POLK VETERINARY CLINIC

07/20/2024

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has reported that several dogs were sickened by salmon poisoning in the Newport area. Salmon poisoning disease (fish disease) is a potentially fatal condition seen in dogs who have ingested certain types of raw fish found in the Pacific Northwest from San Francisco to the coast of Alaska. It is most prevalent from northern California to the Puget Sound. It is also seen inland along the rivers of fish migration.

Salmon, trout, and other fish such as the lamprey, sculpin, redside shiner, shad, sturgeon, candlefish and the large-scale sucker who spend their lives in coastal streams and rivers in the Pacific Northwest can be infected with the organism Neorickettsia helmonthoeca.

Symptoms To Watch For
If not treated, salmon poisoning disease is usually fatal within 2 weeks after exposure. The symptoms of salmon poisoning disease are similar to other gastrointestinal diseases such as canine parvovirus. If infected, your dog would likely show some or all of the following symptoms about 6 to 10 days after ingesting fish which were carrying the bacteria. Symptoms may be of variable severity but generally consist of:
* Fever, often greater than 104 F
* Depression
* Anorexia
* Vomiting
* Diarrhea
* Nasal or eye discharge
* Weight loss

If you know your dog has ingested raw fish and it exhibits any of the symptoms listed above, notify your veterinarian immediately. If identified in time, salmon poisoning disease is treatable. A helpful part of the diagnosis is telling your veterinarian that your dog ate raw fish, even if you only suspect that may be the case.

Prevention
* Control what your dog eats while on fishing trips.
* Leash your dog at the beach or river so that you can monitor its activities.
* Wrap garbage, especially fish entrails, and dispose in well-secured cans.
* Don't feed raw fish to your dog. Cook fish thoroughly or deep-freeze it for a minimum of 2 weeks to destroy the parasite before feeding it to your dog.

07/20/2024

Very common but treatable especially if caught early.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has reported that several dogs were sickened by salmon poisoning in the Newport area. Salmon poisoning disease (fish disease) is a potentially fatal condition seen in dogs who have ingested certain types of raw fish found in the Pacific Northwest from San Francisco to the coast of Alaska. It is most prevalent from northern California to the Puget Sound. It is also seen inland along the rivers of fish migration.

Salmon, trout, and other fish such as the lamprey, sculpin, redside shiner, shad, sturgeon, candlefish and the large-scale sucker who spend their lives in coastal streams and rivers in the Pacific Northwest can be infected with the organism Neorickettsia helmonthoeca.

Symptoms To Watch For
If not treated, salmon poisoning disease is usually fatal within 2 weeks after exposure. The symptoms of salmon poisoning disease are similar to other gastrointestinal diseases such as canine parvovirus. If infected, your dog would likely show some or all of the following symptoms about 6 to 10 days after ingesting fish which were carrying the bacteria. Symptoms may be of variable severity but generally consist of:
* Fever, often greater than 104 F
* Depression
* Anorexia
* Vomiting
* Diarrhea
* Nasal or eye discharge
* Weight loss

If you know your dog has ingested raw fish and it exhibits any of the symptoms listed above, notify your veterinarian immediately. If identified in time, salmon poisoning disease is treatable. A helpful part of the diagnosis is telling your veterinarian that your dog ate raw fish, even if you only suspect that may be the case.

Prevention
* Control what your dog eats while on fishing trips.
* Leash your dog at the beach or river so that you can monitor its activities.
* Wrap garbage, especially fish entrails, and dispose in well-secured cans.
* Don't feed raw fish to your dog. Cook fish thoroughly or deep-freeze it for a minimum of 2 weeks to destroy the parasite before feeding it to your dog.

07/10/2024

When visiting the lake, river or reservoir this summer, please be on the lookout for cyanobacteria (toxic algae) blooms.

Blooms may look like mats floating in the water or stuck on the bottom or the shore. Watch for waters that look suspicious—foamy, scummy, thick like paint, pea-green, blue-green or brownish red, or with bright green cells suspended in the water column. When in doubt, stay out!

Dogs have become very sick and even died after swimming in and swallowing water affected by toxic algae. If you find thick, brightly colored foam or scum at a lake, pond or river, don’t let your pet drink or swim in the water. Avoid contact with the water, as toxins can be absorbed through the skin.

Exposure to toxic blue-green algae can result in the following symptoms in dogs:
* Weakness or collapse
* Nausea, vomiting
* Excessive drooling
* Abdominal pain
* Diarrhea
* Difficulty breathing
* Shaking, trembling
* Tremors, rigidity, paralysis

If your dog goes into the water:
* Don’t let your pet lick its fur.
* Wash your pet with clean water as soon as possible.
* If your dog has symptoms such as drooling, weakness, vomiting, staggering and convulsions after being in water, **seek immediate veterinary care**. Acute, life-threatening symptoms from cyanobacterial toxins often develop rapidly. Death can occur within minutes to hours after exposure.

A health advisory has been issued for McKay Reservoir in Umatilla County. Pets and people should avoid contact with the affected water.

Not all waterways in Oregon are monitored for cyanobacteria, which is why owners need to be vigilant. When advisories are issued, we post them here: https://www.oregonvma.org/toxic-algae-advisories

04/30/2024

I bet some of you can relate (dog or cat!)

03/29/2024

As Easter approaches, here are some reminders about potential hazards for pets in common Easter decorations and foods.

Easter lilies are highly toxic to cats
All parts of the Easter lily plant are poisonous—the petals, the leaves, the stem and even the pollen. Cats that ingest as few as one or two leaves, or even a small amount of pollen while grooming their fur, can suffer severe kidney failure.

Many other varieties of the lily family, including tiger, day, rubrum, stargazer, and Japanese show are also toxic to cats and can cause kidney failure within 72 hours. These lilies are commonly found in florist bouquets, so it is imperative to check for poisonous flowers before bringing bouquets into the household.

In most situations, symptoms of poisoning will develop within six to 12 hours of exposure. Early signs include vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy and dehydration. Symptoms worsen as kidney failure develops. Some cats will experience disorientation, staggering and seizures.

There is no effective antidote to counteract lily poisoning, so the sooner you can get your cat to the veterinarian, the better the chances of survival will be. If you see your cat licking or eating any part of an Easter lily, call your veterinarian or a pet poison helpline immediately. If left untreated, the chances of survival are low.

Easter grass
Also potentially harmful is the fake plastic "grass" that often accompanies Easter baskets. When your cat or dog ingests something stringy like this "grass," it can become anchored around the base of the tongue or stomach, rendering it unable to pass through the intestines. It can result in a linear foreign body and cause severe damage to the intestinal tract, often requiring expensive abdominal surgery.

Chocolate
While the occasional chocolate chip in one cookie may not be an issue, certain types of chocolate are very toxic to dogs. In general, the darker and more bitter the chocolate, the greater the danger. Baker’s chocolate and dark chocolate pose the biggest problem. The chemical toxicity is due to methylxanthines (a relative of caffeine) and results in vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, an abnormal heart rhythm, seizures, and possibly death. Other sources include chewable chocolate flavored multi-vitamins, baked goods, or chocolate-covered espresso beans. If you suspect that your dog ate chocolate, call your veterinarian.

Plastic eggs
Dogs may find plastic Easter eggs remarkably similar to balls, but, if eaten, the sharp pieces of plastic can cause GI issues.

Pennies (and coins)
If you (or the Easter bunny) leaves coin-filled eggs for little ones to find, please be aware that pennies, in particular, can be toxic if ingested. Pennies minted after 1982 contain zinc, which can be harmful if consumed. If your dog, cat, or bird ingests coins, please contact your veterinarian.

03/29/2024

Over in Madras area and often have some adorable puppies and kittens needing homes as well as adults.

01/20/2024

01/20/2024

For some light amusement (as we get over the ice and snow)

12/09/2023

Best staff party yet! Great crew and thank you to Lora Michele Dance Studio for an awesome event! (We definitely recommend Loramicheledance.com)

10/22/2023

No comment lol

10/06/2023

October is National Pet Wellness Month. Protect your pet's health and quality of life by taking it to your veterinarian for a health exam at least once per year. Twice a year is recommended for senior pets.

A health exam will help determine the general well-being of your pet and can identify potential problems. Early detection of diseases can improve your pet's chances of successful treatment, and save you money over the long run, too.

09/23/2023

Love cats!

05/10/2023

Thought this was interesting (and we love kids and cats).

We are doing a research study that will examine the effect of a family-cat-assisted intervention on social wellbeing for children between 10-12 years old. We believe that incorporating the family c…

03/21/2023

Intro to Vet Tech Careers

Who: Youth ages 13-18 (You do not need to be a 4-H member)
What: Learn from PCC Rock Creek Vet Tech students what it’s like to be in the veterinary industry! Participants will get an overview of the program, facilities, and what it takes to apply and get accepted into the program.

When: 10am-12pm, Saturday April 15

Where: Portland Community College – Rock Creek (17705 NW Springville Rd. Portland, OR 97229)

Cost: $20 (40 spots available, must register by April 1)

Registration link: beav.es/SgM

03/20/2023

FYI apparently you will sometimes be sent to the Walmart Pharmacy when you call us. Our phone company says it's fine on our end. We are trying to call Walmart and see if they can check there end. We apologize if this happens. Apparently if you keep calling it will eventually go through to us.

01/31/2023

Just too cute

Happy Caturday! In case you never played rock paper scissors with your cat. These are the rule;)

12/24/2022

For all those Christmas Cookie bakers.

🤣🤣🤣

12/23/2022

UPDATE: We will be closed all day. With closure of part of Ellendale and many other area issues stay home and stay safe. Due to unsafe driving conditions (and most of the staff iced in) we are closed to at least noon today and probably all day. We will reassess roads late morning. We will work on rescheduling next week. Please stay safe/stay home.

12/21/2022

11/19/2022

Always

10/11/2022

Here are our featured Polk County Pups this week!

Tune in for another round in the coming weeks and check out a couple of quick facts below regarding animal control.

FACT: Cats are not considered property without identification associating them with an owner. Your cat must be chipped or wear a tag on its collar in order to be considered owned property. Thus, stray cats are not held to the same standards when it comes to state ordinances such as trespass and at large.

FACT: There is no county ordinance regarding barking dogs (cities have their own ordinances which vary). In order for a barking dog to become an enforceable issue with our agency, the barking would need to be excessive and prolonged after other formal means to resolve the issue has been attempted and failed to yield results. So, if you have a neighbor that leaves their dog in their yard for long periods and it likes to bark frequently while out, we would recommend you begin with having a conversation with your neighbor and requesting they attempt to remedy the situation prior to calling our office to launch a complaint that we will likely not be able to take action on.

There is a plethora of additional information on our website with insights and advice regarding common issues we see daily here:
https://www.co.polk.or.us/sheriff/barking-dogs

09/22/2022

Just FYI saw a lot of cat and small carriers at H20 here in Dallas Wednesday in their outside area. If you are in need of low cost carrier and don't mind cleaning them up a great place to find one.

09/14/2022

09/14/2022

September is Animal Pain Awareness Month. Animals suffer from pain just as people do. Acute pain is obvious and distressing, while chronic pain can be subtle, and masked as “getting old” or “slowing down.” Old age is not a disease, but pain is. Regular veterinary check-ups (2x per year for senior pets) can help discover potential causes of pain. There are many options to treat the various causes of pain in animals including pain medications, physical rehabilitation, acupuncture, laser therapy, and therapeutic massage. And all animals can affected by pain, not just pets. Your veterinarian can help your pet, equine, livestock or exotic pet live a healthy and pain free life.

08/02/2022

This is important to watch for this time of year!!!

It's the time of year when toxic algae blooms are more prevalent in Oregon. Health advisories for toxic algae levels have been issued for the following bodies of water: Upper Klamath Lake and Cronemiller Lake. We update this page when we become aware of advisories: https://oregonvma.org/news/toxic-algae-advisories

Not all bodies of water in Oregon are monitored so be on the lookout for waters that look suspicious — foamy, scummy, thick like paint, pea-green, blue-green or brownish red, or bright green cells suspended in the water column. When in doubt, stay out!

Dogs have become very sick and even died after swimming in and swallowing water affected by toxic algae. If you find thick, brightly colored foam or scum at a lake, pond or river, don’t let your pet drink or swim in the water. Avoid contact with the water, as toxins can be absorbed through the skin.

Exposure to toxic blue-green algae can result in:
* Weakness or collapse
* Nausea, vomiting
* Excessive drooling
* Abdominal pain
* Diarrhea
* Difficulty breathing
* Shaking, trembling
* Tremors, rigidity, paralysis

If your dog goes into the water:
* Don’t let your pet lick its fur.
* Wash your pet with clean water as soon as possible.
* If your dog has symptoms such as drooling, weakness, vomiting, staggering and convulsions after being in water, seek immediate veterinary care. Acute, life-threatening symptoms from cyanobacterial toxins often develop rapidly. Death can occur within minutes to hours after exposure.

07/05/2022

A different view

📸: drawtism

05/19/2022

For those of you with birds/poultry.

Search for an address or location to see if you are located within a current HPAI Control or Infection Zone.