Wookie is a 4 month old Yorkshire terrier puppy who presented to EPC Broadway after getting into the garbage at home.    He was found to have chewed up an old pack of cigarettes but it was unknown if any was ingested.  Wookie after the ingestion became very hyper and then became profoundly depressed.  The owner was concerned regarding low blood sugar (a common problem in toy breed puppies) and administered some pancake syrup.  After little to no response to the oral administration of sugar, he decided to bring Wookie into EPC for evaluation.

Wookie, after evaluation, was noted to be very lethargic and depressed with a slow heart beat and full body head and neck tremors.  Due to the timeline of the ingestion and onset of clinical signs, ASPCA Poison Control was notified for recommendations for treatment.

Dr. Klippen and the veterinary toxicologists at ASPCA Poison Control determined after lab-work (to rule out other causes) that nicotine exposure/intoxication was the most likely diagnosis.  Wookie was admitted to the hospital for care.  He vomited several times that smelled strongly of menthol and cloves.  He was placed on intravenous fluids to help flush his system and his blood pressure
and heart rate were monitored very carefully.   It was touch and go for several hours but Wookie responded very favorably to treatment and was discharged to home the following day.

There is no antidote for nicotine exposure.  The majority of dogs exposed to nicotine come from a variety of sources.  Tobacco products include cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars, snuff, nicotine patches, and chewing gum.   Even one cigarette butt contains enough nicotine to be lethal.  At low dose exposures and initially after high dose exposure, vomiting, excitement, tremors, possible convulsions, that can quickly progress to depression and death.  It is important to have any animal suspected of ingesting anything toxic to be evaluated as soon as possible by a veterinarian or to contact ASPCA Poison Control for their recommendations.

Wookie is doing very well at home currently.  The owner reports that he is being more vigilant about keeping the garbage in areas that Wookie can’t access and this was enough of a motivation for him to quit smoking himself.

Dr. Christine Klippen

What do allergic reactions look like? Typically owners will notice an acute onset of facial swelling, especially around the face and eyes. An animal may be very itchy and rubbing his/her face on carpet and furniture. You may even notice hives and redness over portions of the body.

allergic reaction example

When should I be worried? As it is unknown which cases will proceed into the most severe type of allergic reaction, ANAPHYLAXIS, it is always recommended to touch base with your veterinarian regarding plan of action. If it is after hours, it is always recommended to have your animal evaluated at an emergency veterinary hospital.

Anaphylaxis is a wide spread reaction that can cause collapse, shock and even death. As dogs are a little different from people, they will typically have an episode of vomiting or diarrhea rather than the throat constriction that is commonly found in people. If left untreated, anaphylaxis can cause clotting problems, organ failure, and death.

What will happen when I bring my animal into the emergency room? Depending on the severity of the reaction, your pet may be administered an anti histamine, an anti inflammatory medication and possibly even epinephrine. If your animal has more serious signs (collapse, pale white gums, vomiting, diarrhea) they will be admitted to the hospital for intravenous fluids to control signs of shock and medications to help protect against the complications discussed above.

If you have questions or concerns that your pet may be having a reaction, call your regular veterinarian or the Emergency Pet Center. You can also read more at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=527.

Christine Klippen, DVM

How quickly it happens. You’re out playing, fetching your favorite toy, and whammy, suddenly there is a stick sticking out of your foot!  At first it doesn’t seem to hurt too bad, I mean the toy is right there, I think I can still get it. But the more you walk, as it rubs and irritates the surrounding tissue, nerves, and oh hopefully not the bone, a throb begins to develop. As the contamination from the stick starts to be picked up by the body’s blood vessels, a smile is developing on infection’s ugly face. Bacteria, Fungus, oh  my, we have all kinds in this neck of the woods. I know, thinks our Spaniel, I’ll lick it, that’ll help! But unfortunately, this does nothing but introduces more bacteria to the problem and further irritates our already damaged tissue.

Splinter in Paw

As the owner examined the situation at hand, he quickly found that the stick was stuck. When our Spaniel presented to the Emergency Pet Clinic he quickly showed us the problem, holding up his paw like a good boy, but asked politely that we not touch. This overall thin, but strong “twig” was exiting both the top and bottom aspect of his foot.  What a brave dog we told him as we provided a pain control injection to our well deserved patient.  I explained to the client that the last thing we want is for any stick to get left behind. This “foreign body” would never allow the wound to heal and would be a source for on-going infection and pain. Once the stick is removed, I explained, we would thoroughly clean the area with an antiseptic solution and flush it well to remove any small particles that may be trapped inside the wound. He would then go home on a course of antibiotics and a few days of pain reliever.

Happily, that is just what we did. Our Spaniel received light sedation and did fantastic for the stick removal and wound cleaning.  Give him a few days, and I expect him to be back to his normal retrieving self.

Kristen E. DeCola, DVM

Based on Mango’s blood work and clinical signs, the veterinarian on duty administered antivenin to neutralize the effects of the venom.  Mango survived the initial envenomation but the venom caused significant damage to his foot and about 30% of the skin covering his foot and toes died.

Mango's foot after snakebite

He was taken to surgery and the dead tissue removed.  The remaining tissue was very unhealthy and there was not enough skin to close the wound.   The decision was made to use a Wound VAC.

The Wound VAC is a machine that has been used in human medicine for years to help with non-healing or large wounds.  It has only been recently become available to veterinarians. It uses vacuum pressure with a sterile dressing to speed the healing.  In Mango’s case it was used twice for a 5 day period while he was hospitalized to promote the formation of healthy tissue and speed the healing.  He was then discharged from the hospital but still required bandage changes for 3 more weeks.  It is 2 months since the rattlesnake bite but his mom updates he is back to normal at home.  The toenail that fell off is growing back in and he still has a small scar but we are all very happy that he survived and that his foot could be saved.

Mango in the Hospital

Leslie D. Bauer, DVM, DABVP

When we got back to the car, I saw my new kitten through the window. I was just a kid, but I knew she was in trouble immediately. Her eyes were wide and panicked. She was breathing harsh and heavy. It had only been a few minutes, and we had left the window open a crack. We poured water over her and cooled her off quickly. We didn’t even think about taking her to the vet. She survived. Thinking back on it, her recovery still seems like a miracle.

This scenario plays out hundreds of times a year in San Antonio. Some pets aren’t as lucky. There are no published figures to tell us how many companion animals suffer some form of heatstroke or exhaustion each year. But I I can tell you that at our three hospitals we diagnosed more than 150 cases as heatstroke within the last 12 months. That is a staggering number. And these cases often are the most critical cases in the hospital. I see that same panicked look I saw on my kitten’s face far too often at work.

To help you take the best care of your pet, here are some important tips:

1. Never leave pets alone in the car. Serious problems can develop in temperatures as low as 85 degrees. In South Texas we can hit those numbers in the winter.
2. Make sure your pet is in good health before starting a new exercise routine. People are always advised to consult with their doctor before starting a new exercise program; your companion animal deserves the same consideration. Exercise can be dangerous for pets that are overweight and / or pets that have underlying heart problems.
3. Make sure your pet can access shade and water at all times when outdoors.
4. Time matters. If your pet becomes over heated, douse them with cool water; then get them in to the hospital. The longer the body is overheated, the greater the risk of serious problems.

Emergency Pet Center can provide excellent care to these cases, but preventing problems before they happen is always the best option.

Adrian H. Ford, LVT, VTS (ECC)