Kobe

One of our favorite patients came in on with an emergency the other day. Kobe had gone on an adventure with his housemate and hadn't retured home for four days. When he was found at last, he had a large wound on his hip area. He wouldn't tell us how he got the wound and neither would his cohort. Kobe was glad to go home after the wound was repaired. We wish Kobe happy healing over the holidays.

Cat-Friendly Treat Recipe

Ingredients:

½ cup of hamburger

½ teaspoon shrimp paste (see Asian food section of your local grocery store)

¼ cup shelled shrimp, washed in hot water, and minced

½ teaspoon catnip

Directions:

Mix shrimp paste with the catnip and then hand work it into the hamburger.

Add minced shrimp to the hamburger mix and make into little meatballs.

These can be fed raw, or baked at 425° F for 10 minutes.

Trek

Trek came in for an emergency. 

We were able to diagnose Trek's problem as an infected uterus (pyometra).

After surgery to remove the uterus along with hospitalization and supportive care, Trek was able to rejoin her family and will be able to start hunting again in about two weeks. Second only to her owners, hunting is Trek's true love.

Holiday Foods

The holidays are here, and it’s important to remember to keep your pet safe from dangerous foods. Many of the foods we eat during the holidays, including chocolate, sugary desserts, rich meats, and more are dangerous for our pets to consume. Be sure to advise your holiday guests to not feed scraps to your pets.

Neuter Nite

Our November "Neuter Nite" was a great success.

Dr. Julie Johnson, Abby Wilkins, CVT and Kritine Smaglick,CVT donated their time and Maple Knoll Veterinary Clinic donated all materials and medicines.

Eight cats were neutered at no cost for the Waupun Area Animal Shelter.

Now these cats will now be more adoptable.

Today is World Pet Day!

Today is World Animal Day, an event that began in 1931 in Florence, Italy. The day was selected because it is the feast day of Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. It is a day to celebrate animal life in all its forms. We encourage you to celebrate the animals in your life today!

No Bones about it. Bones are unsafe for pets.

Most of us like to give our pets treats.

What could be more natural than to give your dog a bone?  However, you should think twice before giving your pet any bones.

We do not recommend giving dogs bones for many reasons.  We frequently see medical problems as with the case of Daisy who came in on emergency in July to Maple Knoll Veterinary Clinic.  As you can see Daisy got this bone stuck around her lower jaw.    This bone is much thicker than Daisy’s jaw bone so it had to be cut off.  Prying or trying to force it off could result in a broken jaw.  We had to sedate her to saw it off.  Daisy went home a little while later happy to have the bone off.

                   

  

 

          

Eating bones can result in all sorts of medical problems, some minor and some serious. The FDA warning lists some of the more important:

1. Broken teeth. This may call for expensive veterinary dentistry.
2. Mouth or tongue injuries. These can be very bloody and messy and may require a trip to see your veterinarian.
3. Bone gets looped around your dog’s lower jaw. This can be frightening or painful for your dog and potentially costly to you, as it usually means a trip to see your veterinarian.
4. Bone gets stuck in esophagus, the tube that food travels through to reach the stomach. Your dog may gag, trying to bring the bone back up, and will need to see your veterinarian.
5. Bone gets stuck in windpipe. This may happen if your dog accidentally inhales a small enough piece of bone. This is an emergency because your dog will have trouble breathing. Get your pet to your veterinarian immediately!
6. Bone gets stuck in stomach. It went down just fine, but the bone may be too big to pass out of the stomach and into the intestines. Depending on the bone’s size, your dog may need surgery or upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, a procedure in which your veterinarian uses a long tube with a built-in camera and grabbing tools to try to remove the stuck bone from the stomach.
7. Bone gets stuck in intestines and causes a blockage. It may be time for surgery.
8. Constipation due to bone fragments. Your dog may have a hard time passing the bone fragments because they’re very sharp and they scrape the inside of the large intestine or rectum as they move along. This causes severe pain and may require a visit to your veterinarian.
9. Severe bleeding from the rectum. This is very messy and can be dangerous. It’s time for a trip to see your veterinarian.
10. Peritonitis. This nasty, difficult-to-treat bacterial infection of the abdomen is caused when bone fragments poke holes in your dog’s stomach or intestines. Your dog needs an emergency visit to your veterinarian because peritonitis can kill your dog.

Autumn Safety Tips

Ah, fall—there's nothing like crisp, cool air, the first months of school and luscious foliage to get you excited for the changing seasons. Your pet, too, is probably welcoming the break from hot, sticky weather. But pet parents, beware—fall is also a time of lurking dangers for our furry friends. From household poisons to cold weather hazards, the season is a minefield! Here are some tips to keep your pet snug and healthy during the autumn months.

• The use of rodenticides increases in the fall as rodents seek shelter from the cooler temperatures by attempting to move indoors. Rodenticides are highly toxic to pets—if ingested, the results could be fatal. If you must use these products, do so with extreme caution and put them in places inaccessible to your pets. 
• It's back-to-school time, and those of you with young children know that means stocking up on fun items like glue sticks, pencils and magic markers. These items are considered “low toxicity” to pets, which means they're unlikely to cause serious problems unless large amounts are ingested. However, since gastrointestinal upset and blockages certainly are possible, be sure your children keep their school supplies out of paw's reach. 
• Training tip: If you and your pooch haven't been active outdoors in a while because of the summer heat, do some remedial recall training. Dogs, like people, get rusty on their skills if they aren't using them. 
• Fall and spring and are mushroom seasons. While 99% of mushrooms have little or no toxicity, the 1% that are highly toxic (PDF) can cause life-threatening problems in pets. Unfortunately, most of the highly toxic mushrooms are difficult to distinguish from the nontoxic ones, so the best way to keep pets from ingesting poisonous mushrooms is to keep them away from areas where any mushrooms are growing. Contact your veterinarian or theASPCA Animal Poison Control Center immediately if you witness your pet eating a wild mushroom. 
• In order to generate body heat, pets who exercise heavily outdoors, or who live outdoors, should be given more food during colder seasons. Make sure horses and other outdoor animals have access to clean, fresh water that is not frozen. 
• Autumn is the season when snakes who are preparing for hibernation may be particularly “grumpy,” increasing the possibility of severe bites to those unlucky pups who find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. Pet owners should know what kinds of venomous snakes may be in their environment—and where these snakes are most likely to be found—so they can keep pets out of those areas. 
• Many people choose fall as the time to change their car's engine coolant. Ethylene glycol-based coolants are highly toxic, so spills should be cleaned up immediately. Consider switching to propylene glycol-based coolants—though they aren't completely nontoxic, they are much less toxic than other engine coolants.

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care-tips/autumn-safety-tips.aspx

Fall Football Gatherings & Pets

Are you going to a football game or tailgate party this fall? We encourage you to keep your pet safe during these kinds of events. Portable grills can be extremely dangerous because they can be knocked over by rambunctious children and pets, and can burn them. Also, many of the junk foods that we eat when we’re at games and tailgate parties can be dangerous for our pets to eat. Don’t forget to keep your pet safe this season.

Pets & Pool Safety

Does your pet love to swim? It’s important to remember that some pets are interested in water, even excited by it, but still may not know how to keep themselves afloat. It’s important to never let your pet go swimming unsupervised!

Tomorrow is International Homeless Animal Day

Did you know that tomorrow is International Homeless Animal Day, honoring pets in shelters? If you’re looking for a new pet, we encourage you to visit the shelter to consider adopting an animal in need. There are many great pets in shelters, just waiting for a second chance.

Pets & Hot Pavement

You wouldn't walk on hot pavement without shoes, so think about your pet when you go outside. The black asphalt of streets, parking lots, and some driveways can be so hot that it can burn your pet’s tender footpads. Try to limit your walks to early morning, or always walk where your dog can keep their feet on the grass.

Pets & Truck Beds

Did you know that letting your pet ride in the bed of your truck can be extremely dangerous, even if you’re traveling at low speeds? Dogs are known to jump and run after things or animals that appeal to them, and jumping from a moving vehicle can cause serious injury. We ask that you NEVER let your pet ride in the back of a truck, but always inside where they are safely secured.

Pets & Camping Safety

Camping with your pet can be a fun adventure, but also a dangerous one! It’s important to be fully prepared for bringing a pet with you into the woods BEFORE you go. Make sure your pet is up-to-date on all parasite prevention, and be sure to pack plenty of food and water. If you’re filtering your water, don’t forget your pet needs filtered water too! And most importantly, check campground rules where you’ll be staying, because some campgrounds don’t allow pets because of the danger of large wild animals, like bears! Make sure you keep your pets and family safe, and have a great trip!

Pets & Insects

Tiptoe through the tulips…but…beware of the bees! Bees and other flying critters don't want to share the sweet aroma of spring as it blooms in your garden. Watch your pets while they are outside, because they might be getting up close and personal with a bee or other insects which may result in a nasty sting. We want your pets to enjoy their frolic through the flowers.

Your dog's favorite toy doesn't have to be thrown away when it's dirty. Make sure that the toy is still safe to play with and then try cleaning it. Never use bleach or harsh cleaning chemicals. If the toy has a foul smell or does not get clean after washing, it IS time to throw away. Nylon and rubber toys can be cleaned by hand with soap and water and can even go in your dishwasher for cleaning, but run them through on the hot cycle with no detergent. Softer toys, like ropes, can become breeding grounds for bacteria, so consider sanitizing them by wetting the toy and microwaving it for a full minute. For stuffed animal toys, try throwing them in the washing machine when they are dirty. Throw away any toys with dangling parts, stuffed animal eyes, etc. and any toys that your pet is actually eating...unless it is a treat toy, your dog should not be eating it.

Pet Friendly Treat Recipe

1

MASH banana

STIR WITH peanut butter - stir in wheat germ - throw in the 1/4 c. chopped peanuts

Make sure items are mixed up well.

2

CHILL for one hour.

3

PLACE in container serving size, or ice cube tray, and store in freezer until ready to serve.

Alumni Reception for Graduates of University of WI Veterinary school

In June, Dr. Julie attended an alumni reception at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine. The reception was for all alumni but emphasized the classes of 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002 and 2007 (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years ago). She was able to see some of her classmates that she had not seen in many years.

The reception included a picnic and tours of the school and the veterinary diagnostic laboratory.

The veterinary school/hospital has had several improvements since Dr. Julie's graduation in 1992. Most notable was the imaging services now offered. They now have a Radiation Therapy Clinic which offers TomoTherapy—a state-of-the-art cancer treatment. This is the first veterinary (teaching) facility in the world to offer this type of therapy. TomoTherapy is used to treat solitary cancers, mainly nasal tumors, oral melanomas, mast cell tumors, anal gland tumors, and brain tumors. The school also has magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that can even be used on horses and cattle. We should feel lucky to be so close to, perhaps, the best small animal oncology service in the country.

The school/hospital has also enhanced their emergency service so now they are a full service emergency care, 24/7 facility. Only about 1 hour from Waupun, UW Veterinary Care (the hospital part) is a great resource for referral specialty care and emergency care.

For more information you may go to http://www.vetmed.wisc.edu

Dr. Bev Marten's dog Cami doing some Agility Work!

World Pet Memorial Day

Today is World Pet Memorial Day. The benefits of having pets are too numerous to count. They are our companions, our friends, and to some they are even considered family, but the one downfall of being a pet owner is that a vast majority of pets have a much shorter lifespan than their human companions. Today is a day to remember those departed pets and celebrate the time you had with them. What is the happiest memory you have of a departed pet?

Pet Appreciation Week

It's Pet Appreciation Week! Of course we let our pets know every day just how special they are to us, but this week is about going the extra mile (on that nightly walk) and really showing our furry family members how much we love and cherish them. What can you do to show your pet appreciation this week?

Pets In Cars

Summertime is almost here and that means a wonderful time to be outdoors and enjoy longer days with our pets, but caution is advised; danger lurks on these bright beautiful days. Driving around, parking, and leaving your pet in the car for "just a minute" can be deadly. Just a few minutes in a car during the summer months can raise the temperature to as much as 120 degrees -- even with the windows cracked.

June is Social PETworking Month

June is Social PETworking Month! This is a month designated to help pair families with homeless pets. The campaign allows Facebook, MySpace and Twitter addicts to put their hours online to good use by advertising adoptable pets to their networks to help get them seen and into loving homes. So if you know of any pets in need of good homes, take to Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and get the word out this June!

Welcome Kristine to our Team!

We are proud to have a new Technician on our team! Kristine Smaglick graduated from Madison Area Technical College in May 2012 and is earning her CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician). She lives in Fox Lake and has a seven year old daughter and two horses, one Arabian and one Hackney Pony. She started working for us on May 29th and so far she loves it. Welcome, Kristine!

Maple Knoll Veterinary Clinic goes DIGITAL

Maple Knoll Veterinary Clinic has upgraded to digital radiography.  This new x-ray technology has been incorporated into many human hospitals and clinics and is now available for your pets right here in Waupun.  Digital radiography gives more detailed images and allows adjustments to the x-ray after the image has been taken.  This results in more accurate diagnosis, fewer “retakes” and, therefore, less x-ray exposure risk for your pets and the people who take the x-rays.

Maple Knoll Veterinary Clinic has always taken pride in utilizing the latest advancements in technology.  Staying on the leading edge, Maple Knoll Veterinary Clinic has incorporated minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery and endoscopic diagnostic techniques.  These procedures incorporate the use of a tiny camera to visualize the inside of the ear, nose, bladder or even to perform abdominal surgery through a single incision the size of a dime minimizing pain and recovery time for your pets.  Maple Knoll Veterinary Clinic also utilizes state-of-the-art bone anchors for cruciate ligament repair (compare to acl in people). 

In addition to those advancements, ultrasound and electrocardiography (ECG) have been a part of Maple Knoll’s diagnostic tools for many years.  Ultrasound can be used for a variety of things from diagnosing pregnancy to identifying abdominal organ tumors and even assisting with obtaining a urine sample.  ECG is utilized as a diagnostic test to evaluate the heart and also as a pre-surgical screening tool to help ensure safety of anesthesia.

The veterinarians and staff at Maple Knoll Veterinary Clinic strive to provide the best care for you pets.  Implementing the latest technologies helps to achieve just that. 

Tomorrow is 'If Pets Have Thumbs Day'

March is Poison Prevention Month

March is Poison Prevention Month! Did you know that some regular household substances can be poisonous to your pet? It’s important to keep an eye on the things that your pet consumes, and that includes things out in the yard! We suggest keeping your poisonous substances, such as fertilizers, pesticides, paints, and cleaning products on high shelves inside the shed or garage. And be sure to thoroughly clean any spills on the driveway or garage floor. You never know what your pet might get into!

Puppy Bowl this Sunday

Puppy Bowl is back for its 8th consecutive year with an all-star, all-adorable cast that's ready to mix it up in the Animal Planet Stadium. Don't forget to tune in for the Kitty Halftime Show! Click the link below for interactive puppy games, photos and videos. Don't miss miss the Puppy Bowl this Sunday, Feb. 5, beginning at 3 PM E/P!

 http://animal.discovery.com/tv/puppy-bowl/