Salt Toxicity and Play Dough

            Homemade play dough is not for pets. While it’s fun for kids to play with, if ingested by our furry friends it can be lethal. Play dough contains a large amount of salt, sometimes as much as 1/2 a cup or more depending on the recipe! Dogs may like the salty taste, but the damage the sodium causes can be terrible.

            What happens is called “salt toxicity”. When ingested by the pet, the salt in the play dough makes its way throughout the dog’s body, including the brain and central nervous system. The sodium absorbs any water, and causes the dog to become thirsty and drink more water. In order to keep the balance they need to urinate more, but if there are high levels of sodium, the dog’s body can’t process it fast enough. The water level in the body increases and the muscles begin swell. The brain swells from the sodium and water and if the pressure builds enough, it can cause neurological disorders, seizures, coma and even death. Sadly, there is no antidote for salt toxicity, only preventative measures to keep our pets happy and healthy.

            If only a little bit of the play dough or salt is ingested, the dog may survive, but if a large amount of sodium enters the dog’s system, it is fatal. Some symptoms of salt toxicity are: vomiting, diarrhea, kidney failure, and seizures. If you think your dog may have ingested play dough or large quantities of salt, give us a call and get them seen as soon as possible! (Remember, we are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!!)

Our pets can sneak out of the door when a guest comes to visit or can run off to chase a squirrel or rabbit.  As they wander further and further away from home they may be unable to find their way back. They can also get lost during a hurricane or natural disaster.  Microchipping is a great way to easily identify pets and get them home safe.  We are qualified to perform the simple task of injecting the tiny chip under your pet’s skin.  

Tick Paralysis

What is tick paralysis and how is it caused? 

 Tick paralysis is a paralysis in animals, which is caused by a tick. The females of the Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick), D. andersoni (Rocky Mountain wood tick), and Ixodes holocyclus (found in Australia) ticks secrete a toxin that affects the nervous system of mammals. It produces a flaccid (weak, with no muscular tone) paralysis. In some animals, only the hind limbs are affected. In others, the condition can ascend up the body and affect the front limbs and sometimes even the muscles required for respiration.

What are the signs of tick paralysis? 

The signs of paralysis generally start 5-7 days after the ticks start feeding (it usually takes multiple ticks feeding simultaneously to elicit the paralysis). The first signs are weakness and incoordination in the hind legs. Several hours after the signs in the hind limbs start, the front legs are affected and soon the animal can not move any of his legs. Difficulty with breathing, chewing, and swallowing can be seen. The animal generally has no fever. Death can occur within hours from respiratory failure due to paralysis of the muscles necessary for respiration.

How is tick paralysis diagnosed? 

The diagnosis is based on the sudden onset of paralysis, the rapid worsening of the condition, the season of the year, presence of ticks, and rapid recovery when the ticks are removed.

What is the treatment for tick paralysis? 

The treatment of tick paralysis is basic-Remove the ticks. Most animals will quickly recover. If an animal is severely affected, supportive care and artificial respiration may be needed. There is an antitoxin that can be given if it is available and can be procured quickly. Not all ticks carry this toxin and not all dogs are affected, hence the disease is only occasionally seen. Cats appear resistant to the toxin.

What ticks live in Arizona?

• Spinose Ear Tick: The immature stages of this tick feed in the ear canal on blood and lymph. Adults live off the host. They live in sheds, cracks and crevices, woodpiles and bark of trees. This tick does not transmit pathogens but can produce considerable damage to the ear of afflicted animals. 
• Brown Dog Tick: The only tick that infests human dwelling and kennels in North America. Found in walls, garages, false ceilings. It is the primary vector for Ehrlichia canis and can also transmit babesiosis, and tularemia (rabbit fever). It can cause tick paralysis. 
• American Dog Tick & Rocky Mountain Wood Tick: Primary vector of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. This species can also cause tick paralysis and tularmia.
• Deer Tick: Also called the Blacklegged tick. Distributed in the Eastern and Central US and parts of California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona. Live primarily in deciduous forests. Primary vector for Lyme Disease and can cause tick paralysis.

                       Happy Birthday wishes to Pam Batista!

April Employee of the Month

Vivianne Williams is our April Employee of the Month here at 1st Emergency Pet Care. Originally from Brazil, she has worked here as a technician for almost 4 years now, and is definitely one of the hardest workers we have! She is always staying busy and helping out with anything that is needed. She is a very compassionate person. These are just a few of the reasons she has been chosen our employee of the month.

Print this Facebook ad and bring it with you to your next visit for $20 off one Diagnostic Test during April!

 

Sneezing…watery…running eyes and nose…itchy and scratchy skin…its allergy time.  Did you know that your pet suffers from seasonal allergies just as you do?  We offer dermatology services for your pet to test for allergies, fleas, ticks and other critters to keep your pet looking and feeling their best.