Pancreatitis

Over the festive season it can be very temping to treat our pets with many delicious foods that often originate from leftover dinners or barbeques. Ultimately as much as it may appear harmless at the time, many of these foods (i.e. sausages) contain a high content of fat that cats and dogs have trouble digesting. Pancreatitis "inflammation of the pancreas" is a serious and quite painful condition, which causes leakage of the digestive enzymes whereby the pancreas literally starts to "digest itself". Pancreatitis can be acute (sudden) or chronic (happening over a course of time). Both forms are serious and can be life-threatening, especially acute cases. Pancreatitis is generally more common in dogs then cats, possibly due to their less fussy nature when it comes to food. Pancreatitis can be caused by a number of factors including obesity, concurrent disease (i.e. diabetes), a high fat meal and infection. The most common signs of this condition include vomiting, a painful abdomen (hunched appearance), reduced appetite and diarrhoea. If you think your pet could be suffering from Pancreatitis advise your veterinarian today. To avoid Pancreatitis in your pet never allow others to feed your pet unknowingly, try to avoid feeding your dog or cat high fat foods that are not part of their regular diet and put your pet on a reduced calorie diet if they are overweight.

Heat Stroke

Throughout the warmer months of the year we see a number of incidences of heat stroke particularly in canine patients. Heatstroke is a very serious condition caused by a marked elevation in body temperature (greater than 39.5^oC). Heat Stroke generally occurs on hot or humid days in situations where the dog has been confined to a hot place such as a car or has become overheated after too much exercise, over exertion or provision of lack of shade or water. Dogs unlike humans cannot sweat and therefore excrete excess heat through their paw pads and panting. This method of heat excretion is not always very effective and often dogs will become over heated. To avoid this problem in your dogs always supply clean fresh water and a suitable shaded area. If the weather is too warm for you then it is likely that this is the same for your dog. Do not over exercise your dog on hot or humid days and never leave an animal unattended in a vehicle. If you think your dog is suffering from heat stroke; advise your veterinarian and seek immediate treatment.

Firework phobia

Throughout the festive season firework displays are a common occurrence. Although for us this is a thrilling and fun event for our pets it is a very different thing. Fireworks for many dogs cause immense induced fear, anxiety, and confusion, often resulting in escape from the yard in attempts to flee from the sounds and vibrations that fireworks cause. Please remember to check on your dog for these signs if fireworks are displayed, keep your pet inside if they seem to appear fearful, ensure your yard is secure and speak to a veterinarian if you feel your pet is susceptible to this problem.

Christmas plants

Christmas plants are nice decor to have at home during this happy season. However, they can cause problems and intoxication in pets.  

1. Poinsettia 

• The sap of the poinsettia is an irritant. If any part of the plant is ingested by a dog / cat, the animal may show signs of oral irritation like hypersalivating, shaking his / her head and pawing at the head and mouth. The plant can also cause gastrointestinal sign like vomiting.

2. Mistletoe

• Intoxication can happen when large amount of berries are ingested by pets. Symptoms include hypersalivating, vomiting, diarrhoea, increase heart rate / breathing rate and progress to shock and death in severe cases.

3. Holly

•  The red berries on holly plant is poisonous and if ingested, can cause gastrointestinal upset like vomiting and diarrhoea which leads to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.

Tick and Snake

Tick paralysis and Snake envenomation are 2 common life threatening emergency diseases that we encounter in summer months. We've listed some symptoms related to each disease

Tick paralysis

- unusual gait, difficulty rising and walking and then progress to unable to stand and paralysis

- abnormal / laboured breathing

- regurgitation which can lead to pneumonia

Snake envenomation

- collapse / unsteady gait progressing to paralysis

- vomiting

- salivation

- inappropriate urination / defaecation

- trembling

- increased breathing rate progressing to laboured breathing

- bleeding disorder - e.g. blood in urine or diarrhoea, coughing / vomiting blood

If you're going away to the coastal area with your pet during the holidays, please don't forget to get and apply some tick prevention products on your pet before you go to minimize the risk of getting the disease. 

Unfortunately, for both diseases, animals are not likely to survive if they are not treated promptly. Therefore, please contact us if you notice any of the above symptoms and get your pet checked out as soon as possible.