Your Pet and Hearing Aid Ba eries
Donna
M. Stewart,M.A.,Aud(C),AUD/HIP
Audiologist and Owner, Hear Inc.
Bu on cell lithium ba eries are small, shiny, and fascinating to pets, especially dogs and cats who love to explore with their mouths. ese tiny ba eries, o en found in everyday items like remote controls, toys, watches, and hearing aids, can pose serious risks if ingested by our furry friends.
WHY ARE BUTTON CELL BATTERIES DANGEROUS?
When a pet swallows a bu on cell ba ery, the consequences can be dire. e ba ery can become lodged in the esophagus or stomach, and as it reacts with the moisture, can create an electric current. is reaction can cause severe burns or even perforations in the tissue within just a couple of hours. e chemicals inside the ba ery, including lithium, are highly corrosive and can cause significant damage to the gastrointestinal tract, leading to ulcers, bleeding, or even death if not treated promptly.
SIGNS YOUR PET MAY HAVE INGESTED A BATTERY
It can be tricky to know if your pet has swallowed a ba ery, especially since they might not show symptoms right away. Some signs to watch out for include:
• Drooling or di culty swallowing
• Vomiting or refusal to eat
• Lethargy or signs of pain, such as whining or restlessness
If you suspect your pet has ingested a bu on cell ba ery, it’s crucial to act quickly.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU THINK YOUR PET SWALLOWED A BATTERY
Immediately contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital. Time is of the essence, so ge ing your pet to professional care as quickly as possible is vital. DO NOT try to induce vomiting, as this could cause more harm by bringing the ba ery back up through the esophagus. Your vet may perform an X-ray to determine the ba ery’s location and decide on the best course of action, which might include surgery to remove the ba ery or other treatments to minimize damage.
PREVENTING BATTERY
INGESTION
Prevention is always be er than cure. To keep your pets safe:
• Store items containing bu on cell ba eries out of reach, especially in households with curious pets.
• Ensure ba ery compartments in devices are secure and not easily accessible.
• Dispose of old ba eries properly, ensuring they’re not le where pets can fi nd them.
By taking these precautions, you can help protect your pets from the dangers of bu on cell ba eries, ensuring they stay happy, healthy, and out of harm’s way.
• Bleeding from the mouth or unusual pawing at the face
by Dr. C Ross Crapo DDS
Does Gum Disease Prohibit Dental Implants?
Q: I am a 60-year-old woman with gum disease. Does this prohibit me from having dental implants?
A: Welcome to the general population! At least 80% of adults your age have some element of periodontal or ‘gum’ disease. Initially, the symptoms are inflamed and tender gums that may bleed if you floss them. is progresses to the point where you have bone dissolving under your gums and around the roots of your teeth. e roots become exposed and you have the ‘pockets’ that your hygienist will measure for your dentist to monitor the rate of bone
deterioration. Teeth become much more sensitive, and much more prone to decay.
If this sounds unhealthy, it is! e good news is that this condition is both preventable with proper care and a ention, and reversible. Mother Nature can work pure magic. Take a case where periodontal disease is rampant to the point teeth are lost. Bone has shrunk, resulting in significant changes to the shape of your face and jaw structure. Today’s dental implants can be placed in this bone resulting in the bone a aching itself to the titanium implant (similar to the root of your natural tooth) and
assimilating the implant into the jaw. Bone will grow around this implant and result in a regeneration of lost jawbone. Even in patients over 20 years your senior, this process occurs every day. It is entirely possible to regain correct jaw function with dental implant supported teeth, and you can forget the periodontal problems with that tooth forever.
e reason we dentists harp on about periodontal problems is that they not only a ect your teeth, but they a ect every aspect of your overall health. ere is concrete proof that periodontal disease contributes to heart a acks,
strokes, high blood pressure, diabetes, and even Alzheimer’s Disease. It can be stopped in its tracks with a good hygienic periodontal care program. My goal is to place dental implants that will last your entire life. Your goal should be to provide as healthy a foundation for these implants as possible, because if you do so, every other aspect of
your physical health will benefit. Wouldn’t you say that qualifies as the ultimate ‘win-win’ situation?
At the Victoria Implant Centre we treat all types of patients. It may be that we must get you on a healthy periodontal care program to ensure our implant procedures have the best foundation for success.
Stellar Finish Now Open on the Peninsula
Living on the Peninsula comes with so many opportunities to enjoy a slower pace of life, all while still only being minutes from Victoria’s bustling core. It’s not a rare sight to see horses and tractors sharing parts of the roads, coming or going from farms and fields that support our capital city. While farm equipment encounters highlight the agricultural backbone of the Peninsula’s economy, there is a growing increase in real estate
and industrial development in the area too. With this boom comes more residents, more businesses and… more cars. Stellar Finish is proud to now be a part of this thriving community, and welcomes anyone looking to protect and keep their vehicle in top shape to visit their new 6000 sq/ shop in the heart of Keating. Having been voted the city’s Best Detail Shop six years in a row in the TC’s Readers’ Choice Awards, Stellar Finish is your onestop-shop for all things car care.
ey o er a true “all under one roof” approach to having your ride cleaned, protected and customized. Whether that be full service detailing, professional ceramic coatings, XPEL paint protection fi lm, window tinting, vinyl wraps, decals and custom printing, they have the capability to make your ride look incredible. A er moving into their new shop this past Spring, the team set to work renovating and updating the building to create what is Victoria’s most high end, and
Changing colours spell Autumn at Brentwood Bay Village Empourium
As much as everyone loves the fun and excitement of summertime, there is something soothing about September, as we return to routines, enjoy cooler mornings, warm a ernoon sunshine and the changing of the colours. Autumn is a wonderful time to visit Brentwood Bay Village Empourium, a popular destination in the heart of the Saanich Peninsula. Fresh menu items, fall
flavours and refreshing new retail items the shop. Empourium is licensed and o ers catering services for events of all sizes.
e fall season also marks the return of live music, which is a Friday night favourite, featuring local and touring professional musicians.
e friendly sta , relaxed general store vibe and curated art shows featured on the wide curving wall complement the continually
evolving array of merchandise. Check out the beautiful and unusual gi ideas sourced from local, regional and global makers,as well as seasonal clothing, jewellery and cozy home accoutrements such as candles and décor.
Empourium boasts a five-star ranking on Trip Advisor and other review platforms. e team at Brentwood Bay Village Empourium look forward to welcoming you.
specialized, car care space. “We wanted to have people walk into our shop and feel like they were in an operating room for their vehicle,” says Alex Flatman, co-owner of Stellar Finish. “ All of our work is done under bright lights, in a spotless shop, with the best tools and equipment to truly o er the highest quality results. Our customer experience, from start to fi nish, is something we are very proud of. We work hard to ensure our clients continue to return, time a er time.”
As the season changes and we spend more time inside our cars, it’s important to remember to keep up the maintenance both internally and externally. A well maintained car feels comfortable and looks great, preserving its value and giving you a sense of pride that you are looking a er your investment. For all of your vehicle care requirements, feel free to contact Stellar Finish or be er yet, stop by the shop at 6675 Mirah Rd. for a tour and to discuss your detailing needs.
