Thursday, December 19, 2013

Did you know.....If you want to get festive, mix some of your pet's regular food with water to make a "dough" and roll out and cut into festive shapes, then bake until crunchy.

Thank you for all that helped support our Guatemala Bake A Thon. We were overwhelmed with the response to all the baking and all the buying!! We raised over 1600$ alone from the silent auction and bake sale! Hip hip hooray! Just a note to ensure that your pet stays safe over the holiday season, although we would love to see you, we also like your pets healthy.

Tinsel, Ribbon and other Pretty Things
Ribbons, wrapping paper, ornaments, tinsel, extension cords and gifts may be appealing "chew toys" that may make your pet sick.There is something about those shiny strands of Christmas tree decor, which drives kitties wild. Although the sight of your cat pawing at the tree may be cute, the ingestion of tinsel can be deadly. Eating tinsel or other string-like items such as ribbon (often called linear foreign bodies)  can cause serious damage to the intestine. One end can get stuck while the rest is pulled into the intestine as it contracts; the contractions may cause the ribbon or tinsel to saw through the intestine. If not caught in time, infection of the belly cavity develops and the prognosis for recovery becomes poor. Pets with linear foreign bodies quickly become ill with signs including vomiting, diarrhea, depression, belly pain and sometimes fever.
Eating other holiday decorations can cause signs ranging from mild depression to severe vomiting or diarrhea, depending upon whether or not the foreign matter can be passed in the stool or gets stuck along the way. Foreign matter stuck in the intestine often does NOT show up on "x-ray" but sometimes the foreign matter will trap air in the intestine, which helps your veterinarian make a diagnosis. Surgery is required to remove foreign matter that does not pass out on its own.
Holiday Lights
Decorative lights are another attraction for pets to chew on. Both indoor and outdoor lights should be carefully examined to ensure safety for your household pets. Electrical shock may occur from defective cords as well as from pets chewing on cords. Check cords for any signs of bite marks, loose or frayed wires, proximity to the tree's water supply or evidence of short circuits. Use grounded "3-prong" extension cords and strictly follow manufacturer's guidelines for light usage.
Electrical shock can cause burns, difficulty breathing, abnormal heart rhythm, loss of consciousness, and death. Call a veterinarian immediately if your pet has been injured by electrical shock. Treatment will be most effective if begun soon after the shock.
Water, Water...
Even though they have their own water bowel, there is something enticing about a novel source of water; whether it's the toilet bowl or the Christmas tree stand. If you add chemicals to the water meant to keep your tree fresh longer, be sure to read the label to make sure it is safe for pets.
Potpourri makes your house smell festive but may be another attraction for pets to drink. Make sure that potpourri pots are covered or otherwise inaccessible to pets.
It may be difficult to curb your pet's fascination with all those pretty decorations. Child gates can be used across doorways to keep your pet away from the Christmas tree and decorations at times they cannot be watched.
Overindulgence
Well-intentioned family and friends may share holiday foods with pets causing the pet to develop a stomach upset or worse, pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) which can be caused by eating fatty foods. To control excessive food intake by your pets and meet your guests' desires to feed the pets, dole out the treats your pets would normally receive and let your guests "treat" the pets. If you want to get festive, mix some of your pet's regular food with water to make a "dough" and roll out and cut into festive shapes, then bake until crunchy.      
Chocolate
What would the holidays be without boxes of chocolate and warm cocoa in front of the fire? However, chocolate can be toxic or even fatal to dogs and cats. Chocolate may be mistakenly given to pets as treats and may be irresistible to the curious canine. Chocolate poisoning occurs most frequently in dogs but other species are also susceptible. Theobromine is the toxic compound found in chocolate. Signs which may appear within 1 to 4 hours of eating chocolate include:
    Holly plant
  • Vomiting 
  • Increased thirst 
  • Diarrhea
  • Weakness
  • Difficulty keeping balance
  • Hyperexcitability
  • Muscle spasms, seizures, coma
  • Death from abnormal heart rhythm
 
    
 
The amount of theobromine in white chocolate or chocolate flavored dog treats is usually negligible. As with any poisoning, call your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary hospital immediately if you suspect your pet may have ingested chocolate. Have the product label information available when you call your veterinarian. There are national and regional poison control hotlines for animals. In general, the treatment of poisonings is most effective if begun soon after eating the poison, before large amounts are absorbed into the blood.
Poinsettias & Mistletoe
poinsettiasPoinsettias fill homes with color during the holidays. Poinsettias have received bad publicity in the past whereas in fact, poinsettias are not very toxic to pets. They do contain a milky sap that can irritate the mouth but if signs develop they are usually mild.
Mistletoe can be very toxic to animals and you should seek veterinary consultation immediately if your pet has potentially ingested any part of the plant. Mistletoe can cause vomiting, severe diarrhea, difficult breathing, shock and death within hours of ingestion.
      
  Pets as Gifts
A cute, cuddly puppy or kitten may seem to be the perfect gift but unfortunately after the holiday season the population of animal shelters explodes with these "surprise gifts". Owning a pet is a long-term commitment that not every one can make.


From all of us at the Allandale Veterinary Hospital, best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season for you and your pets.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Goodies, goodies, and more goodies!

 
Tis the season! FOR EATING BAKED GOODS!



Although some of us may be watching our waistlines, lets be real, most of us are waiting to start (once again) in the new year. In the meantime, why not help us out in our fundraiser! On Monday Dec 9th and Tues Dec 10th, Allandale Veterinary Hospital will be hosting a very large bake- a thon, with 100% of the proceeds going towards the Todos Santos adventure in Guatemala. Dr. Lechten is bring down a veterinary team to Guatemala, to  help the village of Todos Santos spay/neuter pets and vaccinated against rabies. Through the organization of "Vets without Borders" this program decreases pet population and the prevalence of rabies in the area. There will be tons of
human treats along with a few doggie baked goods as well. The cost is $6.00 for 1/2 dozen and $12.00 for a bakers dozen. It's for a great cause, so we hope to see you come out. The bake- a thon information is also posted as an event on our Facebook page. It will be held in the conference center room within the hospital, and the will run all day and all night long until closing at 8:00 pm (Monday and Tuesday).
On the same note, some of our staff have painted some pottery which will be available at our silent auction featured at the bake sale with proceeds also going towards the same fund. We will also feature some surprises that have been donated  for the silent auction...shhh we' can't tell you yet! We have teamed up with  Creative Café of Barrie, so when you visit creative café mention our name and 20% will be donated back to the Guatemala fund. Thank you all for your support! See you soon!