<![CDATA[Central Maui Animal Clinic - BLOG]]>Fri, 25 May 2012 14:17:38 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[See a Toad in or near your Dog's Mouth? Leap into Action!]]>Tue, 15 May 2012 07:15:05 -0800http://www.centralmauianimalclinic.com/1/post/2012/05/see-a-toad-in-or-near-your-dogs-mouth-leap-into-action.htmlPicture

"My dog just chomped on a toad and now he is salivating and acting weird! What do I do?" 
- an infamous emergency call question for Maui veterinarians.
In Hawaii, up to 50 dogs a year die after being poisoned by Bufo Toads. When the dog mouths the toad, it instinctively defends itself by releasing venom from its glands. Often times the dog will bite down on the toad enabling poisonous venom to squirt directly down the dog's throat. Usually the dog owner becomes aware of the issue once the dog exhibits excessive drooling while shaking its head relentlessly.

First aid should be administered right away! Here's what you should do:
  1. Wash out the dog's mouth with a steady stream of water. Note don't point the water down the dog's throat. 
  2. Wipe toxic secretions of the gums and teeth with a cotton towel and rinse again with water. 
  3. Call for veterinary assistance immediately. Monday to Sunday from 8AM to 5PM, call 808.893.2380; and, after these hours, call our 24/7 emergency services team at 808.893.2467.

~ Dr. Shae Martin, DVM

p.s. Don't let this "innocent" little guy sitting on a bench fool you or your dog! 
]]><![CDATA[Emergency in Paradise!]]>Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:12:02 -0800http://www.centralmauianimalclinic.com/1/post/2012/04/emergency-in-paradise.htmlPicture
Our 24/7 Emergency Services
When your pet has a medical emergency and your veterinarian’s office is closed, it can be a stressful situation. At Central Maui Animal Clinic, we always have a doctor and technician on call if your pet is experiencing a life threatening emergency after all Maui Vet Clinics are closed.
How do you know whether it's an emergency?
In an emergency situation, try to take a deep breath, be calm, and analyze the situation. Pets are similar to children, so you can utilize a lot of the same common sense decision making that you would for whether or not to go to the emergency room. 

When in doubt, it is always okay to call the vet and talk through the problem. Try to have the following information available before calling: age and approximate weight of your pet, previous or ongoing medications, when the signs started, and the name and strength of any accidental toxin ingestion.

What are some common emergency conditions? 
Below are some common emergency situations for pets, including some specific to our wonderful island.
  • Difficulty breathing, swallowing, standing, or walking, including prolonged or frequent panting, staggering or an uncoordinated or clumsy gait. Cats will rarely pant due to heat hence a panting cat is almost always concerning.
  • Straining or crying in the litter box, especially during urination. Some cats naturally make a big production out of using the box or even make sounds while digging, eliminating or burying. You'll have to determine what's normal for your cat, but if you have any doubts, call us.
  • Convulsion, electrocution, or drowning. 
  • Blunt trauma, including high falls, being hit by a car, or getting caught in doors or machinery, even if there is no apparent serious injury. These kinds of accidents may cause internal bleeding or injuries only a veterinary exam can detect. 
  • Swelling or bloating of the abdomen, especially if accompanied with retching, pacing, or weakness. 
  • Vomiting for more then 12-24 hours or if vomiting accompanied with blood, weakness or severe abdominal pain. 
  • Ingesting a toxin such as anti-freeze, human medication, chocolate, etc.  In Hawaii, we have toxic toads that, if eaten or licked, can cause severe foaming and drooling and can even lead to seizures, muscle problems and death. (Blog post on leaping into action if your dog bites or swallows a toad coming soon!)
  • Profuse bleeding, including any open wound or bleeding from the nose, mouth, ears or any other body opening. 
  • Fractures or dislocations. If you suspect a broken bone, don't try to find the break or set it yourself. 
  • Loss of consciousness.
  • Heat stroke.
  • Trouble giving birth.
What number do I call?
 If your pet is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, help is just a phone call away!  For urgent care during business hours (Monday to Sunday 8 am to 5 pm), please call 808.893.2380. And, after hours, call 808.893.2467.

~ Dr. Benjamin Benander, DVM
]]><![CDATA[Everything You Need To Know About Heartworm Disease & How To Prevent It]]>Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:42:59 -0800http://www.centralmauianimalclinic.com/1/post/2012/04/everything-you-need-to-know-about-heartworm-disease-how-to-prevent-it.htmlWhat is heartworm disease?
Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition affecting both dogs and cats. It's caused by worms living in the arteries of the lungs and sometimes in the right side of the heart. 

The disease starts with an adult female heartworm releasing baby worms called microfilariae into an animal's bloodstream. As can be see in the Heartworm Life Cycle image by the American Heartworm Society, when a mosquito bites that animal, it becomes infected with microfilariae.

After two weeks in the mosquito, the microfilariae has developed and can be passed on to other animals when mosquitos bite them. It then takes about 6 months for the infective larvae to mature into adult worms. In dogs, the worms may live for up to 7 years. 

An interesting fact is that the microfilariae cannot mature into adult heartworms without first passing through a mosquito (so they need that dreaded little bug). In addition, they really do look like little angel hair pasta pieces. 
Picture
What are the symptoms of heartworm disease?
For both dogs and cats, symptoms of heartworm disease may not be recognized initially as it can take months for the heartworms to develop. Dogs eventually show signs, including a mild, persistent cough, fatigue, reduced appetite and weight loss. Cats show many nonspecific symptoms making the disease difficult to diagnose. Such symptoms include vomiting, gagging, difficulty or rapid breathing, lethargy and weight loss. 

How do I prevent heartworm disease in my pets?
There are a variety of options for preventing heartworm infection in both dogs and cats, including daily and monthly tablets and chewables, monthly topicals and a six-month injectable product available only for dogs. These medications interrupt heartworm development before adult worms reach the lungs and cause disease; in other words, the worm never gets to grow-up.

All of these methods are extremely effective and, when administered properly on a timely schedule, heartworm infection can be prevented.  And, as we all know, prevention is best. 

~ Dr. Shae Martin, DVM
]]><![CDATA[Why is annual blood screening important for our senior pets?]]>Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:10:38 -0800http://www.centralmauianimalclinic.com/1/post/2012/04/why-is-annual-blood-screening-important-for-senior-pets.htmlAt some point, we all go through the experience of realizing our puppy or kitten has grown up and is entering his or her senior years. It can be tough to see them slow down and lose some of that energy they seemed to retain for so many years.

As our companion friends age, they become prone to more medical problems, much like their human counterparts. It becomes really important during these senior years to pay more attention to changes that may clue us in to signs of illness. Some illnesses are abrupt in onset and hence very obvious. Others are slow to set in and may not have obvious signs for an owner to pick up on. It is because of these types of illness that it is very important to bring your senior pet in annually for a full physical exam and diagnostic blood screening.

Screening tests have many advantages for your companion pet. It can allow early intervention in cases of kidney disease, a common ailment in aging pets. By detecting early stage kidney disease, the appropriate dietary modifications can be recommended for your pet that have been demonstrated to decrease episodes of illness and increase your pet's life expectancy. Too often, we see pets in a crisis from kidney failure when the disease process has gone on for too long. This is heartbreaking for both the the veterinary staff and the owner.

There are many other illnesses that can be detected and treated through diagnostic blood screening. Before an owner is aware there is even a problem, senior cats can develop hyperthyroidism, a disease that cause damage to the heart, liver or kidneys. Senior dogs can also develop hypothyroidism which can lead to chronic skin disease and poor quality of life.

You may be asking yourself, “At what age is my pet considered a senior?" The American Animal Hospital Association defines senior dogs as over 7 to 8 years of age and senior cats as over 10 to 14 years of age. Use these age ranges as general guideline to help you determine when your pet should start having senior diagnostic blood screening.

If you have any questions about any of your pets, please do feel free to call our team at Central Maui Animal Clinic or email me.

- Dr. Michael King, DVM
]]><![CDATA[Not ONE, but TWO!]]>Sat, 14 Apr 2012 08:48:33 -0800http://www.centralmauianimalclinic.com/1/post/2012/04/not-one-but-two.htmlWhat's better than ONE special deal in April? TWO, of course!
(See our monthly specials below.)
Picture
Picture
]]><![CDATA[Canine Nose to Toes Care]]>Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:04:00 -0800http://www.centralmauianimalclinic.com/1/post/2012/04/canine-nose-to-toes-care.html In the past few years, vaccine technology has improved and for many dogs a yearly vaccine is no longer required, leaving many dog owners wondering about the importance of the yearly check-up which in the past included important vaccinations.

With this said, I thought I would share with our dog loving clients why the annual canine check up is still so important as it really is the key to the long-lived healthy pooches.

The most important part of canine annual exam is checking the canine body for conditions that clients may not notice like ear infections, dental disease and heart murmurs. If heart worm prevention has not been given (a must on Maui) then a blood test should be performed each year to check for this deadly parasite. Other issues such as obesity, flea-tick trouble or behavioral problems can be addressed. And, indeed, this our job - to be thorough with the examination, listen to your concerns and then customize the annual exam to the particular needs of your pooch. And best of all, it is no longer just a needle stick for Fido. 

Dr. Shae Martin, DVM
]]><![CDATA[What does CMAC mean to YOU?]]>Wed, 04 Apr 2012 08:05:53 -0800http://www.centralmauianimalclinic.com/1/post/2012/04/what-does-cmac-mean-to-you.htmlHear from our staff what Central Maui Animal Clinic means to them.
(Then let us know what CMAC means to YOU by clicking HERE.)
]]><![CDATA[Central Maui Animal Clinic April Offer: The Best Care For Your Canine]]>Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:20:10 -0800http://www.centralmauianimalclinic.com/1/post/2012/04/central-maui-animal-clinic-april-offer-the-best-care-for-your-canine.html
Picture
]]><![CDATA[Special Announcement for Pet Rabbit Owners]]>Sat, 03 Mar 2012 09:17:56 -0800http://www.centralmauianimalclinic.com/1/post/2012/03/special-announcement-for-pet-rabbit-owners.html
Picture
]]><![CDATA[Up In Years & Down In Risk]]>Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:58:36 -0800http://www.centralmauianimalclinic.com/1/post/2011/06/up-in-years-down-in-risk.htmlLife is all about balance.
This philosophy can be applied in both our lives and in the lives of our pets.
As the years go up, we need to bring the risk down.

While few things in life are certain, there is certainly less risk when preventative measures are taken.
When the health of a pet is neglected, the probable risk and procedural expense increase.
For this reason, maintaining the wellness of our pets is a priority that deserves attention. 
And, that priority is paramount as our pets enter their golden years.
Picture
Dogs 7 years and older and cats 10 years and older typically start slowing down. 
Visual signs are loss of muscle, reduced hearing, cloudy or "bluish" eyes and thinning of the iris.
As our pets age, there are also a variety of conditions and diseases that they may face.
The most common are weight and mobility changes; osteoarthritis; kidney, heart, and liver disease; tumors and cancers; and, hormone disorders such as diabetes and thyroid imbalance.

To bring balance, as your pet's number of years increase so should the number of visits to your vet. 
To help stop a problem before it starts, we recommend seniors have a complete exam and laboratory testing every 6 months. Through the month of June, Central Maui Animal Clinic is offering an Old Timer's special: dogs 7 years and older and cats 10 years and older receive an exam, blood panel, urinalysis, fecal and heart worm testing for $149 (a $115 savings). To schedule an appointment for your old timer, click here or call 893.2380.
]]>