Treating Bloat in Dogs

July's Pet of the Month

Meet our big, handsome July Pet of the Month, Blue! Blue is a 3.5-year-old Great Dane who weighs in at a whopping 120 pounds! Blue is a sweet boy who, regardless of his size, thinks that he is a lap dog. Blue also wants to be friends with everyone he sees, especially while out walking and riding the elevator in his building. Blue is here to talk to us about this month's topic gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV), most commonly known as "bloat".

  

A few months ago, while out for a walk, Blue started exhibiting some concerning signs. Blue's abdomen was distended, he was repeatedly attempting to vomit, and was in obvious discomfort. Luckily, Blue's owner knew something was wrong and, suspecting GDV, rushed over to Pearl Animal Hospital where we were able to assess Blue and immediately refer them to Dove Lewis Emergency Animal Hospital. Blue's surgery went well and he made a full recovery back to his normal, goofy self.

The Importance of Pet Insurance

April’s Pet of the Month

Meet Olive, our April Pet of the Month!  Not only are we honored to feature sweet Olive, but we also get to wish her a happy first birthday on April 20th!!  Olive is an adorable Yorkie mix who loves to give kisses, play at daycare with her Newfoundland friend Truman, and play with her squeaky toys!  Olive is here to teach us about pet insurance!

Weight Loss for Pets

Marley, a 3-year-old female papillon, recently started Pearl Animal Hospital’s Chubby Chow Down weight-loss program at an unhealthy weight of 21 pounds. To lose weight, Marley ate a prescription weight-loss diet and snacked on fewer treats. She also exercised more often and more regularly. Throughout the program, a veterinary technician monitored her frequently to check for healthy weight loss. Marley finished the program with great success, weighing in at her ideal weight of 14 pounds.

Preventing Skin Burn in Dogs

Meet Jack!

Jack, a 13-year-old male lab mix, could be found hiking trails in Colorado and Virginia in his younger days. Nowadays, he "hikes" the sidewalks of the Pearl. Jack also likes to sleep in the sun on his balcony and gaze out on the Willamette.

Jack recently experienced a painful deep skin burn. Several days after getting a bath, Jack’s mom noticed that he was very uncomfortable in the hind end. Upon examination, we discovered that his skin was ulcerated and oozing. The entire dermal (skin) layer on his hind end was sloughing off and becoming infected. Jack recovered with medication and frequent bandage changes.

Top Five Holiday Pet Health Hazards

The holidays can be an exciting and stressful time of year for pets and people alike. Be aware of these five common holiday hazards for pets to ensure that both you and your pet have a happier holiday season. 

1. Seasonal plants. The leaves of mistletoe and poinsettias can cause stomach upset and irritation. Lilies are often overlooked and are particularly harmful to cats. Lilies cause acute renal failure with ingestion of any part of the plant, including the pollen.

2. Christmas trees. Many pets drink Christmas tree water that contains fertilizers and bacteria, leading to stomach upset. Christmas trees needles can cause stomach upset and irritation. Ensure your pets are well supervised and restrict access to the Christmas tree water.

Recognizing Bloat in Your Pet

Meet Ruby!

Ruby is a 12 year old female weimaraner who recently experienced a painful and life-threatening condition known as gastric dilatation volvulus or “bloat”. Ruby’s parents noted that she was trying to vomit and that her abdomen was becoming distended. They immediately brought her to Pearl Animal Hospital where she was stabilized for emergency surgery.

Fortunately, Ruby recovered very well from surgery and is back to rolling on her back in green grass, eating baby carrots, trying to put as many toys in her mouth at a time (4 max) and ambushing her brother Tony. You can see Ruby and Tony walking their owner Richard around the Pearl.