National Pet Preparedness Month

This month is National Pet Preparedness Month. In order to be sure your pet is prepared for a disaster, make sure your safety kit includes food, water, leash and collar, bowls, pet ID, medications, immunization records, pet carrier, first aid kit, and a contact list for all pet emergency contacts.

Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day this Monday! Remember the men and women who dedicated their lives to our nation’s freedom.

It's National Pet Week

National Pet Week is May 5-11 this year. I bring it up early because the Auxiliary to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is already seeking entries for next year’s poster and writing contests.

The deadline is May 10, 2013 and the contests are open to students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The winners receive $100, so tell any young, animal-crazy friends or family members that you may have about this opportunity. The theme for 2014 is “Celebrate a Healthy Pet.”

Take a look at the winning entries for 2013 for inspiration. This year’s theme is “Love Your Pet, See Your Vet.”

Trey Favaloro of Baton Rouge, La., was in third grade when he submitted his drawing that won the poster contest.

Jasmine Jimenez of New York City was in ninth grade when she submitted the winning poem:

A True Pet’s Friend


Whether you have a dog, cat, bird, or rodent
Don’t you dare waste another second.
If you love your pet
Take him or her to the vet.
They don’t have to be sick or need any repair
Just take them for a trip to show them you care.


If you want your pet to love you making sure they’re healthy is a must
When they sense that you’re helping them they start to develop a sense of trust.
Knowing they have a friend makes their heart’s beat ever so gentle
So make sure to get them checked for illness, diet and dental.
Sure buying toys can really make a pet content
But that happiness only last for a moment.


The best gift you can give them is a healthy life that lasts long
When visiting his doctor, nothing can go wrong.
Go ahead and make an appointment
With your pet’s health you can’t lose a moment.
Because when it comes time they need some love to be around
They know where a sincere, dear friend can be found.

See the AVMA Auxiliary’s website for more information about the poster contestand creative writing contest. Good luck!

Source: http://www.petmd.com/blogs/fullyvetted/2013/april/celebrate-national-pet-week-with-avma-contest#.UYfPAbWYYg9

Wobbles-Veterinary Emergency Group Mascot

On Sunday night October 29th 2012, a good samaritan brought in a wet, cold, lost dog to VEG since we were the only animal hospital open during the storm. She was evaluated to be dehydrated and was showing neurological signs making us concerned about the possibility of head trauma. She was admitted to the hospital and treated appropriately figuring as soon as Hurricane Sandy had past, we would hear from the concerned parents of this lost dog.

Over the next few days, we slowly weaned her off treatment however she continued to have neurological signs. We had not heard from anyone about a lost dog but we figured since there was no power or gasoline in the area, it could be a few days for the owners to finally contact us.

As of today, Wobbles, as we affectionately call her, is still here and is now our very loveable hospital mascot! She is a happy and loving dog but still has neurological signs. Everyone who meets her falls in love with her. She comforts owners who have to leave their pets here for hospitalization. She has a way of bringing smiles to the saddest faces.

The staff has provided her with beds, toys, bowls, food, and treats! One of the associate veterinarians has spayed her. Clients love her and inquire about her all the time. We even had a neurologist evaluate her free of charge! However, his recommendation is an MRI and a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tap so that we can specifically determine the underlying cause of her neurologic problem and potentially improve her condition. We are planning on scheduling her MRI for this week and we are keeping our fingers crossed!

Wobbles should be getting her MRI this week! Thanks everyone!!!!

 Wobbles Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wobbles/359104157540753
Wobbles Donation Page (We've raised $2000 so far!): http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/wobbles-needs-an-mri?c=home

It's National Pet First Aid Awareness Month

February is Responsible Pet Owners Month

Did you know that February is Responsible Pet Owners Month? This is a great time to take a step above and beyond your usual excellent pet care. We recommend a healthier diet, or a new exercise regimen—anything that makes your pet a happier and healthier member of your family. What are you going to do to celebrate Responsible Pet Owners Month?

Alcohol and Pets

Poisonous to: Cats, Dogs

Level of toxicity: Generally mild to severe

Common signs to watch for:

• Drooling
• Retching
• Vomiting or attempting to vomit
• Distended stomach/bloat
• Elevated heart rate
• Weakness
• Collapse
• Hypotension (low blood pressure)
• Coma
• Hypothermia
• Death

Most people know not to give alcoholic drinks to their pets; however, alcohol poisoning in pets is more common than you think! This is because alcohol can be found in surprising places. Rum-soaked fruitcake or unbaked dough containing yeast result in alcohol poisoning and other life-threatening problems. Unbaked bread dough will expand in the warm, moist environment of the stomach and can result in a bloated stomach (called “bloat”), which can then progress to a gastric-dilitation volvulus (GDV), which is a twisted stomach. Signs of GDV include vomiting, non-productive retching, a distended stomach, an elevated heart rate, weakness, collapse, and death. Secondly, when the yeast in the unbaked dough is fermented, it results in the production of carbon dioxide (causing the bloat) and alcohol. Alcohol from the fermenting yeast is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and results in alcohol poisoning quickly. Ingestion of alcohol can cause dangerous drops in blood sugar, blood pressure and body temperature. Intoxicated animals can experience seizures and respiratory failure.

Poison type: Foods

Alternate names: alcohol, mixed drinks, beer, hard liquor, ethanol, unbaked bread dough

Source: http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/alcohol/