Easter Chocolate And Your Dog!

Did you know...... Chocolate contains substances known as METHYLAXANTHINES, most importantly THEOBROMINE.

Dog are far more sensitive to theobromine than people and can quite easily consume toxic amounts.

The darker and more bitter the chocolate, the higher the concentration of these toxic products.

If acted on promptly, emptying the stomach of the ingested chocolate can prevent clinical signs of toxicity from developing.

If your pet has ingested a toxic amount you should bring them in to your nearest Blue Cross Veterinary Centre as soon as possible for treatment.

Cody's Troubled Gallbladder

Cody, a beloved 13 year old Bichon came into the hospital because he was feeling unwell and hadn't been eating.  Blood tests revealed increased liver enzymes and an ultrasound scan showed an abnormality in the gallbladder called a 'gallbladder mucocele'.  This is a rare and life threatening disease where the gallbladder becomes inflamed and hugely distended with gelatinous bile.  If untreated, the gallbladder is at risk of infection and may eventually rupture.  Cody was placed on IV fluids and underwent complex surgery to remove his enlarged gallbladder.  After surgery, Cody required a feeding tube and intensive care for several days but made a speedy recovery and is now back to his usual, energetic self. 

Heat Stroke

During this hot summer season it is important to make sure your sogs, cats, rabbits and other furry friends have plenty of water, access to shade, and can escape the heat. Heat stroke can be a serious condition as dogs and cats do not sweat like us.

• Never leave a dog in a hot car
• Never leave your pet in an unshaded yard
• Dogs who go on extended hunting trips are more likely to usffer
• Dogs with shorter noses (pugs, bull dogs, boxers etc) are more prone to heat stroke so make sure they have access to shade and water

Prevention is key with this potentially serious condition. Signs of heat stroke include exhaustion, excess salivation, collapsing and really red gums.

If your animal is showing these signs of heat stroke first hose them down with cool water and contact your Blue Cross Veterinary Centre for further assistance.

Kora the Miracle Dog

Kora was rescued from near death as a pup by the loving Henderson family.

While visiting a farm in Palmerston with her family she was accidentally run over. Her grandparents rushed her to the Veterinary Centre Palmerston. She was given pain medication and promptly sen up to Oamaru for further treatment. On arrival at the veterinary hospital she was started on emergency support including intravenous fluids and oxygen. X-rays revealed that her stomach and liver had moved into her chest preventing her from being able to breathe. She was taken into surgery straight away to have her ruptured diaphragm repaired and her liver and stomach returned to their position in the abdomen. Kora was a real fighter and recovered remarkably quickly from surgery.

We look forward to Kora coming for a visit soon for a catch up with our miracle dog.

Cat and Dog Poisons

We all know our furry friends often like to get their noses stuck into a variety of things - but there is a list of common household substances that can be very dangerous to dogs and cats and should be avoided!

• Chocolate: the darker the chocolate the more harmful substances it contains. Coffee and caffeine contain similar harmful chemicals.
• Grapes and raisins: can cause kidney failure
• Macadamia nuts
• Avocado
• Xylitol: is an artificial sweetener found in many products, including sugar- free chewing gum
• Plants: tulips, daffodils, azaleas just to name a few
• Anti-freeze: animals love the sweet taste of anti-freeze
• Rodenticides: either direct ingestion or through eating a poisoned rodent
• Paracetamol: there is alternative veterinary pain relief available
• Onions (and garlic): can cause a life threatening anaemia 
• Alcohol

Common signs you may see in your dogs and cats following ingestion of these poisons are vomiting, diarrhoea, collapsing and seizures. Typically the more they eat the more severe the signs are. if you have seen your pets tuck into any of these toxins then contact us immediately. The sooner we can help your animal the better the result will be.

Peculiar Prostatic Problem

Benson, an eight year old entire male Border Collie, recently came into our Waimate Veterinary Centre because he was unwell, arching his back and not eating.

A large mass could be felt in his abdomen so an ultrasound was performed. This revealed that Benson's prostate was dramatically enlarged, containing a number of small cysts, and was attached to a very large cyst.

Delicate surgery to remove the large cyst was required. The smaller cysts were drained and Benson was castrated.

Prostatic enlargement is very common in older entire male dogs and can lead to constipation, difficulty urinating and occasionally more sever problems. Castration allows the prostate to shrink and is often the only treatment required. This is a simple day procedure with huge health benefits to your male dog so contact you Veterinary Centre today to book your dog in.

Benson recovered well from surgery however he will need to be on medication for some time to come.

Slug Bait Toxicity Alert

Pet poisonings are always very distressing for the pet, the owner and even the vets! Slug bait is a common household item toxic to pets and autumn is one of the recommended periods for its use.

Slug bait acts as a nerve agent and has very sudden onset of action, typically within about an hour of being eaten.

If your dog does eat slug and snail bait it is important to contact your vet ASAP because death can occur very rapidly. At the Veterinary Centre we have successfully treated dogs for slug bait poisoning with quick diagnosis and treatment (usually by inducing vomiting) being key to full recovery.

To avoid poisoning make sure you keep slug bait out of reach of your pets or buy a pet friendly version of this product.