Didn't we already know this?

Most pet owners have tried to deceive their animals at some point in time. If you've tried to sneak out of the house without your dog knowing, tried to convince him that his medication is actually a yummy treat, or even played the "which hand is the cookie in?" game, you may have have noticed that your dog has an uncanny ability to know what you're up to. A new study published in Animal Behavior Processes has shown that dogs are particularly sensitive to human cues. Researchers used three separate experiments to test their theories, but I bet we pet owners could have told them!

Water hazards aren't the only golf hazard.......

Here's a story of a dog who ate thirteen golf balls. TVEC's record is six!

Sam the Koala

In case you missed it...

Link

Of crows and worms...

Apparently Aesop got it right! Crows can use rocks to raise the level of water in a tube to get a floating worm! Click here for the story.

(Photo AP/University of Cambridge)

Interview: Sharon Zeigler

This is Part I of a multipart series of interviews with the Doctors and Staff of TVEC. We'd like you to get to know a little bit about us and some of the specifics of what we do and how we work.

First up is Sharon Ziegler. She's the Office Manager here, and she gets to deal with some of the non-medical issues in a modern veterinary practice. Let's see what it's like to be Sharon (she's the one on the right side of the picture).


First the facts. Tell us about your background.

Well, I have a BS in Animal Science from NCSU and i've worked in veterinary medicine for over 20 years. I took a 7 year hiatus from the field when I was the General Curator for the Carnivore Preservation Trust, where I worked with 17 exotic species of big cats and other carnivores. I've been with TVEC for almost 10 years, initially as a technician and now as Hospital Manager.

What's the most difficult issue that you deal with in your position as manager?

Finances.

Few pet owners are prepared for their pet to suffer a major medical emergency. In the midst of such an emergency is the worst possible time to have to figure out how you're going to pay for treatment. I would strongly encourage all pet owners to have a contingency plan in place for such situations - whether that means pet insurance, a credit card held in reserve, or a savings fund for pet care.

And the most frustrating issue?

Probably the most frustrating part of working in emergency medicine is the number of animals suffering from completely preventable illnesses and injuries. A few inexpensive vaccines will almost completely eliminate the possibility of parvo virus. A fenced-in yard dramatically reduces the chances of a pet being hit by a car. A pet that has been spayed or neutered has less of a tendency to escape or run away, get into fights, need emergency cesarean sections, develop an infected uterus, and develop prostate disease. Just as in human medicine, preventative medicine will save you money in the long run.

What's the best part of your job?

Without question, the best part of my job is seeing the joy of clients and pets when they are reunited after a serious illness or injury. So many of our patients arrive on a stretcher or in arms, and when that pet later walks out of our front door, we all celebrate. All of us are in this profession because of a strong dedication to and a love for animals - knowing that we have helped these families makes it all worthwhile.

Thanks, Sharon!

Once again!

Dr. Nunez is getting really comfortable on camera.

Lost dog saves boy...

Now if this doesn't tug at your heartstrings, nothing will...

That's gottta feel bad...

See the structure outlined in red on the radiograph (x-ray) above? That's the stomach. So what, you might say. The stomach is supposed to be filled with food, right? What if I told you this dog (2 years old, male-neutered, mixed breed) was vomiting, frequently? Hmmm. There shouldn't be a big distended stomach if the patient is vomiting. What if I told you the patient has a history of eating a bottle of epoxy glue? Uh oh.

With polyurethane glues, the glue absorbs water, enlarges, and then 'sets' in the stomach. The resultant concretion of glue then forms a mechanical obstacle to the passage of food and water, and can stimulate vomiting. One source says that it can expand up to 40 times the original volume. Fortunately for this pup, Dr. Grafinger was able to remove the glue surgically, and the patient is now as good as new! (Click here if you want to see an intra-operative photo of the glue being removed. Fair warning, it's PG-13 for blood).

I've never tasted it, but apparently some of these glues have a pleasant taste. Here's more information. Although I couldn't find any confirmed case reports in children, I presume it would also be a problem in children.

What is TVEC?

Sometimes it's easy for those who are involved in a business day in and day out to forget that not everyone understands the details of that business. Frequently, the staff and doctors at TVEC are surpised when friends and family don't understand that our clinic is different from the traditional, local veterinarian. Many people are surprised when we tell them that there are such things as veterinary specialists. So this blog entry is an attempt to answer the question, "What is TVEC?"

Triangle Veterinary Emergency Clinic (TVEC) is actually two different types of veterinary facility rolled into one. As our name implies, we are a clinic that cares for pets who need immediate care at times when most local veterinarians are closed. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year. If your pet needs care and your veterinarian is either closed or too busy to see you (for instance, if he/she is in surgery or otherwise dealing with another patient), your veterinarian may ask you to bring your pet to us, even if they are open.

But there is more to TVEC than that. We also offer care for 'critical needs' pets, similar to a human intensive care unit. This may be a pet who needs observation and fluids overnight after surgery, a pet that needs to be on oxygen, a patient that needs a blood transfusion, or a whole host of other conditions that need intensive care. We have the expertise, nursing care, and equipment necessary to provide this higher level of care.

The second part of TVEC is the veterinary specialists. Currently we have Board Certified specialists in Internal Medicine, Surgery, and Radiology. We'll have a more detailed post on this topic in the future, but basically, 'Board Certified' means that the veterinarians have received additional training beyond veterinary school, and they have passed a rigorous examination by the appropriate College (e.g., American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine). These specialists see only those patients that are sent in by local veterinarians. Reasons for referral include advanced surgical procedures, complicated diseases, ultrasound examinations, endoscopy, or simply for a second opinion on a difficult case. (Go to these links to see more specifics - Surgery, Internal Medicine, Radiology).

Notice what we did NOT list as a part of our services. We did not list vaccinations, wellness exams, parasite control, spays/neuters, etc. We are not a primary care facility. Your local veterinarian does that sort of thing all day, every day, and they are very good at it. We are very good at what we do - the complicated stuff.

At TVEC we consider ourselves a part of your pet's healthcare team. These aren't just empty words; we really take this philosophy to heart. We make sure to communicate with both you and your local veterinarian every step of the way. In some cases, this team approach may mean that the pet stays with us for a short period of time and then is further managed by the local veterinarian, while in other cases the pet may get the majority of its care here at TVEC. Each pet, each owner, and each situation is unique; we tailor our approach specifically for each pet after consultation with both the pet owner and the local veterinarian. Our goal is to do what's right for the pet.

Hopefully this helps to define us better, as well as to give you a little bit of our philosophy. What other questions do you have? Feel free to leave questions in the 'Comments' section.

Walk for Animals!

Under the category of "better late than never," here's some pics from the Fall 2008 'Walk for Animals. (The APS of Orange County has changed their name to Paws4Ever). See, doesn't it look fun?! Don't you want to participate this year? Enjoy!

Poison Control for Pets

We've had several posts on pets that have accidentally been poisoned. Ever wonder why we recommend that you call poison control in these cases? Here's why.

Amber Alert for pets?

An interesting new service is available. It's a service that sends out messages to shelters, groomers, pet stores, veterinarians, (or anyone else who wants to register) when a pet owner notifies the company that a pet is lost. The message alerts the receipients that the pet has been lost and gives a description and picture of the pet. So it's sort of like an Amber Alert for a lost pet! Hopefully, one of the recipients will see the animal, contact the company, and the company will contact the owner. Pet owners have to pay to register their pet with the service.

This is a new service, so we don't know whether to recommend it or not. But it's definitely in the "Why didn't I think of that?" category. This company uses existing technology to create an email/Twitter list and then it sends out messages to local subscribers when the owner lets them know the pet has been lost or stolen. Brilliant!

It's probably best to have a backup plan as well. Microchips are manufactured by multiple companies. Chances are your veterinarian carries at least one brand. When a pet with a microchip is brought in to a shelter or humane society, the animal can be scanned to read the microchip and find the registered owner. Or, some veterinarians can tattoo your dog for permanent identification. Perhaps the best method is the good old fashioned, low tech collar and tags.

Whatever method you choose, just have a plan.