Blog
Mysterious Respiratory Illness Affecting Dogs
As you may be aware from recent news coverage, there is a mysterious respiratory illness affecting dogs in our area. Symptoms may include a combination of hacking cough, sneezing, nasal and eye discharge, and lethargy. However, unlike "kennel cough" these patients are not responding to standard antibiotic treatment and cases are lasting for much longer (weeks to months).
Xylitol kills dogs!
Xylitol is a sugar substitute that is now widely used in the US. It is popular with dieters and diabetics alike because it is sugar free, has zero calories, and helps prevent tooth decay. It is commonly found in sugar-free gum, candy, and foods. In humans, xylitol is absorbed slowly and has little effect on blood sugar or insulin levels. But in the dog, xylitol is rapidly absorbed and causes a sudden spike in insulin, which in turn causes a sudden profound drop in blood sugar that can be fatal.
Fear Free: taking the “pet” out of petrified
BCAH is very proud to announce that our entire staff became Fear Free certified in 2018!Fear Free was founded in 2016 by veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, an advocate for the human-animal bond. Fear Free's mission is to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in pets by inspiring and educating the people who care for them.
Keeping Indoor Cats Happy and Fit
You've done everything to treat Fluffy like a queen. She gets the best food, the best medical care, and you keep her safely indoors. But is she really happy? Our homes are set up for humans, but may lack qualities that cats instinctively need to be satisfied. Food, shelter, and a clean litter box are the basics. Environmental enrichment means making a home more suitable for a cat’s instinctual needs. Cats get bored, anxious, or stressed if their environment does not meet their needs. This can lead to medical or behavioral problems. “Scarf and barf” (eating too fast and immediately regurgitating), hiding, inappropriate elimination, waking owners in the night, marking or destroying furniture, and overgrooming can all be due to lack of environmental enrichment.
Keep Your Medications to Yourself!
Leaving a pill bottle opened on a low countertop, packing your medication in a plastic baggie, or accidentally dropping a pill on the floor could harm your dog more than you realize. Dr. Justine Lee, associate director of veterinary services at the Pet Poison Hotline, says 50 percent of the approximately 150,000 annual calls to the hotline are about pets swallowing human medications. Recently, the hotline came out with a review of the call data, which revealed the top 10 offenders.
Update on Canine Influenza
Canine influenza has been documented in 46 states, including New Hampshire. As of January 2022, recent outbreaks have been reported as close to us as Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Canine influenza is an infectious disease caused by two separate viral strains – H3N8 and H3N2. First reported in Florida in 2005, H3N8 was recognized after a group of racing Greyhounds became ill (many fatally) with a severe and extremely contagious pneumonia. H3N2 first emerged in 2015 in an outbreak in Chicago. This virus is of avian origin and not related to the earlier H3N8 virus, which is of equine origin; therefore, dogs at risk should be vaccinated against both viruses.
Introducing Cold Laser Therapy
At Brentwood Country Animal Hospital we have added cold laser therapy to the repertoire of services we offer our patients. Since first introducing laser therapy to our hospital a few years ago now, we have been continually amazed to see the benefits that the laser treatment has provided our patients, with a decrease in post-operative healing time for all of our surgical incisions and increased relief for pets in pain due to chronic conditions.
Marijuana and your pets
With the legalization of marijuana on the horizon (and already legal in surrounding states), comes the increase in possible exposure to our pets, particularly dogs. The typical case involves a dog helping itself to an owner’s stash or tasty edibles, with clinical signs developing within 30-90 minutes and possibly lasting up to several days. Common symptoms include incoordination, lethargy, dilated pupils, slow heart rate, and urinary incontinence. Since marijuana toxicity can mimic many other poisons, it is very important that the possibility of exposure be disclosed to the veterinarian. We are not obligated to notify the police and are bound by client-patient privacy. This is true for all recreational drugs. Please call your veterinarian immediately if your pet may have eaten marijuana.