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Nov 05
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What is a Veterinary Criticalist and Why Would You Need One?

By Colorado Veterinary Specialty Group Blog No Comments

Veterinary Criticalists are veterinarians specializing in the emergency and critical care of pets.  After veterinary school, criticalists complete three or more years of intensive training in emergency and critical care medicine and pass a board examination administered by the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (ACVECC).

Veterinary Criticalists are experts in managing seriously ill pets and life-threatening emergencies.  Typical cases they handle involve pets who need frequent monitoring of blood pressure, organ function, or electrolytes.  They also attend to pets who:

  • Undergo traumas, such as being hit by a car, attacked by other animals, stabbed with a sharp object or burned
  • Have difficulty breathing
  • Require transfusions
  • Experience life-threatening poisoning
  • Shows signs of shock, seizures, or neurologic abnormalities
  • Have severe urinary issues
  • Suffer from complications like pneumonia, organ failure, or blood pressure irregularities
  • Require extracorporeal therapies (outside the body), such as dialysis, mechanical ventilation or therapeutic plasma exchange

Criticalists at CVSG collaborate with our board-certified specialists in all areas of the hospital to support patients in our care.  Our team of dedicated emergency doctors work hand-in-hand with the criticalists.  This allows CVSG to offer the most advanced medical treatment and provide the highest-quality, innovative veterinary care to our patients.

 

 

Oct 15
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Ideas for Fall Fun With Your Dog

By Fun Pet Facts No Comments
Enjoying pumpkin-spiced lattes, cozy sweaters, and beautiful leaves are all perks of the fall season.  As outdoor temperatures become more pet-friendly, another benefit of fall is the ability to take your dog along as you enjoy the season.  Following are a few suggestions for fall fun with your pet in Colorado:
  1. Pick up pumpkin at a local pumpkin patch.  Find dog-friendly options in the area: https://www.sidewalkdog.com/dog-friendly-pumpkin-patches/#colorado
  2. Carve your find with artwork based on your pet; check Pinterest for great ideas and patterns: https://www.pinterest.com/
  3. Visit a farmer’s market.  Find a dog-friendly market near you at: https://cofarmersmarkets.org/find-a-market/
  4. Plan a camping trip.  Before you go, read this guide to be prepared for the experience: https://koa.com/blog/tips-from-camping-with-dogs/
  5. Hike and look at colorful aspen leaves. Find leaf peeping tips at: https://www.colorado.com/articles/9-favorite-fall-dog-hikes
  6. Gear your dog up for game day (team bandanas, collars, leashes) and watch the game at a local, dog-friendly brewery https://www.coloradobrewerylist.com/brewery_dogs/dogs-welcome/
Oct 03
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Keep your pets safe in the fall

By Pet Health No Comments

Cooler weather, the fall harvest and seasonal baking lead to maximum enjoyment of this wonderful season. However, knowledge of the specific hazards of this season is necessary to keep your pets healthy and safe.

Help keep your pets protected in the fall:

  • Be careful when planting bulbs. Ingestion of ornamental bulbs planted in the fall can cause heart, kidney, and liver failure. Signs after ingestion may include vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy. Bulbs may also cause an obstruction in the digestive system if consumed whole or in larger pieces. Consider planting bulbs behind fences, inside cages, or in other areas inaccessible to your pet.
  • Dispose of corn cobs properly. Dogs can chew and eat corncobs but cannot digest them which could be fatal. Dogs can choke on corncobs if they become stuck in the throat or esophagus. Corncobs are also a common cause of intestinal obstruction which may require surgery.
  • Check fertilizers and mulches for mold. Any type of solid fertilizer or mulch can become toxic to your dog if it is moldy. Common signs of mold toxicity include hyperactivity, tremors, vomiting, high body temperature, and seizures in severe cases. Packages kept open can harbor mold even if it is invisible to the naked eye. To prevent mold, keep fertilizer containers closed and store them in a dry space.
  • Keep pets away from mushrooms. Fall is one of the prime seasons for mushroom growth. Signs of mushroom toxicity may include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, weakness, tremors, vocalization, and seizures. Pets may exhibit symptoms within 15 minutes, or they may be delayed for up to 12 hours. If you suspect toxic mushroom ingestion, immediate veterinary care is recommended. Be specific when describing symptoms and their time of onset to your veterinarian; this information is vital for accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment. For additional information, including photos of some of the more common toxic mushrooms, please go to: https://www.petmd.com/dog/slideshows/6-poisonous-mushrooms-are-toxic-dogs .
  • Be cautious when using rodent poison. All rat and mouse poisons are toxic to pets if ingested. These poisons cause bleeding both inside and outside the body. Your pet may have pale gums, difficulty breathing, coughing, bloody urine or feces, vomiting or seizures. Immediate veterinary care is necessary if you suspect your pet has ingested any type of rodenticide.

Enjoy the crisp air and beautiful foliage, be aware of hazards, and both you and your pet will make the most of fall.

Oct 02
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Dog Coat Colors

By Fun Pet Facts No Comments

The colors and patterns of dog coats can be as diverse and beautiful as the colors in fall foliage. The following is a short explanation of coat colors and some of the more unusual names for the colors.

All dog coat colors are formed from just two pigments – eumelanin (black or brown) and phaeomelanin (red, yellow or tan).  Different variations in color are created by these two pigments which are both forms of melanin.

Interesting names for coat colors include:

Blenheim.  This name describes the Cavalier King Charles and King Charles Spaniels with a coat color consisting of a deep, clear red and white.  This color is named for John Churchill, the 1st Duke of Marlborough, because of the red and white King Charles Spaniels kept at his estate, Blenheim.

Deadgrass.   Chesapeake Bay retrievers with a “Deadgrass,” or light, liver-pigmented red coat color virtually disappear in the dry, dead wheat stalks and grasses of autumn fields while bird-hunting with their owners.

Fulvo.   Because the Cane Corso is an Italian breed they may be a fulvo color, translated in English as “fawn”.

Mustard and Pepper.  Dandie Dinmont Terrier lovers describe their dogs as either mustard (reddish-brown to fawn) or pepper (bluish-black to silvery gray).

Chocolate. Refers to Labrador retrievers.  Although the same color in a curly-coated retriever or pointer is called liver and it is called brown in a Poodle.

Sep 30
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What to Do if Your Dog is Limping

By Pet Health No Comments

Limping (or lameness) is one of the most common reasons the CVSG Emergency Team see dogs at our hospital.  Dogs, like people, can suffer from numerous issues leading to lameness.  Your dog’s lameness  could be cause by something minor, such as a small stone caught between their paws or lameness could be an indication of a serious health concern. Lameness frequently indicates pain but can also indicate a neurologic abnormality.

Lameness is divided in two basic categories, sudden onset or gradual onset.  Sudden onset lameness may be caused by a cut on the paw pad, an insect bite or sting, or a traumatic injury.  Gradual onset lameness may be caused by conditions such as strains or tears (ligaments, tendons, muscles), immune mediated disease or osteoarthritis.

If any of the following apply to your dog, an immediate visit to your primary veterinarian or nearest emergency veterinary hospital is recommended:

  • Inability to bear weight on the limb
  • Moderate to severe swelling
  • Limbs which feel hot to the touch
  • Limping in combination with other symptoms such as a fever or vomiting
  • A limp accompanied by whining or yelping
  • Uncontrolled bleeding

Gradual limping should lead to a veterinary visit but, unless the conditions above occur simultaneously or your pet appears to be in severe pain, may wait until a scheduled appointment time is available.  Your veterinarian may recommend blood work, testing for tick bourne disease, and/or x-rays to assist with the diagnosis.  He or she may refer you and your dog to a veterinary specialist for a surgical consult or for sports medicine/rehabilitation treatments and physical therapy.

Early evaluation by a veterinarian is a good idea to ensure your dog has an early diagnosis, receives rapid treatment and pain can be managed quickly.  If you have questions, CVSG’s team is here to help and may be reached by calling 303-794-1188.