Let’s play a game!
Can anyone guess what these little creatures are we found under the microscope?!
Hint- Our monthly product called Nexgard Combo will prevent your pet from getting these!
Happy Friday, friends!!
Tess and Ox are happy to roll into the weekend with this much excitement! TGIF!
Spur Ridge Vet Hospital
Experience the Spur Ridge difference!
Why is it important to have your pet seen by the Vet at least twice a year?
This patient came in for a quick Biannual Exam where we look at their ears and teeth and we found her to have a fractured molar that needed to be removed. Broken teeth in pets is very common and can cause them pain.
Another common problem we find at these visits are ear infections, which if left untreated can cause a hematoma and require surgery at that point.
🐾Be sure to bring your four legged family members to visit us often! 🐾
👉Viewer discretion is advised👈
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Ear Mites caught on Video Otoscope
Here is a short clip we took using our video otoscope in clinic. This tool is handy so we can show clients exactly what we are seeing in their pets' ears.
This clip shows a cats ear that is infested with ear mites.
Ear problems in general are uncommon in cats, but among the afflictions that do occur, ear-mite infestation is frequently diagnosed. Although it can’t hop or fly, an ear mite—otherwise known as Otodectes cynotis—can crawl. And if one of these miniscule parasites enters your cat’s ear, makes itself at home, and starts to breed, it can cause major damage unless promptly evicted.
The typical external signs are quite obvious: the cat’s outer ear is likely to be inflamed, and the animal will hold its ears flat against its head, scratch at them almost without letup, and shake its head frequently—as if trying to dislodge a bothersome object. They are also detectable by the mess they make inside an infested animal’s ear canal—a dark, gooey, foul-smelling accumulation of wax and mite debris in which the tiny critter thrives.
Electrosurgical removal of a gingival mass. The mass was firmly attached to the bone over the tooth root and had to be cut then scraped off. A gum flap was used to repair the hole. The electrosurgery cuts and cauterizes tissue so there is very little bleeding.
This case was a 9yr old female spayed Dachshund (17lbs dog) that presented for a wellness exam and routine vaccinations but we recommended senior blood/urine screening. Bloodwork was normal but when feeling her abdomen it was noticed there was a firm lump present and ultrasound for urine collection from her bladder showed no urine present and shadowing consistent with a stone. Xray confirmed one large bladder stone present taking up the majority of her bladder. The bladder stone was removed under anesthesia and while she was under we cleaned up her teeth and xrays determined root infections of a few teeth that required extraction. The stone will be sent off for lab analysis to see what kind of minerals it consists of which gives us an idea what we can do to prevent stone formation in the future. She was sent home with antibiotics, pain medication and a new dog food designed to promote urinary tract health and keep the urine pH at a level that helps prevent UTI’s and stone formation. She went home 1 day after surgery and was doing great! This is yet another reason why annual wellness exams and senior lab work for dogs and cats can be so beneficial to overall health!
fleas in February
Just a friendly PSA for our pet owners- this is why we recommend treating for flea and ticks year round.
We have had several clients in within the last month experiencing problems with fleas. This video was taken today in the clinic. Our patient came in with several live fleas present.
Given that we are in Kansas, and our temperatures can go from 50 degrees to 10 degrees in less than 24 hours, it is hard for the cold to kill off all live fleas. Fleas can live outdoors for up to five days in temperatures as low as 33 degrees. That is long enough for the flea to latch onto your animal and come into your home and begin to lay their eggs. Flea eggs can live year round in protected areas such as porches and crawl spaces, having access to your pets.
If you have any questions about fleas, ticks, or any other pet related questions, please let us know! We'll be more than happy to help answer your questions! :)
This is a 2yr old bull with a progressively enlarging mass over a month’s time under the jaw line. Did not seem to respond well to antibiotic treatment. The lowest portion of the mass was clipped and scrubbed and a needle sample revealed a coagulated consistency of pus. The abscess was then lanced with a scalpel blade to facilitate drainage. The mass was expressed and a finger was used to loosen the abscess debris from the pocket. The pocket was then flushed with dilute betadine to ensure as much debris and pus was flushed from the pocket. The incision is left open for drainage and will heal over on its own in a few weeks. He was treated with injectable antibiotics.
This middle aged mare, two months post weaning her foal, developed severe mastitis. Both glands were very swollen, warm and painful. Ultrasound and a needle tap into the back of the glands revealed pus. This warranted surgical drainage of the pockets to get rid of the infection and allow for flushing. Several gallons of pus were drained from the glands and incisions left open to allow drainage and healing. She was prescribed several weeks of antibiotics and a week of anti-inflammatory medications. She is now doing very well and is completely healed and back to normal.
Success!!
We would like to share the story of Bugsy, who was the first rabbit to get neutered at Spur Ridge! Bugsy is the pet bunny of our own Meg Wheeler. Rabbits are extremely sensitive to anesthesia, so it can be a risky procedure. However, after continual behavior issues, Meg & John decided to go forward with the procedure. Dr. Cox and Dr. Kraus researched tirelessly prior to the procedure, and both were involved in the delicate process. We are happy to report that it was extremely successful! Not only was Bugsy safe and healthy, but his behavior improved tremendously as soon as a week after his neuter. We have compiled a short video so Bugsy can show off his moves....enjoy!
Case of the Week: Here Dr. Kraus removes a bladder stone from an 8 year old springer spaniel.