Page 12 - Hobe Sound Reflections - September '24

Page 12, Hobe Sound

Tip oF THe Tail

Bufo Toad Intoxication particularly at night. Unfortunately, dogs seem to have a If you live in central or south Florida, take a moment
knack for finding them, and our dogs’ inquisitive nature can to do an Internet search for bufo toads and familiarize
lead them to lick, bite, or ingest the bufo toad, which can yourself with what these toads look like. If you encounter
result in exposure to the toad’s toxic secretions. these toads often in your yard, keeping your dog on a leash
If you think your dog has been exposed to a bufo toad, may be best when taking them out at night.
rinse the inside of their mouth (tongue, gums and cheeks) Established in 1981, Palm City Animal Medical Center
thoroughly and repeatedly with water-soaked washcloths. Do is dedicated to providing the best possible care for your
not use a hose or sink sprayer to rinse their mouth, as it is pets. With focuses on compassionate care in surgery,
too easy to drown your dog by doing this. After rinsing their physical therapy and rehabilitation, preventative medicine,
mouth, take your dog to the vet right away for assessment extensive diagnostics, and emergency service, Palm City
and further care. Animal Medical Center combines exceptional medical
The effects of bufo toad toxin exposure occur very care with a caring philosophy for pets and their owners.
quickly. These effects can include foamy salivation, difficulty For more information, call (772) 283-0920, visit www.
breathing, dark red gums, difficulty walking, vomiting, palmcityanimalmedicalcenter.com or find us on Facebook
seizures, and an irregular heartbeat. There is no antidote for at www.facebook.com/PalmCityAnimalClinic.
Along with the Florida summer rain comes an increase bufotoxin, but your vet can provide care to help your dog
in bufo toads around our yards and pools. Bufo toads, also survive exposure to it. Without treatment, death is possible,
known as cane toads, are an invasive species of toad that are if enough bufotoxin was absorbed.
poisonous to most animals, including dogs and cats. Bufo
toad intoxication is much more likely to occur with dogs than
with cats, with very few cases ever having been reported in
cats. Small dogs represent the vast majority of cases.
Bufo toads are reddish-brown to gray-brown in color
and have a slightly raised gland between their eyes and
shoulders that secretes a
toxin (bufotoxin) as a defense
against predators. Bufo toads
are most active during their
breeding season, March
through September.
Bufo toads seem to sit
very quietly even if you are
right next to them, which
makes them difficult to spot,
cleveland

clinic maRTin

HealTH news

Robotic Technology Helps

Fine Tune Knee Replacement
Surgery

Osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease, is the most
common cause of walking-related disability in people aged
65 and older.
Anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy,
braces, activity modification, weight loss or injections
can help some individuals with osteoarthritis. Often,
the disease will progress despite these measures. If knee
replacement is recommended, patients may benefit from
emerging technologies available to assist surgeons.
The orthopaedic
surgeons at Cleveland Clinic
in Florida have access to
robotic-assisted technology,
which can add accuracy
and precision to total knee
replacement surgery. The
robot helps surgeons create
a 3-D model of a patient’s
bone, choose the correct
implant size and placement,
and create a custom surgical
plan. Surgeons use the robot
to conduct a virtual run- Jason Weisstein
through prior to surgery,
adjust the surgical plan if needed during surgery, and better
execute the removal of bone during the surgery.
“According to registry data, this technology is more
accurate than traditional surgery for total and partial knee
replacement,” says Jason Weisstein, M.D., an orthopaedic
surgeon who sees patients at the Cleveland Clinic Patricia
Lichtenberger Medical Plaza in Stuart. “Ultimately, we
want to provide the best possible outcomes for our patients,
and this technology has the potential to do that.”
If you need total knee replacement, ask your doctor if
you are a candidate for robotic-assisted surgery.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Weisstein or
another Cleveland Clinic orthopaedic surgeon, call
(877) 463-2010 or visit ClevelandClinicFlorida.org/
OrthoDoctors.