Wildlife Stories

With spring around the corner, we begin to prepare for the wildlife that needs our care every year. A recent car commercial, extolling the silence of its interior, had a mother badger, her sleeping babies and a person locked in the car. The point was that the car was so quiet that the babies and mom remained comfortable and sleeping rather than attacking the unfortunate human test subject. It reminded me of some young wild animals that were presented to our hosptal a few years back. Mother nature runs a limitless account with us and we try to do what ever we can for sick and injured wildlife and then get the animals to a rehabilitator.

One spring we had wind storms, whole nests of squirrels were being blown from the trees and ending up at our office. Around that time we got a call from a very excited young woman who explained that she had found a nest of squirrels in her back yad , they were crying and in great distress. We encouraged her to bring them to the hospital, since the nest had been destroyed they would have to be hand raised. A short time later, three women arrived with a swaddle of blankets and within the nest of linens was a jumble of small , brown, rodent-like creatures. The technician accepted the squirrels, took the requiset information and placed the babies in an incubator.

One of the technicians bottle fed the youngsters and shortly after feeding they were crying, actually screaming - a blood curdling cry. There was something primeval about the sound, distinctly un-squirrel like. I peered into the incubator to find 5 dark brown whirling dervishes. They were in constant motion, their long bodies moving like eels on stimulants. These were not squirrels, if they were there was something terribly wrong with their neighborhoods’ genetic pool.

After a quick consult with the wildlife expert we discovered we had baby mink! About 30 years ago, a mink farm in the area closed and all the mink were released. This resulted in a large, wild (and really, what mink are tame?)mink population. the hyperactive crew was quickly turned over to the rhabilitator. I would not want to be trapped in a car with them!

The responsibility of having a pet or caring for animals should never be taken lightly. Animals are ours to care for. They are solely dependent on us like the mink. Shirking our responsibilty can have far reaching consequences, not just for you and the animal, but for the ecosystem and the communities within. Mink are extreemly agressive and can push out or destroy other species that inhabit an area. The rehabilitator had to work hard to find an appropriate area for the little devils!

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A note from bluebears owners

Bluebears owners email:

Dr. Hass,
I have attached two pictures of our 7 year old Siberian Husky Bluebear (she’s the larger black and white one) that you recently treated. Blues problems were getting worse and worse for the last year with several episodes of vomiting blood. After your office ran the tests and biopsy it was determined she suffered from food allergies. Since late October we have changed her food to the allergy brand you recommended and the difference has been remarkable. Her energy, eating habits, and overall disposition are better than ever. We can’t thank you enough and never would we have thought we were making her sick just by feeding her. Thank God for sweet potatoes and fish!

Thanks again,
Jim and Denise Crews

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You are what you eat

While performing my residency in Neurology I began to suffer from some vague health problems that my physician attributed to stress. The problems escalated and culmonated in some serious gastrointestinal upsets. Eventually, I was diagnosed with a food allergy. As long as I avoid the allergen I am sensitive to, I am no longer plagued with those health problems. Once I was on my new diet, it amazed me how much the allergy had affected not only my digestive tract, but my energy level and my general sense of well being.

Recently, I was presented with a 7 year old, Siberian Husky, Bluebear, who had a one year history of episodically vomiting blood (hemoptysis) and acting lethargic. Each time Bluebear was rushed to the ER or her general veterinarian and each time she appeared to respond to supportive care. Then 2 or 3 months later Bluebear was back in the hospital.

When Bluebear arrived in my office, she was depressed. She had been vomiting, her coat was dull and lack luster, and she had been refusing to eat for days .Her owner was at wits end. After a careful examination I explained to the owner that endoscopy (the use of a fiber optic device to visualize and collect biopsies of the interior of the esophagus, stomach and proximal duodenum) would be our next step.

I performed the endoscopy. No ulcers, no tumors, but a very red, irritated gastric mucosa (the interior of the stomach). I collected biopsies and Bluebear was discharged to her owners care the next day.

The biopsy results returned about four days later. The diagnosis was lymphocytic gastritis with an eosinophillia. One of the possible causes for the histopathologic changes would be a food allergy.

After discussing these findings with the owner, I explained that although we could use many different medications in hopes of managing Bluebears illness, it would be attractive to try to treat her with a hypoallergenic diet. Certainly, medications will be available to us in the future, but if a diet change is sufficient it would be a healthier option in the long run.

Bluebear had always been fed a high quality diet. Her problem was not the quality of her food, but the type. Finding the allergen that triggers a pets allergy is not easy, but fortunately there are a number of prescription foods as well as one commercially available diet that can provide the necessary nutrients while avoiding common allergens.

Bluebear was placed on a commercially available hypoallergenic diet. She was not allowed to eat anything, but the diet and fresh water. Not even a rawhide.

At one month post-diagnosis Bluebear returned to my office. She was energetic and her owners were extatic. They reported that they were now surprised by how much her energy had been so dramatically affected by her illness, she was a new dog

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Simon

Ethical and moral dilemas abound in the practice of medicine. One of the most challenging questions I am confronted with is what to do for stray, injured animals. What do you repair, how far do you go? If it is an obviously aged animal, does that influence your decision? And who will take care of the animal once or if it recovers?

Financial concerns weigh in as well. Believe it or not, veterinary hospitals run on a slim profit margin, atleast ours does. My partner says that is because we take care of dogs like Simon.

Simon was one of those dilemas. He had been hit by a car and spent the night in someones backyard. He could not be easily moved and after a panicked plea from the home owner, my partner went out to their house and returned with Simon on a stretcher.

Two broken legs, the pelvic leg fracture was open,that means the bone was protruding out of the skin. The thoracic limb fracture caused the paw to flop about in a very disturbing fashion. And Simon’s tail wagged.

His collar had his name and owners phone number printed on it, but the people that answered the phone had never had a dog before.

What to do? Simon was gentle, alert and his tail was still wagging. He had survived the night in the elements. He appeared otherwise healthy, but thin.

We took radiographs of the injured limbs. The fractures were bad (like there is ever a good fracture?). They would require a surgeon, I certainly could not repair them. A veterinary surgeon, a friend visiting, reviewed the radiographs - yes the fractures could be repaired, a plate on the radius, some pins and external support to the tibia. Short work for her, but she would not be able to stay and help. Simon’s blood work was normal, heartworm test negative. He received intravenous fluids, antibiotics and pain medication.

I struggled with the decision, surgery? None of us could conider euthanasia. Simon had beaten the odds, he deserved a chance.

I called a local surgeon, no good samaritan work ~$1,500 quote for one fracture to be repaired.

Simon’s tail wagged. My partner and I disscussed options, Simon’s options. We called the surgeon.

The repair of the radius went well. The tibia repair was then attempted by one of the ER docs with the surgeon’s advice. A letter to the editor in the Milford Times brought some generous financial contributions.

On Thanksgiving Day, Simon’s owner called. She had been in the hospital with a serious illness and her husband, who had suffered a stroke, and required assistance, was at home. Family members were watching the home, Simon and Simon’s master. Simon slipped through an open door and was gone.

Simon had been the families solace through some very tough times. When Simon saw his family he suddenly was a different dog. When they left he barked for hours!

Simon is home now, we are still unsure if the tibial fracture will heal. An amputation is still possible. People are still sending donations to his care. The donations will not pay his surgical bill, but it will help. I am so happy we made the decisions we did. Simon definitey needed to stay with his family and help them out for a while longer. ¼/p> Simon and his master

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Veterinary Neurology

Veterinary Neurology, for Seizures and Other Neurological Symptoms

If your pet is suffering from a neurological disorder, or has symptoms that suggest a problem with the brain or nervous system, the Veterinary Care Services medical team can offer your pet their specialized skills in veterinary neurology to determine the source of the problem and the most effective way to treat it. At Veterinary Care Specialists, our state-of-the art diagnostic instruments help us pinpoint the source of the problem and develop a range of treatment options to address it. The advanced imaging capabilities available at the Veterinary Care Specialists facility, in combination with other tests, make it possible for us to closely examine the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Our clinical team is experienced in diagnosing and treating such problems as epilepsy and other seizure disorders, head and spinal cord trauma, back (disk) problems, and meningitis, among others—conditions that are not uncommon but that can be very distressing to your pet and highly challenging to you, the pet owner, in managing them.

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