Kittens for adoption!
Are you looking to add a furry duo to your family? These two were recently surrendered to our care and will soon be ready to go to their furever home! They are a bonded pair so we would love to see them go to a home together. We think they are around 3 months old, they did have a pretty severe upper respiratory infection on arrival but are doing great on meds. Today they will be spayed and neutered! They have already been tested for felv/fiv and are negative! They are vaccinated and treated for parasites. There is a small adoption fee to cover their care and to help future kiddos!
This is a first for us at Avon Animal Hospital! While we have treated numerous heartworm positive dogs, we have never found microfilaria under the microscope. This is partly because we recommend keeping up to date on preventatives. If given appropriate preventatives, the microfilaria in the peripheral blood will be killed, however the dirofilarial in the heart remain untouched.
Heartworm is a potentially fatal disease transmitted through mosquito bites. For many years, heartworm wasn’t a concern in Nova Scotia, as the environment wasn’t conducive for the disease. Because of global warming and unregulated rescues, we now have a cause for concern.
With the influx of imported dogs from endemic areas (Texas, Georgia, Bahamas, Dominican etc.) heartworm is now more of a risk than it has ever been. Many of these dogs are being brought to us either without a proper screening test, or they have been tested but the disease has been downplayed, whether their results are negative or positive.
If at the time of importation they test negative, they must be tested 6 months after their arrival into the province. This is because of the life cycle of heartworms. If the dog were to be bitten by an infected mosquito on their last day before importation, the positive result may not show up until the 6 month mark.
If they test positive, they need to start treatment as soon as possible. The American Heartworm Society does not recommend the “slow kill” method. Due to the severity of heartworm disease, treatment of this disease is intense, costly and can last for months. They must be kept quiet throughout the course of treatment; this is because as the worms die, they can cause blockages (emboli) in the heart valves and vessels. Long term effects can include chronic (heart disease and lower airway disease) cardiovascular disease and respiratory complications.
In our experience, we find that rescues are greatly downplaying this horrible disease. It’s not that heartworm positive
Let this be your reminder that ticks are year round!!!
We first heard of Taco through an online social media post asking for help. It is never an easy day when any pet, especially a 3 month old kitten, needs expensive medical care. With an outpouring of community support, medical management was completed to help Taco through an episode of not eating and vomiting. Though Taco would temporarily improve, when treatment stopped he resumed his clinical signs. After 7 days, it became clear a more invasive and expensive treatment, surgery, could no longer be avoided.
It was originally suspected that Taco had a gastrointestinal foreign body caused by eating something he shouldn’t have. Sometimes, medical management can be effective but in Tacos situation, surgery was ultimately required. Funds were applied for through VetStrategy and we were able to provide Taco with the surgery that he needed.
He had a very complicated linear/string foreign body lodged in his stomach and into his intestines leading to an intussusception (intestines “accordioning” in on themselves) and perforated intestines. This required 15” of his small intestine to be removed. The fact that his intestines had perforated really emphasized how crucial this surgery was. He wouldn't have made it much longer with his gastric contents spilling into his abdomen.
The surgery went well and within 30 minutes of recovering, Taco was eating wet food!
Taco persevered and made a full recovery. It has been weeks since his surgery and he has resumed life of a normal kitten! Cats can do amazing things and this proves to us the extraordinary healing power of a kitten! Enjoy this video of him having his first few bites of food after surgery- pain free!
Sheeeee’s Landed!!
Dr. Jeannine has her winter hat back on and is looking forward to seeing everyone! Luckily she didn’t see her shadow so book your horse’s spring tune-ups now!
For After Hour Equine Emergencies (902)798-5314
For non-urgent equine inquiries email [email protected]
For urgent equine calls (9am – 6pm, M-F) (902)798-4633
Client Education Lecture: 3-Legged Lameness
Equine Education Lecture: 3-Legged Lameness
Is your pet protected against leptospirosis?
