PET OF THE WEEK:

Hi, my name is Eddie. I am a 3 year old male Jack Russell Terrier. I am such a fun guy! Just bring me home and I'll show you how to get the best out of life! All I need from you is a little bit of basic training and a whole lot of exercise. I'm a big dog trapped in a little dog body! I'm probably a bit too much energy for cats and small kids, so I'd do best in a family with kids over 6.

Maddie's Fund Grant Award:

Summit County Animal Control and Shelter is a member of the Northeast WeCARe (Western Colorado Animal Resources) Coalition, which also includes Eagle, Garfield and Pitkin counties.  WeCARe organizations recently received a $40,000 grant that was distributed among all of the agencies in the coaltion.  Maddie's Fund awarded the grant to WeCARe organizations because of their collaborative efforts to place all healthy, treatable and rehabilitatable dogs and cats. Summit County Animal Control and Shelter received $4,600 and has put this money towards $60 spay/neuter vouchers for community pet owners.  Our thought is that the Summitv County pet community's proactive approach to avoiding pet overpopulation through spaying and neutering is what helped us to achieve the grant. Therefore, we wanted to give back to the community by offering a voucher that will continue to encourage people to spay and neuter their pets.

Summit County Animal Control and Shelter greatly appreciates the Maddie's Fund generosity.

To view the shelter data provided to Maddie's Fund for the WeCARe Coalition please visit: http://www.freewebs.com/wecare1/maddiesfundgrantinformat.htm

Note:  Maddie was the miniature Schnauzer whose lifetime of unconditional love and devotion to the Duffield Family inspired the creation of Maddie's Fund. For more information on the Maddies Fund and the great work that they do for animals across the country visit their website at www.maddiesfund.org.

MULTIPLE CASES OF SUSPECTED NEUROTOXIC INGESTION BY CANINES IN SUMMIT COUNTY

By:  Vanessa Koehler, DVM

With the summer here, most of us are out with our four legged friends enjoying Colorado’s many outdoor activities.  In the past 24 hours, 7 neurologic  emergency cases have presented to Frisco Animal Hospital to be evaluated. 

A combination of clinical signs include:

Disorientation

Stumbling/off balance/ataxia

Excessive drooling/hypersalivation

Anxiety/mania/panic

Episodes of vomiting

Tremors/facial twitching/tremors

Seizures

Fast heart rate/tachycardia

History of patients include:  recent off leash activity, recent hiking in the Summit county area, unsupervised activity in the back yard, and escape from the home

Treatment- all cases were stabilized at Frisco Animal Hospital and transferred to specialty/ER facilities in the Denver-Metro area.  There, patients were admitted  for IV Fluid therapy, gastrointestinal decontamination with activated charcoal, anti-seizure medications, monitoring, and supportive care.  Most have had good response to  treatment. 

After discussion with one of the large specialty animal medical centers in Denver this morning, they too had seen 6 cases over the weekend, with similar clinical signs, and all cases had a recent travel history to Summit County during the weekend. 

It is unknown at this time what neurotoxin is causing such profound effects in our canine family members, however suspected agents may include:  mushroom toxicity, strychnine  poisoning, lupine ingestion, neurotoxic plant ingestion, other mycotoxin(s).  

Please be aware of your surroundings while hiking with your pets in the weeks to come.  Please check your back yards for evidence of mushroom growth or other toxic substances.  Please contact your regular veterinarian/hospital if your pet is experiencing clinical signs or is suspected to have ingested a toxin.

As further information becomes available and update will be posted.