Bet you thought only kids did that!

One of the things that we love about emergency medicine is that it's so unpredictable.  Just last week, we saw something that a pediatrician more commonly experiences.  You hear about it in kids, but in dogs?

That's right.  It's a peanut.  And it was lodged deep in the nose of a maltipoo.  Mom had seen the dog playing with a peanut, and not long after he developed loud, stertorous breathing.  When Dr Reid, our Internal Medicine specialist, checked his upper airway with an endoscope, this is what she saw:

Once she located the peanut, it was no big deal to push it caudally toward the mouth, and then manually remove it.  Our patient had an uneventful recovery, and went home the same day, none the worse for wear.  We love happy endings!

A little hair in your tea?

 

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

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

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

All cafes must obtain a license and comply with strict requirements under the Animal Treatment/Protection laws. The cat cafes adhere to strict guidelines regarding cleanliness and the treatment of their cats. They have rules like letting the cats approach you, no children, and not disturbing the cats while sleeping.

Coming soon near you?

Submitted by Beth Bardell

Cold Weather Safety for Dogs and Cats

 

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

Small dogs and dogs with thin hair coats should wear coats when going outside for walks during very cold temperatures.  The best type of coat should be one that has a high collar and covers from the base of the tail on top to the belly underneath.  Sick or older dogs should only be walked outside to do their business and then they should come right back in.  During winter months, if possible keep pet beds away from cold drafts and make sure older animals have warm cozy beds or blankets to sleep on. 

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

 

Please remember that antifreeze and the salt that melts sidewalk ice is extremely toxic to animals. Pay very close attention to what your pet is doing while outside and do not let them drink any melted snow or water.

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

Submitted by Beth Bardell, TVRH

We've done it!

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!

We're almost ready to move!