When people think about owning exotic pets, they often overlook the importance of bringing in the animal for annual health exams – the same as any dog or cat would get each year. Having a general health exam is the first step in preventing any health issues that may come along throughout your pet’s life, and many people do not realize the different problems that exotic pets can develop. Today I will be focusing on rabbits, and some of the separate area veterinarians look at when examining them. A major health issue that develops in rabbits is with their teeth. Rabbits have what are called arad ..read more

Here is a list of some common summer plants that are toxic to dogs and cats.  Tomato Plants: Stems, leaves and non-ripe tomatoes contain more toxicity. This plant is toxic in large doses. Common symptoms include — weakness, gastrointestinal problems, drowsiness, slow heart rate, confusion. Aloe Vera: This plant is metabolized by intestinal bacteria, which results in gastrointestinal symptoms. With prompt treatments, symptoms resolve quickly. Common symptoms include — vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, tremors, general central nervous system depression. Ivy: Not all Ivy plants are toxic; the to ..read more

Hiking is a great way to change up your dog’s normal walk routine and give an opportunity to socialize and exercise them in a fun way. We live in a beautiful province full of National Parks, Provincial Parks, local trails and ‘off the beaten path’ adventures. Here are some important tips to keep in mind while hiking with your furry friend this year. Off-Leash Rules Provincial and National Parks require dogs to be on leash on all trails. While not everyone follows these rules, it’s important to remember why they are in place. These awesome parks need to be respected, off-leash dogs can cause de ..read more

According to The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, in 2018, an estimated 60% of cats and 56% of dogs in the United States were found to be overweight or obese. While you may feel that your pet looks extra cute with their extra pounds, being overweight can actually have significant consequences on their general health. Osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) – While there are definitely breed and age-related factors that contribute to the development of arthritis, obesity also plays a major role. Increased weight puts increased strain on your pet’s joints, which leads to inflamm ..read more

Dog your dog scratch, lick, or chew at themselves? Shake their head? Welcome to the wonderful (horrible) world of canine atopy and the multitude of causes for it. Itchy dogs account for ~80% of annual veterinary visits and can often be frustrating and sometimes require a drawn-out process to achieve a diagnosis. The truth is, the three most common reasons for an itchy dog are skin parasites (fleas and other nasties), allergies (food and/or environmental) and infections (primary or secondary to any of the aforementioned causes of itchiness). So, where do we start? PARASITES! Oftentimes, the onl ..read more

What happens when you drop off your fur baby for elective surgery? The first step is a full examination performed by your veterinarian. This is to ensure your pet is in perfect health. This will include a weight check and a listen to the heart and lungs. The doctor and RVT (Registered Veterinary Technician) will also look for any abnormalities that may affect your pet’s risk to undergo general anesthesia. Once the physical examination is complete, a small blood sample is taken from your pet. This will check to ensure his or her organs are functioning at optimal capacity. This is important as t ..read more

This month’s blog post is an expansion to our Facebook post concerning heartworm and the risks it poses to infected dogs. Recently there has been a huge movement in bringing shelter dogs from the southern USA (where high kill shelters are abundant) to adopt in more northern regions. While this is wonderful in that more dogs are finding homes, we are seeing that many well-intentioned adopters are not fully aware of the potential risks that accompany a heartworm positive dog. This is not surprising given that this is a disease that is so rarely seen in our part of the world because of our climat ..read more

Acclimate To The Cold – Take your time when introducing your dog to the cold weather. Start with small amounts of time to help with the adjustment. Very quick changes in temperature can potentially cause hypothermia and frostbite. Salt & Sand – Creating traction for your pet will help prevent your dog from slipping on ice. Consider your dog’s age when walking him or her on ice & through the snow. Serious injuries can happen at any age, but a fall for a senior dog can lead to a long recovery. Pet-friendly salt products are recommended. These products will be safe for your dog’s paws and ..read more

It is completely fair if you have ever felt overwhelmed by the decision of what to feed your pet – there are about a million different kinds of food and about a million more opinions on what is “good” and what is “bad” to feed our animals. Here is the true scoop on basic pet nutrition. MYTH: Corn is not digestible and is just filler. FACT: Fillers have no nutritional value. Corn is packed full of valuable nutrients that support the skin and coat, such as antioxidants (part of the vibrant yellow colour), vitamins A and B, selenium and zinc, and amino and fatty acids, all essential to canine nut ..read more

The recent news that 69% of voters in Florida voted to ban greyhound racing has left many people overjoyed. Florida housed 11 of the 17 active race tracks in the United States which will all need to be shut down by January 2021. While this is a fantastic advancement for the Greyhounds, it will put roughly 6,000 of them without homes. Rescues all over the United States and Canada are stepping up, and have been, to find these wonderful dogs their forever homes. Before adopting a greyhound though there are some very important things to realize about this breed. Most rescues will even require some ..read more