Tonight is the full moon. Give your monthly preventatives!
Note: If you have another way to remember to give your preventatives, that’s okay too! Do what works for you. I thought it might be fun for us to all give it together.
Carter has decided to attend U MAINE studying computer science this fall. You may see him around this summer as he’ll be working here helping out until the start of the school year.
We are making plans for his graduation from high school. My parents are planning to come.
They are traveling from North Carolina.
We have RED dahlia bulbs to give away. It is warm enough now to plant them and I had so much fun with them last year. Come by/stop in for a handful of bulbs or pick them up when you come for your office visit. They are mildly toxic to pets so please don’t let your pets eat them!
The bulbs look like potatoes but they grow into beautiful flowers like these:
Blue-Green Algae Toxicity Reminder
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and the Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) would like to remind pet owners that they should be aware of the threat of cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae) toxicity in pets and livestock within the state.
Key points about cyanobacteria:
- Cyanobacteria produce many toxins with the toxin microcystin being the most common in Rhode Island.
- Microcystins generally affect the liver. Signs of microcystin toxicity include: nausea, vomiting, icterus, abdominal pain, dark colored urine, inappetance, anorexia, excess drooling, and death.
- The signs of microcystin toxicity are non-specific and toxicity should be a differential diagnosis in any animal with consistent signs and a history of access to ponds, lakes, or other sources of freshwater. Cyanobacteria can potentially live in any body of fresh water and the presence of microcystins can only be confirmed by laboratory analysis of a water sample.
- There is no correlation between the appearance of the water (i.e. visible algal scum) and the presence of toxin since significant toxin levels can be present in water that is visibly free of algae.
- Toxin production can occur at any time of the year as long as the right conditions exist, however, most toxin production occurs as the water temperature rises in the summer and early fall.
- Microcystin toxicity usually is the result of ingestion by drinking contaminated water, but ingestion can occur from grooming behavior when the animal’s coat has been contaminated.
- Skin irritation can also occur in pets and livestock that have had contact with toxins, as well as in animal owners who may have handled animals that have toxins on their coats.
- Treatment of toxicity is supportive, there are no specific antidotes.
- For more information on this topic please go to the following URLs:
1. Overview of Cyanobacteria produced by the state of Ohio
2. CDC webpage
3. RI DEM cyanobacteria page
There have been two days since the last full moon in which three euthanasias were scheduled in one day. This is a topic that is hard to think about and hard to write about.
How does one decide if it is time to make a euthanasia decision? For myself and my pets, my line in the sand occurs when pets can no longer get up to go outside and urinate and defecate or when they are so ill that they won’t get up or are soiled from not being able to rise to go outside to do their business. There are many other factors that contribute to making this decision. Sometimes they are old and have a mass that is bleeding and it doesn’t make economic or practical sense to take the animal to surgery. Sometimes they are so arthritic that they are falling or struggling and their quality of life is poor. If this is a decision that you are facing, make an appointment with the pet and we can talk about options. We try to schedule euthanasia consultations the same day that owners call. Sometimes there are things we can do to make pets more comfortable and extend their life and improve their quality of life.
Animals that have bitten their owners, someone else, or another animal in the last 10 days require a waiting period or approval from the state of RI to be euthanized. This is because rabies is a fatal disease in both pets and people.
We use a crematorium service called Final Gift.
They offer a full range of services and you can find their website here: Final Gift Pet Memorial Center.
I graduate from my program in spiritual direction/spiritual companioning the day after my son graduates from high school. We are traveling to NYC for the graduation. I’m planning a family trip out west in August – hopefully to Glacier National Park and perhaps to see the Giant Sequoia Trees in California as well. Dr Mack will cover for me while I’m gone and the clinic will remain open. It may be the last time we are all able to travel as family before Carter starts at U MAINE in the fall.
Books I have read since the last full moon and can recommend are:
- Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
- Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
- Holy the Firm By Annie Dillard (I am obsessed with this book and I’ve read it over and over.)
- Everything Happens for a Reason by Kate Bowler (Hint: Neither the book’s author nor I believe this is true.)
I’m currently listening to:
Twist by Colum McCann, but I don’t yet know how it ends.
All the books, except perhaps Holy the Firm, are available through the local library.
Happy reading!
Happy Spring!
Happy full moon gazing!
Remember your monthly heartworm and/or flea and tick prevention!
– Dana