Common Pet Toxins

There are many different foods and plants that are toxic to animals  that everyone should be aware of.  Some of the most common include:  Chocolate, grapes/raisins, lilies (cats), xylitol, OTC pain medications like Tylenol and Aleve, onions/garlic.

Chocolate ingestion is probably the most common toxin ingestion we see.  Chocolate can cause vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, tachycardia (fast heart rate), and at higher doses can cause heart arrhythmias and seizures.  If you have discovered your  pet has ingested chocolate you should call your veterinarian to find out if it is a toxic dose.  The toxicity level rises with the amount of cocoa present so it does not take very much baker’s chocolate to cause serious issues.

Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure.  There is not a lot known about this toxicity as some pets do not have to ingest very many before they develop symptoms and others can ingest large amounts with no issues.  In general it does not take as many raisins to cause a toxicity.  The protocol for treatment includes inducing vomiting, activated charcoal and IV fluids for 48 hours.

Lilies also cause kidney failure in cats.  Most types of lilies are toxic including:  Tiger, Easter, Day, and Stargazer. All parts of the plant are toxic, including the water in the vase of the lily.  If you own cats it is best to not have any lilies in the house.  If your cat may have ingested or chewed on any part of a lily it should be seen by a veterinarian right away.  Bloodwork monitoring will need to be done and your kitty will need to be hospitalized on IV fluids.  If this toxicity is not treated right away it is often deadly.  The most common symptoms are drinking a lot, urinating a lot, and vomiting.

Xylitol is an interesting toxicity that can cause hypoglycemia and at higher doses can cause liver failure.  Xylitol is most commonly found in sugarless chewing gum, but has become more common in baked goods lately.  Every type of gum has a different amount of xylitol present so the best plan is to call Animal Poison Control and they can determine what level of xylitol they have ingested.  Hypoglycemia can last 18-24 hours and will need to be monitored in the hospital and treated as necessary.  If they have ingested enough to cause liver damage they will need to be hospitalized for 2-3 days for IV fluids and other medications to help with liver function.

Over the counter medications like Tylenol, Aleve, and Ibuprofen are not tolerated well in animals and can cause life threatening toxicities like kidney failure, GI ulceration and perforation, and liver failure.  You should not give your pets human medications unless directed to do so by a veterinarian and if your pet ingests a medication it is best to call animal poison control or your veterinarian at Idaho Veterinary Hospital (208) 466-4614 

September is Dental Month

 

This year during the month of September we are offering a $50.00 credit to your account for simply having your pets teeth cleaned. You, the pet owner are an integral part of our dental team. Dental disease is a much bigger issue than unclean teeth. 



  

Top 5 Reasons to have your pets teeth cleaned

1. Bad Breath.

2. I have pain in my mouth and gums.

3. I want to play tug a war without my teeth falling out.

4. Those brown teeth are not attractive.

5. I want to be disease free and live with you as long as possible.

Please call our office to schedule your appointment @ (208) 466-4614
 

Protect Your Pets Against Cheatgrass

Cheat grass is a ubiquitous problem in the treasure valley.  They are also known as fox tails and grass awns. Cheat grass is a nuisance in our yards and gardens, but can become huge problems in our pets.  These nasty little things can get stuck in ears, eyes, feet, nostrils, tonsils and even travel into the lungs.  If you see cheat grass present on the fur of your pet you should remove it right away to avoid it traveling to other places.

When cheat grass gets stuck in between the toes it will poke through the skin and travel up the leg and forms abscesses between the toes.  Sedation is often needed to explore these abscesses to find the cheat grass.  Sometimes it hides really well and can take multiple attempts to find it.

If your pet is outside and suddenly starts shaking it head or pawing at one of its ears it very likely could have a cheat grass.  Also if it starts sneezing suddenly and continuously it may have a cheat grass in its nostril.  Usually the cheat grass is deep in the ear canal or nostril and cannot be seen at home.  A trip to the veterinarian will be needed and again sedation may be needed to remove it.

If a piece of cheat grass gets in the eye of your pet it can hide under the third eyelid.  Usually your pet will not open the eye and the eye is swollen with a yellowish discharge.  This is very painful and should be examined to remove it and assess the cornea for scratches. When pets chew on grass they are at risk for having cheat grass get stuck in their  tonsils.  They will usually hypersalivate and swallow a lot.  They may also have a gagging type cough.  Sometimes they will cough out the cheat grass, but most of the time they have to be sedated to remove it.

Cheat grass has an amazing ability to travel through the body and can be found anywhere including around the rectum, vulva, or penis.  It can also travel into the lungs and cause severe and life threatening infections require thoracic surgery.  At any time you think your pet is having difficulty breathing it should be examined right away.

Avoiding cheat grass is nearly impossible as it can be blown around, but if you see a large amount of cheat grass present in an area it is best to avoid it and not let your pets play there.  Cheat grass is the largest problem in the summer when it has dried and turned brown, but don’t be fooled the green pieces can still cause an issue.

Heat Stroke

 
 

 

Heat stroke is a very serious concern this summer.  With the temperatures rising so quickly most dogs have not had a chance to acclimate.  Heat stroke can be fatal and require intensive treatment.  Signs include heavy open mouth panting, muddy or very red colored gums, weakness, and collapse.  Once a dog has an episode of heat stroke, even mild, they will become more likely to have further episodes.

The best way to treat heat stroke is by avoiding it altogether.  Try not to exercise your pet during the heat of the day.  Early morning or late evening when the sun is down is the best time.  Even if it does not seem overly hot heat stroke can still occur, especially in dogs that have not been exercising much during the winter.  During exercise in the warmer weather your pet should have access to water and plenty of shade.

If you are concerned that your pet may have over heated it is important to have them seen by a veterinarian right away.  DO NOT PUT ICE ON YOUR DOG.  Spraying them down with tepid water is best and then letting the evaporation cool them.  When dogs become overheated they are unable to regulate their body temperature and can become too cold too quickly.  When their rectal temperature reaches 103 then active cooling should be stopped.

It is important to remember that dogs, just like people, will heat up after they stop running.  They should not be put directly into a kennel or confined after exercise.  They should be walked around for several minutes to cool down.

Every year, hundreds of pets die from heat exhaustion because they are left in parked vehicles. Your vehicle can quickly reach a temperature that puts your pet at risk of serious illness and even death, even on a day that doesn't seem hot to you. And cracking the windows makes no difference.

Please pay close attention to the outdoor temperature, your pets physical conditioning, and choose exercise appropriately.  Labrador retrievers are very susceptible to heat stroke and playing fetch in the backyard can be enough to cause heat stroke.  Heat stroke can be prevented by using appropriate caution.

CANINE INFLUENZA

Canine Influenza is a highly contagious infection that can be caused from 2 different strains, H3N8 and H3N2.  H3N8 is the strain that was responsible for the outbreak 10 years ago.  The most recent outbreak in Chicago has been caused by H3N2.  There currently is a vaccine for the H3N8 strain, but no vaccine is available for the H3N2.  It takes 2-4 days before dogs start showing symptoms and this is when they are most highly contagious.

Symptoms of Canine Influenza come in two forms, the mild form and the severe form.  Most dogs develop the mild form and although Canine Influenza is highly infectious it has a fairly low fatality rate (less than 10%).

 

Symptoms

·         Mild form infections have a soft moist cough that can last for up to 30 days. 

·         They can become lethargic, have a low grade fever, decreased appetite, sneezing, and discharge from the eyes. 

·         They can get secondary bacterial infections and develop thick nasal discharge. 

·         Sometimes the cough is very similar to the dry cough of “Kennel Cough.”

The severe form infections are associated with high fevers (104-106 degrees) and develop pneumonia and difficulty breathing.  The pneumonia may be due to a secondary bacterial infection.

Treatment

Influenza is mostly supportive and can range from just monitoring at home to hospitalization for IV therapy depending on the severity of the illness.  The canine influenza virus is not transmissible to humans and there have been no reports in cats.  The dogs that are most at risk are ones that are in close proximity to other dogs such as boarding facilities.

There have been no reported cases in Idaho and the outbreak right now is localized to the Midwest.  If your dog is coughing it is most likely not Canine Influenza, but your pet should be seen to be evaluated for other respiratory diseases.

 

Please call our office for more information. (208) 466-4614

1420 N. Midland Blvd, Nampa, Idaho 83651

ICSB Idaho-Reproduction

Your dogs semen can now be stored right here in Idaho

ICSB Idaho- Reproduction

Idaho Veterinary Hospital  offers small animal semen collection, freezing, storage as well as many other reproduction services. Some of those include, but are not limited to

• Semen collection
• Semen evaluation
• Semen freezing
• On site storage of semen
• Semen shipping-fresh chilled and frozen
• Progesterone and LH testing
• Artificial and surgical insemination
• Transcervical insemination
• Ultrasound and reproductive radiographs
• Infertility consultations
• Caesarian sections
• PennHIP, OFA, genetic and DNA testing
• Emergency after hours

ICSB-IDAHO Fees and Discounts

Processing Canine Semen for Freezing and Storage

File Preparation	$46.00
Semen Storage Annual storage fee for each group of 30 vials or less; one vial is one insemination.	$73.00
Semen Collection, Evaluation, Freezing Includes up to four vials stored. If the collection yields more than 4 vials, each additional vial stored is $60.00	$201.00
Total Base Fee(Including $6.00 insurance)	$326.00
Discounts For Multiple Dogs/Same Owner: 2 Dogs – 5% | 3 Dogs – 10% | 4+ Dogs – 15% May not be available at all ICSB centers

Visa, MasterCard, AMEX, Discover, Care Credit

All dogs that have semen frozen and stored are required to have a DNA profile test on file. If testing has not been preformed, we can provide this service. AKC DNA kit-$50.00 

Idaho Veterinary Hospital is an ICSB franchise. As a franchise of the International Canine Semen Banks, we utilize the technologies developed by Prof. Carrol Platz, of ICSB Oregon. Through 30 years of research, Prof. Platz has successfully developed this technique for collection, evaluation and freezing of canine semen. Litters have been produced from frozen semen that has been stored for 34 years prior to thawing, a world record! Under his direction, this research continues and provides the dog breeder with the most successful program available using fresh, fresh chilled, and frozen canine semen and artificial insemination. We are proud to be an ICSB franchise.

Dental Month

 Dental Month

 

THIS YEAR DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER WE ARE OFFERING A $50.00 CREDIT ON YOUR ACCOUNT FOR GETTING YOUR PETS TEETH CLEANED .

 
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

Introducing our new Laser Therapy treatment!

K-Laser Therapy is a physical therapy laser for advanced treatment and pain relief. There is no patient sedation or restraint required to treat your pet's condition. At Idaho Veterinary Hospital we strive to find the best treatments for our patients. K-Laser therapy is an effective non-invasive, non-surgical, drug-free option.           Our treatments usually take about 15-20 minutes to complete and are done on a reducing 3-2-1 schedule (three times the first week, two times the second week, and once the last week). We will determine the treatment locations, as diagnosed during exams, ultrasounds or x-rays. Technicians perform the treatments in a private examination room and owners are welcome to stay and comfort their pets during all of the treatments. We begin to see improvements often as early as after the first treatment. After the initial series, pets come back for booster treatments monthly, or as needed. Numerous studies show that K-Laser Therapy can help with: Osteoarthritis Joint Pain Muscle Strains Puncture Wounds Post-Surgical Pain Hip Dysplasia Burns Rehabilitation Relieves Inflammation Anal Glands, Irritated Bladder      K-Laser Therapy Benefits include: Faster Tissue Repair Pain Relief Reduced Inflammation and Swelling Stimulation of the Nerve System Generation of New Cells Increased Range of Motion

September is Dental Month

September 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

Wasabi is now 6 months old!

Wasabi is now 6 months old!  In the last couple of months, he has transformed from a clumsy teenager into an adult, complete with brilliant plumage.  His pastel peachy feathers around his face were the first to molt, and he quickly grew bright orangish/red replacements.  His green body feathers have also been steadily molting, littering our counters with colorful fuzz.  The last to molt are his primary (wing) and tail feathers, which are being replaced with brighter and larger feathers.

 

Although lovebirds can be one of the more difficult parrots to transferonto a formulated pellet diet, Wasabi has successfully completed this task, and is now learning in order to get his favorite treats, buckwheat and safflower seeds, he has to work for them.   He gets rewarded for doing something that we would like him to do, whether something as simple as stepping up without fuss, laying on his back, or just having some quiet time.

Overall, Wasabi still loves meeting new people, among occasionally being much too friendly with a large dog or two.  Make sure to say hello to him, next time you're in to visit the hospital!