Common child’s toy could threaten your cat’s life

I met Honey, a cute orange tabby kitten, when he was four months old. His owner brought him to see me because he’d been vomiting for two days, and hadn’t been able to keep anything down in 24 hours.

I wondered if something was blocking Honey’s system. I felt his belly but couldn’t detect anything. Even so, I knew he was a playful kitten, and I suspected that he may have swallowed a foreign body. When I shared my suspicions with Honey’s owner, she worried that she might have a clue.

She had seen Honey playing with a foam nerf bullet a few days ago.

We took an x-ray, and could see a bubble of built-up gas in Honey’s abdomen. That’s a common sign that something is blocking the intestines. To locate where the blockage was, we gave Honey liquid barium and took a series of x-rays 30 minutes apart, waiting to see where the dye would stop. When it did, I could make out the clear outline of a mushroom shape.

The x-ray showed us that something was blocking Honey’s intestine. Photo: BCVS

After talking with Honey’s owner, we decided to go to surgery. Sure enough, she had been right. Under anesthetic, I located the blockage in Honey’s intestines and pulled out the plastic end of the offending nerf bullet.

Nerf bullets are fun for kids, but bad news for cats

These bullets are a classic temptation for cats. They’re a common toy, they’re often found lying on the ground, and they’re fun for cats to play with. Unfortunately, the bullets are also the perfect size to choke your pet or block their intestines.

If you have nerf guns in your home, make sure to account for the bullets and keep them out of your pets’ reach. A little tidy-up is a good way to ensure you don’t face a scary ordeal.

Too common to ignore!

Honey recovered well from his surgery. A few days after the surgery, we called to check in and his owner reported that he was doing great.

But just a few days later, I met another kitten who had landed herself in the same situation! She also recovered, but it took several days of care to get her back on her feet.

These little foam toys are cheap, but emergency care and hospitalization for your pets can get very expensive. To keep everyone happy and healthy, do a sweep of your home, and make sure it’s clear of enticing objects that could cause your pets harm.   

This little piece of plastic resulted in a lot of trouble for Honey. Photo: BCVS

IT’S WORTH MENTIONING: Neither of these kittens had been vaccinated when they came to us, and they each had to be hospitalized for multiple days. Spending time in the clinic risks exposure to bacteria and viruses. To keep them safe, make sure your pets are immunized starting at 8 weeks. 

Written by Doctor Alana Watt

Tick Prevention in the Winter: Mid-season thaws can bring unwelcome guests

With January nearing its end and February almost upon us, I’m reminded of a dog that I met a few years ago.

Lilly, an unassuming black lab, actually changed one of the ways we work at Beaverton Crossroads Veterinary Services.

As a faithful companion, Lilly was accustomed to going everywhere with her owner, Paul. One day in mid-January, Paul noticed that Lilly’s back left leg was sore, so he made an appointment with our clinic.

Paul and Lilly spent a lot of time outdoors. Photo: provided by owner

When I met Lilly in the exam room, she had a sore leg and a fever. As we tried to determine what was going on, I asked Paul what he and Lilly had been up to. As it turned out, they had been out in the bush walking about two weeks before. It stood out in Paul’s memory because it had been unseasonably warm—a welcome thaw in the dead of winter.

The idea never really hit me until I was looking at Lilly’s preliminary bloodwork: her results were consistent with Lyme disease. I called Paul to ask if Lilly was currently on anti-tick medication.

“Lilly’s pill supply ran out in December,” Paul told me. “It was winter, so I thought that she didn’t need to stay on them.”

Paul was right; he was following the instructions that we’d given him. So what had gone wrong?

Tick behaviour in the winter

Paul never saw a tick on his dog—but he’d seen them in the past, and that’s why he had started anti-tick meds. He’d been advised to keep Lilly on the pills at least nine months of the year, since ticks posed minimal risks during the coldest winter months.

When temperatures drop during the winter, ticks typically go dormant so they don’t pose a risk to our pets (or us owners, for that matter). It’s only when the temperatures rise above four degrees Celsius that the ticks become active. Unfortunately, the pleasant January thaw that had Paul and Lilly heading for the bush had been at least ten degrees, and Lilly had been bitten by an opportunistic tick.

The reality is, our climate is becoming less predictable and we’re seeing unseasonable thaws more frequently. When Lilly was diagnosed with Lyme disease, it was a wakeup call for our team at Beaverton Crossroads and an opportunity to change our recommendations.

Lilly’s treatment plan

With Paul’s agreement, we ran a routine test for three tick-borne diseases that are local to our area. As suspected, Lilly’s results came back with a strong positive for Lyme disease. We tested her antibody levels and immediately started her on a two-month course of antibiotics.

With treatment, Lilly’s fever came down and her back leg improved. We re-tested her when she finished her antibiotics and were happy to find that the treatment had eradicated the disease from her system.

With treatment, Lilly made a full recovery from Lyme disease. Photo: provided by owner

How to ensure your pet stays healthy

Tick-borne illnesses, especially Lyme disease, pose one of the greatest risks to our pets’ health. At Beaverton Crossroads, we’re seeing numerous cases in dogs that never leave our area, which means they are being infected by local ticks.

To ensure your dog or cat is protected against ticks:

1. Be vigilant and inspect your pet, even during winter months.

2. Ensure your pet has adequate prevention against ticks.

3. If you see sudden fever, lameness, or just feel like something is “off”—make an appointment with one of our vets.

DID YOU KNOW Borrealea, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, is harboured by approximately 60% of ticks in the Beaverton Crossroads practice area? They have to feed on your pet for at least 36 hours before they can cause infection. Make a habit of checking your pet for ticks, especially during warm months—because you may be able to prevent an illness.

Written by Doctor Rick Doner

Why your pet needs an annual checkup

We recommend every pet have a physical at least once a year. There are many things that we pack into a yearly exam that go way beyond a rabies shot! It’s about keeping your pet happy, healthy and most importantly, making sure you have as many wonderful years together as possible. Here are some of the reasons you should consider bringing your pet in for a yearly checkup:

• To “check under the hood” - The most important part of your pet’s yearly visit is their physical exam. Your vet will ask you questions about your pet’s eating and drinking, energy level, bathroom habits, and more. Meanwhile, they will check your pet over from nose to tail. Any changes or abnormalities can give clues about your pet’s health. Early detection of disease can sometimes mean the difference between life and death.

• To screen for common problems - Your vet may suggest routine monitoring tests such as stool exams for parasites or blood and urine tests for early detection of diseases. If your pet takes medication, there may also be particular monitoring tests needed to make sure the treatment is going well. Diagnostic testing can be an invaluable tool in maintaining good health.

• To monitor your pet’s weight - Changes in weight are an important factor in assessing health. Just like with people, obesity can lead to many problems such as joint and back pain, diabetes, or heart disease. Realizing an upward trend in weight and correcting it early can mean extra years for you and your pet to have together. On the other hand, a pet decreasing in weight can be a sign of various problems that could already be in progress, including dental disease, kidney problems, heart conditions, digestion issues, or even cancer. Realizing your pet’s weight has changed can help ensure they stay healthy and happy for as long as possible.

• To discuss preventative medicine - Of course, many people think of their pet’s check up as “time for shots” and, indeed, routine vaccinations for rabies and other preventable infections is extremely important. You and your vet can discuss, based on your pet’s lifestyle and risk factors, what vaccines are needed. Many of these vaccines only need to be given every few years, so your vet will keep track of which ones are due. There are other things that are important to prevent as well: parasites such as fleas, ticks, intestinal worms and heartworms are easily kept away with medications. You and your vet can decide which ones your pet needs, and when. Veterinarians are best qualified to recommend preventative medicine options.

• To discuss regular care and maintenance - Your vet can also help advise you about things like nutrition, grooming, bathing, nail trimming, ear cleaning, oral hygiene, exercise, and training, as well as answer any other pet-related questions you may have. Veterinarians are a great source of information for all things pet-related.

Contact us today to make sure your pet is as healthy as they can possibly be. We can’t wait to see you!