We’re into the time of year when food seems to be everywhere thanks to the holidays and gatherings surrounding them. I worked out with a little more vigor this morning with thoughts of what I’ll be eating tomorrow. Portion control is key, but hard to follow when there’s so much good food! It’s also difficult to keep from accidentally dropping a piece of this or a piece of that for your pet. We haven’t talked about human foods and your pets in awhile, so it seems timely to do so this week.
First, a reminder that turkey and ham bones are not good for your pets because they can splinter and cause internal issues. Cooked bones are especially hazardous to dogs. Raw bones are generally okay(marrow bones too,) but keep an eye on any dog chewing these types of bones. If the bone starts splintering, or your dog is biting large chunks and swallowing them, it’s probably best to toss it. If you really want to treat your dog to a bone, get them a big ol’ rawhide to chew during your meal tomorrow.
Now onto foods that could be toxic. There are several lists available online if you do a search for toxic foods, but I really like the comprehensive list provided at Healthypet.com. Here’s a direct link: http://www.healthypet.com/library_view.aspx?id=133 Another really good list of just food items can be found on the Humane Society’s website: http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/foods_poisonous_to_pets.html Common Thanksgiving-type foods you wouldn’t think about include onions and onion powder, raisins(grapes,) garlic, Macadamia nuts, mustard, walnuts, yeast dough, and coffee.
If your pet ingests something from one of the above lists, give your vet a call immediately. Unfortunately, many vet offices will be closed on Thanksgiving. If they are, give your local emergency vet a call. Here in Des Moines, you can reach Iowa Veterinary Specialties 24-hours a day at 515-280-3051. Keep your plates back from the edge of the table, and make sure your kids aren’t slipping your furry friends a little treat under the table, and you’ll be able to enjoy a happy and safe Thanksgiving!
By the way, I’ll start snapping a few more photos of Chase to share each week! I apologize for not having any to share in our current discussion. Until next week- Bryan & Chase ^..^
I tried to get him to turn slightly toward me, so you’d be able to see the side of his face. Remember how swollen it was under his ear? The abscess is gone, and the spot just about fully healed! Maybe I’ll work on his pose for next week. If I can snap a picture before Wednesday, I’ll add it to this blog!
We even removed the E-collar a couple days ago, and I can tell he feels free once again! While at the vet, blood was taken and his thyroid levels re-tested. It sounds like his levels are normal! His medications are working pretty well. Not only has his coat increased its shine, but he isn’t shedding as much, and his energy level is back up again. Great news overall!! We’re down from 5 medications to 1 now:
Chase has been doing really well since his surgery, and continues to make a full recovery. One of the most commonly asked questions, right behind how he’s doing, is how long he has to wear that darn Elizabethan collar. We go in for a check up today, but I have a feeling it’ll be a few more days. There’s just enough of a scab near his ear to make me nervous. One of the first things he does each morning is reach up to scratch the area, and without the collar, we’d probably have a mess. I’m hoping(and know he is too!)the collar will be gone this weekend!!


By Friday, the area of swelling under his ear had started growing again. Here’s a photo showing the lopsided nature of his head. Notice the bulge on the left side of the picture. I could tell it was bothering him. He was scratching that area a more and frequently shaking his head. It got bad enough for another trip to Banfield, and a stronger dose of antibiotics. We were hoping the higher dose of antibiotics would kick in and cause the swelling to decrease by Saturday afternoon, but it continued to get worse. As soon as the vet opened Sunday morning, we were one of the first in line. The ball on his face had grown even more overnight, and he was now in pain.
We decided to schedule Chase for a minor surgery Monday morning to open the infected area and drain it, hoping the source of the swelling would be somewhere under the skin. Until then, I was to keep a close eye on him and call immediately if anything changed. Sure enough, the spot enlarged to where it looked like it could explode, and it took one round of itching while I wasn’t looking to break it open. It was after Banfield’s hours, and I was in a panic.
She wasn’t able to find a source of the infection, and said it could have been just about anything from a bite to some sort of wound. We went over the procedure they performed and his recovery period, then I was allowed to see him. His face was so swollen and head wrapped comfortably, and he barreled toward me with big hugs and kisses. It almost brought me to tears.
We go back in to have the tubes checked tomorrow, and the stitches will hopefully come out sometime late next week. We’re not out of the woods yet, since the infection could still rear its ugly head if we don’t keep the area clean, and watch it closely. Now we’re trying to figure out ways to get some exercise without overdoing it. My questions to you this week: How many of you have had pets with an abscess? How about a pet who has had a major surgery? What did you do to get them some exercise, even though they shouldn’t do too much when recovering? Chase is giving me the “let’s play” look right now, and I want him to take it easy. And finally, did your pet get used to the Elizabethan collar??


