That's a lot of rich, high-fat food content for us humans and a dangerous offering from which to "treat" our beloved four-legged companions.

Veterinarians consider the holiday season to be "pancreatitis season" since many dogs (and even cats) are fed high-fat leftovers from the celebratory meals.  The extreme level of fats being digested causes problems for the digestive enzymes that are released by the pancreas, which induces the swelling of the pancreas, and subsequent pancreatitis.

Dogs who counter surf or dig through the garbage can are at a higher risk, so be vigilant and don't leave scraps of turkey skin, turkey bones, drippings, carcasses, gravy, stuffing, casseroles, snacks and other leftovers accessible to your pets.  If your dog has gotten into the garbage or been fed some of these rich, fatty foods and shows signs of nausea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, or diarrhea, seek veterinary care promptly.  Check out our links to Valley emergency clinics.

Pancreatitis might also cause your dog to be restless due to pain, sensitive to touch, refuse to eat, have a rapid heartbeat or rapid breathing, be moody or show signs of aggression.  In a severe attack, a dog can seem depressed, go into shock, collapse, and even die.

Pancreatitis is difficult to diagnose because it has some of the same symptoms of other digestive problems.  There is no cure, but supportive treatments need to be taken immediately.  Early recognition is key.

On those days that your pet doesn't want to eat a meal, resist the temptation to add leftovers, gravy, bacon fat, chicken broth, milk or other fatty foods to its food as an enticement for him to eat.  Oftentimes, dogs are smart enough to skip a meal when their stomachs are upset.  By offering these high-fat treats, he may eat the meal anyway and end up triggering a painful and potentially life-threatening attack of pancreatitis.

So keep the turkey and trimmings to us two-legged folks and treat our pets to a few extra hugs and pats or walks around the block during this holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you from all of us at North Kenilworth Veterinary Care in central Phoenix.

Unfortunately, snakes can and do still attack pets, so here’s what you need to do to insure the best outcome for your pet:

• Try to identify the snake by noting its size, color pattern, and whether or not there is a rattle at the end of its tail.
• Restrict movement of the dog.
• Look the dog over carefully for fang marks, noting that there may be more than one bite wound.
• If bitten on a leg, loosely immobilize the limb in a functional position.
• Do NOT incise the bite wound to aspirate the venom.
• Do NOT apply a tourniquet without veterinary assistance.
• Do NOT apply ice to the area.
• Travel to the nearest animal hospital quickly while keeping your dog as quiet as possible.

We know this is going to be a scary situation, but try and stay as calm as possible. If you’re calm, then your pet will be calm, which helps the clinic do the best job it knows how to help your pet. 

Our winning entry comes from Laurel Trosper of Phoenix.

“WHY on earth is there a loaf of bread in the bed?” I asked myself one afternoon soon after arriving home from work. Neatly tucked in under the covers, zip-tied end resting on the pillow, the bread appeared to be quite comfortable and cozy. Next, I wondered if my husband put it there as a prank to test my observation abilities. The correct answer arrived with a nuzzle of a furry muzzle – Chewey, the chow-shepherd  mix we had recently adopted from the Arizona Humane Society. A former injured stray, he apparently wasn’t used to regular meals and decided to store something for the future. All I could do was laugh for a few minutes. What a character he was!

Chewey was officially named “Chewbacca” since his long, furry coat strongly resembled a Wookie, and more importantly, something about the sounds made it a name he responded to instantaneously when we were deciding what to call him. He was about 2 when we got him, and for ten years he brought an abundance of joy and love to my life.

Although he was well-behaved, housebroken and calm, the food issue remained with him all his life. The loaf of bread was just the beginning. Several weeks later I sat down on our sofa and heard crunching noises. I got up quickly, but nothing crushed or otherwise destroyed was visible. So I shifted a few pillows, and there was an entire paper-wrapped package of Saltines! Chewey strikes again! We stored the box in our breakfast nook cupboard, a low and easily accessible place for food-seeking dogs. About a month later I found another package of Saltines in a box of material in my sewing room. Again I replaced them in the cabinet, but this time I marked them “Chewey”; the remaining box found a new spot inquisitive jaws and paws couldn’t access. From then on, we would periodically find them in various hidden spots, and when a package was finally too worn we’d replace it with another. He was happy and we enjoyed the momentary giggles when they once again appeared in unusual spots. One of his more obvious caches was the fireplace – while housecleaning one day I was surprised by a full bag of pita bread shoved under an andiron.

Although this endearing habit was usually hilarious, there were a few incidents such as the two pumpkin pies cooling for Thanksgiving which totally disappeared one afternoon, as well as a package of four frozen chicken breasts left to thaw that were never seen again. Another not-so-funny incident involved a very nice, large pork roast that he and I literally had a wrestling match for possession one evening. There were also a few panicky moments such as the one during a routine poop-scooping; I read “Calvin Klein” on white elastic that, on closer inspection, had originally been a part of my husband’s underwear. And, of course, there was the confetti poop incident! Chewey must have had a good eye for color since one sample contained colored nuggets in shades of red, orange and blue punctuated with yellow accents. I was totally mystified until I remembered I had brought home a box of crayons from my school classroom! I thought that was the end of it, but no . . . three days later we had a selection of greens. Our vet opined Chewey had probably hidden those for later consumption.

Chewey was also a great fan of accompanying me to the local landfill. Waiting in line for entry required opened windows for his enjoyment of the numerous smells. But being told to unload inside the transfer station was sheer nirvana for Chewey! Totally thrilled with the dust and odoriferous contents surrounding him, he sniffed delightedly the entire time and seemed disappointed when we finally left.

While a woman at a landfill might be unusual, I never worried because Chewey was always very protective of me. Whenever we had a service person at the house, he made sure to place himself between me and the stranger. One day when my husband and I were working on refurbishing a house, a homeless man entered the front where I was alone and Chewey immediately went into full alert and barred the way, barking in that deep “I mean business” growl he saved for those occasions.

Although I have always had pets, usually cats, Chewey was my first dog as an adult and I think we bonded very closely. I adored him and enjoyed every second I had with him. As he became an elderly dog it was difficult to know someday I would have to say goodbye. When that moment arrived, Chewey was next to me, in our living room with our friend and vet performing this last act of dignity for a beloved friend. I have Chewey’s ashes now, and in the future I will take some with me to the landfill he loved so much. Just not yet . . . it is hard to drive while crying.

Lightweight leash or “slip-leash”. Good for backup leash, emergency muzzle, or any time you need a few extra feet of cord.

Muzzle. Nylon muzzles can be found at most pet stores. You should always place a muzzle on your dog when cleaning wounds, pulling cactus spines, or doing any other painful procedure. This is for your protection.  The last thing you need is another emergency to complicate the situation.

Needle Nose Pliers. This is for pulling out cactus spines or other thorns. A stout set of hemostats is a good alternative.

Lightweight Blanket. A blanket insulates from cold or hot ground, and can also be used as a hammock-like sling to carry an injured dog.

Bandage Material. You should have a pile of gauze squares, roll gauze, Telfa (non-stick) pads, Vetwrap or Coban wrap (available at drugstores or pet stores), white tape, Ace bandage, Q-tips, cotton balls. Use the gauze squares for cleaning wounds and for a dressing under the bandage or tape. Remember to wrap snuggly but not tightly. Also bring bandage scissors for cutting or removing tape.

Antibacterial Soap. For cleaning open wounds, scratches and abrasions, and your own hands before and after touching your dog’s wounds.

Neosporin (Triple Antibiotic Ointment). Can be applied in a thin coat on any open wound.

Hydrocortisone Cream. Apply to red welts or itchy areas twice a day.

Artificial Tears. Can be purchased at any drug store. Use to irrigate eyes that are red, itchy, or contain dirt or other foreign material. You may use as much as you need and repeat as often as needed.

Rubbing Alcohol. You can carry a small bottle or a baggie full of alcohol wipes. Alcohol is a great antiseptic, and will cut through the oils of greasy hair.

Benadryl. For allergic reactions to bug bites, stings or plant and pollen allergy. Benadryl comes in 25mg tablets or capsules, and the dose is one (1) mg per pound of body weight every eight (8) hours. So a 50-pound dog would take two (2) capsules every eight (8) hours.  A 15-pound dog would take about half a tablet every eight (8) hours.

Ice Packs. Instant cold packs can be purchased at drug stores. For wounds or swellings the pack can be placed on the affected area. For bloody noses, the ice pack can be placed over the bridge of the nose as an aid to decrease bleeding.

Thermometer. A dog’s normal resting body temperature range (rectal temperature) is 100.5 to 102.5 degrees. Any temperature over 104 degrees is of concern. An overheated dog with a temperature of 106 degrees or higher is in serious trouble and needs to be cooled down immediately!

Ziplock Bags. For keeping the bug or plant material that caused a problem for your dog. Bring it back to your veterinarian for identification.

Phone Numbers. Your veterinarian’s number, the veterinary emergency clinic number, and the closest local veterinarian’s number.

Come one, come all to the North Kenilworth open house on April 2 from noon to 4 p.m!

Well, he probably didn’t include the part about North Kenilworth, but if he were alive and in central Phoenix, he would have.

Consider yourself invited, and come on over for a fun open house during what will sure to be a great spring day! Meet our doctors and some animals from Poverty’s Pets, and get to know the whole North Kenilworth family.

We look forward to seeing you there, and who knows, you both may love our staff so much you’ll look forward to the next vet trip!

Welcome to our new blog here at North Kenilworth Veterinary Care!

Look around our new website and you’ll see that we have many great resources for pet owners, including advice from our doctors and links to resources that an animal parent will find useful.

At North Kenilworth, we understand the bond between you and your pet, so we pride ourselves on giving the best care possible and treating all our patients with compassion.  We get to know you and your pet, which helps us in identifying any potential issues before they become major problems.

Make yourself at home, and check back often for the latest news from North Kenilworth, tips and articles related to pet care.

We’re committed to giving you and your pet the best experience possible, so call us today and schedule an appointment.

Thanks for stopping by, and we hope to see you soon!