May 1st marks the beginning of National Pet Week.
Campus Veterinary Clinic offers free wellness exams to pets adopted from most pet shelters in the Greater Bay Area.
You are currently browsing the monthly archive for April 2011.
Do you have medications in the house that you or your pet no longer need? The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is providing a unique opportunity to dispose of these in a safe, legal way. On April 30th, citizens may take their unwanted medications to a number of locations that are listed on the DEA website.
NOT included are intravenous solutions, injectables and needles. All deposits are done anonymously. Both prescription and over the counter medications will be accepted.
Local DEA field offices can be found here if you have further questions.
Sometimes good things come in big packages…130 pound packages to be exact. “Puck” Witalis is a 9 year-old Malamute and a proud Bay Area native. According to owner Deborah, Puck was born one of eight puppies on the coldest morning of 2002. His mother was of AKC Canadian stock while his father was a local boy.
Says Deborah, “Puck chose us by waddling across the deck and looking up with big brown eyes that seemed to say ‘I’m the one you’ve been waiting for’….so much for romance .”
LIKES: his rubber rooster (see above), hiding things behind couch cushions, stealing toilet paper rolls, anything remotely edible, gentle pets from attractive young women.
DISLIKES: car rides, restricted diets, dinner not promptly served at exactly 4:15pm, noogies.
To learn more about Malamutes, click here.
Does your pet have what it takes to be a Campus Critter of the Month? Email us at moc.y1369485621ranir1369485621etevs1369485621upmac1369485621@rett1369485621irc1369485621.
Recently Campus Veterinary Clinic lost one of it’s most beloved patients “Q” Harper. In his seven years of life, Q endeared himself not only to his owner Ken, but all of the doctors and staff here at the clinic. His hearty bark would often herald his arrival to the clinic and we all learnt to love it.
Hiking was a passion both Ken and Q shared. Together they logged in many miles on The Pacific Crest Trail, Desolation Basin, South Warner and John Muir Wilderness areas to name a few. Snake, bears and all manner of weather never dimished Q’s love of the trail.
Junior, another Bernese Mountain dog that Ken fostered and then adopted in late 2009 soon became fast friends with Q. No one would guess that the energetic and sprightly dog was 10 years old. He happily followed along with the rest of the clan on hikes all over Northern California.
Sadly, Q was diagnosed with a type of cancer called histiocytic sarcoma earlier this year. He passed away on the 9th of March with his owner by his side. He will be remembered fondly by all of us here at Campus Vet.
If you or someone you know has lost a pet there are resources to help deal with the process. Berkeley East Bay Humane has a Pet Loss Support Group that meets regularly. Additionally, UC Davis and others provide a number of grief hot lines.
Although lovely to look at, the beautiful Easter Lily is a harmful toxin to felines. Once ingested, any part of the lily can cause a host of health problems to the animal. Symptoms may include vomiting, loss of appetite, dehydration and if left untreated, kidney failure. WXII12.com provides good information on what the effects, symptoms and treatment for Easter Lily ingestion are.
“Unbeknownst to many pet owners, Easter lilies are highly toxic to cats,” said Ahna Brutlag, DVM, assistant director at Pet Poison Helpline. “All parts of the Easter lily plant are poisonous – the petals, the leaves, the stem and even the pollen. Cats that ingest as few as one or two leaves, or even a small amount of pollen while grooming their fur, can suffer severe kidney failure.”
In most situations, symptoms of poisoning will develop within six to 12 hours of exposure. Early signs include vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy and dehydration. Symptoms worsen as kidney failure develops. Some cats will experience disorientation, staggering and seizures.
“There is no effective antidote to counteract lily poisoning, so the sooner you can get your cat to the veterinarian, the better his chances of survival will be,” said Brutlag. “If you see your cat licking or eating any part of an Easter lily, call your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline immediately. If left untreated, his chances of survival are low.”
Treatment includes inducing vomiting, administering drugs like activated charcoal (to bind the poison in the stomach and intestines), intravenous fluid therapy to flush out the kidneys, and monitoring of kidney function through blood testing. The prognosis and the cost – both financially and physically – to the pet owner and cat, are best when treated immediately.
There are several other types of lilies that are toxic to cats as well. They are of the Lilium and Hemerocallis species and commonly referred to as Tiger lilies, Day lilies and Asiatic lilies. Popular in many gardens and yards, they can also result in severe acute kidney failure. These lilies are commonly found in florist bouquets, so it is imperative to check for poisonous flowers before bringing bouquets into the household. Other types of lilies – such as the Peace, Peruvian and Calla lilies – are usually not a problem for cats and may cause only minor drooling.
Thankfully, lily poisoning does not occur in dogs or people. However, if a large amount is ingested, it can result in mild gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting and diarrhea.
About Pet Poison Helpline Pet Poison Helpline, a division of SafetyCall International®, is an animal poison control service based out of Minneapolis available 24 hours, seven days a week for pet owners and veterinary professionals who require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet. The staff can provide treatment advice for poisoning cases of all species, including dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, large animals and exotic species. As the most cost-effective option for animal poison control care, Pet Poison Helpline’s fee of $35 per incident includes unlimited follow-up consultations. Pet Poison Helpline is available in North America by calling 800-213-6680. Additional information can be found online at Pet Poison Helpline
via WXII12.com