Montclair Veterinary Hospital » MVH Pet & Wildlife Fund

Itchy Opossum

tracyneal — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:43:39 +0000

An itchy opossum was found on Walnut Street in Berkeley. Berkeley Animal Services brought it in to Dr. Lynn and Margaret to look over. The displaced opossum was healthy but covered in fleas! This is a common occurrence, especially during the warmer summer months. Dr. Lynn and Margaret tried their best to relieve the opossum of his itching and once hydrated sent him off to Yggdrasil Urban Wildlife Rescue.

While it is hard to help wild animals protect against fleas, you can help your dogs and cats! A monthly dose of either Advantage or Frontline is recommended. If your pet also seems to get the occasional tick, Frontline will be the product you want to go with. It is important to keep in mind that these products work through the oils in your pet’s skin. That is why you should not use a harsh shampoo in conjunction with this product. Flea and tick shampoos are good for a quick fix, but essentially strip your animal of their skin oils for a few days, thus counteract the Advantage or Frontline. When using either of these products make sure to use a non-detergent based shampoo.

What to do if You Find an Injured Wild Animal

tracyneal — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 21:46:49 +0000

What to do if you find an injured wild animal:

Most importantly, be very careful. Wild animals (even the small ones) can be very dangerous and must be handled with extreme caution. If you have any doubts about your safety, please call local animal control authorities for help. Be especially cautious with adult raccoons, squirrels and any birds of prey (hawks, etc).
If you are able to capture the animal, keep it in a warm, dark environment such as a closed cardboard box with a blanket on the bottom. Animals have no fear of tight spaces and often feel safer in a smaller area.
Get the animal to a rehab center or drop-off point as soon as you can. Handle the animal as little as possible until you reach help.
Do not attempt to feed injured or orphaned wildlife unless you know exactly what the animal eats. Feeding worms to a seed-eating bird (or vice versa) can be detrimental to its health. If you feel you can feed the animal safely, administering water with a syringe or dropper is acceptable. Call for advice if you feel the animal must be fed before it can be taken to a rehabilitation center.
We accept all injured or orphaned indigenous wildlife with the exception of skunks. We strongly recommend that you avoid handling any skunks (even babies) because of the high rate of rabies infection in these animals. If you see an injured or orphaned skunk, please call your local animal control agency immediately.

Fawn Hit By Car

tracyneal — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 20:33:58 +0000

With all this nice weather we are noticing lots of animals out and about. Unfortunately, with the hustle and bustle of human life we don’t always see them in time. Mid-June a Good Samaritan brought in a young fawn who had been hit by a car in El Cerrito. The fawn received immediate attention from Dr Richter, Michelle Burt, and Kari Johnson. The fawn was assumed to have head trauma, thus two radiographs were taken check for fractures. An intravenous catheter was placed, then fluids and medications were given to treat for shock. The fluids from the nose and ear had glucose in it, indicating a probable skull fracture and poor prognosis. The fawn was rushed to Lindsey Wildlife. Two days later Pet and Wildlife Fund was informed the fawn had not survived.

It is extremely important to keep your eyes and ears open when you drive in areas populated with animals. Fawns are typically born in the spring, staying with their mothers during the summer and being weaned in the fall after about 60–75 days. If you see one young deer keep in mind that there are probably other deer close by. Slow down and respect that animals who homes they share with us.

Opossum Pups

tracyneal — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 19:53:44 +0000

Opossums have the shortest life span for mammals of their size. They typically only live for two to four years, so it is no surprise that orphaned opossums are a common sight at MVH. On May 27^th, a Good Samaritan found a deceased opossum under a tool shed on 2^nd Avenue in Oakland. Upon turning the opossum over, he discovered a pouch full of babies and brought them to MVH. Baby opossums don’t leave their mother’s pouch until about 1-2 months of age, so this helps us with estimating their age. All eleven babies were luckily found alive upon arrival at the hospital. Simon administered fluids and made sure they were kept warm before heading home for the evening. One did not survive through the night, but the rest were found to be very active and maintaining a normal body temperature. After Jessica and Courtney administered a tube feeding, they were picked up by Yggdrasil Urban Wildlife Center. Let’s hope they find their way back to the wild after they’ve had some time to grow.

Written by Lindsey H.

Hidden in a Hay Bale

tracyneal — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 19:45:30 +0000

On May 20th, five baby barn owls made their way to MVH after being found at Golden Gate Fields in Berkeley. They were discovered in a hay bale that had been delivered from a farm in Woodland, CA. Orphaned barn owls are unfortunately a common occurrence since they build nests not only in tree and cliff cavities but also in stacked hay bales. Dr. Lynn and Jan performed a general exam, and the owls were declared to be in good health. They were put in a quiet area where they actually caused some of their own commotion. Barn owls are also known as “hissing owls” for a good reason. When feeling threatened, the owls hiss to ward off danger and the sound resembles that of a cat or a snake (or something out of a horror movie). You’ll see from the photos that the nestlings were covered in white down which aids in keeping them warm while their feathers are still growing. The owls were taken to Lindsay Wildlife Museum in Walnut Creek where they will hopefully be released back into the wild.

Written by Lindsey H.

A Foxtail in the Eye Led the Way Home

tracyneal — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 21:08:00 +0000

On May 25th, a Good Samaritan brought in a cat that had a foxtail in its eye. The individual befriended the cat after several visits to a farm in Concord where she volunteered. She was tempted to bring the cat home, but couldn’t because she is the owner of diabetic service dogs. Once Dr. Isaacson and Margaret had removed the foxtail from the cat’s eye, they looked for corneal ulcerations. They did find ulcerations and applied antibiotic cream. Once his eye was cared for, they scanned him in the hopes of locating a microchip. Luckily for this cat, its owner did have a microchip implanted. After calling the microchip company, MVH learned that the cat had been reported missing as of December 26th, 2009! After contacting his very happy owners, Missy (yes, a male) was picked up and returned to his home in Baypoint. This is a great reminder to make sure that your pets have the proper identification in the event that they wander away from home.

Late spring and summer is a good time to be cognizant of the dangers associated with foxtails. While they may be mildly annoying to humans, they can cause real harm to our pets. Foxtails are abundant in Northern California and become problematic when they become lodged in ears, eyes, noses, paws, or underneath the skin. Like fish hooks, foxtails are barbed which makes for a more complicated removal. They primarily cause pain and irritation, but more serious consequences can result if left untreated. Foxtails can migrate and lodge in other areas of the body, including internal organs. This clearly makes treatment and removal considerably more difficult, so it is advisable to visit your veterinarian if you suspect a foxtail as the source of your pet’s discomfort. Please learn to identify foxtails so that you and your pet can avoid them on the trails this summer!

Written by Lindsey H.

Bitten Opossum

tracyneal — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 21:34:53 +0000

A good Samaritan brought the Pet and Wildlife Fund a juvenile opossum. It had been found at this individual’s house with wounds on its back, most likely bitten by a cat. Simon and Dr Lynn also found that it had very weak legs. The animal was administered pain medications, antibiotics, fluids and food. A few radiographs were also taken. It was determined to have not only fractured vertebrae, but a pneumothorax, meaning it had air outside the lungs but within the chest cavity. This led to the opossum’s difficulty breathing and weakened state. The antibiotics and pain medications were continued and Dr Lynn did a thoracocentesis to remove the free air from the chest cavity. Wish this little creature a speedy recovery on his long journey ahead.

Rescued Crow

tracyneal — Fri, 28 May 2010 00:23:59 +0000

On May 19th, a Good Samaritan brought in a fledgling crow that had been found near Cornell Avenue in Albany. It had fallen from its nest and was unable to fly, but we’re happy to report that it did not sustain any injuries. Dr. Lynn, Margaret, and Courtney conducted a physical exam, provided it with food, and placed it in a quiet area. After one night at MVH, it was transferred to Lindsay Wildlife Museum in Walnut Creek. After it’s had a little time to mature, we expect that it will be successfully released back into the wild.

Now is a good time to note that it’s normal for juvenile crows to leave the nest before they’re actually ready to fly. Popular months for fledglings-in-training are May, June, and July. They might be on the ground for a few days before they’ve acquired the necessary skills for flight, but their parents and siblings are usually not far away. If the bird does not appear to be injured, or on its own, it is recommended to leave the crow alone as it will be looked after by its parents. If it seems to be in immediate danger, the bird can be put on a low branch nearby. Since juvenile crows are almost the same size as their parents, how do you know if it is a fledging? One clue is to look at the bird’s eyes. The eyes of juveniles will have a blue/gray hue. When in doubt, contact your local veterinarian or wildlife organization to help you answer any questions.

Written by Lindsey H.

Baby Raccoons

tracyneal — Mon, 24 May 2010 20:50:39 +0000

Spring is a busy time for Wildlife Rescue, since this is when we see the highest number of orphaned animals. On May 15^th, Oakland Animal Services brought in three baby raccoons that had been abandoned in an attic off of Park Boulevard. With their eyes still closed, they were estimated to be only three to four weeks old. Dehydration is often an issue for orphaned raccoons, so Courtney and Simon gave them fluids during their brief stay at MVH. Because raccoons of this age require a very specific diet, they were promptly picked up by Yggdrasil Urban Wildlife Center. Orphaned raccoons do best when raised alongside their siblings, so we’re hopeful that they have a long life ahead of them.

Written by Lindsey H.

Gopher Snake

tracyneal — Thu, 20 May 2010 22:06:11 +0000

Gopher snakes are commonly found in a large variety of habitats, and our most recent visitor was picked up from the Oakland Chinatown Library! These snakes are slow-movers that gravitate towards crevices and burrows, which probably made the library an attractive location for this city-dwelling snake. Oakland Animal Services brought him into the hospital, and a routine exam was performed by Dr. Cynthia Lynn and Shemira. During his stay at the hospital, he coiled himself up and vibrated his tail just like a rattlesnake; this is typical behavior for gopher snakes when they find themselves in an uncomfortable situation. After declaring him to be in good health, he was transferred to Yggdrasil Urban Wildlife Rescue Center where he will be released back into the wild.

Written by Lindsey H.