1. Roses

Roses are red, violets are blue, but biting a thorn can do damage to you—or to pets.

Threat to pets: Although roses don’t often cause serious poisoning beyond gastrointestinal upset, there’s risk for trauma to the mouth and paws from the thorns. Additionally, if a large enough portion of the rose head or stem is ingested, a bowel obstruction may result.

Signs: Vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, abdominal pain or discomfort, drooling, and reduced appetite.  (Please contact your veterinarian immediately.)

Therapy: Check the pet’s mouth and paws for signs of trauma from thorns.

2. Lilies

Lilies (Lilium spp. and Hemerocallis spp.) are frequently sold in fresh bouquets and make a beautiful but deadly alternative to Valentine’s Day roses. The most common bouquet lilies include the Stargazer lily, Tiger lily, and other Asiatic lilies.

What’s in them: The toxin, which remains unidentified, can be found in the petals, leaves, pollen, or even the water in the vase.

Threat to pets: These lilies are extremely toxic to cats and cause acute kidney failure within one to two days of exposure. If not treated, the exposure will likely result in death. The ingestion of just one to two leaves or petals is enough to cause sudden kidney failure. Even ingesting small amounts of pollen from a cat’s fur is considered toxic. Dogs don’t develop kidney failure but may have mild gastrointestinal upset.

Signs: Within a few hours of exposure, cats may display salivation, vomiting, reduced appetite, and lethargy. These signs progress to polyuria/polydipsia and azotemia. The urine may contain protein, glucose, and tubular epithelial casts. Within 18 to 30 hours, severe and debilitating dehydration develops. Within 30 to 72 hours cats may become anuric (stop producing urine) and become gravely ill.  (Please contact your veterinarian immediately.)

Treatment: Timely decontamination can include inducing emesis, giving activated charcoal, and bathing (if there’s pollen on the fur). IV fluids are the cornerstone of therapy and are used to protect the kidneys. Cats also need frequent monitoring of their blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and electrolyte concentrations and urinalysis results. Other treatment options, such as dialysis, are available.  

3. Chocolate and cocoa

Sure, you have heard that chocolate, a classic Valentine’s Day treat, can be toxic to pets. The question is, how much is too much? Chocolate and cocoa contain theobromine, a chemical similar to caffeine that’s highly toxic to dogs and cats. When it comes to chocolate, tell clients, “Dark equals dangerous.” The darker or more concentrated the chocolate, the more theobromine it contains. Therefore, the most dangerous chocolates are baker’s chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, and gourmet dark chocolates. White chocolate has very little theobromine and won’t cause chocolate poisoning in pets.

Threat to pets: It’s the dose that makes the poison. Pets that ingest a few M&Ms or one to two bites of a chocolate chip cookie are unlikely to develop chocolate poisoning.

For milk chocolate, any ingestion of more than 0.5 ounces per pound of body weight may put dogs at risk for chocolate poisoning. Ingestions of more than 0.1 ounces per pound of body weight of dark or semi-sweet chocolate may cause poisoning. Almost all ingestions of baker’s chocolate can result in poisoning and are considered emergencies.

The effective toxic dose for very young or geriatric animals and those with underlying disease can be considerably lower than otherwise healthy adult patients. For this reason, it’s generally recommended to initiate treatment at lower doses in these patients.

Due to the large amount of fat in chocolate, some pets may develop pancreatitis after eating chocolate or baked goods containing chocolate.

Signs: Ingestions of small amounts of chocolate may cause mild vomiting, diarrhea, and polyuria/polydipsia. Larger amounts can cause severe agitation, tachycardia, abnormal heart rhythms, tremors, seizures, and collapse. (Please contact your veterinarian immediately.)

Treatment: Induce vomiting, and give multiple doses of activated charcoal to decontaminate. Diuretic doses of IV fluids help animals excrete theobromine. Sedatives and specific heart medications may be necessary to reduce heart rate and blood pressure. Additional treatments include anticonvulsants for seizures and antacids (such as famotidine) for stomach discomfort and diarrhea.

Theobromine may be reabsorbed across the bladder wall, so a urinary catheter or frequent walks are needed to keep the bladder empty.

4. Chocolate covered raisins

Don’t forget that grapes, currants, and sultanas also fall into this same category of toxins.

Threat to pets: These fruits cause acute kidney failure in dogs. There’s speculation that they may cause kidney failure in cats and ferrets as well.

While not all dogs will develop kidney failure after eating grapes or raisins, it’s impossible to know which pets will be sensitive to these fruits. Therefore, all pets (especially dogs) that ingest grapes, raisins, currants, or sultanas should be monitored closely and treated appropriately.
If a small dog eats just a small number of grapes or raisins, this is considered an emergency.

Signs: Vomiting within hours of ingestion. Within one to four days of ingestion: increased urination, increased thirst, lethargy, and reduced appetite.  (Please contact your veterinarian immediately.)

Treatment: Induce vomiting, and administer activated charcoal to decontaminate. In most cases, other treatments such as IV fluids (to protect the kidneys), frequent monitoring of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine concentrations, anti-vomiting medication, and in-hospital care are recommended.

5. Chocolate-covered espresso beans (caffeine)

Dark-chocolate-covered espresso beans may be a delicious Valentine’s Day treat for coffee-loving pet parents, but they’re particularly problematic for dogs and cats since they contain large amounts of both theobromine and caffeine.

What it’s in: Caffeine is most commonly found in coffee, coffee beans, coffee grounds, tea, used tea bags or coffee grounds, soda, energy drinks, and diet pills. Theobromine, a cousin chemical to caffeine, is also found in chocolate (see chocolate and cocoa).

Threat to pets: Pets are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine than people are. While one to two espresso beans won’t contain enough caffeine to poison most pets, the ingestion of moderate amounts of coffee beans, coffee grounds, tea bags, or one to two diet pills can easily cause death in small dogs or cats.

Signs: Within one to two hours of ingestion, the following signs may develop: mild to severe hyperactivity, restlessness, vomiting, tachycardia, hypertension, abnormal heart rhythms, tremors, hyperthermia, seizures, and collapse.  (Please contact your veterinarian immediately.)

Treatment: Induce vomiting, and give multiple doses of activated charcoal to decontaminate. Diuretic doses of IV fluids help animals excrete caffeine. Sedatives and specific heart medications may be necessary to reduce heart rate and blood pressure. Additional treatments include anticonvulsants for seizures and antacids for stomach discomfort and diarrhea. Caffeine may be reabsorbed across the bladder wall, so a urinary catheter or frequent walks are needed to keep the bladder empty.

6. Chocolate-covered macadamia nuts

Macadamia nuts come from trees indigenous to Madagascar and Australia but are now also found in Hawaii and California. The nuts, which are sold commercially and available in most grocery stores, can result in poisoning in dogs if ingested. This type of poisoning hasn’t been reported in cats.

What’s in it: The toxin in macadamia nuts hasn’t yet been identified, but the mechanism may involve motor neurons, neuromuscular junctions, and muscle fibers or neurotransmitters.

Signs: Within three to six hours, dogs exhibit lethargy, vomiting, and hyperthermia. Within six to 12 hours, hind limb weakness, ataxia, tremors, and recumbency occur. Additionally, there may be signs of abdominal pain, lameness, joint stiffness, and pale mucous membranes.  (Please contact your veterinarian immediately.)

Treatment: Appropriate decontamination should be performed if the dog ingested more than 1 g/kg of nuts. As there’s no antidote, supportive measures such as in-hospital monitoring, IV fluids, and anti-vomiting medications may be necessary.

7.  Xylitol

Xylitol is a commonly used and naturally occurring sugar substitute. It can be used alone or in combination with aspartame or other sweeteners. Around Valentine’s Day, it may be used in breath mints, colorful candy presents (e.g., Sparx candies), or sugar-free cake or muffin mixes.

What it’s in: Xylitol is used in many sugar-free chewing gums, breath mints, candies, and baked goods. It’s also found in some smoking-cessation products like nicotine gum. Xylitol can be purchased in bulk for cooking at home, and because of its dental-plaque-fighting properties, nontoxic amounts can be found in some pet oral-care products.

Threat to pets: Xylitol may cause a life-threatening drop in blood sugar as well as liver damage in dogs. There’s speculation that ferrets may also be at risk, but people don’t experience this problem.

Typically, the dose needed to cause poisoning is at least 0.05 g per pound of body weight (0.1 g per kilogram of body weight).

Chewing gums and breath mints typically contain 0.22 to 1 gram of xylitol per piece of gum or per mint. Thus, to achieve a potentially toxic dose, a 10-lb dog would only have to eat one piece of gum.

The amount of xylitol typically found in most pet oral-care products is very small and, when used properly, isn’t expected to cause poisoning unless the dog ingests a very large amount.

Signs: Within 10 to 15 minutes of ingestion, dogs may develop hypoglycemia, lose coordination, and start vomiting. Collapse and seizures may quickly follow. In rare cases, these signs won’t appear until several hours after ingestion.  (Please contact your veterinarian immediately.)

Treatment: Emesis should only be induced in asymptomatic animals. Due to the risk for rapid onset of clinical signs, it may be safest to do this in the hospital. Dogs may also require IV dextrose and fluids and frequent monitoring of their blood glucose and liver enzyme concentrations.

From left to right: Donna Shea (6 years), Jody Heiduck (8 years), Melissa Ahearn (6 years).

Thank you for your effort in the betterment of Pet Paradise Animal Hospital.

Celebrating 10 Years Serving You and Your Loving Pets

Plan ahead
If you do decide to take your pet along, you must take as much care with the preparation of your pet’s trip as your own. If you plan to travel by plane, bus, train or boat, find out if your pet will be welcome and what kind of reservations and transport arrangements must be made. If you’ll be staying at hotels, motels or campgrounds, you must check if animals are allowed or if kennel facilities are available. If you’re staying with friends or family, make sure your pet is also invited.

Traveling by plane (read more)

Food Allergy

What is food allergy and what are its symptoms?
Food allergy is an allergic reaction to one or more ingredients in a pet’s food. The most common allergens are beef and milk products, cereals (wheat, corn, soya), chicken and eggs. The exact cause of a food allergy is not known. Perhaps a change in the pet’s immune system causes certain ingredients to be perceived as “foreign”, initiating inflammatory mechanisms to fight off the perceived “intruder”.

The most common symptoms of a food allergy are itching, licking or chewing. Otitis Externa (ear infection) along with other skin problems are also common in conjunction with food hypersensitivity. Some pets may also have diarrhea and other digestive problems. Symptoms can appear at any age, whether a pet has just started a new diet or has been eating the same food for several years.

How is food allergy diagnosed?
The only effective way for your veterinarian to diagnose a food allergy is to put your pet on a “hypoallergenic” or “exclusion” diet for a minimum of 8-12 weeks. Such a diet contains ingredients to which the animal has not been exposed in the past. Because the source of protein causes most allergic reactions, exclusion diets use proteins – often venison, fish or duck – that are normally not found in regular pet food. An exclusion diet may comprise home prepared food or prescription commercial hypoallergenic products.

If your pet has a food allergy, there should be a significant reduction in the symptoms after the recommended period on the exclusion diet. To identify all the food allergens, your veterinarian will recommend adding a single protein back into the diet every 1-2 weeks, while watching for a recurrence, or worsening, of symptoms. If this happens, the veterinarian will recommend removing the offending ingredient from the diet.  (read more)

What are heartworms?
Heartworms are parasites that live in the blood of a dog’s heart and adjacent blood vessels. They can grow from four to twelve inches in length, reach maturation one year after infection and live for approximately five to seven years. Adult heartworms living in the heart produce offspring, known as microfilariae, which circulate in the animal’s blood. When a female mosquito bites an infected animal, it sucks out the blood containing the microfilariae. When the mosquito bites another pet, the infected larvae are transmitted. In many cases the infected dog will not show symptoms in the early stages.

Heartworm is the most serious common parasite for dogs because it stresses the dog’s heart by restricting blood flow and also damages other internal organs. The heart may enlarge and become weakened due to an increased workload, and congestive heart failure may occur. Left untreated, the disease can be fatal to dogs.

Blood screening tests can verify the presence of heartworms. Radiographs and x-rays are used to detect the disease in its later stages. Prompt detection prevents needless suffering.

Heartworm treatment and prevention
The good news is that most dogs with heartworm can be successfully treated, usually with drugs (adulticide, microfilaricide) that kill adult heartworms and their offspring. But prevention is the best cure – it’s safer, less expensive, and better for your pet!

There are a variety of options for preventing heartworm infection, including an injectable, monthly topicals and monthly chewable tablets. Preventative medications are extremely effective and when given properly, on a regular basis, can completely prevent your pet from contracting heartworm. But remember, year-round heartworm protection is as good as your diligence in remembering to give your pet the prescribed medication, as directed by your veterinarian!

Canine heartworm symptoms include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Coughing
• Fatigue, a dog that tires easily
• Listlessness
• Weight loss
• Rough hair coat.

Ask your veterinarian
Because of the regional and climate-dependant nature of the heartworm cycle, it is crucial to consult your veterinarian before giving any medication to your pet. Your veterinarian is your best reference, with expert knowledge of the heartworm cycle and transmission patterns in your region, along with the individual health and activity profile of your dog. Before starting a preventive program, all dogs that could possibly be affected with mature heartworms should be tested as preventive medicines may cause severe reactions in dogs that are already hosts to adult heartworms. A dog that is on a preventive medicine should be tested routinely to ensure on going protection – especially when a dose has been missed or forgotten.

Did you know that kidney disease is one of the major causes of illness and death in dogs and cats?

That’s right!  At Pet Paradise we see severe kidney disease problems on a weekly basis.  This is because symptoms do not usually appear until 2/3 of kidney function has been lost.  If caught early, the animal can live with this condition for many years.  Early detection is always the best policy, just as it is for our own health.  Sometimes pets show no, or only subtle, symptoms of a problem.  Consultation, physical examination, and testing will help discover health problems early in their course.  Below is a brief description of the most common laboratory tests available for identifying diseases early:

CBC (Complete Blood Count) – These numbers tell how many of each type of white blood cells are present and whether or not the count is normal.  White blood cells help fight infection.  This count can go down with severe infection, and to the contrary the count can  increase in response to inflammation and infection.

Chemistry Profile – This is a combination of several tests that measure enzymes associated with different body organs such as liver, kidney, and pancreas.  It also provides electrolytes and protein levels.

Urinalysis – This test evaluates kidney function, and should be done every time a chemistry profile is performed.  Urinalysis also helps to confirm whether or not an animal has diabetes.

T4 (Thyroid Test) – Thyroxine or T4 is the major thyroid hormone that regulates body metabolism.  This is a “screening test“.  Therefore, if the result is abnormal, more detailed thyroid testing may be necessary to verify the diagnosis.

Fecal Testing – Fecal tests are done to evaluate for presence of intestinal parasites.  It is important to check periodically for parasites.  At least twice a year, even if stools are consistently normal.  Fecal Occult Blood – tests for blood in the stool.  Small amounts of blood in the stool are usually not visible to the naked eye.

For more information visit your veterinarian or call us.  We have handouts with lots of detailed information for each of the tests mentioned above.