Dangerous algae has been found at an abandoned rock quarry at the Eno River State Park. These algae can be dangerous to both humans and pets who swim in or ingest contaminated water.
Park rangers have always discouraged using the quarry for recreation, but it should now be considered strictly off-limits for pets.
Here's the news release
Here's a website with information on algae. And another one here.
Disease in dogs
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Fire!
Everyone's worst nightmare: the vet clinic catches on fire. You've probably heard the news reports by now, but if not, here's a link. The short story is that a veterinary hospital exploded. All of the people escaped, but the animals were trapped inside. One of the vets was able to break down a door to get back in to the burning building and let the animals out. No humans were harmed, 4 pets (3 cats and 1 dog) eventually died, many were saved, and one dog is still missing.
(Update 3/16/09: The missing dog has been found and the cause of the fire was an 'electrical malfunction.')
Most of the news reports spin this as 'the heroic veterinarian saves the animals.' OSHA rules are to get the people out first, do NOT take time to save the animals, on the philosophy that no risk to human life is worth the gain to animal life. Fire experts say to never go back into a burning building, NEVER.
The thing that is interesting is what this incident shows about people and their relationship to animals. Clearly, this vet (and a good samaritan) ignored these rules and saved animal lives. This is just one more example of how people truly believe that animals DO have value, and people are willing to risk much in order to save them.
You may have also heard that recently Martha Stewart lost a puppy at a fire at a boarding kennel. Also at this fire, a person saved a dog in spite of being badly burned in the process. Again, the rules say save yourself, ignore the animals; this isn't what people actually do. Look at Hurricane Katrina. Many people refused to leave, even in dire situations, because they would have to leave behind their animals. Granted, many animals were left behind, but the point remains: animals are perceived by many to have value approaching that of another human being. One could argue whether this is valid, or good, or worthwhile, but it doesn't change the fact that the phenomenon is here to stay.
Veterinarians see this everyday as owners agonize over their sick pets. Perhaps the greatest feeling in the world is sending a healthy pet back to it's loving family.
(Update 3/16/09: The missing dog has been found and the cause of the fire was an 'electrical malfunction.')
Most of the news reports spin this as 'the heroic veterinarian saves the animals.' OSHA rules are to get the people out first, do NOT take time to save the animals, on the philosophy that no risk to human life is worth the gain to animal life. Fire experts say to never go back into a burning building, NEVER.
The thing that is interesting is what this incident shows about people and their relationship to animals. Clearly, this vet (and a good samaritan) ignored these rules and saved animal lives. This is just one more example of how people truly believe that animals DO have value, and people are willing to risk much in order to save them.
You may have also heard that recently Martha Stewart lost a puppy at a fire at a boarding kennel. Also at this fire, a person saved a dog in spite of being badly burned in the process. Again, the rules say save yourself, ignore the animals; this isn't what people actually do. Look at Hurricane Katrina. Many people refused to leave, even in dire situations, because they would have to leave behind their animals. Granted, many animals were left behind, but the point remains: animals are perceived by many to have value approaching that of another human being. One could argue whether this is valid, or good, or worthwhile, but it doesn't change the fact that the phenomenon is here to stay.
Veterinarians see this everyday as owners agonize over their sick pets. Perhaps the greatest feeling in the world is sending a healthy pet back to it's loving family.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Easter Lilies
As the Easter holiday approaches, many people are likely to have lilies in their household. But beware, these flowers do not come with the warning that they are toxic to cats! Many members of the lily family are in fact highly toxic to our feline friends, and if you've ever owned a cat you know how inquisitive they are to new things in their environment. A new plant in the house could mean a new chew toy for your cat!
Lily toxicity causes renal (kidney) failure in felines and can be fatal. According to the National Animal Poison Control Center, even very small amounts of the lily (a few bites on a leaf or ingestion of pollen) can be highly toxic.
The Easter, Tiger, Stargazer, Japanese show, Asian, and some species of the Day lily are toxic and can be fatal if ingested. While toxic to cats, lilies are not known to cause problems with dogs.
Signs and symptoms of lily ingestion:
The National Animal Poison Control Center is available 24 hours by phone (888) 426-4435.
Lily toxicity causes renal (kidney) failure in felines and can be fatal. According to the National Animal Poison Control Center, even very small amounts of the lily (a few bites on a leaf or ingestion of pollen) can be highly toxic.
The Easter, Tiger, Stargazer, Japanese show, Asian, and some species of the Day lily are toxic and can be fatal if ingested. While toxic to cats, lilies are not known to cause problems with dogs.
Signs and symptoms of lily ingestion:
- Vomiting
- Mild depression or lethargy
- Anorexia (no interest in food)
- Often cats can appear normal with no symptoms
The National Animal Poison Control Center is available 24 hours by phone (888) 426-4435.
Snakebites
Believe it or not, we have already started to see snakebites this year here at TVEC. Although it's cold today, when the sun finally comes out and spring rolls around, the snakes will come out of the woodwork!
The most common venomous snake in the Triangle area is the Copperhead snake. The copperhead’s bite is rarely fatal, but can cause serious reactions to humans and pets alike. Other venomous snakes which are sometimes seen in the area include the rattlesnake (pigmy, canebreak) and water mocassin (cottonmouth). Down towards the coast, you might encounter a coral snake or a diamondback rattlesnake. Typically cats and dogs are bitten on the face, in the mouth, or on the feet.
Scarlet king snakes are more common, but they aren't venomous. They look like coral snakes, but with a slightly different color pattern. "Red and yellow, kill a fellow; red and black, friend of Jack." This means if the red and yellow stripes are touching, it's a venomous coral snake. If the red and black stripes are touching, it's the non-venomous species.
Frequently, we get reports from clients that their dog was bitten while killing the snake to protect their owners! Other times the bite is not witnessed, but the animal returns from outside with a swollen face or foot.
Signs of a snake bite usually appear within 30 minutes of the bite and include:
If you suspect your animal has been bitten by a snake, seek a veterinarian’s care! While the copperhead’s bite is typically not fatal to a healthy animal, the consequences of a bite are painful and can be treated by your veterinarian. If your animal is geriatric (older than 8years) or has a medical condition, the copperhead’s bite can be life threatening. Regardless of the specifics of the pet or the snake, seek veterinary care if you suspect a snakebite. Prompt treatment for any animal suspected to be a snake bite victim is essential. Don't try to catch or kill the snake; you don't want to be a victim too!
Most people think that anti-venom is essential or else the pet will die. Not true. Most animals recover well with treatment that does not include anti-venom. Anti-venom is also very expensive and not always available. The tricky part is you have to decide on whether or not to use it early on, before you know how bad the patient is going to be. Again, ask your vet.
Raley got bit on the face by a copperhead (her muzzle is usually about 1/2 this size)! She did well with a combination of steroids and antihistamines.
The most common venomous snake in the Triangle area is the Copperhead snake. The copperhead’s bite is rarely fatal, but can cause serious reactions to humans and pets alike. Other venomous snakes which are sometimes seen in the area include the rattlesnake (pigmy, canebreak) and water mocassin (cottonmouth). Down towards the coast, you might encounter a coral snake or a diamondback rattlesnake. Typically cats and dogs are bitten on the face, in the mouth, or on the feet.
Scarlet king snakes are more common, but they aren't venomous. They look like coral snakes, but with a slightly different color pattern. "Red and yellow, kill a fellow; red and black, friend of Jack." This means if the red and yellow stripes are touching, it's a venomous coral snake. If the red and black stripes are touching, it's the non-venomous species.
Frequently, we get reports from clients that their dog was bitten while killing the snake to protect their owners! Other times the bite is not witnessed, but the animal returns from outside with a swollen face or foot.
Signs of a snake bite usually appear within 30 minutes of the bite and include:
- Intense pain/swelling of affected area
- Panting and discomfort
- Bleeding from puncture site
- Lameness, if bitten on a leg or foot
- Drooling, if bitten around the mouth
- Bruising
If you suspect your animal has been bitten by a snake, seek a veterinarian’s care! While the copperhead’s bite is typically not fatal to a healthy animal, the consequences of a bite are painful and can be treated by your veterinarian. If your animal is geriatric (older than 8years) or has a medical condition, the copperhead’s bite can be life threatening. Regardless of the specifics of the pet or the snake, seek veterinary care if you suspect a snakebite. Prompt treatment for any animal suspected to be a snake bite victim is essential. Don't try to catch or kill the snake; you don't want to be a victim too!
Most people think that anti-venom is essential or else the pet will die. Not true. Most animals recover well with treatment that does not include anti-venom. Anti-venom is also very expensive and not always available. The tricky part is you have to decide on whether or not to use it early on, before you know how bad the patient is going to be. Again, ask your vet.
- Here is a good website on the snakes of North Carolina
- Here's a good website for information on snake bites in pets
Raley got bit on the face by a copperhead (her muzzle is usually about 1/2 this size)! She did well with a combination of steroids and antihistamines.
Dog Saves Dog
This happened in December in Santiago, Chile. Even though it's old, it's good enough to share.
A traffic camera captures a canine drama. One dog wanders into a busy highway and gets hit by several cars. As he sits in the highway, unable to walk, another dog comes in and drags the first dog to safety. Some sources say the first dog lives, but other sources say that no one knows.
Warning: The first part of this video is harsh as the first dog gets hit.
Objectively, we shouldn't ascribe emotions to animals. But it's hard to watch this without your heart in your throat, amazed at the bravery and compassion of the second dog. Whether the second dog knew how much danger they were in is irrelevant. This is still a brave little friend.
A traffic camera captures a canine drama. One dog wanders into a busy highway and gets hit by several cars. As he sits in the highway, unable to walk, another dog comes in and drags the first dog to safety. Some sources say the first dog lives, but other sources say that no one knows.
Warning: The first part of this video is harsh as the first dog gets hit.
Objectively, we shouldn't ascribe emotions to animals. But it's hard to watch this without your heart in your throat, amazed at the bravery and compassion of the second dog. Whether the second dog knew how much danger they were in is irrelevant. This is still a brave little friend.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Scratching Posts
It's been quite a zoo here at TVEC lately. Not just a lot of cases, but a lot of very sick pets who need lots of care. It falls on the nurses (or technicians as they are more commonly called in veterinary medicine) to do the dirty work.
Being a veterinary nurse is hard work, but we are lucky to have some of the best in the business. They have to pay attention to the various patients, learning each pet's unique personality. Is this pet going to be one who is going to chew out their catheter? Is this pet going to respond better to being held this way, or that way? Does this pet like a lot of blankets, or do they like less? They have to anticipate problems before they occur if possible, and clean up the mess if they can't. Bodily fluids of all types have to be collected and analyzed, replaced, or just cleaned up. Dosages have to be calculated and double checked, tests need to be run, x-rays need to be taken, and everything needs to be done 10 minutes ago. Did I mention cleaning? It's constant. Dirty laundry multiplies in the bin. And all the while there are doctors making demands, receptionists are calling for patients to be brought to the owner, and clients are asking questions.
What impresses me the most is how they manage to do it all with a minimum of fuss and with so much compassion for the pets. You think you baby talk your pets at home? That's nothing compared to the sweet talk that goes on in here. If a pet appears to need something, it's usually the nurses who spot it first.
Being a veterinary nurse/technician is a demanding job that requires many skills, both technical skills and "people" skills. I once had a veterinary nurse joke that she was just a "scratching post for sick cats."
No, you're not. You're much more than that.
Being a veterinary nurse is hard work, but we are lucky to have some of the best in the business. They have to pay attention to the various patients, learning each pet's unique personality. Is this pet going to be one who is going to chew out their catheter? Is this pet going to respond better to being held this way, or that way? Does this pet like a lot of blankets, or do they like less? They have to anticipate problems before they occur if possible, and clean up the mess if they can't. Bodily fluids of all types have to be collected and analyzed, replaced, or just cleaned up. Dosages have to be calculated and double checked, tests need to be run, x-rays need to be taken, and everything needs to be done 10 minutes ago. Did I mention cleaning? It's constant. Dirty laundry multiplies in the bin. And all the while there are doctors making demands, receptionists are calling for patients to be brought to the owner, and clients are asking questions.
What impresses me the most is how they manage to do it all with a minimum of fuss and with so much compassion for the pets. You think you baby talk your pets at home? That's nothing compared to the sweet talk that goes on in here. If a pet appears to need something, it's usually the nurses who spot it first.
Being a veterinary nurse/technician is a demanding job that requires many skills, both technical skills and "people" skills. I once had a veterinary nurse joke that she was just a "scratching post for sick cats."
No, you're not. You're much more than that.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Parvo!
(Warning: the following sentence will remind you of a late-night TV commercial).
If you have a new puppy, or are thinking about getting one, YOU NEED TO READ THIS!
(Sorry, we're not trying to sell you the latest and greatest nose hair trimmer. Parvo really is a bad disease. If you don't know about it, keep reading).
Soon it will be warmer, and we anticipate our yearly rise in parvo cases. Parvovirus causes a horrible disease in puppies or adolescent dogs. It's EXTREMELY CONTAGIOUS. Basically, every environment your dog is likely to encounter probably contains some parvovirus. If your puppy is either unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated, exposure to the virus often leads to disease. Many dogs will die, either from dehydration secondary to profound vomiting and diarrhea, or from secondary infections. Even if treated appropriately, once symptoms develop, not all dogs will make it. Most adult dogs are immune, either from prior disease or vaccination.
We usually see more disease in the spring, when people start taking their puppies out to the park or even just to walk around the neighborhood. The problem is, so does everybody else! And if one dog is shedding the virus, the area gets contaminated. The virus is very hardy, and can live for months in the environment. The unprotected puppy walks down to the local park and gets infected.
Treatment usually involves hospitalization and intravenous fluids and antibiotics. Many potential complications can develop, and as mentioned earlier, not all treated animals will live. It can also be very expensive to treat dogs with parvovirus.
A very good vaccine exists, but it's still difficult to get puppies protected. You have to vaccinate them early and often (but not too often!) in order to get them protected. So follow your veterinarian's advice and make sure to complete the entire vaccine series for your dog. (Some breeds, like Rottweilers, are more at risk and need more vaccines than other dogs).
Things to remember:
Update 3/14/09: Even celebrities' dogs aren't immune!
If you have a new puppy, or are thinking about getting one, YOU NEED TO READ THIS!
(Sorry, we're not trying to sell you the latest and greatest nose hair trimmer. Parvo really is a bad disease. If you don't know about it, keep reading).
Soon it will be warmer, and we anticipate our yearly rise in parvo cases. Parvovirus causes a horrible disease in puppies or adolescent dogs. It's EXTREMELY CONTAGIOUS. Basically, every environment your dog is likely to encounter probably contains some parvovirus. If your puppy is either unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated, exposure to the virus often leads to disease. Many dogs will die, either from dehydration secondary to profound vomiting and diarrhea, or from secondary infections. Even if treated appropriately, once symptoms develop, not all dogs will make it. Most adult dogs are immune, either from prior disease or vaccination.
We usually see more disease in the spring, when people start taking their puppies out to the park or even just to walk around the neighborhood. The problem is, so does everybody else! And if one dog is shedding the virus, the area gets contaminated. The virus is very hardy, and can live for months in the environment. The unprotected puppy walks down to the local park and gets infected.
Treatment usually involves hospitalization and intravenous fluids and antibiotics. Many potential complications can develop, and as mentioned earlier, not all treated animals will live. It can also be very expensive to treat dogs with parvovirus.
A very good vaccine exists, but it's still difficult to get puppies protected. You have to vaccinate them early and often (but not too often!) in order to get them protected. So follow your veterinarian's advice and make sure to complete the entire vaccine series for your dog. (Some breeds, like Rottweilers, are more at risk and need more vaccines than other dogs).
Things to remember:
- Take your new puppy to the veterinarian very soon after you get him/her.
- Follow your veterinarian's advice about vaccines (it's way cheaper than treating your dog for parvo).
- Don't take your new puppy to any public place until it has finished it's series of puppy vaccines. (Your puppy could still get parvo even if it never leaves your yard, but public parks and other high traffic areas make for higher risk of contamination).
Update 3/14/09: Even celebrities' dogs aren't immune!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Fatty Liver
Recently the Internal Medicine service has seen a few cases of a disease called hepatic lipidosis, more commonly known as fatty liver. It's much more common in cats, but it can happen in lots of animals, including dogs, cows, and people. Birds too. (Can you say "foie gras")? Although it can be completely reversed, if not caught in time, it can be fatal.
Almost all cases of fatty liver disease in cats are caused by decreased caloric intake. It doesn't matter why they stop eating. It could be another disease has made them ill, another cat has moved into the house and made them mad, the neighbors got a new dog, the arrival of a new child at home, a diet change by the owners, anything. If they get mad or ill and don't eat enough, they'll get fatty liver. Fat begins to accumulate in the liver. Eventually, the liver stops working, this makes the cat feel sick, and they eat less, making the disease worse. It's a vicious cycle.
The treatment is food. Food, in this case, is the 'drug' that will reverse the condition.
Even if you fix the initial problem, many cats are so sick by then that they won't eat. Fortunately, cats tolerate feeding tubes very well. These are tubes placed into the esophagus or stomach that allow us to give the cat enough food to reverse the liver disease even if they don't voluntarily eat. It may sound a little weird at first, but it works! And most cats are much more tolerant of the tubes than you might think.
So if you are thinking of changing your cat's diet, or if your cat has stopped eating, or if you have any new event in your cat's life that may effect his or her appetite, talk to your veterinarian. Signs to look for that may indicate liver disease (including fatty liver) are:
Talk to your vet, especially if your cat's ears or mucous membranes are yellow, like the kitty below!
Here's some other information about fatty liver:
Almost all cases of fatty liver disease in cats are caused by decreased caloric intake. It doesn't matter why they stop eating. It could be another disease has made them ill, another cat has moved into the house and made them mad, the neighbors got a new dog, the arrival of a new child at home, a diet change by the owners, anything. If they get mad or ill and don't eat enough, they'll get fatty liver. Fat begins to accumulate in the liver. Eventually, the liver stops working, this makes the cat feel sick, and they eat less, making the disease worse. It's a vicious cycle.
The treatment is food. Food, in this case, is the 'drug' that will reverse the condition.
Even if you fix the initial problem, many cats are so sick by then that they won't eat. Fortunately, cats tolerate feeding tubes very well. These are tubes placed into the esophagus or stomach that allow us to give the cat enough food to reverse the liver disease even if they don't voluntarily eat. It may sound a little weird at first, but it works! And most cats are much more tolerant of the tubes than you might think.
So if you are thinking of changing your cat's diet, or if your cat has stopped eating, or if you have any new event in your cat's life that may effect his or her appetite, talk to your veterinarian. Signs to look for that may indicate liver disease (including fatty liver) are:
- Jaundice (a yellowish color to the mucous membranes)
- Vomiting
- Decreased appetite
- Weight loss
- Lethargy
- If severe, neurologic signs (e.g., seizures, blindness, drooling)
Talk to your vet, especially if your cat's ears or mucous membranes are yellow, like the kitty below!
Here's some other information about fatty liver:
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Amputation
Are you facing the possibility of having your pet's limb amputated? It's a tough decision to make. Most of us think about what it would be like to lose a limb, and we assume that our pets would feel the same way. But in reality, pets don't lose much sleep over it. They aren't worried about what the other dogs will think of them, and they don't worry about it being "undignified." Usually, the reason for an amputation is a painful condition (e.g., cancer, trauma), and once you remove the source of pain, most pets adapt very well. (One of the TVEC docs has a three-legged cat who will successfully climb 6 foot privacy fences if you don't watch out. She's got the strongest front legs in the world!)
If your pet is facing this problem, and you're not sure what to do, first talk to your vet. Tell him/her about your concerns and ask the questions you want to ask. This is definitely your best source of information. If you're the type of person who needs or likes to find more information on the internet, here's a good site to check out. It's written by people who have been there and done that. Also try the amputation FAQ's at BoneCancerDogs.com. This is another good website for those with pets facing this disease.
Disclaimer: These websites have some good information, but we can't promise that all of it will apply to your pet. We provide the links just to give you more information. Again, talk to your vet!
If your pet is facing this problem, and you're not sure what to do, first talk to your vet. Tell him/her about your concerns and ask the questions you want to ask. This is definitely your best source of information. If you're the type of person who needs or likes to find more information on the internet, here's a good site to check out. It's written by people who have been there and done that. Also try the amputation FAQ's at BoneCancerDogs.com. This is another good website for those with pets facing this disease.
Disclaimer: These websites have some good information, but we can't promise that all of it will apply to your pet. We provide the links just to give you more information. Again, talk to your vet!
In the womb
National Geographic has produced some interesting videos that deal with the development of cats, dogs, and other animals. It includes "4D" ultrasound of dogs as well as intra-uterine video. Should be good stuff!
It appears that the next airing will be on February 23rd. Check out the National Geographic website for more details.
It appears that the next airing will be on February 23rd. Check out the National Geographic website for more details.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Charlotte can breathe again!
Charlotte rivals Izzi on the cuteness factor. This young Pug presented to her veterinarian recently for vomiting and gagging. On the edge of her abdominal x-rays, it was noticed that her lungs were abnormal. Due to her breed, a lung lobe torsion was suspected. This is bad news! When the lung lobe twists around itself (torsion), it cuts off the blood supply to the lung lobe, and that portion of the lung literally dies. If Charlotte didn't have surgery to remove her dying lung lobe, it could kill her!
Charlotte did fantastic during and after surgery, where a torsion was confirmed. The effected lung lobe was removed and the pathologists confirmed that no tumor or other disease caused the problem. Recovery from thoracic surgery of any kind is always hard, but Charlotte did great. It helps that she is a certified therapy dog; her calm demeanor really helps when recovering from major surgery.
Interestingly, Pugs and Afghan Hounds tend to be predisposed to this problem. No one really knows why, but some people think that Pugs might have bronchial (windpipe) anatomy that is different than other dogs and makes this problem more likely. For Afghans, they are predisposed to chylothorax (accumulation of chyle - a type of fluid - in the chest cavity). Most people think that's why they get lung lobe torsions.
It's also interesting that a primary lung problem can initially look like an abdominal problem (vomiting). Charlotte's 'gagging' and 'retching' were likely unusual displays of coughing, due to her rotten lung lobe. That's part of what makes veterinary medicine so fun; the myriad ways that the same disease or problem can be expressed.
For those who are interested...
Lung lobe torsion paper 1
Lung lobe torsion paper 2
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