procter & Gamble

Kitty goes round and round...

2010-05-27T12:04:00.004-04:00

Happily, this kitty lived through it's adventure in the washing machine. Apparently, it crawled into the open machine and was trapped when the owners started the machine, unaware that kitty was inside.

We've seen this happen at TVEC. A small dog was sleeping in a pile of laundry, was scooped up with the pile and put in the washer. This dog died, unfortunately.

Dryer accidents are more common. Someone leaves the dryer open while they transfer clothes, and a kitty climbs in to the nice, warm cave for a nap. Later, the dryer gets started and kitty gets burned and beat up in the tumbling dryer. Deaths have occurred.

Moral of the story: Be careful not to let your pets get in the washer, or the dryer!

Dr Grafinger in the news!

2010-05-18T12:08:00.001-04:00

Take a look at this article in the Durham Herald News about our new clinic!

More Progress on the New Clinic

2010-04-27T13:09:00.004-04:00

Here's some new pictures of the new clinic. The external walls are going up, plumbing is going in, and the steel has been delivered for the front archway. Enjoy!

Hard Working Dogs

2010-04-24T14:47:00.003-04:00

This is Branco, one of our favorite Belgian Malinois police dogs. Branco works with his handler at the Durham City Police Department and brings his rope toy with him when he comes to see us. He's a handsome boy!

There are an estimated 2500 dogs working with law enforcement agencies in the U.S. The work that they do helps keep us and our communities safe.

As a part of Triangle Veterinary Emergency Clinic's commitment to the community, we provide emergency care for active duty police dogs free of charge.

Let's hear it for service dogs everywhere!

All you can eat buffet...

2010-04-22T09:48:00.007-04:00

Anyone who's ever had a Lab knows that this breed likes to eat. I mean they REALLY like to eat. So when they accidentally get access to the entire bag of food, this is what happens.

This is an x-ray of the abdomen of a Labrador Retriever who managed to sneak his way into the food bag. Ouch! Talk about a tummy ache. Actually it can be a bit more dangerous than just an aching belly. The dry food tends to absorb water, and the food often swells. The result is that the animal can actually get dangerously dehydrated. And then there's the mechanical danger - the weight of the food can increase the risk of the stomach twisting on itself (GDV - gastric dilatation and volvulus). GDV is an immediate danger, and is often fatal without emergency surgery.

In the picture below the blue circle represents the approximate size of the normal stomach, the red circle represents the approximate size of the stomach after a normal meal. The green line is the outline of the stomach in this pet.

Some people jokingly say that Lab's don't have the "I'm full" neuron in their brain. But it's not just Labs; lots of different breeds of dog will eat themselves into a hospital visit. Fortunately, they also usually do quite well with appropriate treatment.

Delia

2010-04-07T13:37:00.006-04:00

Isn't she awesome? Delia is a beautiful 10-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier who was very sick with a bleeding splenic tumor this past December. Emergency surgery fixed the immediate problem, but now she has a mass growing in her heart. ~~We get to see her...~~ She has to come in for periodic rechecks to monitor the cardiac mass. That means Delia has batted for the cycle, having seen all four of our services (Emergency, Surgery, Internal Medicine, and Radiology)!

Delia is a fantastic girl, and we enjoy seeing her. It's always a mixed emotion though; we love the patients, but we wish they didn't have to come see us so often!

That's not supposed to be there...

2010-04-06T12:57:00.006-04:00

They say a picture is worth 1000 words. Look at the above images. Yes, that's right, that IS a sewing needle that is stuck in this cat's rectum. Ouch!

What usually happens is that the cat finds a piece of string and begins to play with it, as cats like to do. Inevitably, the string gets stuck on the little bristles (called papillae) on the tongue. Since these papillae all point backwards, the string only moves one way - down the back of the throat. Uh oh, what's that? A sewing needle on the end of the thread? Well, that will have to be swallowed also.

In this case the needle almost made it's way out of the large intestine. Unfortunately, the needle got caught at the level of the pelvis, and didn't want to come out. Fortunately, Dr. Grafinger was there to save the day! Surgery involving the large intestine is always dicey, and this needle had punctured the intestine on both sides, so the outcome was far from certain. But, this kitty recovered nicely, and is resting comfortably at home.

And all is well that ends well.

(PS: String is just bad for cats, even if there is no needle attached. Try to keep your cat away from string, thread, etc).

Osprey

2010-03-31T15:15:00.009-04:00

Ok, no, we're not starting to get in to the exotic pet medicine business. But sometimes we like to donate services to non-profit groups, including those that take care of wildlife or exotic species. Dr. Grafinger in particular enjoys working with these species, and he has plenty of experience.

Recently, there was a tornado in Person County. Apparently an osprey was caught in this tornado and was found amongst some downed trees. Unfortunately, the bird had a broken wing. Local officials transferred him to the care of CLAWS, a licensed wildlife rehabilitation group. CLAWS asked us to help them care for the osprey.

Above: 'Oz' has a bandage on the injured wing. Notice the heavy gloves on her handler? The claws are the dangerous bits; the beak is not nearly as dangerous (although still capable of inflicting serious injury).

Above: Try not to let a raptor get those talons in your arm, face, hands, etc!

Due to the severity of the injury (the radius was broken in one place, the ulna was broken in 3 places, and the skin was lacerated), the decision was made to amputate the limb. This is a serious decision, because it means that 'Oz' (get it? - tornado, Wizard of Oz, OZ -prey?) will not be able to be released back into the wild. But, amputation will save her life. Fixing the limb would have been theoretically possible, but this is not an easy process for the patient, nor is a satisfactory outcome guaranteed. Complications are frequent (and uncomfortable for the bird) when trying to fix a complicated fracture such as this one. Amputation was the most humane option available.

Above: Dr. Grafinger evaluates the wing while Oz is under anesthesia.

Above: The arrows point to the fracture sites.

Oz is thought to be a female due to her relatively large size for an osprey (females are larger than males in many bird species). She will live a life of education - CLAWS helps to educate people about wildlife, and seeing a raptor up close and personal can be a very educational experience!

Above: Oz begins to wake up from anesthesia. Her handler will have his gloves on before she wakes up!

Thanks CLAWS, for helping Oz and all of the other needy animals!

Moving update

2010-03-31T10:42:00.006-04:00

Construction is underway! Well, actually it's DE-struction first, but soon we will begin to reverse the effects of entropy.

View from the outside (above).

Dr. Grafinger enjoys the view from his future desk (above).

View from the back corner (above).

Not quite ready for patients yet, but progress is progress!

Lily Toxicity

2010-03-18T10:51:00.002-04:00

We've already had our first case of Lily plant ingestion of the year. Lily plants can be very toxic, even fatally so, for cats. Consider this your yearly reminder to keep the cats away from the pretty flowers!

We have a more in depth discussion here.

Lions, Tigers and.. Binturongs, Oh my!

2010-03-11T14:39:00.005-05:00

The Conservator’s Center came to visit TVEC recently. The Conservator’s Center, or CCI, is home to mostly carnivores - although a few lemurs have snuck in, too! They have numerous lions, tigers, servals, and binturongs, just to name a few. The center is known worldwide for the care it provides. When no one else is able or willing to rescue these animals, the center does. Many of these animals are taken in from closing zoos, private collectors or government agencies. Quite a few of their animals are the geriatric, the malnourished or the abused. However, they all seem to be happily settling into their new forever home!

CCI is a multifaceted organization - they strive to educate as well. The center offers tours to the general public, as well as volunteer and internship options. Your child can even have a birthday party there! Many of the TVEC staff are planning a group tour sometime in the near future, and maybe some volunteer time, if we can work out our varying schedules. You can visit CCI, as well - just check out their website to see when you can arrange your tour to see these amazing animals!! Just remember to arrange it ahead of time, they are unable to accommodate surprise visitors.

Oh, and if you’re wondering what a binturong is.. A binturong, also known as a bearcat, is actually an omnivore that has a prehensile tail. They are an arboreal species that is nocturnal. It smells like popcorn too!! They are not well studied in the wild and the center has three breeding pairs. If you are interested in “adopting” one of these riveting creatures, please contact CCI at (336) 421-0883. (Article courtesy of Sarah Ignelzi, TVEC technician)

Update: Raw diet recall

2010-03-09T12:24:00.002-05:00

Update to this previous post. Now the recall effects more products.

Moving!

2010-03-04T13:46:00.005-05:00

TVEC is moving!

We've grown from an emergency clinic, only open on nights and weekends, to a 24/7/365 Emergency and Referral multi-specialty hospital. We've added Surgery, Internal Medicine, and Radiology, and we've gotten busier. That means it's gotten a little tight in here! The staff is great at making things work, but we know that we need more room in order to continue to provide more and better services. Our new facility will enable us to grow in terms of number of patients, as well as services offered.

We're moving to a 13, 000 square foot facility on Morreene Road (#608 to be exact) in Durham. It's a warehouse that has been empty for a long time. This site has been the subject of some debate in the past, but the neighborhood seems excited that we're moving in, and we are happy to become a part of the neighborhood!

Here's a picture of what the site looks like today...

And here's what it should look like when it's completed...

The estimated date of completion is August of 2010. We can't wait! Check back here for more updates in the future.

A Heavy Topic

2010-03-03T13:42:00.006-05:00

Has your veterinarian ever told you that your cat needs to lose weight? Here are some visual aids to help you see what overweight looks like. Here's an example of an x-ray (radiograph) of a relatively normal cat.

Notice the small amounts of fat just below the liver, surrounding and just behind the kidneys, and in the skin between the body wall and the skin surface. Some fat is normal and healthy. Now look at this patient...
Look at the huge amounts of fat surrounding all of his internal organs, and in between the body wall and the skin surface. This pet's heart is working extra hard to pump blood, the joints have to carry around more weight than they are designed for, the pet is more prone to diabetes and other endocrine diseases, etc.

If your veterinarian says your pet needs to lose weight, pay attention! But make sure the weight loss regimen is supervised by the vet, especially in cats. Weight loss in cats can be dangerous, so don't design a plan by yourself. Follow your vet's advice, but get that weight off those pets!

More Xylitol intoxications

2010-02-23T11:14:00.003-05:00

We've talked about this before , but it bears repeating: xylitol (a natural, low calorie sweetener) is everywhere. It's harmless to people, but it's very toxic to dogs. This past weekend we had 4 dogs in the hospital at one time, all of which had eaten chewing gum that had xylitol as an ingredient! Fortunately these dogs did well, but xylitol can be fatal to dogs.

Don't let your dogs get in to your purse or candy jar!

Pet food recall

2010-02-17T14:01:00.003-05:00

There's a raw food diet for dogs and cats that has been recalled by the manufacturer due to Salmonella contamination. Salmonella is a bacteria that is dangerous to both humans and animals. The products in question are made by Nature's Variety.

"The affected products are limited to the Nature’s Variety Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diet packaged in the following forms:

3 lb chicken medallions (UPC# 7 69949 60130 2) with a "Best If Used By" date of 11/10/10
6 lb chicken patties (UPC# 7 69949 60120 3) with a "Best If Used By" date of 11/10/10
2 lb chicken chubs (UPC# 7 69949 60121 0) with a "Best If Used By" date of 11/10/10"

To see the FDA press release for more details, click here.

TVEC is accepting donations for the Food Bank

2010-01-27T17:53:00.000-05:00

Please join us in the fight against local hunger. During the month of February, please bring a couple of cans of food (or other non-perishable food items) to our office as part of Town Planner’s 4th Annual Food Drive. Local food agencies receive tons of food during the holidays that is usually gone by February! Thank you in advance for helping to fight hunger all year round!

Sumatran Tiger Video

2010-01-12T18:10:00.001-05:00

Click here to see rare video footage of Sumatran tigers in the wild.

End of dog racing leaves greyhounds homeless 7 tracks closed in 2009, leaving hundreds of dogs needing to be adopted

2010-01-11T11:12:00.002-05:00

updated 3:08 p.m. ET, Mon., Jan. 4, 2010

KENOSHA, Wis. - Greyhound advocates are scrambling to find homes for hundreds of dogs that will no longer be racing.

Tracks in Wisconsin, Arizona and Massachusetts ended dog racing just last week, bringing to seven the number that pulled the mechanical rabbit in 2009. Two tracks closed in Massachusetts, where voters have outlawed greyhound racing.

Michael McCann, president of The Greyhound Project Inc., is among those who fear that there will be more dogs available than prospective homes.

Source

Pet Frog Salmonella Spans 31 States

2010-01-08T11:08:00.000-05:00

Pet Frog Salmonella Spans 31 States

CDC: Outbreak Sprang From California-Bred African Dwarf Frogs

By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Jan. 7, 2010 -- Pet African dwarf frogs from a single California breeder caused an 8-month salmonella outbreak in 31 states.

The outbreak extended from California to Massachusetts. Of the 85 cases, mostly in children, 16 were hospitalized, the CDC reports in its weekly MMWR publication. No deaths were reported.

Although reptiles -- turtles in particular -- have been responsible for previous nationwide salmonella outbreaks, this is the first known multistate outbreak spread by amphibians.

In this case, the amphibians were African dwarf frogs. The tiny creatures are less than 2 inches long from tip to tail. They live in water and are sold as aquarium pets.

The frogs are hard to handle -- they tend to rest at the bottom of aquariums -- so most of the infections likely came from contact with the water in which the frogs swam. Nearly a third of contaminated households cleaned the frog aquariums in the kitchen sink, "posing a risk for cross contamination with food preparation areas," the CDC notes.

Infections in Utah and Colorado came from frogs given away as carnival prizes. An infection in New Mexico came from a frog purchased in a pet store; one in Ohio came from a department store.

Many of those infected didn't know frogs or other amphibians could carry salmonella. Many patients' parents had bought their kids frogs in order to avoid salmonella-carrying turtles.

It took the CDC a long time to figure out that frogs were the source of the outbreak, as cheese-flavored crackers consumed by several early patients led disease detectives on a wild goose chase. Eventually, the frogs were traced to a single California breeder. DNA tests showed that salmonella in water tanks and gravel from frog habitats was the same strain that caused the outbreak.

The CDC notes that there's no law against selling small frogs. To prevent infections, the CDC advises pet owners to wash their hands thoroughly after touching animals or cleaning aquariums.

Source

The Cove

2010-01-07T11:11:00.003-05:00

You may have heard about the filming of the movie on NPR. You may have seen the awards from the Sundance Film Festival. You may have heard that it's controversial. Want to see it yourself? This site will find the nearest showing.

Trailer

Got a pet tarantula? Better protect your eyes

2010-01-06T09:17:00.000-05:00

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Here's some advice stemming from the unusual case of a man who had spider hairs stuck in his cornea: Be sure to cover your eyes when hanging around with your pet tarantula.

Ophthalmologists at St. James's University Hospital in Leeds, England, used high magnification lenses to find out what made the man's eye red, watery and light-sensitive, according to a study reported in the British medical journal The Lancet on Thursday.

They discovered hair-like projections stuck in the man's cornea.

It was a light bulb moment for the patient, who remembered that three weeks earlier he had been cleaning a stubborn stain on the glass tank of his pet, a Chilean Rose tarantula.

"He sensed movement in the terrarium. He turned his head and found that the tarantula, which was in close proximity, had released 'a mist of hairs' which hit his eyes and face," the doctors wrote.

They said the man's condition was rare.

The authors noted that the Chilean Rose tarantula releases the barbed hair on the back of its body to defend against predators.

"We suggest that tarantula keepers be advised to routinely wear eye protection when handling these animals," the doctors said.

Source

Scientists find clue to killer of Tasmanian devils

2010-01-01T09:43:00.001-05:00

WASHINGTON – Fierce as they are, Tasmanian devils can't beat a contagious cancer that threatens to wipe them out. Now scientists think they've found the disease's origin, a step in the race to save Australia's snarling marsupial.

The furry black animals spread a fast-killing cancer when they bite each other's faces. Since the disease's discovery in 1996, their numbers have plummeted by 70 percent. Last spring, Australia listed the devils — made famous by their Looney Tunes cartoon namesake Taz — as an endangered species.

There's no treatment, and little hope of finding one until scientists better understand what's fueling this bizarre "devil facial tumor disease." So an international research team picked apart the cancer's genes, and discovered that it apparently first arose in cells that protect the animals' nerves.

The surprise finding, reported in Friday's edition of the journal Science, has led to development of a test to help diagnose this tumor.

Next, scientists are hunting the mutations that turned these cells rogue, work they hope could one day lead to a vaccine to protect remaining Tasmanian devils, or perhaps treatments.

"The clock's ticking," lead researcher Elizabeth Murchison of the Australian National University said by phone from Tasmania. "It's awful to think there could be no devils here in 50 years because they're dying so quickly."

The devils, known for powerful jaws, fierce screeches and voracious consumption of prey, are the world's largest marsupial carnivores. They don't exist in the wild outside Tasmania, an island south of Australia.

What triggered this cancer, which causes tumors that grow so large on the face and neck that the animals eventually can't eat?

It didn't jump from another species, said Murchison. Tasmanian devils, for unknown reasons, are prone to various types of cancer. This tumor's genetic signature suggests that probably no more than 20 years ago, mutations built up in some animals' Schwann cells — cells that produce the insulation, called myelin, crucial for nerves — until the first devil fell ill with this new type.

Those mutations went far beyond a typical cancer. When one sick animal bites another, it transplants living cancer cells that form a copy of the first animal's tumor. Murchison's team tested 25 tumors gathered from devils in different parts of Tasmania, and found the tumors were essentially identical to one another.

It's one of only two forms of cancer known to spread this way, Murchison said; the other is a sexually transmitted cancer in dogs. (That's quite different than people's transmission of a few cancer-causing viruses, such as the human papillomavirus that causes cervical cancer.)

The researchers created a diagnostic test, based in part on a myelin-related protein called periaxin that was present in all the facial tumors but not in other cancers.

Also, the team compiled a catalog of Tasmanian devil genetic information. Among the next goals is to determine which of those genes most influence the spread and severity of this cancer.

Source

Our hard working staff

2009-12-31T09:08:00.005-05:00

Our dedicated staff got a chance to gather for the annual Christmas party in mid December. Then it was back to work for the holidays. Thank you to all of the doctors and staff that missed spending the holidays with their family!

Bad news for us all:

2009-12-29T10:22:00.002-05:00

Northeast bat toll hits 90%

White-nose syndrome has claimed the lives of more than 1 million insect-eating bats over the past two winters due to premature loss of fat reserves, starvation and possibly an undetected pathogen, experts say.

Read More Here

From the Los Angeles Times: New York dog becomes nation's 1st confirmed to be carrying swine flu

2009-12-29T10:10:00.003-05:00

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) — A dog in suburban New York is the first in the nation confirmed to be carrying the same strain of swine flu that is infecting humans, experts said Tuesday.

The 13-year-old mixed breed male, which is recovering, apparently caught the virus from his owner. But Michael San Filippo, a spokesman for the American Veterinary Medical Association, said there's no evidence that the flu strain can be transmitted from a pet to a person.

"In theory it could happen, but so far it's really looking like a dead end in pets," he said.

Dr. Anne Schuchat of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday that animals can carry and spread flu viruses, but such cases are rare and people should not be afraid to enjoy their pets.

The CDC says swine flu is waning among humans. It said infections were widespread in 11 states, down from 48 in late October.

San Filippo said the diagnosis of the 2009 H1N1 virus was confirmed at two labs, including Iowa State University's.

The dog, suffering breathing problems, was taken to the Katonah Bedford Veterinary Center in Bedford Hills, N.Y., on Dec. 13.

The medical director there, David Sachs, said he had the dog tested for swine flu because its owner previously had the virus. The practice would not identify the owner or give the dog's name and Sachs said the owner had decided against speaking with reporters.

The dog came in for a checkup Tuesday and is "getting back to his old self" but has not fully recovered, said veterinarian Julie Steffens.

Among pets, cats and ferrets have previously been found to catch the swine flu strains from humans, and at least one cat and one ferret have died, San Filippo said.

He said the veterinary association is recommending that people with ailing pets wash their hands often. If swine flu is suspected in either owner or pet, he said, "isolate yourselves from each other, which we realize is only possible to some degree."

Ann Hohenhaus, spokeswoman for the Animal Medical Center in New York, said if a pet or an owner is sick, "Don't play kissyface with your dog or your cat or your ferret. You wouldn't with your kids if you were sick, so don't do it with your pet."

Source

125 pilot whales die on NZ beaches, 43 saved

2009-12-29T09:54:00.002-05:00

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – Some 125 pilot whales died in New Zealand after stranding on beaches over the weekend — but vacationers and conservation workers managed to coax 43 others back out to sea.

Rescuers monitored the survivors as they swam away from Colville Beach on North Island's Coromandel peninsula, and by Monday morning they were reported well out to sea.

Department of Conservation workers and hundreds of volunteers helped re-float the 43 whales at high tide. The volunteers covered the stranded mammals in sheets and kept them wet through the day.

"Some 63 pilot whales stranded ... but it looks pretty good, we've got 43 live ones," Department of Conservation ranger Steve Bolten said as the pod swam out to sea.

Bolten said one of the whales may have been sick, or their sonar may have led them into the shallow harbor and they couldn't find their way out again.

Meanwhile on South Island, 105 long-finned pilot whales that stranded died Saturday, conservation officials said Monday.

Golden Bay biodiversity program manager Hans Stoffregen said they were discovered by a tourist plane pilot and only 30 were alive when conservation workers arrived.

"They were in bad shape. By the time we got there two-thirds of them had already died. We had to euthanize the rest," he said.

The whales had been out of the water for a long time.

"It has been quite hot and they were very distressed. You could see the pain and suffering in their eyes," he was quoted telling the Southland Times newspaper

Because the site is part of a nature reserve, the 105 whale carcasses were left to decompose where they stranded, Stoffregen said.

Large numbers of whales become stranded on New Zealand's beaches each summer as they pass by on their way to breeding grounds from Antarctic waters. Scientists so far have been unable to explain why whales become stranded.

Source

It's a special Christmas present!

2009-12-22T09:15:00.001-05:00

In Asheville, NC:

Woman's Christmas gift is special cat lost 12 years ago

In the news...

2009-12-22T08:44:00.001-05:00

Do you know your carbon footprint?

In the News......

2009-12-17T08:45:00.011-05:00

Arlington officials seize thousands of exotic animals at business

If experts cannot ID dog breeds, how can cities?

So You Want to Work with Animals?

Couple hopes dog’s pain makes other pets safer

UNC says dogs, hogs won't cause trouble

It's Cold Out There!

2009-12-14T14:10:00.001-05:00

Take a look at this article for great tips on protecting your pets from the winter cold!

Dr Grafinger gets his picture in the paper!

2009-12-09T12:36:00.001-05:00

Take a look at our article in the Durham Herald!

From our friends at Pet Poison Helpline

2009-12-07T15:56:00.000-05:00

Holiday Toxins: Tips from Pet Poison Helpline to Help Keep Your Pet Safe!

Tips on holiday foods, plants and decorations that can put your pet at risk.

By Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC

The holidays are stressful enough without having to worry about a potentially poisoned pet. Below is a list of holiday-related decorations, plants and food items that the veterinarians at Pet Poison Helpline recommend keeping away from pets.

Holiday Ornaments: When decorating for the season, consider your pets. Holiday decorations such as old-fashioned bubble lights may contain poisonous chemicals. If your pet chews on them, the liquid inside could be dangerous to their health. Methylene chloride, the chemical in bubble lights, can result in depression, aspiration pneumonia and irritation to the eyes, skin and gastrointestinal tract.

Tinsel: Another holiday ornament to avoid is tinsel. If you own a cat, toss the tinsel! What looks like a shiny toy to your cat can prove deadly if ingested. While tinsel itself is not “poisonous,” it can result in a severe linear foreign body if ingested. A linear foreign body occurs when your pet swallows something “stringy” (like ribbon, yarn, tinsel, cassette tape, etc.), which wraps around the base of the tongue or anchors itself in the stomach, rendering it unable to pass through the intestines. As the intestines contract and move, this string or linear foreign body can slowly saw through the tissue, resulting in severe damage to your pet’s intestinal tract. Ultimately, pets run the risk of severe injury to, or rupture of their intestines and treatment involves expensive abdominal surgery. Save your holiday bonus for yourself instead of your pet’s surgery, and keep tinsel, ribbon, yarn, thread, fabric, etc. out of reach!

Antifreeze: During this time of the year, it’s important to make sure your pet isn’t ingesting any radiator coolant! Antifreeze can be found in numerous sources. Here in Minnesota, a lot of people put antifreeze into their cabin’s toilet to prevent it from freezing during the winter, and we see a lot of toxicities here at Pet Poison Helpline from dogs running into cabins and drinking out of the toilet. Finally, there are rumors of small amounts of antifreeze in holiday ornaments such as imported snow globes. Recently, some were found to contain antifreeze (ethylene glycol) in the liquid. If a snow globe falls off the table and cracks open, and your pet licks up the contents of the snow globe, there is the risk of antifreeze poisoning. As little as one teaspoon of antifreeze when ingested by a cat or a tablespoon or two for a dog (depending on their size), can be fatal. Signs of early poisoning include acting drunk or uncoordinated, excessive thirst, and lethargy. While signs may seem to improve after eight to twelve hours, internal damage is actually worsening, and crystals develop in the kidneys resulting in acute kidney failure. Immediate treatment with an antidote (fomepizole or ethanol) is vital. As the antidote only works if given within the first 3 hours for cats and 8-12 hours for dogs, it’s imperative that you seek veterinary care immediately for blood testing for antifreeze poisoning (including an ethylene glycol test and venous blood gas test).

Plants: Though they have a bad rap, poinsettia plants are only mildly toxic. Far more worrisome are holiday bouquets containing lilies, holly or mistletoe. Even bouquets brought into the house by holiday guests should be thoroughly inspected, as lilies are the #1 flower often used by florists. Just one or two bites from a lily can result in severe acute kidney failure in cats – even the pollen is thought to be poisonous! When in doubt, don’t let these bouquets in a cat-loving household!

Other yuletide plants such as holly berries, mistletoe, and rosemary can also be toxic to pets. When Christmas or English holly is ingested, it can result in severe gastrointestinal upset thanks to the spiny leaves and the potentially toxic substances (including saponins, methylxanthines, and cyanogens). If ingested, most pets lip smack, drool, and head shake excessively due to the mechanical injury from the spiny leaves. As for mistletoe, most of us hang it high enough so it’s out of reach of our pets – nevertheless, it can also be toxic if ingested. Thankfully, American mistletoe is less toxic than the European varieties of it. Mild signs of gastrointestinal irritation are seen, although if ingested in large amounts, collapse, hypotension, ataxia (walking drunk), seizures and death have also been reported.

Recently, florists have started to use Japanese Yew to make wreaths – all parts of this evergreen (including the succulent, red berries) are very poisonous, as they contain taxines, biofavonoids and cyanogenic glycosides. If ingested, this Taxus species can result in dizziness, abnormal heart rate (initially elevated, then slowed), hypotension, dilated pupils, coma, and death! As horses are very susceptible to Yew poisoning, make sure not to have this around the barn or pasture!

Alcohol: Most people know not to give alcoholic drinks to their pets; however alcohol poisoning in pets is more common than you think! This is because alcohol can be found in surprising places! Rum-soaked fruitcake or unbaked dough that contains yeast result in alcohol poisoning and other problems. Dough will expand in the warm, moist environment of the stomach and can result in a bloat, which can then progress to a GDV or gastric-dilitation volvulus (twisted stomach). Signs of this include vomiting, non-productive retching, a distended stomach, an elevated heart rate, and weakness or collapse. Secondly, alcohol from the fermenting yeast is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and affects pets quickly. Ingestion of alcohol can cause dangerous drops in blood sugar, blood pressure and body temperature. Intoxicated animals can experience seizures and respiratory failure.

Holiday Foods: With the holiday season comes a delightful variety of baked goods, chocolate confections and other rich, fattening foods. However, it is not wise (and in some cases is quite dangerous) to share these treats with your pets. Keep your pet on his or her regular diet over the holidays and do not let family and friends sneak in treats. Foods that can present problems:

Foods containing grapes, raisins and currents (such as fruit cakes) can result in kidney failure in dogs.
Chocolate and cocoa contain theobromine, a chemical highly toxic to dogs and cats. Ingestion in small amounts can cause vomiting and diarrhea but large amounts can cause seizures and heart arrhythmias.
Many sugarless gums and candies contain xylitol, a sweetener which is toxic to dogs. It causes a life-threatening drop in blood sugar and liver failure.
Leftover, fatty meat scraps can produce severe inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) leading to abdominal pain, vomiting and bloody diarrhea.

Liquid Potpourri: Filling your house with the smell of nutmeg or pine for the holidays may seem inviting—but if you’re partial to heating your scented oils in a simmer pot, know that they can cause serious harm to your cat; even a few licks can result in severe chemical burns in the mouth, fever, difficulty breathing, and tremors. Dogs aren’t as sensitive, but it’s still better to be safe than sorry—so scent your home with a non-toxic candle kept safely out of kitty’s reach.

When it comes to the holidays, the best thing a pet owner can do is get educated on common household toxins and pet-proof your home accordingly. If you think your pet has been poisoned, contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680 with any questions or concerns.

Resources: Pet Poison Helpline (PPH) is an Animal Poison Control that provides treatment advice and recommendations relating to exposures to potential dangerous plants, products, medications, and substances, to veterinarians, veterinary staff and pet owners 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please be aware there is a $35.00/per case consultation fee. Pet Poison Helpline is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Helpline number is 1-800-213-6680.

For further information regarding services, visit the PPH website at www.petpoisonhelpline.com.

What do they do home alone all day?

2009-12-05T13:18:00.002-05:00

Do you think you know what your cat does all day while you're at work? Nestle Purina PetCare's Friskies researchers arranged for 50 pet cats to wear cameras on their collars and take a photo every 15 minutes.

Surprisingly, only 6 percent of their time was spent sleeping. The cats spent 22 percent of their time looking out of windows, 12 percent interacting with other pets, 8 percent climbing on furniture. Cats spent about 6 percent of their day looking at TV or computers, and 6 percent hanging out under tables. They spent about 5 percent for playing with toys and 4 percent eating.

Surprised?

Source

Cat food recalled over thiamine deficiency Select bags of Premium Edge could lead to gastrointestinal problems

2009-12-01T13:03:00.005-05:00

WASHINGTON - Diamond Pet Foods recalled select bags of dry cat food Tuesday after 21 reports of health problems in cats.

Select bags of Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat and Premium Edge Hairball could lead to gastrointestinal or neurological problems for cats, because they do not contain enough thiamine, an essential nutrient for cats.

If cats fed these foods have no other source of nutrition, they could develop thiamine deficiency. If untreated, this disorder could result in death.

Initial symptoms of thiamine deficiency include decreased appetite, salivation, vomiting and weight loss. Later, neurological problems could develop including, bending the neck toward the floor, wobbly walking, circling, falling and seizures.

The company has confirmed 21 cases of thiamine deficiency in New York and Pennsylvania.

The recalled bags of food were distributed in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

For a full refund, consumers can return the recalled cat food to the place it was purchased. For more information call 800-977-8797

Source

It's happening all over the country....

2009-11-24T14:05:00.001-05:00

ELKHART, Ind.—

Each day at five, staff members of the Humane Society of Elkhart County close the animal shelter and hold a meeting. And each day, like clockwork, they begin hearing a “thump, thump, thump” from outside.

That is the sound of pets being abandoned by owners who either do not want them or cannot care for them anymore.

Among the recent arrivals left in “drop boxes” — kennels that are accessible through doors on the outside of the facility — are Sweet Pea, a Chihuahua being nursed back to health from near starvation, a cocker spaniel named Cookie and a “family” of three pets left together — a dog, a cat and rat.

These animals add to the usual traffic of strays, rabid raccoons and animals rescued from abuse. When the drop boxes are full, the Humane Society finds pets tied up at the door, or — as was the case with a domesticated ferret — running around in the parking lot. Recently a whole litter of kittens was left in the Humane Society dumpster.

With as many as 600 or 700 animals arriving each month — sometimes 30 animals in a single day — the facility, which has space for only 266, is in crisis mode.

'Unsavory position'
The numbers are “staggering” and resources are stretched, said Anne Reel, the Humane Society of Elkhart County’s executive director.

“Since the economy has been like this, even rescuers have been down,” she said, referring to nonprofits that provide temporary homes until animals can be adopted. “(Now) we’re in the unsavory position of having to euthanize because we just can’t turn animals around fast enough.”

In one month alone, the shelter had to euthanize 600 animals, she said.

Carissa Ray/msnbc.com

Jack O'Lantern, an orange tabby cat, was thrown from a car in front of the Humane Society of Elkhart County's shelter over Halloween weekend.

The Humane Society staff believes the poor economy is behind the high rate of abandonment — forcing people to give up pets when they run out of money to feed them or lose their homes and move into apartments or in with relatives. It’s impossible to know for sure because many people drop off their pets anonymously in the drop boxes and don’t fill out the forms that would help the Humane Society staff understand the animal’s health background and breeding. Since October 2008, the shelter has handled 5,783 animals, 42 percent of which were abandoned anonymously.

“For the most part, people just cram the animal in the door, get in their car and speed away as fast as possible,” said Reel. “Occasionally we have someone walk through the front door and say ‘I’ve been laid off my job, we’re moving into an apartment, we can’t find anyone to take them,’ and do it responsibly.”

Looming cuts?
The number of cats dropped off is especially high, perhaps because people have been reluctant to spend money to spay or neuter their cats under current economic conditions.

The Humane Society is struggling to meet the increased demand. Its budget for free spaying and neutering of cats was shot by April. The pet assistance program, which provides free pet food to help owners who are struggling financially, had 444 requests this year, about two-thirds of them first-time requests. This program is important because it keeps pets with their owners, avoiding unnecessary abandonment.

About half of the Humane Society’s $700,000 annual budget is provided by the county and cities, under a contract for animal control. But the organization is anticipating cuts in the next round of government budgets and, like many nonprofits, is casting about for new fundraising ideas, and trying to expand its donor base.

Carissa Ray/msnbc.com

A dog sits quietly at the Humane Society of Elkhart County while awaiting adoption.

Meanwhile, Reel brought in a fatigue specialist to work with the staff of 16.

“We are overwhelmed in trying to decide who stays and who will have to be eliminated,” she said, referring to animals that have to be euthanized. “It takes a toll on our staff. It is not a pleasant job. “

The staff also grapple with a year caring for and cleaning up after all these creatures — many which are in terrible condition by the time they are dropped off, with severe such maladies as ringworm, fleas and mange. That requires careful handling, and a lot of bleach to prevent the spread of disease.

When people ask Reel, “How can I help?” she tells them to “adopt, donate or send bleach.”

Source

H1N1 virus in reported in cats

2009-11-04T15:18:00.002-05:00

From the AVMA:

"2009 H1N1 influenza virus confirmed in Iowa cat

November 4, 2009 – A 13-year old cat in Iowa developed signs of a respiratory infection after several people in the household were ill. Preliminary testing was positive for 2009 H1N1 on October 29, and the results were confirmed on November 2. This is the first report of a cat infected with H1N1. The cat has recovered from its illness.

To date, this is the first cat confirmed infected with the 2009 H1N1 virus. Two ferrets, one in Oregon and one in Nebraska, have also recently been confirmed infected with the 2009 H1N1 virus. The Nebraska ferret died, but the Oregon ferret has recovered. To date, there is no evidence that the ferrets or the cat passed the virus to people." (Emphasis added)

"The American Veterinary Medical Association and American Association of Feline Practitioners are reminding pet owners that many viruses can pass between people and animals, so this was not an altogether unexpected event. We are advising pet owners to monitor their pets’ health very closely, no matter what type of animal, and visit a veterinarian if there are any signs of illness.
For more information, view the AVMA’s press release on the Iowa case or visit the AVMA’s H1N1 resources Web page."

Like the press release says, this isn't really all that unexpected, but it is interesting and important for cats, their owners and veterinarians. For now at least, all of the animals seem to have contracted the disease from people, rather than the other way around.

Alert for owners of diabetic pets

2009-11-03T15:04:00.000-05:00

FDA-CVM Issues Alert About Problems with Vetsulin® Porcine Insulin Zinc Suspension

November 3, 2009 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, in cooperation with Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, has announced that Vetsulin® may have varying amounts of crystalline zinc insulin, the active ingredient, in the formula. As a result, use of the product could result in a delay in action of the drug as well as prolonged action, which could cause difficulty in managing diabetic pets. Get more information on the AVMA web site, AVMA.org: http://www.avma.org/aa/vetsulin_091102.asp

Happy News!

2009-11-03T15:01:00.001-05:00

82 healthy sea turtles hatch at San Diego SeaWorld!

Source

Chocolate toxicity

2009-10-29T15:25:00.003-04:00

A few notes from Dr Grafinger:

Chocolate toxicity usually occurs during the holidays (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter) when pets are exposed or fed a variety of chocolate containing products. It is among the 20 most common toxicities which occur in veterinary medicine. The toxicity occurs more commonly in dogs and almost never in our feline companions. Cats are more particular about what they eat. Dogs tend to consume large quantities of unusual foods quickly.

Common products containing cocoa include: candy, cakes, cookies, brownies, baking supplies, and cocoa bean mulches.

In general the lighter colored chocolate products (e.g. White chocolate) are less toxic, and darker products are more toxic (e.g. Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate). The toxic compounds in chocolate are methylxanthine alkaloids which include caffeine and theobromine. White chocolate contains 0.05 g/kg of theobromine, and baking chocolate contains 16 g/kg theobromine. Many chocolate products have a high fat content which can precipitate pancreatitis as well.

Toxic doses according to ASPCA Animal Control Center are as follows:
Mild signs occur in dogs ingesting 20 mg/kg.
Severe signs are seen with ingestion of 40-50 mg/kg
Seizures can occur with a dose of 60mg/kg
Death can occur with 100-200 mg/kg

Big news for cat rescue groups

2009-10-29T08:51:00.001-04:00

Raleigh man leaves nearly $1.7 million estate to cat charities
Emil Campbell

Posted: Oct. 28 11:02 p.m.
Updated: Today at 5:20 a.m.

Raleigh, N.C. — A Raleigh cat-lover has left his nearly $1.7 million estate to area feline charities.

“He was very fond of cats and animals,” attorney Bobby Khot, with Wills Trusts and Estates, said of client Emil Campbell.

Khot said Campbell, who died suddenly last month, designated four cat charities to share his estate.

“It was like a gift from heaven,” said Lynn Jernigan, with Snowflake Animal Rescue. “I couldn't believe it. I opened the letter and I had to read it twice.”

Jernigan said her rescue group gets less than $6,000 a year in donations. The volunteer organization doesn’t even have a building of its own. However, the generous gift from Campbell could change that.

“We could certainly become a much larger rescue group if we had the facility,” Jernigan said.

“It's going to make a pretty big difference across the board, hopefully in the community here, especially,” said Carol De Olloqui, with Marley's Cat Tales.

Marley's Cat Tales, another group that provides health care and homes for cats, was also named a benefactor of Campbell's estate.

“A donation like this will allow us to spay or neuter as many animals as possible and make a difference in alleviating the problem of overpopulation,” Olloqui said.

SAFE Haven for Cats will also get a share of the money from Campbell.

In addition to the three main beneficiaries, Campbell also left money to Second Chance Pet Adoptions. The rescue group wasn’t aware yet of how much money it would receive, but said any amount was greatly appreciated.

“(He was) very frugal. He didn't work a job that paid him a lot of money, but he pinched his pennies and he saved his money,” Khot said of Campbell.

Campbell had one surviving daughter. Khot said she was not thrilled with the will, but a family friend said Campbell took care of his daughter outside of his estate.

Source

People aren't the only ones facing the flu

2009-10-28T12:19:00.003-04:00

First identified in 2003 in Florida, a canine influenza identified as H3N8 is now widespread, with documented occurrences in 30 states and the District of Columbia. Because this is a newly emerging pathogen, all dogs, regardless of breed or age, are susceptible to infection and have no naturally acquired or vaccine-induced immunity when first exposed to the virus. The good news is that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has approved a new vaccine. Be sure to ask your regular veterinarian for more information.

More information

Butterfly ears?

2009-10-26T11:44:00.005-04:00

A new study about how butterfly ears work!

CPR?

2009-10-22T12:33:00.005-04:00

Fifty-eight percent of pet owners — 63 percent of dog owners and 53 percent of cat owners — would be at least somewhat likely to perform CPR on their pet in the event of a medical emergency, according to an Associated Press-Petside.com poll.

Source

For more information on pet first aid, check out the Red Cross website.

Where does the blood come from?

2009-10-22T10:30:00.001-04:00

Has your pet had an illness that required a transfusion? Have you ever wondered where the blood comes from? Have you wondered what's involved in the cost?

Canine blood products are commercially available from organizations that maintain colonies of donor dogs that have been carefully screened for diseases that can transmitted through blood products:

Canine brucellosis
Borrelia burgdoferi (Lyme Disease)
Dirofilaria immitus (heartworm disease)
Ehrlichia canis
Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Coccidioides immitus
Babesia canis
Babesia gibsoni
Plasma levels of von Willebrand factor

Cat blood is not readily available commercially, so any cat blood given at our facility has been collected in our "in-house" blood bank. Members of our staff have volunteered their own pets for donation, and after a through health screening, they are placed on a "donation rotation".
To meet donation requirements, cats:

Must be fairly friendly and like to be around people
Must weigh over 10 pounds (without being overweight)
Must be current on vaccinations
Must be healthy and not receiving any medications other than heartworm, flea, and tick preventive
Must be indoor-only, and all companion housemate cats must be indoor and negative for feline leukemia or kitty FIV
Cannot be exposed to any other cats (no fostering or pet-sitting of other cats)
Cannot have a heart murmur
Must be between 2 years and 6 years old when entering the program
Must have never received a blood transfusion nor been pregnant

If they meet these standards, then further tests are run:

Chemistry panel
Complete blood count
Feline leukemia virus
Feline immunosuppressive virus
Hemobartonella
Toxoplasma
Blood type
Thyroid panel

When it has been determined that your pet requires a transfusion, it must them be typed and cross matched. The donor blood is delivered to your pet through an IV pump that has been approved for blood products, through a line that includes a filter, and then through a catheter that has been placed in the pet. A carefully calculated volume of blood is delivered at a carefully calculated rate, and during the process and for hours later, the patient is observed closely for any type of transfusion reaction.

As you can see, blood transfusions are an involved but often life saving tool in our arsenal. Triangle Veterinary Emergency Clinic would like to acknowledge and thank the staff members who have volunteered their pets to undergo this process for the good of our patients!

Too much waste?

2009-10-20T14:58:00.004-04:00

Have you ever wondered what to do with your pet waste? Here and here are great sites for information on pet waste composting!

Tax breaks for pet owners?

2009-10-20T12:39:00.002-04:00

Take a look at NPR's story about Republican Rep. Thaddeus McCotter of Michigan sponsoring a bill that would allow pet owners to deduct animal care expenses from their taxes.

Submit your photos!

2009-10-19T15:22:00.006-04:00

It's that time again - time to embarrass your pets!

Send in your Halloween pet photos and we'll help with the public humiliation by posting them on our blog. Be sure to include your pets name and any other information that you'd like included. Our e-mail address is Trianglevec@yahoo.com.

And don't forget, keep the chocolate far away from the four legged kids!

Upsetting our world view!

2009-10-19T10:12:00.004-04:00

Christopher Meehan of Villanova University in Pennsylvania has discovered a species of spider that eats acacia leaves. This is the first confirmed example of a spider that feeds primarily on plant matter.

Acacia plants have a fascinating mutually beneficial relationship with ants - resident ants will fiercely attack any potential marauders (such as caterpillars and browsers) that may harm the plant. In return, the plant supplies a home in large, hollow thorns and uses specialized glands to produce a sugary food for the ants.

This amazing spider has not only developed the ability to survive off of plant matter, he must also avoid these "vicious, biting ants". What an amazing world!

October 11-17 is National Veterinary Technician Week

2009-10-14T11:51:00.003-04:00

Veterinary Technicians are a vital part of your pet's health care team. Read here and here for information about what they do and how much they care.

From our friends at Pet Poison Helpline

2009-10-12T14:25:00.001-04:00

Pet Poison Helpline Offers List of Fall Toxins to Keep Pets Safe: Tips on seasonal foods and common household items that can put your pet at risk

The start of fall brings new seasonal household items that pose a threat to the safety of our pets. These common household items can cause serious problems if ingested by animals. Here is the list of seasonal products that the veterinarians at Pet Poison Helpline recommend keeping away from pets.

Mothballs: While you may think these white balls are benign, they are not. Mothballs typically contain either paradichlorobenzene or naphthalene. While the old fashioned mothballs (naphthalene) are often considered more toxic, both can be deadly. Symptoms include vomiting, severe abdominal pain, tremors, weakness, possible kidney or liver failure, and severe abnormality of your pet’s red blood cells.

Mushrooms: While most mushrooms are generally non-toxic, certain types can be very dangerous. One of the most dangerous is the Amanita phalloides or death cap mushroom which is found throughout the United States. The proper identification of mushrooms is extremely difficult and often only done by experts. Therefore, it is wise to consider all ingestions of unidentified mushrooms as toxic until proven otherwise. Depending on what type of mushroom is ingested, symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, depression, tremors, and seizures, with liver and kidney damage occurring later. Pet owners should scour their yard frequently to get rid of any mushrooms.

Antifreeze: As people prepare their boats, cars or cabins for winter, pets may inadvertently be exposed to antifreeze. As little as one teaspoon in a cat or a tablespoon or two for dogs, depending on the size of animal, can be fatal. Signs of early poisoning include acting drunk or uncoordinated, excessive thirst, and lethargy. While signs may seem to improve after eight to twelve hours, internal damage is actually worsening, and crystals develop in the kidneys, which result in acute kidney failure. Immediate treatment with an antidote is vital.

Mouse and rat poisons (rodenticides): As you prepare to winterize your garage, cabin, or house, make sure to place poisonous baits in areas where your pet cannot reach them (i.e., high up on shelves, hidden behind work spaces, etc.). “Rodenticides also pose the potential for relay toxicity,” said Dr. Ahna Brutlag, assistant director of veterinary services at Pet Poison Helpline. “In other words, if your dog eats a bunch of dead mice poisoned by rodenticides, they can experience secondary effects.” Because there are several different types of chemicals in mouse and rat poisons, all with different active ingredients and types of action, it is imperative to keep your pets away from all of these potentially dangerous poisons.

Compost bins or piles: Piles of decomposing and decaying organic matter and molding food products in your backyard compost pile have the potential to contain ‘tremorgenic mycotoxins’, meaning molds which cause tremors. Even small amounts ingested can result in tremors or seizures within 30 minutes to several hours.

Red maple leaves: Horse lovers, beware. As little as one pound of dried maple leaves blowing into your horse’s pasture can be toxic. When ingested, these leaves result in a severe hemolytic anemia – it causes red blood cells to rupture, causing weakness, pale gums, an elevated heart rate and shock.

The best thing any pet owner can do is to be educated on common household toxins, and to make sure you pet-proof your house appropriately. Make sure to keep all these products in labeled, tightly-sealed containers out of your pet’s reach. When in doubt, if you think your pet has been poisoned, contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680 with any questions or concerns.

About Pet Poison Helpline
Pet Poison Helpline is a service available 24 hours, seven days a week for pet owners, veterinarians and vet techs that require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet. Staff can provide treatment advice for poisoning cases of all species, including dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, large animals and exotic species. As the most cost-effective option for animal poison control care, Pet Poison Helpline’s fee of $35 per incident includes follow-up consultation for the duration of the poison case. Pet Poison Helpline is available in North America by calling 800-213-6680.

Home

About Us

Events

2009-10-05T13:58:00.000-04:00

Do you think they're spoiled?

2009-10-01T17:29:00.003-04:00

Think you spoil your pets? Check out these pet mansions!

What's the matter, cat got your tongue?

2009-10-01T09:53:00.017-04:00

Let me introduce you to Bernice, a thirteen year old cat that was referred by her regular veterinarian to my care this summer. As a veterinary specialist, I often see cases that need specialized diagnostic tests (ultrasound, endoscopy) and critical care. Bernice was not eating, and she was vomiting and swallowing in an exaggerated manner. And, oh by the way, Bernice had lost her meow. She would open her mouth and try to meow, but nothing came out. Quite the opposite of the old saying – cat’s got your tongue. Something was wrong with Bernice and she needed help. Her owner was concerned that something might be stuck in her throat, which was a definite possibility given the sudden onset of her concerns. We also had to consider that there might be a tumor or other abnormal growth in her throat.

Basic x-rays of her neck and chest did not reveal any problems. She was sedated and an endoscope (a small camera used to examine various areas of the body) was used to look in the dark recesses of her mouth, windpipe and throat. Lo and behold, just above the roof of her mouth, was a blade of grass. Bernice, being a cat who loved going outside for her daily constitutionals, had eaten some grass and apparently vomited the grass, as animals will do. Unfortunately for Bernice, a large blade of grass had lodged itself above the roof of her mouth and caused her distress. She had lost her voice and appetite because of this one piece of grass. Within minutes of discovery, the blade of grass was extracted. No damage to her throat was noted. She recovered well from anesthesia and she is back home, meowing again and hopefully avoiding grass as part of her diet.

Cindy Stubbs, DVM, MS, DACVIM

The irrepressible nature of cats!

2009-09-28T12:27:00.001-04:00

National Geographic Program

2009-09-25T11:39:00.001-04:00

Airing this weekend, National Geographic's program on unlikely animal bonds.

An Interview with Dr. Frank

2009-09-24T10:21:00.012-04:00

Dr. Paul Frank is a Board Certified Veterinary Radiologist, and has been with TVEC since September 2008. Recently we sat down for a conversation with Dr. Frank.

So, tell us, what exactly is a Veterinary Radiologist?

Well, the easiest answer is that I do the same job as a human Radiologist, I just work with different species. The long answer is that a Radiologist helps other veterinarians determine which imaging studies are most appropriate for their patients, helps acquire the images (in some cases), and interprets the images for the other veterinarians. We work with x-rays (radiology), ultrasound, MRI, CT (‘CAT scan’), and nuclear medicine as ways to image the patient. Each modality has its own pros and cons, and radiologists are trained to use them on all different types of species. The American College of Veterinary Radiology (ACVR) has a good website that explains this in more detail. Currently at TVEC, radiology and ultrasound are available in house, and MRI is available off-site.

Wow! I didn’t even know that there was such a thing as “specialists” in veterinary medicine, not to mention Veterinary Radiologists.

Yep, we exist! In reality there are only about 300 Board Certified Veterinary Radiologists in the ACVR (and not all of those are in this country). But there are also Internists, Surgeons, Dermatologists, Ophthalmologists, Oncologists, and on and on. If a medical procedure/test/therapy can be done for people, chances are it can be done for animals. And since many people these days are asking for the same quality of care for their pets as they get for themselves, it only makes sense that there are Veterinary Specialists to help provide that level of care.

When my pet gets x-rays made at my local veterinarian’s office, do they get interpreted by a Radiologist?

Probably not. Considering there are about 52,000 veterinarians who do some form of small animal practice in the USA, and only about 300 radiologists, it’s not really feasible for a Radiologist to review every case. And, General Practitioners are trained in proper ways of obtaining and interpreting x-rays, so it may not even be necessary in many cases. But for those cases that are challenging, or need a second opinion, a radiologist can be consulted. Just ask your veterinarian to submit the images to TVEC and they’ll usually get an answer the day the images arrive, with a written report to follow the next business day. Some veterinarians chose to submit all cases to a Radiologist, similar to the situation in human medicine, because they want the best possible care for their patients. And with the recent growth of the digital imaging in veterinary medicine, many vets can send their digital images to me via the internet (teleradiology), and get an answer sometimes in minutes!

What’s the most interesting species you’ve worked on in the past?

Probably the beluga whales. An aquarium asked me to help them get radiographs (x-rays) of their whales. It was quite an experience. My part was extremely limited, but watching the staff expertly pull-off this complicated procedure (they did much more than just get x-rays) was amazing. Of course, I had never seen any other beluga whale radiographs, so it was hard to really know what was ‘normal,’ but I think we helped the patient a great deal in any case. I’ve also worked with just about everything else imaginable. Birds, huge snakes, fish, lizards, ferrets, rats, all types of barnyard creatures. But my real passion is dogs and cats, and I’m fortunate to be able to really concentrate all of my energies on those two species here at TVEC.

Any interesting cases recently?

Really, people get into radiology for a variety of reasons, but one of the common things is that we like helping other veterinarians. It’s really rewarding to be able to help them make the pets feel better. So the recent case that sticks out in my mind isn’t really all that ‘amazing’ or ‘gee-whiz’, but it’s interesting to me. It was an 11-month-old Golden Retriever who was limping. The local veterinarian didn’t see anything on the x-rays and asked me for a second opinion. I was able to help them find that the pet had panosteitis, a relatively harmless and self-limiting, but painful, condition. As far as the ‘gee-whiz’ factor, it always comes down to ‘animals eat the craziest things.’ It's always fun to try and figure out how much the coinage in a stomach is worth, and I remember one cat that had a big stomach full of the owner’s hair bands. What are they thinking!?

Above, the original image showing a coin in the stomach.

Above, the same image, manipulated to show the details. It's a dime!

Kitty with a stomach full of hair ties/bands.

Thanks Dr. Frank!

Photo courtesy of Lisa Pepin

2009-09-22T12:01:00.000-04:00

Photo courtesy of Lisa Pepin

2009-09-21T10:11:00.000-04:00

Photo courtesy of Lisa Pepin

2009-09-18T09:25:00.002-04:00

Did you know?

2009-09-17T14:14:00.002-04:00

September 28, 2009 is World Rabies Day.

"The mission of World Rabies Day is to raise awareness about the impact of human and animal rabies, how easy it is to prevent it, and how to eliminate the main global sources."

Source

A chance to see...

2009-09-17T10:59:00.004-04:00

Triangle Veterinary Emergency Clinic recently agreed to help out UNC photojournalism student Lisa Pepin with her class project and allowed her to shoot "24 hours in the life of a clinic".

We'll be posting some of Lisa's work over the next few days, giving you a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes at TVEC.

Our thanks to Lisa Pepin for sharing her work with us. Good job, Lisa!