Cats and Lizards

Cats and Lizards

One of the first things people notice when they move to South Florida is the abundance of wild lizards.  Their darting, scurrying movements are entrancing to watch - and even more so for our cats!  While our feline friends may delight in stalking and hunting lizards, these common backyard denizens can pose serious risks for our cats.  Lizards in South Florida often carry liver flukes, a parasitic worm that, when ingested by a cat, can cause damage to the liver and pancreas.

Cats with liver flukes do not always develop clinical signs right away.  This is one of the reasons routine, wellness bloodwork is so important for cats in South Florida. As the parasite takes hold, infected cats can become jaundiced, lethargic, inappetant, or anorexic.  They may suffer from vomiting or diarrhea.  Liver flukes can be treated with a series of anti-parasitic injections, and most patients make a full recovery.  While lizards do occasionally find their way indoors, outdoor, predatory cats are most at risk.  Reduced exposure to this nasty parasite is yet another reason why our cats deserve to live indoors.

August Pet of the Month

August Pet of the Month

Taco is a year old mixed-breed sweetheart who was living alone in a yard in Cutler Bay.  When his family lost their home to foreclosure, they moved out and abandoned him in the yard to fend for himself. While the neighbors were kind enough to give him food and water, he cried day and night for the family that left him behind.  When his new family heard about his situation, they took him in and fell in love.  He has settled in beautifully and is living the life of a pampered pooch.  With a little help from Edel Miedes with K9 Advisors, he is now up to speed on his training.  Congratulations, Taco, for hitting the forever home jackpot! And for being our August Pet of the Month!  #foreverhome #nomorecrying.

Saltwater Toxicity

Saltwater Toxicity

Learn how to keep your pooch safe at the beach

If your dogs are anything like ours, they probably know that the smell of sunblock equals a trip to the beach!  What they don’t know, however, is that drinking that salty surf can be hazardous to their health.  Even small amounts of seawater can cause a condition called hypernatremia, also known as saltwater toxicity.  Clinical signs of mild hypernatremia are often limited to vomiting and diarrhea.  However if your pet ingests larger amounts of seawater, these signs can progress to lethargy, inappetance, stumbling, kidney damage, seizures, neurological damage, and even death.  Hypernatremia can only be reversed with aggressive IV fluid therapy.  If you suspect your dog may have ingested saltwater, call your veterinarian immediately.

Since dogs overheat far more quickly than their human companions, they feel the need to re-hydrate much sooner than we do.  This leads them to attempt to quench their thirst by drinking from the ocean.  The saltwater only increases the sensation of thirst, which compels them to drink even more.  If you plan on taking your dog to the beach, be certain to offer fresh cold water every 15 minutes.  Pick a beach with shady spots, or bring a beach umbrella and encourage frequent breaks from the heat.  While saltwater toxicity is treatable, prevention is always the best medicine.