Sadness at Halsey East Animal Clinic

We are very sad to inform you that our founding father, Dr. Walter Vockert, suffered a stroke and passed away on Monday, December 5, 2011.

He will be terribly missed by all the staff members here at the clinic and the countless pet owners and their pets that he touched in his many years of veterinary practice.

A memorial service will be held at Bateman Funeral Chapel at noon on Monday, December 12, 2011.

(520 W. Powell Gresham, OR)

In lieu of flowers, any remembrances or memorials can be made to Dove Lewis Animal Hospital or the Cat Adoption Team in the name of Dr. Walter Vockert.

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We are further saddened by the passing of our former groomer, Sue Fiske.  Sue had battled health issues for the past year, and succumbed on December 2, 2011.  Sue will be missed, not only by our staff, but by the many unruly pets that were ungroomable by any other.

A memorial gathering will be held in January 2012 to celibrate her life.  Donations, if desired, can be made  here at the clinic to 'The Shadow Fund', a fund to cover medical bills for those who are unable to afford care.

Fall Holiday Warnings

Holiday Pet Dangers

Holiday Foods:  Don’t let guests feed your pets human food. There are many holiday foods, including fatty meats, gravies, poultry skin, bones, chocolate and alcohol that can cause illnesses varying from vomiting and diarrhea to highly serious pancreatitis or other toxic reactions.  Human seasonings aren't good for pets, plus rich foods (including the stock and drippings) can easily upset pets' digestive systems.  Keep your pet on his regular diet and caution visitors against giving your pet "special treats."

·    Holiday Plants: A number of holiday season plants are poisonous to pets if nibbled or eaten: ivy, holly, hibiscus, mistletoe, and Norfolk Pine are all mildly to very highly toxic.  Christmas greens such as  juniper, cedar, pine and fir are mildly toxic, especially if needles are ingested as they have the potential to puncture holes in a pet’s intestine. This is not a complete listing...there are many more toxic plants. An additional listing of both toxic and non-toxic plants can be located here. It's wise to keep plants out of your pets' and children's reach.

·    Tree Water:  Do not let pets drink the holiday tree water. Some may contain fertilizers, and stagnant tree water can harbor bacteria or mold.

·    Snow Globes sometimes contain antifreeze, which is extremely poisonous to pets.

·    Poisoning Help:  If you suspect that your pet has eaten something toxic, you can contact us, visit the toxic plant list on our website, or contact one of the local emergency hospitals if it is outside our normal business hours.  The ASPCA has an emergency Animal Poison Control Center open 24-hours, the hotline is 1-888-4-ANI-HELP.

 ·   Electrical Cords: The extra cords and plugs of holiday lights and other fixtures can look like chew toys to pets. Tape down or cover cords to help avoid shocks, burns or other serious injuries. Unplug lights when you are not home.    

·   Tinsel and Candy Wrappers:  Pets, particularly cats, can be tempted to eat tinsel, which can block the intestines. Hang tinsel high and securely to keep it out of reach, or better yet, avoid tinsel completely in homes with pets. The foil wraps on candies can cause internal injuries if swallowed - the foil can be like a razor as it is swallowed and ingested. Keep all candies and their wrappers in a secured place.

 ·    Gifts:  Keep pets away from gift packages as well as your gift wrapping area.  Ingested string, plastic, cloth and even wrapping paper can lead to intestinal blockage and require surgical removal.  For homes with inquiring dogs, it might be best to remove gifts of food or other edibles from under the tree and out of their reach.

· Ornaments:  Keep other ornaments out of reach of pets. Ingestion of any ornament or parts thereof, which might look like toys to pets, can result in life-threatening emergencies. Even ornaments made from dried food can lead to ailments. Every year our doctors are called on to remove a holiday item from an unfortunate pet.  And remember, shards from broken glass ornaments can injure paws, mouths and other parts of the body.

·    Emergency!  If your pet ingests or if you suspect she has ingested any kind of foreign material such as glass, broken plastic, staples or other small, sharp objects, contact us (or an emergency clinic if it is after hours) immediately.

·    Guests:  Holiday guests and other activity can be stressful and even frightening to pets. It can also trigger illness and intestinal upset. Make sure pets have a safe place to retreat in your house. And make sure they are wearing current I.D., or have a microchip in case they escape out a door when guests come and go.

·    Stable Routine: Increased activity and visitors during the winter holiday season can upset your pet's routine. Reduce stress by keeping your pet on his regular schedule for feeding and exercise and be sure the pet gets plenty of time and attention.

· Ribbons:  Resist the temptation to tie ribbons around pet’s necks for the holidays. The pets can tighten ribbons resulting in choking or hang themselves if the ribbon is caught on an object.

Timothy Lake and North Fork Reservoir

This blog seems to have become an extension of the state of Oregon DHS or DEQ website....all we seem to post are algae warnings these days. 

Well, with warmer weather and still waters, the algae blooms again:

Oregon Public Health issues advisories for North Fork Reservoir and

Timothy Lake

Health advisories prompted by high algae levels found in North Fork Reservoir, located seven miles south of Estacada on Hwy. 224, and Timothy Lake, located 25 miles south of Government Camp, were issued Friday by Oregon Health Authority’s Public Health Division and Clackamas County Health Department officials.  Water monitoring has confirmed the presence of blue-green algae that can produce toxins harmful to humans and animals. These algae levels are likely to be associated with dangerous toxin concentrations in the water, according to World Health Organization guidelines. Swallowing or inhaling water droplets should be avoided, as well as skin contact with water by humans or animals.  Drinking water from North Fork Reservoir and Timothy Lake is especially dangerous. Oregon Public Health officials advise campers and other visitors that toxins cannot be removed by boiling, filtering or treating the water with camping style filters.

Exposure to toxins can produce symptoms of numbness, tingling and dizziness that can lead to difficulty breathing or heart problems and require immediate medical attention. Symptoms of skin irritation, weakness, diarrhea, nausea, cramps and fainting should also receive medical attention if they persist or worsen. Children and pets are particularly susceptible.

Dogs have become very sick and even died after swimming in and swallowing water affected by toxic algae. If you find thick, brightly colored foam or scum at a lake, pond or river, don't let your pet drink or swim in the water.

If your dog goes into the water:

· Don't let your pet lick its fur

· Wash your pet with clean water as soon as possible

· If your dog has symptoms such as drooling, weakness, vomiting, staggering and convulsions after being in bloom-affected water, call your veterinarian immediately.

· Serious sickness or death can occur within minutes or hours, depending on exposure.

Immediate action is critical if your pet is exposed.

New warnigns for Labor Day weekend

Happy Labor Day Weekend.  We will be closed on Monday (9/5).  

 Please beware the DHS has issued another algae warning: Lemlo Lake.   

The warnings for Culliby Lake near Seaside has been lifted....I didn't even know about this one...and I was just at the beach yesterday!

Have a safe and happy weekend!

More Blue Green Algae Warnings

·        A health advisory prompted by high algae levels found in Dexter Reservoir, located 22 miles southeast of Eugene, was issued today by Oregon Health Authority’s Public Health Division and Lane County Health Department officials.

·         A health advisory prompted by high algae levels found in Gerber Reservoir, located 42 miles east of Klamath Falls, was issued today by Oregon Health Authority’s Public Health Division and Klamath County Health Department officials.

Exposure to toxins can produce symptoms of numbness, tingling and dizziness that can lead to difficulty breathing or heart problems and require immediate medical attention. Symptoms of skin irritation, weakness, diarrhea, nausea, cramps and fainting should also receive medical attention if they persist or worsen. Children and pets are particularly susceptible.

Dogs have become very sick and even died after swimming in and swallowing water affected by toxic algae. If you find thick, brightly colored foam or scum at a lake, pond or river, don't let your pet drink or swim in the water.

If your dog goes into the water:

· Don't let your pet lick its fur

· Wash your pet with clean water as soon as possible

· If your dog has symptoms such as drooling, weakness, vomiting, staggering and convulsions after being in bloom-affected water, call your veterinarian immediately.

· Serious sickness or death can occur within minutes or hours, depending on exposure.

Immediate action is critical if your pet is exposed.

Blue Green Algae....

After lifting the warnings for the aforementioned lakes  (see previous posts) in Oregon, the State of Oregon DHS has issued two new warnings for water bodies in Douglass County.

The South Umpqua River near Myrtle Creek and Diamond Lake, located seven miles north of Crater Lake National Park on Highway 138 have both been shown to have high levels of blue-green algae.  One pet has died as a result of exposure to these toxins. 

This toxin can be very dangerous and these warnings should not be taken lightly!

For more information please follow these links to the DHS reports for The South Umpqua and Diamond Lake warnings and read through the previous posts for further information.

Stay tuned to our website, Facebook and Twitter for updates and changes!

Blue-Green Algae Warning on Two More Oregon Lakes

The State of Oregon Department of Human Services has issued an alert regarding toxic blue-green algae in two more Oregon lakes. The two bodies of water that are now contaminated in Oregon are:

Cullaby Lake in Clatsop County—Just off Hwy 101 between Astoria and Seaside

Fish Lake in Jackson County— In Southern Oregon 30 mi east of Medford

Warnings are still in effect for:

Cougar Reservoir, 52 miles east of Eugene on Hwy 126

Lost Creek Reservoir in Southern Oregon, east of Grants Pass

Exposure to toxins can produce symptoms of numbness, tingling and dizziness that can lead to difficulty breathing or heart problems and require immediate medical attention. Symptoms of skin irritation, weakness, diarrhea, nausea, cramps and fainting should also receive medical attention if they persist or worsen. Children and pets are particularly susceptible.

Dogs have become very sick and even died after swimming in and swallowing water affected by toxic algae. If you find thick, brightly colored foam or scum at a lake, pond or river, don't let your pet drink or swim in the water.

If your dog goes into the water:

· Don't let your pet lick its fur

· Wash your pet with clean water as soon as possible

· If your dog has symptoms such as drooling, weakness, vomiting, staggering and convulsions after being in bloom-affected water, call your veterinarian immediately.

· Serious sickness or death can occur within minutes or hours, depending on exposure.

Immediate action is critical if your pet is exposed.