Town Centre Veterinary Hospital Blog
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Read about the various health conditions that can affect a pet and what treatments and preventive measures you can take. Town Centre Veterinary Hospital opened in April, 1992. Since then, our goal has been to provide the best possible care for your pet, and exceptional customer service to you, the caring pet owner.
Town Centre Veterinary Hospital Blog
2y ago
Create a Cat Garden
Do you have a cat that likes to accompany you outside in the summer? Providing cats with a (supervised) enriching outdoor environment can be very beneficial to them. Not only will a cat garden satisfy your cat's natural instincts and curiosity by providing mental stimulation, it has many great health benefits as well.
All you need to get started is a planter and some cat friendly plants.
Cat Friendly Plants
Catnip
Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a short-lived perennial, herbaceous plant which blooms from late spring through fall. It is a member of the mint ..read more
Town Centre Veterinary Hospital Blog
2y ago
Dental disease is the most common health problem occurring in adult dogs and cats. By three years of age, most dogs and cats have some evidence of dental disease.
Bad breath is the most common effect of dental disease noted by owners, however there is much more than bad breath going on when your pet suffers from dental disease. Dental disease includes gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) and periodontitis (loss of bone and soft tissue around the teeth). There is a wide range in the appearance and severity of periodontal disease, which often cannot be properly evaluated or treated ..read more
Town Centre Veterinary Hospital Blog
2y ago
Summer means festivities, get-togethers, fireworks and thunderstorms. While we might enjoy a brilliant firework display, getting together with friends around a campfire or a loud, electrifying thunderstorm our pets might think otherwise. If your pet is scared, uneasy or anxious over the summer there are many products (most over the counter) that can be used to relax and support your pet though the summer weather, events and celebrations.
Feliway (for cats)/ Adaptil (for dogs)
Feliway is a product that mimics the facial pheromones that a cat places on objects to confirm that an ..read more
Town Centre Veterinary Hospital Blog
2y ago
External parasites are those that live on your pet, including fleas, ear mites, demodex, lice and ticks.
External Parasites
Fleas
Fleas are a common external parasite of companion animals. This parasite is known to be able to jump up to two feet high, allowing them to easily travel from pet to pet. They live in your pet’s fur and feed on their blood. They can live for as few as 13 days or as long as 12 months. Luckily, fleas are visible to the naked eye and are easy to see on your pet. If your pet has fleas you may see small round brown “bugs” in your pet’s fur, especially around the ne ..read more
Town Centre Veterinary Hospital Blog
2y ago
What is Canine Parvovirus?
Canine parvovirus (CPV) is a highly contagious viral disease that affects dogs. The common form of this virus affects a dog’s gastrointestinal tract. Dogs of all ages are susceptible to CPV, however the majority of the cases are usually seen in puppies between 6 weeks and 6 months of age. Dogs with suppressed immune systems and dogs that are un-vaccinated or not completely vaccinated are also at risk of contracting the virus. Most deaths from CPV happen within 48 to 72 hours following the onset of clinical signs. Without treatment, prognosis for recov ..read more
Town Centre Veterinary Hospital Blog
2y ago
Besides dental disease due to tartar accumulation and periodontitis, tooth resorption and stomatitis are two other dental health concerns that might affect your pet. While both of these conditions are more prevalent in cats, dogs can also suffer from both of them.
Tooth Resorption
This type of dental disease is very common in cats, but can also affect dogs. The actual cause of this dental disease is unknown. Studies have been done to see if it is linked to an autoimmune response, diet, metabolic imbalance, or other diseases, but nothing conclusive has been found.
Commonly the resorption ..read more
Town Centre Veterinary Hospital Blog
2y ago
What is a COHAT?
COHAT stands for Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment. This is the dental procedure performed on your pet under general anesthesia. It includes:
a full examination of your pet’s oral cavity
full mouth dental x-rays
dental charting
any necessary tooth extractions or amputations
cleaning and polishing of your pet’s teeth
Oral Examination
The oral examination looks for more than just dental disease in your pet’s mouth. Any abnormality with your pet’s skull shape, tonsils, tongue, pharynx and lymph nodes will be noted. The veterinarian will also loo ..read more
Town Centre Veterinary Hospital Blog
2y ago
Brushing your pet’s teeth
Tooth brushing is the gold standard for home dental care. Like us, tartar and plaque begin to accumulate on the teeth within 24 hours of brushing. Since dental home care is not routinely practiced with most pet families, we find that dental disease is the most common health problem occurring in adult dogs and cats. By 3 years of age, most dogs and cats have some evidence of dental disease.
Your pet’s teeth should be brushed once daily. Getting into the habit of brushing your pet’s teeth can be challenging, but if you do it before or after you brush your own teet ..read more
Town Centre Veterinary Hospital Blog
2y ago
What is otitis exerna
Otitis externa is an inflammation or infection of the external ear canal. Bacteria, yeast, ear mites, allergies and hormone imbalances can all cause otitis externa. Once an ear infection starts, it isn’t long before the pet is seen scratching at their ears, shaking their head or holding one ear slightly dropped. Discharge and odour may also be noticeable.
Causes of Ear Infections
Yeast Infection
A yeast called Malassezia pachydermatis lives in most ear canals and on most skin. In normal numbers it causes no problems; however, if the secretions in its environment fav ..read more
Town Centre Veterinary Hospital Blog
2y ago
What is dental disease?
Dental disease is the most common health problem occurring in adult dogs and cats. By 3 years of age, most dogs and cats have some evidence of dental disease. The most common sign of dental disease is bad breath and visible tartar build up on the teeth. Other aspects of dental disease that are not as easy to see without getting a good look in your pet’s mouth include gingivitis and periodontitis.
Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gums. It occurs when a film of plaque accumulates on the teeth irritating the gum tissue. When left untreated gingivitis can le ..read more