Pet Pawzitive

05/20/2026

Today our team saved a life by performing emergency surgery to remove coins out of the stomach of a dog. The patient is doing well and recovering at home with her loving family.

Zinc poisoning in dogs is a severe, life-threatening condition caused by ingesting zinc-heavy objects (like US pennies minted after 1982, nuts, and bolts) or zinc-based ointments. The stomach acid dissolves the zinc, releasing toxic ions that destroy red blood cells, trigger organ failure, and cause death if untreated.

Common Sources of Zinc

Metallic objects:
US pennies (post-1982), galvanized nails, nuts, bolts, and zippers.

Ointments: Diaper rash creams (e.g., Desitin), calamine lotion, and sunscreens containing zinc oxide.

Supplements: Human daily multivitamins or specific zinc supplements.

Symptoms:

Zinc poisoning occurs in two phases, initially irritating the gut and later destroying blood cells and damaging organs:

Early Phase: Vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, loss of appetite, and stomach ulcers.

Late Phase: Pale or yellow (jaundiced) gums, rapid heart rate, breathing difficulties, and discolored (red or orange/brown) urine.

If your pet is acting sick or if you notice blood in the urine or orange color urine, your pet might have ingested zinc.

Please bring them to our team right away for further evaluation. If diagnosed early, like we did with this pet, the prognosis is very good.

Make sure you pick up coins from the floor when they fall off your pockets. Pennies are dangerous for pets if they get ingested.

05/01/2026

Please come get some effective flea prevention for your dogs and cats! Fleas can cause serious diseases.

Los Angeles County has reported a record number of flea-borne typhus cases, with approximately 90% of patients requiring hospitalization. Typhus is a bacterial disease transmitted by infected fleas commonly found on rats, cats, opossums, and occasionally dogs. Symptoms typically appear one to two weeks after a flea bite and may include fever, headache, nausea, body aches, vomiting, and rash. In severe cases, the infection can impact multiple organ systems and can be fatal. To reduce your risk, contact your veterinarian about year-round flea prevention for your pets and avoid contact with stray animals.

04/15/2026

Attention puppy owners. Parvovirus is a serious and potentially fatal infection in non-vaccinated dogs. It causes severe gastroenteritis, leading to dehydration, lethargy, and weight loss. In severe cases, dogs may not survive. Most pets diagnosed with parvovirus require hospitalization, intravenous fluid therapy, antibiotics, and expensive medications. Treatment is costly. Fortunately, vaccines against parvovirus are effective and safe. Parvovirus is entirely preventable. Parvovirus vaccines are typically combined with vaccines against other serious diseases and administered in a series of boosters. Puppies must receive their first dose at 6-8 weeks, followed by boosters every 3 weeks until they are at least 16 weeks old. Completing the vaccine series and receiving annual boosters is crucial. Puppies that receive only one dose of vaccine are not protected. Do you have questions? Please contact the Pet Pawzitive team to review our vaccine recommendations. Don’t risk your puppy’s health. Vaccines save lives. 🩷🩷🩷💉💉💉