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                    Volume 6, Issue 11                               

Geriatric care is becoming more and more important as a means of extending the lives of our pets.  In an effort to offer the best medical care available, MSAH has arranged for a board certified medical oncologist to join our staff.   Kevin A. Hahn, DVM, PhD, ACVIM (Oncology) will fly in from Texas weekly to examine and prescribe treatment for our patients. 

Cancer has become more a reality for pet owners in recent years and questions often arise concerning the safest treatment options.  The common side effects associated with cancer treatments, such as vomiting or hair loss, are generally not present at all in animals or very mild in most treatment cases.  Effects on the bone marrow are probably the most common, and these are monitored with regular blood work. 

The doctors and staff of Metairie Small Animal Hospital are dedicated to providing our patients with the best quality of life for the longest time.  With growing technologies and medical advancements in the treatment of cancer in pets, we feel that Dr. Hahn will be a welcome and necessary addition to our hospital.

Holiday Hazards (continued from front page)

When wrapping gifts this year, be sure to keep bows, ribbon and string away from your family pets. These can be quite dangerous if swallowed, having the potential to cause an intestinal obstruction.

Festive holiday plants make your home look nice, but keep in mind that several of these are health hazards for your pets. Mistletoe, Poinsettias and Holly berries can be poisonous to your pets and will at the very least cause GI upset.

This is also the time of year that many people change and/or add anti-freeze to their vehicles. Be sure that your pets are not exposed to anti-freeze--it has a very sweet smell that attracts many pets, but is extremely dangerous and could be fatal if ingested.

Many people also decorate their homes with faux snow, this too can be harmful if ingested. Be sure that your pets can not reach any areas decorated with festive snow!

We share this world with our pets, but it is our world that we have imposed upon them. Their natural instincts do not tell them that swallowing a piece of string can be lethal. It is our responsibility to keep their environment as safe as possible during this blessed season.

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                    Volume 6, Issue 11                               

Employee of the Month

Blaine Cade has been on the MSAH team for nearly 5 months now.  He started as an assistant and now works as the Technician Assistant in our recovery area.    His duties include preparing instrument sets  for
surgeries, monitoring post-operative patients, taking radiographs, and countless other important duties in our Recovery /Surgery Prep area.  We certainly appreciate all of his hard work.

Good job, Blaine!

This patient presented to MSAH for coughing and gagging.  After decongestants did not seem to relieve the symptoms, radiographs were taken and appear at right.  What's your diagnosis?


(answer on pg. 5)

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                    Volume 6, Issue 11                               

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                    Volume 6, Issue 11                               

1.  Remove film from box and load camera.
2.  Remove film box from puppy's mouth and throw in garbage.
3.  Remove puppy from garbage and brush coffee grounds from muzzle.
4.  Choose a suitable background for photo.
5.  Mount and focus camera.
6.  Go find puppy and take dirty sock from mouth.
7.  Place pup in pre-focused spot and return to camera.
8.  Forget about spot and crawl after pup on knees.
9.  Focus with one hand and fend off pup with the other.
10. Get tissue and clean nose print from lens.
11. Take flash cube from pup's mouth and discard.
12. Throw out cat and put peroxide on scratch on pup's nose.
13. Put ashtray and magazines back on coffee table.
14. Try to get cute expression by squeaking toy over head.
15. Replace your glasses on your face and fish camera from under sofa.
16. Jump up in time to grab pup by scruff and say "no, outside."
17. Call spouse to clean up mess.
18. Fix double martini.
19. Sit back in Lazy-boy and resolve to teach pup 'sit-stay' first thing tomorrow.