Pancreatitis in Pets

Have you ever heard of pancreatitis in humans? Well it happens in cats and dogs as well. And it is a condition that is extremely serious and something that you as a responsible pet owner do not want to happen to your dog or cat. The possibility that your pet could quite easily get pancreatitis is generally caused by eating the wrong foods, and holidays often are the times that a pet either willfully is given rich food or the pet sneaks bites of or maybe consumes the entire roast, turkey, or whatever meat you left on the kitchen counter or dining room table.

Now you ask. What has the food got to do with my pet? For starters- feeding your pet any of this rich food that he/she is not used to eating can lead to a (dangerous and sometimes fatal condition) if left untreated. Am I ruining your holiday mood yet? It would be awful to enjoy the day and then later in the night or the day find that your dog or cat is acting strange and perhaps actually looking sick. As in: lying around, vomiting, groaning in pain, diarrhea, weakness, decreased body temperature. Your pet might not exhibit all of those symptoms but if your dog and to a much (lesser degree cat) is showing any of these signs then get your pet to a vet or animal emergency room immediately.

In mild or minor pancreatitis the outlook for your dog or cat is good. In pets that are very sick the road to recovery is difficult and only 50% of these animals will live. According to Dr. Daniel, other veterinarians and the vet books, eating food other than what you normally feed your dog/cat is the cause of most cases of pancreatitis. Rich food such as the drippings, gravy, the meat, mashed potatoes, deserts, etc, etc. are all bad for your pet.

In little dogs it only takes a small amount of food to make the dog sick. By now some of you might be saying, “I give my pets table scraps all the time.” Perhaps your pet has just been one lucky dog not to have gotten sick. But that does not mean that at any given time in the future your animal is safe from eating table scraps. “Rich food and excessive amounts of food are the problems here.

<span style="color:#800000;In the summer of 2011, I was at Dr D's and I tagged along with her when she was called to look at a 15 year old Yorkie. Indeed the little one was sick.  Dr. D. treated the little dog on site with some emergency meds and then told the people to take the little dog to the emergency room. The Yorkie recovered but early intervention and follow up at the ER probably saved that precious little dog. Her owner had given her a small piece of barbecued rib in the morning and by 2PM the Yorkie was ill. The dog had not previously eaten fatty meat- she had only eaten DOG FOOD.

So don’t be a turkey on turkey day. Give your dog or cat only the food that it normally eats, as in dog or cat food. Even small amounts can make your pet ill.  After all, you want your pet to be around for what ever holiday you celebate or not celebrate in December and in the years to come.

Post Yvonne Daniel

Peritonitis in Pets

BONES-  these are  dangerous during holiday time or for that matter, anytime time you are tempted to give Rover or Fluffy that delicious looking bone that has just a  bit of meat left on it or maybe no meat. One way or the other it does not matter! DO NOT GIVE YOUR PET ANY KIND OF BONE! Cooked and/or raw bones splinter easily.  

For a pet owner what could be worse than giving your pet a bone that splintered as your dog/cat gnawed on what you deemed  a treat? And what happens to that sharp piece of bone that your pet will swallow? The nitty, gritty of this scenario is the sharp piece can become lodged in the esophagus where it remains stuck unless removed surgically. A splintered bone can pierce the stomach lining or the wall of the intestines. When this happens the contents in the stomach  or the intestines (guts) slowly begin leaking into the abdominal cavity where it immediately proceeds to set up an intense infection which then leads to sepsis meaning that the entire body of the un-lucky pet will have bacteria coursing through its body and to every vital organ. The fact is that by this time your animal will  be too ill to raise its head. This infection is- PERITONITIS.

The crux of the matter is this: when the aforementioned happens, the pet has a small window for a chance of recovery. All of this is gut wrenching( no pun intended) not only for the pet but for the owner who must make the decision for the veterinarian to go all out in an effort to save the pet. But, if money is  limited and it is, for the average person, then the other choice is euthanasia. What a way to end a lovely holiday and then every holiday there after.  The memories of your pet will be there to forever haunt you.

I read a post on another pet site several months or so, ago about how much, would you spend, in an effort to save your pet’s life -WHAT EVER CAUSED  the need for veterinarian intervention.  Saving a critically ill pet involves incredible skill plus treatment and nursing to get your pet back home. There were probably 20-25 individuals who commented on that particular post. Of all the people who commented,  at least 98%  said that no amount of money would prevent them from begging, borrowing, using a credit card, selling possessions, or even re-morgaging their home to pay the cost to give their pet a chance to live. Most wrote that they were not people of means. But they would give up all extra amenities and live as frugal as possible in order to repay the money, however the money was obtained.

Do you think it is okay to feed table scraps and or bones to your dog or cat?

Next post: how to keep your pet from escaping from your property when everybody is celebrating and your home is like grand central station.

Post Yvonne   November 4,2012                                                Original post November 22,2011

Lick Granuloma in Dogs

Read below photos for information concerning Lick Granuloma.

Lick granuloma on right foot of chocolate labrador retriever, Muddy

Muddy being serious

Muddy being a clown and feeling good.

Properly called Acral Lick Granuloma this is a skin condition that is fairly common in certain dog breeds but can occur in any dog.

About a year ago my lab, Muddy, began licking his right leg just above the paw. I didn’t pay much attention to his constant licking when he was in his crate at night. I had begun feeling really crummy in March, 2013 and so I was more than casual about Muddy and his paw. It seems it became an obsession with him. I think he began licking his paw due to boredom and frustration from being crated more than he had been in the past. He’s too big to let wander willy nilly through the house since he will get in the cat’s food. I also was crating him more because I did not want him picking up ticks from all the vegation in the yard. I use FrontLine for fleas and ticks but the topical applications only lasts for about 2 weeks and if you are lucky , maybe 3 weeks. The lit says it is a once per month application but I have yet to see it work that long. It is very expensive too.

Finally, after he had made a nasty looking sore, I had my vet take a look. I was afraid that maybe it had become cancerous. Dr B. said, “oh no problem. Put a few drops of this med on 2-3 times a day and watch him for about 5 minutes to make sure he doesn’t lick off the medicine.” So I applied 2-3 drops to saturate the area properly and remained sitting by Muddy for the suggested 5 minutes which gave the med time to absorb deep into the tissue. After about 5 weeks or sooner the area healed to the point where Muddy no longer licked the spot. The huge callous and raw like area had all but disappeared. That was last year.

This year Muddy began licking the very same spot about a month ago- about the time the grass was getting tall (before mowing). I believe that an allergy to grass might have influenced the licking to begin anew. This time I still had the medication which is called Synotic Otic Solution. It is actually an ear drop medication for pets. It contains a steriod which explains the rapid healing effect.

I took some hasty shots of his foot but these shots are of the same spot but less in severity of the sore place of last year. This one is on the road to healing and should be ok in another few weeks.

If you have a problem with this condition do not hesitate to have a vet diagnose and begin treatment. The area might not be a lick granuloma and could be something very serious. Do not ignore any sore, bump, mole, or anything that is bleeding or does not look normal.

This post is not meant as a diagnositc tool. See your vet to insure you pet’s health and well being. Various vets have their own treatment modalities for any given ailment. Some methods are simple but some granulomas might require treatments that are more involved.

Oh yes- for anyone concerned about Muddy and the crate. He is out of the crate during the day and is running free with the other dogs in a fenced acre. Thus far the ticks have not been bad but if they return in vast numbers again- I’ll have to crate my dogs and only allow them to run in the graveled back yard.

Below is a list of dog breeds that are MORE PRONE to lick granuloma. Any dog breed can develop this condition.

American Staffordshire Terrier
Border Collie
Boxer
Dalmatian
Doberman
English Setter
English Springer Spaniel
German Shepherd
Golden Retriever
Gordon Setter
Great Dane
Irish Red and White Setter
Irish Setter
Labrador Retriever
Newfoundland
Pit Bull Terrier
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Weimaraner

Histiocytoma: Aka- Button Tumor in Dogs

histiocytoma on the side of Muddy’s abdomen. July, 25, 2013

 

Muddy, the lab is a clown. If you are “dog tired” of the camera person just stick out your tongue.

Muddy loves sticks. No inclination to fetch- anything!

Muddy resting in the gravel driveway.

About a month ago I discovered a small round odd looking growth on the side of my labrador retriever, Muddy. A very odd looking growth that is approximately an inch in diameter.

I feared for the worse possible news but my veterinarian diagnosed the growth as a histiocytoma also known as a button tumor. He declared no immediate removal and instructed me to give Benadryl 50mg twice daily for 2 months. The tumor is considered benign but he also said that it should be removed if it does not go away or shrink from the antihistamine. He said that this type of tumor sometimes responds to an antihistamine since the tumor is believed to arise from from type of histamine reaction in the body.

I’ll have it removed after I finish the Benadryl in about a month. I have not seen any change in the size so far and thus I don’t think I will be home free without having to shell out some money. I might add that Muddy weighs around 90 pounds and part of the cost of surgery is figured in according to the weight of an animal. It will not be cheap.

Dog breeds (most often affected) by this type of tumor include Dachshund, Shetland Sheep Dog, Great Dane, Labrador Retriever, Boxer, Staffordshire Terrier, and the Cocker Spaniel.

Of note there is a malignant tumor that resembles the button tumor. Do not take this info here as the last word. If you notice any growth on your cat or dog DO NOT HESITATE TO GET YOUR PET TO THE VET FOR PROPER DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT.

I have posted a pic of the tumor along with a few photos of my boy. Muddy was found five years ago by me on a cold and wet January night in the parking lot of the hospital where I worked for not quite 35 years. Muddy is a wonderful watch dog and is very smart. He just does not care a lot for water and has never shown an inclination to retrieve. He does like to play with sticks that he finds in the yard.

Post and photographs
~yvonne~

Please do not reblog without permission

Importance of Dental Care (for a longer life of your pet)

Yawning dog (Muddy) showing his teeth

Dentals are important to extend the life of your pet. Brushing your pet’s teeth is excellent but I have yet to meet anyone that can actually brush their pet’s teeth.

The key to that is to start when you pet is a kitten or a puppy. And of course if you can brush the teeth then you will avoid dental care by a veterinarian.

The summer of 2011 I put out a lot of money for dentals on about 12 cats. Currently there are more that need dentals. I am waiting for my $$ to build back up. Even though I have used the same veterinarian for about 30 years I had to pay when he  finished with an animal. I have probably spent- well I don’t want to think about it- HEAPS of money at that clinic. Many moons ago, I was getting a pretty good discount. But then that all fell by the wayside.

In August of this year (2012) I changed vets. (finally)  I found a very smart veterinarian who gives my animals a complete exam and weighs options of what to use as the best medication for x disease or illness. He is compassionate and has 2-3 vet techs working at all times. My daughter told me that having adequate clinic staffing is generally the sign of a good vet. I think she is right. I just wish that I had changed vets a long time ago.

My new veterinarian does great dentals and uses the safest possible anesthesia. He removed a small benign tumor on one of my cats and he “threw in a dental” with no extra charge. I was most appreciative. I know that he is glad to have me as a client and it never hurts to do a “little something” extra for a good paying client.

Post and photograph:  Yvonne

 

 

The Pit Bull Puppy With Parvo (a deady disease if not treated)

Fostered Pit Bull puppy

The puppy in this  photo is one that I fostered in January and February of this year. He went to a rescue group in Austin,Texas after he was deemed hale and hearty. I did not get a pic of the puppy that I wrote about in this post. I still think about Spotty. He was a really fast learner and a very good natured dog. I hoped and prayed that he was adopted by a responsible person.

Friday, February 24th I had an appointment with a medical specialist who sees patients at a satellite clinic in Marble Falls. This clinic is much easier on my nerves so that I don’t have to drive I-35 to get to Austin.  Marble Falls is approximately 55-60 miles from Austin so Dr. D. asked me to bring the young woman who helps me with bathing and grooming my pets. As usual I needed a driver because of an old knee injury that prevents me from driving more than about 30 miles. So Brandi, my driver, a sick pit bull puppy, and I arrived at Dr. D’s house about 2:45pm. Brandi set to work on grooming Dr. D’s dogs.  Dr. D. began working on the sick pit bull puppy that had been diagnosed with parvo at a clinic in the town where Brandi lives.

It happened to be a warm day so we used the tailgate of my pickup truck as a make shift exam and treatment area. My driver watched as Dr. D. shaved a spot on the right foreleg of the puppy and quickly inserted a needle and cannula and then hooked the IV line to a liter of Ringer’s Lactate. She bolused about 60-70 ml ( I’m not sure how much was initially given) and then hooked the bag of fluids to a make shift IV stand. She then gave the puppy two injections- one of Serena and one of Reglan. These two injections were to slow/prevent nausea and vomiting. She also gave the puppy an injection of Bupenex to ease the stomach pain that is associated with parvo and an injection of Baytril which is an antibiotic. Within just a few minutes we could see a noticeable improvement in the puppy.  (Hydration and pain med made a huge difference). He was much more alert and had relaxed his body position. He looked almost like a new puppy but she warned that he could possibly still die even though he seemed not so ill. The IV was clamped off and he was then put in the large cat carrier and back into the warm truck.

Dr. D. gave Brandi written instructions for giving the meds and the fluids along with several cans of Purina EN.  

I am happy to say that by Sunday noon the puppy had almost returned to his former vigor and on Tuesday, Brandi said the puppy was back to normal. His (new Mom/owner) was ready to take him into her home again. I wish that I had taken some photos of the puppy but everything was so chaotic I did not even think about it.  Note see pic that is a puppy about the size of the sick one.

There is much more to write about concerning the parvo virus but that will be in another post. It is extremely important to treat a parvo  puppy with the right fluids for hydration and the right antibiotic that does not contribute to more vomiting, etc, etc. Rapid treatment at the onset of illness also makes a huge difference if the puppy lives or dies. Vaccination of any puppy should start at 6 weeks of age or as soon as your vet says it is time.

This puppy had been given his first 2 vaccinations so that may have helped with his body’s ability to respond favorably to treatment. 

Post and photograph: Yvonne

 

Renal Failure in Dogs: Meds, Treatments, and Diet

Rocket loved to ride the electric cart.

Rocket walking toward me

 

 

 

 

Rocket just retrieved his favorite toy ball

Rocket watching for something to bark about

Rocket waiting for the driver.

As I  have written in an earlier post, I mentioned that my beloved Border Collie is in renal failure. Keeping my dog around longer requires a certain amount of nursing care/treatments each day. I try to make his food appealing so this is what I feed him: a very small amount of bits of chicken breast, canned Purina NF, and left over roasted chicken juice that I have concocted to pour over the his food mixture. Renal failure animals are SUPPOSED TO EAT A LOW PROTEIN DIET and that is one of the problems to get your pet to eat. The left juice of the cooked roasted chicken improves the flavor or so it seems.  Often times the sicker or more debilitated the animal becomes the finickier the appetite. Then add to all of that the propect that he might or might now eat depending on how worried he is about something going on outside that he deems his duty to watch  over.

I give him 250ml of Ringer’s lactate twice a day (that is BID in medical/nursing speak), 2 injections of Reglan about 10-12 hours apart and Pepcid 7.5mg po (by mouth) BID, and last but not least to keep him on his feet, he gets 1/2 tablet of Tramadol )for pain. I must say that the Tramadol makes a   huge difference. He runs almost as fast as he did as a young dog for the Tramadol keeps the pain, in his arthritic legs, at a level that enables him to function as a pretty happy dog. Oh, I forgot, every third day he gets 1 and 1/2 ml of vitamin B12 and 1 and 1/2 ml of vitamin B complex. B12 helps keep his RBC (red blood count) up,which keeps him from becoming totally anemic. B complex stimulates the appetite and aids the kidneys in some sort of way- I’m not sure just how that works but there is a new product on the market which is advertised as an aid to the kidneys. When I have time to look that up I’ll let you  guys know what I learned (hopefully something) Ha-ha!!!!

I loaned my truck to Dr. D’s once in while, part time week-end tech. She could get the brakes fixed in our little town a lot cheaper and worry free. So while “J” was here she drew blood on 3 animals one of which was Rocket. His BUN is pretty high and by that I really mean it is not pretty when it is 114. BUN stands for Bilirubin, Urea, Nitrogen. This is test that shows the level at which the kidneys are working or to put this in plain English, (how well the kidneys are clearing the waste (toxins) from the body. Once the kidneys stop working- that is all “she wrote” for no amount of sub cu fluids will help. The body just shuts down from toxicity which includes damage the heart and other vital organs.

I dread the day when Rocket can no longer get up from his bed or when he completely stops eating. Euthanasia of my animals does not get easier- in fact I think it has gotten harder the more I age.

Rocket still loves to ride on the electric cart and to retrieve a ball that I gently roll toward him so that he does not run after it in typical Border Collie fashion. As I write this I hear him barking as he is running around the house as Duke  (my helper with the animals) goes about his chores.

The top two pix were taken within the past 2 weeks. The botom pic was taken about November, I think. I the exact date that it was taken was on the [ic but I failed to get the date before I uploaded.

Post and photographs Yvonne Daniel

 

Own a Big Dog? A Must Read. Bloat is a Real Emergency

Bloat is considered the “mother of all emergencies” as  it kills quickly and rapid emergency treatment is critical to the survival of the dog.

Suggested websites to visit are the following that contain excellent info:

www.globalspan.net/bloat.htm

www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles/caninebloat.htm

www.GreatDaneLady.com

www.Elektrik Borzoi.com

Okay, so just what is this condition? Bloat or GDV (Gastric- Dilitation and Volvulus), stomach torsion will cause death if do not get your dog to a veterinarian ASAP.  Please note:  Bloat usually happens in large dog breeds but can rarely occur in small breed dogs such as Yorkies and Chihuahuas, etc.

Bloat is almost exclusively seen in large breed deep-chested dogs such as Great Danes, German Shepherds, Greyhounds and Standard Poodles. The theory is that the stomach more easily twists and flips around in deep chested dogs, but the exact cause is not known.

Something goes awry as the food is being digested. There is a very rapid build up of gas in the stomach. Imagine a balloon blown up to capacity and about ready to pop. Only the stomach does not pop. It twists and turns so that the the entrance to the stomach and the exit (where food passes into the small intestine) of the stomach is cut off thus preventing the gas that has built up from escaping. If the stomach completely twists, blood circulation is cut off and tissue of the stomach loses it’s blood supply and the tissue dies ( becomes necrotic). This is where the critical stage begins. At this point your dog is likely retching (gagging or trying to throw up (vomit) and as the dog attempts to eject food there will be little or no food at all that comes up. This process can begin fairly soon after your dog has eaten.  As the dog continues to attempt to vomit, severe pain is now present and the dog might begin groaning, pacing, panting, frothing or drooling from the mouth, licking at the stomach ,unable to lie down or sit and then will finally collapse if you let it go on too long. Your dog might seek a place to lie down somewhere in the recesses of your house, the garage, or a hidden place in your yard.  Your pet will not likely come to you since he/she is in such pain. Your dog will be too ill to move.  At this point if you can not get your animal up- get immediate help and carry, or roll you animal over on a blanket and drag him or her to your vehicle. Call your veterinarian or the emergency room as soon as you can use a phone and detail the symptoms. Don’t leave out anything-be sure to let the vet know that your dog had eaten and then became sick soon after and is acting as if in severe pain.

The longer you wait to get your dog to a veterinarian the less chance your pet has of a successful recovery. Because there is so much pain involved and blood is not circulting to a crucial body parts, the dog will soon go into to shock (low blood pressure, rapid beating of the heart, and pain)  and will die. The heart rate is so fast that it can not sustain the extremely rapid beat for an extended period of time.

The hallmark symptoms of a dog with GDV : often a history of recent exercise, eating food or drinking large volumes of water and then repeatedly trying to vomit but not producing any vomitus.

The treatment requires rapid intervention. IV fluids will be started along with pain killers. The veterinarian might attempt to pass a tube to see if the stomach has completely twisted and to decompress the stomach. Most likely the vet will take an x-ray just to be certain the stomach is in fact twisted (torsed). Immediate surgery is the only thing that will save your pet if the stomach has already twisted. The surgical outcome depends on a competent vet, how much damage there is to the stomach, and the over all condition of your animal. The surgeon will staple or sew the wall of the stomach to the lining of the abdominal cavity, a procedure known as Gastropexy. This surgery will  prevent the recurrence of bloat. About 75% of all dogs that bloat will do so again if they do not have Gastropexy perfomed. Only about 6% will bloat again if the dog has the extra surgery.

If you own a high-risk breed, most progressive veterinary hospitals will encourage prophylactic Gastopexy be performed at the age of 6 months (when they are spayed or neutered) to prevent GDV from ever occuring. Bloat is a surgical emergency and treatment and surgery is very expensive (several thousand dollars in some cases) so prevention is cheaper and safer.

There are certain steps you can take to greatly reduce or prevent bloat from ever happening. PREVENTION IS THE KEY.

Do not feed too much food at one time. If your dog bolts or gulps his food you can purchase a bowl called ” BRAKE STOP” that prevents dogs from inhaling all their food at one time.

NEVER take your dog out for vigorous exercise and then feed a large meal or let your pet drink a large amount of water right after exercise. Both of these can cause bloat.

Mix dry food with canned food if you can swing the cost.

Keep water away at feeding time. Do not allow water consumption right before or right after eating. Give the food time to begin the digestive process before letting your dog drink.

Give snacks and biscuits sparingly. These are basically all grain-high carbohydrate. Too much grain is believed to be a contributor to bloat.

The dog food should have at least 3% fiber content.

Dogs with history of bloat (believed to be inherited) Know your breed before getting a large breed dog.

Tempermental and anxious dogs. FEED IN A QUIET PLACE AT ALL TIMES)

Aggressive dogs. Keep this type of dog also in a place that is free of people and other dogs.

Male dogs develop bloat more frequently than females.

Do not feed one hour before heavy exercise and DO NOT let your dog out to run one hour after eating.

 Dogs 7 years and older are more likely to bloat.

Do not give Brewer’s yeast, alflfa, or soy bean products. These also contribute to the build up of gas in the stomach.

To further reduce the chance of bloat, give your dog acidophilus. I feed my dogs a crushed acidophilus tablet (my labradors are gluttons) mixed in with their food with a little bit of water. Both labs, if I let them, devour their food in less than 2 minutes. To prevent this, I put one cup of food at a time in the bowl and wait a few minutes between each cup. The female is smaller and she gets 3 cups of Purina One and the male who weighs about 90 pounds gets 4 cups.  I also feed the labs in a large wire crate so that confinement is not a problem. Yes, it is a bit of trouble but I don’t want to take chances with them. I feed my dogs once a day. I have 8 dogs, so to feed them twice each day would be lots more work but it could be done if I did not have other animals to feed that takes up my time. Purina One just happpens to be the highest quality food that I can afford to feed all my dogs. There are pricier foods on the market. I mention this brand but it is not meant as an endorsement.

Part II:  A list of dogs that are more prone to bloat.

Post Yvonne Daniel

 

 

Large Dog Breeds That Are At Risk To Bloat

The list in alphabetical order

Afghan Hound

Airedale Terrier

Akita

Alaskan Malamute

Bassett Hound

Bernese Mountain Dog

Blood Hound

Borzoi

Boxer

Bullmastiff

Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Collie

Dachshund

Doberman

English Springer Spaniel

Fila Brasileiro

Great Dane

Great Pyrenees

German Shepherd

Golden Retriever

Irish Setter

Irish Wolfhound

King Shepherd

Kuvasz

Labrador Retriever

Miniature Poodle

Newfoundland

Old Englkish Sheep Dog

Pekinese

Rottweiler

Samoyed

Shiloh Shepherd

Standard Poodle

St Bernard

Weimaraner

Sight Hounds

Blood Hounds

Note: It is possible for any breed to bloat.

Post  Yvonne Daniel

 

Leptospirosis (Encore) (Original post October, 2010)

Post written by Dr. D. DVM

” Lepto what ? ” most clients say when I ask if they are familiar with this deadly bacterial disease.
I think we as veterinarians have been remiss in educating the public about this bacteria, because most clients  have never heard of it. In the past we reserved this vaccine for large-breed hunting dogs that were frequently around wild animals(a reservoir for Lepto) and contaminated stagnant water.      

We generally did not use the vaccine on small breed dogs because they were more likely to have a vaccine reaction from it and they were not as at risk for getting the disease. Now there are new and better, less reactive vaccines and research has shown that small breeds are exposed just as commonly as large breed dogs. Are you wondering why?      

Well , it is because of the urban and suburban migration of people. As humans have migrated towards the city, wildlife has followed. Wildlife and rats migrate with us because there are fewer predators and a lot more food. A very high number of rats carry Leptospirosis bacteria in their urine. All it takes is a person or dog coming in contact with the contaminated urine through accidental oral ingestion(contaminated water), or though a cut,skin wound, or abrasion.  

    

If your dog drinks from standing puddles, creeks, streams, ditches, culverts, that flower pot in  your backyard- he is at risk for Lepto. Symptoms of Lepto include fever, weakness, muscle pain, icterus, liver aand kidney failure, red painful eyes and death.  The disease is usually preventable with a initial series of 2 boosters, then annual vaccination. 

  

  

Wondering if we vaccinated your dog for Leptospirosis when I saw him for his annual exam?