New Home Needed!

Two pets who are in need of a new home:  The pets' current family has two very serious ill immediate family members (the father and daughter) and the mother is continually tending the medical needs of them and thus unable to care for the pets. It is just the three of them in the home.  The pets are a small brown male Pomeranian dog who is 8 years old and healthy (not a pet pal dog) and gray cockatoo bird, also male, healthy, and 8 years old.  She would like to see them adopted together.  If you or anyone you know might be interested, contact Corrina Coverdale at 319-233-6743 or corrinac@mchsi.com for more information.

Pet First Aid Class

Pet First Aid Class this Saturday (May 22nd)!

Get Certified through ECSI and prepare yourself for emergency situations. 

Registration is $35 which includes 3-year certification,

reference book and refreshments. 

Not too late to sign up! sarah.larison@cvhumane.org

Reserve your spot TODAY!

'The Safe Dog Handbook' by Melanie Monteiro

Dogs are a loving part of the family and it's important to make sure they are safe. Each year, thousands of dogs are hurt or killed by easily preventable accidents. Dog-lover Melanie Monteiro learned this the hard way when she adopted an accident-prone Labrador puppy. She realized that there was little information easily available, so she created a great book called "The Safe Dog Handbook."

The handy resource includes tips to puppy-proofing your home, first aid information, guides to toxic plants and much more, and is essential for any dog owner who wants to ensure their pet is safe. Melanie also has a series of instructional YouTube videos on a variety of topics. If you live near Los Angeles or Central Oregon, you can also take one of her educational seminars. You can buy her book directly from Amazon, or get more information about all of her services on her website.

Sturgis Falls 2010

It's that time of year again!

We're gearing up for the 2010 festivities
June 25, 26, 27th!

Pet Pals will have a booth again on Sunday!

Please stop by our booth to hear about Pet Pals and
to buy fun merchandise to support the organization!!!

Health Alert: Grapes/Raisins

Written by:
Laurinda Morris, DVM
Danville Veterinary Clinic
Danville , OH

This week I had the first case in history of raisin toxicity ever seen at MedVet.. My patient was A 56-pound, 5 yr old male neutered lab mix that ate half a canister of raisins sometime between 7:30 AM and 4:30 PM on Tuesday.  He started with vomiting, diarrhea and shaking about 1 AM on Wednesday but the owner didn't call my emergency service until 7 AM. 

I had heard somewhere about raisins AND grapes causing acute Renal failure but hadn't seen any formal paper on the subject. We had her bring the dog in immediately. In the meantime, I called the ER service at MedVet, and the doctor there was like me - had heard something about it, but.... Anyway, we Contacted the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center and they said  to give IV fluids at 1 - 1/2 times maintenance and watch the kidney values for the next 48-72 hours.
 
He started vomiting again overnight at MedVet and his renal values continued to increase daily. He produced urine when given lasix as a diuretic. He was on 3 different anti-vomiting medications and they still couldn't control his vomiting. Today his urine output decreased again, his BUN was over 120, his creatinine was at 10, his phosphorus was very elevated and his blood pressure, which had been staying around 150, skyrocketed to 220 .... He continued to vomit and the owners elected to Euthanize.

This is a very sad case - great dog, great owners who had no idea raisins could be a toxin. Please alert everyone you know who has a dog of this very serious risk.

 
Poison control said as few as 7 raisins or grapes could be toxic. Many people I know give their dogs grapes or raisins as treats including our ex-handler's.  Any exposure should give rise to immediate concern. Onions, chocolate, cocoa, avocadoes and macadamia nuts can be fatal, too.

Even if you don't have a dog, you might have friends or neighbors who do. This is worth passing on to them.

Merchandise!

Volunteers: You can support and promote our PetPals by purchasing one of several items of merchandise available now from your friends at PetPals! The following items are ready for you to enjoy:

Short-sleeved T-shirt $10.00
Long-sleeved T-shirt $12.00

Sweatshirt $15.00
Hoodie Sweatshirt $25.00

Small bag $6.00
Large, zipper bag $12.00
Backpack $8.00

Volunteers, this is a great way to provide recognition when visiting! Please consider a t-shirt or sweatshirt for wearing when you are "on the job" and a PetPals bag is really handy for bringing your supplies along!

2010 Recognition Banquet

Despite the fresh snow, tonight was the annual banquet for PetPals. We had a nice presentation by Linda Nebbe, an update from the Humane Society group, enjoyed a wonderful spread of food, loads of donated door prizes and good times/laughs together!
Andrea, Kelly, Lisa and Dawn...the Youth Shelter crew!