Hospital Will Match Food Donations Pound for Pound*
WHO/WHAT:
Hollywood Animal Hospital (HAH) is proud to once again join Broward Meals on Wheels (BMOW) for Companion Animals to collect food for pets of homebound seniors throughout Broward County. The success of last year’s food
drive far exceeded our expectation and resulted in a total donation of 4000lbs of pet food. With the support this year of many of our local purveyors, we are once again able to match donations received.*
Donations of canned and dry food for cats & dogs made from November 15th- December 20, 2014 will be matched by the HAH*.
BMOW
delivers pet food once a month to homebound seniors who need assistance
taking care of their in-home pets. Pet food is provided through the
generosity of community donations. The need for donations of cat food is
in particular demand among BMOW clients.
For additional information on BMOW, please visit http://www.bmow.org/our-services/.
WHEN:
November 15th- December 20, 2014
7:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Monday - Saturday
WHERE:
Hollywood Animal Hospital
(Drop off sites in both the main hospital and annex building)
2864 Hollywood Boulevard, one block east of I-95
Hollywood, Florida 33020
954.920.3556
HOW:
Just stop by with a donation of canned, dry or dehydrated food for cats or dogs.
At the HAH, we believe that giving back to the people that supports us is paramount. Founded in 1947, our commitment is to our community.
Broward Meals on Wheels for Companion Animals
started when volunteers began to notice clients sharing their meals
with their pets. Senior on a restricted budget can have a difficult time
meeting their own needs and often the needs of their companion animals
can be neglected. With only the support of volunteers and donation this
organization provides delivery of food for these loyal pets once a month
to clients of BMOW. For more information visit www.bmow.org or call
HAH.
*the HAH will match the first 1500lbs of food donated.
Through a generous partnership with Vetrix, Dr. Jennifer Bibevski was able to apply an extracellular matrix material to the burn wounds Moon received during the domestic dispute discovered only weeks ago.
This Vetrix
SIS Extracellular Matrix material is used far and wide within the human
medical field. Vetrix uses the same technology to regenerate tissue in
the veterinary medical field. While this technology has the capability
to regenerate heart valves, in the veterinary field, Vetrix is used from
everything involving dermal injuries to internal soft tissue
reconstruction.
Medical-biomaterial-company CorMatrix Cardiovascular,
based in Georgia, had developed an extracellular matrix material, a
collagen framework that cells could attach to and hold the organs
together. It has the structure, shape, and signaling properties to
attract stem cells.
“If you put this sub-mucosal tissue anywhere in the
body, it functions like a fisherman’s net. It captures stem cells
flowing through the bloodstream right where you want them. It’s like
having the framework of a house that can actually recruit all the bricks
and wood need to create a perfect house,”
- Redmond Paul Burke, MD,
Chief, Division of Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery at Miami Children’s
Hospital
The stem cells that are captured morph
into the tissue needed for the malfunctioning organ to work properly.
See the videoof a young girl who’s life was changed when a new heart valve was fashioned using only extracellular matrix.
Today, Moon is resting comfortably as this new 'patch' works with her cells to regrow her skin and shorten her healing time. Thank you to the generosity of the community both locally, nationally and internationally her bills have been offset by donations and her 'room' has been given a bit more spirit.
Definition: Obesity (the storage of excess fat) is usually caused by
excessive food intake and insufficient exercise.
Estimates show that 40% to 50% of dogs are overweight and 25% of
dogs are obese.
Dogs can develop many obesity-related health problems.
By examining your dog, veterinarians determine whether he or she
is overweight or obese and help you create a weight-loss program.
The most effective weight-loss plans involve increasing activity
and feeding fewer calories. Causes Obesity (the storage of excess fat) is
typically caused by excessive food intake and insufficient exercise.
According to estimates, 40% to 50% of dogs are overweight and 25%
are obese. Obesity is more common in older, less active pets. Dogs that are fed
homemade meals, table scraps and snacks are more likely to be overweight than
dogs eating only a high-quality commercial pet food.
Diagnosis and treatment
There are many obesity-related health problems, and some medical
conditions can lead to obesity. So it’s important to take your dog in for
annual checkups. Remember, you can’t judge if your dog is overweight merely by
putting him or her on a scale. By examining your dog, veterinarians can use
weight, overall body condition, and other indicators to tell you whether he or
she is overweight or obese, what the probable cause is, and what the best
weight-loss regimen is. Don’t feel bad if you are told your dog is too
heavy.
Everyone knows that dieting can be challenging. But losing weight
can help your dog live longer, avoid disease and feel better, so it is well
worth the effort. Get veterinary advice before changing your dog’s eating and
exercise habits. Veterinarians are trained to recommend an appropriate diet and
exercise program for safe weight loss. When helping your dog lose weight,
slower is safer. “Crash” diets or intense workouts aren’t appropriate for
inactive dogs. If your dog gained the weight slowly, he or she can lose it
slowly. The most effective weight-loss plans involve increasing activity and
feeding fewer calories. The more convenient you make it, the better the chance
of sticking with it. When on a weight-loss program, your dog should lose 2% or
less of its initial body weight per week. For example, a 100-pound dog should
lose no more than 2 pounds every week. A successful weight-loss program may take
a year or longer.
Diet
There are several dietary strategies for helping your dog lose
weight. One or more of the following may be recommended by your veterinary
hospital. For all of these methods, it’s important to use an actual measuring
cup (not an old coffee mug or drinking cup) to keep track of how much you’re
feeding your dog. Feed your dog smaller meals more often. This helps your dog
burn more calories and should help minimize begging for food. However, don’t
feed more food per day. Instead, divide your dog’s daily ration into three or
more feedings. Feed your dog less of its regular food per day. This strategy is
most effective with increased activity. But check first with your veterinarian
to ensure that your dog will receive the right amount of nutrients. Instead of
feeding your dog less, gradually switch him or her to a lower-calorie food
recommended by your veterinarian. The change should be gradual; a sudden switch
could upset your dog’s stomach.
Combine the new food with your dog’s usual food in larger and
larger proportions over several weeks until you are only providing the new
food. Give treats only on special occasions, such as birthdays, holidays, or
good visits to the veterinarian. Offer low-calorie treats and limit or
eliminate fattening ones.
Exercise
You can help your dog become more active and lose weight by
scheduling regular play times and walks. Consult your veterinarian before
beginning an exercise program for your dog. Not all games/exercise are
appropriate for all breeds or medical conditions. For walks, start out slowly
to give your dog a chance to adapt to an exercise routine. Work up to a brisk
10- to 20-minute walk or jog once or twice a day. On hot or cold days, go easy
or rest. If you don’t have time to walk your dog, hire a dog walker. Doggy day
care centers can also help ensure that your dog gets plenty of exercise
throughout the day. Here are some calorie-burning activities for your
dog:
Our Team Member of the Month for October certainly keeps
busy.
Having worked at the HAH for nearly 4 years, Liz has
experience in all departments. For the
last year, she has been the technician for our board eligible surgeon;
therefore keeping very busy with critical and advance surgical patients. Liz never shies away from offering a helping
hand within the practice. She welcomes new processes and happily shares her
knowledge with the team.
Liz is currently completing her 2nd Bachelors
degree in pursuit of her career goal as a veterinarian. She is a regular
participant in our community events like the Stonewall Pride Parade in Wilton
Manors and the Pit-bull BBQ Event this November. Yet, she still finds time to participates
in more personal events like the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Light the NightWalk a cause close to her heart because of her mother’s diagnosed 2 years ago.
By the end of the month it may feel a little like ‘all Liz
all the time’ as you see her with our Patient of the Month and we share some
highlights of her talents but the fact of the matter is that Liz is a hard
worker!The HAH is very proud to partnered
with Liz in the care of our patients and recognize her as our October Team
Member of the Month!!!
Ethy, a 9 year old mixed
breed dog came to see Dr. Shapiro because it was believed she had eaten a
foreign object and was now vomiting and straining to defecate. Dr. Shapiro
ordered x-rays and clearly saw material in her stomach that could be either
food or the aforementioned foreign material. Since the material was still in
her stomach, vomiting was induced in the hope of a simple fix but no
significant amount of matter was expelled. Ethy was hospitalized with the hope
that the material would pass or could be removal non-evasively by endoscope.
Unfortunately for Ethy, neither of those two things
happened.
When it was clear that
the material in Ethy's stomach would not pass, Dr. Shapiro attempted a less
invasive procedure then surgery, endoscopy- to scope out the foreign material.
However, it quickly became clear that there was too much material in her
stomach to effectively be removed this way and she was immediately brought to
surgery.
In surgery, the contents of her stomach was removed-a foam mattress
cover.
Ethy recovered
from surgery without incident and was maintained in hospital on pain
medications and IV fluids. Soon she was bright and responsive and ready to
tackle some appropriate foods and kept them down!
Today, Ethy is
home, happy and healthy. She maintained her playful disposition throughout this
ordeal and hopefully has out grown her taste of foreign "foods".
However, one can never be 100% sure.
This topic has
been popular lately as local and national coverage has shined a light on this
very common problem. In our practice, GIFB (gastrointestinal foreign bodies)
are very common. The contents of these GIFB are sometimes interesting like
chess pieces or a toy mouse but they are all very serious problems. The question remains, 'why
do pets eat foreign objects?' There
are many answers.
Pica (the appetite for substances largely
non-nutritive) can be caused by teething, boredom, anxiety, nutritional deficiencies
or even underlying disease- just to name a few. Each pet is different but the
resulting problem is the same. If your pet has a fancy for objects other than
traditional food, speak with your local Vet about what you can do to
help!
Earlier this year, our community
was alerted to a tragic story of James Edwards, a two-year-old boy that fell
into a swimming pool while his parents were at the hospital delivering his
newborn brother.
His story has touched the heart of our
community catapulting many to action. Our
staff members in particular have been active in the campaign to assist this local
family. Now, 5 months later, as he shows much improvement he is still in the hearts
of our HAH staff.
In an effort to continue our support the
Hollywood Animal Hospital has dubbed today, Friday- Oct 3rd, Fun Scrub Top Friday!!
Follow us onFacebook today to see the HAH scrub our traditional blue uniforms for some childlike
fun!! Donations that have been collected throughout the month will be MATCHED
by our owners and ALL funds donated to the Turtle Power for James Edwards at
gofundme.com.
http://www.gofundme.com/turtlepowerforjames
His Story....
On Friday,
May 30th, 2014, James Edwards, A two-year-old boy experienced a near drowning
accident after he fell into a swimming pool while his parents were at the
hospital delivering his newborn brother.
For just a moment, James Edwards slipped away
from his grandfather, which was looking after him at the time and fell into the
swimming pool at the family home in Coral Springs, Florida. He was discovered quickly,
rescued from the pool and given CPR until the arrival of paramedics.
James was being cared for at the Chris Evert Children’s Hospital by an outstanding medical team. He is now home and receiving rehabilitation 5 days a week.
“James has been doing great! His tone has
decreased so much in the last two days - we are so grateful. He has been
purposefully moving both arms and sometimes his legs.”…I know now more
than ever that James is headed to a 100% recovery. He shows us everyday that he
is willing to fight through this and work hard to get there. I'm one proud
mommy.#turtlepower” –Jenna September 19th
James Edwards has a VERY long road to
recovery and every single dollar raised will help him and his family immensely
along with your prayers and positive thoughts. “Turtle Power for James Edwards”
Nearly every pet has a minor freak-out during its annual
checkup, so chances are that you’re more focused on keeping your pup or
cat calm than having a heart-to-heart with your vet about its health.
That’s why we asked vets around the country to share one piece of
stay-healthy advice every pet owner should know. From dental care to
diet, here’s what they had to say.
Jon Schulte/Photographer's Choice RF/Getty Images
Annual exams are a must.
Bringing your pet to the vet once a year is a simple, effective way to maintain its good health.
“Preventive
exams actually save money and allow your pet to live longer," explains
Dr. Ted Cohn, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association
and companion animal practitioner for 35 years. Treating a problem early
increases the chance for success, minimizes discomfort for the pet and
costs less in the long run.
Pets older than 6 months need
yearly exams, Cohn suggests, while puppies under 6 months and senior
pets should have wellness exams twice a year.
Seek out a specialist.
Animals can develop tough-to-treat medical issues that are best handled by a specially trained vet.
“If
your pet has a condition that isn’t improving, or requires testing or
procedures beyond the scope of your veterinarian, consult a specialist,”
says Dr. Mary Ann Crawford, internal medicine specialist at Oradell
Animal Hospital in Paramus, New Jersey.
With an additional three
to five years of training, specialists have a greater knowledge of the
unusual, uncommon or downright rare. Your veterinarian will work closely
with them and resume care once your pet once is stable or has
recovered.
Don't try to diagnose your pet.
"When
in doubt, don't consult with Dr. Google," says Dr. Bernadine Cruz, a
companion animal veterinarian in Laguna Hills, Calif. "You get what you
pay for. When your pet has a problem, you need professional eyes, ears,
fingers and sometimes diagnostic tests to assess it.”
Microchip your pet.
"Microchips
can save your pet's life," says Dr. Larry Dee, a Hollywood, Florida, a
small animal veterinarian and American Veterinary Medical Association
executive board member. And he’s not kidding.
Consider this: If
your pet breaks out of the backyard, it could end up in a shelter and
possibly euthanized (or adopted by another family). A microchip will
speak up when your little buddy can’t, offering your contact information
when scanned. It’s a painless procedure — the tiny chip is just
implanted between your pet’s shoulder blades — and relatively
inexpensive. Veterinarians and animal shelters will most often implant
chips for less than $50.
Cats need extra attention.
"Cats
are very good at hiding diseases, so it's challenging to know when
yours is sick" says Dr. Marcus Brown, president-elect of the American
Association of Feline Practitioners and a cat-only veterinarian in
Arlington, Virginia. His suggestion? Two check-ups a year, and keep an
eye out for any new behaviors in between vet visits.
“Subtle
changes such as weight loss, eating less, not greeting you at the door
or peeing outside the litter box are significant with cats, and should
prompt a call to your veterinarian," he says.
Be smart about nutrition.
“If
you love your pet, keep it lean," suggests Dr. Laura Eirmann, a
board-certified veterinary nutritionist and clinical nutritionist at
Oradell Animal Hospital in Paramus, New Jersey. From a nutritional
standpoint, Eirmann says that keeping your pet fit is the single-most
important factor that will increase the lifespan of your dog or cat.
Make sure the pet food you buy states somewhere on the label that it is
AAFCO-approved, meaning it is complete, balanced and appropriate for
your pet's stage in life.
Don't forget about their teeth.
Don’t count on a bone or bowl of dry food to get your pet’s teeth clean.
“Dogs
and cats need routine dental care, including full-mouth X-rays, to
reveal hidden problems,” says Dr. Larry Dee, a small animal veterinarian
in Hollywood, Flordia. The imaging picks up potential issues like
abscessed teeth or receding or infected gums, which can cause pain and —
worse — infect the heart and kidneys.
A full workup does involve
anesthesia, which sounds extreme but is very necessary. Without it, a
thorough cleaning — especially under the gum line — can’t be done.
Hamsters (and other small rodents) need check-ups, too.
Speaking
of teeth, your small rodents also need to be examined once a year, says
Dr. Suzanne Scott, a Houston-area companion animal and exotic pets
veterinarian. That’s because their choppers grow continuously, and if
they don’t line up correctly, they will grow sideways and develop sharp
points that cut into the gums. As a result, the pet doesn't eat. Don't
count on keeping an eye on these teeth yourself. Back teeth are usually
the problem, and they are all but impossible for you to see.
Keep your meds out of reach.
Pets
— especially dogs — can sniff out and gulp down trouble, so keep all
dangerous substances out of reach. That includes prescription and
over-the-counter medications, which can be lethal in pets, says Dr. Ted
Cohn, a Denver-based companion animal veterinarian. "Acetaminophen, in
particular, is toxic to dogs — even more so to cats," he adds.
Be proactive about flea control.
Even
if you don’t spot fleas on your pet, it can just take one to send your
bestie into a scratching fit (especially if he’s sensitive to flea
saliva). A good rule of thumb? If your pet is itching, biting or
scratching, chances are it’s because of fleas, says Dr. Cruz.
Thankfully,
the fix is easy: Year-round flea control on all your pets is what’s
needed. If your pet's still itching after that, it's time to consult
your veterinarian.
Source:
http://www.today.com/pets/10-things-your-veterinarian-wishes-you-knew-I545874 A version of this story originally appeared on iVillage.
Forget dog eat dog. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/health/fl-strange-things-pets-eat-palm-20140919-story.html#page=1
Veterinarians say it's more like dog eat tube sock. And diamond ring. Chess pieces. Even lingerie.
They have seen it all — and removed it — from the stomachs and intestines ofboth dogs and cats that ingested far more than their allotted kibble or treats.
South
Florida pet owners may be known to pamper their "fur babies" with
hundred-dollar ball gowns, pet proms, doggie day care and "pupscale" pet
lodges, but Fido and Felix can still get into stomach-turning mischief.
"We
get a lot of crazy things," said Palm Beach Veterinary Specialists'
veterinarian Dr. Robert Roy, recalling the yellow lab that swallowed a
sewing needle and the cat that ate fishing bait — hook, line and all.
At Boynton Beach
Animal Hospital, staffers recall a small Chihuahua/terrier mix that had
ingested not only its owner's area rug, but her underwear, pantyhose,
tampons and artificial plants, too. The household items were safely
removed during surgery.
"It was like a Hoover vacuum," said surgical nurse Billie Gaetano,of
the 15-pound dog with the bloated belly. "The owner had no idea the dog
did that, until it started gagging and puking. I looked in its mouth,
and I saw bits of rug, and I just kept pulling and pulling."
Here are some of the most unusual stories shared by South Florida veterinarians. All end happily,with the adventurous animals surviving to live, and eat indigestible objects, another day.
However, they offer a cautionary tale: Fido and Felix will eat just about anything when you're not looking. So watch out!
With this ring ...
Unlike many owners unaware of what's ailing their pet, the seasonal Palm Beach County resident who called the Boynton Beach
Animal Hospital in a panic last year knew exactly what her Wheaten
terrier had ingested: her 5-carat diamond ring. And she wanted it back.
Gaetano
told her just how to get the dirty deed done: "Follow the dog around
and wait for it to pop out" in one of the animal's daily bowel
movements.
It worked. "It came out shinier than it was when it went in," Gaetano said, with a chuckle.
Ready to run
Don't underestimate a dog's ability to get what it wants.
One
yellow Labrador treated at Boca North Animal Hospital in June leapt
onto a kitchen counter and tore through an entire case of protein bars —
boxes, bars, "wrappers and all,"veterinarian Dr. Dwyatt Bull said.
It
was a pet-sitting nightmare. The sitter had ordered the case off the
Internet, and by the time the owner returned from an out-of-town trip,
"the feces had hit the air circulator," Bull said.
Over the next
few days, the dog released about a dozen wrappers on its own. Then it
started exhibiting tell-tale signs — vomiting, diarrhea and loss of
appetite. Bull figured only surgery would relieve the blockage.
He removed at least 15 more wrappers during the operation.
"There were a ton of them," Bull said. The dog suffered no lasting side effects.
'The needle dog' While
foreign objects often have to be removed surgically, some don't. Like
the sewing needle that Palm Beach Veterinary Specialists' Roy took out
of a yellow Lab's chest.
After the dog swallowed the prickly
piece, it traveled through the esophagus, into the lungs and finally
landed in the animal's chest wall.
Roy said he was able to put a
scope into the chest and pull the needle out with a pair of forceps. The
animal became known as "the needle dog."
Added crunch
Glass
in my food? No problem. So it would seem for the Labrador that jumped
onto the kitchen counter to eat from a bowl of meat, according to Roy.
The
jostling knocked the glass bowl to the ground, smashing it in pieces
amid the spilled food. The dog ate the entire mess, Roy said, adding
that he eventually "took out fistfuls of glass" from the pet's stomach.
It recovered without complications.
A corny predicament
The
chocolate Lab puppy must really have been hungry to eat an ear of corn,
whole. That's what the staff at Fidelity Animal Hospital in Boynton Beach
figured last year, when they took an X-ray of the dog's swollen belly
and found the cob stuck inside, said technician Kathy Parys.
"How it swallowed a whole corn cob is beyond me," she said.
The cob was surgically removed.
Gone fishing
Dogs aren't the only object-eating patients. Roy said he performed surgery on acat
that swallowed its owner's fishing bait, with the line and hook
attached, because of the precarious way the fishing gear landed.
The hook had gotten snagged in the pet's aorta when its owner, noticing the line sticking out of the cat's mouth, yanked on it.
"That didn't do anything but hook it into its esophagus and aorta," Roy said.
After surgery, the cat made a full recovery.
The whole ball of ... cords?
A
15-pound domestic shorthair cat came to the Plantation Animal Hospital
recently, vomiting for no obvious reason, veterinarian Dr. Lisa
Feinstein recalled. An ultrasound revealed a good-sized obstruction in
its intestines, but it wasn't clear what was causing the blockage.
The culprit: "tons of cords," like those used in window treatments, along with hair ties.
"Over time, it builds," Feinstein said. After surgery, the cat recovered nicely.
A not-so-merry Christmas
A
Weston resident didn't know what to think when her 9-month-old golden
retriever began throwing up and suffering bouts of diarrhea in December
2013, according to Chris Viotti, owner and manager at Weston Lakes
Animal Hospital.
An X-ray revealed the results of the dog's attack on the family Christmas tree.Veterinarians
removed four or five stuffed teddy bear ornaments from the pet's
intestines, then all were able to enjoy the rest of the holiday season,
Viotti said.
Penny for your thoughts?
A
routine chest X-ray performed on a King Charles Spaniel turned up
something troubling to doctors at Hollywood Animal Hospital: a foreign
object later identified as a dissolving penny, said Linda Ream, the
hospital's Communications Coordinator.
Pennies
are toxic and can cause a life-threatening condition called hemolytic
anemia. The coin was removed through an endoscopic procedure, Ream said,
and the pet was fine. Coinsseem to be quitepopular, though.There was also a pregnant Pekingese with its intestines blockedby
13 pennies. The animal's owner brought the dog to the Hollywood
hospital during a hurricane-induced power outage, forcing the doctors to
extract the pennies by flashlight.
At
Weston Lakes Animal Hospital, Viotti estimated doctors have removed
about $10 in coins from pets' stomachs over the past year alone, in all
denominations.
"Even foreign money. They don't choose," Viotti said of the animals, typically dogs. "They just pick it up and swallow it."
The re-offender
The
7-year-old Lab mix treated at Hollywood Animal Hospital for impacted
foreign objects over the past few years has one heck of an appetite.
When
it first showed up with something strange in its belly, doctors removed
14 tube socks, Ream said. The dog was back six months later after
eating 3 pounds of garden stones, then five months later with couch
cushioning in its stomach.
Turns out the pet wasn't just a
voracious eater. It suffered from Cushing's disease, a hormonal
imbalance that can induce pica, or an appetite for nonfood items like
chalk, sand and dirt, Ream said. Once the dog's illness was treated, the
pica stopped.
Re-offending foreign substance eaters, though,
often have no causative medical condition, just an insatiable appetite, a
curious nature and a lack of training, area vets said.
"Pets
that eat foreign objects often do not learn their lesson the first time
and will become re-offenders," Hollywood Animal Hospital veterinarian
Dr. Anne Murphy said.
Tips to keep your pet safe
South Florida veterinarians offer these tips to protect your pet from nonfood items.
Remove the temptation.
Keep objects off the floor, counter or other space that your pet can
access, especially if you've already noticed the animal eating something
it shouldn't.
Train your pet. Don't feed your
animals anything but pet food, and train them not to misbehave. Seek
advice or services from a professional trainer, if necessary.
Know the signs. If
your pet has eaten a foreign object, it is likely to be exhibiting
symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, gas, loss of appetite, changes in
normal behavior, lethargy, abdominal discomfort or pain, and bloating or
swelling of the abdomen.
Seek help immediately. Your pet's chances of surviving the ordeal are higher if you get quick, early intervention from a veterinarian.
Broward Meals on Wheels for Pets Food Drive
WHEN:
At the HAH, we believe that giving back to the people that supports us is paramount. Founded in 1947, our commitment is to our community.
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