Animal Haven Clinic

11/01/2024

Halloween at Animal Haven!! We enjoyed seeing our patients all dressed up.

10/11/2024

For anyone who is in Colorado or knows of anyone in Colorado, have them read the link below. They are having the public vote on creating a new veterinary position that will lack the education of the physician assistant that they compare it too. Most vets feel this won’t help the vet shortage and it will funnel students ( with more debt) into a dead end position that most vets won’t support and the degree will mean nothing out side of Colorado. Decide for yourself. Please vote. 😄

Veterinarians in Colorado are opposed to Proposition 129 and they are speaking out about it. Hear a local vet explain why adding a mid-level position will endanger animals and not result in better clinical outcomes for animals. Gain a new perspective on this critical issue and understand what is at....

06/19/2024

It’s getting hot! Dogs can’t sweat like humans do, so they overheat fast. Avoid being out in the heat of the day. All pets need shade. Careful walking your dogs on hot streets, sidewalks and sand- they can burn their feet!

If your pet starts showing signs of heat stroke DON’T saturate them in cold water. Use cool or tepid water and put it on their necks and chest. A drenched thick coat can actually insulate them more. Fans on damp skin can help cool faster. Don’t cool beyond 102-103 degrees or you start running the risk of hypothermia. IV fluids are often needed to help if they are more severely affected. The sicker they are the more danger they are in of dying! Heat stroke can be fatal. Take carry of your furry friends (and yourself) this summer. 😀

06/16/2024

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/heroic-new-mexico-dog-receives-global-praise-after-saving-family/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2dRS9Iliz1BjwVXOUF7gthLOup4-2TVcYBiI0SCKt1sOIIOgR8StW0UXs_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw

A dog who lives in northern New Mexico is capturing hearts around the world. His story is going viral after he risked his life to protect his family.

06/14/2024

We have light again! Hopefully it lasts.

06/14/2024

Power is still out. We can do basics but we can’t do bloodwork. We can’t admit patients. If anyone has a serious emergency please call the other clinics or Riverview in Durango.

06/14/2024

Our power is out at Animal Haven. The power company is working on it but we don’t know when we’ll have power. We may have to cancel and move appointments. We’ll keep this page updated as we see how it goes.

05/23/2024

Our internet is down for the next 4 hours on 5/23. This will affect our phones. Please leave messages or text when you call and we’ll work on getting back to you. Thank you

04/16/2024

This little Frenchie learned the hard way he should always chew anything he puts in his mouth.

The owners came home and found little Roofus with foam coming out of his mouth and nose. There were also piles everywhere! The owners called us right away that night because they suspected he was choking.

When they brought him in he was having a hard time breathing. We took a quick X-ray and found the obstruction. We outlined it in red on the x-ray. It was too big to go down but we weren’t sure how we would get it out without a scope. The owners had faith and wanted us to try.

We anesthetized Roofus and this immediately allowed him to breath better. We put him on his back with him out and getting oxygen and gas. We were able to feel the obstruction and gently push it up to his head. Frenchies have excess tissue in back of their mouths and it was swollen so it wouldn’t pop out but we were able to feel the chew either a finger and blindly grip it after several tries with hemostats and remove it all the way.
We started him on medication for possible infection and for any ulceration or irritation if the esophagus. Then he was ready to wake up.

As you can see in the picture he liked the breathing tube in so much it took a while before he even wanted it out.

A couple days later you couldn’t even tell he ever had an issue. He looked great!

03/12/2024

Two bobcats test positive for rabies in southwest New Mexico

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) Scientific Laboratory Division has confirmed that two bobcats, one in Grant County and one in Sierra County, have tested positive for rabies.

One bobcat attacked a man near his house in Grant County. The man is now receiving shots to prevent him from getting rabies. A dog in Sierra County was attacked by the second bobcat; the dog was up to date on his rabies vaccine, and his condition will be monitored for 45 days.

Animal rabies cases in New Mexico usually occur in wild animals like skunks, bats and foxes. Three rabid bobcats were identified in 2022, one in Catron County and two in Grant County.

Rabid wild animals may show no fear of people and be aggressive, or they may be quiet and appear tame. If you see a sick wild animal, or a wild animal acting abnormally, report it to your local animal control officer or your local New Mexico Department of Game and Fish game warden at https://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/download/enforcement/NMDGF-Conservation-Officer-Map-12-21-2023.pdf.

“State law requires all dogs and cats be vaccinated against rabies, a deadly viral disease that can be prevented but not cured,” said State Public Health Veterinarian Erin Phipps, DVM, MPH. “Unvaccinated pets exposed to a rabid animal must either be euthanized or put into strict isolation for four months to prevent them from exposing people to rabies.”

The NMDOH recommends the following to keep you and your family safe from rabies:

Always keep pets on a leash. Pets should be up to date on rabies vaccinations and wearing current license tags on their collar. If your cat or dog has been bitten or scratched, especially by a wild animal, call your pet’s veterinarian even if the wound is superficial.
Horses and other livestock should also be considered for rabies vaccination to protect them from rabid animals that may attack them.
Stay away from wild or unfamiliar animals. Do not attempt to feed, approach or touch wild animals (alive or dead). Teach this important message to your children and always keep a close eye on your children.
If you or someone you know is bitten by an animal, or comes into contact with an animal’s saliva, wash the exposed site immediately with soap and water. Be sure to report the bite to local animal control and seek medical care as soon as possible.
If you or your pets are bitten or otherwise exposed to the saliva of wild animals, seek medical care immediately and contact the NMDOH Helpline at (833) SWNURSE or (833) 796-8773.

For more info about rabies see the New Mexico Department of Health website at: https://nmhealth.org/about/erd/ideb/zdp/rab/.
# # #
NMDOH

01/19/2024

When is vomiting a good thing??

When your two 12 pound dogs have ingested 2.5 -70% cocoa chocolate bars between them.

Real case.

If your dog is small and ingests higher content chocolate this is a serious emergency and the sooner it’s handled the safer you dog will be. This much chocolate could cause seizures and possibly death. The caffeine absorbs within 30 min to an hour, theobromine maybe up to two hours and methylxanthines take a bit longer and stay in the system the longest ( and are the most dangerous).
You get anywhere from no symptoms depending on what’s ingested and size of dog to vomiting, diarrhea, muscle tremors and they can affect the heart. Or they can die. Getting all that out of their stomachs as soon as possible is best, otherwise you have to treat the symptoms as you try to flush them out over the next 72hours.

Lucky for everyone involved the owners called after only 30 min or so of ingestion. Once they got here and we got there vitals we fed them a meal. Sounds odd since we want them to vomit but more stuff in the stomach helps pick up everything and pull more out.
We have a new drop that we use. We put it in their eyes based on weight and they usually vomit within 20 min.

We treated our two little dogs and gave the family some potty pads and let them settle in to wait while we worked on the rest of the meds. It wasn’t long before we heard sounds coming from the exam room in stereo. It was much like the Fourth of July with all Oohs and Aahs but in their case it was more of a Ugg and Aah. Those little puppies made quite the mess and did a great job of removing almost everything possible. Exactly what we wanted. We were all so happy and exited to see pile after pile of puke in the room!

This helped eliminate a large amount of danger but the owners still had to feed or syringe activated charcoal to fully protect the little furry guys. Both the owners and the vet team agreed, vomiting was a great thing.

These little ones were rechecked and going great, no worse for their endeavor except for some charcoal on their coats.

12/23/2023

Gotta love dogs!

🤣🤣

12/22/2023

THIS JUST IN: USDA Issues Permit for Santa’s Reindeer to Enter the U.S.

(Washington, D.C., December 21, 2023) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today issued a transit permit to Mr. S. Nicholas Claus of the North Pole, a distributor with Gifts and Good Cheer, Inc. The permit will allow reindeer to enter and exit the United States between the hours of 6 p.m. on Dec. 24, 2023, and 6 a.m. on Dec. 25, 2023, local time, through or over any U.S. border port.

"USDA is delighted to grant Mr. Claus and his reindeer a special permit to enter the United States, ensuring a seamless journey for the joy they bring each holiday season," said Jenny Lester Moffitt, Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs. "We extend a warm welcome to Mr. Claus and recognize the vital role of U.S. milk and cookies in fueling his festive flight."

Veterinary officials ensured the reindeer met all entry requirements before issuing the permit. Dr. Rosemary Sifford, USDA’s Chief Veterinary Officer, stated: “At a recent inspection, the reindeer were found to be healthy and able to prance and paw with each hoof.”

It was noted on the health certificate that one reindeer, Rudolph, has a minor physical anomaly. However, APHIS indicated that Rudolph’s red nose, while bright, was normal for him and not a concern.

APHIS regulates the movement of cervids, including reindeer, to protect the health of America’s livestock population. The permitting process provides assurance that only healthy animals enter the United States.

USDA has confirmed that the reindeer will arrive pulling a wooden sleigh with jingling bells attached, filled with brightly wrapped gifts. Port personnel will clean and disinfect the runners and underside of the sleigh at the time of entry. They will also conduct a short visual inspection of the reindeer. Mr. Claus has been asked to disinfect his boots and thoroughly wash his hands. These measures are intended to prevent the entry of any livestock diseases the team may encounter during deliveries to farms and houses around the world prior to entering the United States.

Mr. Claus also provided an advance list of what port personnel should expect upon their arrival. This includes a variety of food items, all of which come from approved locations and none of which pose a threat to U.S. animal or plant health.

“It’s important that Gifts and Good Cheer, Inc. take all the right steps and precautions to protect against the potential introduction of pests and diseases,” explained Mr. Claus. “I appreciate USDA’s assistance every year as we gear up for our big night.”

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Bodhi Day, Noche Buena, Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa, Diwali, or other holidays during this time of year, USDA wishes you a happy and healthy season full of time-honored traditions and celebrations.

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11/21/2023

We haven’t seen this yet but here is some information since this is being publicized.

Learn the signs of canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC), or “kennel cough,” and how to protect your pet from this highly contagious illness affecting the respiratory tract in dogs.

11/10/2023

10/20/2023

An application has has been submitted for a Cannabis retail store, RIGHT next store to our clinic.
We would like your input on this. There is a meeting on 10/26 at 3 pm at City Hall. If you have strong feelings about this please let us know and consider voicing your opinion at the meeting. There is already a Cannabis store a block away. We need some good points to make to the planning and zoning commission.

Could this affect your choice to bring your pets to our clinic?

Thanks everybody!!

09/02/2023

West Nile Update

September 1, 2023

New Mexico Health Department reports first West Nile virus death of 2023

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) reports a Valencia County man is the first death in 2023 linked to West Nile virus in the state.
The death is one of now 36 human cases confirmed by DOH this year through the end of August.

West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States. It’s typically spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito, and the disease can vary in severity. Most infections go unnoticed while others cause flu-like symptoms. The most severe cases cause neuroinvasive disease which affects the brain and nervous system and can result in death.

Infections have been confirmed in residents of Bernalillo, Doña Ana, Lea, Mora, Rio Arriba, San Juan, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Taos, Torrance, Union, and Valencia Counties. The virus has also been identified in sixteen horses and two birds from Colfax, Doña Ana, Los Alamos, McKinley, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Sierra, Torrance, Union, and Valencia Counties.

West Nile virus is transmitted primarily by mosquitoes which are most active during dawn and dusk. Mosquito populations can develop with or without rain, using stagnant water from everyday sources like plant watering and irrigation. They can breed in small containers found around homes.

Both case numbers and deaths among humans vary widely year-to-year. Over the past five years, between one and six New Mexicans residents have died each year from West Nile virus.

There are no medications to treat or vaccines to prevent West Nile virus infection in humans. People ages 50 years and older and those with other health issues are at highest risk of becoming seriously ill or dying when they become infected with the virus. If people have symptoms and suspect West Nile virus infection, they should contact their healthcare provider.

Symptoms of the milder form of illness, West Nile fever, can include headache, fever, muscle and joint aches, nausea and fatigue. People with West Nile fever typically recover on their own, although symptoms may last for weeks to months. Symptoms of West Nile neuroinvasive disease can include those of West Nile fever plus neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis.

DOH again reminds residents to protect yourself from infection in the following ways:

· Use an approved insect repellent every time you go outside and follow the instructions on the label. Among the EPA-approved repellents are those that contain DEET, picaridin, IR3535 and oil of lemon eucalyptus/para-menthane-diol.
· Eliminate water-holding containers where mosquitoes lay their eggs, such as old tires, empty cans, and other unneeded outdoor items that can hold water.
· Drain the water in birdbaths, wading pools, and saucers under potted plants weekly.
· Make sure rain barrels are tightly screened.
· Wear long sleeves and pants at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
· Keep windows and doors closed if not screened. If you leave your house doors or windows open, make sure they have screens that fit tightly and have no holes.

For more information about West Nile virus, including fact sheets in English and Spanish, go to the DOH’s West Nile webpage.

08/07/2023

Mini Army Chronicles

Sid having fun.