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this will be your pet's best halloween ever!

10/20/2020

 
You've all heard the jokes: COVID-19 keeping pet owners home-bound is a dog's dream come true, a cat's worst nightmare. While our canine and feline friends may disagree on whether having us home all day is a good thing, a quieter Halloween may be a silver lining of this pandemic that they can both enjoy!
Due to the pandemic, this year the CDC is recommending against traditional trick or treating, where treats are handed to children who go door to door. The CDC has a number of suggested alternatives, such as leaving bagged treats at the end of your driveway, but our pets will adore the lack of ringing doorbells this year!
Our pets are not accustomed to the excitement of Halloween. Strangers in strange costumes ringing our doorbells can be worse than fireworks on the forth of July for some pets. In the past we’ve recommended that pets be kept away from the door to reduce stress and prevent escape attempts or unexpected aggression. But fewer or no ringing doorbells this year dramatically reduces the negative impact on our pets. They are loving it!
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CAH Tech Ali's adorable Finley, our favorite little devil
If you do plan to answer the door with your dog, keep your pooch on a leash. This will prevent a nervous dog from becoming aggressive with a trick-or-treater or unexpectedly bolting out the door. If your pet does escape from the house, slip a leash, or somehow become lost, having an ID tag worn on their collar and a microchip dramatically increases the odds that you’ll be reunited with your pet. Make sure your pet’s ID tag has up-to-date contact information and that your microchip manufacturer has your current address and phone number. 
More about microchipping
​Though the terrifying “ding dong” of Halloween might be missing for most pets this year, there are a few other dangers pet owners need to be aware of. Here are Concord Animal Hospital’s top three safety tips to keep your pet healthy & happy this Halloween.
  • Halloween treats are for you, not your pet! Some Halloween treats can land your pet in a vet’s office or emergency room, which is not where you want to be on one of the most fun nights of the year. Most of us know that chocolate, even in small amounts, can be toxic to both dogs and cats, but did you know that nuts can lead to vomiting, diarrhea and potentially pancreatitis? Macadamia nuts can be especially dangerous, sometimes leading to additional issues such as tremors and hypothermia. Raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs and xylitol, an artificial sweetener used to flavor some types of gum and sugar-free candy, can be lethal. This is a case where sharing is not caring. Agree as a family not to share your Halloween haul with your pets!
PET EAT SOMETHING QUESTIONABLE? 
Call us at 978-369-3503 immediately to determine if your pet needs medical attention. If this happens when we are closed, visit our Emergency Services & Resources page for a list of 24-hour hospitals or the Poison Control Center.
  • Be careful with costumes. According to the National Retail Federation, over 25 million U.S. adults are planning to dress their pets in costumes this Halloween. But some pets are not so pleased to don Halloween costumes! Watch for signs that your pet is uncomfortable. If they are growling or hiding, they’re likely uncomfortable, unhappy or even frightened. If you do decide your pet is comfortable in a costume, make sure it isn’t dangerous. Costumes shouldn’t restrict movement, hearing, eyesight or the ability to breath. A human adult should be the one to dress and supervise a pet wearing a costume so that if something goes wrong they can help immediately.
  • Keep your pets away from candles. A curious cat or dog can tip over candles and lit jack-o-lanterns with potentially devastating consequences. Make sure there is no way your pet can get close to a lit candle or use electric candles instead!
A very happy and safe Halloween to you and your pets from all of us at Concord Animal Hospital - we think this will be their best Halloween ever!

what to if you suspect your PET has heat stroke

6/18/2019

 
With a rainy spring behind us, we’re pumped for warm weather!  At Concord Animal Hospital, we know that means it’s time to prepare our clients with pet health and safety advice apropos to the coming hazy, hot, and humid season.
What Is the Biggest Warm Weather Danger for Pets?
As the thermometer starts to climb, the biggest danger posed by the warm weather for pets is hyperthermia, or heat stroke.   
Activities you might normally do at other times of year--an exuberant session at the dog park with an active pup, taking a longer walk than usual with an older or overweight pet, or leaving your four-legged friend in your car while you do a few quick errands--can put them at serious risk for heat stroke. ​
Even on a day that doesn’t seem too hot.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, “The temperature inside your vehicle can rise almost 20º F in just 10 minutes... At 60 minutes, the temperature in your vehicle can be more than 40 degrees higher than the outside temperature.”
“Even on a 70-degree day, that's 110 degrees inside your vehicle!”
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call immediately if you suspect your pet is suffering from heat stroke
​What Are the Risks of Heat Stroke for Your Pet?
Damage from heat stroke can range from impacted eyes or GI tract, to brain damage and death.
Dogs considered at higher risk for heat stroke include:
  1. Older dogs
  2. Breeds with heavy coats
  3. Breeds with short snouts (brachycephalic dogs like Pugs or Bulldogs)
  4. Dogs with heart or respiratory disease
  5. Overweight or obese dogs
Both cats and dogs can suffer from heat stroke, but cats are less inclined to run themselves ragged in the heat or sit in a hot location for too long.  Though cats are frequently indoor only, owners still need to ensure there's a cool place where they can relax.  The same cautions apply when traveling with cats in your car as well.
Time is of the essence and mortality rates in dogs with heat stroke are a lot lower when their owners cool them before they arrive at the hospital."
​How Can You Help a Pet with Heat Stroke?
With the risk of heat stroke especially in dogs on the rise, Concord Animal Hospital’s Katherine Wilson sat down with Dr. Caleb Murphy, Emergency Clinician at BluePearl Specialty Hospital in Waltham to get his suggestions for first aid steps you can take to save your dog’s life.
BluePearl is a 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital and one of the emergency hospitals we suggest to our patients for urgent medical assistance when our office is closed.

Katherine: Can you describe what happens to a pet suffering from heat stroke? 
Dr. Murphy: Heat stroke, also called hyperthermia, is a failure to regulate the body’s temperature. A pet suffering from heat stroke is having an inflammatory response which leads to multi-organ dysfunction.
This overheating can be a result of the pet’s own activity or metabolism or heat gained from the environment, such as on a hot day or in a warm car.

Katherine: How does hyperthermia effect a dog?
Dr. Murphy: Dogs lose 70% of their body heat through the skin. But when the air temperature is higher than their body temperature, dogs also lose heat through evaporation from their respiratory tract via panting.
If they are suffering from hyperthermia, your dog will begin panting excessively to maximize heat loss. Internally, blood will increasingly circulate to the skin at the cost of blood flow to the internal organs, which has the potential to cause long term damage.
Katherine: What are signs of hyperthermia pet owners should look for?
Dr. Murphy: A dog or cat’s normal body temperature runs between 99.5-102.5 degrees. When its temperature rises to 105.8 and higher, your dog will start excessively, inconsolably panting.
Sometimes their panting will sound abnormally harsh or their eyes will be bloodshot. Some dogs will also become quite lethargic and may even collapse.
Other symptoms include steady seizing, head bobbing, ataxia (a stumbling, almost drunken gate), red blotches on the gums and blood in the dog’s vomit. A dog might also become unresponsive.
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Katherine: What can a dog owner do if they think their dog is suffering from hyperthermia?
Dr. Murphy: A lot! Time is of the essence and mortality rates in dogs with heat stroke are a lot lower when their owners cool them before they arrive at the hospital.
In one study, mortality rates were 50% in dogs in the total sample, but 100% of dogs that were cooled by their owners before being admitted to the hospital and brought in to a hospital within 90 minutes of exposure survived.*
If you think your dog is suffering from heat stroke, you need to get to your veterinarian immediately.
Before you go, wet the dog with cold water with a hose or in a bath or sink. I advise against putting wet towels on the dog, because the towels will quickly become warm and prevent the transfer of heat away from the dog’s body. If you have ice packs, place them in your dog’s armpits and around the belly after placing your dog in the car.
Turn the air conditioner on high or roll down the windows and call the vet to let them know you’re coming in while you are on the way.

Stay Safe in the Heat
When the sun is shining, we all want to enjoy the warm weather with our pets!  By making seasonal adjustments to our activities, we can help prevent overheating and heat stroke in our pets. 
Doing things such as always bringing a water bottle and putting out fresh water for your pet, avoiding walks during the hottest times of day, and leaving your pet at home and not in your car when you go out to shop will go a long way to keeping your pet safe.
And if your dog exhibits any of the symptoms of heat stroke noted above:
  • Follow Dr. Murphy’s steps to cool the dog
  • Get your pet into your car
  • Call us at (978) 369-3503 while you are on your way in
By following these critical first aid instructions, you increase your dog’s chances of survival and can help minimize the damage from hyperthermia.
Special thanks to Dr. Murphy and BluePearl for contributing to our efforts to keep our patients happy and healthy!
*Heat Stroke in Dogs, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. Journal of Internal Veterinary Medicine. 2006.

Concord Animal Hospital’s Tips on Ticks

5/14/2019

 

​Keep your pet safe from ticks and tick-borne illnesses
​

​​When pets like Harriett go out to play, they're exposed to more than just fresh air, fun, and a little bit of mud (or really a lot of mud). Our dogs and outdoor cats are also exposed to plenty of pesky parasites, such as ticks and the diseases they carry. Yuck!
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What Kind of Ticks Are in Our Area?
There are three main types of ticks in the Concord, Massachusetts area:
  1. Deer Ticks, an estimated 50-70% of whom carry Lyme disease causing bacteria!
  2. Dog Ticks
  3. Lone Star Ticks
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All three types of ticks carry diseases such as Lyme, Anasplasmosis and Powassan. All three diseases can make people and our canine companions very sick.
While people follow precautions for keeping themselves safe from ticks such as using bug spray and wearing long pants and socks, it’s important to do the same for our four-legged friends, too.
How Can I Keep My Dog Safe from Tick-Borne Diseases? 
Our veterinarians at Concord Animal Hospital strongly recommend using tick preventatives such as Bravecto or Simparica.  Some clients double-up with a chewable preventative and a repellent collar. Talk to one of our veterinarians to determine the best product for your pet given their health history, potential exposure to ticks and lifestyle. Use your preventative all year long!

Please use a tick preventative year-round!
Frost and freezing temps DO NOT kill ticks. Ticks are dormant but come back to life in only 40 degrees - a high often achieved even in the coldest months. Our veterinarians see plenty of dogs with tick-borne illnesses throughout the winter.
Our vets also suggest taking added precautions such keeping your dogs out of long grass or and away from undergrowth.  These areas are where dogs like to sniff and explore, but they are also prime hangouts for ticks.

After a walk, the American Kennel Association recommends checking some spot you might forget to look, such as inside ears and between toes, just to make sure your pet didn’t bring any ticks home  with them.
Keep a running list of questions on ticks and any
​other concerns to ask during your next vet visit!

Schedule a check up!
What Do I Do If I Find a Tick on My Dog?  
If you find a tick on your dog, remove it as soon as possible! If it hasn’t attached itself yet, there is no risk of tick-borne illness for your pet. If it has attached, grasp the tick with a pair of tweezers as close to the site of attachment as you can and pull straight back.
If you have found an attached tick, particularly one that is engorged, the MSPCA advises noting the date and time to discuss with your veterinarian.
Continue watching for the following symptoms*:
  • New joint pain, which may manifest as reluctance to stand or lie down
  • Crying painfully
  • Walking gingerly or limping, especially on more than one limb or on a different limb from one day to the next
  • Lethargy
  • Lack of appetite
*NOTE: Symptoms may not appear until several weeks or even months after exposure. If you observe any of these symptoms following a tick bite, contact us immediately to make an appointment. Typically tick borne-illnesses respond well to a course of antibiotics, so don’t delay in contacting us!

baby it's cold outside!

12/11/2018

 
Concord Animal Hospital's 5 Tips to Keep Your Pet Healthy This Winter
Winter officially starts on December 21, but chilly weather has already arrived!
 
As part of the Concord Animal Hospital's commitment to keeping your fuzzy and furry family members happy and well, we wanted to help you bone up on your winter pet health and safety. ​Here are five tips to protect your pets and keep them comfortable all season long:
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  1. ​​​Get to your vet.  According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), cold weather can exacerbate medical conditions such as arthritis. Pets with diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, or hormonal imbalances such as Cushing’s disease often have a harder time regulating their body temperature. Make sure your pet has had their annual wellness exam so they’re ready for the cold. 
  2. Watch the thermo​meter.  Dogs and cats can experience frostbite and hypothermia just like humans. While their fur coats do offer some protection, you should limit your pet’s outdoor time in below-freezing temperatures. Consider a sweater or coat for your dog, particularly for dogs with short coats, older dogs or puppies. For your own safety, we don’t recommend trying to put a sweater or coat on your outdoor cat!
  3. Protect those paws.  Winter brings a number of hazards for dog paws, such as iceballs getting stuck between the toes, as well as de-icers and other chemicals irritating and cracking paw pads. Clipping the hair between your dog’s toes can minimize iceballs. To protect your dog’s paws from damage from sidewalk and street salt and chemicals, wipe down your dog’s feet after walks or consider booties for winter strolls.
  4. Keep bathing to a minimum (no complaints from Fido).  The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) advises bathing pets as little as possible once winter arrives. Frequent washing can remove essential oils and dry the skin. Ask your veterinarian to recommend a moisturizing shampoo or rinse for baths over the next few months. Our own Dr. Hardie recommends dry skin shampoos for pets that include fatty acids to help preserve skins natural oils in the frigid temperatures.  Avoid shaving your pet down to the skin in the winter, since a longer coat will provide warmth in the chilly weather. 
  5. Maintain a healthy weight. Many pets will spend less time outside during the winter, which means they need fewer calories. Others clock more time outside and will need more calories to supply the body heat and energy they’ll need to stay warm. Talk to your veterinarian about your pet’s appropriate nutrition and weight during the winter.
Of course, the most important tip we always give our patients is know when to seek help. The AVMA lists the following hypothermia symptoms to watch for: whining, shivering, seeming anxious, slowing or ceasing movement, weakness or burrowing in warm places. Frostbite may not be recognized for a few days after damage has set in.

If you suspect hypothermia or frostbite, contact our office immediately at 978.369.3503.

​Stay warm and have fun!
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OFFICE HOURS:
Monday: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
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CONTACT INFORMATION:
Concord Animal Hospital
245 Baker Avenue
Concord, MA 01742
Phone: (978) 369-3503
Fax: (978) 371-9748
contact@concordanimal.com
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