Poinsettias and Cats & Dogs

Poinsettias are a popular holiday plant.  Have you banned them from your home because you have heard that poinsettias are deadly to pets? 

Poinsettias have gotten a bad rap when it comes to pets.  The toxic potential of this plant has become highly exaggerated over the years.  In reality, poinsettias are only mildly toxic (if at all) to dogs and cats.  Poinsettia ingestion typically produces only mild to moderate gastrointestinal tract irritation, which may include drooling, vomiting and/or diarrhea. 

Keeping this plant out of reach of your pet to avoid stomach upset is still a good idea, but it is not necessary to banish the poinsettia from your home for fear of a fatal exposure.  If you suspect your pet has eaten a poinsettia and is displaying concerning symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately. 

There are other holiday bouquets that are far more worrisome than poinsettias.  Lilies, holly and mistletoe are three popular ones to watch out for.  Lilies are the #1 flower used by florists.  Just one or two bites from a lily can result in severe acute kidney failure in cats.  Inspect your holiday bouquets thoroughly. 

If holly is ingested by dogs or cats, it can cause severe gastrointestinal upset.  Mistletoe is best kept out of your pet's reach as it can cause hypotention, ataxia (walking drunk), seizures and death if consumed in large amounts.    

Sources:
http://www.aspca.org/Pet-care/ask-the-expert/ask-the-expert-poison-control/poinsettia
http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/

Happy Holidays for the Homeless Pets

South Des Moines Veterinary Center has partnered with Animal Lifeline of Iowa (ALI) this holiday season to make sure homeless pets can have a Happy Holiday too!

During the month of December, we will display a tree in our lobby with ornaments featuring pets in need at ALI.  Each ornament will list items that will benefit the featured animal.  Take the ornament with you and bring back any item listed to help a homeless animal in need. 

Or pick up an item from the list below next time your our doing your holiday shopping and drop it by the clinic during the month of December.



                                    Wish List

    CAT SUPPLIES
    Cat toys of all kinds - laser pointers
    Scoopable Cat Litter
    Yesterdays News Cat Litter
    Canned cat and kitten food
    Feline Prescription Diets (dry and canned)

DOG SUPPLIES
Milk Bones brand dog biscuits-small
Buster Cubes and Jolly Balls - for dogs large and small
Toys for dogs of all sizes
Nylabone Rings
Peanut Butter - creamy
Small and Medium Flat Buckle Collars and Leashes
Canine Prescription Diets (dry and canned)

      GENERAL SUPPLIES 

      Liquid Laundry Soap

      Dish Soap

      Bleach

      Clorox Anywhere Spray Cleaner

      Tall Kitchen Garbage Bags

      Paper Towels

      Toilet Paper

      Kleenex Tissues

      Dobie Scrubbers

      Bottle Brushes

      Copy Machine Paper

      Postage Stamps

GIFT CARDS (to purchase supplies)

Suggested retailers:

PETCO

PetSmart

Target

Walgreens

About Animal Lifeline of Iowa:
“Animal Lifeline of Iowa is a special needs, no-kill animal shelter. Seventy percent of our work is done by our caring volunteers, and we receive no government assistance. All donations go directly to care for and help animals in need. Animal Lifeline of Iowa is a tax exempt, non-profit organization.”

Mosquitoes in Winter?

Mosquitoes in Winter?

In the dead of winter in parts of the country where the mercury drops below the freezing point and it snows often, owners are probably not seeing mosquitoes. But that doesn’t mean the threat of heartworm disease goes into hibernation.

Preventing heartworm can be as important in the winter as it is in the summer.

• Heartworm medicine works by killing the parasites that your pet picked up the previous month. If you stop giving it in the fall or early winter, the parasites might remain and cause an infection.

 

• In many regions, the weather remains mild and mosquitoes continue to bite and cause heartworm disease.

 

• If you live in a cold climate, but travel with your pet to warm places, you may expose your pet to the threat of heartworm infection.

 

• Finally, getting the timing of when to stop and start giving heartworm medicine right is much more difficult than staying on a regular monthly schedule. And while prevention is inexpensive, treatment is not. You may not see mosquitoes buzzing around in the middle of winter, but the threat of heartworm disease hasn’t disappeared.

 

Protect your pet — every month, all year round.

 

This fact sheet was produced by the American Heartworm Society 2012 

Pet Diabetes Month

Pets can develop diabetes just like people can.  While there is no cure for diabetes, proper care can help your pet live a happy, healthy, active lifestyle.  

What to look for?

1) Excessive thirst

2) Frequent urination

3) Lethargy

4) Weight Loss

Who is at risk?

Genetics can play a role, however diabetes can affect any breed of dog and cat at any age.  Older pets and those with inactive lifestyles may face greater risks.  

What can you do to prevent diabetes?

Keep your pet at a healthy weight with regular exercise. 

How is diabetes diagnosed?

A veterinarian can diagnose diabetes through blood glucose testing.

How is diabetes regulated?

Regulation is achieved through a balance of diet, exercise, and insulin.

References:

http://www.petdiabetesmonth.com/

Adopt A Senior Pet Month

1.  What you see is what you get!
You know exactly how big they will get since they are already full-grown.  You will know grooming requirements and will get a pretty good idea of their personality from the start.  

2. They're not a 24-7 job
Senior pets don't require the constant monitoring that young pets do, which leaves you with more freedom.  

3. They settle in quickly
They have already been around the block, so they know what it takes to become part of the pack.

4. Fewer messes
 Most senior pets are already house-trained or they can pick it up quickly.  They are also past the destructive phase so you don't have to worry about things getting chewed up or scratched up.  

5. They enjoy easy livin'
 They don't require as much exercise as young animals and will probably want more cuddle time!

6. Save a life, be a hero
     Older pets tend to be the last to get adopted from shelters.
  

7. They're CUTE
      No explanation needed!




References:

http://www.aspca.org/adoption/adoption-tips/reasons-to-adopt-an-older-dog.aspx

Homemade Dog Treats- Peanut Butter & Pumpkin Flavored!

Can we make dog treats today?

Yummy- Peanut Butter!

Oooh!  Pumpkin too!

Mixing the ingredients together.

Baking in the oven.  Is it ready yet?

Looks delicious!  I will share them with all my doggy daycare buddies this week!

Taste test? I'd be happy to!

That was hard work.  Time for a nap...

 Ingredients
2 1/2 C whole wheat flour
2 eggs
1/2 C canned pumpkin
2 Tablespoons peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Whisk together the flour, eggs, pumpkin, peanut butter, salt and cinnamon in a bowl.  Add water as needed to help make the dough workable, but the dough should be dry and stiff.  Roll the dough into 1/2 inch thick roll.  Use cookie cutter to make cut out shapes.
3.  Bake in oven until hard, about 30-40 minutes.

References:

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/peanut-butter-and-pumpkin-dog-treats/

SDMVC Takes The Color Run!

On Saturday, October 6th, South Des Moines Veterinary Center took on The Color Run 5K!  We all had a blast participating and it was definitely a fun 5K to be a part of.  The Color Run Des Moines partnered with Variety: The Children's Charity to raise money for their group.  Check out our before and after pictures!