Xylitol Dangers

Every sweet has its sour

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Humans are always making resolutions. It's a new year, time to make promises, resolutions they call them. Maybe humans just have toooo many choices. Us dogs, not so much. We don't decide to get up in the morning, or eat, or play, or run.... it just happens. What else is there to worry about? Humans decide what we eat, when we exercise.....

Humans are always making promises to exercise more, spend less, eat less, eat healthier........ they just have way toooo many choices!

Another common trait of humans is instead of settling for what they have they change everything to make it better and faster. Sometimes this works well, other times not so much. Have you heard about the telephones that burst into flames while they're talking on them?

So instead of just skipping sweets, or maybe eating less of them, humans decided to create a substitute for sugar. In theory what a phenomenal idea, eat to your hearts content without all of the added calories. One such product on the market is called Xylitol. This sugar substitute is used in many products such as sugar-free gum, peanut butter, nicotine gum, toothpaste, and chewable vitamins (see the unbelievable list at the end of this page). You can buy bags of the substitute at the grocery store and use it to bake muffins, cakes and cookies without the guilt of sugar!

But did you know that this product is toxic to your dog? Xylitol causes an overproduction of insulin (tricks the body into thinking it is sugar) and your dog's blood sugar levels drop extremely low (hypoglysemia). The first sign is vomiting, usually within 30-60 minutes of xylitol ingestion but can be seen as far out as 12 hours. Poisoning progresses rapidly from ataxia, lethargy, collapse, seizure and death without medical intervention. Acute liver failure is also a very real outcome for your dog.

Dogs that are suspected of ingesting Xylitol should be seen by a veterinarian immediately. Because symptoms develop rapidly,  immediate detoxification, I.V. sugar supplementation, monitoring of blood glucose and potassium levels, liver protectants and supportive care should be provided to the patient quickly.

We have compiled a list of common places to find Xylitol, great care should be taken not to allow pets to have contact with any of these items:

Medications:

nasal sprays

vitamins

fiber supplements

Dental Products:

toothpaste

chewing gum

breath fresheners

dental floss

mints

mouth sprays

mouth wash

Food:

drink powders

peanut butter

instant coffee

barbecue sauces

ketchup 

candy

chocolates

pancake syrup

pudding

Personal Care items:

baby wipes

baby diapers

nose and face wipes 

sunscreen

lip balm

makeup

makeup remover

Pass this information to anyone you know that has a dog and uses sugar substitutes such as Xylitol. It could save their pet's life.

Ta ta for now

Oli

We Need Each Other, Please Stop!

"Much smoking kills live men and cures dead swine."
George Dennison Prentice

Humans never seem to be satisfied. They like variety, seek out thrills.... always want something bigger and better. Good is bad, bad is good. Simple moments ignored.... the smell of the neighbors barbecue, chasing the same ball for hours, eating the same food night after night, peeing on the same tree day after day, now this is good stuff. Us dogs, we like repetition. We are satisfied by a "good boy", long walks, chasing squirrels.......

Many humans like to bring fire to their face.... what the heck!? The smoke rolls in and out without a cough, while we (your dog and cat) are over here with red eyes, coughing and sneezing..... is the place burning down?

Well believe it or not your harming us as much as yourselves. Secondhand smoke can cause cancer in your pets but that isn't the only risk!! Many people are now trying the electric cigarettes, nicotine patches and gum. All of these products are concentrated nicotine, a little goes a long way, right to the emergency clinic. Even the butts your squishing out on the driveway, poison dude, poison.

Let's look at the facts:

1. We don't live very long compared to a humans life expectancy. Hard to swallow I know and we cherish every moment we have with you! The average life expectancy of a dog is 10-12 years, the cat is a little longer, 12-19 years. Secondhand smoke can cause lung and nasal cancer in dogs, and repeated exposure of smoke to a cat doubles their chance of developing Lymphoma, as well as asthma and bronchitis.

2. Quit smoking. Did you know on the average a person who smokes a pack a day spends approximately $1000 a year on cigarettes? But let us also talk about your veterinary bill. Quit now and you will save money on your vet bill (or at least smoke outside).

3. E-cigarettes can be fatal to your pet! It takes only 5 milligrams of nicotine to cause problems for your pet. A regular cigarette has approximately 15-20 milligrams of nicotine, e-cigarette refill cartridges can have anywhere from 6 to 24 milligrams, then take into account that a package can have five to one hundred cartridges. According to the Pet Poison Hotline, the number of calls about nicotine poisoning from these new products has doubled. One cartridge could cause toxic signs in a 50 pound dog, but in a ten pound dog it could be fatal. Yikes!! And their flavoring them!!! Banana Cream Pie anyone???!!!

4. Nicotine poisoning happens rapidly in pets, typically within 15-60 minutes after ingestion.

5. Signs in dogs and cats: vomiting, diarrhea, irritation, increased heart and breathing rates, depression, tremors, seizures, coma, and cardiac arrest.

6. React quickly, because of the rapid onset every moment counts. Call your veterinarian immediately if you suspect nicotine poisoning.

I've heard how hard it is to stop sucking in all that smoke (my human mom was hooked and quit "cold turkey" when she fell in love with my dad). If you really love your pets you should think twice about lighting, vaping, whatever you want to call it. Quit today, we want you around as much as you want us around. If you can't do it (we know you can), then please take it outside (and don't drop that butt, it's lethal).

Tata for now
Oli

for more information check out these links:
Secondhand smoke harmful to pets as people: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/secondhand-smoke-as-harmful-to-pets-as-people/
E-Cigarettes and Pets Do Not Mix: http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/uncategorized/e-cigarettes-pets-mix/

BANG!

Has your best friend become afraid of loud noises? Do you dread the weather report predicting thunderstorms? Is July 4th on your blacklist? Is your pet destructive and you just don't understand why suddenly this is occurring?

Well the first huge problem is we can't tell you how or why we are feeling a certain way! Your only option is to become a detective, guessing and second guessing our every move. 

Noise phobia is a serious medical condition. Fear is a normal reaction, it keeps animals safe, "fight or flight" in response to a threat. Anxiety on the other hand is anticipation of a scary event, the worrying that something might happen. Noise aversion is both an anxiety as well as a fear induced condition. As it grows it becomes a phobia, extreme and irrational. This fear slowly becomes pathologic and starts to infringe on normal daily life. These pets start feeling like they are always in danger. every minute of the day. Anyone that has a pet with phobia issues like this knows what I'm talking about! These conditions should be treated quickly when it first appears, ultimately it will worsen over time. Can you imagine being frightened every hour of every day?

 Ways to tell if your pet is suffering from noise aversion? When a loud noise occurs do they howl, cry, shake, bark, destroy your house, urinate inappropriately, or try to escape? These could be telltale signs that your dog is over the top stressed out! It may be something as simple as the garbage man bangs the cans on the driveway, or kids yelling. Maybe your pet jumped off the couch the first time he heard the garbage man drop your can on the driveway and he tweeked his back. The pain associated with the bang makes him apprehensive, so overtime each time he hears the garbage truck coming he gets anxious, soon its any vehicle coming. Slowly this will grow into a very debilitating condition.

It is important to understand that this is a serious medical condition and your pet is crying out for help. We all know how stress affects our health, well same with your pet! Longterm stress on a body weakens the immune system, strains the brain and vital organs. and our relationship with our pet.

Talk to your veterinarian about these behaviors. He or she will probably recommend some general lab tests to rule out common diseases (hypothyroidism for one) that may also cause these symptoms. Your pet's doctor will develop a plan which may include visiting with a behavioralist, making changes in your pet's environment, or even medications. 

The main focus on treatment is altering the dogs response to the event that causes the anxiety. The key to this is not rewarding the anxious or fearful response. "OK" is a word that most dogs associate with a reward. Telling them during an anxious event that it is "OK" is rewarding a negative behavior. In turn the dog will now become more anxious. Petting can also be a reward, but during a stressful episode it is a reward for their anxiety. 

Gentle continuos pressure has been shown to be comforting, hugging is a great start. There are many products on the market with this idea in mind. Calming wraps such as the Thundershirt we carry at SAC has helped many pets including our own. Calming caps limit the dogs peripheral vision while also applying  mild pressure to the head and face. The Storm Defender Cape wraps around the pets body and decreases static electricity associated with storms (stormdefender.com).

Eye shields that prevent or limit light may help. Tinted Doggles or the mesh variety may ease the anxiety (Doggles.com). Blocking sound may also be an aid for your pet, Muttmuffs (Muttmuffs.com) have a product that may help.

We carry many different homeopathic calming medications that many clients have found helpful during an episode.  A new medication just recently launched could be the answer to get your dog back on track. Sileo, latin for "be silent", may help alleviate signs of noise aversion. The drug is administered by the owner between the lip and gum. It has a calming effect, not sedation so he or she will remain fully functioning and work through the episode. SAC has just started using this on some of our patients with severe noise aversion issues so stay tuned. 

Some important things to remember. 

Are you adding a puppy to a household where you already have a noise phobia dog?

This can be a learned response. If you have a dog with anxiety issues and plan on adding a new puppy to your household talk to your veterinarian about ways to prevent the new addition from "inheriting" these behaviors. Veterinary Behavioralists recommend conditioning a puppy to loud noises such as fireworks and thunderstorms by making it a game. Grab a ball or your puppies favorite toy and play through the storm. Who knows, maybe the old-timer will join in also!

There are certain noise phobia traits that are inherited, especially in herding breeds. Ask the breeder if the parents have exhibited noise anxiety. Caught early we can prevent the issues from snowballing.

What is causing my pets anxiety? Check out this informative video More then storms and fireworks

AAAAA HA

What is all the talk about AAHA at Stonecliff Animal Clinic of NH? Everyone's running around saying "yes, we did it, we are AAAAA HAAA accredited!"

Why are they so excited? Well to begin with I found out that AAHA stands for the American Animal Hospital Association. This organization is the only one of it's kind that accredits animal hospitals in the United States and Canada. Accredits? What exactly does that mean?

The definition of accreditation is: to consider or recognize as outstanding according to the Webster Dictionary. Unlike human hospitals, federal and state entities do not require animal hospitals to be accredited. This means that the quality of care is not regulated. When your AAHA accredited, the hospital and staff holds itself to a higher standard. Only 12-15% of all animal hospitals in the United States and Canada are accredited. Incredible huh?

So how did the staff at SACNH earn this award? We were evaluated on over 900 standards of veterinary excellence..... phew! After years of planning and working towards the day, SACNH underwent a six hour comprehensive onsite evaluation. They looked at all of our protocols and procedures, from pain management, anesthetic practices, medical knowledge, employee safety, diagnostic imaging and so on. It was a pretty crazy day..... lots of tension in the air because we wanted this sooooo bad! 

Why was this so important to the staff? 

Trusting someone with your best friend is such a hard thing to do, especially when they can't talk. AAHA accreditation is just one more way we can build your trust in our organization. Our staff are committed to doing everything we can to keep your pet healthy. You already know we are kind, compassionate, and intelligent. But with AAHA's backing we are showing you that behind the scenes we have what it takes to be the very best! It reaffirms to you that our staff are the best of the best. It reassures you that our medical practices follow the highest level of excellence. We are a team that works together cohesively, we share the same vision and strive to provide you with an incredible experience!

When the staff got word we had passed there was cheering, hugging, crying! Guess they all wanted this pretty bad! My parents are so proud of the team at SACNH! Mom hires for personality and smarts, my dad is an amazing surgeon and veterinarian. Somehow they have found the most talented and personable, and they did this for you and your pets. Don't worry, just because they finally passed the test doesn't mean they will let any of their practices falter. SACNH will continually be evaluated, just like a human hospital to help maintain excellence! Congrats to all, I'm proud to be a part of SACNH!!

         *to find out more about AAHA please click here

me and my dad 

Eat Your Vegetables

Vegetables and fruit can be a great way to reward your dog! Instead of reaching for the high fat treats, think fresh.  There are so many different low-fat food items that we all enjoy everyday that are just as appealing to our four-legged friends. But please remember, not all fruits and vegetables are safe for them, in fact some can even seriously harm them.
Below is a great list of safe fresh treats to let your pet sample. Remember to wash the items to remove any pesticides, and go slow, one is great but overdoing any item could cause dietary issues such as diarrhea.

Safe Fruits for Dogs:
Apples: remove the seeds and core (small traces of cyanide in pit so do avoid) can be gassy
Bananas: high sugar so limit amount
Watermelon: remove the rind and seeds to prevent blockages
Strawberries: high in sugar so limit amount
Oranges: peel removed along with seeds
Blueberries: super food rich in antioxidants
Pineapple: a few chunks but sweet, remove prickly outside
Pear: remove seeds and core (small traces of cyanide in pit so do avoid)
Peaches: remove pit (small traces of cyanide in pit so do avoid)
Mango: remove the pit (small traces of cyanide in pit so do avoid)

Safe Vegetables for Dogs:
Carrots: and great for teeth
Beans: right out of the garden!
Broccoli: only the stems
Cucumbers: low fat and boost energy levels
Celery: healthy heart and might even fight cancer
Potatoes: boiled and cubed
Sweet Potato: high fiber and vitamins washed, cooked and cubed

Avoid at all Cost:
Avocado
Grapes and Raisins
Tomato
Onions
Cherries

Just remember, treats in moderation! Some every now and then. Make sure you have a good dental hygiene regime already in place for your pets teeth. Brushing or rinsing once a day can help keep those chompers healthy, shiny and bright!

Tata for now
Oli

SACNH has a New Hospital!

Wow it has been a long time! Apologize for the hiatus……so many changes to life recently. Hard to keep track.
My mom and dad merged SAVES (24hr ER/Critical Care hospital) with Intown Veterinary Group(IVG). Why might you ask? Well the hospital has grown up over the last 5 years and mom and dad wanted to give SAVES the very best chance to really become all it could be and more. IVG will provide that opportunity. Between staff education, increased services in specialty and greater access to state of the art diagnostics and highly trained professionals, SAVES will continue to provide our community with top notch care and many more treatment options!

Stonecliff Animal Clinic of N.H. (SACNH) has moved out of the 63 Evans Drive Building that is home to SAVES. With the incredible growth of both hospitals, and sharing of facility, it was time for SACNH to move into their own hospital. My parents wanted to provide an incredible experience for our clients and their pets and I think they have succeeded. SACNH is now located in a brand new hospital at 227 Mechanic Street, Lebanon, N.H. Just one exit up on I-89 (exit 19), SACNH has their mind set on providing the community with a general veterinary practice that stands apart from all the rest. They have created an atmosphere that is so nice to visit for pets and their owners. And best news ever, I AM THERE!

So stay tuned for Open House announcements in the very near future.
Tata for now
Oliver

penny for your thoughts…..

I have noticed people don't seem to care about these little round pieces of metal…. my brother says you can't buy anything with them….  my mom gets excited when she finds one discarded on the ground as long as it is "heads up". Some of you humans think these are lucky. She always makes a "wish", something about everyone staying healthy or something like that. She does the same thing with four-leaf clovers, though she never seems to find those. Her friend Kerri finds them every time she looks……seriously!

Believe it or not these little pennies can be deadly to us pets! If you have been following this blog you probably already are aware that we love to eat everything, especially shiny stuff. Dad removes rocks from labs, brushes from boxers, shaving razors from terriers, and tinsel from cats….. if it can be swallowed my dad has removed it!

The difference with these little gems is that when a dog swallows a rock he begins to show telltale signs of an obstruction. These dogs stop eating, have diarrhea and vomit frequently. Their abdomens are painful….

United States pennies minted after 1982 are loaded with zinc, 99.2% by weight (the remainder is copper). Zinc is an essential trace element (with emphasis on trace) for normal body metabolism. Everyone,  pets and people need a small amount to stay healthy.

What happens if your pet eats some pennies? Believe me this isn't uncommon! The ASPCA Poison Control Center reported 4,660 dogs and 250 cats with known zinc exposure in 2010. The numbers are probably much higher since it can be misdiagnosed very easily.

What happens when your pet ingests pennies? Most patients start showing signs after a few days of eating the change. What begins as vomiting can escalate to death quite rapidly, depending on how many pennies have been eaten. Other common signs are loss of appetite,  diarrhea, and bloody stool. What disease or illness doesn't sound like this?
As the poisoning progresses it begins to look more like an immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA). Radiographs which show metallic objects in the dog can help rule out other diseases, though the absence does not rule out zinc toxicity! Blood testing for zinc levels, urinalysis and other laboratory testing is necessary when dealing with this poisoning.
So what happens when we find out your little love has had a meal of pennies?

We must provide supportive care and remove the source of poisoning. We treat the dehydration and shock with intravenous fluid therapy, and once the patient is stable we remove the foreign bodies. Time is the key for survival. The faster we can pinpoint the illness, the more likely the patient will recover fully!
For more information on zinc toxicity visit the ASPCA site!
Tata for now

Being Thankful

I hope everyone has something to be thankful for…. for me I am thankful for chipmunks that run.. warm sunshine naps…. the snacks in my mom's glovebox that she shares every time she comes out of the grocery store….tennis balls… friends in the park… breakfasts and dinners…. my little pink bed by the wood stove…. my dad who always knows how to make me feel better…. my sisters and brothers and all their weird little ways…. and most, most, most importantly…. my mom!!!

Thanksgiving is a quiet time at our house. Relatives are far away, and this year even one of my sisters is toooo far to travel. Last year my family spent 24 hours at SAVES to give the veterinary team a holiday of rest. So many wonderful people brought in so many yummy dinners for us! We have the best pets and their people around.

Please keep us safe. During the holidays there are so many different dangers. With all of the excitement, sometimes it is harder to keep track of us.

With the coming and goings…. be careful we don't accidental dart out. Sometimes it is better to put us in our own space, commotion in the house can make us REALLY stressed. We try very hard not to show you but trust me…. stressful!

That turkey carcass…. deadly! Remember also the strings you use to tie the legs….. cats love string soaked in bird juices…. this leads to a linear foreign body risk…… very dangerous and life threatening.

Candles….. pets love to investigate…. burned faces and tipped over fire hazards.

Food. So many yummy morsels! Don't forget… many of the things you people like to eat are extremely dangerous to us. Onions, grapes, raisins and garlic…. dark chocolate (the darker the more dangerous) and remember xylitol, that common sweetener is deadly to us (Xylitol Poisoning). Keep our treats around so that we don't feel left out, but don't overdo it, to many of a good thing turns bad quickly.

Holiday decorations can be so tempting to chew. Visit the ASPCA Poison Center for a very comprehensive list of poisonous plants. Pinecones and needles can be fun to play with, if (and when for many of us) swallowed they can cause intestinal blockages….. ugggggg

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and best of all remember, S.A.V.E.S. is open 24 hours a day, everyday! We are always here if you and your pet need us, always!

Happy Thanksgiving and Tata for now.
Oli

Summer has come and gone. September and even October will give us glimpses of those carefree days, but face it.... time to grow my winter coat.

Soon we will be relishing in the holidays. For some of us it is a time to give back, to share in good fortune.

Each day I am reminded of what a lucky dog I am. I do spend a lot of time under my mom's desk at SAVES, in Lebanon, NH., but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

The hard part for me is watching the staff struggle with injured and ill patients, with families that can not afford their care. SAVES has some pretty incredible programs to help with economic hardship, community contacts, and rescue connections. But unfortunately it isn't enough.

With more and more local veterinary hospitals referring their hard luck cases to SAVES, we are constantly struggling to make the program work.

Why do other hospitals refer these patients to us?

Because they know SAVES is a compassionate group, we love pets and have taken the time to create some pretty incredible programs for these silent victims. They know we have incredible staff willing to explore every avenue, to leave no rock unturned. Sometimes it isn't enough. SAVES contributes hundreds of staff hours and procedures each year to help. But we can only do so much before we are in financial hardship ourselves.

So what happens if your pet is suddenly injured or ill and you have only enough money to buy groceries for your family? Hard choices must be made.

At SAVES we look at all your options.

We can help you qualify for a short term credit card called CareCredit. This unfortunately only works if you have a good credit history.

Sometimes we can set you up for a short term loan, this requires a 50% down payment. Regular payments are then collected each week directly from your bank account. This only works if you have the required percentage as a down payment.

The Brutus Fund- this fund is a rotating pool that if an applicant is eligible, they can borrow from until they are more financially stable again. The idea is the recipient repays the fund when times are better. Only owners that meet strict criteria are eligible for this fund. This fund is only available as long as there is cash in it.


Emergency and critical care can be extremely costly. We understand that not everyone can take on such unexpected costs. Our funding is very fragile. We need a constant replenishment in order to keep the fund viable. We rely on donations for this program.

Each week we will showcase the patients that have benefited from this fund. Visit our Facebook page
The Brutus Fund and witness how this fund is helping your neighbors. All of us can help these silent victims in our community. Thank you to everyone that has already donated to this incredible cause!

May I

May has come and gone.... 

My sister graduated from the university.... I wasn't invited. No dogs! (remember when I snuck in and slept in the dorm....)

My mom and my sister left for Colorado right after that.... no dogs allowed! 

They went on a road trip, I missed my mom so much.... my other sister showed me pictures on Facebook as they traveled across the country... my sister sent my mom pictures of me waiting at the top of the driveway for her to return.....

May has been a sad month.... my mom was gone a lot for other reasons also. The only thing that has gotten me through is my family knows that as long as I get LOTS of exercise I can survive.

We said goodbye to an old friend.... Scratchy was hit by a car at our new house. The driver never stopped and Scratch somehow managed to get home and lay on our door mat. Dad rushed him to S.A.V.E.S. but his chest was so injured..... I think I am starting to understand what it means by the saying "my heart is breaking".

Another old friend Bailey passed away.... she never really liked me but I thought she was beautiful (even when she barked at me nonstop).

My mom misses my sister so much, and Scratch.... luckily she has me and I know what she needs. Long walks in the country, my head in her lap when she is trying to work, a kiss in the morning before she opens her eyes..... she needs to stay busy until her heart mends and she can just remember great times we have all had together, and it won't hurt as much.

tata for now

Tick Protection

Today I went to Stonecliff Animal Clinic of NH for my yearly checkup. OK, so if you follow my blog you know I go to the hospital everyday.... but today I got to go in the exam room with my dad, Dr. Kelly. Yearly checkups are important since between each of my yearly visits, I have aged seven human years. A lot can go wrong in that length of time and the quicker you catch it, the better chance you have of living a long, happy life!

My dad looked at my teeth and mouth.... my eyes and ears.... from head to toe he checked me over. I checked out perfect!

I needed some vaccinations, ouch! It really wasn't that bad.... I didn't even notice since he also fed me treats! The big news is there is a new way of protecting us from Lyme Disease. The hospital has just received it's first shipment of the new vaccine that now protects your dog in two different ways. 

The new vaccine contains two isolates of Borrelia Burgdorferi (the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease), where previous vaccines only carried one. Why is this important? This makes the vaccine much more effective in killing the bacteria within the tick as well as in the early stages in your pet. That's right, we are basically vaccinating your dog and any tick that bites him!!! For a more in-depth look at Lyme Disease visit VetMedicine and view my previous blog from May 25, 2010.

The downside is the vaccine needs to be boostered 3-4 weeks after the initial injection. After that it is a yearly booster. Why two injections? In order to make sure your dogs immune system is recognizing that new isolate, we re-introduce it one more time to vamp up the protection.

So what if you don't want to booster it? The vaccine will still protect just fine against the first isolate like the old vaccine, it just won't give you the added protection against the newest variable.

Don't forget, the strongest defense against Lyme Disease for your pet is a combination of vaccine and monthly topical products, AND ticks carry more then just Lyme Disease. No vaccine is 100%, and relying on that alone would not be a good decision. Use monthly topicals to prevent Ehrlichia and Anaplasmosis, and many more tick-borne diseases.

The CDC has a great overview on the life cycle of the tick, identifying them, and how the disease is transmitted. 

tata for now

National Poison Prevention Awareness Week

Happy first day of Spring! Couldn't tell by looking outside. 

This week is National Poison Prevention Awareness Week. At Small Animal Veterinary Emergency Services, we see a lot of pet poisoning every week. Trust me, it happens so easily. I can't tell the difference between a good mushroom and a bad one! My family loves chocolate... how come they can eat it and I can't! Come on, now I have to be careful with what types of sticks I chew on. You humans have your job cut out for you trying to keep us healthy.

So here are the most common poisons to keep away from us.

Top 10 Pet Toxins 

1. Prescription Human Medications: top three, heart medications, anti-depressants, and pain medications

2. Insecticides used in and around your house

3. Over-The-Counter-Medications: acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen to name a few.

4. Veterinary Products: flavored tabs especially.

5. Household toxins: fire logs to cleaning products.

6. People food: garlic, onions, avocado, macadamia nuts to name a few. Don't forget Xylitol in candy.

7. Chocolate: baking being the most toxic (check out my chocolate toxicity calculator at the top of the page.)

8. Plants: inside and outside!

9. Rodenticides: don't forget about the newest Bromethalin.

10. Lawn and garden products: snail mouse and rat baits and fertilizer to name a few.

If you suspect your pet has been poisoned please call your veterinarian immediately. Remember, always bring the container of the suspected poison to the hospital with you!

To find out more about poisons that could be harmful to your pet, check out the ASPCA site.

Tata for now.....

claws and spit

I never really have gotten the hang of "hanging" with cats. When I try to get friendly they spray spit on me, make weird screaming noises and then run. I always get in trouble when I chase them... isn't that what they want? Why would they run if they didn't want to get chased?

"You either like um' or you don't" I hear my dad's clients say all the time at the veterinary hospital. I really understand why! Cats are finicky, self-centered, egotistical, and uppity! From a dogs perspective they're nothing but spit and claws!

Even the pigs love them! What gives? Everyone gets along with these stuck-up critters except me. I get yelled at every time I try to play with one of them!

So how many of you have tried to introduce a new cat into your household and lived through more grief then you care to remember? You gotta handle them with patience, give them time, caterer to their whims.... (I hear the veterinarians talking with clients all the time about trying to make two cats get along). My remedy, get a dog!

Here are some helpful tips to add a new little fur-ball to your happy, stress-free household (or just get a dog).

Oliver's S.O.S. Plan

Step One:
Slow introduction. For the first few days keep them in separate rooms. Let their yucky smells permeate their surroundings.
Step Two:
Once a few days have passed, switch the rooms and allow them to get use to each other's smells. Groom them with each others brushes to further introduce the smells. Caution: bring their own litter boxes with them, cat's don't typically like to share their toilets.
Step Three:
Spray. Have a squirt bottle ready for their first nose to nose introduction. If things get out of hand, squirt the water at them. Cats aren't real fond of water and a squirt gives them something else to think about hating (other then each other).

A little patience and lots of love. It may seem like the spit will never stop flying, but tincture of time solves most issues. Or just get a dog!
Tata for now.....

Bromethalin Poisoning

I just celebrated my 3rd birthday! Another year older... another year wiser?

I'm a dog, that much is true.... but are we really inferior? You humans make life so complicated. Always having to make things bigger and better, easier and quicker, cheaper and longer lasting. Sometimes old-fashioned may work as well or even better. Has anyone heard of mousetraps?

In 2008 the the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency prohibited the production of long-acting anticoagulants (stops the blood from clotting, a very necessary thing for staying alive) in rodenticides (rat and mole poisonings for example) used residential. They wanted to make these products safer for children, pets and wildlife. In doing so they have created a product that might contain Bromethalin, a neurotoxin that acts on the brain instead of the blood. The onset of poisoning is much faster (withing two to twenty-four hours) unlike traditional anticoagulants where bleeding didn't typically occur for up to a week after ingestion. Because of the rapid onset and (this is a big one) no antidote, accidental poisoning is deadly. Their is also no test to diagnose that your pet has eaten this!!

Traditional rodenticides were never "just a walk in the park". The difference is that if your veterinarian suspects poisoning they can administer long term Vitamin K and reverse the blood clotting deficiencies caused by the poison. If your pet starts showing signs of poisoning (bleeding from the nose is a common sighting) veterinarians can still typically save them with intensive medical support. Not the case with Bromethalin.

If you see your pet eat a Bromethalin product call your veterinarian immediately. They will want to see your pet as quickly as you can get to the hospital. Bring the package with you (this is the case with any poisoning, always bring the packaging). Because the poison is directed towards the brain, your pet will start to show signs of excitability or depression, changes in behavior, dizziness, uncoordinated movement, seizures, eventually coma and death.

So what now? Stay away from any products with Bromethalin in them such as Talpirid Bait, Fastrac, and Gladiator brands. Read your labels! If you have to use these products stick with d-Con, this company has refused to comply with the EPA and are still producing anticoagulant products currently. 

Until the EPA revisits this product with no known antidote, steer clear! This stuff is deadly.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! What a year it has been. So many new faces, new friends...... I feel very blessed to be a part of the SAVES and Stonecliff Animal Clinic of NH veterinary communities. A quick summary of my 2012 year.....

Petunia developed Liver Disease but is responding to her medication and new diet! She looked fine but went in to see my dad for some routine lab work and low and behold! Dad says the liver is one of those organs that can heal itself pretty well. He said we caught it early enough and she should have a bright and yappy future.

I fell in love with Lucy, the dog of my dreams!

And Kylie..... another girl of my dreams! Can you blame a dog? I like to spread my charm around you know..... soon I hope to get a picture of Rosie.... I met her in the park last night....

My brother played in the Shrine Bowl in August (unfortunately "No Dogs Allowed" in the Dartmouth Stadium) go figure.

We "Walked on the Wildside" for the Upper Valley Humane Society, and raised money for 

the FurryFriends Visiting Nurses Alliance Hospice Program.

Hoot Bing got sick and then got better after visiting SAVES.

I visited an island with my family and got to dive in the ocean for the first time. My sister thought it would be a good idea to make me into her sand castle.... girls!

and I even met some friends on the island, BIG HOT friends....

the only way for this big boy to cool down was laying in a bag of ice.....

we celebrated in a big way my sister turning 21 years old with huge fire that floated off into the sky...

another hurricane hit Vermont.....

old friends visited SAVES for knee surgery.....

and new ones for all different types of reasons....

63 Evans Drive is now home to North Country Crematorium as well as Dee Ganley, Sue Kenney and Kate Viles obedience and agility classes.

and thanks to Open MRI we now have the ability to offer such incredible advanced services to our patients.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! Thank you for making SAVES and Stonecliff Animal Clinic of New Hampshire the destination for all of your pet's needs from wellness care to emergency and critical care. We are always available, 24 hours a day, every day. Thank you for joining our family, we are honored to have you with us!