8 ways to keep your dog safe during the holidays

With the holiday season upon us we are all getting ready for the feasts that accompany them. We are not alone in this endeavor – our pets are ready to cash in as well!  Every year there are countless veterinary visits associated with this problem and some of these cases can end up with long hospitalizations and even death. The following are some points to consider as we gear up for the holiday season:

1. Avoid the fat. Ideally, pets would not receive scraps from the table and would simply stick to their prepared diets – but if you choose to give your pet some handouts please remember to avoid the more fatty portions such as trimmings, gravy, etc. The high fat content can predispose your pet to inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and more importantly, the pancreas. If the inflammation of the pancreas goes unchecked, it can lead to debilitating pain, nausea and ultimately death of the patient.
2. Toxic sweets. Chocolate is a commonly known toxin for dogs that can cause seizures and cardiac problems and xylitol, a common artificial sweetener can cause profoundly low blood sugar levels and potentially liver failure. Macadamia nuts can cause significant tremors and neurologic symptoms.
3. Scary fruits and vegetables. Members of the allium family (garlic, shallots, onions, etc) can cause oxidative damage to an animal’s red blood cells causing anemia. Grapes and raisins have shown to be profoundly toxic to the kidneys of some animals.
4. Beware of the bones. The large uncooked bones tend to cause problems with fractures associated with the large molar teeth in the back of the mouth of dogs. Cooked bones (especially poultry bones) can become brittle and are a concern due to their potential to fracture and perforate the bowel once ingested.
5. Mind your garbage. The holidays provide endless opportunities for the dumpster divers in the group to get busy. Be cognizant of this and deal with your garbage accordingly. A pet that ingests a rotten turkey carcass, for example, could develop significant intestinal distress and worst-case scenario, an overwhelming bacterial infection secondary to the food poisoning.
6. Set your dog up to succeed. With the holidays there are often lots of guests coming to visit. Know your dogs trigger points and concerns. If your dog is timid around new people or children then plan accordingly if you are hosting or attending a holiday party. Provide your pet with a sanctuary where he/she can escape the chaos. Also remember that the majority of dog bites tend to happen around a dog protecting his food resources and toys.
7. No toast for the pet. Animals should not be offered alcoholic beverages. They can be harmful to the kidney and the liver and provoke horrible reactions for the pet.
8. Dangerous decorations. Cats are notorious for eating tinsel and other linear foreign material and dogs will eat anything. Know how discretionary your pet is and plan accordingly with holiday decorations.

These are just a few tips on precautions to take as we face the holidays ahead. We wish you a happy and veterinary-free holiday season!

Dr. Mortimer earned his degree from Iowa State University. He received a B.A. in Biology from Baylor University, and completed an internship in Small Animal Emergency Medicine and Surgery in Rochester, New York. His interests include internal medicine and surgery, including minimally invasive surgery (endoscopy and laparoscopy).


“Above all, I have a strong interest in people and animals. The relationship between my
patients and their owners is the reason I am in this profession.”
When away from the practice, he spends most of his time having fun with his family (his wife Kristie, three children, three cats and one “Labrador non-retriever”. Personal interests include fly-fishing, hiking, gardening and travel.
Seattle Veterinary Associates was founded in 1971 by Dr. Sanford Olson, Dr. Donald Canfield, and Dr. Stephen Jones. In 1971, the original practice opened its doors at the current location of Queen Anne Animal Clinic. Coupled with our considerate expansion and the advancement of our medical capabilities at all our hospitals, we are proud to be providing the highest quality veterinary care to pets and their families. SVA is comprised of four locations: Queen Anne Animal Clinic, Green Lake Animal Hospital, Ravenna Animal Hospital, and Northwest Veterinary Hospital.

Source: Seattle Dog Spot
http://www.seattledogspot.com/blog/dog-blog/post/9-ways-to-keep-your-pet-safe-during-the-holidays 

Christmas Pet Safety

“My pet would never eat food off the table!”

“My pet would never knock over the Christmas tree!”

“My pet would never bite someone!”

We all know our pets pretty well, but what we don’t always realize is that stress can make anybody do crazy things! When you have holiday guests or flashing Christmas lights or loud holiday music—or all of the above—at your house all at once, your pet may get stressed and frustrated, causing them to act out in unexpected ways. Most pet accidents are met with the statement, “He’s never done anything like that before!”

We recommend always making sure that your pet has a safe place to sit and relax during your holidays parties. Just like some people, pets need to get away from the action and de-stress, but most of the time they don’t know how to ask for their space. If your pet is comfortable in their crate, we recommend moving it into a quiet room and letting them spend some time resting during your holiday get-togethers. Your pet will be happier, and by extension, you and your guests will be happier! And holidays disasters will be prevented.  

Avoiding, identifying, and treating salmon poisoning in dogs

Salmon Poisoning Can Be Fatal to Dogs

What could be more fun than a day at the beach? While that may be true for most of our canine companions, dog owners all along the Pacific coast need to be aware of the infection referred to as salmon poisoning. 

When this infection occurs, an important component to prompt diagnosis (and thus successful treatment) is identification of potential exposure. 

And while treatment is successful in the majority of cases, without appropriate medication the disease is highly fatal.

Bacteria Causes Salmon Poisoning

Salmon poisoning is caused by a specialized type of bacteria, Neorickettsia helminthoeca, categorized as rickettsia.   Exposure comes through a complex series of events.

Rickettsia-class bacteria are specialized in that they are not found out in the environment at large, but are always carried within some other organism (just as Lyme’s disease is carried by ticks). This particular bacterium is found within a fluke called Nanophyteus salmincola, which is a type of intestinal worm. 

Fish and amphibians can be infected with this fluke. Dogs become infected with the fluke by ingesting some part of the fish (or less commonly, amphibian). As the fluke infection develops, bacteria are released into the body.

So in essence, salmon poisoning is a bacterial infection caught by a parasite (fluke) infection caught by exposure to fish.

Salmon Isn't Only Cause

Salmon are the most common source of fluke infection, but trout as well as other amphibians can also carry it. These aquatic creatures are the typical sources of exposure for dogs: either at the ocean, or at estuaries and inland rivers where fish migrate.  

A typical history involves a dog who found a fish carcass on the beach and was either carrying it around or rolling in it.  Sometimes the history is just of being at the beach and subsequent development of illness, or of someone bringing raw salmon home and the pet getting into it. 

There are even rare reports of dogs developing this illness from exposure to fishing equipment alone (boots, etc.). Cooking destroys the infectious potential, but raw or undercooked fish can harbor the fluke -- in any tissues and even in the slime on fish skin.

Symptoms of Salmon Poisoning

Symptoms do not begin immediately after exposure. On average it takes 5-7 days to see initial signs, though this can also vary. 

Many cases start with intestinal disturbance: diarrhea and sometimes vomiting. For some cases, intestinal signs are minimal.  The infection progresses  to fever (with pets showing lethargy and anorexia), then lymph nodes become enlarged. 

Beyond this, patients will develop inflammation throughout their body (called vasculitis), which will lead to organ damage with its associated symptoms of organ failure. Eventually death can occur.

Diagnosis is typically made by identifying fluke eggs in the stool. Occasionally, advanced cases are identified by biopsies from their swollen lymph nodes. 

Treatment is Usually Effective

The infection is treated with an antibiotic (typically doxycycline or tetracycline) and a dewormer to get rid of the fluke carrying the bacteria. More advanced cases need additional stabilizing treatments such as anti-nausea medication or fluid therapy. 

Except for very advanced cases, the infection tends to be very responsive to treatment.

Fortunately, salmon poisoning is a rare occurrence. However, in the event that your dog becomes ill, it is important that exposure history be openly discussed with your veterinarian and a fecal sample evaluated promptly if salmon poisoning is a potential. 

Awareness of this rare hazard is important for the health of any dog who enjoys frolicking along the beautiful shorelines of the Pacific Northwest. 

Dr. Carina Nacewicz earned her degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where she also completed her B.S. in Zoology. She interned at Florida Veterinary Specialists in Tampa.

“While internal medicine and surgery are my key medical interests, the unique bond is what drove me to pursue these avenues in veterinary medicine. After graduation, I pursued additional training in emergency and exotic pet medicine, which was then followed by employment at an emergency, critical care and specialty hospital. It is a pleasure to be able to incorporate these experiences into caring for my patients over the expanse of their lifetime.”

She has two pets and enjoys spending time traveling, listening to music, checking out art, reading, hiking, camping, bicycling, snowboarding, playing board games, and taking advantage of any excuse to socialize and laugh.

Seattle Veterinary Associates was founded in 1971 by Dr. Sanford Olson, Dr. Donald Canfield, and Dr. Stephen Jones. In 1971, the original practice opened its doors at the current location of Queen Anne Animal Clinic. Coupled with our considerate expansion and the advancement of our medical capabilities at all our hospitals, we are proud to be providing the highest quality veterinary care to pets and their families. SVA is comprised of four locations: Queen Anne Animal Clinic, Green Lake Animal Hospital, Ravenna Animal Hospital, and Northwest Veterinary Hospital.

BY DR. CARINA MACEWICZ, DVM SEATTLE VETERINARY ASSOCIATES

Source: http://www.seattledogspot.com/blog/dog-blog/post/avoiding-identifying-and-treating-salmon-poisoning-in-dogs