Case of the Month

Saved for the Holidays!

At 11pm two weeks ago, American Breeders Pet Store in Mahopac started smoking. This is one of the pet stores that the veterinarians from Yorktown Animal Hospital visit weekly to help them keep the puppies and kittens healthy and ready for their new homes. Dr. Raclyn had been there just the day before. Fortunately, an off duty volunteer firefighter driving past the store saw the smoke and sounded the alarm. The store was full of puppies and kittens.

People ran from all over to help. There were 36 puppies in the store and about 5 kittens. Many were saved, some weren't. Those that were saved were cared for by neighbors, by firefighters and by the employees of the store. The dogs who were sick from smoke inhalation or burned were taken to the local emergency practice, and those who were stable enough were taken to other local animal hospitals.

Our Yorktown Animal Hospital took six dogs, and we brought a couple down into the city for care since we had that possibility. Two dogs had to be euthanized, as the the smoke inhalation was too severe and there was no hope for recovery. Three dogs survived the smoke inhalation with intensive care, nebulazation therapy and lots and lots of love and care by our staff.

One little dog, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, was severely burned on the body and the legs. This dog was taken to Riverside Animal Hospital and cared for by Dr. Cristina Colon, Dr. Martinez, Dr. Kasanofsky and the whole staff. The puppy was given lots and lots of pain medication (burns can be excruciatingly painful), drains were placed, antibiotics used and a name was given, Trevor. Trevor was a real trooper through everything, and is slowly recovering. The drains are still in, and there are some patches of skin without any fur, but Trevor is feeling happy again. Trevor should be ready to find a home in about 2 months. (But we have a feeling that someone here will take him.... ). There are however, two dogs for sale (sorry, we have to recoup some of the medical costs and the pet store gave up ownership of the pups to do so) that survived the fire and are doing great. One is a Rat Terrier (they don't look like rats, they were bred to hunt rats) and a long haired daschund. Call (914) 962-3111.

Winter Stuff You Need to Know

Tinsel Kills Cats! Yes it does... so don't let your cats get anywhere near the tinsel. Most cats love it because its shiny and oh so tasty. But it gets stuck in the intestines and then makes the intestines accordion in on themselves. It requires surgery in most cases and can be often fatal. NOTE: if you see tinsel coming out your cats rear end, DON'T PULL IT. Bring her in the next day to the vet.

Christmas Trees natural smell of a attracts pets. But remember that pine needles (even artificial ones) are indigestible and potentially dangerous. So, keep your pet away from the tree (using a baby gate in the doorway or low lattice fencing around the tree itself) and secure it so he can’t knock it over.

Artificial trees pose their own hazards. Small pieces of plastic or aluminum can break off and be swallowed, causing intestinal blockage or irritation to the mouth.

Artificial water: Don’t use preservatives in the stand water. They can be toxic if consumed by a thirsty pet. Carefully cover the top of the stand with a tree skirt so your pet can’t get to it.

Ornaments: Don’t use edible ornaments or fragile, easily breakable glass decorations to trim the tree. Your pet may knock over the tree trying to get to them and your dog may decide they’re toys and cut himself trying to play with them.

Angel Hair : Don’t use angel hair. It’s made of spun glass and can cause irritation on contact.

Electrical Wires: Dogs and cats love to chew on electrical wires (who knows why). Make sure electrical cords are out of reach, taped firmly to walls or floors. Chewing on wires may cause burns or pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs), which can be fatal.

Don’t use wire ornament hooks that can easily snag an ear or a tail, or, if swallowed, can lodge in the throat or intestines. Instead, fashion loops of yarn, ribbons or light weight twine. And be careful not to leave any of that lying around because the yarn or ribbon itself can be dangerous to cats if it's swallowed.

AntiFreeze: It's winter and you should know that antifreeze is very very toxic for dogs, so don't let them drink out of puddles (especially the green ones).

Chocolate: Sharing is wonderful, but don't share this with your dog. Chocolate can be toxic and even fatal for dogs. Not only shouldn't you share it, but make sure you keep it out of reach. Many dogs (att: Lab owners!) get into an eating frenzy during the holidays and will actively pursue goodies!

Poison Plants:
Lilies that may be found in holiday flower arrangements could be deadly to your cat. Many types of lily, such as Tiger, Asian, Japanese Show, Easter, Stargazer, and the Casa Blanca, can cause kidney failure in cats.
Poinsettias are generally over-rated in toxicity. If ingested, poinsettias can be irritating to the mouth and stomach, and may cause mild vomiting or nausea.
Mistletoe has the potential to cause cardiovascular problems. However, mistletoe ingestion usually only causes gastrointestinal upset.
Holly ingestion could cause vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and lethargy.

So everyone have a Happy and Healthy Holiday! Merry Xmas, Happy Chanukah, Happy Kwanza and Happy New Year! We don't want to see any pets sick from the holidays!

Phillip Raclyn, DVM and Steven Kasanofsky, DVM
and the staff of
Riverside Animal Hospital,
Riverside Veterinary Group
and Yorktown Animal Hospital

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