Sugar’s Story of Survival

Sugar the Dog Who Survived a Plane Crash in Hollywood, FL

You may have seen the story on the news about the recent plane crash in Opa-Locka, FL, in which the three passengers and a precious dog named Sugar were injured, but survived. What you may not know is that Broward Animal Hospital in Hollywood, FL, had the privilege of nurturing Sugar back to health. At a veterinary hospital, you never know what pet will walk through the door or what need they will have, but on that day, we were very happy to meet and care for sweet Sugar.

 

According to Local 10, a small plane that departed from Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport on Tuesday, November 24, and was headed to Bimini, but it had to make an emergency landing near a lake in Opa-locka shortly after takeoff. The pilot and an elderly couple (Sugar’s owners) all suffered broken bones, but all are expected to be okay. Sugar, a senior golden shepherd mix, suffered a broken paw and a superficial cut between her eyes. She was immediately brought to Broward Animal Hospital for care.

 

Although obviously shaken up, sweet Sugar was surprisingly friendly and calm while in our care. Dr. Bishop and his staff treated her head wound and placed a cast on her broken paw. As a full-service hospital, we provide emergency care during our normal business hours, so we were able to receive Sugar and treat her immediately upon her arrival. We kept Sugar overnight for observation, and we are happy to report that she is now back home with her family and recovering well, thanks to our team.

 

Broward Animal Hospital is a family-centered veterinary hospital that provides a full range of services for pets of Florida. These include preventative care, boarding and grooming, dentistry, and emergency care. We’re always happy to help pets just like Sugar down the road to wellness and treat them when it matters most. You can learn more about the plane crash and Sugar’s story of survival by visiting the link below.

 

Source: http://www.local10.com/news/small-plane-crashes-in-opalocka/36736374

 

Doggie Daycare Services from Broward Animal Hospital

Doggie Daycare in Hollywood, FL

At Broward Animal Hospital, we’re committed to well-rounded pet care that goes above and beyond veterinary services. In addition to veterinary care, we also offer doggie daycare services for pets who just need to stay for the day. This service is great for pet owners who work long hours, have to take a day trip, or who just want a high-energy pet to have a little entertainment once in a while!

 

For the month of October 2015, we are offering special promotional rates of $15 per day for pets. We do require that all of our furry guests be up-to-date on their vaccines, for the safety of our other boarding guests. If your pet needs vaccines for boarding or daycare, we offer 10% discounts on needed vaccines to get your pet updated.

 

What Does Doggie Daycare Consist of at Broward Animal Hospital?

 

At Broward Animal Hospital, we do all we can to ensure that our guests are comfortable and happy with their stay. We make the following accommodations:

 

  • Pets are grouped together based on size and personality type to ensure that play is always comfortable for each pet
  • Socialization is optional, but if a pet enjoys playtime with others they are more than welcome to join in!
  • We offer daycare services for both dogs and cats, although cats will have understandably different accommodations from dogs
  • The rates are on a per-pet basis, without size or breed discrimination!
  • Care is personalized for each pet depending on needs
  • Pets may be let out up to six times per day, also depending upon needs

 

For pets who are not up-to-date on their vaccines, we offer a 10% discount on vaccines to get them ready to board with friends. This special introductory offer expires on October 31, 2015, so act fast! Schedule a doggie daycare stay at Broward Animal Hospital today. There are no limits to the number of times this special rate can be used, as long as it is before October 31.

 

Zoonotic Diseases

In 64 million American household’s pets are a source of joy and perhaps even the key to longer, healthier lives. However, pet-owning households with young children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems need to be aware that their animals can play host to disease-causing microorganisms.

Humans are not likely to catch a disease through their pets, but in very rare cases it can happen. Fortunately, most of these diseases rarely occur in healthy individuals, are mild and can be easily treated. Others, like toxoplasmosis, can be far more serious. Diseases transmitted from animals to humans are called zoonotic diseases. Zoonotic diseases usually live out their complex life cycles in animals, but sometimes cross into human bodies. Usually contracting a pet-borne disease requires very close contact with animals or their excretions, so zoonotic diseases can be avoided with common sense, cleanliness and regular pet examinations and vaccinations.

Children often put their hands in their mouths, providing an easy route for bacteria to travel into their bodies. For example, children who eat dirt are more susceptible to contracting zoonotic diseases. Children also are more susceptible to pet-borne illness because they carry fewer antibodies than adults do. The same holds true for puppies and kittens, making them more likely to carry disease than older dogs and cats.

Although the chances of getting a zoonotic disease from your pet are slim, these are some common pet-borne illnesses that can make people sick:

Salmonellosis

This bacteria generally makes its way into human bodies through contaminated food. The bacteria can be passed through animal feces and may cause symptoms like fever, vomiting, diarrhea and exhaustion.

Roundworms

Roundworm eggs and microscopic adult worms can be excreted in the feces of dogs and cats infected by the worms. Children may be at a higher risk for contracting roundworms because they play near pets or touch infected feces and put their hands into their mouths. Because of the risk to children, all cats and dogs should be taken to their veterinarians for regular fecal examinations. Also remember to cover all sandboxes when not in use to prevent children from contacting contaminated feces. Symptoms can include fever, cough, loss of appetite, weakness and lung congestion.

Cat Scratch Fever

This bacteria is usually transmitted from cats to humans through scratches. The bacteria is found on nails or claws and can cause high fever, loss of appetite, weakness and swollen lymph nodes. In otherwise healthy people, Cat Scratch Fever is usually mild and resolves itself. However, the bacteria caused by Cat Scratch Fever can be extremely dangerous or even fatal if left untreated in immune-compromised individuals. It’s important for these pet owners to tell their doctors they own a cat. Young children should be sure to wash scratches thoroughly with soap and water.

Strep Throat

Though your pet is probably not the culprit bringing strep into your household each year, the possibility does exist. Recently, researchers have found that it’s more likely that people are infecting their pets. In any case, keep your children from kissing, licking or exchanging food by mouth with their pets.
Ringworm

A fungal infection of the skin, hair or nails, ringworm starts as a rapidly spreading hairless, circular lesion. Humans can be infected through use of contaminated objects like hair brushes, towels or clothing or by contact with infected animals like cats, dogs, mice, rats and guinea pigs.

Scabies

Also called sarcoptic mange, scabies is a skin disease caused by itch mites which burrow under the skin. Scabies cause intense itching and scratching that can result in severe eczema. Humans can be infected through contact with infected animals.

The most effective way to prevent zoonotic diseases and ensure your good health is to ensure good health for your pets. This means taking your pet to the veterinarian for regular exams and vaccinations. Most pet owners find that by following their veterinarian’s nutritional and health recommendations, their pets will lead happy, healthy lives with little risk of zoonotic infections.

SOURCE: https://www.aaha.org/pet_owner/pet_health_library/general_health_care/diseases_transmitted_by_pets.aspx

Preventive Care is Key to Keeping Your Pet Healthy!

The Importance of Preventive Care

Preventing health concerns, parasites, and diseases can help your pet to live a longer, healthier life. When your pet is under our care, we want them treated with the most exceptional care possible and preventive care is one of the most important parts of your pet’s ongoing health.

When our patients come in to our office for their vaccinations, we perform a free doctor’s exam in conjunction with the vaccinations. We believe it is so important to conduct nose-to-tail physicals of all our patients to ensure they are healthy and that any health concerns are identified right away.

Your pet’s vaccination schedule will include:

  • 3 year rabies
  • DA2pp
  • Leptospirosis
  • Bordetella
  • Heartworm exam
  • Fecal exam
  • FREE physical with the veterinarian

The total cost of this package is $160.00. A free doctor’s examination is included in your pet’s vaccination series, ensuring that your best friend gets the hands-on exam that will help our team identify your pet’s health conditions or hidden concerns.

If you have questions about your pet’s vaccination or annual visit, please contact the Broward Animal Hospital team today. We would love to talk with you about your furry friend’s care.

Top Ten Emergencies In Cats

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Cats often become reclusive and hide when they are not feeling well which makes knowing when they need to be seen by your veterinarian a challenge. They have unique signs and symptoms of emergency conditions that often go unrecognized by their owners. Some injuries are obvious, such as a cat with an open wound, while others have more subtle signs that can be equally deadly if left untreated. Knowing what signs to look for is crucial in determining when to seek emergency care for your cat. Below is a list of some of the most common cat emergencies and their signs.

Urethral Obstruction

This is a condition in which a cat, usually male, is unable to urinate due to a blockage in the urethra (the tube leading from the urinary bladder to the outside environment).

Cats will show a sudden onset of restless behavior which includes frequent trips in and out of the litter box. They will often attempt to urinate in unusual places such as in a bath tub or on a plastic bag. You may notice a very small stream of urine that contains blood. More often than not, despite a cat’s straining, there may be no urine or even just a drop produced. In later stages of the obstruction, cats may cry loudly, vomit, and become lethargic.

You should consider these signs a serious emergency and seek veterinary care immediately. There are reports of cats developing kidney failure and dying within 12 hours after the onset of signs. Expect your cat to be hospitalized at least 36 hours for treatment of this condition which may include a urinary catheter, intravenous fluids, and pain management. Female cats are less likely to become obstructed due to their wider urinary tract.

Toxicities (Poisoning)

The combination of their curious nature and unique metabolism (the way their body breaks down chemicals) makes cats very vulnerable to toxins. Owners are often not aware that their home contains multiple products that are poisonous to their feline companions. The most common cat toxins include antifreeze, Tylenol, and rat or mouse poison.

 

The signs your cat displays depends on what type of poison they have encountered. Antifreeze will often cause wobbliness or a drunken appearance first, then progresses to vomiting/weakness as the kidneys fail. Tylenol may cause an unusual swelling of the head and changes the cats blood color from red to chocolate brown. Rat or mouse poison interferes with blood clotting so you may see weakness from internal blood loss or visible blood in urine or stool.

Breathing Problems

Many times cats hide the signs of breathing problems by simply decreasing their activity. By the time an owner notices changes in the cat’s breathing, it may be very late in the progression of the cat’s lung disease. There are several causes of breathing changes but the most common are feline asthma, heart or lung disease.

 

Foreign Object Ingestion

As you know cats love to play with strings or string-like objects (such as dental floss, holiday tinsel, or ribbon), however, you may not know the serious danger that strings can pose to your cat. When a string is ingested, one end may become lodged or “fixed” in place, often under the cat’s tongue, while the remaining string passes farther into the intestine. With each intestinal contraction, the string see-saws back and forth actually cutting into the intestine and damaging the blood supply.

Signs that your cat has eaten a foreign object may include vomiting, lack of appetite, diarrhea, and weakness. Occasionally owners will actually see part of a string coming from the mouth or anal area. You should never pull on any part of the string that is visible from your pet.

Most times emergency surgery is necessary to remove the foreign object and any damaged sections of intestine.

Bite Wounds

Cats are notorious for both inflicting and suffering bite wounds during encounters with other cats. Because the tips of their canine, or “fang”, teeth are so small and pointed, bites are often not noticed until infection sets in several days after the injury.

Cats may develop a fever and become lethargic 48 to 72 hours after experiencing a penetrating bite wound. They may be tender or painful at the site. If the wound becomes infected or abscessed, swelling and foul-smelling drainage may develop.

You should seek emergency care for bite wounds so that your veterinarian may thoroughly clean the area and prescribe appropriate antibiotics for your pet. Occasionally the wounds will develop large pockets called abscesses under the skin that require surgical placement of a drain to help with healing.

Hit by car

Cats that spend time outdoors are at a much greater risk for ending up in the emergency room. Being hit by a car is one of the most common reasons for your pet to suffer traumatic injuries such as broken bones, lung injuries and head trauma. You should always seek emergency care if your cat has been hit by a vehicle even if he or she appears normal as many injuries can develop or worsen over the next few hours.

 

Increased Thirst and Urination

Sudden changes in your cat’s thirst and urine volume are important clues to underlying disease. The two most common causes of these signs are kidney disease and diabetes mellitus.

Your veterinarian will need to check blood and urine samples to determine the cause of your cat’s signs. Having your pet seen on an emergency basis for these signs is important as the sooner your pet receives treatment, the better their chances for recovery. Many times exposure to certain toxins, such as antifreeze or lilies, will show similar signs and delaying veterinary care can be fatal.

Sudden inability to use the hind legs

Cats with some forms of heart disease are at risk for developing blood clots. Many times these clots can lodge in a large blood vessel called the aorta where they can prevent normal blood flow to the hind legs. If your cat experiences such a blood clotting episode (often called a saddle thrombus or thromboembolic episode), you will likely see a sudden loss of the use of their hind legs, painful crying, and breathing changes.

On arrival at the emergency room, your pet will receive pain management and oxygen support. Tests will be done to evaluate the cat’s heart and determine if there is any heart failure (fluid accumulation in the lungs). Sadly, such an episode is often the first clue for an owner that their cat has severe heart disease. In most cases, with time and support, the blood clot can resolve, but the cat’s heart disease will require life-long treatment.

 

Upper Respiratory Infections

Cats and kittens can experience a variety of upper respiratory diseases caused by a combination of bacteria or viruses. Upper respiratory infections, or URIs, often cause sneezing, runny noses, runny eyes, lack of appetite, and fever. In severe cases, they can cause ulcers in the mouth, tongue, and eyes. More often than not, severe cases are seen in cats that have recently been in multiple-cat environments such as shelters. Small or poor-doing kittens are also easily infected and may develop more severe complications such as low blood sugar.

Sudden Blindness

A sudden loss of vision is most likely to occur in an older cat. The most common causes are increased blood pressure (hypertension) that may be due to changes in thyroid function (hyperthyroidism) or kidney disease. There are some cats that appear to have hypertension with no other underlying disease.

Sudden blindness should be treated as an emergency and your veterinarian will measure your cat’s blood pressure, check blood tests, and start medications to try to lower the pressure and restore vision.

Anytime you notice a change in your cat’s eyes, whether they lose vision or not, you should consider this an emergency have your pet seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible.

 

 

SOURCE: http://www.cathealth.com/safety/top-ten-emergencies-in-cats

New Gadget Let’s You Play with Your Pet from Anywhere in the World

PETCUBE:

Petcube is a box with a laser pointer, speaker, and light that you can control from anywhere in the world via the Petcube smartphone app.

You control the laser by moving your finger around your iPhone or Android phone’s screen. Anywhere your finger moves, your pet will follow, as long as she likes lasers.

You can also take screenshots of the app and share them via Petcube’s social network. What’s more, you can make your Petcube open to the public, so you can let anyone play with your pet while you’re home or away.

To be honest, letting strangers get a view of your home when you’re away (or home) sounds kind of strange, so maybe you’ll just want to stick with the lasers.

Source: https://www.yahoo.com/tech/2-new-gadgets-let-you-play-with-your-pet-from-107338896099.html