Veterinary Wellness Blog
Winter Woes
December 2, 2013As winter officially begins, many of us are busy dealing with the household chores that freezing weather present. Many of these tasks present hazards to our pets however. Ice melts and antifreeze can both be toxic if ingested by our furry friends. Ice melts are often applied to driveways and walkways to prevent people from slipping. If they are spilled or tracked indoors, improperly stored, or if your pet spends too much time walking on or rolling on sidewalks that are treated, they may exhibit signs of toxicity. Most commonly seen is vomiting, but diarrhea, excessive salivation (drooling), depression, decreased appetite, tremors, disorientation, increased thirst, seizures, and even death can result. Depending on the method of exposure, a bath may be indicated to remove salt from hair and feet. Inducing vomiting is sometimes indicated as well, but it depends on how long ago ingestion occurred and which type of ice melt was used. Please contact a veterinarian to see if vomiting should be induced in your situation. Hydration via IV catheter or subcutaneous fluids will help prevent or correct electrolyte issues. If electrolyte disturbances are noted, an EKG may be recommended. If seizures are occurring, an anti-seizure medication may be needed until the electrolytes are normalized again and seizures stop. Lastly, anti-nausea medications […]
Read PostLyme disease
November 4, 2013While the temperatures have finally turned cold enough that ticks are a fleeting memory, this is one of the times of year where we see our highest prevalence of tick borne illnesses (spring being the other time). While there are a number of tick borne illnesses, one of the more common ones is Lyme disease. Lyme disease, or Borrelia burgdorferi, is a common tick borne illness in the Northeastern United States. It is carried by the deer tick, Ixodes scapularis. An infected deer tick must bite an animal and attach itself for 24-48 hours in order to transmit Lyme disease, so finding unattached ticks or using a product that kills ticks within 24-48 hours should prevent infection. If an animal does become infected, it takes many weeks to months before signs become apparent. Animals do not tend to get a target-like rash from the original tick bite like humans do. When they do show signs, they are often nonspecific such as fever, inappetance, lethargy, limping, especially shifting leg lameness, and just not acting like themselves. Often this is because of multiple joint arthritis, or joint inflammation and pain. Since it can take months to see these signs, a bite in early spring before the first dose of tick preventative is applied is usually […]
Read PostTerrific Technicians!
October 4, 2013October 13-19 is national veterinary technician week. We appreciate the technicians year round, but this is the special time of the year where we make sure they know how much we appreciate them! To become a certified veterinary technician requires graduating from an accredited 2 or 4 year program, and passing the Veterinary Technician National Examination. Many of these programs require an internship for a couple of months at a clinic in addition to book courses and hands on laboratory classes. To maintain certification, technicians must complete a number of continuing education hours per year. Veterinary technicians perform many duties within the clinic. They are the nurses of the veterinary world-helping schedule and triage appointments, taking medical histories, and going over discharge instructions. They are dental hygienists and nurse anesthetists. They are phlebotomists and microbiologists, collecting blood and other samples, and running the tests in the laboratory. They are pet whisperers, helping restrain animals for their safety and comfort during minor procedures such as vaccinations, ear cleanings, or nail trims. They are janitors, mopping floors and washing laundry. They are pet sitters, feeding pets, walking dogs, scooping poop, and cleaning litter boxes. They are inventory specialists, ordering the food, medications, and other supplies necessary to run the clinic. Without their assistance we would […]
Read PostProviding the best possible veterinary care for your pet.
Heritage Animal Hospital is a full-service veterinarian clinic that provides examinations, diagnostic services, dental care, surgical services, medicine, grooming and boarding services in Maple Grove, Minnesota. We are dedicated to providing the highest level of pet care possible and facilitating an environment where client communication and education are at the forefront of our practice.
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