An Endoscopic Retrieval of a Dime

Our Airedale friend came to VACC earlier this week because he wasn't feeling well and was having diarrhea. He was examined by Dr. Burns who ordered x-rays and discovered that he had a foreign body.

As you can see in the video below, Dr. Burns was able to use the endoscope to remove the foreign body, which turned out to be a dime. 

The dog is feeling much better and will be able to go home soon. 

Thanksgiving Safety Tips for Pets

Most of us think of our pets as family members, so we want them to be included in our holiday celebrations. Here are some tips to make sure everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving:

•  Be sure not to allow your pets to overindulge. Pancreatitis has been associated with eating rich, fatty foods, so keep the turkey and gravy treats to a minimum.
• If you do give your pets small amounts of turkey, make sure it is fully cooked. Raw and under-cooked turkey can harbor several kinds of harmful bacteria (including Salmonella and Campylobacter) that can cause intestinal problems in pets and humans.
• Turkey bones should never be fed to pets. They can easily splinter and cause tears or blockages in the gastrointestinal tract.
• If you will be having a large number of visitors and your pet isn't used to so much company, consider confining your pet to a quiet part of the house. This will also prevent your guests from feeding too many treats to your pets.

Meet Pumpkin, Latest Member of the Hero Pet Club!

Pumpkin, a 3 year old guinea pig, came to VACC with a possible urinary infection. As you can see from his x-ray, Pumpkin had a very large bladder stone. Dr. Clayton surgically removed the stone, and Pumpkin has since recovered.

A New Animal Control Law for Massachusetts

An updated animal control law was signed by Governor Patrick on August 2nd and went into effect on October 31st of this year. 

Following are some key points of the new law.

• Funds will be designated to offset the cost of spaying/neutering and vaccinating pets in shelters and those owned by low income families. The fund will also provide training for animal control officers- something that was not previously required. When Massachusetts residents file their 2012 taxes, they will have the opportunity to donate to this fund.
• Pets may now be included in domestic violence protection orders. Many victims of domestic abuse do not leave a dangerous situation because they fear that their pets will be harmed. This section of the new law will protect both people and their animals.
• The dangerous breed dog law has been updated to focus on individual problem dogs and their owners. All previous breed-specific town laws (like those banning pit bulls) have been nullified by the new state law.

You can read the law in its entirety here.