Veterinary Wellness Blog
Homegrown Hazards
July 2, 2013As July rolls around, many of us start to see fresh produce from our gardens. Who doesn’t enjoy some fresh greens, or watching the fruits of our labors start to ripen into the produce we will pick next month. While spending time in the garden is good for us, there are some hidden hazards to pets in there. Many plants in the garden may be potentially poisonous to your pet, and any plant if eaten in large enough amounts can cause issues such as obstructions. Most toxicities are mild and include gastrointestinal (GI) upset such as vomiting or diarrhea. However, a few of the ones listed below may be more serious. If your pet eats something out of your garden and you are not sure if it’s safe or not, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Please note that this list is not a complete list, just a few of the more common potentially hazardous plants seen in gardens. Tomatoes Tomatoes are a part of the nightshade family, which contains a number of toxic plants. Green tomatoes, leaves and stems, and flowers can all contain the toxin, though ripe tomatoes tend to have very little toxin left. Signs of toxicity can include GI upset, increased salivation (drooling), cardiac effects, and nervous system signs including […]
Read PostWanna go for a ride?
June 6, 2013Chances are, asking Fido if he wants to go for a ride will be greeted with enthusiastic running in circles, tail wagging, and barking. Most dogs enjoy spending time with their people, and there is something about a nose out the window that brings pure bliss to our canine companions. However, as the weather starts to get warmer, it may be safer to keep our pets at home instead of allowing them to come along for running errands. Numerous studies have shown that the temperature in a vehicle can climb significantly in as short as 10 minutes. Cars can become up to 40 degrees warmer than the weather outside, even with the windows cracked 1-2 inches. According to the ASPCA, on an 85° day it takes ONLY 10 minutes for car to reach 102° even with windows down 1-2 inches! Within 30 minutes it can reach 120°! Pets do not sweat the same way we do. They use panting as a way to cool themselves. Panting requires the evaporation of moisture to occur from the breath, which means the ability to cool is impeded on days where the humidity is high. Pets that get too warm can quickly go into shock and develop organ damage, which can be irreversible and possibly fatal. Signs that a […]
Read PostWe let pets into our hearts, don’t let heartworms into theirs!
May 2, 2013Heartworm disease is a common illness here in Minnesota. It is carried by mosquitoes, and spread when an infected mosquito bites your pet. As the worms mature, they can block the blood vessels of the heart and lungs, causing both circulatory and respiratory disease such as difficulty breathing, exercise intolerance, asthma like symptoms, blood clots, anemia, heart murmurs, irregular heart beats, high blood pressure, and thickening of heart muscles (hypertrophy). Infection can also cause protein loss through the kidneys, which over time can damage the kidneys. Lastly, it can be fatal. Treatment of heartworm disease involves a series of shots which are derived from arsenic. There is a lot of follow up and cost involved-multiple chest x-rays, medications to help prevent reactions to the arsenic and dying worms and anaphylactic shock, hospitalization, and follow up testing. Pets must be kept confined to a cage just large enough for the dog to stand, turn around, and lie down in for a couple of weeks. This to help prevent the pet from having a blood clot or piece of dying worm getting stuck in a blood vessel in the lungs, called a pulmonary thromboembolism or PTE. PTE can cause difficulty breathing and even death. Cats and ferrets cannot tolerate the arsenic compound used to treat heartworms, and […]
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.
Categories
Schedule an
Appointment Today!
12624 Base Lake Road
Maple Grove, MN 55369
Mon-Fri: 7:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Sat: 7:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.