By Alan Green and Sean Ellison

For all of us, understanding and being knowledgeable of the environment we live in allows us to enjoy its beauty, while remaining respectful of the dangers. There is nothing more representative of this statement than the sago palm, a common and ubiquitous member of our surroundings in the Lowcountry. It is an honor this month to introduce Dr. Sean Ellison, DVM. Dr. Ellison is an important member of the CVRC Emergency and Critical Care team. He provides us important information about sago palm toxicity.

By Erin Stokes

For many dog owners that have experienced it, the word “bloat” can elicit images of terror. It is a common term for Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus (GDV) and it is an unfortunately frequent syndrome seen in our emergency hospital. This month I am pleased to introduce Dr. Erin Stokes, one of CVRC's highly trained emergency clinicians. Dr. Stokes describes the facts about GDV, its symptoms, treatments and methods of prevention.  

This article recently appeared in the  Charleston Mercury written by Alan E. Green, DVM and Kristin Welch, DVM, DACVECC

Beware of snakes as warmer weather arrives in the Lowcountry. Our outdoor pets are vulnerable these days, and it’s not just hunting dogs that are in danger.

Dr. Kristin Welch, who helped with this article, is the head of Emergency and Critical Care at Charleston Veterinary Referral Center and the only board-certified critical-care specialist in South Carolina. She reminds us that of more than 120 species of snakes identified in the United States, 20 of them are venomous. Those that are poisonous in South Carolina include three species of rattlesnakes as well as cottonmouth water moccasins, copperheads and coral snakes.