Coughing is not always a heart/lung problem- it can be a result of dental treats! Which dental treat should you choose? Not cutlet bones!

'Bobby' presented at OVH recently with coughing for the past 24 hours. A physical examination detected a grade 4/6 left systolic heart murmur- a common cardiogenic cause of coughing in older small breed dogs. With his owner's permission, Andrew was able to investigate further.

This involved chest radiographs which showed a lamb cutlet lodged in Bobby’s esophagus. Whilst there was some risk due to his heart problem Bobby underwent general anaesthesia and endoscopic examination (an instrument with camera which can be introduced into the body to allow a view of its internal parts). The endoscopic examination confirmed a large bone lodged in the esophagus over the base of the heart. Ouch!

Fortunately the bone was able to be slowly extracted backwards using the endoscopic instruments. This avoided a major chest surgery and reduced his anaesthetic time.  

Bobby is making a great recovery and will be back soon to have his teeth cleaned. Dental hygiene is very important and we do recommend the use of dental treats to assist in keeping our pet's teeth clean and to minimise tartar build up....however choose your treat carefully. Whilst raw bones are appropriate for some dogs, dental hygiene chews are often safer as they cause less teeth fractures and esophageal foreign body problems.

Put simply they do a great job without the risk of getting stuck in the throat!

It’s not long before the Easter Bunny is set to make some deliveries but when it comes to your pet’s safety this Easter, there are a few hazards to watch out for (and they are not all as obvious as you think.)

Chocolate - the most obvious one!
Chocolate contains a derivative of caffeine called theobromine. Dogs have trouble digesting theobromine and ingestion leads to hyperactivity, tremors, panting and a racing heart, vomiting, diarrhoea, and seizures. Theobromine ingestion can be fatal in some dogs. As a general rule, the darker the chocolate, the more toxic it is. Seek veterinary attention immediately if your dog has ingested ANY amount of chocolate. In most cases, if we are able to make your dog vomit we can prevent any nasty side effects.

Hot Cross Buns - the sneaky hazard
The sultanas and raisins in these delicious buns can cause acute kidney failure in dogs due to the possible presence of a toxin on the grapes. Keep these off the menu at all times and watch for any that happen to drop on the floor (a common issue if you have little kids!). Call us for advice if your dog ingests any.

Easter lilies - beautiful but deadly
These beautiful fragrant flowers can cause kidney failure in cats if ingested. The stems, leaves, flowers and stamen are all potentially dangerous, as is the water the flowers are stored in. If you are worried about your cat you should call us and we will advise you on what you to do.

If your pet ingests any of the above over the Easter period call us immediately for advice. 

Many people cower when we mention the following words: blood test. But did you know that these tests are virtually magic when it comes to getting an insight into your pet’s general health?

From a blood test, we can decide if your pet is dehydrated, has underlying kidney disease or liver disease, and assess your pet's red and white blood cells. We can also rule out common diseases (such as hyperthyroidism in the case below). Early detection of diseases via a blood test can allow prompt treatment and greatly improve your pet’s quality of life.

The ins and outs of a blood test

+ Most blood samples are taken from the jugular vein in the neck. This vein provides us with a good sample as quickly and painlessly as possible.

+ The majority of pets are more relaxed when blood is taken from their jugular vein. If necessary, a smaller sample can be obtained from a vein in the leg but these veins are generally 'saved' for administering injections or intravenous fluids.

+ Once the blood has been collected we place gentle pressure over the vein to prevent any bruising. We don’t tend to apply a bandaid but a liver treat (instead of a lollipop) is essential.

+ Your pet’s blood is placed into tubes appropriate for required tests. Some tests can be run on machines in the clinic but there are certain tests that require more extensive equipment and so the blood sample must be sent to an external laboratory.

It's important to realise that blood tests are an essential part of good veterinary medicine and can be critical when diagnosing and managing diseases.

Ask us if you have any questions about your pet's health, we are always here to help. 

We've got some feel-good pics for you this month. Have a look at these dogs who walk and pose together every day.

We can't quite work out how the dog walker gets them all to sit perfectly still for a photo but we are pretty impressed. Check them out here.