Meet Duke!
Duke is a 11 month old Pittie, who presented to us for a foreign body obstruction.
A gastrotomy (surgical removal of the foreign object from the stomach) was performed, along with a resection and anastomosis (surgical removal of a section of the intestines). Duke had gotten into a hair tie and a few other items of contraband.
Fortunately, Duke recovered very well and he is at home giving Mom all the best kisses!
Maggie's Pleurodesis
Pneumothorax is a condition where air leaks out of the lungs into the chest cavity, which compresses the lungs and makes it very difficult to breathe. It can be life-threatening, especially if the air continues to leak and build up around the lungs. Pneumothorax is most commonly seen due to trauma, such as being hit by a car, but a pneumothorax can also develop without trauma. This is called spontaneous pneumothorax, and is a condition we see in dogs, people, and less commonly cats.
Spontaneous pneumothorax can be the result of underlying lung disease, which can cause large air pockets to develop in the lungs called bulla or blebs. These bulla/blebs can rupture and leak air around the lungs. Clinical signs of a spontaneous pneumothorax include restlessness, labored/short shallow breathing, and fast breathing. While we often diagnose a pneumothorax with x-rays, CT scans are also performed to help determine the cause of a spontaneous pneumothorax.
Maggie, a 2-year-old Labrador, presented to Pet+E.R. Hunt Valley as a transfer from another emergency clinic for spontaneous pneumothorax. She was seen at the first hospital with the complaint of shallow breathing that was worsening. She had x-rays taken, which showed free air around her lungs. The free air was compressing her lungs and making it hard for her to breathe. She was given some sedation and had some of the air removed from around her lungs with a needle to help her breathing during transport.
Maggie was breathing better when she presented to us, but recheck x-rays confirmed that there was still a pneumothorax. Maggie was placed under general anesthesia (this is much safer than sedation for this procedure), and our team placed two chest tubes, one on each side of her chest. The chest tubes were attached to a continuous suction device to continuously remove the air that was leaking from her lungs. Maggie was continued on pain medication and antibiotics overnight, and the following day she received a CT scan o
Marijuana contains psychoactive substance called tetrahydrocannabinol or THC that is toxic to pets. Dogs and cats are MUCH more sensitive to THC than humans.
Pets can be poisoned by marijuana in different ways: they can eat commercial or homemade edibles, in the form of baked goods or candies; or directly ingest it from marijuana-related products such as oils or inhalers; or they can inhale it through second-hand smoke.
Signs can occur anywhere from 5 minutes to days after a pet is exposed.
Signs may include:
⚠ Lethargy
⚠ Overreaction to sounds
⚠ Dilated pupils or glassed-over eyes
⚠ Dazed expression
⚠ Difficulty walking
⚠ Vomiting
Other signs can include:
⚠ Low or high heart rate
⚠ Whining or crying
⚠ Agitation
⚠ Increased or decreased body temperature
⚠ Incontinence/dribbling urine
⚠ Tremors
⚠ Seizures
⚠ Coma
If you suspect your pet may have ingested marijuana, contact us immediately at 410-252-8387.
You can also connect with the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (fees may apply).
Happy Thanksgiving 🦃
Today, and all through the year, we are grateful for your trust in our team when your pet is in need of medical care.
From the Pet+E.R. Columbia family to yours, we wish you a happy, healthy, and safe Thanksgiving. 🦃🧡
Congratulations to our 2023 Halloween Costume Contest winner!
TILLY!!! 🧡🎉
In preparation for tomorrow and the pre-game fireworks tonight, Dogtor Mushka and her mum Dr. Kramer are here to give you some safety tips and pointers to keep your fur-babies calm and safe. If the unfortunate does happen—we are always here for you—but we do hope we don’t see you! Have a safe and happy 4th of July!
Our little friend Hoss stopped by to say hi to Justin, Scott and Spiegel on 98 Rock this morning before a meeting to discuss our next partnership! We think it goes without saying that Josh Spiegel got a nice surprise.
Pet+E.R. and BARCS Check Presentation
Remember that time when, for the third year in a row, we had the distinct honor of presenting BARCS with a check for $8,000 as sponsorship for the Baltimore Orioles Pet Calendar? Well - in case you forgot, here's a little something to remind you.
Did the Ravens sign a new player?
Did the Baltimore Ravens sign a new mascot?
How many of you caught the adorable kitten intruder during last night's whopping victory over the Miami Dolphins?
We surely hope one of the Ravens team members became a cat guy last night!
