Pet of the Month: "Kiah"
Today we had an unexpected visit from the gorgeous Kiah who is now back to full health. Recently Kiah unfortunately spent a few days in hospital with us due to contracting Parvovirus. When we first saw her, Kiah weighed only 13.6kgs. She was very weak and shy. After 4 days of hospitalisation and round the clock treatment and monitoring by our nurses and vets, Kiah was discharged to her very anxious parents! Today Kiah is doing very well, currently weighing an impressive 23kgs (only a month since being discharged!). She enjoys her multiple walks and playtime every day. We loved seeing both Mum and her, happy and doing well!
Kiah, a female German Shepherd cross puppy, now 5 months old, had been adopted just 2 days before she presented to us with vomiting & diarrhoea. She had come from a questionable background and was quite malnourished when adopted. She had had a vaccination 3 days prior to her coming in but that would not have taken full effect and it's likely she was already carrying the parvovirus when she was vaccinated. She just wasn't showing any symptoms.
Parvovirus is a serious health concern among dogs, especially young dogs less than 2 years of age and those that have not been fully vaccinated. It is one of the core components of the vaccine that all puppies require at 6-8 weeks, 10-12 weeks, 14-16 weeks and then annually. Once contracted, dogs often develop a haemorrhagic (bloody) gastroenteritis - vomiting, diarrhoea and lethargy. It is a disease that can be very debilitating and can result in death. Nearly all puppies that contract parvovirus will need to spend several days in hospital on intravenous fluids, antibiotics and supportive treatment.
Parvovirus is extremely contagious and hard to kill. For this reason, Kiah and any other parvovirus affected dogs are kept in a special isolation ward in hospital. Nurses and vets have to wear special gowns and walk through a foot bath every time they need to treat or examine these patients. Parvovirus in the ground can last a very long time. For this reason, Kiah's family had to bleach all that they could around their house and backyard and collect special disinfectant for sofa's and any furniture that could not be bleached. It is also for this reason, we suggest puppies do not go for walks on the street or in parks until at least 10 days after their 16 wk vaccination so we can be sure they will be protected from contracting parvovirus. Unfortunately for Kiah, we couldn't prevent her getting the disease, but at least with her new adopted owners, she was able to get the treatment she required and is now going well.
Kiah, we look forward to seeing you around often, but hopefully just for routine visits & showing off how beautifully you are growing.
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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.
Symptoms of Chocolate Poisoning
The toxins in chocolate can affect you pet’s digestive system, nervous system and cardiovascular system.
Digestive system
- Vomiting & diarrhoea (2-4 hours after ingestion)
Nervous System
- Excitation/restlessness (increased body temperature, alertness)
- Muscle rigidity & tremors
- Seizures
Cardiovascular
- Increased respiratory rate
- Increased heart rate
- Reduced blood pressure (hypotension)
- Progresses to cardiac failure leading to weakness, coma and death can occur within 12-36 hours after ingestion.
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.
Diagnosis
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.
Treatment
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.
Have more questions?
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.
