COMMON PROBLEMS IN OUR AREA:

FOXTAIL/PLANT AWN PROBLEMS=

This is one of the most common and costly problems in our area during certain times of the year.  Soon after weedeating and when the green grass turns brown, our problems start.  The foxtail is a barbed seed that sticks to your pet's fur and migrates inward.  The barb can end up in virtually any location in and on your pet's body. 

Most problems stem from the pain inflicted when your pet gets one of these stuck in the ear canal, up his nose, or in his eye.  The most serious of these is the eye since it can lead to blindness if not treated properly.  The ones in the nose can eventually go into the lung and cause significant damage, but this is rare.  The ones in the ear are just as painful, but not life threatening.

The awns in the ear and nose will usually require heavy sedation for us to remove them.  We have safe, short acting drugs to give in these cases.

Awns that make their way into the skin cause a slower process of deep abscess formation and an eventual pus pocket becomes noticeable.  This needs to be lanced and properly drained.  These patients will always be given a round of antibiotics and sometimes pain medications.  One of the deepest abscesses seen at this facility was in a kidney!  Perhaps the awn migrated up the vaginal area when the dog squatted to urinate and the barbed material made it's way up the urinary tract.  Almost anything is possible with these things.  They can be deadly.

Prevention is tough since most of our animals have access to these plants right in our yards.  A couple things you can do to reduce the likelihood of this plant seed attaching to your pet is to keep his coat trimmed short if it is long and also to use a spray on their coat called Show Sheen.  The coat becomes slippery, but not sticky so that the awns are easily brushed off.  Once a week application of this spray has been helpful for most clients.  Be sure to pick up the weeds near your yard once they have been mowed or weed whacked.  Once they dry out they become even more lethal and ready to cling.

RATTLESNAKE BITE=

We have the Western Diamondback snake in our region and they do not hibernate in winter.  They are just more sluggish and harder to find when it is cold.  They will be out and about when you and your pet feel like doing the same.  Be aware of this threat when you are outdoors with your pet.  If your pet is bitten you will usually notice rapid, intensely painful swelling of the affected area.

This labrador retriever mix was bitten on top of the head.

She immediately started to swell and her face became

painful and enlarged.  She did fine without antivenin, and

responded well to pain medications, antibiotics, and

non-steroid anti-inflammatories.

  Some bites are less problematic and may not cause as much swelling and pain, but they usually need to be seen.  Not all patients need antivenin (at over $700 per dose) and do well with pain medication, anti-inflammatories, anti-histamine, and antibiotics.  Some will require hospitalization and fluid support as well.  Antivenin in this practice is available, but rarely used.  Pets that get bitten year after year will have less serious reactions each time.  Some pets will react violently to antivenin and can actually die from the drug.  Rattlesnake vaccine is promising, but not substantiated yet in this practice's opinion .  There have been adverse and serious reactions to this vaccine that may not be worth the benefit that the dose provides.

Prevention of snakebite means staying out of snake habitat during peak activity and keeping snake food to a minimum.  Snakes will be out and about when the weather is nicest.  Be aware of hiking in areas of tall grass and around shaded rock outcroppings.  Eliminate rodents (snake food) and their habitat by not allowing seed(rodent food) to spill onto the ground at feeders and  keep junk piles to a minimum(rodent houses).  Snake control=rodent control! 

POISONING=

The four most common poisons we see are strychnine, rodent bait, antifreeze, and prescription drugs.

In our rural community we can have neighbors with thousands of acres of land and well managed rodent abatement programs, yet our pets seem to find their way into these caches of poison.  Any nervous system symptoms must be considered as a potential poisoning.  Muscle twitching, drooling, staggering, seizuring, etc. are typical signs.  Rodent bait has to be considered when there is uncommon bleeding or unexplained limping, lethargy, or difficulty breathing.  Antifreeze ingestion is perhaps the most deadly as a small amount can cause kidney failure and death within a short period of time.

Prevention of poisonings starts with looking around your pet's environment for these hazards.  Do not let your pet roam onto your neighbor's property, do not use rodent bait at all, check your rental or new dwelling and it's outbuildings for hidden boxes of poison, keep all prescription and non-prescription drugs out of reach, and check for radiator leaks regularly.  If you know your pet got into something bring the container with you to the vet.  Hopefully, you can make contact with your vet or at least poison control.  You will be instructed to induce vomiting if one of the above poisons is ingested and your pet can breathe and swallow properly.  This can be accomplished with a few ccs of hydrogen peroxide.  Bring the vomit too.  The doctor will want to see the amount and character of this material.  Most drive times to the nearest emergency facility are over an hour so it is a good idea to start getting these materials out of your pet's  system as soon as you can.  We do not always have the luxury of having a 24 hour , full service, fully staffed emergency facility around the corner. 

COMMON SOURCES OF TRAUMA=

1)Deer can and will kill your dog.  A significant number of patients have been maimed, injured, or killed by our deer population.  From razor sharp hooves, to accurately placed horns, our cute and fuzzy deer will wield these weapons at our dogs when they are threatened.  You must also be careful that they don't turn on you too.

Prevention of this potential danger is aimed at keeping deer off your property...good luck!  At least don't invite them with salt licks, alfalfa hay, or other treats.  Also, discourage your dog from chasing them.

2)Racoons are just as dangerous as deer.  They have been known to cause drowning of large dogs as well as being able to inflict serious injury by their bites to our pets.  They are also a vector for rabies.

Prevention involves removing food sources which attract them.  Do not feed your pets outdoors at night.  Racoons are more likely to come around to eat your cat or dog food that is left out.

3)Predators are a fact of life up here and unfortunately, it is hard to prevent losses with our outdoor pets.  Mountain lions will feed in a large area and they are stealth hunters. If you suspect one in your area we recommend you call the game warden or state trapper.  Small farm animals seem to lure these large predators so you can almost expect them to come and get your sheep and or goats.

Gunshot dog. He lived!                                                    Don't take your cat fishing!

                                                            This mini horse stepped in a gopher hole and broke his leg.