Oh baby, don't leave me this way

Hi All,

Libby here.

The great Thelma Houston really understood what it meant to be left behind. Abandoned. Neglected. 

Although the topic of this week's post is nowhere near that melodramatic, it is about a pertinent topic—leaving pets behind. 

Whether for an hour, a day or a week, pets react differently to your absence. Some pets are totally calm (who cares! Let's party). Others however react in a much more visceral manner; they experience separation anxiety.

Separation anxiety manifests itself differently in each pet- and there's no real way to determine how it will affect your pup other than by trial and error. Here are some general 'categories' if you will, of how separation anxiety manifests itself.

1. The Destroyer- This pet shows its anxiety about being left at home by well, destroying. Everything in your house that is. Shoes, beware!

2. The Soiler- This pet shows they are not pleased at being left alone by urinating or defecating in your home. Bring on the wee-wee pads!

3. The 'if you make my life miserable, I will make everyones life miserable'-This pet shows their anger by barking. Incessantly. For the entire time you are gone. Making your neighbors hate you.

Now, I'm obviously not advocating that you don't take any time away from your pet. Like any healthy relationship, absence can make the heart grow fonder. And, you are entitled to your space. That said, if you have a pet who tends to over-exhibit on any of the above when you leave the house, it might not be a bad idea to bring them into the PPAC. Behavioral (therapy, anyone?) or pharmacological intervention may be available to help ease some of the anxiety your pets experience when you are not around. The PPAC doctors can also help advise on any other appropriate courses of action.

Til' next time,

Libby

What color is your pee?

Hi All,

Libby here.

I'm feeling much better- thanks for asking. Though, to be totally honest, now that we've had our big snowstorm of the season, I would be happy to kiss winter goodbye until next year.

But alas, I don't exactly control the weather.

So...brace yourself—things are about to get personal. 

Have you ever eaten asparagus and smelled the weird after-scent when you go to the bathroom? It's one of those things that's simultaneously disgusting and completely captivating. Like a horror movie- you want to look away but you can't help yourself. At one point or another, we've all done something that would probably qualify as disgusting behavior related to our bathroom habits. It's ok. Everyone's doing it.

Well, as a pet parent, you should be applying some of that same 'disgusting' behavior when it comes to your pets. Since they can't really speak up about their health, you need to be extra vigilant when it comes to changes in their normal state of being. Take urine for instance—a change in color can indicate a health problem.

Not to get too graphic (but I kind of have to), the next time your pet goes to the bathroom (number one of course), take a look at what color it is. Dark or very yellow urine can be an indicator that your pet may be suffering from any of the following conditions:

• liver problems
• biliary problems (the part of the liver that makes bile to help digest fats)
• gall bladder disease
• red blood cell destruction

If you notice a change in their urine color, there are other symptoms you might want to look out for:

• loss of appetite
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• swollen abdomen
• excess drinking
• excess urinating 
• pale mucous membranes

The combination of dark urine with any of the above may be an indicator that something's not quite right with your pet's health.So, as parting advice, pay more attention when your pet goes to the bathroom! And if you notice any of the above, pop by the PPAC for a checkup.

Til' next time,

Libby

It's finally happened

Hi All,

Libby here.

Sorry for the late hour of my post but I've been sick in my kitty-bed all day long, catnapping on and off.

Cough cough-I think I have a hairball.

It was imminent that I would get sick eventually in this weather and it's finally happened.

So I'm going to take this opportunity to rest, and recuperate, and hopefully I'll be back up to snuff next week.

I'm going to drag myself back to bed now.

Til' next time,

Libby.

Snow, glorious snow!

Hi All,

Libby here.

I love snow!

I'm the happiest kitty in the world. I love perching on the windowsill of the PPAC, looking outside at the gorgeous snow fall. Look at that view in Prospect Park! There's really nothing better than it in the whole wide world. It's especially stunning before certain four legged animals run outside and turn the snow yellow.(AHEM) 

Speaking of snow, isn't it just the cutest thing in the world when a dog with short legs (have you met the Silverman's dog, Bernie?) can't manage to get their little legs over the big heaping mounds of snow. SO sweet. But, I digress.

A few weeks ago, I spoke about general cold weather warnings for your pets. But, that was before there was this giant snow storm! I now feel obligated to write an addendum to that post specifically pertinent to the snow!

So without further ado...Here's a human analogy for you to chew on. I know I write a lot of these human analogies but, you are humans. And you have pets. So it seems fitting to write something that you might actually be able to relate to so as to draw a comparison and understand the situation better than you otherwise would. Capish? 

OK. Let's say you're going for a run. And it's freezing out. And there's snow on the ground. Before you go, you'll stretch, right? Warm up. Maybe jog in place to get the muscles warmed up and ready to face the cold. If you didn't do this, you'd exit your house and likely have a massive shock to your system. Your muscles would tense up and you'd be a lot more prone to injury.

Now, imagine you have four legs. And fur. And live in an apartment in New York which means you probably don't have tons of space to run around in. Which makes 'warming up' slightly more challenging for a dog. And you see snow on the ground and can't WAIT to get outside so you can pee on it, and roll around in it, and run around to your little heart's content.

The point of this whole analogy deal was to say that dogs can't warm up in the same way as humans can. So, when exiting the house into frigid conditions, they're more inclined to sustain skeletal injuries because of muscles tightening in the cold. I see a lot of pets coming into the PPAC with some pretty serious injuries because they played too hard in the cold. Or, because the combination of frigid conditions and damp weather awakened pre-existing injuries. I've also seen that some pets who were adopted from shelters come in with skeletal issues that their owners hadn't even been aware of. That is until their dog plays around in the snow and gets injured! 

If you can get your pet to run around a bit indoors before leaving the house, great. If you can't however (I imagine this will be most of you!), make sure to exercise caution with your pets. Don't let them run too hard or for too long. And if you notice them looking fatigued or walking with any pain or discomfort, bring them inside! Not worth sustaining new injuries (or exacerbating old ones) just to have a roll in the snow.

Til next time,

Libby

It's not polite to stare

Hi All,

Libby here,

Not sure if you heard but Dr. S. recently had his second knee replacement surgery. A year and a half ago, he had his left knee done and this time, he had his right knee! He's now firmly on his way to becoming a bionic man.

Other than your love for Dr. S., why am I telling you this information? Well, it's a bit of a warning.

You all know Dr. S. as this robust, healthy individual. Over the next few weeks however, he's going to be looking a bit less er...robust.

He's going to be walking around with a cane. And sitting on a red bar-stool during appointments.

Here's a picture of his knees. You might not be doing so hot either if you'd just had metal inserted into your body in place of bone.

Anyway, I just wanted to tell you not to stare. It's not nice.

He'll be up and running again in no time.

And yes, I recognize how this post lacks relevance to animal medicine (specifically). I don't care. Just go with it.

Til next time,

Libby.

Weatherproofing your pet

Hi All,

Libby here. 

First off, BRRR! It's cold outside. And I haven't even physically been outside. But the cold coming off the coats of PPAC clients, is enough indication about how murderously cold it is outside. I've never been happier to be an indoor cat!

Now, don't be fooled by the topic of today's blog. We're not really going to talk about weatherproofing. That's just silly. And let's be honest, just like humans, there's not much to do about the imminent approach of cold weather. (Ok, I suppose you can make a decision to pack on a few extra pounds to insulate yourself. But, we DO NOT advocate that approach for your pets, here at the PPAC!)

That said, there are some things you can do to help keep your pet as safe and warm as possible as the cold creeps in. Did you know that this is supposedly the coldest weather we've experienced since 2002? INSANE! Precautions must be taken.

So, here goes.

You've probably seen some dogs walking around outside with little rubber dog boots. No, they are not some weird, new, Lady Gaga inspired fashion statement. They are rubber boots meant to protect your pet's little feet from the harsh winter weather! Not only do they keep feet dry, they also protect the soles of paws from the salt mixture people lay down to melt snow and ice. Unless people are consciously using dog-friendly types of salt, this substance can be super painful to a pet's paws. Ouch! Protect those paws!

My next cold weather suggestion is the beloved (or dreaded) doggy coat. Some pet owners are all about accessorizing their best friends. Others are less enamored with silly looking (albeit adorable) outerwear. So my two cents on this matter are, would you walk outside without a coat in 20 degree weather? Should your pet be subjected to the cold just because you think they look a tad silly? No! Keep them warm. And if you see your pet shivering, put a coat on them!

In this weather, you also need to be extra cautious when it comes to pets with pre-existing health conditions. You know when you walk outside and it's so cold it hurts to breathe? Now, imagine if you were predisposed to breathing and cardiac issues. Even worse, right? Same goes for pets who have these conditions. Take extra precautions when bringing these pets outside in the cold winter months.

My final cold weather tip relates to antifreeze. This substance is super useful in cold weather. And super toxic to your pets. So always keep this (and all other harmful substances) out of your pet's reach.

Just a few tips to keep your pet safe this winter!

Til next time,

Libby

The Truth About Cats and Dogs

Hi All,

Libby here. I hope you are having meaningful Martin Luther King Jr. Days.

Today's topic is both near and dear my heart but, it can be a bit of a sensitive issue. So I've decided to treat it with all manner of discretion.

In the words of the great Salt N' Pepa, Let's TaIk About Sex. 

Joking aside, as a pet parent, it's important to understand the ins and outs of animal procreation so you can act in an educated manner when it comes to the well being of your pet. This information might be tremendously obvious to all of you - if this is not new news, my apologies. And for the rest of you, it's time we had the 'chat'.

Just like humans, animals reach a point of sexual maturity. Once sexually mature, female dogs go into heat approximately every six months and female cats experience go into heat once a month or so. During these time periods, the male counterparts of dogs and cats are extra attracted to the female and, well lets say... things can get quite rowdy.

So why all this info about animal love? Well, aside from a desire to curb excessive population growth, (do you know how many pups and kittens are in a litter!?) since there are so many homeless cats and dogs and we want to help keep this in check, there are also significant health benefits to spaying and neutering your pets.

When making the decision whether or not to 'fix' your pet, keep in mind that you don't want to do this while they are too young; recent studies show that premature spaying and neutering can  make your pet more inclined to skeletal problems. That said, the decision to go ahead and fix your pet is actually beneficial to their health. Spaying your female cat or dog will help them avoid uterine infections later or rare genital tract tumors later on in life. Neutered male cats and dogs are less prone to prostate infections as well as testicular tumors.

Now please don't think I'm up on some soapbox advocating one way or another or, trying to twist your arm to spay or neuter your pet. Each pet owner is responsible and capable of making educated and responsible decisions for your pet. But, I wanted to share what I know and let you and your pets go forth and procreate. Or not as the case may be.

Til' next time,

Libby

Find a kitty, pick it up.

Hi All,

Libby here.

Let me paint a picture for you. You're walking along, minding your own business, when all of a sudden, an adorable cat makes its way into your path. Perhaps you're a bit cautious at first but, when the kitty wends its way in and out of your legs enough times, you realize you're not shaking him off so easily. In fact, the little guy is kind of growing on you. So you take off your coat, scoop the little fella up and take him home with you.

Happy little family, right?

Not so fast!

Let's be honest. You exercise a lot of caution when picking other items up off the street-shoes, clothing, ya know. So why wouldn't you do the same when it comes to a stray animal?

Now, I'm 100% in support of saving stray cats from a life on the streets but, you need to be careful and make sure you're doing everything you need to, in order to insure the safety of both yourself and your pet.

When you take home your new family member, you would be smart to bypass your home and go straight to your vet to check for the following:

1. Ringworm-humans can contract this disease so you want to make sure to treat your new pet before bringing them home.
2. Fleas- This itchy pest can infest both you and your home.
3. Feline leukemia and feline AIDS- both of these diseases can lower your pet's immune response and leave them in harm of contracting other illnesses.
4. Earmites-these bugs are super itchy to your pet so beware!
5. Upper respiratory disease- this can cause your cat to have runny eyes, nose and, in a worst case scenario, can cause the eyeball to rupture.
6. Intestinal parasites- worms and other one cell organisms that can cause severe diarrhea!

Obviously, these various maladies are pretty heavy duty and shouldn't be handled lightly. Once your vet treats any existing conditions and offers preventative care for others, your new pet will be ready to join you at home.

Safety first!

Til' next time,

Libby

'Eating Like A Stoner' Or: How To Look Out For Diabetes

Hi All,

Libby here.

I hope you are one week closer to making all of your New Year's resolutions come true.

If you are, that makes one of us. I haven't been doing so well on the 'nice front' as per my blog post last week. So, I figure I'll work extra hard on my other resolutions-ie imparting my extensive medical knowledge to you fine folks.

To that end, in light of the recent holiday season (granted it's coming to an end but I'm still riding on my holiday high), this week's post relates to excessiveness. Excessive drinking and eating are two symptoms of the condition du jour, amongst others.

Drinking and eating  are good in moderation, of course. Most things are. But, when you notice your cat or dog eating, drinking or urinating excessively, and losing weight in spite of this, your pet may have diabetes. Another tell-tale sign of diabetes is if your animal is walking low in the saddle. This means that the lower joints on your pet's hind leg (their ankle joints) are down low to the ground

Recently, a two year old cat came into the PPAC displaying these symptoms. When Dr. S. asked about the cat's recent eating habits, the owner remarked 'Man, my cat is eating like a stoner'. HAHAH. Come on, that's pretty funny! 

Well, when Dr. S. heard about the cat's excessive eating, he pressed the client further and found out that the cat had also been drinking and peeing more than usual. Blood and urine tests were then taken, and it was discovered that the cat not only had diabetes, it also had a urinary tract infection; the excess sugars in the blood stream (results of the diabetes), can sometimes cause UTI's.

Dr. S. gave the cat antibiotics to treat the UTI and twice-daily insulin injections to treat the diabetes. Now here's where it gets a bit tricky. The proper amount of insulin is not always easy to determine immediately. So, if your pet does in fact have diabetes, and you are committed to treating them, it might take a bit of finagling to figure out the appropriate amount. Once that has been sorted out however, your pet can continue to live a healthy life!

Stoner jokes aside, diabetes is serious but it can be treated. So if you notice your pet chowing down stoner style, bring them in for a checkup.

Til' next time,

Libby

A New Year. A New Cat.

Hi All,

Libby here.

So, I went back and forth about an appropriate topic for this week’s blog.

I don’t know if you noticed but I try to alternate between medically relevant topics and ones that are purely fun, (basically, for my own edification). Oh and I suppose there are some topics that are timely- the Hurricane Sandy posts for instance. Holiday ones too.

Now, going back to the very first sentence of this post, the time seemed right for another medically oriented blog, but, since tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, I  decided to just go for it and write a timely one instead—namely, my New Year’s Resolutions.

This list is going to be pretty difficult considering that I am the pinnacle of feline perfection. I don’t really have much I should be resolving to improve about myself. Stop rolling your eyes. It’s true.

But moving on, here are four areas that I suppose I could stand to improve upon.

1. I resolve to be a nicer cat. Life sometimes gets me down, what with the whole inability to go to the bathroom by myself, thing. So I get down. And then I get mean. But I realize, in all my kitty wisdom, that that’s not so fair. So I’m going to try to be nicer.
2. Try even harder to help PPAC clients. That may sound lofty for a mere office cat. But, I recognize that the more I know, the more wisdom I can impart. To empower my massive blog following, I’m going to keep learning and sharing so I can help all the pet owners/ blog followers out there.
3. I will practice what I preach. And lose half a pound. Lord knows I’ve spoken (and written) more than enough about animal obesity. I also know that pretty much everyone everywhere resolves to lose weight come New Years. So, I’ll hop on the weight loss bandwagon and promise to lose some of my cat flub. And if you think a half a pound sounds like a weak resolution, know this: when a five pound cat loses half a pound, that's about the same as a 100 lb person losing ten pounds. So back off! (Sorry…forgive the outburst, as per resolution #1).
4. I’m going to be more of a mentor to the younger cats and dogs who pass through the PPAC or who are in it for the long haul. I know this place better than I know my own paws. So I want to pass on what I’ve learned and spread the love to all visitors and tenants of the office's hallowed halls.

Well folks, I think that’s more than enough commitments for me to undertake this year. I've had enough with my promises of self betterment. So, I bid you adieu and wish you all wonderful and fulfilling New Years.

Til' next time,

Libby

Back In the U.S.A.

Hi All,

Libby here!

First of all, Merry Christmas to all those celebrating out there! I hope you and your families spend an amazing day together!

And now, without further delay, a little holiday treat from moi!

You may (or may not be aware) of the fact that Dr. S's youngest child, Nick, has spent the last 28 months in St. Kitts at veterinary school. He's learning the profession, toiling away and soaking up some sun at the same time. That's right! He's going to be a vet, just like his dear ole' dad. 

Before he went to St. Kitts, Nick adopted an adorable Canaan dog named Annie (she's the one wearing the antlers). While in the Caribbean, it's also pretty common for aspiring vets to adopt an island dog. Which Nick did. And he named her Lucy (she's the little pup in the background). So now he has two dogs (which sounds like one dog too many in my opinion but who's asking!)

Well, they're back. And as a my little holiday present to you all, I'm giving you a break from my ornery musings and I'm going to let Lucy and Annie have a go at blog writing. While they lived in the Caribbean, they had full, packed days what with spending time chasing monkeys on the beach, doggy paddling in the pool and sunning themselves in the morning heat. Well, now they're back and looking for something to do. So here goes.

Annie: Hi! I'm Annie. 

Lucy: And I'm Lucy! 

Together: It's COLD here! 

Annie: I'm not sure how we feel about this weather but it's a nice change I suppose! I'm going to take over the keyboard now since Lucy isn't as smart as I am. 

Lucy: HEY!

Annie: Simmer there, little one. So...Libby didn't really tell us that we needed to talk about anything in particular so I'm going to just tell you my top three favorite things about being back in NYC so far.
1. SQUIRRELS!!! I missed these pesky creatures. They don't have them in the Caribbean and I gotta say, monkeys just don't compare. I love spending the afternoon chasing after them.
2. Bernie! The Silverman's dog is so fun! Lucy hasn't been getting along so well with him but we just love spending time together.
3. Hanging with my friends at the PPAC!

Lucy: Now me! Here's the three things I don't like about NYC!
1. Bernie! That pesky guy's gotta go.
2. Leashes- they're just cruel. I hate them. 
3. Annie's good mood since we've arrived here.

Annie: Sorry for Lucy's bad mood. She's been kind of cranky lately but she'll adjust in no time. And Libby, thanks for letting us give this blog writing thing a shot! It's been a ton of fun.

Libby: Sure thing, ladies. Til' next time,

Annie, Lucy and Libby!

A Happy Chrismukah to All

Hi all,

Libby here. 

I've decided to take this opportunity in the no-man zone between Christmas and Chanukah (apologies to those of you for whom neither of these apply, but I'm going with generic for the sake of ease), to wish everyone happy holidays. 

Merry Chrismukah. Chag Sameah. And so on and so forth. 

I've been hitting the catnip pretty hard this week what with all the holiday parties, and my brains a wee bit fuzzy so to be honest, I don't think I can handle a post that's much more intense than this.

In fact, i'm writing this from my favorite seat on the garbage can lid here at the PPAC while their staff party takes place in the front waiting room. I needed a little break from the festivities. So anyway, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank Doc S and the PPAC staff for giving me a loving home and people to call family during the holidays. 

So remember everyone, keep it merry. Keep it bright. And be good to each other. 

Til' next time.

Libby

My! What Big Teeth You Have

Hi All,

Libby here.

Now, how do I say this lightly...we animals aren't exactly known for our breath. More specifically, about how our breath smells. In fact, I'd go so far as to say we have pretty stank breath when it comes down to it. However, in our defense, we don't really tend to live by the oral hygiene standards humans make for themselves. It's fairly common for us to have our teeth cleaned professionally once or twice a year, as opposed to you fine folks who brush what, twice? three times a day? You do the math.

Speaking of oral hygiene, we don't brush as often as you do. So we're even more prone to some of the same diseases as you are. Just last week, Dr. S. had an interesting mouth-related case.

This dog came in (named Major for the record) with his face completely swollen on one side. When Dr. S. opened his mouth (in that semi-frightening way that makes you wonder if the dog is going to chomp on the person in question's hand), he saw blood and pus at the gum line involving three teeth.

Aside from being kind of gross (sorry for my lack of sympathy but you know you all agree with me,) mouth issues can be incredibly painful. So, in the hopes of putting the poor guy out of his misery, Dr. S. put Major on antibiotics to reduce the swelling. The swelling resolved. Yay! Dr. S. then removed the three offending teeth on the upper jaw and Major is back to normal and (virtually) as good as new.

So, you are all probably wondering what you can do to help keep your pet's mouths healthy and avoid situations like Major's. If you are a truly committed pet parent, you can take a gauze sponge and clean the plaque that accumulates on their teeth after meals. And, if you have an animal who is willing to sit still (good luck with that) for long enough to brush their teeth, there are special pet toothbrushes for you to invest in. Another good option is antibacterial mouth wash—it's like ACT for pets.

Well folks, what it all boils down to is, if you are willing to do it, you can take care of your pet's teeth to ward off future mouth issues. But, it does take effort.

Otherwise, bring your pets in for annual teeth cleaning and checkups to make sure all is OK in your animal's mouth!

Til next time,

Libby

My Tummy Hurts

Hi All,

Libby here.

It's holiday time! And you know what that means? That's right...stomach aches!!! Ok. I can understand if you are not equally enthused about the prospect of an aching belly as I am but, ever the opportunist, I am excited to use this gastrointestinal issue as a topic of my blog post this week!

I've been hearing a lot about people and their aching bellies recently. Now, although I assume this is more related to eating too much turkey and apple pie, I know that you human folks are not unfamiliar with stomach issues and sensitivities to food. Sometimes, stomach issues are caused by eating too much. Other times, there is something much bigger at play. 

Similarly, gastrointestinal issues are not uncommon in pets. And so, in honor of holiday pains, today, we are going to talk about gastrointestinal diseases, just one of the many stomach and intestinal ailments that can afflict your pet.

I have a soft spot for this condition because I can relate on a personal level; I suffer from loose bowels and a raging appetite. And I'm not ashamed to admit it. But as we know, in spite of the fact that this blog is basically the world through MY perspective, this case is not about me but rather about a kitty named Ordonez.

Ordonez, named after Rey Ordonez, a Mets player from the 90's, came in about a year and a half ago presenting with vomiting and weight loss. Ordy, as he was fondly referred to, had thickened intestines and swollen intestinal lymph nodes. 

Dr. S. performed a needle biopsy of the lymph node which gave a diagnosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. He was treated with cortisone to make the inflammation subside. Ordy responded to this treatment for a period of time but his symptoms returned. An exam revealed that the lymph nodes were bigger but now, a distinct mass was also found in the intestines. A second needle biopsy revealed that a cancer was present. It was lymphoma.

Chemotherapy was prescribed. It was administered, and worked, for a year and change. Unfortunately, after this time, Ordy stopped responding to treatment. About a month later, his mommy decided to humanely put him to sleep.

Although the tale is sad, Ordy was a lucky kitty; with treatment, his lifespan was extended.  So ladies and gents, GI issues are a serious matter. If you see your cat suffering from diarrhea, increased appetite, weight loss, or a loss of appetite (I know, these symptoms seem a bit at odds with eachother but sometimes, the body does crazy things!) bring them in to the vet. It may be a treatable GI issue.

Til' next time,

Libby

RIP Gnocchi

Hi All,

Libby here.

It's with a heavy heart and a heavier paw that I ask you to join me in saying farewell to a very special little pug named Gnocchi. 

The beloved pet of a wonderful Italian lady, fond of biscotti and even fonder of wrinkle-faced dogs, Gnocchi lived a good life. A well fed life full of delicious, home cooked, Italian meals.

Unfortunately, it was her insatiable appetite that ultimately did her in.

One night a few weeks ago, after finishing her evening meal (and still hungry for more), Gnocchi went on a search of the house, hoping to find something delicious to snack on. Ultimately locating a stray tampon and some dental floss, she ate with relish. 

Unbeknownst to her mother, after ingesting these two items, Gnocchi took ill. Looking for an explanation, her mommy brought her in to the PPAC for some tests and it appeared at first as though she had pneumonia. This assessment was based on her symptoms of a cough, a high white blood cell count, and a fever. There was also some reported vomiting. Working on his hunch, Dr. S did an X-ray and confirmed his diagnosis. He treated the pug until she stabilized. The vomiting subsided but she didn't appear to be making a full recovery. When her white blood cells began rising again, he sent her to VERG for further testing.

At VERG, it was discovered via ultrasound that Gnocchi had a problem with her intestines. She had exploratory surgery which revealed that she had ingested the aforementioned tampon and dental floss.

It was then determined that the pneumonia was a product of her vomiting, caused by the objects that she had eaten. She was taking vomit into her lungs (aspirating) which irritated them.

The vets over at VERG performed a long surgery and Gnocchi appeared to have made a full recovery. Sadly, three days after returning home, she began throwing clots to her back legs and into her lungs. She started spiraling downhill rapidly. To put her out of her misery, her owners decided to put the little thing to sleep.

Thus concludes the sad but true tale of a very sweet, beloved pug named Gnocchi. 

RIP my friend.

Til next time,

Libby

Oh My Aching Kidneys

Hi All,

Libby here. I am remiss. I took a winter vacanze and didn't write a post. I  didn't even send a postcard. But, I had a great time. Hope you didn't miss me too much.

Today we are going to to talk about a topic that may be unsavory to some but is pertinent to all. Peeing.

Now, I'm not trying to be gross or take this conversation in a scatological direction.  But, today's topic affects cats and dogs alike (and is in fact, quite common) and is therefore worthy of discussion.

We're going to talk about something called acute renal failure. For those who don't know what renal failure is, it's when the kidneys (the body's toxic waste filtration system), don't work properly and can't remove wastes from the body. When this happens, you may notice your pet suffering from some of the following symptoms: loss of appetite,vomiting, dehydration, depression, painful tummy, ulcerations in the mouth and decreased urination.

So how does acute renal failure happen? There are a number of different ways this condition can occur. And shockingly, they all involve eating (crazy, right that something involving your pet revolves around eating!) Specifically, ingestion of the following:

a. Certain types of rat posion
b. Antifreeze (watch out during the approaching winter months!)
c. Easter lillies
d. Raisins
e. Grapes

It can also be caused by an infection called leptospirosis. This infection is caused by drinking from stagnant puddles of water contaminated by raccoon or rat urine.

So, if you happen to see your pet eating any of these things and can't pry it from their jaws in time, the first stop would be your vets' office- they will induce vomiting immediately. If however your pet eats these things on the sly and begins to exhibit symptoms, bring them in for emergency care. If they have in fact developed acute renal failure, your vet will know how to treat it.

This condition is not to be taken lightly- not to scare you but this can result in the death of your pet. So if you notice any of these symptoms, act fast!

Til next time..watch what those pets of yours are eating!

Libby

Save the Pets!

Hi All,

Libby here.

I am just blown away by what happened with Hurricane Sandy. 

I was skeptical that all the hype would amount to anything. In fact, I spoke with Dr. S. last week about writing a post that took a more cynical approach to the whole situation, but he put that idea down real fast. Seeing the pictures of the death and destruction in Long Beach, The Rockaways, Island Park, and The Bowery, among others, I was completely cowed by my former skepticism. The pictures of these pooches are just a tiny indication of the plight of pets through this disaster.

Even though I never let my true thoughts air via internet, I still feel obligated to help out with disaster relief in whatever way I can, as a mea culpa. Lacking opposable thumbs, and being an indoor cat, keeps me mostly confined to the PPAC but, I figured it's not a bad idea to spread the word about how you all can help out. There are so many amazing organizations that are looking for volunteers and donations but, to keep it even more relevant to pet owners, here's a  list of animal related rescue ops that are going on.

1. The Huffington Post has a great article with general pet rescue information. Have a read, click the links and get to it!

2. Among other much needed human items like flashlights, batteries, food, clothing and personal items, the Rockaway Relief is also collecting donations of animal food. Visit them on the Upper East Side at 85th and 2nd outside of Molly Pitcher's Ale House to donate.

3. Financial donations- The easiest way to help out in any crisis, is to donate money. The ASPCA is accepting contributions here to help with animal search and rescue.

4. The Humane Society is coordinating animal search and rescue operations. Check here for resources.

5. And finally, keep up with Twitter #sandypets for trending topics on pet rescue!

I hope this proves to be helpful and keep in mind, this is just a tiny selection of all the volunteer opportunities out there. Hop online to learn more about how you can help.

Helping out, in any way, no matter how big or small, is amazing.

For those of you with opposable thumbs, keep on keeping on.

Libby