Vet4pets Medical Centre

02/08/2012

It's our anniversary!!!!! Vet4Pets is 1 yr old today!!!We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our clients, friends, family members and well-wishers for all the support over the past year. We could not have reached this milestone without you!!!

23/07/2012

Tips for dealing with Poisoning

The common poisons that are encountered in Jamaica are :

1. Gramoxone (Paraquat) - Weedicide
2. Insecticides
3. Toads - only a special breed (Bufo marinus)
4. Rat poison

Gramoxone Poisoning
Gramoxone is a herbicide that is most often encountered with malicious poisonings in dogs. Scores of dogs have been poisoned by eating poison-laced meat while wandering their neigborhoods. The chemical creates intense gastrointestinal upset quickly after ingestion occurs. After 1-2 weeks animals begin showing signs of respiratory distress and eventually die from the damage done to the lungs. If the poisoning is caught quickly activated charcoal can be administered to prevent and slow absorption. Unfortunately the prognosis for this type of poisoning is poor.
The best prevention is keeping your pet confined on your property.

Insecticides
There are many insecticides used in households. Many are used as aerosols such as Pyro and Baygon or as baits that are used in gardens. Common signs seen with this kind of poisoning are: vomiting, inappetence and increased salivation. Unlike Gramoxone, there is an antidote that can be given if affected animals are seen as soon after ingestion as possible. If the poison is in bait form, owners can induce vomiting by giving a tablespoonful of hydrogen peroxide orally for large dogs and a teaspoonful for small dogs and puppies.

Toad Poisoning
Bufo marinus is a poisonous toad. This toad can excrete a thick, irritating venom that can cause extreme irritation in the mouths of animals. The poison glands are on the back of the neck of toads. Dogs contact the poison when they bite or lick the back of the toad. The most common clinical signs are retching, vomiting, pawing at the mouth, and hypersalivation. When a large amount of venom is absorbed an animal can go into convulsions and have cardiac arrhythmia's. If you suspect recent exposure, flush your dog's mouth with water from a garden hose. Therapy for intoxication is mainly supportive and limiting further absorption of the venom. Such as giving activated charcoal. If severe signs are seen, treat this condition as an emergency and call immediately.

Rat Poison
The first thing to do when u have suspected that your pet has consumed rat poison is to induce vomiting using hydrogen peroxide orally at 1 tablespoon for large dogs and a teaspoon for puppies and small dogs. The pet should be rushed to a clinic so that the antidote, vitamin K1 can be given. Signs of rat poisoning include: bleeding from the gums, re**um and blood in the urine.

06/07/2012

The Vet4Pets Medical Centre family would like to express our deepest condolences to the friends and family of Wanda who passed away today. She was a very devoted pet owner and was an inspiration to all she came in contact with. The warm smile with which she would greet us will be greatly missed. Rest in peace Wanda.

26/06/2012

Case of the Week - Farm Pets

At vet4pets we see lots and lots of dogs and cats. Occasionally, we do see other pets such as goats and rabbits.

Unfortunately, dogs do not always live in harmony with farm animals. Billy, a pet ram, was brought in after it was attacked by dogs in the yard. It's very important to adequately secure your pets to prevent this from happening.
Billy is sedated in the pic. The face was reconstructed as much as possible but there is going to be a long recovery period. See pic.

Grey Mist, a Flemish Giant Rabbit, was brought in because it had a cold. See pic.

26/06/2012

20/06/2012

Case of the Week - We be Jammin!

Jammin is an approximately 3 mth old kitten that came to the clinic as a wee little munchkin at about a month old, with a part of its left foreleg partially amputated and necrotic. He was rescued by a tourist in Negril who made contact with Maureen of the Animal House who then arranged to take the kitten in. He was very dehydrated and close to death. At first it looked like we would have to put the poor little kitten to sleep because of how bad his condition was but we were encouraged to do all we could to save him so we did!!! Jammin had to be hooked up to fluids and given antibiotics for a few days before we could amputate the stump that remained of his leg. After a couple weeks, the incision site was healed and Jammin was actively chasing across his enclosure on three limbs. Jammin found a good home in the states with the lovely lady that rescued him. We will keep u posted on his progress. See before and after pics.

05/06/2012

Case of the Week - Canned!!!

The interesting thing about working in a veterinary clinic is that you never know what can show up at any given time. Imagine the horror when this dog (see pic) came in with approximately half of its mandible (lower jaw) stuck in a mackerel can!!!! The poor thing had to be sedated and the can carefully removed to minimize tissue damage. However after removal of the can there was still a large wound, from damage done by the sharp, serrated edges of the can, which had to be sutured.