Welcome!!!
Posted on 2009-10-02 13:47:46
Hello all clients and future clients!
Welcome to our website and our blog! Enjoy reading our current client information on our blog! Watch for new topics in December! Please feel free to add comments about future topics you would like me to address! You can post your request for future topics on the blog or email us by clicking on "contact us" on the bottom of the page. Please sign up with your email address to receive our free monthly Animal Hosptial of Hallandale newsletter!!
Thank you,
Dr. Barbosa & Dr Yvonne Provci
Dr. Provci said:
Thank you for that great question about giving chocolate to your dog. Many people do not realize that chocolate can be very dangerous to their pets. Chocolate contains both caffeine and theobromine (a toxin) that can cause gastrointestinal and neurologic signs in animals. Unsweetened baking chocolate and semi-sweet and dark chocolate contains much higher doses of theobromine than milk chocolate, but even normal milk chocolate can be dangerous. Clinical signs of chocolate (theobromine) toxicity include: * hyperexcitability * nervousness * vomiting * diarrhea * tremors * seizures * racing heart rate or abnormal rhythms * death in severe cases Even a small amount of chocolate can be toxic to the toy breeds! For a 5 pound dog: 2 OUNCES of milk chocolate is toxic! only 0.7 OUNCES of semi-sweet or dark chocolate is toxic!! and only 0.23 OUNCES of baking chocolate is toxic!!! In addition to the theobromine in chocolate, there is also high amounts of fat in chocoate sweets. Often chocolate is baked into chocolate cakes, ice cream and candies. A sudden high fat meal (such as eating a bag of chocolate bars left accessible at Halloween time or devouring a few pieces of chocolate cake) can create a serious metabolic disease in pets called pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas creates enzymes to break down food. When it is inflammed it can cause severe abdominal pain and severe gastrointestinal signs and needs immediate emergency treatment. Signs of pancreatitis are similar to the previously discussed theobromine toxicity from the chocolate: including vomiting and diarrhea but in addition you may notice abdominal pain, depression, and lack of appetite. If you realize your dog or cat has eaten chocolate, please call the animal hospital and we will advise you on what to do. If they require treatment, we will have you come in immediately for emergency treatment. We always are available to fit your emergencies in between our scheduled appointments. If possible, call in advance, so we can be prepared for you when you arrive, and bring the bag or box of what they ate if you have it. This will have the amount of chocolate in the product so we can calculate if they ate a toxic amount for their weight. We may have you induce vomiting if it was just recently eaten, and depending on how much was ingested, it may require additional treatment or hospitalization until the chocolate has worked its way out of their system. Of course, prevention is the best treatment of all, so please remember to put all your sweets out-of-reach of your pets to prevent any accidental ingestions. Don't forget that some dogs are good at opening cabinet doors and getting into the trash, so "dog-proof" your house!! :) :) Sincerely, Dr. Yvonne Provci
2009-10-06 12:49:50
Steve -0 said:
Doc P!? Rocco (my beloved canine sidekick) is always chewing on things he finds on the ground if I don't watch him closely. Besides the aforementioned chocolate, and palm tree seeds and those creepy bufo-frogs, what else should I be wary of? Thanks!
2009-10-13 09:32:00
Dr. Provci said:
Thanks for the great question, Steve! As you know, dogs like to eat various things and often they swallow things before you can even see what it was! Let me just review a few hazards that are common to South Florida and also seen throughout the U.S. First of all, the Bufo toad toxicities are very common in Florida since these toads thrive in high humidity! These toads are most active during the evening, night, or early morning hours. If encountered by a curious dog, they release a defensive toxin that is rapidly absorbed in the dog's mucous membranes of their mouth. The toxin contains various catecholemines (similar to the street drug "LSD" and can be fatal! Immediate medical attention is critical! Clinical signs include: profuse hypersalivation, hyperexcitation, hyperthermia (high fever), collapse, seizures, dspnea (difficulty breathing), and crying and pawing at the mouth. If you suspect this has happened and you have access to water, carefully rinse their mouth with water for 5 minutes to rinse off the toxin (only do this if they are conscious and can swallow to prevent aspiration pneumonia) and take them to a veterinary hospital immediately for treatment. Of course, prevention is the easiest remedy, so keep you dog on a short leash when you are out for walks especially in areas where there could be toads to prevent these dog-toad encounters from occuring. As for other hazards, plant poisonings are also common in dogs and cats. There is a list of toxic plants published by the ASPCA poison control center that includes misteltoe,sago palm, easter lilies, philodendron, bird of paradise, and avacados (fruit and pit). There is a website for the ASPCA on how to make your home poison safe: http://www.aspca.org/apcc There is also a phone number for the hotline: 1-888-4-ANI-HELP or 1-888-4264-4357 If you visit their website, you can fill out a form for a free magnet with the ASPCA Poison Control Center's toll free number on it. Other possible toxins include human foods that you may or may not be aware are dangerous for pets. These human foods should not be fed to pets: Chocolate, onions, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, and bread dough. If they are accidentally ingested, please call the hospital and we will advise you on what to do. Bones are often a topic because most people believe that animals enjoy them and would like to give their pet a treat! The problem with cooked poultry bones is that they are prone to splintering and can send pieces of bone into the animal's intestines. These pieces could pierce thru the intestines and result in a deadly peritonitis, or the piece of bone could scrape the intestinal wall as it passes thru their gastrointestinal tract causing bloody diarrhea and painful defecation. If you want to give your pet a treat, a small amount of low-sodium chicken broth poured on their regular food is a better, healthier treat! Xylitol toxicity has become more common lately due to increased use of sugar substitutes. Xylitol is a white, crystalline sugar alcohol that is used as a sugar substitute in many products including sugar-free gum, candy, foods, and a granulated form for baking. It is popular among diabetics and people on low-carbohydrate diets. In humans, xylitol is absorbed slowly and has little to no effect on blood sugar or insulin levels. However, in dogs, xylitol is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and can have hazardous effects! It acts as a promotor of insulin release, which causes profound hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), and can also cause liver failure, bleeding, and death! it takes very little xylitol to cause toxicity in dogs... only 1 piece of chewing gum in a 10 pound dog can be toxic! Symptoms include vomiting, lethargy, weakness, diarrhea, collapse, and seizures. Some dogs do not show any symptoms until hours after they ingest it, so if you suspect ingestion or see them eat it, call the veterinary hospital immediately for instruction. Never induce vomiting in your dog without first consulting with a veterinarian because every toxicity has a different decontamination protocol. Even though the weather has not broken 90 in months here in south Florida, it is a good idea to discuss anti-freeze toxicity for those of you that may be driving north for the holidays and winter-proofing your cars! Anti-freeze is often accidentally ingested by dogs and cats because it is sweet-tasting and only a teaspoon can be deadly. It contains ethylene glycol with leads to kidney failure and death in as little as 48 hours after ingestion. Early treatment is essential and any ingestion should be treated immediately. Please prevent these avoidable toxic ingestions by not working on cars in areas where animals are present and preventing any spills from occuring. New anti-freezes are available with propylene glycol instead of the deadly ethylene glycol and are much safer to have around the house. Remember, children can be under the same danger of ingesting these poisons so dog-proof and child-proof your house! Other foreign body ingestions include: rocks, rat poison, clothing (socks are a favorite amongst many dogs), string/yarn often with needle attached! (cats are prone to string foreign bodies and like to eat needles!) and hair-ties!! Also keep all drugs out of your pet's reach in closed medicine cabinets! Human medication is not for pets. Animals metabolize drugs differently than humans. Never give your pets medication unless you are directed to do so by a veterinarian. You can always call us and we will answer any questions you have concerning your pet's medication. Prevention is the key!!! So, remember to pick things up around the house to avoid accidental ingestions and pet-proof your house!! Also keep your dog on a short leash when out on walks so you can see what they are getting their noses into!! Dog parks can be fun but can also be the source of many potential hazards, so supervise all play time carefully!! If you have any further topics to discuss, please post them and I will answer them as soon as possible!! Have fun and be safe! Dr. Provci
2009-10-14 10:11:59
Tami said:
Dr. Provici, my female cat is appx. a Year and two months old. But I think she's somewhat obese! She weights about 8 pounds. She is indoors all the time and was spayed 6 months ago. I guess this contributes since she's not as active. How much (frequency and amount) food should I give her to help her reach a healthy weight, but still get the nutrition needed? Do you think Science Diet Adult Indoor - Dry is a good choice or should I go for the Light formula of the same brand? Thanks a lot!
2009-11-14 02:01:47
Dr. Provci said:
Hello Tami, Thank you for your question! It is common for some animals to gain a little extra weight after they have been spayed or neutered. This is usually due to their metabolism slowing down about 10% after their hormone levels drop as a result of the surgery. In addition, their activity drops a little because those same sex hormones keep them active looking for a mate. Due to these changes, I recommend feeding them about 1/3 less than you fed before they were spayed or neutered and also making sure they are on adult food rather than kitten food. Hills Science diet is a very good, high-quality food. Whether you feed less of the indoor adult formula or change to the light formula depends on your cat. Some cats do not like to eat new diets, so you can try just feeding less of the regular diet and encouraging more exercise. Usually 1/2 cup a day is sufficient for a cat her size. Try to put the food down for 1/2 hour and then pick it up if she doesn't eat. Offer it again in the evening for another 1/2 hour. This will teach her to eat when the food is available. 8 pounds does not seem obese to me, but it depends on her frame. Try to avoid treats and encourage exercise with feather toys, laser lights, etc to keep her active in her indoor lifestyle. Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions. Dr. Yvonne Provci
2009-11-20 10:10:02
Len Worman said:
Is there any potential danger in having a cat sleeping in bed with you?
2009-11-21 11:05:19
Dr. Provci said:
Hello Mr. Worman, Thank you for your question. The only concerns I can think of are allergies, asthma, and parasites such as fleas and ringworm. Some people have allergies to cat dander and if they have severe enough allergies to effect their breathing, then the cat dander can be dangerous. Especially if the cat sleeps on or near their pillow. Some people have asthma that can be triggered by allergies to cats, so that would be a concern also. I would check with your doctor if you have allergies and/or asthma before you allow your cat on your bed. Another concern is fleas! If your cat has fleas they can lay eggs and lead to fleas hatching in your house and bed. So, we recommend 2 products for cats for flea control: either Frontline or Revolution. Other parasites to consider are Ringworm which is a fungus that can be transmitted to people. So, if you notice any abnormal looking patches of hairloss or scaley skin, that could be a Ringworm fungal infection. If your cats are healthy and you don't have health concerns such as allergies and asthma or immunodeficiencies, then there should not be any problems. So, enjoy your snuggly pets and have a restful night's sleep!
2009-11-30 10:13:19
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jens said:
Is chocolate bad for my dogs ?
2009-10-03 10:09:58