|
Consider the Source
Yoda's Advice to the Unknowing
Dear
Yoda,
Do you have any political aspirations?
Persian Manning
Dear Mr. Manning
I am considering starting my own political party called
the Progressive Cat Servative party. Our platform
will be legalize catnip and provide it as a medicinal
product. I would also reduce taxes for all cat owners
and increase the dog owners taxes - if you have such
bad taste in pets, you should pay for it. And lastly
my "take back the parks program" would provide our
kittens with clean, safe sandboxes to play in and
convert the "dog parks" into "cat parks".
Dear
Yoda,
How do you keep your paws looking so lovely?
Brad Pittbull
Dear
Mr. Pittbull,
Glad to see you noticed. The staff here are very careful
to keep my nails trimmed. Apparently, they don't appreciate
my clawing their pants when I want food! The girls
use regular people nail clippers and are very careful
not to cut the quick (it happened once and it really
stings). It is easy, and almost any human can do it.
If they have any problems they can always call my
personal servants here at the hospital.
Dear Yoda,
Because it is the holiday season, our house is
filled with chocolate. I broke into a box of Black
Magic and ate the chocolate covered cherry - it was
delicious! Before I could finish the box, my people
came home and freaked out! They said chocolate was
very dangerous for dogs, but I think they are just
being greedy and won't share! What do you think?
St. Nick Bernard
Dear
Nick,
Sadly, chocolate is toxic to dogs. At small doses
chocolate can cause gastric upset (hello diarrhea)
but at larger doses can be fatal. My advice is to
avoid chocolate all together - if you want treats
this Christmas think about snacking on leftover turkey.
Careful though, it can make you sleepy!
|
|
Your
Eagle Ridge Veterinary Hospital Healthcare Team
|
|
|
"Yoda"
the Cat
Dr. Don French
Dr. Shelley Murray
Tamara Cox
Ramona Doucet
Darla Messner
Jaime Dragan
Kristy Hemstalk
Paige Ryan
Dominique O'Brien
|
Goodwill Ambassador
Veterinarian/Owner
Veterinarian
Reg. Animal Technologist
Reg. Animal Technologist
Veterinary Receptionist
Veterinary Recept/Assist.
Veterinary Assistant
Veterinary Assistant
Veterinary Assistant
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
Sunshine Coast Animal Emergency Committee needs
volunteers and your support! In the event of
a coastal disaster or emergency, family pets will
not be able to accompany you to the shelters.
So a separate committee made up of local veterinarians,
kennel owners, SPCA, wildlife centres and the
general public has been formed to make sure there
is a safe place for our pets. Family pets won't
be the only animals needing shelter and care in
a disaster, so will livestock and wildlife. We
all need to work together to match found pets
to owners, care for the injured, feed the lost
and abandoned and try to reduce the stress and
anxiety felt by animals and people alike. The
committee is just getting started, so we have
a long way to go. If you think you can help please
let us know. Our next meeting is scheduled for
Tuesday, Jan. 9/2001 at 7:30 p.m. at the Volunteer
Centre in Sechelt. We hope to see you there!
|
|
|
PUPPY
PRESCHOOL GRADUATES!
|
|
|
Well
our first "Puppy Preschool" sessions are over.
It was getting too dark and too chilly!! Darla
and Tamara were so pleased with everyone's support
over the past few months.
This
was our first time putting on a puppy class and
we mainly wanted everyone to have fun! We also
hoped to help new puppy owners socialize their
new family members with other puppies and to get
a good start on some basic training.
Next Spring we want to start earlier and have
more time to meet even more puppies! Darla, Tamara
and everyone at Eagle Ridge Veterinary Hospital
would like to congratulate all our past "graduates"!
|
|
IS
YOUR PET COVERED?!
ASK US ABOUT PET INSURANCE TODAY!
 
|
"Toe
Nail Tuesdays"
½ Price Dogs & Cats Nail Trimming
ANTIFREEZE AND PETS
As a
caring pet owner, would you leave a deadly poison out for
your pet to get into? No way! Yet many people do just that
by unwittingly leaving antifreeze out in the open.
Whether it's in a puddle on the garage floor or even in
a closed container, antifreeze can attract and kill pets
and wildlife. It is estimated by the BCVMA (British Columbia
Vet. Medical Assoc.) that over 1,500 dogs and cats die each
year from antifreeze poisoning in this province. Animals
often are drawn to this sweet-tasting liquid out of curiosity.
Pets who live outdoors may find the only "water" available
is in contaminated puddles around the yard. Also the plastic
container that antifreeze comes in, whether empty or full,
can be a deadly chew toy for your dog!
Ethylene glycol, a colourless, odourless liquid that makes
up 95% of antifreeze is the toxic agent to watch out for.
After ingestion, the poison is rapidly absorbed from the
digestive tract and within 20 to 30 minutes vomiting, depression,
lack of coordination, and weakness occur. The prognosis
for animals poisoned with ethylene glycol depends on how
much is ingested, the size of the animal, and when treatment
is started. If not treated immediately, the animal may experience
severe kidney damage, could lapse into a coma, and may die,
all within 24 hours of ingestion!
Prevention is the key when dealing with antifreeze. Always
drain antifreeze into a container that can be closed and
take it to a service station for disposal. Store antifreeze
in a closed cabinet or on a high shelf. Thoroughly clean
any surfaces where antifreeze has been spilled. Best of
all use one of the new antifreeze solutions make with propylene
glycol. Propylene glycol is less toxic, has a bitter taste
and if ingested will be metabolized into lactic acid, a
normal body constituent.
Look for "Prestone"s LowTox", "Vinoco Oil's Kooltone" or
"Canadian Tire's Sierra" brands of safer antifreeze. Also
some winter windshield washing fluid contain the deadly
ethylene glycol to prevent freezing, so treat them with
the same care as antifreeze! Remember that even if you are
using antifreeze safely, your neighbours may not be! Keep
a close eye on your family pets for any unusual signs. Keep
them safe in your yard or house and if possible talk to
your neighbours to see if they are aware of the dangers
and how to keep their won pets safe and healthy!
HOLIDAY
HAZARDS
'Tis
the season for giving and sharing, but there are
some things that you shouldn't be giving to your
pet. Here's a list of some "Holiday Hazards" that
you should know to keep your "Furry Friends" safe.
Bones:
The holiday meal may leave alot of tantalizing bones,
but don't feed them to your pet. Small bones or
bone chips can lodge in the throat, stomach, and
intestinal tract, as well as damage teeth and irritate
gums. Candles: Lighted candles should never
be left unattended. Remember that cats can jump
up onto the most out of the way places! An exuberant
tail, a swat of a paw and candles and hot wax can
quickly become disastrous. Also, a puppy chewing
and swallowing a large amount of wax will have tummy
problems!
Fat:
All of those yummy gravies, sauces and poultry skin
can cause severe gastrointestinal upset.
Holiday
plants: Holly and mistletoe are extremely poisonous
when eaten. The poinsettia may not be ruly poisonous,
but its milky white sap and leaves can irritate
the mouth and stomach.
Electrical
cords: Holiday lights mean more electrical cords
for kittens and puppies to chew or trip over. Be
sure you have cords secured and out of the way.
If you have a tree-climbing cat or large dog with
a happy tail,
Holiday
tree: make sure your tree is well secured. Also,
preservatives/additives often used in the water
of a tree stand can cause gastric upsets.
Pine
needles: Check around holiday trees and wreaths
frequently. Ingested pine needles can puncture your
pet's intestines if sharp enough. As well they can
irritate the throat and cause vomiting.
Ornaments:
Small or breakable ornaments, string, ribbon and
tinsel should be kept out of reach of your pet's
sake and to preserve your decorations!
"Company's
coming!" With all the added activity in the
house, watch out for open doors and sneaky pets.
Make sure your pets have collars and tags on in
case of escape. Have a quiet place for your pets
to retreat to when the festivities get to stressful
and make sure everyone knows not to bother them
when they are there.
|
HAPPY
HOLIDAYS AND THE VERY BEST
IN THE NEW YEAR!
|
