Archive for the ‘e-Vet Alert’ Category

Topic: A Particularly Bad Year For Ticks

by D.E.L.T.A. Rescue Veterinarian, Dr. Gaylord Brown

We are being challenged at the sanctuary by this pesky pest! Discussions with my colleagues indicate this seems to be a common problem, at least throughout Southern California.

Besides  the obvious problems of potential anemia if heavily infested; ticks can also carry a number of diseases. Lyme’s disease, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted fever are the most common tick borne diseases.

The symptoms of all of these diseases are similar.

• Fever,
• depression,
• discomfort in the joints,
• and anorexia are common.

More severely afflicted dogs will also have vomiting and diarrhea. Death may occur! A period of tick feeding is required to transmit these diseases. Therefor, quick removal will help prevent infection.

If your pet exhibits any of these signs after a tick infestation have them examined by your veterinarian.

• When hiking with your pet make efforts to treat with a high quality tick repellant. Pyrethrin based products are extremely safe.
• If your yard or home is infested use a spot on product for dogs and cats containing fipronil. These pets may still be sprayed with pyrethrins, as needed according to label directions.
• You may treat the yard with sevin dust or spray. Due to the life cycle of ticks plan on treating the premises every two weeks for at least three treatments.

If you find this information helpful please share it. D.E.L.T.A. Rescue receives no help from the government and relies solely on donor contributions.

We are a certified 501 (c) (3) non profit organization Tax ID #: 95-3759277.

To donate by phone, please call us at 1-661-269-4010 or Email: contact@deltarescue.org

To donate by mail, please send a check or money order to:
D.E.L.T.A. Rescue, P.O. Box 9, Glendale, CA 91209

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View e-VET ALERT Archive

1. Spring Injuries. Read bulletin now.
2. Dangers to your pet – roses, lilies, raisins, chocolate and more. Read bulletin now.
3. Beware Ibuprofen in Dogs. Read bulletin now.
4. Are you over-vaccinating your pet? Read bulletin now.
5. Potentially dangerous situations surrounding your pets and the Holidays. Read bulletin now

D.E.L.T.A Rescue is the largest “No Kill, Care-for-Life,” Sanctuary of its kind in the world. Our goal is to prolong life in a meaningful way. We keep our animals comfortable at all times. Medical conditions such as heart disease, cancer, kidney disease and other chronic illness are treated here without a ceiling on costs. Whatever our animals need, they get.

The SuperSanctuary has a total of two state-of-the-art hospitals that include dog and cat intensive care units, digital radiographs, disgnostic utrasound, physical therapy and rehabilitation, deep-tissue ultrasound, electrostimulation, treadmill and hydrotherapy.

Dedication & Everlasting Love To Animals

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Topic: Spring Injuries

by D.E.L.T.A. Rescue Veterinarian, Dr. Gaylord Brown

After a long, cold winter we are all anxious to get back to outdoor activities!

Your faithful companions are anxious to get back out with you. Be aware there are some pet injuries that commonly occur during this transition to spring. With a little fore thought they can be avoided.

Each year, during this time, I would see a number of dogs with injured foot pads. This would happen because during the winter the pads will become soft and fragile. Then, with the first days of good weather, owners are anxious to get out walking and hiking. Soft foot pads coupled with hot streets or hiking paths will invariably lead to blisters.

Often owners are completely unaware of the damage done to their pet’s feet until they start limping. Then on exam there are peeling, raw sores on the bottom of the feet. The same thing will happen to dogs running around on a pool deck when the kids get back to swimming!

After a long winter, dogs are also prone to muscle aches and strains when they suddenly start back to full outdoor activities. Playing catch with a frisbee is definitely more strenuous to your dog than to you.This is especially true of dogs that are senior citizens. They may already be experiencing some osteo-arthritis. These pets will be especially sore the next day!

Prevent these injuries by bringing your dog back to activities slowly. Dogs will build strength and toughness to their feet quickly.  Also be aware of the heat of the ground. Start hiking in the early morning or late evening after the ground has cooled down. For those who must hike mid-day there are booties available for your dog to prevent blisters. There are medications available for skeletal or muscle soreness from our veterinarian. However, treatment of severely blistered feet can take 2-3 weeks to heal.

So enjoy the spring and daylight savings time, but keep in mind your dog needs some conditioning to get back up to full speed.

If you find this information helpful please share it. D.E.L.T.A. Rescue receives no help from the government and relies solely on donor contributions.

We are a certified 501 (c) (3) non profit organization Tax ID #: 95-3759277.

To donate by phone, please call us at 1-661-269-4010 or Email: contact@deltarescue.org

To donate by mail, please send a check or money order to:
D.E.L.T.A. Rescue, P.O. Box 9, Glendale, CA 91209

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View e-VET ALERT Archive

1. Dangers to your pet – roses, lilies, raisins, chocolate and more. Read bulletin now.
2. Beware Ibuprofen in Dogs. Read bulletin now.
3. Are you over-vaccinating your pet? Read bulletin now.
4. Potentially dangerous situations surrounding your pets and the Holidays. Read bulletin now

D.E.L.T.A Rescue is the largest “No Kill, Care-for-Life,” Sanctuary of its kind in the world. Our goal is to prolong life in a meaningful way. We keep our animals comfortable at all times. Medical conditions such as heart disease, cancer, kidney disease and other chronic illness are treated here without a ceiling on costs. Whatever our animals need, they get.

The SuperSanctuary has a total of two state-of-the-art hospitals that include dog and cat intensive care units, digital radiographs, disgnostic utrasound, physical therapy and rehabilitation, deep-tissue ultrasound, electrostimulation, treadmill and hydrotherapy.

Dedication & Everlasting Love To Animals

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Topic: Valentine Dangers to Your Pet

by D.E.L.T.A. Rescue Veterinarian, Dr. Gaylord Brown

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner be aware of some treats and gifts that can be toxic or dangerous to your pets.

Lilies are often included in Valentine bouquets. They contain a toxin in the petals, leaves, and pollen. The water in their vases can become toxic due to their presence. These lilies can cause acute kidney failure in cats within a day or two of exposure. In dogs the toxin does not cause kidney failure but will cause a gastroenteritis.

Roses may cause a gastrointestinal upset in both dogs and cats if their petals or leaves are consumed. They also present a puncture risk to your pet’s mouth due to the thorns.

Many are aware that chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats. The toxic component of chocolate is theobromine. The darker the chocolate the more theobromine it will contain. This toxin is dose related. The more ingested, the greater the risk. The signs range from mild vomiting to seizures and collapse. White chocolate is not without risk. The high sugar and fat content may lead to pancreatitis.

Common items covered in chocolate can increase the risk. The most likely offenders are raisins, espresso beans, and macadamia nuts. Raisins alone may cause kidney failure. The espresso beans’ caffeine content will potentiate the toxic effect of the theobromine and in high doses is toxic alone. Macadamia nuts can cause a generally non-fatal toxicity in dogs characterized by nausea, ataxia, weakness, hyperthermia, and depression. If chocolate is added the event could be fatal.

A common sugar substitute, xylitol, is toxic to pets. It is commonly found in sugar free gum, candy, baked goods, and breath mints. Xylitol may cause a sudden drop in blood sugar and liver failure in dogs.

The key to treatment is early recognition and prompt medical treatment. Ingestion of these toxins is a true medical emergency and should be treated as such. Prevention is the best strategy. Seek veterinary assistance if ingestion occurs. Have a safe and Happy Valentine’s Day!

If you find this information helpful please share it. D.E.L.T.A. Rescue receives no help from the government and relies solely on donor contributions.

We are a certified 501 (c) (3) non profit organization Tax ID #: 95-3759277.

To donate by phone, please call us at 1-661-269-4010 or Email: contact@deltarescue.org

To donate by mail, please send a check or money order to:
D.E.L.T.A. Rescue, P.O. Box 9, Glendale, CA 91209

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View e-VET ALERT Archive

1. Beware Ibuprofen in Dogs. Read bulletin now.
2. Are you over-vaccinating your pet? Read bulletin now.
3. Potentially dangerous situations surrounding your pets and the Holidays. Read bulletin now

D.E.L.T.A Rescue is the largest “No Kill, Care-for-Life,” Sanctuary of its kind in the world. Our goal is to prolong life in a meaningful way. We  keep our animals comfortable at all times. Medical conditions such as heart disease, cancer, kidney disease and other chronic illness are treated here without a ceiling on costs. Whatever our animals need, they get.

The SuperSanctuary has a total of two state-of-the-art hospitals that include dog and cat intensive care units, digital radiographs, disgnostic utrasound, physical therapy and rehabilitation, deep-tissue ultrasound, electrostimulation, treadmill and hydrotherapy.

Dedication & Everlasting Love To Animals

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Topic: Beware Ibuprofen in Dogs

by D.E.L.T.A. Rescue Veterinarian, Dr. Gaylord Brown

Ibuprofen is a common non-steroidal ant-inflammatory used in humans for analgesia. Its relative safety in people have led some well meaning pet owners to consider its use in dogs to alleviate discomfort from arthritis. unfortunately, such action may lead to death due to perforations in the stomach or upper intestine.

Acute toxicosis due to ingestion of large numbers of ibuprofen tablets has long been recognized in veterinary medicine. This typically occurs when a pet gets a hold of an entire bottle of medication and consumes a large number of tablets. Signs of this include vomiting, diarrhea, and death due to renal failure.

However, well meaning dog owners have unwittingly caused severe damage to their pet’s gastrointestinal tract by giving small doses in an attempt to alleviate signs of limping or pain. Sensitivity to such ingestion varies from pet to pet. Some dogs can develop perforations in the intestine with a single dose of medication. The longer the dog consumes the ibuprofen the more likely a perforation will occur.

Unfortunately, the death rate from such perforations is quite high. Even if the dog has surgery, the bowel may be so friable the lesion cannot be successfully repaired. The simple message from the alert is do not give ibuprofen to your pet!

View e-VET ALERT Archive:

1. Potentially dangerous situations surrounding your pets and the Holidays.
   Read bulletin now
2. Are you over-vaccinating your pet? Read bulletin now.

If you find this information helpful please share it. D.E.L.T.A. Rescue receives no help from the government and relies solely on donor contributions.

We are a certified 501 (c) (3) non profit organization

Tax ID #: 95-3759277. To donate by phone, please call us at
1-661-269-4010 or Email: contact@deltarescue.org

To donate by mail, please send a check or money order to:
D.E.L.T.A. Rescue, P.O. Box 9, Glendale, CA 91209

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D.E.L.T.A Rescue is the largest “No Kill, Care-for-Life,” Sanctuary of its kind in the world. Our goal is to prolong life in a meaningful way. We  keep our animals comfortable at all times. Medical conditions such as heart disease, cancer, kidney disease and other chronic illness are treated here without a ceiling on costs. Whatever our animals need, they get.

The SuperSanctuary has a total of two state-of-the-art hospitals that include dog and cat intensive care units, digital radiographs, disgnostic utrasound, physical therapy and rehabilitation, deep-tissue ultrasound, electrostimulation, treadmill and hydrotherapy.

   

Dedication & Everlasting Love To Animals
P.O. Box 9, Glendale, CA 91209 ~ tel. 661-269-4010 ~ www. deltarescue.org

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