Treats! Treats! (The Wonderful Fruit.)

Dear Fellow Pet Lovers,

 

As many of you have learned, I am not a big pet treat fan for several reasons, but I do understand that many of you are.

 

You may remember the discussions about Chicken Jerky treats causing real problems up to death in thousands of dogs since 2006. The problems occurred most often in treats that, though from American companies, were actually produced in China. To this day, we do not know the entire problem with the treats.

 

A recent report indicated that the problem with chicken jerky treats for dogs has reduced dramatically, though there still are cases. Not all the cases were from Chinese product, and, again, we never totally discovered the cause of the problem.

 

So, I recommend that you never feed chicken jerky treats to your canine friends in any case.

 

If you are a real pet treater, and feel you must treat…

 

– Use a product, preferably one made in the US that is known to be safe.

– Do not feed large quantities of treats, as they are often rich and cause upset stomach and sometimes diarrhea.

– Avoid “tipping,” meaning giving your dog a treat every time he does what he is supposed to anyway.

– Use lots of attention and petting and talking to in lieu of large amounts of treats, and your dog will be happier and lighter.

 

So, there you have it. My take on treats….

 

See? Something CAN be done about preventing pet illness.

 

 

That is all.

 

 

Dr. John Emerson, Pet Emergency Clinic

Take This!!!! (You Dirty Rat.)

Dear Fellow Pet Lovers,

 

Rat poisons have for many years been relatively easy for DVM’s to deal with, since they cause bleeding, and they take about two days to cause symptoms. They have a good antidote and are almost always curable if we have any ideas that are present. What’s not to like?

 

In the past few years, the bleeding type rat baits (warfarin or coumadin types) are being replaced by products that affect the animal much more quickly with much more severe symptoms, including sudden death. There are some reasons given why this is occurring, but I do not really understand them.

 

So, a few words to consider:

1- Be extremely careful with any rat poison, but especially with newer ones that are not “warfarin” type or “coumadin” type. If your pet ingests much of the newer type, he will be at severe risk of death.

2- If your pet ingests rat poison, or ANY poison for that matter, call the ER or your DVM NOW with the active ingredients. In many cases, vomiting is important and vomiting within an hour of ingestion may save a life. So have your container with label out when you call, and bring it with you to us.

3- An Animal Poison Control, which is current on all animal poisons, is available to us for a fee. Be prepared to allow us to use it if we need it.

 

As I always advocate, use good basic common sense in these situations, and you will often save the day.

 

 

See? Something CAN be done about preventing pet illness.

 

 

That is all.

 

 

Dr. John Emerson, Pet Emergency Clinic

 

Make Memorial Day 2016 a Good Memory

Dear Fellow Pet Lovers,

 

Memorial Day 2016 will be here very soon. This important holiday, which informally marks the start of the summer season, was established to honor all Americans who died while serving in the military. It was originally called “Decoration Day” and was first observed in 1868.

 

Every year, we all get together to celebrate, be together, maybe cook delicious food, and enjoy ourselves. And every year, we, as loving pet owners, determine to share “just a little treat” with begging Fideaux of the big sad eyes!

 

And every year, we at Pet Emergency Clinic treat a large number of those “begging Phydeauxs of the big sad eyes” for vomiting and diarrhea. Never fails.

 

So, why am I combining Memorial Day with diarrhea? Because they seem to go together as regards pets. That’s why!

 

Well, what can you do…???? I thought you would never ask!!

 

1- Do not feed your pet ANY new food during this time. Rather, give the pet lots of love and attention in lieu of diarrhea-causing treats and people food.

 

2- Keep your pet contained this holiday. The next most popular holiday fare at the ER is “Big Dog- Little Dog” fights and wounds.

 

 

Memorial Day is an important day on which we honor our American heroes. Do 1 and 2 above so the focus may stay on the heroes rather than the pets we have maybe made ill.

 

 

See? Something CAN be done about preventing pet illness.

 

 

That is all.

 

 

Dr. John Emerson, Pet Emergency Clinic

NAS TEEEEEEEEEE!!………..NASTY BUGS!

Dear Fellow Pet Lovers, 

In recent weeks at Pet Emergency Clinic, I have seen a repeating theme….
A puppy between 4 and 8 months of age comes in with some vomiting or just lethargy. The puppy has uncertain vaccine history. We run a Parvo test as a matter of course, even though the puppy is not the classical age or breed, and BOOM. Parvo positive.
As a reminder, Parvo is a very nasty virus that is spread through feces and that attacks mostly younger pets lacking full vaccine protection. It first injures the lining of the intestines, causing foul diarrhea, and it next attacks and weakens the immune system, making the pet unable to fully fight back.
In most cases, pets will survive after lots of treatment, but in some cases, the pet dies.
So why am I telling you this?

To remind you to follow your own DVM’s vaccination plan FULLY and to avoid large gatherings of other pets until the plan is complete.
Are feed store vaccines (the famous “7 in 1.”) just as good?

No. So many of my Parvo positive cases have had these ineffective vaccines prior to contracting the disease. 
What breeds and ages are more often seen with Parvo?

At our ER, and not necessarily everywhere, the most common parvo catchers include Pit Bulls, Labradors, and Rottweilers. (All breeds can catch it though) The typical age is 10-14 weeks.
Can good vaccines fail?

Yes. This is because the mother’s antibodies block the actual disease AND block the ability of the vaccine to protect. If your mother’s milk protection ran out before your next Parvo vaccine was given, your pet could fall through the cracks in protection. 
What to do?

Always follow your veterinarian’s vaccine protocol with your veterinarian’s vaccines.
At the first sign that your non-yet-fully-vaccinated puppy is ill, get her seen. Do not wait!
So you see, you can do something about protecting your pet from nasty bugs!!!

That is all.

Dr. John Emerson, Pet Emergency Clinic

WHAT’S THE BEST PET??? SURVEY SAYS!!!!!? …

Dear Fellow Pet Lovers,
I often am asked what is the very best possible pet. (This is similar to being asked what is the best car, best spouse ,the best whatever). There is only ONE correct answer. It DEPENDS.
It really depends on what your needs are. And it also depends on what your WANTS are.
I so often see people with pets (and with cars and with other things) that I believe are impractical and may not make sense for them. But they have the pet and are happy, so why should I criticize ?
When you are getting a pet, it is very smart to get one that suits your lifestyle as well as your wants. For example, having a Great Dane and a Mastiff inside a small apartment when your work schedule involves 18 hour shifts would not make sense. Maybe a cat or smaller dog with a pet sitter would.
Some people get a breed to achieve a certain “look.” The avid young sportsman may feel that a Labrador helps with the right look, and it may be the right pet. But the young sportsman should be aware that Labradors (great breed) are energetic, need lots of exercise, and can be a handful if they are not well-trained.
Many people just love the English Bulldog breed and want to have one as a family pet. Yes, Bulldogs are wonderful, friendly, goofy pets that will make you laugh out loud. But they are also fragile animals that are cursed with many health problems. The potential owner should be prepared for all of this and for sometimes costly medical bills.
When the Chinese Shar-Pei first became popular in the 1980’s everybody wanted one of those “hairless, wrinkled, dogs. ” But the breed at first had severe medical problems and sometimes personality problems, making them a difficult pet. Good to know ahead of time.

So, what am I saying?

1- Make sure that you are able to physically house the type of pet that you are interested in. (Pretty basic)

2- Make sure that you are aware of the possible medical problems this type pet may get. Can you deal with the expense and the heartache that sometimes occurs?

3- Make sure how getting a certain breed will affect your homeowners insurance. Many breeds that are considered aggressive will cause a large increase in premiums or in some cases cancellation of your insurance. (I am not addressing whether these dogs in fact really deserve this; rather just what does happen.)

4- Be sure that you are able to spend time with your pet. This is more important than anything else. When you spend the needed amount of time, your pet can become a dream. And when you cannot, it may be a nightmare.

5- Consider the cost of medical care, high quality food, heartworm prevention, etc. which are in addition to the purchase price, if any. Does it fit your budget?

In my career, I have seen many people who could scrounge together $2000 to $3000 to purchase a fancy pet, but then they became frustrated because they could not afford the ongoing maintenance of such a pet. Consider adopting from the shelter, where, for a pretty low price, your new pet is updated on preventive care and not very costly. Now your $2000 can go a pretty long way towards pet maintenance.

Whatever happens, and whatever pet you choose, consult your DVM. For preliminary advice and for medical matters. And if these medical matters occur after hours, call Pet Emergency Clinic at 337-562-0400.

That is all.

Dr. John Emerson, Pet Emergency Clinic

Have you Seizure? Baby Have you Seizure?

Dear Fellow Pet Lovers, 
Since we have lately been seeing multiple cases of seizures at ER, I am devoting this week’s update to this topic….
What is a seizure?

A seizure is a condition in which, most commonly, muscles contract violently and then relax, over and over, and the animal becomes incoherent, which usually lasts only several seconds but which seems to last for hours. (I am describing the most common seizure, the Grand Mal, or “Big Sick,” seizure here. There are many types) A Grand Mal seizure is like a thunderstorm in the brain, in which there is uncontrolled electrical activity firing off all at once.
Just how dangerous are seizures?

They can be VERY dangerous, especially if the seizure continues for very long at all. But usually, the seizure will play itself out after a few minutes and the immediate danger is over. This often occurs at ER, when by the time the pet arrives, the seizure is stopped and the owners feel sort of silly. If it happens to you, be assured, you are NOT silly. ALL PETS WHO HAVE HAD A FIRST SEIZURE SHOULD SEE A DVM.
What causes seizures?

In more many cases, we cannot assign a medical condition that caused the seizure. Pets that have seizures from no known cause are termed Epileptic. However, there are many medical conditions that may cause a seizure, and if corrected, the seizure problem will dissappear. Anything from head trauma, liver disease, cancer, stroke, kidney disease, certain poisons, etc. may cause a seizure. 
What is the handling for seizure pets seen by the DVM?

Usually, a detailed physical exam inclusing a neurological exam, along with blood testing to rule out organ dysfunction are the start. Then ideally, the pet should be hospitalized for overnight observation called “seizure watch.” Though many seizure pets do not need long-term meds, we do like to use “pulse therapy” of antiseizure meds (PULSE-to give multiple frequent doses of an anti-seizure drug as a temporary measure only) may be used to reduce the chance of followup seizures.
Will my pet have to be on medicine?

Most of the time, DVM’s are reluctant to start anti-seizure meds until they determine that the seizures will continue if they do not. This is because, usually, once you commit to medicine after the initial temporary pulse, you are committed to it. In some cases, seizures are just a rare thing, and meds may not be indicated.
What Medicine may be used?

There are a large number of possible anti-seizure drugs that may be used, but the barbiturate Phenobarbitol and the salt Pottassium Bromide are the most common ones in dogs. The meds available for dogs and cats are increasing rapidly, so discuss this with your own DVM.
Have you Seizure?

Well, we really hope not, but if you do, ER and your DVM can help!

You CAN do something about pet illness.

That is all.

Dr. John Emerson, Pet Emergency Clinic