Has Dr. Johnson told you that your pet is in need of a dental cleaning?

Have you felt guilty because you have been putting off scheduling Fluffy's dental cleaning?

Are you uncertain as to whether or not Fido's teeth are in need of a cleaning?

Does Frisky have bad breath? That odor might signify a serious health risk, with the potential to damage not only Frisky's teeth and gums but to his internal organs as well.

We know that dental disease is one of the leading causes of disease in our pets. Therefore, in recognition of national pet dental month in February, Birdneck Animal Hospital will be extending a 20% discount to all dental cleanings performed during the month of February!

This discount will be applied to the utrasonic dental scaling and associated anesthesia required to perform the cleaning. For further details please contact us!

Meet William Brown, Birdneck Animal Hospital's latest pet of the month.   William is 4 years old and was recently adopted from the animal shelter.   We here at Birdneck Animal Hospital are very moved by the special relationship William and his new pet patent share.  William is the first pet ever for his new owner, and the enthusiasm his new owner has for William is absolutely infectious!  Congratulations to William and his pet parent for finding each other - we all love a happy ending, or more accurately, new beginning!

To cats and dogs, your purse or backpack is like an amusement park. They can find all kinds of knick-knacks to nuzzle, sniff, and chew. The problem is; not all the contents in handbags and backpacks are safe for pets. According to the veterinarians at Pet Poison Helpline, backpacks and handbags are reservoirs for things toxic to dogs and cats.

Here are the five most common purse items that are toxic to pets.

1. Sugarless chewing gum and breath mints
Many people carry chewing gum in their purses and backpacks.  What you may not realize is that, if ingested by a dog, it can be fatal. Most sugarless gums, including some Trident, Orbit, and Ice Breaker brands, contain xylitol, a sweetener that is toxic to dogs. Some sugarless mints and flavored multi-vitamins may also be made with xylitol.
When ingested, even small amounts of xylitol can result in a life-threatening and rapid drop in blood sugar, and if large amounts are ingested, dogs can suffer from severe liver failure. Signs of xylitol poisoning include vomiting, weakness, difficulty walking, collapse, tremors, and seizures.

2. Cigarettes
As few as three cigarettes can be fatal to a small dog, depending on the “strength” or “lightness” of the cigarettes. Warning: After ingestion, clinical signs of distress can become apparent in as little as 15 minutes. Cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and even gum (Nicorette) contain nicotine, which is toxic to dogs and cats. Exposure causes high heart and respiratory rates, neurological overstimulation, uncontrolled urination, defecation, tremors, seizures, paralysis, and death.

3. Asthma inhalers (albuterol)
 Asthma inhalers, when accidentally chewed and punctured by dogs, can cause severe, life-threatening, acute poisoning. Because inhalers often contain concentrated doses (often 200 doses in one small vial) of beta-agonist drugs (e.g., albuterol) or steroids (e.g., fluticasone), dogs that bite into them are exposed to massive amounts of the drugs all at once. This can lead to severe poisoning, resulting in life-threatening heart arrhythmias, agitation, vomiting, and collapse.

4. Human medications
Medications in pill bottles are irresistible to some dogs because they resemble toys that rattle. Each year nearly half of the calls to Pet Poison Helpline involve ingestion of potentially toxic human medications. Common drugs including NSAIDs (e.g., Advil, Aleve, and Motrin), acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol), and antidepressants (e.g., Effexor, Cymbalta, and Prozac) can cause serious harm to dogs and cats when ingested. NSAIDs can cause stomach and intestinal ulcers as well as kidney failure, especially in cats.
A single Tylenol tablet containing acetaminophen can be fatal to cats, and in dogs, a larger ingestion can lead to severe liver failure. Of all the medications, antidepressants account for the highest number of calls to Pet Poison Helpline. They can cause neurological problems like sedation, incoordination, agitation, tremors, and seizures.

5. Hand Sanitizer
Hand sanitizer has become a common item in handbags. Many hand sanitizers claim to kill almost 100 percent of germs. This is possible because they contain high amounts of alcohol (ethanol)—sometimes up to 95 percent. Therefore, when a dog ingests a small bottle of hand sanitizer, it can have the same effect as a shot of hard liquor. This can cause a severe drop in blood sugar, incoordination, a drop in body temperature, neurological depression, coma, and death.

The bottom line? Store your handbags and backpacks out of reach: When in doubt, hang it up. 

Dr. Johnson, his wife and his son will be attending a toy distribution to families in need tonight.  Many hundreds of toys were collected at the Virginia Aquarium during the Noblemen's Reason For The Season party earlier this month, as well as throughout local businesses and schools.  This evening is one of many where the children of these fine Noblemen are the ones who distribute the toys.  It is such a rewarding experience for the children.  Dr. Johnson's son has been looking forward to this event again this year and says, "It's a great way to provide for families in need, and I'm sure I will enjoy it again this year.  It makes me sad to see kids who aren't as fortunate as I am, but it makes you feel good inside to see that you're putting a smile on their faces for the holidays."