Montclair Veterinary Hospital » helping wildlife

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.

Pet Mayor Murphy!

tracyneal — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 21:34:45 +0000

Our Pet Mayor of Montclair Race came to a close on Sunday June 20th as a new Pet Mayor was announced, Murphy the Chocolate Lab! Animals big and small were there to show their support to various candidates, including a few who had been in the running in late May. Two new positions were created this year for the candidates cut from a different cloth, Sparky the Leopard Gecko is now the Night Patrol Officer and Penny the Hen is our Secretary of Agriculture!

Thank you to everyone who voted, donated, sponsored and made this event possible!

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.

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.

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.

Baby Squirrels

tracyneal — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 22:46:55 +0000

On April 1st a Good Samaritan brought three baby squirrels in to the Pet and Wildlife Fund. The squirrels, estimated to be six weeks old, were found by Lake Merrit cold and without a mother. The trio was so young that their eyes weren’t even open yet. Shemira and Dr Lynn began warming the three babies and trying to hydrate them in preparation for their move to Yggdrasil Urban Wildlife Rescue Center. In the end only one of the three made it to YUWR, but at least one of these orphaned babies was able to be saved.

Rescued Opossum

tracyneal — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:11:48 +0000

On April 16, 2010 a concerned citizen brought a juvenile opossum into Pet and Wildlife Fund. He had been found on the front porch with no mother to in the surrounding area. Dr Isaacson was able to examine the opossum and administer food. Once he had determined that the abandoned opossum was healthy, Dr Isaacson turned him over to Wildlife Rehabilitation. Luckily this little guy was found by someone early enough that his abandonment will turn out fine. Keep an eye out for young animals who appear not to have a parent watching over them.

Pet and Wildlife Rescued Hummingbird

tracyneal — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 20:39:09 +0000

April 9th, 2010 a fledgling hummingbird was brought in to Pet and Wildlife Fund by Animal Control. An individual had found the poor baby lethargic and dehydrated. Courtney and Dr Cynthia Lynn were able to provide it with sufficient warmth and administer fluids, including glucose. Once the fledgling was strong enough it was transferred to Hummingbird rehab so it could be fully rehabilitated and released back to the wild. Although they seem small and fragile, hummingbirds are extremely strong and hardy. Let’s wish this guy a speedy recovery and hope he finds his way home once he is released!