Hello from Newtown Vet!

As medical director, I wanted to alert the Newtown Vet family to a new toxicity that is on the rise in dogs and cats due to the increased availability of sago palm plants from some large retailers.

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Dear clients,

As you may already know, Hill’s Pet Nutrition has issued a voluntary recall/withdrawal of select canned canine diets due to elevated Vitamin D levels caused by a supplier error.
No dry dog foods, cat foods (both canned and dry), or treats were affected.

Hill’s Pet Nutrition has reported that “while vitamin D is an essential nutrient for dogs, ingestion of elevated levels can lead to potential health issues depending on the level of vitamin D and the length of exposure, and dogs may exhibit symptoms such as:

– vomiting & excessive drooling

– loss of appetite

– increased thirst & urination”

Hill’s has noted that in most cases symptoms resolved after the discontinuation of feeding the affected diets. You may view their full statement at the links listed below or on our website.

Today, February 7^th, 2019, Newtown Vet Hospital was notified that a limited amount of affected canned canine diets was distributed through our hospital. Below is the list of affected diets with associated SKU numbers. If you have any of the affected diets purchased through Newtown Vet, please discontinue feeding your pet and bring any opened or unopened cans to Newtown Vet for disposal and replacement.

To read Hill’s complete statement on the recall, including how to check which batch your product is from, please click HERE.

If you have any questions regarding this recall, vitamin D toxicity symptoms, or reporting any other issues with Hill’s diets, please contact Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. at 1-800-445-5777 Monday-Friday during the hours of 9am-5pm (CST) or at contactus@hillspet.com. For further information please see the HillsPet.com website or call Newtown Vet.

As always, the Newtown Vet Hospital doctors and staff are here to help answer any questions or concerns. We appreciate your patience at this time and will continue to update our clients via email and social media outlets with new information.

Sincerely,

The Doctors and Staff
Newtown Vet Hospital

As the holidays approach, we tend to get wrapped up in the festivities and forget that our homes can contain huge risks for our pets if we aren’t careful. Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine shared a helpful article outlining some of the main hazards pet owners should look out for during the end-of-year rush. We’ve sampled the highlights for you, but we strongly recommend reading their article, too! You can find it in entirety here.

Holiday Lights

Pets have been known to love chewing on decorative lights. Both indoor and outdoor lights should be carefully examined to ensure safety for your household pets. Electrical shock may occur from defective cords as well as from pets chewing on cords. Check cords for any signs of bite marks, loose or frayed wires, proximity to the tree’s water supply or evidence of short circuits. Use grounded “3-prong” extension cords and strictly follow manufacturer guidelines for light usage.

Electrical shock can cause burns, difficulty breathing, abnormal heart rhythm, loss of consciousness, and death. Call a veterinarian immediately if your pet has been injured by electrical shock. Treatment will be most effective if begun soon after the shock.

Drinking Things They Shouldn’t Drink

Even though they have their own water bowl, there is something enticing about a novel source of water, whether it’s the toilet bowl or the Christmas tree stand. If you add chemicals to the water meant to keep your tree fresh longer, be sure to read the label to make sure it is safe for pets. Potpourri makes your house smell festive but may be another attraction for pets to drink. Make sure that potpourri pots are covered or otherwise inaccessible to pets.

Antifreeze is also found in most houses during the winter season. Even a small spill on the floor of your garage could be lapped up by your pet and cause serious damage. Be careful with where your antifreeze is kept and be sure to thoroughly clean up any messes immediately.

Eating Things They Shouldn’t Eat

Well-intentioned family and friends may share holiday foods with pets causing the pet to develop a stomach upset or worse, pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) which can be caused by eating fatty foods. To control excessive food intake by your pets and meet your guests’ desires to feed the pets, dole out the treats your pets would normally receive and let your guests “treat” the pets. If you want to get festive, mix some of your pet’s regular food with water to make a “dough” and roll out and cut into festive shapes, then bake until crunchy.

What would the holidays be without boxes of chocolate and warm cocoa in front of the fire? However, chocolate can be toxic or even fatal to dogs and cats. Chocolate may be mistakenly given to pets as treats and may be irresistible to the curious canine. Chocolate poisoning occurs most frequently in dogs but other species are also susceptible.

Poinsettias have received bad publicity in the past whereas in fact, poinsettias are not very toxic to pets. They do contain a milky sap that can irritate the mouth but if signs develop they are usually mild. Mistletoe can be very toxic to animals and you should seek veterinary consultation immediately if your pet has potentially ingested any part of the plant. Mistletoe can cause vomiting, severe diarrhea, difficult breathing, shock and death within hours of ingestion. There are many species of Holly, all of whom should be avoided by pets – the berries and leaves can be a problem although signs of poisonings are generally mild, and include vomiting, belly pain, and diarrhea.

Tinsel, Ribbons, and Other Pretty Things

It isn’t always just food and plants that pets ingest! There is something about those shiny strands of Christmas tree decor, which drives kitties wild. Although the sight of your cat pawing at the tree may be cute, the ingestion of tinsel can be deadly. Eating tinsel or other string-like items such as ribbon (often called linear foreign bodies) can cause serious damage to the intestine. One end can get stuck while the rest is pulled into the intestine as it contracts, and with each contraction the intestine is damaged by the foreign material. Signs of ingestion include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, belly pain and sometimes fever.

Eating other holiday decorations can cause signs ranging from mild depression to severe vomiting or diarrhea, depending upon whether or not the foreign matter can be passed in the stool or gets stuck along the way. Surgery is required to remove foreign matter that does not pass out on its own.

In the event your pet does ingest something it shouldn’t have, experience an injury, or simply begin to show signs that something isn’t right, don’t wait. Contacting the staff at Newtown Veterinary Hospital immediately can be the difference between a night in the hospital for your pet or a night at home on the couch. Keep them safe this year, and keep everyone happy in the process!

From our family to yours, we wish you very safe and happy holiday season!

NEWTOWN, PA – In honor of a long-standing relationship with the Trenton Thunder and their beloved golden retrievers, Newtown Veterinary Hospital unveiled an exam room dedicated to the team and their pups on Tuesday, January 28. Read more »

Although every single one of Newtown Vet’s patients is special to us, occasionally, we’re lucky enough to care for a pet that’s making an impact in the world beyond his immediate family. Harry Minsky, a lifelong patient at Newtown Vet, was one of those pets. In September of this year, Harry ended his battle with cancer and crossed over the rainbow bridge. Although Harry may no longer be with us, the memory of a life well lived and his lengthy trail of accomplishments endures, and Harry will always be remembered by the hundreds of people whose lives he touched. Read more »