Tuesday, January 11, 2011

War Eagle? Quack Quack?

So, I sat down with my husband last night to watch the National Championships between the Tigers and the Ducks.  I got about 6 minutes into the game and my phone rang...colic call. Great! Just what I wanted to do when it is 32 degrees outside!  But, it is my job, so when someone needs me, I must go. I took off my Snuggie, put on my thermal underwear, jeans and boots, left my husband snuggled up by the fire and headed out to the country.

Kenny was the horses' name and he was definitely colicky.  For clarity, colic simply means an acute onset of abdominal pain. Typical signs of colic in a horse are pawing at the ground, rolling, biting at the flank area, and sweating.  Kenny's only symptom was wanting to lay down and roll. Many owners will feel the need to see if they can wait it out and hopefully the horse will "work it out."  Let me give a little piece of advice... the earlier the call the cheaper the emergency fee. I would much rather be working on a colicking horse, or any other emergency for that matter, at seven or eight o'clock rather than midnight! And might I just add, if I have to get up out the bed and out of my pajama's, the emergency fee is much larger. Sorry, but that's just the way it goes.

So, I get out to the barn and treat Kenny as I would any typical colic.  He received intravenous pain medicine and a smooth muscle relaxer, some sedation and was tubed with some warm water and mineral oil and treated with Ulcerguard.  After talking with the owner this morning, he seems to be doing fine. 

The lesson here is that Kenny's owner did the right thing.  When she noticed he was feeling painful, she called the vet.  We were able to treat Kenny's pain while it was manageable.  Colics are medical conditions that can escalate very quickly and turn into a surgical condition in just a matter of an hour or so.  My advice...don't play the "wait and see" game.

Oh, and congratulations Tigers!

Monday, January 10, 2011

Hills Pet Fit Challenge!

Hill's Pet Nutrition has started up the "Pet Fit Challenge."  The Challenge is open now and you may enter at any time over the next three months (closes March 31, 2011)  If you have helped your pet (dog or cat) lose weight using either Science Diet or Hill's Weight management foods, and have the pics to prove, you should enter. The winner is chosen based on the submission of an essay and photographs about their weight loss journey.  Finalists will win an expense paid trip to an undisclosed location and will have chance to win up to $1,000,000.  Minmum prizes are $10,000.  Go to PetFit.com for full details and get entered to win some big bucks!!!

Exciting News!

We are excited to tell that Scout, the kitty we posted about last week, has found a new home.  He will be a resident of Dougherty County now.  We know his new folks are going to give a great home with abundant love.  Hopefully they will keep us posted on his well being and bring him back for a visit from time to time.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

New Cat for Adoption

We have this new cat here at the clinic which came from my husband's office, Longleaf Dental, in Albany.  It seems a feral cat colony resides in the undeveloped area between Longleaf and Flint Community Bank.  They are thriving off the garbage from the Mexican Restaurant behind them.  Well, this one kitty, who is not so feral, was trying to come in the front door with their clients.  He is such a friendly cat, we decided to find him a home.  He has been tested for Feline Leukemia and Feline Infectious Virus and both were negative.  He has been castrated, de-wormed and completely vaccinated. I feel he needs to be an outside cat as he has a lot of energy.  He has demonstrated the potential to be a good "mouse.r" I say this because he has murdered several stuffed mice placed in his pen.  Whoever takes home this special cat will have a good friend and a lot of entertainment! Come by and take a peak at him.  As always if you take him home and he does not jive with the rest of the family, he is always welcomed back to our home.  Currently we call him Scout, but I think he will answer to just about anything.