Fourth of July safety for your Pets

 

 

The Fourth of July is fast approaching. If your pet is one to get stressed by the noise of fireworks, Idaho Veterinary Hospital recommends that you prepare early. Even if the fireworks are miles away the animal can feel and hear the loud noises that a firework display puts out.

Before the event

·         Prepare a safe haven or favorite place.

·         Provide your pet with toys, treats and plenty of water.

·         Aim to get your cat indoors before it turns dark.

·         Close off cat flaps, doggy doors and windows.  

·         Escape proof your home, make sure gates are locked and secure.

·         Walk your dog before dusk, most pets will not return outside to go to the bathroom once the fireworks have started.

·         There are products  to  help calm  your pet's anxiety such as, diffusers, sprays and medication for dogs and cats.

·         Make pets identifiable. Make sure your pet is wearing some form of easily readable identification in case they run away or get lost.

·         More pets go missing on the fourth of July than any other day. Microchips are best to get pets back home to their  owners if they do escape.   

During the event

·         Close curtains & blinds to minimize noise and light.

·         Play music  or TV at a louder volume than normal.

·         Do not yell or punish your pet for being scared.

·          Ignore any fearful behavior such as panting, shaking, and whining, this will only make your dog more distressed.

·         Try to stay home with your pet and distract them with a game or toy.

·         Keep your routine as normal as possible, do not over comfort them.

Please call our office with any question or concerns @ 208-466-4614.

Wasabi update!

Wasabi is now 14 weeks old!  He has become quite the acrobat, swinging from toys in his cage, and hanging upside down on one foot from his perches.  He has developed many different sounds, squeaks and screeches, along with giving kisses, complete with the kissing sound! 

It has seemed like a very long road, but after much fretting, Wasabi is fully weaned.  Turns out, he's a bit of a picky boy, oh, and rather spoiled, as well.  After  trying many different types of pellets, seeds, fruits veggies and other foods (thanks Parrots 'N Stuff!), we found that he is a big fan of a canary mix, full of good stuff like golden flax seed and buck wheat.  After trying this new mix for only a few days, Wasabi is completely weaned, making for a very happy lovebird, and an even happier hospital!  Now on to the next challenge, transferring him to a pelleted diet.  I will have to admit, I have never met a bird that loves vinegar, until Wasabi.  He will chase you across the house if he knows you have it, silly bird.

He still loves his baths, whether in a bath pan, or in his water dish.  He can often be found soaking the counter and its contents, or shortly after when he vaguely resembles a drowned rat.

Over all, Wasabi has turned in to a wonderful companion, and hospital resident.  He is happy to say hello to everyone, and get a little cheek-rub time in.

Wasabi is now 7 weeks old and making friends!!

Wasabi is now 7 weeks old, and nearly full grown at 59grams.  As you may recall, we decided to send a small sample of blood to a DNA lab that determines sex.  He is indeed a male! 

 

Over the last couple weeks, he has had only minor changes in his appearance.  The black coloration on his beak has begun to subside, leaving only a small patch on a bright yellow background.  His tail and wing feathers have completely grown in, leaving him fully feathered.  He has definitely learned the finer points of his wings, flying where ever he pleased in our lobby and at home; so much so, that he had to have his wings trimmed to avoid flying out the door or  into the waiting mouth of a hungry cat!

Wasabi is continuing to sample new foods all the time, with chick peas and safflower seeds being his favorite.    He will continue to need formula supplementation for the next few weeks, while he transitions to a pelleted diet.

When he is not busy meeting new people, Wasabi is now perching a lot more than being on the floor, although he does still prefer to be burrowed under something while napping.   He definitely is making bird-weary people into bird lovers.

Wasabi is now 5 weeks old!

Wasabi is now 5 weeks old!  His (or her) body feathers are now fully filled in, and his wing and tail feathers are nearly half way grown.  Although he still isn't eating on his own, he enjoys picking at crunched up dry food, and only needs to be fed formula about every 4 hours.  Because he still needs to be fed quite often, he continues to be my commute companion back and forth to work. He truly enjoys his water dish, not for drinking purposes, but rather taking baths and making soggy messes!

At 4 1/2 weeks, Wasabi has fledged!  He has become very active, wanting out of his cage more, and consistently exercising his wings.  He has been able to jump up to the edge of his open topped cage, and able to perch there while being fed, with out issue.  His balance is vastly improved and he is beginning to learn the basics of flight, such as turning and landing, in short distances.  He has graduated to an actual cage, although he still spends most of his time on the floor with toys and soft places to cuddle up.  We will watch him as he continues to learn the finer points of having wings, and builds up his muscles, until it becomes a danger to have him fully flighted in the clinic.  At that time, we will trim a few of his feathers, a few times a year, so that he isn't able to fly into the mouth of a hungry cat, or out into the snowy temperatures.

We have all become comfortable with calling Wasabi "he", but we have decided to him sexed.  DNA will be extracted from a small blood sample, and analyzed at a lab. As in people, bird gender is determined by the sex chromosomes. Females have two different sex chromosomes (called “ZW”), while males have two of the same sex chromosomes (called “ZZ”).  We should know in about 2 weeks whether our assumptions have been correct!

 

Our Love Bird is growing!

Our little lovebird is 3 weeks old!  In the last week, his colorful feathers have begun to emerge and we have been able to determine that he is a peach-faced lovebird.  His wing and back feathers were the first to appear, later in the week they were  followed by his head and tail feathers, and last his facial and chest feathers. 

We do not know what sex our companion is.  Lovebirds, as with the majority of parrots, do not have any sexual dimorphism, that is, visual differences to determine male from female.  Because of this, the only accurate way to know is either DNA testing or surgical sexing.  Without knowing, it has been a little bit of a challenge picking a name that fits, but that hasn't stopped several names being thrown into the mix; Franklin, Munchkin, Guacamole... but Stephanie came up with the one that seems to fit the most, Wasabi!  He does have a bit of a spicy personality, after all.

Wasabi is now able to climb out of his nest on his own, and is beginning to explore his surroundings. With his new feathers, he doesn't need to be in an incubator during the daytime.  Instead, he is getting to meet all kinds of new people, while residing on the front desk.   He is very curious about new objects and things placed within his reach, but still prefers to be nestled somewhere cozy for his naps. 

He is still being fed a formula that is made specifically for parrots, by syringe, every 3-4 hours during the day.  Now, at night, he is able to go a little over 6 hours in between feedings.  After eating, Wasabi thinks that it's time to play, exercising his wings and running around, usually without much grace.  Next time you're in the office, don't forget to say hello!

 

 

 

A Lovebird Update

A Lovebird Update!

 

Our lovebird is now about 2 weeks old!  There have been many exciting changes over the last several days.  He has doubled in weight, from 23 grams to 47grams.  His (or her!) eyes are open, his feet have developed coloration, he has  begun to make tiny noises, and he is able to sit up on his haunches for short periods of time.  Although his feathers are not visible yet, we are able to see the feather follicles developing under his nearly opaque skin, turning it a darker color.  His appetite has greatly improved, and he has no problem letting us know when it's feeding time. 

With out any feathers, we are unsure what type of lovebird it is.  There are 9 species of lovebirds, mostly originating from Africa.  Of all of these, only 3 are commonly kept as companions; The Peach-faced lovebird, The Fischer’s Lovebird, and the Masked Lovebird.  We're excited for his feathers to start appearing, so we can find out!

Meet Idaho Vet Hospital's Newest Member!

Meet Idaho Vet Hospital's Newest Member!

This little lovebird arrived on one of our many cold evenings, under sad circumstances.  We had received a phone call earlier in the day that it's mother had sadly, passed away.  The owner relayed that she was concerned that the 3 week old chick was not going to survive and that she was not interested in trying  to raise it by hand. She gratefully accepted my offer to do my best to continue raising it.  When he (or she!) arrived at our clinic some time later, Dr. Calhoun and I realized that our little friend was really more like 3 days old, rather than 3 weeks.  This was going to be a challenge.

His first feeding was difficult, likely because he was struggling with low blood sugar after not eating in several hours.  He was placed in a warm incubator with a full crop, and we hoped for the best.

About an hour later I went to check on him, half expecting the worst.  I was happily surprised to see him much more active, and ready for his next feeding.  At 3 days old, lovebird chick's eyes are still closed, they are fluff and featherless, and completely uncoordinated.  Talk about a bad time of year to be naked and unable to maintain body heat!  At this stage, weighing a whopping 23 grams, he needs to be fed every 2-3 hrs, and kept consistently warm.  This means he has become my daily commute companion to and from work.

So far, we've taught each other a lot about how to hand feed tiny little lovebirds, it definitely is like having an  infant in the house again! I'll update you more as he (or she!) continues to grow!  Kate

February is Dental Month

February is Dental Month

 

THIS YEAR DURING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY WE WILL OFFER 15% OFF DENTAL CLEANING SERVICES.

 
Dental Procedure Standards of Care

• Pre-op blood work recommended and required over 7 years of age.
• Current wellness exam.
• Estimate will be present or given prior to appointment.
• Fluids and IV catheters & anesthetic monitoring.
• Pictures and chart of any abnormalities or missing teeth. Before and after.

Dental Procedure

• Probe for pockets and abnormal wear.
• Remove excessive tarter either by hand or scaler.
• Clean teeth with ultrasonic dentalaire.
• Polish, and then rinse.
• Clean and flush out any pockets.
• Apply fluoride and oravet (plaque prevention gel).

Common Dental Concerns

• Gingival Recession-Gum line recedes back exposing root.
• Retained baby teeth-Baby tooth that has grown along side the adult tooth causing damage.
• Excessive dental disease-excessive tarter & plaque covering the teeth causing infection, tooth loss, and severe gingivitis.
• Oronasal fistulas-An oronasal fistula is a communication between the oral cavity and the caudal respiratory track. These fistulas occur in the area of the upper premolar and molar teeth

  You, the pet owner, are an integral part of our dental team.  Home care is the most important procedure you can do to maintain oral health and help decrease the frequency of dental procedures,  and increase the overall oral health of your pet. Here are some tips to use after your pets dental procedure or as preventative care care.

 

1. Bushing teeth daily and regularly

Start off slow : introduce the toothpaste first.  Only use toothpaste designed for dogs and cats. First, start by rubbing toothpaste with your finger on one tooth at a time and letting your pet get use to the taste and the feeling.  Then upgrade to a tooth brush.  There are different sizes and kinds, such as : finger toothbrushes, smaller brushes, and longer handled brushes for longer muzzled pets, and smaller bristled brushes for cats.  Be persistent but reward progress immediately with a treat or with a play period after each cleaning session. Develop a routine for your pet and you and make this a fun and enjoyable as possible.

2. Applying Sealant

Ora Vet is a sealant that was applied at the time of your pet’s dental procedure.   It is to be applied after brushing, once weekly, to help prevent and reduce the formation of plaque and calculus on the teeth. Home kits are available and strongly recommended.

3. Drinking water additives and Rinses

Aqua Dent is a water additive that is simple use. All you need to do is add it to your pets drinking water to prevent plaque from forming.  The Oral hygiene rinse is easy to use with just a squirt the rinse eliminates and helps fight against new bacteria forming.  Chlorhexadine is the active ingredient that keeps your pet’s mouth healthy.  Studies show this to be more effective than diets and chews.

4. Diet                                                                            

There are special dental diets such as Hills T/D and Purina DH  for dogs and cats . To promote oral health these diets offer everyday feeding solution that works between dental brushing and cleanings to help reduce plaque and calculus accumulation.  Dental chews are also available for dogs and cats and these are specially formulated and combine the mechanical activity of a rawhide chews.   Most chews that we carry (C.E.T. Chews and DH Chews) were developed with chlorhexadine as the activ3e ingredient that inhibits the growth of bacteria in your pets mouth. Also we carry Greenies as another dental treat option.

5. Dental Examinations with your Vet

Every 6 months to a year, we recommend dental exams please call to make the appointment!

(208) 466-4614



Deck The Halls

Tinsel
Cats and tinsel can be an expensive combination, and it can prove fatal, too!

Tinsel is often a very attractive toy for cats. After all, its shiny, it dangles, and it’s something new in their environment. Few cats can pass it up – and even fewer can "pass it out".

When cats play with tinsel, they often end up swallowing some or getting some wrapped around their tongue, and this is when their nightmare (and yours) will begin. Fortunately, with awareness and some simple preventive steps, this is a common pet emergency that you can easily avoid. Read on to learn how...

Be aware...

Objects your pet ingests that then cause obstruction of their digestive tract are called 'foreign bodies'. There are two general types of foreign bodies that commonly obstruct the digestive tracts of cats and dogs.

• Linear foreign bodies: String-like materials (e.g. sewing thread, dental floss, fishing line, and many others) where one end of the strand becomes entangled or 'caught' at some point along the digestive tract while the other end is free to be moved along by the normal rhythmic movement of the intestines. This sets up a 'sawing type' action where the middle portion of the strand, the portion between the entangled end and the free end, becomes embedded within and eventually cuts through the intestine. This is not only painful for your pet, as you might imagine, but it also results in the spillage of intestinal contents into their abdomen. Its this latter consequence that makes this type of foreign body likely to be fatal without prompt and appropriate treatment (i.e. surgery).
• All others: Anything a pet ingests which causes complete or partial obstruction of their digestive tract through a means other than that described above for linear foreign bodies. These types of foreign bodies also typically require surgery (or endoscopy) for removal because of the damage they cause within the digestive tract, but that's a topic for another blog post.

Tinsel is a very common linear foreign body in cats at this time of the year, and one that can quickly deplete an already stressed savings account (you did get gifts for all of your loved ones, didn't you?). Be aware of this common holiday cat hazard to help prevent it.

Be prepared...

If your cat is vomiting, lethargic, or not eating bring them for veterinary evaluation sooner rather than later. Delay in cases of linear foreign body obstruction will lead to a greater degree of dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and damage to the intestines. If you see tinsel (or any other type of linear material) protruding from your pet's rectum DO NOT pull on it!

If you do, you may cause significantly more damage than you are trying to prevent. You can carefully cut the protruding portion with scissors - just be careful not to cut their tail or their rectum in the process. It’s also a good idea, as gross as it may sound, to save the cut off portion of the strand and bring it with you to the veterinarian (I suggest putting it into a plastic bag). Bringing it along can help to determine the length of the strand still within your pet's digestive tract, and therefore how much needs to be retrieved surgically.

Be preventive...

If you have cats, it’s safest not to use any tinsel in your holiday decorating. While it’s true that they may not play with or eat it, there really is no guarantee and it only needs to happen once.

Given that the complications and costs associated with medical care and surgical removal of linear foreign bodies often run in the $2,000-4,000 range, I imagine you will agree that it really is best to take the simple steps necessary to prevent it. Of course, the simplest of those steps is to not have any tinsel on the tree or anywhere else in your home if you've got cats. If you must use tinsel, keep a very close eye and be sure to keep your cats well away from it. (And from a realistic standpoint... start saving your money, because if you continue to use tinsel in your cat's environment, one day, perhaps not this year, but one day, your cat is very likely to need surgery to remove it from their digestive tract.)

Story by: Jason Nicholas-The Preventive Vet

Taming Holiday Indigestion

 

The holiday season is quickly approaching and, all in all, “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” with parties, out-of-town company, travel, festive decorations, and lots and lots of delicious foods. But, clients often forget that their four-legged family members are also experiencing the hustle and bustle and, perhaps secretly (or not so secretly), imbibing food, drink and garland! So, “wonderful “ can frequently turn into “woeful “ as the physical effects of changes in routine, over-eating, new food, trashy behavior, boarding and stress have their way with the pet’s gastrointestinal system. And GI upset can lead to lethargy, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, gas and    sometimes conditions requiring hospitalization.

With GI upset being prevalent during the holiday season, it seems prudent to look to support these pets against such insults, as well as to help with rapid recovery should they fall victim. When a pet is exposed to stressful circumstances the gut flora may become unbalanced, allowing potentially pathogenic bacteria to overpopulate and produce clinical symptoms. Bacterial overgrowth can generate diarrhea, but is also, frequently, the resulting consequence of a pet having an acute or chronic diarrhea condition.

Nutritionally, it is the perfect time to think about the use of probiotics and prebiotics for their benefits in re-establishing bacteria balance and promoting gastrointestinal health.

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that provide health benefits that go beyond basic nutrition. However, not all probiotics are created equal: each species or strain of probiotic bacteria has a unique profile, which influences the health benefits seen in the pet. Careful consideration should be given to the selection of a probiotic, based upon its clinical effectiveness and the treatment goals.

Prebiotics, such as fructooligosaccharide, are not bacteria, but fibers. Prebiotics resist enzymatic digestion in the upper digestive tract and pass to the colon, where they are broken down or fermented by bacteria.  Uniquely, these specialized fibers act as fuel, or fertilizer, for select bacteria in the gut, stimulating their growth and/or activity and, thus, providing beneficial health effects. In addition, as prebiotic fibers are broken down by the bacteria for fuel they produce short chain fatty acids, which support intestinal cell health.

Probiotics and prebiotics operate, though through different methods, to increase the population of beneficial bacteria, which in turn can competitively exclude or crowd out potentially pathogenic bacteria through physical competition for space and nutrients. Beneficial bacteria also modulate immune function. Probiotic bacteria can utilize prebiotic fibers to increase their population and survival within the intestinal tract. Used together, through diet or supplementation, probiotics and prebiotcs may demonstrate a synergistic approach to regaining GI health.

With the holidays just around the corner, it is a perfect time to forewarn clients of the associated pitfalls of the season. Recommending use of probiotics or prebiotics (or both) can be beneficial, whether done proactively or reactively, and may keep your client’s pet from being the party pooper of the holidays.