CUVS' Pet Talent Contest

Enter CUVS' Pet Talent Contest!

Every one of us thinks that our pet is the most amazing animal ever - On National Pet Week, let’s give them a chance to shine!

Does your pet have a special or unusual talent? Send us a video to prove it. If your entry receives the most votes, your talented pet will be featured on our homepage and blog. And you’ll win a CUVS fleece. This contest isn’t limited to just cats and dogs, so get out your video camera or smart phone and capture your cat, fish, dog, horse, hamster, guinea pig or ferret doing something extraordinary!

All entries will be posted in our Most Talented Pet album on our Facebook page. The video that gathers the most “likes” will be the winner! You can email entries to smueller@cuvs.org, or send us a facebook message with your video as an attachment. Make sure to include a brief description so that we know what we’re looking at! Once your video is up, feel free to share it with your friends, family, coworkers and neighbors and encourage them to vote for your pet! We will accept entries until 5pm on Thursday, May 23rd and will announce the winner the next week.

Get those cameras rolling and let’s see what your pet can do!

April is National Heartworm Awareness Month!

Heartworm Awareness and a Very Special Update

April is National Heartworm Awareness month, and our cardiologist, Dr. Gretchen Singletary, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology), has some information for all dog and cat owners about this dangerous, but highly preventable disease:

"Heartworm disease affects increasing numbers of dogs and cats in the US every year. The disease is transmitted by mosquitoes and is most prevalent in warm and humid climates. Peak transmission usually occurs during July and August, although pets in certain areas such as the Southeastern US may be at risk year-round. Heartworm disease is a serious, sometimes fatal condition which can be safely and easily prevented using a monthly heartworm preventative medication. Yearly testing for heartworm is recommended for all dogs.

Pets infected with heartworm can develop damage to their blood vessels, lungs and heart. Symptoms include coughing, difficulty breathing, decreased ability to exercise and weakness. Severe infections can result in heart failure or death. There are approved treatments for infected dogs - including injections of a medication to kill the worms and removal of the worms using a minimally-invasive surgical procedure. There are no approved treatments for heartworm infections in cats. Prevention is key when it comes to heartworm disease!"

--


 Dr. Gretchen Singletary, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology)

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We at CUVS can't think of heartworm without also remembering Lucky. In 2011, we posted about Lucky, the mixed breed dog who was rescued in Los Angeles, and brought to CUVS by a New York rescue organization. When he was first brought to us, Lucky had suffered gunshot wounds to his legs, and needed several surgeries. While his injuries were already certainly enough for the scrappy dog to handle, it was discovered that Lucky was also suffering from a severe heartworm infection of his pulmonary artery. Fortunate for Lucky, our cardiologist was able to expertly remove the heartworms using flouroscopy and an incredibly steady hand. While heartworm extraction is a complex procedure with many risks involved, Lucky sailed through the procedure and after a night of recovery in CUVS' Intensive Care unit, went home heartworm free.




When Lucky was brought to CUVS, his injuries were severe.

 

Cardiologist Dr. Kleman was able to remove a sizable group of heartworms from Lucky's pulmonary artery.


Lucky then underwent surgery to repair the damage to his front and rear legs, caused by serious abuse before he was rescued. Thanks to the skill and care of CUVS' surgery department, Lucky's limbs were skillfully repaired and Lucky was able to regain full use of all his legs. At the end of Lucky's journey here, one of our staff members adopted him and provided Lucky with a happy ending in his new forever home. 

Lucky with Dr. Kleman, members of the nursing staff and his rescuers on his way home.


Lucky attended our Courageous Companions event in April, and CUVS staff had the opportunity to reunite with him and his supportive family. We're happy to say that he looks incredible, and along with his supportive family, enjoyed the spotlight with his colleagues.

Lucky attended the reunion looking better than ever!

Lucky was fortunate that his heartworm was discovered before it had progressed any further, and he serves as an example of why heartworm prevention is so vital to a pet's well-being. Speak to your primary care veterinarian about the prevention options available to you and take care of all those hearts that are so dear to yours!

Best Pet Winner

WE HAVE A "BEST PET" WINNER!

As you’ve probably guessed, the Chihuahua Mia F. won our “Best Pet” competition by a landslide! The littlest gal in the running received by far the biggest show of support in the competition, and it’s no surprise.

Mia came to CUVS in the Fall of 2011 with a collapsing trachea. She was a patient of ours for several months and while her medical condition was one of those incredibly complicated cases that we could not ultimately save, we’ve yet to see a more dedicated owner than her mom Kelly Falconieri, and a bigger show of support from her many admirers. During her time here, and through Kelly’s tireless efforts on Facebook and IMOM.org, Mia captured the hearts of hundreds of people, many of them strangers, who donated to Mia’s cause and to her treatment. We even had people calling us here to contribute to her treatments! Although Mia is no longer with us, it is obvious that she is still in the hearts of the many who supported her through her treatment, and gaining followers even now!

Not only was Mia an incredible little girl, but Kelly is a great example of an absolutely incredible pet owner, and we’re pleased to announce them both the winners. Kelly will be receiving a gift certificate to Pet Pantry Warehouse, one of our favorite spots to get ANYTHING you could need for your pet and more.

Thank you again to everyone who sent us pictures of their pets – it was a wonderful week getting to share your furry friends and see everyone’s enthusiasm and love for their animals.

Thank you to the Pet Pantry Warehouse for this great prize!

Pet Dangers During the Holidays!

All of us at CUVS wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season! Because we’re always looking out for your four-legged family members, we’d like to share some common dangers to avoid during this joyful, and sometimes chaotic, time.

High Fat Holiday Foods
Although it is tempting to let everyone sample grandma’s great cooking, holiday foods are not a good idea for your pet, even in small quantities. Meals with a high fat content are one of the most common causes of pancreatitis in dogs. Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) can result in a reduced appetite, severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and in severe cases, can be life-threatening. High fat foods and abrupt changes in the diet can lead to gastrointestinal problems, such as vomiting and diarrhea.

Chocolate
Most of us know that chocolate can be toxic to dogs; however, few know the reasons. Chocolate contains theobromine, a chemical compound of the cocoa bean which is a strong stimulant, closely related to caffeine. In large doses, theobromine and caffeine can cause excitation, cardiac arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythm) and seizures. Dogs are particularly sensitive to the effect of theobromine and caffeine. Chocolate should be stored far from your pets’ reach, especially dark, semi-sweet, unsweetened chocolate and cocoa nibs, since these have higher concentrations of theobromine than white or milk chocolate.

Raisins & Grapes
Raisins and grapes are extremely dangerous for dogs, as they can cause severe kidney failure. Keep in mind that raisins are commonly found in holiday treats such as bread and desserts.

Alcohol
We all like to relax and enjoy the spirits of the season. Just keep in mind that even small amounts of an alcoholic beverage can significantly affect your pet. Pets, especially cats, are not as efficient at breaking-down alcohol, and could end up in an ethylic coma. Please avoid sharing your drink with Fluffy, and keep the booze out of reach at all times.

Household Plants
If you share your house with a dog or a cat, always investigate your indoor plant choices before you consider making them an integral part of your household. Keep this in mind when receiving flowers as a gift. Poinsettia, the Christmas flower, can cause mouth irritation and gastroenteritis, but is not considered lethal. Various types of lilies, however (Easter Lily, Day Lily, Tiger Lily) can be lethal. These lilies cause severe kidney failure when ingested, even in small quantities, by your feline companion.

Holiday Decorations
Nothing sets the holiday mood like decking the halls and dressing your tree. However, many of these decorations can be hazardous to your pets. Tinsel and other string-like decorations can be a tempting treat for your cat or dog. Sometimes, parts of these decorations can get caught around your pets’ tongue or elsewhere in the gastrointestinal system and cause life-threatening problems that require emergency surgery. The same goes for other non-string-like decorative items, which can get lodged in the stomach or intestines, causing a blockage. Electric cords (such as for lights) can also pose a problem if your cat or dog has a tendency to chew on things they are not supposed to. Because of the danger they pose, make sure to hang your tree ornaments and other decorations out of the reach of your pets.

Please keep your pets safe this holiday season. And keep an eye on them. If they are lethargic, not eating, acting abnormally or exhibiting vomiting or diarrhea – seek medical attention.

Alex Rousseau, DVM, DACVIM (Internal Medicine), DACVECC

Happy Thanksgiving from Cornell University Veterinary Specialists

Cornell University Veterinary Specialists wishes you and your family a happy and healthy Thanksgiving... and that goes for your pets as well! 

This holiday season, please be aware of food-related illnesses:

• Do not give in to begging pets: too many table scraps of fatty food can lead to pancreatitis. Symptoms can include vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, weakness and shock- definitely not a fun way to spend Black Friday.

• The turkey carcass is a delicious treasure trove of foreign bodies. The bones can become lodged in the throat or airway, or become obstructed in the intestines. Do not give the dog a bone. Close up any garbage bags and move them away from your home's living area so the animals can't get into them.

• Your food is tasty and the smell will attract your pets to the table. Do not leave food unattended! Dogs and cats alike can easily get up on the table to steal food that is dangerous to them.

• Overeating is bad for you, and your pets as well. Do not overfeed dogs on Thanksgiving, as this can lead to bloat. Bloat occurs when the stomach fills with gas and twists back on itself. Bloat is a life-threatening condition.

• No desserts! If you own a dog, you should already know this: chocolate is toxic. Same goes for grapes, and therefore raisins. The various compounds in these foods can cause organ failure in dogs- different organs for each form of toxicity, but both should be avoided at all costs.

Following the guidelines above will keep your pets safe during the holidays. We love our clients and their pets, and we hope you don't have any incidents on Thanksgiving. But if you do, the CUVS Emergency Department will be open all day and night.