Poison Prevention Awareness Month

Many substances found in every day surroundings can be poisonous to our pets. Chemicals, plants, or foods might prove dangerous or even fatal to them. Accidental poisoning can happen very quickly; keeping these things out of reach is the best way to prevent poisoning. Put together a poison safety kit to use in case of emergencies. Always consult your veterinarian before administering any treatment following ingestion.

Your safety kit should include:

• Hydrogen peroxide (3%)
• Saline eye solution
• Rubber gloves
• Pet carrier
• Can of soft pet food
• Dish soap (to wash skin)
• Muzzle

Toxic Plants

Amaryllis, caladium, and mistletoe are just a few of the many plants that are known to be toxic to pets. Even the water in a vase can be toxic in some cases, so extreme care must be taken. Below is a list of some of the other plants that are toxic to pets:

Cardiotoxic Plants (affect the heart):

• Lily of the valley
• Oleander
• Rhododendron
• Azalea
• Yew
• Foxglove
• Kalanchoe
• Cyclamen

Plants That Affect the Kidneys:

• Rhubard leaves
• Shamrocks
• Lilies (dangerous to cats only)

Plants That Can Result in Multiple Symptoms:

• Dracaena species
• Corn plant
• Ribbon plant
• Autumn crocus
• Daffodils

Toxic Foods

• Coffee grounds (can increase heart rate)
• Grapes and raisins (can cause kidney failure)
• Xylitol (sweetener found in gum, candy, and some peanut butters)
• Chocolate
• Yeast dough
• Avocado
• Alcoholic beverages
• Onions
• Macadamia nuts
• Tea
• Fatty foods (can cause inflammation of the pancreas)

To be safe, only feed your pet food, or foods approved by your veterinarian.

Human Medication

Many medications for people are deadly for pets. Never give your pet any medication unless directed by your veterinarian.

Flea Products

Always read the label on topical flea products. Many of the products designed for dogs are toxic to cats.


There are many other substances that can be toxic to our pets. The best prevention is to be ever vigilant to what is in our pets’ environment. If ever in doubt, call your veterinarian or ASPCA Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 to learn if something is toxic and what your next step should be.

Top 5 Summer Tips for Your Pet

June is Pet Preparedness Month, and at Quarry Ridge Animal Hospital, we recommend the following tips to help keep your pet safe this upcoming summer season:

1) Microchip Your Pet- Your pet's collar can easily fall off and become lost. Having a permanent form of identification is very important. Many microchip companies supply a collar tag with your pet's microchip number, so be sure to keep the tag safe. Adding it to your key chain can provide easy access to the microchip number and the microchip company's contact information.

2) Create a First Aid Kit for your pet and have it ready should your pet experience an emergency. We recommend including a rectal thermometer, bandage scissors, bandage material, triple antibiotic ointment, hydrogen peroxide, and Benadryl (ask your veterinarian about the recommended items for your pet).

3) Always make sure to have enough prescription medication for your travels and keep medications in their original container.

4) Many states require proof of Rabies Vaccination. Make sure to keep your pet's annual vaccinations up-to-date and have a copy of the Rabies Certificate available.

5) Add your veterinarian's contact information to your mobile phone's contact list or your address book. This could save time should you have to visit an emergency hospital during your vacation.

These tips may require modification depending on your pet's needs. Contact us at (203) 438-8878 with any questions you may have.

We hope you and your pet have a fun and safe summer!!

Lyme Disease Awareness Month

Lyme disease is an infection than can affect both dogs and cats all over the country. Caused by ticks (usually the deer tick and American dog tick in the Ridgefield area), this disease can cause lameness and even kidney failure if left untreated. This is why it’s so important to protect your pet with a preventative and to have them tested annually. If your pet tests positive, we can administer treatment—ideally before any clinical symptoms are seen.

Quarry Ridge Animal Hospital has a number of tick prevention products available in house. These include monthly topicals, such as Frontline, Advantix/Advantage, and Vectra. Topicals are designed to sit in the oil glands or on the hair shaft and are applied between the shoulder blades. We also offer spray products, including Vetri-Repel, Avon Skin-So-Soft, and Frontline. For cats, we offer Preventic, Seresto, and Breakaway collars. And if you or your pet isn’t a fan of the topical or spray preventatives, consider Nexgard, the first chewable monthly flea and tick control tablet.

In addition to using a preventative product for Lyme, we recommend that you have your pet screened for tick borne diseases at least once a year. In addition to Lyme, some of the most prevalent diseases in our area include Anaplasma and Ehrlichia Canis. Our screening test is a color change test that screens for tick borne diseases and even heartworm disease. If a test comes back positive, we typically recommend following up with a titer, which gives an actual number that can be tracked to ensure successful treatment.

Contact Quarry Ridge Animal Hospital today at (203) 438-8878 to schedule an appointment, so we can determine which preventative product is best for your pet.

Is Your Cat Missing the Litter Box?

You have a problem. Your cat is thinking outside the box, and not in a good way. You may be wondering what you did to inspire so much “creative expression.” Is your cat punishing you? Is Fluffy just “bad”? No, and no. House soiling and missing the litter box is a sign that your cat needs some help.

 According to the Winn Feline Foundation, house soiling is the number one complaint among cat owners. The good news is that it is very treatable.

 An accredited veterinarian can help you determine if the problem is medical or related to social or environmental stressors. In addition to a complete physical exam, the doctor will ask you specific “where and when” questions

 Health factors 

Tony Buffington, DVM, PhD, a specialist in feline urinary disorders at The Ohio State University, and founder of the Indoor Cat Initiative says that many veterinarians recommend a urine test for every cat with a house soiling problem. The urinalysis will determine if blood, bacteria, or urinary crystals are present — signs that your cat might have feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD).**

 FLUTD is very common and can cause painful urination. Cats that begin to associate the litter box with pain will avoid it. Other medical possibilities include hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, diabetes, and arthritis and muscle or nerve disorders that might prevent your cat from getting to the litter box in time.  

 Environmental factors

If there is no medical cause, the next step is to look at environmental factors. Start with the litter box. Your cat might be avoiding the litter box because it is not cleaned well enough, you’ve changed the type of litter you use, or there is only one box for multiple cats.

Another possibility is that your cat is “marking” — spraying urine, typically on vertical objects such as walls and furniture, or in “socially significant” areas near doors or windows. Both male and female cats mark. The most common offenders are cats that have not been spayed or neutered.

Buffington says that stress can cause elimination problems too. For example, subtle aggression or harassment by other house cats or neighborhood cats may be an issue.

 Indoor Cat Initiative

Even unremarkable changes in your home can make your cat anxious or fearful. Look around. Did anything change right before your cat started having problems? Did you get a new pet? A new couch? Maybe you just moved the old couch to a different part of the room, or had a dinner party. Cats are sensitive creatures and changes that seem small to you can throw your cat off his game. Check with your veterinarian about finding solutions that work for both you and your cat.


 Source:
http://www.aaha.org/pet_owner/pet_health_library/cat_care/behavior/missing_the_litter_box.aspx