970-247-8545
Each month will feature information about a special topic. Check back monthly for great information for you and your pets!
Click on a title in the list below to download 2010 topics.
Click on a title in the list below to read 2011 topics.
This month continues our discussion on pet first aid. We will discuss a few specific types of injuries and illnesses and how to prevent and treat them. Hemorrhage (excessive bleeding) If your dog or cat gets injured and is bleeding, you need to assess how severe the bleeding is to determine if it qualifies as an emergency. If you see blood pumping out or dripping out so fast that it is pooling on the floor or soaking through a bandage within a few minutes, you should seek veterinary care as soon as possible. Apply pressure to the wound and transport your pet as soon as possible. Most bleeding wounds will require some type of medical or surgical treatment. Deep wounds that are treated after four hours have increased risk of infection and complication. Ears, noses, feet and even torn nails can bleed severely and need veterinary attention to stop the blood loss as quickly as possible. Seizures Dogs and cats can both experience seizures, which are sudden, violent, uncontrolled spasms. If your pet begins to have a seizure, make sure there is nothing that he can bump into or that can fall on him during the seizure. Keep your hands away from your pet's mouth during the seizure to avoid being bitten. Alert your veterinarian of the event as soon as possible. If the seizure lasts longer than three to five minutes or is coming in clusters, take your pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible. There are three phases of seizures. The first is called the pre-ictal phase. You may notice your pet behaving differently. He may become restless or nervous, hide or act more needy than usual, or even salivate more. The second phase is the ictal phase, where the seizure is occurring. All of the muscles will contract and your pet will likely be lying on his side and may appear to be shaking or paddling his legs. He may urinate and defecate during this phase. The third and final phase is the post-ictal phase when your pet is recovering from the seizure. He may appear to be disoriented, confused, and restless. He may also experience temporary blindness and excessive salivation. If your pet has a seizure and has never had one before, be sure to look around for any possible toxin he may have ingested. Eye injuries Eye injuries are always painful and should be treated immediately. Scratches or punctures to the cornea can be caused by foreign objects like sticks, grass awns etc. If your pet is squinting and rubbing at his eye, seek veterinary care as soon as possible. Try to prevent him from rubbing to avoid causing further damage. If you can see a foreign object in your pet's eye, it may be possible to remove it by gently flushing the eye with a saline solution. If the eyeball is out of its socket, keep it moist with saline solution or contact lens solution and protect it from further injury while transporting your pet immediately to a veterinarian.
Heart worm Disease ’Tis the season for heartworm disease awareness! We are now learning that heart worm disease can affect cats too, so if you haven't had your dogs and cats tested, be sure to do it soon! We also recommend heart worm prevention monthly starting this month for both dogs and cats. But don't worry, there is a topical preventative for cats so you don't have to try to give them a pill every month! If you plan to travel with your pets to warmer areas during the winter months, we recommend using heart worm prevention year-round. To the right, you'll see a life cycle for the heart worm. The important thing to remember is that it is all transmitted by the mosquito. Even mostly indoor pets are at risk because mosquitoes can and often do get into your house. All it takes is one infected mosquito to bite your dog or cat to start the process. Symptoms of heart worm disease in dogs include coughing, difficulty breathing, exercise intolerance, and in advanced stages, can include coughing up blood, weight loss and heart failure. Symptoms in cats may mimic other feline diseases, but can include vomiting, gagging, difficulty or rapid breathing, lethargy, weight loss and hindquarter paralysis. However, most of the time, pets will show few if any symptoms until the disease has progressed into the advanced stages. This is why it is so important to test frequently so we can detect the disease before it is advanced. Currently, there is no treatment for heart worm disease in cats, and the treatment for dogs comes with associated risks. The bottom line: Heartworm disease is MUCH easier and less expensive to prevent than to treat after your pet has been infected. Please feel free to call us with any questions or stop in to pick up some prevention. You can also use your Pet Portal to send yourself monthly reminders to give your pets their prevention. If you have any questions about your Pet Portal, need a new password, or would like some assistance setting up the monthly reminder, please don't hesitate to give us a call. We're happy to help you in any way we can!
Canine Cough Syndrome A combination of varying factors contributing to an infection of flu-like symptoms. What is causing all the respiratory infections in Durango in the last few months? We have not been able to identify a specific virus or bacteria responsible for current outbreak. Our tests have been negative for Bordetella, Distemper, Influenza and Para influenza. We feel that some of the positives we have gotten could be secondary infections and not the primary cause. The problem is that the highest amount of viral shed occurs before the animal is even coughing or acting sick. Often by the time we know there is a problem, the organism that started it all is long gone. We are currently participating in an in-depth study with Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine to try to identify the causative agent. What can you do to protect your dog? Keep current on your vaccinations for Bordetella and DHPP. If you routinely take your dog to daycare, the dog park, socialization classes, dog school, the groomer, humane society, or the river trail, we also recommend vaccinating for the canine influenza too, which we now carry. What is the Canine Influenza (H3N8)? This is a variant form of the Equine Influenza. It was transmitted from horses to greyhounds in 2004 at a racetrack in Florida. There are currently 4 states thought to be endemic (regularly found in a group) for the influenza…New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and COLORADO! We don’t know how it skipped all the states in between and got to the front range area. We feel that Durango dogs are at increased risk due to the fact many tourists visit our area and we are a very dog friendly town with popular places like the dog park, the river trail and doggy day care.
This month continues our discussion on pet first aid. We will discuss a few specific types of injuries and illnesses and how to prevent and treat them. Bee stings & bug bites The coming warm weather brings out the insects and spiders. Animals can experience similar reactions to insect bites and stings as people and in some cases, can experience a severe anaphylactic response. Check your yard and anywhere else your pets go for evidence of bee hives and wasp nests, keeping in mind they may be in the ground. Call a professional exterminator to remove the nests. Do not attempt to remove them yourself. If your pet is experiencing a severe reaction, be sure to seek veterinary care immediately. Burns & scalds If your pet gets burned or scalded, cool the burned area with cold water immediately and place damp towels over it. If the injury was caused by a caustic chemical, rinse the area with cold water for a minimum of fifteen (15) minutes and contact your veterinarian. Occasionally a burn or scald is not apparent at the time it occurs and owners are only made aware of it because of scabbing or loss of skin and/or hair. If you notice any evidence of a previous burn, bring your pet to a veterinarian immediately. Lacerations The warm weather brings more dogs outside on hikes and for romps in the river. Occasionally a sharp object like a stick or rock will cause a skin laceration. If your dog gets a laceration, most likely it will need to be sutured closed. If it is in a location where it can be bandaged, attempt to lightly bandage it to keep it clean and prevent your pet from licking the area until you can seek veterinary care. If the wound is heavily bleeding, pooling on the floor or soaking through a bandage in a matter of a few minutes, this becomes a life threatening situation. Apply pressure to the area and take your pet to a veterinarian immediately. Heat Stroke Always remember to never leave your pets locked in a car on a warm day. Even if the temperatures are mild outside, the interior of a car can heat to extreme temperatures in a matter of minutes. If your pet is panting excessively, acting lethargic and distressed, he may be experiencing heat stroke. In extreme cases, your pet may lose consciousness. If you think your pet is experiencing heat stroke, attempt to cool him by wetting him with cool water. Open the windows and allow the water to evaporate while you are transporting him to a veterinarian. Do not use ice or ice water to cool him as this can bring down the body temperature too quickly causing further complications.
Basic pet first aid If you suspect an emergency with your pet, here are some key starting points to follow: What is shock? What are the signs? Shock is a complex condition often following an acute injury or emergency that can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure. Pets may experience all or some of the following symptoms : What should I do? Again, keep calm and try to keep your pet quiet and warm. If necessary, apply the ABCs of first aid: Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation - CPR If your pet is not breathing and either has no pulse or it is slow and weak, press gently on his chest with your palm. Do five (5) chest compressions followed by one to two (1-2) deep breaths.
Taking your pet's vital signs As a pet owner, it is always a good idea to know how to take your pet's vital signs. In the event of an emergency situation, abnormalities in vital signs can quickly give you the information you need on making the decision to take your pet to a veterinarian. It is important to remember that every animal is different and subtle changes in vital signs may not indicate an emergency. You should check your pet's vitals when they are feeling well so you know what "normal" is for your pet. The main points for taking vitals are: Temperature Heart rate and pulse Respiratory rate
