Protect Your Pets from Easter Holiday Hazards
Easter Lilies - Lilies are highly toxic to cats. All parts of the Easter lily plant are poisonous – the petals, the leaves, the stem and even the pollen. Cats that ingest as few as one or two leaves, or even a small amount of pollen while grooming their fur, can suffer severe kidney failure.
Easter Grass - Easter grass is the fake grass that often accompanies Easter baskets. When your cat or dog ingests something “stringy” like Easter grass, it can become anchored around the base of the tongue or stomach, rendering it unable to pass through the intestines. It can result in a linear foreign body and cause severe damage to the intestinal tract, often requiring expensive abdominal surgery.
Chocolate - During the week of Easter, calls to Pet Poison Helpline concerning dogs that have been poisoned by chocolate increase by nearly 200 percent. While the occasional chocolate chip in one cookie may not be an issue, certain types of chocolate are very toxic to dogs. In general, the darker and more bitter the chocolate, the greater the danger. Baker’s chocolate and dark chocolate pose the biggest problem. The chemical toxicity is due to methylxanthines (a relative of caffeine) and results in vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, an abnormal heart rhythm, seizures, and possibly death. Other sources include chewable chocolate flavored multi-vitamins, baked goods, or chocolate-covered espresso beans. If you suspect that your dog ate chocolate, call your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline immediately.
Read more info. on Pet Poisonings on the OVMA website.
The Pet Poison Helpline is a service available 24 hours, seven days a week for pet owners, veterinarians and veterinary technicians who require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet..
PARASITES:
Regular examinations and preventive medications can help protect your pets from fleas, ticks, heartworms, and intestinal parasites like roundworms and hookworms. Don't leave your pet unprotected from these predators.
Ticks and Fleas
Ticks and fleas are blood-drinking parasites that can also cause serious illness in pets. Ticks can transmit infections like Lyme disease, and fleas can transmit tapeworms and cause allergies. You can sometimes see ticks or fleas on your pet, but for the most part, they are very difficult to find. A veterinary examination can detect ticks or fleas on your pet, and monthly medication can control them.
Heartworms
Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes, and they can infect dogs and cats. Even indoor pets aren't completely safe from heartworms, since 25% of heartworm infected cats live completely indoors. Heartworms can damage the lungs and heart, and can even cause death. Fortunately, heartworm preventive medications can protect your pets from these dangerous parasites.
Intestinal Parasites
Hookworms, roundworms, and other intestinal parasites can harm pets. Some of these parasites are even transmissible to humans, so preventing parasites in your pets also helps protect children and other family members. A veterinary examination and routine fecal testing can identify intestinal parasites, and many monthly heartworm preventive medications safely and effectively control them. Ask us how to protect your pets and family.
Protect your pet. Protect your family. Let us help.
Talk with us about parasite prevention and your pet's health before parasites become a serious health issue.
Call us today at (541) 382-0741 or go to your pet portal to request an appointment.
Toxic Vegetable Garden & Flower Bed Plants & Bulbs
Read 'Gardening in Central Oregon with Your Pets' article 
Garden Toxins Flyer by VPI Pet Insurance
There are many challenges to gardening in Central Oregon's high desert and the last thing we think about is how are pets can be effected by the garden.
TOXIC PLANTS: Tulip Bulbs,
Daffodils & all Narcissus species,
Autum or Saffron Crocus,
Azaleas and Rododendrons bark, leaves and foliage,
Yew,
Foxglove,
Cocao plants and Cocao based garden mulch,
Tomatoes and Potatoes (in any form, peels, tubers, foliage or stalks)
,
Rhubarb,
Lillies (toxic to cats),
Baby onion sets (garlic, chives and leeks also cause problems),
Water Hemlock,
Cow
Parsnips,
Death
Camas.
Exercise caution when using organic meals, bone meal, blood meal and fish based fertilizers.
Also, use caution when creating your own composting pile. Keep dogs and cats from eating the decomposing and often bacteria infested materials.
If your pet gets into any suspected toxins or uncertain plants it is best to
contact animal poison control at (888) 426-4435, ASPCA.org or call your veterinarian immediately. It could save their life.
