Garden Design with Your Pets In Mind

Today is the official first day of spring and I'm itching to get into my garden.  Of course, your dog or cat usually follows you into the garden and there is always that one favorite spot where they like to dig or curl up for a nap, usually right on top of your favorite flower.  So how can we garden, with our pets in mind, to make it enjoyable for them and us?

I found lots of websites with ideas for designing your garden or landscaping with your pets in mind. The Gardening Know How website has a great post on Creating a Dog Friendly Garden and Sunset Magazine included an article titled How to Landscape a Dog-Friendly Garden.  Both are great articles and include some ideas to get your creative juices flowing.  Maybe your dog will even help with the digging. (just kidding)

In an emergency practice, of course, we see cases where animals have gotten themselves in trouble in the great outdoors, including the backyard garden.  So whether you are planning your spring planting, or your next major landscaping project, here are some additional things to keep in mind to keep your pets safe.

Thorns
First, consider the roses.  I love roses, but as I was pruning some this weekend I was reminded of my love/hate relationship with all those thorns.  If you plan to have roses, or other bushes with thorns, consider putting them behind a fence or up against the house where there is less likelihood of "Lucky" getting some nasty scrapes on the snout or in the eye.  The thorns can scratch the cornea causing permanent injury, infection and potentially loss of sight; thorns can also get embedded in the skin and form an abscess.

Mulch
In dry Colorado many plants do better with mulch to retain some moisture. Be aware that "Cocoa Mulch", which consists mainly of cocoa bean shells, is potentially dangerous to your pets.  The cocoa bean shells contain theobromine, a substance similar to caffeine that is not easily metabolized by animals.  Theobromine can cause vomiting, diarrhea, seizures,  ataxia (unsteady on their feet), and in serious cases, even death.

Lawn Edging
The metal demarcation between lawn and garden is supposed to keep the grass where it belongs.  Unfortunately,  it is a dangerous knife in the grass waiting for a soft paw to step just right and cause a serious injury.  Choose a plastic edging material, treated wood, or other natural material for your yard to eliminate this danger.  In a study done by Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the 60 dogs injured by lawn edging in the study, 85 percent of them needed surgery, and 18 percent required extensive surgical repair of skin, subcutaneous tissue, and muscle, tendon, or fascia.  We see multiple lawn edging injuries every year.

Wood Chips or Rock
Creating a rock walkway or zero scape area is pretty common and usually a great option in landscaping design.  But, if you have a dog that likes to eat wood chips or rocks it could become a daily hassle.  Some dogs, more so the large breed dogs like labs or golden retrievers, have a fetish for eating rocks or wood chips.  If it's just one or two rocks or a couple wood chips, no problem, it all comes out the other end.  But, if for some reason the dog gets stressed out or is overly bored and decides to eat lots of rocks or wood chips, you could be looking at a foreign body obstruction that requires surgery.  So consider your pet's habits when you choose a landscaping material or you may be saying "no, don't eat the rocks" many more times than you'd like.

Poisonous Plants
It's always good to review the lists of poisonous plants.  Unless they smell especially tasty it is unusual for the common plants found in most landscapes to be consumed by pets, but it's always better to be safe than sorry.  The fact that we had Peony's for years and our cats and dogs never touched them would be little consolation if yours decided to take a sample.

In the end, there is more likelihood of lots of enjoyable hours with your pet in the garden and your troubles could be as small as an occasional hole, stolen vegetables, or a squashed flower.  Just keep these few tips in mind and we wish you lots of happy gardening.

Albuterol Toxicity : Why Inhalers Help You, but Harm Lucky

Written by:  Sara Shypkoski

For many of the 22 million people in the United States with asthma a simple device known as an inhaler can offer almost immediate relief during an attack.

Inhalers are composed of a small pressurized canister that contains a solution of asthma medicine fitted into a plastic actuator that releases a fixed dose of the solution in an aerosol or inhalant form.  An Inhaler can either be used in emergencies to manage acute symptoms or on a daily basis to control chronic symptoms.  The majority of rescue inhalers contain albuterol, a drug used to stimulate the bronchial muscles in the lungs to relax and allow the air passages to open.  When used properly, an   inhaler is the safest, quickest, and most effective way to manage an asthma attack.

Unfortunately, to dogs the colorful plastic, small size and odd smell is something they won’t just pass by if they find it lying around. When his sharp teeth puncture the pressurized canister, the entire contents are released instantly. In a 60-lb dog, a full inhaler contains approximately 10 times the therapeutic dose of albuterol. In an overdose, these drugs affect both the bronchial muscles as well as the cardiac muscles. The results are immediate, severe, and include the following:

•    Increased heart rate (up to 200 beats a minute!)
•    Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias)
•    Increased respiratory rate or panting
•    Abnormal behavior (Tremors, shaking, restlessness, hiding, agitation, lethargy, weakness)
•    Low or high blood pressure
•    Electrolyte abnormalities, most commonly low potassium
•    Nausea and/or vomiting

If you see your pet bite into or ingest an inhaler, or if your pet is experiencing symptoms of albuterol toxicity, take him to your nearest emergency clinic for immediate care. Bring the inhaler, and if available, the original packaging as well as any medications that your pet is currently taking. Do NOT induce vomiting at home or give your pet any over-the-counter medication.

Lucky will typically need to be hospitalized on IV fluids for 12 to 48 hours while his body metabolizes or gets rid of the albuterol.   An electrocardiogram or ECG machine will provide continuous visualization of his heart rate and rhythm, and his blood pressure will be regularly monitored. Blood tests will be used to check his electrolytes and regular doses of a beta antagonist (aka beta blocker) may be used to counteract the effects of the albuterol, an agonist. Other drugs may be given for muscle tremors, seizures, arrhythmias, vomiting, or diarrhea.

If treated promptly albuterol toxicity is rarely fatal, though pre-existing heart conditions or pets on other medications are at greater risk for complications. The best thing you can do for your pet is to keep those inhalers out of their reach. Avoid disposing of used canisters in trash cans that are accessible to pets as even used inhalers can be dangerous. Central Veterinary Emergency Services is available night, weekends, and holidays so that, if Lucky does take a bite out of your inhaler, you can breathe easier knowing that he’s in the best of hands and hearts.

Toxic Compost Pile

Composting has become a rather common practice as  more people look for ways to "go green" or to simply decrease their food bill.  The booth at the farmers market was busy all summer long describing the various systems of composting and how to get started.  If you are considering starting your own compost pile and have a dog, consider the method that is best for keeping your four legged scavenger out of the pile.

Unfortunately, a largely unknown danger may be lurking in your compost pile.  A substance identified as a tremorgenic mycotoxin could be growing in your pile and if ingested by your dog, could cause a serious or even deadly reaction.  Tremorgenic = shaking, tremors, seizures and mycotoxin = poisonous fungus.  Penitrem A is a type of tremorgenic mycotoxin associated with the Penecillium fungi that can be found in compost piles and spoiled food.

If you see your animal get into the spoiled garbage or catch him eating from the compost pile it is best to get him to a Veterinarian who can induce vomiting, especially if symptoms of poisoning are present.  Symptoms of toxicity include increased heart rate, panting, tremors, very excited or anxious, vomiting, hyperthermia or fever, and if enough has been ingested, or if left untreated, can develop into seizures or even death.

Treatment will include making the dog vomit followed by a dose of activated charcoal (also known as Toxiban) that helps to absorb any remaining mycotoxin left in the stomach.  Then medication will be administered to stop the tremors which will help decrease the body temperature.  Additionally IV fluids and other supportive measures will help flush the poison from the body and make the dog more comfortable. 

Tremorgenic Mycotoxin is not a common household name, but if your dog is caught munching in the compost pile it's one that you know warrants immediate action with a trip to the Veterinarian.  Tell "Lucky" to leave the compost for the garden - he has plenty of delicious food in his dog dish!

Pennies Cause Zinc Poisoning in Dogs

I saw a headline recently that caught my attention from the sheer craziness of the animal involved in the story.  The headline was Puppy Survives Swallowing 113 Pennies.  Why would any animal swallow that many pennies? Then I got to wondering, how many dog owners  know that swallowing even one penny can be cause for concern for their four-legged friend? 

Penny starting to corrode in stomach

It's true that this story is not the norm, most dogs will only swallow one or two pennies, not 113!!  In our ER we see a case about every 4 months where a dog has found a penny and decided to find out how it tasted.  The problem is the contents of the penny.

All pennies minted after 1983 have a zinc core covered by copper.   Pennies are just heavy enough that they tend to stay in the stomach even when the animal has been given medication to make him or her vomit.  The acidic environment, depending on the amount of food in the stomach, can cause the penny to break down rapidly.  Once the penny starts to corrode the zinc is released into the bloodstream and causes anemia and liver damage.  It could take a few hours to a couple days before signs of toxicity start to show up.

Corroded penny removed from Dachshund

Signs of zinc toxicity and anemia can include extreme tiredness, vomiting, bloody urine, decreased appetite, and seeming depressed.  These signs signify the need to get your dog to the vet very quickly.

Radiographs and blood tests will be used to determine the cause of the symptoms.  Once penny ingestion and zinc toxicity is determined the immediate treatment goals will include decreasing zinc absorption, correcting anemia, minimizing liver damage, and removing the penny.  Most likely the penny will be surgically removed although endoscopy may by possible if the penny is still sitting in the stomach.  The time it could take to allow the penny to pass, if it even will, could cause irreparable damage to the liver or even death.

Once the penny is removed the patient may need a blood transfusion to correct the anemia and will be given IV fluids to flush the liver to help the body get rid of the zinc. Additionally, the dog may receive Pepcid for stomach upset and/or an anti-nausea medication to prevent vomiting.  Supportive care may be needed for additional days or weeks depending on the amount of toxicity and how the animal responds to treatment.

Other common objects or products that contain zinc include zinc supplements, diaper rash ointment, sunscreen containing zinc oxide, automobile fuses, wire, and some nails. But the one most often overlooked is still the penny.

The moral of the story...you can't count your pennies with your hound dog by your side!

Rimadyl Overdose or Toxicity

Rimadyl is a commonly prescribed medication for dogs to help alleviate pain and inflammation related to osteoarthritis.  Rimadyl is an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) similar to aspirin and can be prescribed for short-term or long-term use.

Overdose - how does it happen?
Rimadyl tastes terrific to dogs.  The chewable tablets are liver flavored and dogs have no qualms about taking them.  Pet owners often refer to the medication as a treat.  Just reach for the bottle and your canine friend will start salivating and prance around like a puppy.  If left within reach of your dog he/she will find very creative ways of getting that bottle open and ingesting the remaining contents.  But therein lies the problem.  Rimadyl is not a treat.  In fact, when a dog ingests too much Rimadyl the results can be life threatening.

Toxicity
Rimadyl toxicity can also happen even if the prescribed dosage is given.  Sometimes after being on the drug an animal will develop a sensitivity and will exhibit the same symptoms as an overdose.  It is important to bring your pet to the veterinarian immediately if you suspect or witness your dog ingesting more than the prescribed daily dosage of Rimadyl, or if you recognize signs of a developed toxicity to the medication.


Signs of Overdose/Toxicity

• Gastrointestinal symptoms include nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, melena (black, tarry stools), and abdominal pain.
• Damage to the kidneys may cause signs of acute kidney failure such as increased thirst, increased urination, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy and dilute urine (lighter in color).
• Symptoms associated with damage to the liver include jaundiced skin, gums, inside of ears, and sclera (whites of the eyes) as well as vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite and lethargy.
  

MobileVet.net also has a very comprehensive feature about Rimadyl on their website.  PetPlace has a great article on all the specifics of drug reactions and signs of Rimadyl overdose.  

Treatment
Depending on the timing, your pet may be given medication to cause it to vomit followed by activated charcoal to absorb any remaining medication in the stomach.  The main concern with Rimadyl is damage to the kidneys or liver.  Your pet will be placed on IV fluids to flush the liver and kidneys and eliminate the drug from the animal's body.  Multiple blood tests are performed over the length of hospitalization to evaluate the red and white blood cell counts, BUN, and creatinine levels.  Each of these values indicates whether the treatment is decreasing the toxicity and if the liver and kidneys are working correctly. 

The moral of the story...make sure Rimadyl is in a secure "dog proof" location.

Easter Bunny Belly

Did you know?

Easter is over, but I bet there's still chocolate in your house. Let's suppose your sweet Lab puppy "Lucky" decides to play with the chocolate Easter Bunny and accidentally eats the whole thing. "Lucky" is no longer so lucky. If fact, depending on whether the bunny was white, milk, or dark chocolate, "Lucky" could become a very sick dog, and I'm not just talking about a tummy ache.

Let me tell you why!

Chocolate contains two ingredients, theobromine and caffeine, that are dangerous to dogs, cats, birds, rodents, and reptiles. Both act as a stimulant and can affect the gastrointestinal tract as well as multiple organs and, depending on the type and quantity consumed, can lead to seizures and even death. Poisoning is more common in dogs because of their propensity towards eating large quantities of unusual foods.

The three questions typically asked when a client calls about chocolate ingestion are: what kind of chocolate; how much chocolate; and how much does your dog weigh? The Merck Veterinarian Manual states "One ounce of milk chocolate per pound of body weight is a potentially lethal dose in dogs." This might seem like a lot of chocolate, but consider that theobromine levels in semi-sweet chocolate can be five times the amount found in milk chocolate. That 35 ounces of milk chocolate needed for toxicity in a 35 pound dog is reduced to 7 ounces of semi-sweet or dark chocolate. It would only take 3-5 ounces of baker's chocolate to be deadly to the same dog.

There is no antidote for chocolate poisoning. Even if "Lucky" hasn't consumed a toxic dose of chocolate it may still be advisable to bring him in to induce vomiting to remove as much of the theobromine and caffeine from his system as possible, especially if the consumption is recent. In addition, activated charcoal may be administered to absorb the two toxins from the stomach and IV fluids can help decrease dehydration, flush internal organs, and increase urination, the only other way to rid the toxins from the body. For higher levels of ingestion the Veterinarian will also monitor for heart irregularities. Even if the dose is not toxic the fat and sugar content of the chocolate may also lead to vomiting and diarrhea, an unpleasant side effect. We recommend a call to your family vet, or to our animal ER, to ask more questions should you suspect chocolate consumption by your pet.

The moral of the story...don't let the chocolate Easter bunny get cozy with your pets.