Tips to Keep Pets Safe From Tricks and Treats

• Keep pets safely inside, away from trick-or-treaters and other Halloween activities. This will ensure that pets won’t become frightened or feel threatened at the sight of noisy costumed children. Cats, especially black ones, may be the target of pranksters. In addition, frequently opened doors provide a perfect opportunity for escape, which can go unnoticed during all of the commotion. Be sure all pets are wearing collars with ID tags in case of accidental escape.

• Keep candy out of your pet’s reach. Candy can be harmful to pets and chocolate is toxic to cats, dogs, and ferrets.

• Keep pets away from decorations. Flames in jack-o-lanterns and candles can quickly singe, burn or set fire to a pet’s fur. Pets can become tangled in hanging decorations like streamers and can choke on some decorations if they chew on them.

• Resist the urge to put your furry friend in costume. Most pets dislike the confinement of costumes and masks, and flowing capes can cause injuries if pets get caught on something.

• Don’t bring the family dog along for trick-or-treating. Dogs may become difficult to handle during the noise and confusion of the festivities. A lost dog or dog bite will quickly end your Halloween fun.

People with black cats should be extra careful about keeping their cats safe during this time.

Keep your pet safe in an enclosed area with a toy and soothing music. Resist the urge to include your pet in your Halloween activities, and everyone can enjoy the holiday.

Blue Buffalo Food Recall

Recall issued of certain Blue Buffalo dog foods

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The makers of Blue Buffalo pet foods are recalling certain lots of the company’s Wilderness Chicken-Dog, Basics Salmon-Dog and Large Breed Adult Dog products due to fears that the food may contain higher levels of vitamin D than are specified.

The problem, officials say, likely stems from what appears to be a glitch tied to one of the company’s dry ingredients suppliers concerning a form of vitamin D that’s not supposed to be in the Blue Buffalo foods in question.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to soon issue a public notice on the recall. According to the company, the following production runs distributed to pet specialty stores nationwide are involved:

• 4.5-, 11- and 24-pound bags of Blue Wilderness Chicken dry dog food with best-if-used-by dates of JUL1211B, JUL1311B, JUL2611Z, JUL2711Z and JUL2811Z;
• 11- and 24-pound bags of Blue Basics Salmon and Potato Recipe dry dog food with best-if-used-by dates of AUG2111B and AUG2211B;
• 30-pound bags of Blue Large Breed Adult Chicken dry dog food with best-if-used-by dates of SEP 22 11 P, SEP 23 11 P, OCT 26 11 P.

Any unused product still in its bag may be returned to the point of purchase for a full refund.

In an announcement issued this afternoon, officials with Wilton-Conn.-based Blue Buffalo reveal 36 cases nationwide of dogs with symptoms consistent with elevated levels of vitamin D in their systems while on the diets, with symptoms resolving after being switched to a different brand of food. Practitioners have reported many of those cases on the Veterinary Information Network, or VIN, an online community for the profession and parent of the VIN News Service.

Hypervitaminosis D induces bone loss and abnormally high serum calcium levels, which could result in kidney stones and the calcification of organs like the heart and kidneys if left untreated. Hypercalcemia often is associated with certain forms of cancer, which could lead a pet owner to choose euthanasia upon hearing such a potentially grave diagnosis.

In a news release issued on Friday to the Associated Press, Blue Buffalo’s Richard MacLean, vice president of business affairs, instructs owners with dogs that show signs of lethargy or exhibit unusually frequent water consumption or urination to immediately contact a veterinarian.

“In all cases the symptoms have subsided upon discontinuing feeding these products with no apparent long-term health consequences,” the release states.

Consumers who have incurred expenses for veterinary services and/or laboratory testing fees related to the recalled products can call the Blue Buffalo customer service department at (877) 523-9114 for reimbursement.

Continuing Education for the Pet Owner

"What you Need to Know About Dogs Now to Prevent Behavior Issues in the Future"

Date: Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Location: Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital
20 Cabot Road, Woburn, MA 01801
Presented by : Kati Wrubel, PhD

This lecture will cover the basics on what your dog needs to thrive in the human world. Topics covered will include the basics on socialization, enrichment, exercise, training, and leadership that every owner should know.

Attendees will need to register beforehand to ensure their space at the lecture. To register, an online application form is available and an email confirmation will be sent to verify registration.

Go to: http://www.IVGHospitals.com/ & follow the link Pet Owner Education. Or go to www.IVGHospitals.com/intown/seminars.html.

July 4th Safety Tips from the ASPCA

For many people, nothing beats lounging in the backyard on the Fourth of July with good friends and family—including the four-legged members of the household. While it may seem like a great idea to reward Rover with scraps from the grill and bring him along to watch fireworks, in reality some festive foods and products can be potentially hazardous to your pets. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center offers the following tips:

• Never leave alcoholic drinks unattended where pets can reach them. Alcoholic beverages have the potential to poison pets. If ingested, the animal could become very intoxicated and weak, severely depressed or could go into a coma. Death from respiratory failure is also a possibility in severe cases.
• Do not apply any sunscreen or insect repellent product to your pet that is not labeled specifically for use on animals. Ingestion of sunscreen products can result in drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy. The misuse of insect repellent that contains DEET can lead to neurological problems.
• Always keep matches and lighter fluid out of your pets’ reach. Certain types of matches contain chlorates, which could potentially damage blood cells and result in difficulty breathing—or even kidney disease in severe cases. Lighter fluid can be irritating to skin, and if ingested can produce gastrointestinal irritation and central nervous system depression. If lighter fluid is inhaled, aspiration pneumonia and breathing problems could develop.
• Keep your pets on their normal diet. Any change, even for one meal, can give your pets severe indigestion and diarrhea. This is particularly true for older animals who have more delicate digestive systems and nutritional requirements. And keep in mind that foods such as onions, chocolate, coffee, avocado, grapes & raisins, salt and yeast dough can all be potentially toxic to companion animals.
• Do not put glow jewelry on your pets, or allow them to play with it.While the luminescent substance contained in these products is not highly toxic, excessive drooling and gastrointestinal irritation could still result from ingestions, and intestinal blockage could occur from swallowing large pieces of the plastic containers.
• Keep citronella candles, insect coils and oil products out of reach. Ingestions can produce stomach irritation and possibly even central nervous system depression. If inhaled, the oils could cause aspiration pneumonia in pets.
• Never use fireworks around pets! While exposure to lit fireworks can potentially result in severe burns and/or trauma to the face and paws of curious pets, even unused fireworks can pose a danger. Many types contain potentially toxic substances, including potassium nitrate, arsenic and other heavy metals.
• Loud, crowded fireworks displays are no fun for pets, so please resist the urge to take them to Independence Day festivities. Instead, keep your little guys safe from the noise in a quiet, sheltered and escape-proof area at home.

Acupuncture at Highland

We are pleased to announce that starting on July 15th Dr. Xuan Mai Vo will be offering acupuncture treatments for dogs and cats here at Highland!!!

Acupuncture is the procedure of inserting and manipulating needles into various points on the body to relieve pain or for therapeutic purposes.

In veterinary medicine, acupuncture is most often used for managing pain and can also address many conditions including gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory problems, urinary and kidney problems, musculoskeletal disorders, skin issues, behavioral concerns and post operative discomfort.

The length and frequency of treatment depends on the problem and condition of your pet. Your first visit will consist of a physical examination and consultation as well as initial treatment based on the diagnosis. Needles may be left in anywhere from 10 seconds to 20 minutes depending on the condition being treated. The needles are different that the ones used for drawing blood or administering vaccines and are usually well tolerated by animals.

The goal of treatment is to establish an optimum response; therefore, treatment may consist of one visit or multiple regular visits. There is no single recipe for acupuncture and treatment is tailored to each patient and each visit. Conditions encountered in acupuncture are often chronic or more severe and your veterinary acupuncturist may recommend weekly or every other week visits, which are then tapered off to achieve the longest amount of symptom-free time in between.

The majority of pets have a positive response and find acupuncture beneficial.

Dr. Xuan Mai Vo, whom many of you have met as she has practiced here at Highland periodically, will be providing our acupuncture services.

Dr. Vo is a “Double Jumbo” as she received both her bachelor’s and veterinary degrees from Tufts University. After graduation from vet school, she pursued an internship at Woodside Equine Clinic. She completed her acupuncture training through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS). Besides her interest in acupuncture, Dr. Vo practices small animal general medicine and surgery in the greater Boston area and is a clinical instructor in anatomy at the Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. She shares a multilingual household with her husband and two black cats, enjoys traveling, drawing, cycling and anything that involves friends, food or horses!

Dr. Vo will begin seeing acupuncture patients on July 15th from 8am to 1pm.

Acupuncture Fee Schedule

Initial one hour examination/consultation and treatment $125.00

Additional 30 minute treatment sessions $80.00

Please schedule your appointment with the front desk or call 781-433-0467

Goodbye and Welcome!

Today was a sad day at Highland Animal Hospital as we said goodbye to Dr. Artise Dunnavant. It seems like only yesterday that she enthusiastically joined our team as associate veterinarian. Although we hoped she would stay with our practice indefinitely, we knew the possibility existed that she may relocate once her husband finished his schooling. Unfortunately, they are moving to South Carolina for his new job!

We all wish Dr. Dunnavant and family a wonderful new life in Charleston and know that her next practice will be so very lucky to acquire such a caring, compassionate and talented veterinarian.



On a much brighter note, we are very excited about our new associate who will be joining us mid-June. Dr. Sue Floyd is a 1992 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. She and Dr. Giles were classmates at U. Penn. Dr. Floyd brings over 20 years of veterinary experience to our hospital! We are very fortunate to add her to our team!

Visit from Santa

On December 12th we had a wonderful visit from Santa! Excitement was palpable as our 4-legged friends patiently waited for their photo-op with the top dog! Santa's helpers - Mrs. Claus, reindeer, snowman, holiday tree, gingerbread man and assorted elves flawlessly guided our furry friends to Santa's lap.

Dogs and cats, bunnies and rats were on their best behavior as Santa listened to their Christmas wishes!

We would like to thank everyone for their generosity for our "Pets in Need" fund where over $600 in donations was raised.

The day was a complete success and we look forward to continuing this holiday tradition!