Posts Tagged ‘emergency veterinary’
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
Helping Dogs and Cats Adjust to Blindness
Dana Dietrich, DVM Emergency Veterinarian Dogs and cats that go blind can, with time, adjust to their surroundings through use of their other senses. It is important to remember that each animal is an individual and therefore the amount of time it will take for this adjustment to occur will vary from pet to pet. The key is to be patient and calm. It will help your pet immensely to know that you and your family are there to help them through the adjustment period. Learning that your pet has ... Full Story
A Cutting Edge Cancer Treatment for Pets
Electrochemotherapy: Brooke Fowler, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology) Oncology Specialist For decades, the mainstay of cancer therapy has been chemotherapy for systemic disease, one that affects multiple organs and tissues, and radiation or surgery for locally invasive tumors. Sometimes, however, tumors do not fit neatly into these treatment categories. After all, cancer is wily, unpredictable, and likes to follow its own rules. Local disease burden seems to be the most difficult type of ... Full Story
Vet is in: Your Cat
In and Out of the Litter Box: Symptoms and Treatment of Feline Urethral Obstruction By Dr. Danielle Huval Emergency Veterinarian Feline Urethral Obstruction is a life-threatening emergency that occurs in primarily male cats. It is also referred to as a “Blocked Tom.” Common early symptoms that one may see at home include vocalizing (howling), frequent trips (increased urgency) in and out of the litter box, straining to urinate or defecate, excessive licking of back end, blood in ... Full Story
Your pet and glaucoma
Glaucoma Abbey Holtman, DVM Emergency Veterinarian Glaucoma is a condition in which the intraocular pressure (pressure within the eye) is higher than normal. The classic symptom of glaucoma is a red and painful eye, but other eye diseases can present this way. It is important to understand that if glaucoma is left untreated, the pressure within the eye will continue to elevate and can cause permanent blindness. Additional clinical signs of glaucoma can include redness of the vessels ... Full Story
