Companion Animals

Winter is the time of year when everything freezes- but hopefully not your car!  It’s a good time for a reminder about antifreeze toxicity in pets. Antifreeze (or ethylene glycol) is a substance found in engine coolants that prevents the fluid from freezing.  It has…

Toileting problems are one of the most common behavioural issues reported in cats. One possible cause is an inadequate litter tray (in the cat’s eyes!). Here are a few tips to provide the best litter tray conditions. 1) Always provide a tray, even for outdoor cats. …

As summer gets underway, taking your dog to the lakes or a river is a great way to keep cool and enjoy time with family. Unfortunately, warm weather also causes Cyanobacteria, a type of toxic algae, to grow rapidly. It can grow on the bottom…

Important Information for Pet Owners Ibuprofen is a commonly used over-the-counter pain reliever for humans, but it can be extremely harmful and even life-threatening to dogs. This information sheet is designed to help you understand the dangers of Ibuprofen toxicity in dogs and what to…

As we come into the warmer months, pollens and environmental allergens are present at an all time high. For some of our pets this may mean that the season of itching and scratching has begun.Dogs and cats can be allergic to many different things including…

This is never an easy conversation to have but we are very fortunate in veterinary medicine to have the ability to perform euthanasia on animals.  Most vets will say that this can be the hardest part of our jobs but it can be reframed as…

Did you know it’s illegal to leave your pet in a car on a hot day and you can be liable for a $300 fine? The windows of your car act like a glass house and the inside temperature can get very hot, very quickly…

What is heat stress? The normal temperature of a dog or cat is around 38.5 degrees.  A rectal temperature above 39.4 is generally classed as abnormal.  When your pet overheats they may pant and be thirsty.  They may lie flat on a cool surface and seek…

Also known as Cervical Spondylomyelopathy or Cervical Stenosis for short. Affected dogs develop a wobbly gait due to pressure on the spinal cord in the lower part of the neck.  Often the hind legs are affected first.  How does it happen? This disease begins because…

Cats have two thyroid glands, which are located in the neck and play a vital role in regulating the body’s metabolic rate. Hyperthyroidism is caused by the overproduction of thyroid hormone and leads to an increased metabolic rate. The more thyroid hormone produced, the higher the metabolic rate…