Petersen Pet Hospital - April 2020

Petersen Pet Hospital Patient Files

18-Month-OldWheaten Terrier Eats Electrical Cables

I knowmost animals don’t love having something in their face, so if you want to help your dog or cat brush their teeth, here are a few tips:

In early February, Ollie, an 18-month- old wheaten terrier, was rushed into the hospital. His owner had returned from work that day to discover a half-eaten

1. Start by letting your pet check out the toothpaste and giving them a little as a treat. Don’t give your pets human toothpaste! Only use dog- or cat- friendly toothpaste. 2. Once your pet is familiar with the toothpaste, start rubbing it on their teeth with your finger. When they’ve gotten used to that, you can switch to a toothbrush. 3. Humans need to brush their teeth for two minutes to really get the job done. We pets don’t want to sit still for that long. It should only take about 3–5 seconds on each side of your pet’s mouth to get the job done.

electrical cable on the floor. The cable was still plugged in, but Ollie fortunately didn’t suffer from any burns or electrical shocks. However, X-rays revealed a large amount of radiolucent (very bright white) material in his stomach.

Those are my tips for keeping your pet’s teeth clean and improving their oral health.

Ollie was quickly hospitalized and taken into emergency surgery by Dr. Steven McGinty, registered veterinary technician

Until next time! —Sam

Stacy, and veterinary assistants Linda and Salina. Dr. McGinty and Stacy removed a large amount of chewed up electrical cables, copper wire, food, and pieces of a rug from Ollie’s stomach. The swift response prevented Ollie from suffering any lasting harm. The patient recovered quickly from his surgery and never stopped wagging his tail during his hospital stay. Ollie was able to return home quickly and has (hopefully) learned a valuable lesson about choosing his chew toys with more care. Dogs have a knack for chewing on things they shouldn’t. Electrical cords are a popular target for dogs because the cords and cables are often on the ground, right at their level. Keep the power cords out of reach by hiding them behind furniture, running cables up around doorways, and using cable ties and hooks to keep cords off the floor and up against the wall. It can also help to provide your dog with a lot of safe chew toys, so they have plenty of chewing options to keep them entertained. Cables and Canines

INGREDIENTS

• • •

2 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats

2 eggs

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce 1/4 cup dried blueberries

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 350 F. 2. Place oats in a food processor and pulse for 15–30 seconds until oats are ground to flour. 3. In a medium bowl, whisk together oat flour, eggs, applesauce, and blueberries. If dough is too crumbly, add 2 tbsp water and mix. If dough is still too crumbly, add more water 1 tbsp at a time until dough can be formed into a ball. 4. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a small cookie scoop, form dough into small balls (about 1 1/2 inches in diameter) and place them on a baking sheet. Spray the flat side of a spatula with nonstick cooking spray and gently flatten the dough balls into discs. 5. Bake biscuits for 15 minutes until golden brown around the edges. Let treats cool completely on a wire rack before serving to your favorite pup.

If your pet has eaten something they shouldn’t have, it’s important to act fast. Call 319- 743-0554 and bring your pet to Petersen Pet Hospital to seek treatment right away.

www.PetersenPetHospital.com

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