Spring is about to be upon us, and summer is just around the corner. With this beautiful weather comes an increase in ear and skin problems.The most common ear problem we encounter in pets is otitis externa, which is inflammation and/or infection of the outer ear. This can present with head shaking, scratching at ears, smell from the ears, visible discharge at the canal opening or holding the ears abnormally.
Inflammation and infection of the ear[/caption]Otitis is most commonly caused by ear infections, secondary to allergies, however it can also be caused by foreign bodies (such as grass seeds especially at this time of the year!) or growths within the canals.[caption id="attachment_7631" align="alignright" width="240"]
Grass seeds removed from the ear canal[/caption]Once one of our vets examine your pet’s ears, they will take a simple swab to prepare, stain and assess under the microscope. This will help to determine the underlying cause as well as the type of yeast or bacterial group and thus how best to treat it.[caption id="attachment_7630" align="alignnone" width="300"]
A prepared microscope slide from the ear. Yeast (the large blue objects) and cocci bacteria (the smaller round objects) are both present in this infection.[/caption]Sometimes further procedures are recommended or treatment is prescribed - often being a combination of ointments, tablets and cleaning solutions. If we do suspect an underlying allergy this will need to be addressed to prevent future flare-ups.Spring and summer are also the most common seasons for skin irritations. Our pets get a variety of skin lesions, due to various causes. They often present with itching, hives, lumps, hair loss and weeping sores, due to a combination of allergies, infections, insect bites and other underlying diseases.We will often need to take a thorough history, perform a complete physical examination and discuss further investigation or testing that may be required. This could be blood tests/ endocrine tests (thyroid and adrenal gland are most common)/ other diagnostics (skin scrapings/ cultures etc) and possible skin biopsies.Skin lesions may be treated with creams, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, dietary modifications or may resolve with treatment of the underlying disease. Often a comprehensive and strict approach is needed to look at allergies and how best to manage these and even possibly referral for allergy testing may be required.[caption id="attachment_7636" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Dermatology skin allergy testing being performed by a specialist in a dog[/caption]If your pet is having any ear or skin concerns, we would recommend a consultation with our vets to ensure we have your pet feeling more comfortable as soon as possible.
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Although chocolate may be one of your favourite treats, never feed chocolate to your pet. It is poisonous for them! It contains substances called theobromine and caffeine (methylxanthine alkaloids) which are also contained in coffee, tea and some over-the-counter stimulants.
Chocolate poisoning is most commonly seen in dogs because of their habit to ingest food rapidly and they often have a “sweet tooth”. We see a higher incidence in puppies and young dogs, probably because they tend to ingest large amounts of unusual foods.
Chocolate poisoning can also affect cats, birds, rodents and reptiles however we see these cases much less frequently.
The toxins in chocolate can affect you pet’s digestive system, nervous system and cardiovascular system.
The toxins are found in the highest concentration in cooking chocolate and dark chocolate, and there are lesser amounts in milk chocolate. There is almost no toxins are found in white chocolate.
Chocolate poisoning can look similar to many poisonings or other conditions. Serious poisonings such as that caused by strychnine, amphetamines, pesticides, and some rodenticides can cause similar signs.
If you know your pet has eaten chocolate, contact us immediately, especially if your pet is showing any of the symptoms above. If possible, bring any vomit to the clinic as well, since this may aid in rapid identification of the toxic substance. Your veterinarian will need to examine your dog's nervous system and cardiac function carefully. He/she may want to run some blood tests to check for blood sugar levels and rule out other diseases. Since this poisoning progresses rapidly, signs may need to be treated symptomatically until a laboratory diagnosis is confirmed.
There is no antidote for chocolate poisoning. Your veterinarian may use drugs to induce vomiting if the chocolate was consumed within the previous 2 - 4 hours or they may even need to administer a general anaesthetic in order to pass a tube into the stomach to wash
Once the chocolate is out activated charcoal treatment may be given to prevent any toxins remaining from being absorbed.
Pets that show more severe symptoms may need more specific medications in order to control the seizures and to prevent heart failure.
The expected course of chocolate poisoning is 12 to 36 hours depending on the dosage and effectiveness of treatment. Prognosis is good if the chocolate is removed within 2 to 4 hours of ingestion. Prognosis is guarded in animals with advanced signs such as seizures and serious heart dysfunction. So, please remember to keep your chocolates, cakes and chocolate-coated goodies safely away from your pets. Stick to healthy treats if you want to reward your special furry or feathered friend.
Our state-of-the-art facility offers separate consultation rooms for dogs and cats, a fully equipped in-house laboratory, and specialised suites for surgery and dental care. For those tender moments, our uniquely designed Grief.