Posts Tagged ‘Aspen Meadow Veterinary’
Toxic… Peanut Butter?
By Dr. Sofia Kalkstein Emergency Veterinarian When it comes to peanut butter everyone thinks of the sticky, yummy spread that is loved by all…including our pets, especially our dogs. But there is a new player in town and it is highly toxic to our pets. Of course, it is not the peanut butter that is toxic, and No, dogs have not developed life threatening peanut allergies. These peanut butters are NOT your mainstream brands sold in grocery stores. These peanut butters are sold online ... Full Story
Raw Food Diet for Your Dog
By Dr. Alexandra Pauls Surgical Intern As a culture, we’ve begun to pay a lot of attention to the food we eat. We know that diet can have a significant impact on our health, and it’s only natural that we would want to extend this same consideration to our whole family—including our pets. For a growing number of pet owners, this has come to mean the incorporation of uncooked food in their pets’ diets. Raw food diets come in a variety of forms, both commercially ... Full Story
Keeping Your Pet Safe in the Summer Heat
By Tiffany Hughes, DVMEmergency and Critical Care InternSummer is a great time to get outdoors with our four-legged friends, but caution must be taken to make sure they stay safe. Any dog can be at risk for heat stroke even outside of a hot car. Older dogs, overweight dogs, and short-snouted breeds like bulldogs, pugs, and boxers are at increased risk.Dogs do not sweat except from their paw pads. Their most effective way of cooling themselves is by panting. Some older dogs have paralysis of ... Full Story
Summer Time: Canine Hazards
By Crystal Connor, DVMEmergency VeterinarianWho has heard the unproven statistic that Colorado has around 300 days of sunshine per year? Regardless of its validity, Colorado is an amazing, beautiful state that has a lot to offer when it comes to enjoying the great outdoors and sunshine with our canine companions.As an emergency veterinarian I see a variety of injuries affecting dogs throughout the summer and I feel this is a great opportunity to recall some of the canine hazards of summer. The ... Full Story
Rattlesnake Bites in Pets
By Jan Mladonicky, DVM Emergency Veterinary Intern With the ability to travel one half its body length at a speed of 8 feet per second, it doesn’t take long for a snake to strike and inject venom into your dog. The venomous snakes in Colorado include the western rattlesnake and the massasauga, commonly known as the pit vipers. The western rattlesnake lives throughout the state while the massasauga lives in the southeastern grasslands. Snakes depend on their venom to immobilize and partially ... Full Story
Xylitol Toxicity
Dana Dietrich, DVM Emergency Veterinarian You get home from work to find your dog acting unusual. He is weak, wobbly, and uncoordinated. He almost appears as if he is "drunk". You check the house and find that he has ingested part of a pack of sugarless gum. You think to yourself, "gum is not toxic to dogs is it?" You call the Pet Poison Helpline at 1-855-764-7661 and pay just $49 for a consultation with a veterinary Toxicologist. The Toxicologist informs you the ... Full Story
The Vet is in: Winter Cold
Keeping your Pets Safe this Winter Sofia Kalkstein, DVM Emergency Veterinarian We have all heard the old adage in Colorado that if you don’t like the weather, wait a minute. However, winter is here and will lay its’ cold, snowy grip on the Front Range for the next few months. Here are some reminders about how to keep our best friends safe during this season. Both cats and dogs are vulnerable to antifreeze poisoning, which is commonly used this time of year. Its sweet taste is irresistible ... Full Story
The Vet is in: Laryngeal Paralysis
Sonya Sia, DVM Surgical Intern It is a warm, sunny summer day. You are hiking with your long time, furry friend, Duke, a 9 year old Labrador Retriever. He has been your hiking buddy for years, but recently his breathing has seemed hoarse and loud. Usually, Duke easily beats you up the trail, but now Duke is panting as he tries to keep up with you. What could be causing Duke’s difficulty breathing? Laryngeal paralysis is a progressive, degenerative disease that causes the larynx, also ... Full Story
The Vet is in: GDV and prevention
What is GDV and How Can We Prevent It? John Litterine-Kauffman, DVM Surgical Intern It is two in the morning. You have just been awoken by your yellow lab, Rufus, retching at the foot of your bed. He has been uncomfortable all night, but now he is gagging and retching as if something is stuck in his throat, but he cannot bring it up. His belly also seems bigger than you remember and feels tight when you go to calm him down. As a veterinarian working in an emergency clinic, this set of ... Full Story
Marijuana and your pet
Cannabis Consumption in Colorado’s Canines and Cats Jan Mladonicky, DVM Brownies on the counter? Yum! But our pets have no idea that there may be special ingredients lurking inside these tempting treats that can make them sick and are very likely to consume far more than the recommended “serving size.” Pet toxicities are becoming increasingly more common since Colorado legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes in 2000. A published study involving two large animal hospitals from ... Full Story
