"Paw Prints"

Table of Contents:

Introducing Dr. Rebecca Tollefson

Dr. Tollefson joined CVVC on May 10, 2004.  She has lived in Northfield with her family since 1989, and she completed her pre-vet coursework at Carleton College.  She will be practicing small animal medicine surgery at CVVC  and is thrilled to be practicing in her family's hometown.

Professional Staff Schedules

With the addition of Dr. Tollefson, CVVC will have 5 veterinarians on staff. Their schedules are as follows:

Dr. Mike Strobel: swine consulting and small animal orthopedics; available Monday-Friday for orthopedic surgery.

Dr. Mark Werner: Small animal medicine and acupuncture; available Monday-Wednesday.

Dr. Geoffrey Passe: Small animal medicine and surgery; available Mon.-Fri. and some Saturdays.

Dr. Rebecca Tollefson: Small animal medicine and surgery; available Mon.-Fri. and some Saturdays.

Dr. Marcia Bisel: Small animal medicine and surgery; currently available Mon.- Tues. and Thurs.-Fri., some Saturdays. **Please note the following schedule change: Dr. Bisel will begin maternity leave in July and return in October.  After her return, she will be available Monday, Thursday, and every other Saturday.

Please note the above office hours and keep then in mind when you call to make appointments.  We hope you will enjoy getting to know all of our veterinarians when you visit with your companions!!

For more information about our doctors and staff please visit our website at: www.cannonvallevvet.com.

"How do I know ... when to call the vet?
by Dr. Marcia Bisel

One of our frequent clients suggested giving some pointers on when to call the vet.  Below I have listed some of the most common issues that arise with pets and when to be concerned.  Certainly this list is not all-inclusive, and when in doubt, call us to schedule an examination!

Vomiting or diarrhea: It is extremely common for pets to vomit or have diarrhea on occasion.  If either is noticed, it should be observed for contents and frequency.  The most common cause is eating something unusual such as something rotten outside or rich table scraps, causing an upset stomach or intestines.  Pets with vomiting or diarrhea should be fasted from food (and still given water) for 12-24 hours.  In many cases fasting resolves the issue.  However, call the vet if you notice:

Trauma: Such as a fall, being hit by a car, etc.  We advise you call us and have your pet examined in any case of trauma.  The greater the impact, the greater the danger could be to your pet.  For your pet's health and your peace of mind, have your pet looked at even if there appears to be no damage from an accident.

Limping: Sudden limping is very common in pets.  Often there is no history of trauma, or the pet was confined to the home or out playing and simply "let out a yelp" and started limping.  In these cases, we advise watching the pet for 12-24 hours.  In many cases there has been a minor bruising or sprain (a soft tissue injury) and within a day the limping resolves.  Call us if the limping worsens or persists after 36 hours, if there is known trauma, or if any wounds are seen on the leg.  In these cases, an examination and possibly x-rays are advised.

Toxin Ingestion: Call the vet immediately if your pet ingests rat or mouse bait or anti-freeze.  These are the most deadly toxins we encounter with pets - never wait to seek treatment.  Keep in mind that cats can be poisoned if they ingest a mouse which has eaten mouse bait.  Also call if your pet ingests human medication or gets into large quantities of its own medication.  Chocolate can be toxic in large quantities as can onions and garlic.  Some houseplants are also very toxic, including lilies, azalea, philodendron, spider plants, ivy, amaryllis, plant bulbs, holly and mistletoe.  Always call if your pet eats anything that could potentially be toxic and we can advise you regarding treatment.  Often the first course of action is to induce vomiting at home within 30 minutes of toxin ingestion.  This can be done with hydrogen peroxide orally, from 1-4 tablespoons depending on the size of the pet.  This should cause vomiting within 15 minutes.

Wounds/Bleeding: If you pet has puncture wounds or lacerations due to an accident or animal fight, call us.  Sutures and/or antibiotics may be needed.  Any bleeding from the mouth or nose should also be examined.  Blood in the stool is not typically an emergency but can be very alarming to pet owners.  Call us if you notice blood in the stool or bring in a stool sample.  We receive a lot of calls regarding bleeding toe nails due to cutting it too short or a broken nail.  Baking flour can be applied over the broken nail and the area bandaged with a pressure wrap at home (such as an ace bandage) to help clot the blood and stop the bleeding.  Although a nail can bleed profusely, this is not an emergency and the bleeding will stop with time and pressure.

Eye problems: Mild issues such as red or watery eyes should be monitored for 1-2 days as these issues can often resolve.  However, if there is green or yellow eye discharge, swelling around the eye, or the pet holds the eye closed, or you know of an injury to the eye, it should be examined.  Eye issues can rapidly worsen and should not be taken lightly.

Again, this is only a partial listing of the common issues we encounter at our practice.  Always call, as we take seriously all questions regarding your pet's health.  The technician or doctor cap help evaluate the problem and make the appropriate recommendations.

Everything You Need to Know About Canine Lyme Disease ...
by Dr. Rebecca Tollefson

The past few years have seen an increase in cases of Lyme Disease in Minnesota, and we have had a number of dogs test positive at our clinic over the past year.  Veterinarians are still learning how Lyme disease affects dogs and the best steps for prevention and treatment.

Symptoms: Lyme disease is caused by a spiral-shaped bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi.  These bacteria are passed from wild animals to people and dogs by deer tick bites.  In 80% of people bitten by an infected tick, a rash, fever and flu-like signs develop within several days.  Many of these people go on to have long-term joint pain, with some developing even neurological or cardiac abnormalities.  Unlike people, dogs seem to be quite resistant to the effects of Borrelia infection and only 5-10% of dogs infected go on to develop disease.  Disease generally includes joint pain, fever and swollen lymph nodes weeks to months after infection.  The most serious long-term effect is kidney disease in a small percentage of dogs.

Testing: There is a new very accurate blood test that tells us if a dog has been infected with Borrelia bacteria.  While most infected dogs do not go on to develop disease, knowing if a dog has been exposed gives us information about the prevalence of the bacteria and deer ticks in our local area.  In dogs with joint pain this is an important test to determine appropriate treatment.  Beginning next spring our standard heartworm test will also include a test for Lyme disease and Ehrlichiosis (another tick-borne disease of dogs).

Treating: For dogs that test positive for Lyme disease, we recommend antibiotic therapy for 3 weeks.  If the dog is actually showing signs such as joint pain and fever, improvement is seen within a few days.  The Borrelia bacteria are very good at hiding in the body, however, and dogs may be infected for years, even after treatment, without any symptoms of the disease.  Because dogs with "silent" infections may go on to develop kidney disease years after infection, annual screening for protein in the urine is recommended for dogs with positive Lyme tests.  Early detection of abnormal protein in the urine lets us make dietary changes which can help keep the kidneys healthy as long as possible.

Prevention: The first mode of prevention is effective tick control.  Deer ticks are the size of a pin head, so most owners don't find the ticks on their dogs.  The tick must be attached to the dog for 48 hours to transmit the bacteria.  Fortunately there are several flea/tick control products available, such as Frontline topical liquid, that kill the tick or cause it to drop off the dog before infection can occur.  In general, flea and tick collars are minimally effective in preventing tick attachment.  Another mode of prevention is annual Lyme vaccination.  The current protocol at our clinic is to vaccinate dogs that will be traveling to areas with high incidence of Lyme disease.  Vaccination should be discussed with your veterinarian.  For more Lyme disease information, please visit http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1588.

Emergency Care Philosophy at Cannon Valley Vet Clinic

Occasionally clients ask what they should do in the even of an after-hours concern with their pet.  Our clinic's desire is to offer your pet the highest level of care both during regular hours and after hours and on weekends.  That is why in addition to having a vet on call most of the week, we also refer to the South Metro Animal Emergency Clinic (952-953-3737).  If you call our clinic after hours Monday-Friday, you will hear a recording of the on-call doctor's name and phone number.  After reaching the doctor, he or she will determine whether your pet should be seen at our facility or referred to the emergency clinic immediately.  While many urgent cases are straightforward and can be seen at our clinic, referral is recommended in cases which will likely require diagnostic work-up (such as blood testing and x-rays), major surgery, or intensive overnight care.  Because the doctor on call would be seeing your pet alone, he or she is extremely limited in the services they can provide.  Our clinic is not staffed 24 hours and a pet needing hospitalization cannot be properly monitored.  The South Metro Animal Emergency Clinic is located off of Cedar Avenue in Apple Valley.  The clinic is fully staffed and able to perform all needed diagnostics, treatments and hospital care overnight, on weekends and holidays.  The clinic basically functions as a pet emergency room.  If your pet stays at the emergency clinic, they are discharged the following morning or at the end of the weekend and follow-up care is provided at our clinic.  This facility allows your pet to receive the best care possible even in the middle of the night.  If you call our clinic after 1 pm Saturday or on Sunday, you will be referred directly to the emergency clinic.  However, should you desire to talk to one of our vets, we invite you to look them up and call them at home even on weekends.  If available, the doctor will discuss your concerns and make appropriate recommendations.