tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20974390081018111722024-03-13T09:56:17.035-07:00Bowmanville Veterinary ClinicBowmanville Veterinary Clinichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07982005332685980641noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2097439008101811172.post-48902771129027723192018-05-29T07:07:00.005-07:002018-05-29T07:07:46.703-07:0010 Subtle Signs That Your Cat Might be SickLike most prey species, cats are very adept at hiding signs of illness until they are so sick they can't put up a brave front anymore. As cat owners, it's important for you<br />
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to be tuned in to their subtler signals and become aware if something may be amiss.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Inappropriate elimination
behaviour or litter box use.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">When
your cat urinates or defecates outside the litter box, it could be a sign of an
underlying health problem. Medical conditions associated with these behaviours
include lower urinary tract disease, kidney disease, urinary tract infection,
diabetes mellitus, and pain/arthritis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Changes in interaction.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Cats are
social. When the way they interact with family members or other pets changes,
it could be a sign of disease, fear, anxiety or even pain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Changes in activity.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A
decrease or increase in activity can be a sign of a number of conditioners.
Discomfort from joint disease or illness can lead to decreased activity;
hyperthyroidism can cause an increase in activity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Changes in sleeping habits.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The average
cat may spend 16 to 18 hours a day sleeping. The key to differentiating
abnormal lethargy from normal napping is knowing your cats sleeping patterns
and noting any changes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Changes in food and water
consumption.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Look for
changes such as a decrease or increase in consumption of food or water. An
increase in water intake could be an early indicator of thyroid problems,
kidney disease, diabetes or other illnesses. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Unexplained weight loss or gain.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Weight
changes often go unnoticed because of a cats thick coat. A change in weight
does not necessarily correlate with a change in appetite. If your cat goes to
the food dish and then backs away without eating, nausea may be the source. At
the same time, obesity has become a serious health concern in cats, with
increased risk of diabetes mellitus, joint disease and other problems. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Changes in grooming.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Cats are
typically fastidious groomers. A decrease in grooming behaviour can indicate a
number of conditions, including fear, anxiety, obesity or other illnesses. An
increase in grooming may be a sign of a skin problem or underlying joint pain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Signs of stress.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Stressed
cats may demonstrate an increase in grooming and social interaction, spending
more time awake and scanning their environment. Or, they may hide more,
withdraw and exhibit signs of depression. Stress may also cause changes
(increased or decreased) in appetite.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Changes in vocalization.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">More
common in older cats, increased vocalization or howling could be the sign of an
underlying issue. Many cats also have increased vocalization if they are in
pain or are anxious. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bad breath.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Dental
disease can lead to bad breath, pain, tooth loss and spread of infection to the
heart and other organs. An early sign of an oral health problem is bad breath.
Regular home teeth brushing and regular veterinary dental exams are the best
way to prevent dental disease. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Bowmanville Veterinary Clinichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07982005332685980641noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2097439008101811172.post-19849049179614502812017-06-02T10:08:00.001-07:002017-06-02T10:08:23.036-07:00Cat Friendly Practice<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="font-family: "HelveticaNeue-BoldCond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue-BoldCond;">Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic is a Certified Cat Friendly Practice!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "HelveticaNeue-BoldCond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue-BoldCond;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="font-family: "HelveticaNeue-BoldCond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue-BoldCond;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "HelveticaNeue-BoldCond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue-BoldCond;">What to Expect from a Cat Friendly
Practice </span></b><span style="font-family: "HelveticaNeue-Condensed","serif"; font-size: 5.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue-Condensed;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "HelveticaNeue-MediumCond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue-MediumCond;">CFP’s
have a:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "HelveticaNeue-MediumCond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue-MediumCond;">Waiting
room/area that reduces stress associated with noise, other pets, or unfamiliar smells
(methods can include feline-only area, cat-only appointment times, separate
space with a barrier blocking visual contact, etc.). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "HelveticaNeue-MediumCond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue-MediumCond;">Veterinary
staff receives ongoing feline education on medical care, behavior,
communication, and feline-friendly handling techniques.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "HelveticaNeue-MediumCond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue-MediumCond;">Feline-only
or feline-centric examination room–a safe, non-threatening area where cats can
be<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "HelveticaNeue-MediumCond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue-MediumCond;">examined
calmly and effectively.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "HelveticaNeue-MediumCond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue-MediumCond;">Trained
staff who recognize subtle, early signs of sickness, fear, or anxiety, and
adapt appropriately.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "HelveticaNeue-MediumCond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue-MediumCond;">Veterinary
facility that is well-maintained and equipped for feline patients (cat sized
equipment,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "HelveticaNeue-MediumCond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue-MediumCond;">soft
coverings, feline facial pheromone diffuser, etc.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "HelveticaNeue-MediumCond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue-MediumCond;">Procedure
to adjust for each cat based on whatever is least stressful for the cat. Exams
may<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "HelveticaNeue-MediumCond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue-MediumCond;">be
performed in the carrier, on the floor, or in the veterinarian’s lap.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="font-family: "HelveticaNeue-BoldCond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue-BoldCond;"> Cat Friendly Practices’</span></b><span style="font-family: "HelveticaNeue-Condensed","serif"; font-size: 5.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue-Condensed;"> </span><span style="font-family: "HelveticaNeue-MediumCond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue-MediumCond;">make
specific changes to ensure they understand a cat’s unique needs and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "HelveticaNeue-MediumCond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue-MediumCond;">implement
feline-friendly standards. These changes provide a more calming environment for
cats. CFP’s<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "HelveticaNeue-MediumCond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue-MediumCond;">can
advise you on ways to reduce stress before and after the visit, including how
to make the carrier a<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "HelveticaNeue-MediumCond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue-MediumCond;">home
away from home for your cat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "HelveticaNeue-MediumCond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue-MediumCond;">Staff
are trained in approaching and handling cats in a gentle, empathetic, and
caring manner. Some clinics have even made physical adjustments to make the visit
more positive for you and your cat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "HelveticaNeue-MediumCond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue-MediumCond;">The
CFP certificate on the clinic’s wall is earned. Through a self-assessment, the
practice must meet<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "HelveticaNeue-MediumCond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue-MediumCond;">specified
criteria to verify the staff, environment, and overall veterinary practice is
truly cat friendly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "HelveticaNeue-MediumCond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue-MediumCond;">When
you see the CFP designation at a practice, you can be confident your cat will
be given exceptional care and attention through all phases of the visit
including examinations, procedures, and/or hospitalization.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "HelveticaNeue-MediumCond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue-MediumCond;">The
</span><b><span style="font-family: "HelveticaNeue-CondensedBold","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue-CondensedBold;">Cat Friendly Practice</span></b><span style="font-family: "HelveticaNeue-Condensed","serif"; font-size: 5.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue-Condensed;">® </span><span style="font-family: "HelveticaNeue-MediumCond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue-MediumCond;">designation
indicates the practice has demonstrated higher levels of commitment and
excellence in feline medicine.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Bowmanville Veterinary Clinichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07982005332685980641noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2097439008101811172.post-35000734192460940462017-05-11T07:48:00.000-07:002017-05-11T07:49:18.029-07:00Leptospirosis and Your Pet: CDC Facts!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJe4R4zIaR9aKIai5KeAUtc1mow_EUiI8lB0ExdzgVhCdh-LNypktqgF6waOZRtVkIHtKQzuD_QQGKa0F4TEy_TAlxMzA1SF4x6RJty82T-8IPxxcS7cUbkWlI0UIaPQY3KB2qgohWCo/s1600/lept.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJe4R4zIaR9aKIai5KeAUtc1mow_EUiI8lB0ExdzgVhCdh-LNypktqgF6waOZRtVkIHtKQzuD_QQGKa0F4TEy_TAlxMzA1SF4x6RJty82T-8IPxxcS7cUbkWlI0UIaPQY3KB2qgohWCo/s200/lept.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h2>
<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Leptospira
bacteria on stain of liver impression smear. </span></i></h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Leptospirosis
is a disease that can affect human and animals, including your pets. All
animals can potentially become infected with leptospirosis. While for many
years occurrence among pets was rare, the disease has been diagnosed more
frequently in the past few years. See below for information on how to protect
yourself and your pets from leptospirosis and what to do if your pet becomes
infected.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
bacteria that cause leptospirosis are spread through the urine of infected
animals, which can get into water or soil and can survive there for weeks to
months. Humans and animals can become infected through contact with this
contaminated urine (or other body fluids, except saliva), water, or soil. The
bacteria can enter the body through skin or mucous membranes (eyes, nose, or
mouth), especially if the skin is broken from a cut or scratch. Drinking
contaminated water can also cause infection. Infected wild and domestic animals
may continue to excrete the bacteria into the environment continuously or every
once in a while for a few months up to several years.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">If your
pet has become infected, it most likely came into contact with the bacteria in
the environment or was exposed to infected animals. Your pet may have been
drinking, swimming, or walking through contaminated water. Because of increased
building and development into areas that were previously rural, pets may be
exposed to more wildlife, such as raccoons, skunks, squirrels, opossums, or
deer that are infected with leptospirosis. Dogs also may pass the disease to
each other, but this happens very rarely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Signs and
Symptoms</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
clinical signs of leptospirosis vary and are nonspecific. Sometimes pets do not
have any symptoms. Common clinical signs have been reported in dogs. These
include:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">fever <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">vomiting <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">abdominal pain <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">diarrhea <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">refusal to eat <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">severe weakness and
depression <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">stiffness <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">severe muscle pain <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">inability to have puppies.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Generally
younger animals are more seriously affected than older animals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">If you
think your pet may have leptospirosis, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Your veterinarian can perform tests to determine whether or not your pet has
the disease.<br />
<br />
<b>Treatment</b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">If your
pet has been confirmed by your veterinarian as having leptospirosis, the
appropriate action to take will depend on the nature of contact with your pet.
Normal daily activities with your pet will not put you at high risk for
leptospirosis infection. Types of contacts that are considered to be high risk
include:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">direct or indirect contact
with urine, blood, and tissues of your pet during its infection <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">assisting in the delivery of
newborns from an infected animal.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">If you
have had these types of high-risk contacts with your pet during the time of its
infection, inform your physician. If common symptoms, such as fever, muscle
aches, and headaches, occur within 3 weeks after a high-risk exposure, see your
physician. Tests can be performed to see if you have this disease.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Leptospirosis
is treatable with antibiotics. If an animal is treated early, it may recover
more rapidly and any organ damage may be less severe. Other treatment methods,
such as dialysis and hydration therapy may be required.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The time
between exposure to the bacteria and development of disease is usually 5 to 14
days, but can be as short as a few days or as long as 30 days or more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Prevention
in Pets</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">To help
prevent leptospirosis infection, keep rodent problems (rats, mice, or other
animal pests) under control. Rodents can carry and spread the bacteria that
causes this disease (see <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/rodents/prevent_infestations/index.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6d502d;">Prevent Rodent Infestations</span></a>).
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Get your
pet vaccinated against leptospirosis. The vaccine does not provide 100%
protection. This is because there are many strains (types) of leptospires (the
bacteria that causes leptospirosis), and the vaccine does not provide immunity
against all strains. It is important to get your pet vaccinated again even if
it gets leptospirosis because it can still get infected with a different strain
of leptospires.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pet
owners should also take steps to prevent themselves and others from becoming
infected with the disease due to an infected pet. The primary mode of
transmission of leptospirosis from pets to humans is through direct or indirect
contact with contaminated animal tissues, organs, or urine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In some
instances, shedding of leptospires in the urine may persist for as long as 3
months after infection as a result of inadequate or lack of treatment. Always
contact your veterinarian and your physician if you have concerns about a
possible exposure to an infected animal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
addition, be sure to follow the below prevention guidelines:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Do not handle or come in
contact with urine, blood, or tissues from your infected pet before it has
received proper treatment. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">If you need to have contact
with animal tissues or urine, wear protective clothing, such as gloves and
boots, especially if you are occupationally at risk (veterinarians, farm
workers, and sewer workers). <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As a general rule, always
wash your hands after handling your pet or anything that might have your
pet's excrement on it. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">If you are cleaning surfaces
that may be contaminated or have urine from an infected pet on them, use
an antibacterial cleaning solution or a solution of 1 part household
bleach in 10 parts water. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Make sure that your infected
pet takes all of its medicine and follow up with your veterinarian.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
Bowmanville Veterinary Clinichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07982005332685980641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2097439008101811172.post-89091729783792820092017-03-22T07:14:00.002-07:002017-03-22T07:26:00.451-07:00Is Fido Slowing Down...this could be the reason!<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">What is
Arthritis?</span></b></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">The
word arthritis is a generic term referring to many different types of
conditions in the joint. </span><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">When
the term arthritis is used it commonly refers to osteoarthritis (OA), which is
also known as degenerative joint disease (DJD). Osteoarthritis is the most
common form of arthritis and studies indicate that it occurs in 20% of dogs
over 1 year of age.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Understanding
Canine Osteoarthritis</span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif";">A
healthy joint consists of cartilage that covers and protects the ends of the
bones in a joint. The cartilage has no nerves and in a normal joint when
cartilage rotates on the cartilage of another bone, the dog feels no pain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mqmYkYZ_MYK3U2uFGT_5EygswKpuqOtjwlPKflmAC81iKLMtmSJ3v3Z_O2wIjyJ1eVVoe5hX_2vaeogXGW0dy9xnQbPbTlyhRFH5nyNbx3vKyQ1Yt4CE2OPMC6b1F94CNzKtbw8G_yM/s1600/old.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mqmYkYZ_MYK3U2uFGT_5EygswKpuqOtjwlPKflmAC81iKLMtmSJ3v3Z_O2wIjyJ1eVVoe5hX_2vaeogXGW0dy9xnQbPbTlyhRFH5nyNbx3vKyQ1Yt4CE2OPMC6b1F94CNzKtbw8G_yM/s200/old.jpg" width="131" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif";"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , sans-serif;">However,
arthritis causes the cartilage to wear away. This exposes the bones, which have
many nerves. When two bones touch each other, your dog feels pain. This pain
can greatly affect your dog’s quality of life, although dogs tend to be very
quiet about displaying their pain.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Early
treatment of Canine Osteoarthritis<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif";">Osteoarthritis
can be managed much more successfully when it is diagnosed and treated early in
the process. Some owners will proactively start joint supplements or joint
support diets in working or active dogs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Risk Factors
of Canine Osteoarthritis </span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif";">Dogs
of any age or breed can develop osteoarthritis and there are certain risk
factors you should be aware of including:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif";">Breed size - large or giant breeds have a
higher incidence of arthritis<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif";">Age - arthritis is more common in older dogs<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif";">Weight - overweight dogs are more prone to
arthritis<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif";">Breed inherited traits and conformation - which
can lead to arthritis because of hip dysplasia or elbow dysplasia changes
in the joint<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Overweight
dogs</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif";">: Studies
have shown that weight loss alone can significantly improve comfort in dogs
with OA. Joints that are already sore and stressed are made worse when they
have to support extra weight. Ease of activities such as climbing stairs,
jumping into a car or truck or getting up from a sitting position can improve
dramatically with weight loss. If your dog has a Body Condition Score over 6/9
you should consider weight loss for your pet.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , sans-serif;">There
are a number of very good weight loss diets available. Royal Canin Satiety Support
is a low calorie diet that contains ingredients designed to help your pet feel
full, maintain lean muscle mass, help with skin and coat and also contains
Glucosamine/Chondroitin to help improve joint function. It comes in a dry and
canned formula. We would be happy to develop a weight loss program to help
achieve weight loss and ultimately improve the comfort of your pet. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif";">Other
option for weight loss include: Hills Metabolic and Royal Canin Calorie Control
diets. Hills also makes a combination weight loss and joint support food.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Exercise<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif";">Just
like in people exercise is vital for weight loss. Exercise helps increase the resting metabolic
rate and burns more calories while maintaining or improving muscle tone. The
most successful weight loss programs are combined with good exercise programs.</span><b><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , sans-serif;">Controlled
exercise is invaluable in treatment for patients with osteoarthritis. This can
help improve function and reduce pain, by using the “move it or lose” it principle.
Please see our additional exercise sheet.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Joint Support
Diets <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif";">Royal
Canin Mobility is a veterinary diet that is specially formulated to help
improve joint health and reduce joint pain in the canine patient. It contains
green lipped muscle, omega fatty acids and glucosamine /chondroitin all
ingredients that support joint health. It is also moderate in calories to help
maintain weight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif";">Please
see the diet brochure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif";">This
is the diet that Bowmanville Veterinary Staff reach for with their older active
dogs and many of us use it proactively as our pets become seniors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif";">Other
options for joint support diets include Hills J/D and Hills Metabolic/Joint. (See brochures)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Nutraceuticals<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif";">Nutraceuticals
are nutritional supplements and are believed to have a positive influence on
the cartilage health in the joint. Many people will have heard of Glucosamine
and Chondroitin which are products that have been available for humans for many
years. Using products that contain these natural ingredients may help but we have
found products that contain more than these two ingredients to be more valuable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , sans-serif;">There
are many products available as joint supplements. At Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic we will only
stock/sell products that have been proven by scientific studies. Some products
on the market have anecdotal reports that they work, which is supportive great,
but we want to know that the products we sell also have evidence based scientific
studies to support them.. The other criteria that must be met before we
consider bringing a nutraceutical to our shelves is some thing called the NN
number. Unfortunately some nutraceuticals have inconsistent delivery of
ingredients so you may not be getting what you pay for. Products that carry a
NN number mean they have been certified to meet safety and quality criteria.
When a product contains only approved ingredients which are safe or low risk
they can be assigned a NN number. For you and your pet the NN on the package is
proof that the manufacturer meets adequate standards for these types of
products.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , sans-serif;">Flexadin
Plus - our number one nutraceutical for joint support is Flexadin Plus. It has scientific studies and is NN certified.
This product contains Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Omega fatty acids and Devils
Claw. Devils claw is a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory. Many of our
canine patients have started with this product and owners have found a very
positive improvement in their dogs comfort and mobility. Remember it is very
important as your dog ages to encourage exercise to control weight and maintain
flexibility. </span><b style="font-family: "arial narrow", sans-serif;">We need to keep them moving</b><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , sans-serif;">.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , sans-serif;">Results
can often be seen within days. The same company that makes Flexadin Plus also
manufactures Flexadin Advanced. This product uses UCII collagen a very advanced
ingredient that is widely used in human medicine. This product works with the
immune system to help maintain joint integrity. It can take up to three months
to see the maximum benefits of this product. One big advantage of Flexadin Advanced
is that you only need to feed one chew regardless of the size of your dog.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , sans-serif;">Flexadin
Plus and Flexadin Advanced have a palpability guarantee so if your pet does not
approve of the taste they are fully refundable. This company also offers a “buy
six get one free” loyalty program. (See brochure)</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , sans-serif;">We
also carry Dasuquin by Nutramax another scientifically studied and NN certified
product that has been widely used in the U.S for years. This is a good
alternative to Flexadin if your pet does not like the taste of Flexadin.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">NSAIDS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif";">The
term NSAID refers to Non Steroidal Anti –inflammatory Drug a class of drugs
that are used to treat the pain and inflammation caused by arthritis. One of most
common NSAID’s used in people is ASA but since dogs are much more sensitive to
NSAIDS than humans aspirin can cause unwanted side effects such as stomach
upset or irritation to intestines and can lead to vomiting and diarrhea,
stomach ulcers and possibly more serious side effects. NSAIDS specifically
formulated for dogs were introduced in the 1990’s. These NSAIDS work more
effectively for dogs than aspirin while minimizing side effects in the internal
organs. These drugs have changed and provided improved quality of life for millions
of dogs living with the chronic pain of osteoarthritis. NSAIDS do have side
effects that we must consider. Kidney, liver
or gastrointestinal conditions must be assessed to make sure your dog is
able to metabolize and excrete the medication A complete history, physical exam
and blood work are necessary prior to initiating NSAIDS along with periodic
follow-up blood work as recommended by our veterinarians<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , sans-serif;">Metacam
(Meloxicam) is our number one NSAID of choice. It comes in a flavoured liquid
that can be given directly or mixed in to food. We also like this product
because it can reduced to what we call a lowest effective dose i.e. the least
amount of drug needed to still provide pain management and improved quality of
life. (See brochure)</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , sans-serif;">There
are a number of other NSAIDS available to us if Metacam is not giving the
desired results.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif";">For
our very arthritic patients it may become necessary to prescribe drugs to use
in conjunction with nutraceuticals and Nsaids. Drugs commonly used for pain
management in humans are now approved in dogs. The most commonly used adjunct
drugs are Tramadol and Gabapentin. These are sometimes used alone if a pet is
not able to safely use an NSAID.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">DMOAD-Disease
Modifying Osteoarthritis Drugs<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif";">There
are injections available that to retard the progression of arthritis by
stimulating production of lubricant and cartilage in the joint. Examples are
Cartrophen or Adequan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , sans-serif;">The
treatment starts with a series of four injections given a week apart. After the
initial series the treatment usually consists of one injection per month.
Injections are given at the veterinary clinic, along with treats to distract
your dog. (See brochure)</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , sans-serif;">Alternative
therapies-there are many exciting opportunities in this area for additional
resources such as physical therapy-is done here, acupuncture, massage,
chiropractics, etc. Please ask for our list if interested.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , sans-serif;">As you
can see, there are now many options to help prevent pain and improve the
quality of life of dogs affected by Osteoarthritis. </span></div>
</div>
Bowmanville Veterinary Clinichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07982005332685980641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2097439008101811172.post-5451628251529445342016-09-26T12:28:00.000-07:002016-09-26T12:28:11.951-07:00Friendly Pet Dogs Improve a Child’s Health, CDC Suggests<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">If
there weren’t already enough reasons to own a dog, here's another....</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAuigSk87AnZCuf7bQbT7ulUFV-M5JsGZU1pSYTXeD6PZhOqcWxG_k1uWQddRPVmW1nzdBX5uHaqvufCv15vYQFSQLaU5yn5j7SZ_otG6zA_aZHtbzyqbirjrWxnRn6kbprNHFraHj_g/s1600/Bridie+1851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAuigSk87AnZCuf7bQbT7ulUFV-M5JsGZU1pSYTXeD6PZhOqcWxG_k1uWQddRPVmW1nzdBX5uHaqvufCv15vYQFSQLaU5yn5j7SZ_otG6zA_aZHtbzyqbirjrWxnRn6kbprNHFraHj_g/s200/Bridie+1851.jpg" width="158" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Having
a pet dog in the home helps in reducing childhood anxiety, according to
research recently published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Researchers
found that dogs can reduce childhood anxiety, particularly social and
separation anxiety, in a variety of ways.
Dogs can stimulate conversation and alleviate separation anxiety, and
social interaction between humans and dogs may lead to increased oxytocin
levels in both the human and the dog. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Interacting
with a friendly dog also reduces cortisol levels, most likely through oxytocin
release, which lessens physiologic responses to stress. These hormonal effects may underlie the
observed emotional and behavioral benefits of animal-assisted therapy and pet
dogs,” according to the study. Visit <i>cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2015/15_0204.htm </i>for
more information on this study, “Pet Dogs and Children’s Health: Opportunities
for Chronic Disease Prevention?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Bowmanville Veterinary Clinichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07982005332685980641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2097439008101811172.post-67278960558435024062016-07-27T07:43:00.000-07:002016-07-27T07:43:07.645-07:00The Savvy Dog Owner’s Guide to Nutrition on the Internet<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_d-vGRwkB1VE6b5sJSHzRyL8KkbntraUK23BG5Nhpg1-1Enb_tiTN9C-acTv2jx5-j7SO_Ewlq_IljyS0Nbbyyv0ZaC4d4MKjqo51SNDZVRcnzBcFikefuc4OxGBi24EU3bnvl73Lk4/s1600/dogfood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_d-vGRwkB1VE6b5sJSHzRyL8KkbntraUK23BG5Nhpg1-1Enb_tiTN9C-acTv2jx5-j7SO_Ewlq_IljyS0Nbbyyv0ZaC4d4MKjqo51SNDZVRcnzBcFikefuc4OxGBi24EU3bnvl73Lk4/s200/dogfood.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">More
than 75% of all homes have computers and this is both a blessing and a
curse. For dog owners, the internet
provides vast amounts of information on many subjects. The information, however, is virtually
unregulated and its quality ranges from excellent to pure quackery. Deciding which websites are trustworthy can
be difficult! </span><span style="font-family: "arial narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Canine
nutrition is a popular topic. There are
literally thousands of websites, promoting everything from recipes for raw food
and vegetarian diets; advertisements for supplements and holistic foods;
recommendations for diets that allegedly prevent or cure disease; ‘get-rich
quick’ pyramid-selling schemes for nutritional supplements and consultation
services operated by ‘nutritionists’.
Many home-made diets are promoted – some which are almost nutritionally
balanced; some that are mildly unbalanced and some that are downright
dangerous!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">All
in all, many nutritional myths are perpetuated, many half-truths reinforced and
many incorrect facts conveyed. There is,
of course, some excellent information – but not nearly as much of it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Surfing Tips<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So
how can you decide what to believe? Here
are some recommendations to help you when evaluating content of websites:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Discuss
information with your veterinarian.</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">
What you read online should enhance what your vet tells you, not replace
it. If in doubt, ask him or her to help
you evaluate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Research the
credentials of the site’s author.</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">
Is it a pet owner; a company; a veterinarian; a PHD in animal nutrition
or a board-certified veterinary nutritionist?
Be careful when a person marketing
his or her services claims to be a ‘pet nutritionist’ or a ‘certified
nutritionist’, as there is no standardization in training for this. The exception is a veterinary nutritionist
who is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Nutrition (ACVN)
or the European College of Veterinary Comparative Nutrition (ECVCN). These are veterinarians who have undergone
several years of rigorous post-graduate nutrition training in approved
residency programs and who have passed the ACVN or ECVCN’s certifying
examination.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Read the
website address.</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Sites with an address ending in .com are
commercial. Those ending in.edu are
educational and those ending in.org are non-profit organizations. Large pet food companies often have
high-quality websites with good general nutrition information that is separate
from their product information.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Check the
source of the information.</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Do the
authors simply state that a product ‘prevents cancer’ or is there a reference
to a scientifically-conducted research study?
It is easy – though illegal – to make unproven claims for nutritional
products but it is much harder to back them up scientifically. If there is a reference, where is it
from? Is it from the author’s own
article or promotional literature or is it from a peer-reviewed veterinary
journal? Most products on the internet
do not cite studies to back up their claims.
Those that do, often cite studies on humans or rats which may not be
pertinent to dogs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Check the
timelines of the information.</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">
Things change quickly in veterinary medicine and especially in the field
of nutrition. Many websites are out of
date. What was recommended two years ago
may not be accepted practice today. A
good website will be updated frequently.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Be wary of
anecdotal information.</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">
Descriptions of one person’s experience (e.g. “When my dog was diagnosed
with kidney disease I gave him ‘GET BETTER’ nutritional supplement and now he’s
cured”) can be misleading. While it can
be useful to hear about other people’s experiences, their positive evaluations
do not mean that the actual product or treatment is really beneficial. Always discuss what you’ve heard with your
veterinarian.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Watch out for
rating websites.</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Most websites that rank dog foods do so
either on opinion or on criteria that do not necessarily ensure a good quality
food (e.t. price, ingredients, size of the company). It’s important to use more objective criteria
(science, quality control) in judging a dog food.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Be skeptical
of grand claims or easy answers to difficult problems.</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Remember the old adage: if it sounds too good
to be true, it probably is.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">If
you are a critical web surfer and work with your veterinarian to analyze the
information you find, you will reap the
benefits of the computer age without experiencing its problems.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">WSAVA
Global Nutrition Committee<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
Bowmanville Veterinary Clinichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07982005332685980641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2097439008101811172.post-36896137387557475752016-06-16T10:21:00.002-07:002016-06-16T10:21:55.871-07:00Becoming a Veterinarian - Living the Dream!!! <div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjKBhww3UuHvfPEQ840eZgEfMvC9USlr-S1EKvONRefFggnlj-8yFNWCZtER5s3Yu9f9i0W6tlko0pttd5lOqNyQET3ML7NdRwZJW85FPt4dIdrHQGbDzEEtsf3tJMX7pn8ogOxefP7Q/s1600/ovc.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjKBhww3UuHvfPEQ840eZgEfMvC9USlr-S1EKvONRefFggnlj-8yFNWCZtER5s3Yu9f9i0W6tlko0pttd5lOqNyQET3ML7NdRwZJW85FPt4dIdrHQGbDzEEtsf3tJMX7pn8ogOxefP7Q/s1600/ovc.png" /></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Deciding
on career path can be one of the most daunting decisions you must overcome as
young adult. The choice to pursue either college or university education at
barely 17 or 18 years of age does not permit for much time (if any) to
experience the working world, and only adds to the pressure of making such a
crucial decision; one that society believes will affect the rest of your life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> It wasn’t until just recently that I
now understand why I often heard people, peers, friends, and family members
tell me how lucky I am that I just “knew” what I wanted to be in life. And for
me the answer was simple: I wanted to become a veterinarian. (Might I point out
that this is much easier said than done – but I’ll get to that later.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Sure, as young kids we all aspire to
be great figures of authority within society -firefighters, policemen, doctors
- or perhaps we dream to grow up just like our parents, becoming teachers,
engineers, or architects. But how many of us are actually lucky enough to get
there? Along the way we all get side-tracked, life intervenes, we discover new
avenues, and before you know it we’re off down a path our 5 year-old brains
didn’t even know existed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> My love for animals fueled my
passion to pursue veterinary medicine. From my earliest childhood memories I knew
that I wanted to help the creatures of this earth, great and small, and that
becoming a veterinarian was the path I was destined to follow. I knew it would
be tough, and I heard countless people tell me how extremely difficult it would
be to get accepted – boy were they right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> In my last year of high school I
elected to do a co-op placement (in a veterinary clinic of course) in order to
finally get my feet wet within the profession. I had no idea what to expect, and
honestly was quite nervous to see how it would compare with the visions in my
head. As fate would have it (and I still think of it that way) I was chosen to
do my placement at the Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic. It consisted of 3 hours
in the morning, Monday – Friday, for about 5 months. But that ended far too
quickly for my liking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> And so I headed off to UOIT where I
completed a bachelor’s degree in biological science, and during my summers off
I came back here to volunteer whenever I could. By this time I had done enough
research to know (and scare myself) about what it would take to get accepted
into the Ontario Veterinary College – where there are only 100 seats per year
for Ontario residents…yikes. Being one of the top veterinary schools in the world,
I knew it wouldn’t be easy. Most accepted applicants have thousands upon
thousands of hours of veterinary and animal experience, in addition to academic
averages in the 85-95% range. If this wasn’t hard enough, well-rounded
applicants typically have thousands of extracurricular hours as well. It seemed
like a near impossible feat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> So I buried my head in the
textbooks, and spent as much time as I could volunteering. It was another truly
fateful day when I received a phone call from none other than the Bowmanville
Veterinary Clinic offering me a position as a Veterinary Assistant. I was
absolutely ecstatic that such an opportunity had arisen, and could not be
happier to join such a fantastic team of individuals, committed to the welfare
and care of animals. It was enlightening to see all the time and hard work I
had invested start to pay off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> As you are reading this, I have been
working here for just over a year, and have loved every second of it. Thanks to
the Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic, and their unwavering belief and support, I
was on my way to gaining the experience that would make me a competitive
applicant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> After taking several months to
prepare my application, I was selected as one of the top 200 applicants chosen
to undergo the grueling interview process. Drawing on my experiences here at
the clinic helped in more ways than I can explain, and I can happily tell you
that less than two weeks ago I received my acceptance into the Ontario Veterinary
College, Class of 2020 – the single greatest moment of my life. My dream of
becoming a veterinarian is now closer than ever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> I often look back to that moment in
high school, when I was selected by the Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic to
complete my co-op placement. At the time I did not fully appreciate the
significance of that event, but now I cannot help but notice how important a
role it played. Without their support, I would not be where I am today. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> The most important thing I learned
through this journey (which is far from over) is to follow your dreams, believe
in yourself, and don’t give up. Turn your dreams into reality, and live the
life you always imagined.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Stephanie Spencer, OVC 2020 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Bowmanville Veterinary Clinichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07982005332685980641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2097439008101811172.post-40498844642899205922016-05-11T07:58:00.000-07:002016-05-11T07:58:24.673-07:00Injured and Orphaned Wildlife<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">You can help...<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">(On Behalf of Ontario Wildlife
Rescue) <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When you find that little huddle of
wildlife; raccoons or skunks, squirrels or possums, groundhogs, porcupines,
beavers, these are things you can do ...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Access the situation carefully—is the mother likely
to return? Are cars, dogs, </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">other wild animals, or even other humans, a threat? If it is safe, and
possible, you might watch for awhile and see if a mother does return. However,
if the area is one of traffic and human activity, the likelihood is slim.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7HtXmN_pFjW4dbziMdewXVXnxuu14OorCwwRPX4iFArQhq7DdGiuIInbQtVD0Ak_jTnBhv0dYPswpg9iAdpbEzKJB319fxE0j4_OPUATqikKKR0RWpmmgr6jnHIPk3zsSGDqCetDcX3g/s1600/newborn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7HtXmN_pFjW4dbziMdewXVXnxuu14OorCwwRPX4iFArQhq7DdGiuIInbQtVD0Ak_jTnBhv0dYPswpg9iAdpbEzKJB319fxE0j4_OPUATqikKKR0RWpmmgr6jnHIPk3zsSGDqCetDcX3g/s200/newborn.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Contact
wildlife centres by phone. Do not use email in an animal emergency. Call before
taking an animal to a wildlife centre. They may not be able to take it. Before you turn the animals over to them, ask
questions. How will it be taken care of? Will it be euthanized? What is
its future? Be satisfied! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Use gloves, or a blanket or towel, to pick it up, </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">it will be frightened and will
not know you are a friend. Put it deep
in a dark box, with warm towels and blankets or even your old sweaters!
Darkness and warmth are very very necessary. So is quietness. Handle as little
as possible. If it is a bird of prey (hawk, eagle, owls) or large mammal
(bears, moose, etc.) talk to a Wildlife Centre first. These types of animals
even if injured can be dangerous to handle. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Best case
scenario is for you to do nothing to the orphan, besides getting it to a
rehabber. However, if you are having trouble finding a rehabilitator to take
the orphan, or give advice on how to keep it alive until you do find one, and
you believe nourishment is necessary to keep it alive, you must warm and
rehydrate orphaned first. If the baby does not feel warm, do not feed it,
as it will die. Hot water bottle wrapped in towel [even pop bottle] can work.
Rehydrate first using pedialyte or Gatorade. If old enough they might
lap, if not administer with a 1 or 3 cc syringe [no needle], slowly, so they do
not aspirate the fluids and you can measure how much the animal has taken. This
can sustain them a day or two. Never
give cows milk it will kill them. Some species tolerate goats milk some
do not. Espilac puppy formula or KMR kitten formula can be used with most
mammals until a rehabber can take them. A raccoon can use a human baby bottle
and nipple, other mammals cannot so continue using they syringe [it is better
than an eyedropper]. All fluids should be warm, just like feeding a human baby.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Keep
yourself clean, use gloves if possible, wash your hands after handling an
animal, keep yourself, the animal and the box clean. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Realize
it is illegal to keep any wild animal as a pet. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Realize
it will want to live the free life for which it was intended. The time will
come, when it is mature and would be breaking the bond with its own parent in
the wild, and it is given to an accredited place, where that will be its future
.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">For more
information on what you can do to help visit <a href="http://www.ontariowildliferescue.ca/">http://www.ontariowildliferescue.ca/</a></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Bowmanville Veterinary Clinichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07982005332685980641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2097439008101811172.post-76707544505707488742016-04-07T09:02:00.000-07:002016-04-07T09:02:24.223-07:00My Life as a Veterinary Technology Student<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";">Everyone
has been asked at one point or another, what their dream job would be. Some
might say an astronaut, professional hockey player or award winning writer. I
was recently asked this question and after giving it some thought, there isn’t anything
else I would rather do; except win the lottery and spend my days on a beach but
that just isn’t going to happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";"> I have always loved animals but never
considered the veterinary field as a career option until my childhood dog
passed away. I went on to complete a Veterinary Assistant program at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Durham</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">College</st1:placetype></st1:place>
and worked for awhile in a different field. After a bit, I realized that I
needed to be working with animals and went back to school and will be
graduating from St. Lawrence College’s Veterinary Technology program this June.
The program I’ve completed is unique in nature as it deals extensively with lab
animals such as rats, mice and rabbits. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLeXPA-dmzkeEAndMAtcy__aIAGUbgCFzFlOroOM0kIOXh5G_pU8nuvi8wK_I6tqQNjPvPABjMQ1LpzSb0GZM-vTQgV91zz6wAuXmHtIkc2_OBwxnw6-bCSga7Z2irO6yUUWfsYcw4pUI/s1600/courtney.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLeXPA-dmzkeEAndMAtcy__aIAGUbgCFzFlOroOM0kIOXh5G_pU8nuvi8wK_I6tqQNjPvPABjMQ1LpzSb0GZM-vTQgV91zz6wAuXmHtIkc2_OBwxnw6-bCSga7Z2irO6yUUWfsYcw4pUI/s200/courtney.JPG" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtney and Briar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";">My
final semester has been spent doing my five and four week co-op placements, the
last being here at Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic. No two veterinary clinics are
the same, so I was looking for a special kind of fit from a clinic. I came
across Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic online and was extremely excited to see
that they worked with wildlife and exotics as well as small animals. I also
wanted to make sure that the place I would be at every single day, was willing
to teach me and guide me to be a great future Registered Veterinary Technician.
The last four weeks that I’ve been here, I have learned so much! All of that is
thanks to the amazing Registered Veterinary Technicians, Veterinary Assistants,
kennel staff and receptionists. Some of the awesome things I’ve been able to do
here are things like syringe feed baby squirrels (definitely adding
“professional squirrel cuddler” to my resume now), participate in all aspects
from pre-op preparation to post op recovery of surgery patients, run lab tests
on various samples and even meet two very cute, but wild, Ocelots! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HuSX7gxT65Mqev57mEqfSk-fqCYo6ssh-3lZ8dY3r9kKBw6sHOptbUTME6GxbpOiTFxfzeqYLl_y6lVtS6dAcIZCsqS7iHB6FFALy4Xhgmt-8scZ-yPtyQFPJDx2Nv_oW6CGe2kLn-s/s1600/IMG_1540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HuSX7gxT65Mqev57mEqfSk-fqCYo6ssh-3lZ8dY3r9kKBw6sHOptbUTME6GxbpOiTFxfzeqYLl_y6lVtS6dAcIZCsqS7iHB6FFALy4Xhgmt-8scZ-yPtyQFPJDx2Nv_oW6CGe2kLn-s/s200/IMG_1540.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clowning around at Puppy Happy Hour</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";">Its
clear to me that all members of staff here at Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic are
absolutely dedicated to the care and love of all types of creatures. It’s not
often that a clinic goes above and beyond all aspects of care and caters to
their patients as well as their families. Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic runs
some amazing complimentary programs like Puppy Happy Hour, where I got to play
with some adorable puppies and help socialize them all at the same time; it
doesn’t get much better than that! The Junior Vet program also provides some
insider insight into the veterinary field for some of the younger audiences. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";">Next
time you’re bringing in your four legged (or two legged) pet into
Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic, be sure to thank the staff for their tireless
efforts while caring for your pets and teaching others like me how to as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Courtney Fraser <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">3<sup>rd</sup> Year Veterinary Technology
Student, </span>St Lawrence College</div>
Bowmanville Veterinary Clinichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07982005332685980641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2097439008101811172.post-26201991158761839812016-03-23T09:08:00.000-07:002016-04-07T04:34:15.856-07:00Xylitol Poisoning in Dogs – Please read all labels!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBwaTu_mPMM7kH6jC4AfQ7gaT6Seq5vL_93DbOGcJC_Lw4kyE0r96sGFtaUNnNq5uDeocf7wmFPjwUt84A1hm4vWFdikFKjZnl_Fsoun5adt9aEEzOwrOFXutz71OkCbfFHSuTgBZjds/s1600/gum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBwaTu_mPMM7kH6jC4AfQ7gaT6Seq5vL_93DbOGcJC_Lw4kyE0r96sGFtaUNnNq5uDeocf7wmFPjwUt84A1hm4vWFdikFKjZnl_Fsoun5adt9aEEzOwrOFXutz71OkCbfFHSuTgBZjds/s200/gum.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that is used as a sweetener in
the place of sugar. Its use has been on
the rise and I first heard about it in sugar free gum. More recently it can be found in candy, some
toothpastes, mints, sugar free granola bars, pudding, multivitamins,
probiotics, chocolates, protein shakes, some liquid medications and even some
peanut butters. <span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span>
Many of these products such as the peanut butter are often marketed at health
food stores. Xylitol can also be
purchased in a granulated form for baking.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
People will often use over the counter medications for their
animals or use peanut butter to disguise medication given to their dogs. If these products happen to contain xylitol
it can have serious and even life threatening effects.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Xylitol can cause severe hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar)
and/or liver failure in dogs. Cows,
goats and rabbits can be affected as well.
For some other species such as cats and birds the effects are not clear
yet. Low blood sugar can lead to
weakness, seizures and potentially death.
The liver is involved in many different functions. With liver failure we can see seizures, low
protein levels, internal bleeding and death.
Not all dogs will show both signs.
The signs of hypoglycaemia are usually noted within 30 minutes of
ingestion, but can take up to 12 hours
to be seen. The signs of liver failure
are often noted within 12-24 hours but can take longer. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJb8tWaiAaBKhwO_PNZR-PvF17DJIOprdo5qI7lci4Q4KMxUpJ0AtA_zuF1k-hGfQYOgzObUsjBjW9wzwkvRQTmb3VIcIqxlhpbx_3QojVRiA3kskBil-ZV76ZoNNsn8JvOpl1cP7X6Ww/s1600/peanut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJb8tWaiAaBKhwO_PNZR-PvF17DJIOprdo5qI7lci4Q4KMxUpJ0AtA_zuF1k-hGfQYOgzObUsjBjW9wzwkvRQTmb3VIcIqxlhpbx_3QojVRiA3kskBil-ZV76ZoNNsn8JvOpl1cP7X6Ww/s200/peanut.jpg" width="200" /></a>It can be difficult to determine how much xylitol is in a
product to calculate your toxic dose.
For instance, one piece of sugar free xylitol containing gum can cause
low blood sugar in a 10kg dog. However not all brands of gum contain the same
amount of xylitol and the amount is not usually on the label of the gum. Larger doses need to be consumed for liver
failure to occur generally. Dogs that
develop liver failure often don’t survive.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is no antidote for xylitol. Early recognition is important for an optimal
outcome. If you have the package of the product please always take this to your
veterinary clinic with you. Your
veterinarian may get your dog to vomit if the product was ingested recently
enough. Blood sugar levels and liver enzymes will need to be monitored closely. Often an intravenous sugar drip is started and
these animals are hospitalized for a number of days. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is important to read labels on any human product that you
happen to give your dog. Even better
avoid human products in dogs if possible or contact your veterinarian prior to
giving anything to your pets that is not labelled for them. Remember dogs and cats are not small humans
and their bodies metabolize things differently than us. If you have any questions about toxins or
products please talk to your veterinarian. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dr. Brigitte Rudolf</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic <br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
Bowmanville Veterinary Clinichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07982005332685980641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2097439008101811172.post-41909345802894453092016-02-18T09:45:00.004-08:002016-02-18T10:01:48.237-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-6GnHbzFbNNFB20SDpP4CPr93VvFCjLIdeHMYAQjtPbo6xPVYHBNSNqo1ov4ANdAA3QpHMb7nryRhTCYw7ZJDZ6GQT055Y4wVWDMZdN3FS7f2vH_txDWfFmLPzurU0hH296EZup3OzY/s1600/cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-6GnHbzFbNNFB20SDpP4CPr93VvFCjLIdeHMYAQjtPbo6xPVYHBNSNqo1ov4ANdAA3QpHMb7nryRhTCYw7ZJDZ6GQT055Y4wVWDMZdN3FS7f2vH_txDWfFmLPzurU0hH296EZup3OzY/s1600/cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-6GnHbzFbNNFB20SDpP4CPr93VvFCjLIdeHMYAQjtPbo6xPVYHBNSNqo1ov4ANdAA3QpHMb7nryRhTCYw7ZJDZ6GQT055Y4wVWDMZdN3FS7f2vH_txDWfFmLPzurU0hH296EZup3OzY/s1600/cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-6GnHbzFbNNFB20SDpP4CPr93VvFCjLIdeHMYAQjtPbo6xPVYHBNSNqo1ov4ANdAA3QpHMb7nryRhTCYw7ZJDZ6GQT055Y4wVWDMZdN3FS7f2vH_txDWfFmLPzurU0hH296EZup3OzY/s200/cat.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rhys & Dorian </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</a>Living in a Multi
Species House <o:p></o:p></a></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">Our family has a dog,
a cat, an amazon parrot and a cockatiel and for the most part they dislike each
other and the feuding is usually over me. They all want my attention all the
time!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">My day starts with my cat, Rhys,
meowing as soon as my eyelids begin to flutter, my dog MacTavish, urgently
wanting to go out for his duties and my two birds screaming from downstairs for
me the minute my feet hit the floor. Good Morning!!</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXUn3wUjo-ZbjtjN318hl1BttHXmG63anxQSPAscQWau8VE_JJHVZjwIhX8uAKerKQSA_D0qF3iMTBGS5EfmBKkISJL0eceWfjyCzeaGcVf5MhkTmJGIh8rSZUizArCVjC_L1lKj4sco/s1600/dorian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXUn3wUjo-ZbjtjN318hl1BttHXmG63anxQSPAscQWau8VE_JJHVZjwIhX8uAKerKQSA_D0qF3iMTBGS5EfmBKkISJL0eceWfjyCzeaGcVf5MhkTmJGIh8rSZUizArCVjC_L1lKj4sco/s200/dorian.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stefaan & Dorian</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">I rush around like a
mad woman opening the backyard door while dishing out some cat food, then tear
off the blankets covering the two bird cages and put a bird on each shoulder,
which makes them stop screaming. Once I have fed the crew and given them fresh
water I can start getting ready for work while they are eating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">I know immediately when they are done, both
cat and dog come into the bedroom and the birds start to whistle loudly for me
to come and get them too. As I get ready, brushing my teeth, drying my hair,
and applying makeup with one bird on each shoulder, both cat and dog staring
at me, and I feel so loved.</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHVOcoUw00j-0whLe9xtXrqimJ5qXXputAKaimT1oWcqqW2LRY2MGcl5KdOitLablioJwJu_ulA2MEvOPop6q2ut2A4p3GgzUOOvKnA-RvtXVWQ-YzlcXRqk16fIwkhHPn_JPlZ0qHSE/s1600/Mactavish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHVOcoUw00j-0whLe9xtXrqimJ5qXXputAKaimT1oWcqqW2LRY2MGcl5KdOitLablioJwJu_ulA2MEvOPop6q2ut2A4p3GgzUOOvKnA-RvtXVWQ-YzlcXRqk16fIwkhHPn_JPlZ0qHSE/s200/Mactavish.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MacTavish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">When I leave for work
I have to make sure the cockatiel is put in the parrot’s cage, the parrot is put
in his daytime enclosure, the cat is in the basement and the dog has his tricky
treat ball filled with his kibble to keep him occupied while I am making my
getaway and I think to myself, my pets are so loved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">My workday is
peaceful in comparison to the loud mayhem of the morning but it is all waiting
for me at home the second my key goes in the lock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">Before I am even in the door I can hear the
birds screaming for me , my dog runs to the door and practically knocks me over
and my cat is meowing and banging on the door to get out of the basement and </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">to me, and I feel so loved. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">The evening is a
delicate balance of giving my attention to each one of my pets without making
another jealous but I am an expert at this now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><span style="color: black;">I can scratch the necks of each bird with my two hands and rub the
bellies of my dog and cat with my two feet. All my pets are happy and I feel so
loved.</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">I’m sure I am not
alone, thanks for reading.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">Sandra McBride,
Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />Bowmanville Veterinary Clinichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07982005332685980641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2097439008101811172.post-11933549758207823822015-11-30T08:15:00.001-08:002015-11-30T08:20:10.425-08:00Lyme Disease: Tick Protection and Your Pet<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Tick season is still here! We hope you read our <a href="http://bowmanvilleveterinaryclinic.blogspot.ca/2015/11/lyme-disease.html" target="_blank">previous blog</a>, where we talked a bit about ticks and the transmission of Lyme disease.
There are a lot of good tips to protect yourself and your pets from tick bites.
But let’s talk a little bit more about Lyme disease, and what that means for
you and your pet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6o9M5itxOX9pGEftFjJMdtf7DYkpspemrrzmT2r1LEHiNleV4rPHOy_ITEGa98pDWR27cxiVJnRWjchsSslQR-AmzksM4XCkEq3wBCOrt3aXiU_2NQs4ioZpf4AEMmHNJCj8zKVVs4g/s1600/engorged+tick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6o9M5itxOX9pGEftFjJMdtf7DYkpspemrrzmT2r1LEHiNleV4rPHOy_ITEGa98pDWR27cxiVJnRWjchsSslQR-AmzksM4XCkEq3wBCOrt3aXiU_2NQs4ioZpf4AEMmHNJCj8zKVVs4g/s320/engorged+tick.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">In Ontario, Lyme disease is transmitted by the deer tick, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ixodes scapularis</i>. It is estimated that
18% of the overall tick population in Ontario is infected with Lyme disease.
The tick needs to be attached for greater than 24 hours for the disease to be
transmitted, and it can take 2-5 months for a dog to start showing clinical
signs. These clinical signs can include fever, anorexia, lameness and joint
swelling. However, 95% of dogs that have become infected with Lyme disease
never become clinical. Humans cannot get Lyme disease directly from an infected
dog; they too need to be bitten by a tick infected with the disease. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Your vet can screen your dog for the presence of antibodies
to Lyme disease through a screening test called 4Dx. This test screens for Lyme
disease, as well as other tick-borne diseases (including Ehrlichia and
Anaplasma) and heartworm. Typically a veterinarian will recommend this
screening test after your dog has been bitten by a tick – but not immediately
after the tick is found; it can take 3-5 weeks for the antibodies to become
present in your dog’s system. It is also recommended as an annual screening
test, since we don’t always find every tick on our dogs – especially the really
hairy ones! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">If your dog tests positive for Lyme disease on the 4Dx
screen test, it indicates that your dog has previously been exposed to the
disease and has developed antibodies against it. It doesn’t indicate an active
infection – in fact, some dogs that have been diagnosed with Lyme disease can
remain positive on their 4Dx screen for many years. Your vet will probably
recommend a further test to quantify the number of antibodies present to
determine the level of infection. If your dog is showing clinical signs of the
disease, treatment will be initiated. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So now we know what to do if your dog has been bitten by a
tick. But how about we prevent those ticks from ever latching on? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">There are a variety of tick products available for dogs.
They range from topical products to oral products, with some collar options as
well. These products do not all protect against every type of tick, so be
careful when picking your tick product. Just because it says tick, doesn’t mean
it covers all the ticks common in your area (or the Lyme-disease-transmitting
Deer tick)! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">A few of our favorite products for tick prevention include: </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5kZdu2U4rgk0uEf9eLrfO1OnFbr3zqG9tfTHSxvdu3GadZVrjicHoOBFFJoJU-GYWvfx6ADk7HvS-tUwO7PIphRuF7AJKDhkPxqpiL0Dlvu6jVuSMmOJUib9jFJIdX8kbylbzL6zjFg/s1600/bravecto.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5kZdu2U4rgk0uEf9eLrfO1OnFbr3zqG9tfTHSxvdu3GadZVrjicHoOBFFJoJU-GYWvfx6ADk7HvS-tUwO7PIphRuF7AJKDhkPxqpiL0Dlvu6jVuSMmOJUib9jFJIdX8kbylbzL6zjFg/s200/bravecto.png" width="116" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><u>Bravecto</u> - this oral product can be given once every 12 weeks to dogs and treats against fleas, Deer ticks, American Dog ticks and Brown Dog ticks. It cannot be given to dogs less than 6 months of age or less than 2 kg. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><u>NexGard</u> - this oral product is given monthly to dogs to protect against fleas, Deer ticks, American Dog ticks and Lone Star ticks. It is approved for puppies greater than 8 weeks of age. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><u>Preventic Collars</u> - this collared product for dogs protects against American Dog ticks and Brown Dog ticks. It can last for up to 90 days, but is not recommended for use in dogs with cats in the same household. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzbCLk95nqQDLomp16AIBdW5qfIJJmjwtfL_tnpS8R1HpM5GU_30_blhiszB6EHuTCzyrQ8SKUKb8w24F5GDUEwXUYFZ3f3HCATIzj6HMMIakUONbcZOvZc3Jqw3el-Y942sUt73Bf0E/s1600/advantix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzbCLk95nqQDLomp16AIBdW5qfIJJmjwtfL_tnpS8R1HpM5GU_30_blhiszB6EHuTCzyrQ8SKUKb8w24F5GDUEwXUYFZ3f3HCATIzj6HMMIakUONbcZOvZc3Jqw3el-Y942sUt73Bf0E/s200/advantix.jpg" width="115" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><u>K9 Advantix II</u> - this topical product is for dogs only. It repels fleas and all species of tick (American Dog tick, Brown Dog tick, Lone Star tick and Deer tick). It is to be reapplied monthly, but is not recommended for use on dogs with cats in the same household. It is safe for dogs greater than 8 weeks of age. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><u>Revolution</u> - this topical product is a great choice for cats (and also can be used in dogs). It is used to treat against fleas, Brown Dog ticks and American Dog ticks and should be reapplied monthly. It is safe for dogs and cats greater than 6 weeks of age. </span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span><o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></o:p></div>
Bowmanville Veterinary Clinichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07982005332685980641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2097439008101811172.post-73128912007574619912015-11-17T07:37:00.000-08:002015-11-30T08:21:08.143-08:00Lyme Disease: Tick Prevention, You and Your Pet<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">It’s high time
for ticks to strike in Canada, and incidents of Lyme disease are on the rise.
Staying informed about ticks, knowing the risks and focusing on prevention can
help keep your pet – and your family – safe from Lyme disease this season. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_UcmW9WIV5lHOdwIKoQ81c69xeM0vCr31u6pOiMVcFQycjy7MG1xMKjRM8ld-0ucbk53fWi7VSNCONYU4zNhfiHZfEWJcfiThoNNQmuc-IGtCCWWtIsFy9ERKM7QKnGVwMOl0JNVFB8c/s1600/tick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_UcmW9WIV5lHOdwIKoQ81c69xeM0vCr31u6pOiMVcFQycjy7MG1xMKjRM8ld-0ucbk53fWi7VSNCONYU4zNhfiHZfEWJcfiThoNNQmuc-IGtCCWWtIsFy9ERKM7QKnGVwMOl0JNVFB8c/s200/tick.jpg" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">First, get to
know their habitat; ticks love to dwell in wooded, grassy areas, especially
thick underbrush. Some outdoor jobs and recreational activities, like
landscaping, farming, hiking, hunting and fishing, can put you or your pet at a
higher risk. When it comes to the transmission of Lyme disease, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ixodes scapularis</i>, or “deer ticks”, are
the usual suspects. Adult deer ticks are especially active in mid-to-late fall.
These pests cannot jump or fly, but are skilled at latching onto a host at
ground level and crawling upward to find exposed skin. And despite what many
people think, dogs do not give Lyme disease to people; humans are at risk only
if bitten by an infected tick.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">While all
Canadians are at risk for Lyme disease, eastern Canada has reported the highest
rate of infection across the country. Lyme disease is often misdiagnosed,
during the stage when it’s easiest to treat. Infection risk is present
year-round, but be aware that you and your pet are most prone to Lyme disease
from May through September. In addition, keep in mind that ticks are more than
just a springtime hazard. If fall temperatures remain mild, ticks can peak
again in October or November.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">In fact,
certain species of ticks may display increased activity at different times
throughout the spring, then again in the fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In particular, a study from Ontario shows primarily <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I. scapularis</i> ticks peaking first in the spring months, then a
second time in November.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">Climate change is also projected to be a factor in the overall tick prevalence. It is speculated that in the next 80 years, the total area of land suitable for ticks and their hosts will increase by 68.9% in North America. In Canada, that number is estimated at a 212.9% increase. This means that warmer temperatures will invite an influx of ticks well into the fall months over a greater geographic area, creating an even more urgent need for vigilance and yearly pet vaccination. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">To protect yourself from ticks, wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts, and tuck your pants into your socks. Wearing light coloured clothing makes ticks easier to see. It may also be helpful to walk with a partner who can watch for ticks on your or your pet. Try to stay on clear, unobstructed trails, and away from the fringe area between the woods and open land. Spraying an insect repellant on your body and clothing can also deter ticks however consult product caution statements before using, especially on young children. Immediately after being outside in tick-infested areas, check your clothes and body, as well as your pet's body, for ticks. If you discover one or more ticks attached, proper removal is essential. </span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></strong> </div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How Do You Remove a Tick? </span></strong></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">For a full list, consult the Canadian Lyme Disease
Foundation at </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://canlyme.com/lyme-basics/tick-removal/"><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: blue;">http://canlyme.com/lyme-basics/tick-removal/</span></span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Most commonly, ticks can be removed using fine-pointed
tweezers or a tick removal device, grasping the tick as close as possible to
the skin surface, and pulling straight outward. Once the tick is out, it’s
important to wash the bite with soap and water and treat it with an antiseptic.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">If the tick that bit you or your pet is a Lyme-carrying species</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> or if you are unsure, consult your doctor or veterinarian immediately.
Symptoms of Lyme disease may not present right away, but early detection can
aid in a successful treatment. If you experience headaches, body aches, fever
or congestion, or notice your dog behaving differently, seek medical or
veterinary care immediately. If left untreated, Lyme disease can cause
irrevocable damage to the joints, nervous system and more.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Remember, Lyme disease cannot be easily cured - but it can be prevented. Stay informed, follow these simple steps for prevention and as your veterinarian about protecting your dog(s) from Lyme disease with yearly vaccination and a <a href="http://bowmanvilleveterinaryclinic.blogspot.ca/2015/11/lyme-disease-tick-protection-and-you-dog.html" target="_blank">monthly tick control product today!</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Printed with permission from Merial Canada. </span></div>
Bowmanville Veterinary Clinichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07982005332685980641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2097439008101811172.post-67754022852512050422015-11-06T09:47:00.000-08:002015-11-17T07:38:34.816-08:00Myths around Urinary Tract Health in Dogs and Cats<h1 style="text-align: center;">
Myths around Urinary Tract Health in Dogs and Cats</h1>
<h2>
<strong><span style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.petfoodnutrition.com/resources/doreen-m-houston-biography/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #888888;">By: Dr. Doreen M. Houston</span></a>Doreen is a board certified Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM).</span></span></strong></h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5lmxh5SCAteXdz1bcWGouH8MvICgBsbPMiM6TQ2uHkUtnQgb2yqpQw393_0FO2NJZeKBhaGvQwxqaUKAdQXn-2MNeJnmGuq5UbD4TPdBqx0eyV_y7VBl3ljr0U_MKbuIM5yph371ZoU/s1600/stones2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5lmxh5SCAteXdz1bcWGouH8MvICgBsbPMiM6TQ2uHkUtnQgb2yqpQw393_0FO2NJZeKBhaGvQwxqaUKAdQXn-2MNeJnmGuq5UbD4TPdBqx0eyV_y7VBl3ljr0U_MKbuIM5yph371ZoU/s1600/stones2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calcium Oxalate Stones</td></tr>
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<b>Myth 1: </b>Salt in urinary diets is bad. It can lead to kidney failure, hypertension and associated heart disease, and calcium oxalate bladder and kidney stones.<br />
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Dogs and cats are not “salt sensitive” like humans. There are many published studies that support that salt does not contribute to kidney disease; in fact there is science suggesting quite the opposite. Low salt intake can lead to loss of potassium in the urine and this can worsen kidney failure. By increasing the salt content of the diet, we might actually help decrease the risk of chronic renal failure. There are a number of studies supporting that salt is not a concern in aged cats, the group most likely to develop kidney disease. Unlike people, dogs and cats do not develop hypertension because of salt in the diet. Salt in urinary diets causes the animal to drink more and consequently urinate more-this is good when trying to prevent significant crystal and stone disease in dogs and cats. Salt in the diet has been shown to help prevent calcium oxalate stones in cats and dogs.</div>
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<b>Myth 2: </b> Struvite crystals and stones form when the urine pH is alkaline. Keeping the urine acidified will prevent struvite in dogs and cats. On the other hand, calcium oxalate forms when the urine pH is acidic. Keeping the urine alkaline (pH >7) will prevent calcium oxalate in dogs and cats.<br />
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Struvite in the majority of canine cases is due to infection. Treating or preventing the urinary tract infection is the most important aspect of management of struvite crystals and stones in dogs. Cats are totally different- infection does not play a role in the vast majority of cases. A diet that maintains an average urine pH less than 6.5 and restricts the minerals that contribute to struvite formation is recommended in cats.<br />
Calcium oxalate crystal and stone formation is not urine pH dependent in dogs or cats. This type can form at any urine pH. Highly acidic urine (consistently having a pH in the 5’s) may predispose a pet but otherwise, urine pH is not a key factor in the development of oxalate crystals or stones. A diet that has undergone specific testing for oxalate crystal and stone prevention is recommended for management of oxalate in dogs and cats.</div>
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<b>Myth 3: </b> Cats with blood in their urine should be placed on antibiotics for 7-14 days.<br />
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Antibiotics are not indicated unless a urinary tract infection (UTI) is confirmed with urine culture and sensitivity. Cats rarely get UTIs and it is much more likely that there is another reason for blood in their urine, such as a condition called Feline Idiopathic Cystitis! Antibiotics are rarely needed in cats with lower urinary tract problems. There is growing concern for antibiotic resistance in people and pets-antibiotics should not be given unless an infection is confirmed.</div>
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<b>Myth 4</b>: Ash in pet food is one of the causes of feline lower urinary tract disease. Ash can cause a male cat to suffer a blockage in the urinary system. Cats should not be fed diets with ash.<br />
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This was a commonly held belief for many years, but has been shown not to be true. All pet foods are composed of protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and water. The inorganic components of pet foods, such as the minerals and vitamins, are called “ash” because they are not incinerated when the food is burned for nutritional analysis. Ash was once thought to contribute to struvite crystals and stones in the bladder and urethra of cats, causing male cats in particular to “block”-not be able to urinate. We now know that urinary pH plays a significant role in the development of struvite crystals in cats and if the urine pH is kept lower than 6.5 and the amount of magnesium (one of the minerals in “ash”) is controlled the production of struvite crystals and stones can be prevented. In addition, it is important to know that other minerals in ash such as calcium, manganese, and selenium are critical to the cat’s health. Ash is not a bad thing!</div>
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<b>Myth 5:</b> Vitamin C, cranberry juice, or cranberry extracts are very good for urinary tract health-they acidify urine (lower the urine pH), are anti-inflammatory and might help treat and prevent urinary tract infections.<br />
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Unlike people, dogs and cats make their own vitamin C. Vitamin C is broken down to oxalic acid which is excreted into the urine. Too much of this could put dogs and cats at risk for calcium oxalate crystals and calcium oxalate kidney/bladder stones. In addition, it has been shown that neither vitamin C nor cranberry are very good urinary acidifiers-there are much better ones available from your veterinarian should they be needed. In addition, vitamin C can be a bad thing for dogs and cats that have copper associated liver disorders as it is pro-inflammatory in this condition. In most cases urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria and antibiotics are needed. Cranberry is used in dogs and cats to help with certain urinary tract infections as the proanthocyanidins in cranberry (PACs) block attachment of bacteria such as E. coli to the lining of the bladder. The cranberry doesn’t stop the bug from being there in the first place but it might help lessen the clinical signs the animal experiences. Antibiotics are needed to treat bacterial infections-cranberry is supplemental therapy only!</div>
</div>
</div>
Bowmanville Veterinary Clinichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07982005332685980641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2097439008101811172.post-73590971858550992672015-10-09T06:56:00.000-07:002015-10-09T06:56:14.198-07:00Alternative Medicine and Your Pet
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In addition to conventional medical treatments, there are
many different alternative therapies available.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some examples of these include chiropractic therapy, acupuncture, laser therapy,
herbal medicine <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and homeopathy just to
name a few.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Chiropractic therapy has been used in performance animals
such as horses for a long time. It has been used successfully and become more
popular for small animals such as dogs or cats for spinal misalignment or joint
pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This can be effective for both
acute and chronic pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Acupuncture can be used in conjunction with chiropractic
medicine or on its own. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Acupuncture has
been around for thousands of years but only in the last few decades has it been
used in the western hemisphere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has
become much more widespread both in humans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Acupuncture acts by balancing the
body and helping it return to a state of homeostasis using very fine needles
along various energy lines of the body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In veterinary medicine acupuncture is mostly used for treating
musculoskeletal disease or pain in dogs, cats or horses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguyyMiZ2_ysITQ9XAvANjTPVC2vB-4UggZ0j1SnKd7w6P7Hh4eZZpeN0FpaM5oELorsRyt8yXW_fhVhagUMP3_egapqKedCnHQaEuyDAzRa4_h4VaqwvRV40d0WvCkR_Rxt9KzzrC-D4c/s1600/accupuncture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguyyMiZ2_ysITQ9XAvANjTPVC2vB-4UggZ0j1SnKd7w6P7Hh4eZZpeN0FpaM5oELorsRyt8yXW_fhVhagUMP3_egapqKedCnHQaEuyDAzRa4_h4VaqwvRV40d0WvCkR_Rxt9KzzrC-D4c/s320/accupuncture.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The ultimate goal at Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic is to
find the optimal course of treatment for you and your pet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether you choose conventional medicine,
alternative therapies or a blend of the two, it is very important to consult
your veterinarian BEFORE administering any type of therapy or medicine to your
pet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is equally important to advise
your veterinarian of any herbs, medications or therapies that your pet is
currently on as there are times when they could interfere with and work against
the treatment your veterinarian has recommended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When it comes to dosing and safety of any medication (including
herbs or homeopathic remedies), your pet is not the same as a child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if a compound is considered safe for a
child it doesn’t necessarily mean it is safe for your pet. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is important to work with your veterinarian for the best
possible course of treatment that is specifically designed for your pet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are considering alternative therapies
for your pets you should discuss it with your veterinarian.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Brigitte Rudolf, DVM<br />
Bowmanville Veterinary ClinicBowmanville Veterinary Clinichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07982005332685980641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2097439008101811172.post-38525155954001062032015-08-19T07:53:00.000-07:002015-08-19T07:53:14.149-07:00How Stressed is Your Cat? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNf58mi6I-rwlvSviUIPIqzH0yOWer4qRUC6OHDiwM8nUh-7uAO660xIRj2fmoVgkF5mi_NTGt5swq-AUszghP8tV8acqk5SI8yY7pXDyyUCnkbLmbyyFv-ir46m4gcDs8ZXmljd-fGw/s1600/stressed+cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNf58mi6I-rwlvSviUIPIqzH0yOWer4qRUC6OHDiwM8nUh-7uAO660xIRj2fmoVgkF5mi_NTGt5swq-AUszghP8tV8acqk5SI8yY7pXDyyUCnkbLmbyyFv-ir46m4gcDs8ZXmljd-fGw/s320/stressed+cat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;">There are many different things that can cause our felines stress. New additions to the family (both of the four and two-legged variety), moving, changes in schedules, even a new piece of furniture can cause cats anxiety and stress. Besides the emotional and mental affects of stress, feline stress can cause a variety of health problems and can affect a cat’s behaviour in many different ways. </span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><strong>Common Stress-Related Behavioural Problems: </strong></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYf0m7Bnc3_jU5za5o0R2AsHuu1kO6EKVIGevokl9yYK6hVwh7asgHSi3qoSlpuxZmQfDyylonoOFvK0fKp_QgjsS107OvjVUP-zsnLyikm8vk81Ssmhs4JOHQ09BeowaYu6cChHZSUtE/s1600/keepcalm.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><strong></strong></a><br /></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">urine marking</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">vertical scratching</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">over-grooming</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">redirected aggression</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">hiding, decreased activity, no interaction with owners</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><strong>Common Stress-Related Medical Problems:</strong> </span></div>
<ul>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Cystitis (inflammation of the bladder)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Anorexia</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Obesity</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-indent: 18pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-indent: 18pt;">
Feliway is a synthetic copy of the natural feline facial pheromone proven to help reduce or prevent feline stress and the associated behavioural or medical problems. It is a replica of the natural feline marking pheromone that they use to designate their territory. Pheromones do not smell, and are processed only by the specific species they are produced by. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-indent: 18pt;">
Feliway can be used to help comfort and reassure cats while they cope with a challenging situation and help prevent or reduce the stress caused by a change in their environment. It comes in a few different methods of dispersement - a spray and a diffuser. </div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<strong>Diffuser:</strong> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSP8CtIvwx3Im-_cyCZySZ-VBSlxjIJggIyuW_hn_F79aiCvfkahoXMMYvXCwJL6rCsDzDYulArrgJejBvi-HxifymfCWhFYfGAXlG0GlgslCiKrXBxE0eV_iwef4wT5VvdcMKmhuy_Cw/s1600/diffuser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSP8CtIvwx3Im-_cyCZySZ-VBSlxjIJggIyuW_hn_F79aiCvfkahoXMMYvXCwJL6rCsDzDYulArrgJejBvi-HxifymfCWhFYfGAXlG0GlgslCiKrXBxE0eV_iwef4wT5VvdcMKmhuy_Cw/s1600/diffuser.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><ul>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Need to place the diffuser in the most common area the animal will be and where the problem is occurring</span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">1 diffuser will cover approx. 500-700 sq feet</span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">N</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">eeds to be plugged in all the time and can last 4-5 weeks</span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Takes 24 hours to diffuse into a space</span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">Replace diffuser every 6 months or after 6 refills</span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">Should be no smell</span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span><!--[endif]--><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75"
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</v:shapetype><v:shape id="irc_mi" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75"
alt="http://www.pawsitive.com.mt/images/Feliway%20spray.jpg"
href="http://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http://www.pawsitive.com.mt/index.php?manufacturers_id=48&ei=AK4lVeKFL4S8sAWZ_YDAAg&bvm=bv.90237346,d.cWc&psig=AFQjCNF7XWZ7DHyL2JUUDDY054PlxCBc2w&ust=14286191232349"
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do not place near vents or under a table as this may block the flow of the pheromones. Place in an open area to ensure optimal diffusion and effectiv<span style="height: 10px; left: 0px; margin: 34px auto auto 52px; mso-ignore: vglayout; position: absolute; width: 6px; z-index: 251656702;"><a href="http://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http://www.pawsitive.com.mt/index.php?manufacturers_id=48&ei=AK4lVeKFL4S8sAWZ_YDAAg&bvm=bv.90237346,d.cWc&psig=AFQjCNF7XWZ7DHyL2JUUDDY054PlxCBc2w&ust=14286191232349"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></span>eness<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<strong>Spray:</strong><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCIPKo5FeMQiI3c-KMWrdWfXyh8C1sRnOj9rTe7MxniILCG44tLSDSdwYGidClp404S1N3Lhj8HGVDrDp7MV_hfO1axuq3FB8Y2EOdjCVO0gg0c3WYkqnKNg9IbQRWMnyYCehM1zEPvI/s1600/spray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCIPKo5FeMQiI3c-KMWrdWfXyh8C1sRnOj9rTe7MxniILCG44tLSDSdwYGidClp404S1N3Lhj8HGVDrDp7MV_hfO1axuq3FB8Y2EOdjCVO0gg0c3WYkqnKNg9IbQRWMnyYCehM1zEPvI/s1600/spray.jpg" /></a></strong></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ideal for boarding animals, veterinary visits, car travel, vertical scratching, new elements in the house, spray 15 minutes before you put your cat into the area</span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Needs 5 pumps into environment or carrier or surface</span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">D</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">o not spray directly onto your cat</span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">T</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">he spray will have an immediate effect and lasts 5 hours in the environment</span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">D</span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">oes not stain surfaces</span> </span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</span><br />
Here at the Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic we have a designated cat room with a Feliway diffuser going all the time to ensure you cat's visit to the veterinary clinic is as stress free as possible. <br />
<br />
For more information on Feliway and to learn more about cat behaviour, visit their webpage: <a href="http://www.feliway.com/ca_en">http://www.feliway.com/ca_en</a><br />
<br />
Chantelle Oliver, RVT<br />
Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic</div>
Bowmanville Veterinary Clinichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07982005332685980641noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2097439008101811172.post-16377321810558777562015-08-07T11:48:00.002-07:002015-08-10T10:50:57.014-07:00Veterinary Medicine at the Zoo!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mohyP1NXmxHsxp6K0C-UAEXu_dQ64F4x0lsFxRShw3597WgG9oE-RTXT6L1uW2Fuyr_Orzj_ScaC0QWA6iITVILIFOU8SROrAelGOQtN2hDmQMOQtjc3r30fblxdF9DbX1V2UFBWl4k/s1600/zoo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mohyP1NXmxHsxp6K0C-UAEXu_dQ64F4x0lsFxRShw3597WgG9oE-RTXT6L1uW2Fuyr_Orzj_ScaC0QWA6iITVILIFOU8SROrAelGOQtN2hDmQMOQtjc3r30fblxdF9DbX1V2UFBWl4k/s1600/zoo.png" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We are very lucky here at the Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic. Along with being able to provide veterinary care and a cuddle to dogs and cats, we also get to see more exotic styles of creatures. It is not unusual to see small mammals like rabbits, ferrets, chinchillas and rats in our reception area, or even reptiles and birds, along with the occasional fish! And on top of this, we may have a lion cub from Bowmanville Zoo strolling in the door to get weighed for a routine deworming, or we may need to actually go out to visit the zoo if one of their larger animals is showing signs of illness.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Zoo animal medicine is a highly specialized field. As a result, we have
a lot of unusual equipment available to help these very special animals under
our care. We have things like a pole syringe which can inject medication into a
big cat from a safe distance, and a blow gun which can use a small dart to
administer anesthetic to a primate. We even have a dart gun that can administer
a dart from a great distance, just in case one of the larger animals
accidentally escapes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Most of the veterinary care provided to the zoo is preventative in
nature. Just like your dog and cat, regular physical examinations and vaccinations
are very important. The animals at Bowmanville Zoo are highly socialized, and
many are leash trained and allow physical examinations. But some of the animals
require sedation to safely examine them, and so we also take that opportunity
to collect a blood sample from them. This provides a nice baseline set of
normal values for the animal, and then if they happen to become ill, we can use
these normal values to compare to the “sick” ones. Twice yearly we also run
stool sample analysis on the zoo animals, and treat them with dewormers if we
find parasites. And just like in domestic pets, dental health is extremely
important- sometimes we can have one of the wolves or a tiger come in for a
dental cleaning. They walk out again with a nice bright smile! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Then of course, there are the emergencies. Just like dogs and cats,
sometimes zoo animals can suddenly run into trouble. We need to work fast in
these situations, and so our equipment is always ready for a quick trip to the
zoo. I remember a number of years ago when a female buffalo was giving birth,
and the calf got stuck with only one front hoof out. The male bison were very
protective and obviously we could not anesthetize the whole herd. So tractors
and backhoes and trucks were driven in to form a fence around the now sedated
female, and I could safely go into this little holding to deliver the calf. Not
exactly a relaxing moment, with two huge male bison breathing down my neck!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">It is a privilege to help keep the Bowmanville Zoo animals healthy and
happy. They are fascinating and exciting creatures to work with, and certainly
add variety to our day!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Wendy Korver</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic</span></div>
Bowmanville Veterinary Clinichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07982005332685980641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2097439008101811172.post-22659857038129270262015-07-16T10:20:00.001-07:002015-07-20T08:16:07.587-07:00Gone and Still Going Green...<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0NpKI4KfoyOVQss7s-PVaSA4Nzy-WEG-nAB0a-LmdfjzznxgMidOFt0N9dOy5cR9AlbDZ0TFmZTn5vJoGn1503Yf-jMXU_vSENnHFApAlX35h7B-Nibd70nHjYRit0Ojb1Sp_c5q5M74/s1600/eco-dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0NpKI4KfoyOVQss7s-PVaSA4Nzy-WEG-nAB0a-LmdfjzznxgMidOFt0N9dOy5cR9AlbDZ0TFmZTn5vJoGn1503Yf-jMXU_vSENnHFApAlX35h7B-Nibd70nHjYRit0Ojb1Sp_c5q5M74/s200/eco-dog.jpg" width="122" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Going Green </span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">has been an incremental process at the Bowmanville Veterinary
Clinic. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Our first major step on the green journey
began in 2006 when we transitioned to a “paperless clinic”; this means that we
no longer use paper files to record and keep all of your pet’s medical
information. Now they are stored safely on our veterinary management software
system. All of our exam rooms, treatment rooms, doctor’s office and our reception area
are on a network so all the information is available to us literally at the touch
of a button. It has certainly cut down on our paper consumption and hopefully
saved a few trees as well. Of course we
recycle bottles, cans and paper, uniquely the paper gets shredded and then brought to the
Bowmanville Zoo for baboon enrichment and bedding; they play with it for hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We also recycle our used printer cartridges
and work with a company that refills them and brings them back to us. This
effort saves an enormous amount of trash from entering landfill. That is something we feel great about!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">More recently we invested in our own
composter which we will use on our garden beds when the compost is ready. It is
hard to say how far along the <i>Green</i> path our clinic will travel, but we
think our focused efforts will have a meaningful impact on our planet, even if
only just a little!! </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sandra McBride</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Practice Manager</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic</span></div>
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Bowmanville Veterinary Clinichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07982005332685980641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2097439008101811172.post-15571458459977917432015-06-12T13:41:00.000-07:002015-06-12T13:41:02.383-07:00Dutch Dogs Have it Made!<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCHmTzNOvV8U-sf3BFszwh5hyphenhyphenOhFamIpfD8pNnLnOPVg88adUkNz3kBVq8T74OkSreraTfa9ipjXcaWZXK6OTyDJRblpUf7vP_68XduMaawiaNATQn5qsE8Quu0dYmFfRvSqQVVi2aUk/s1600/keeshond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCHmTzNOvV8U-sf3BFszwh5hyphenhyphenOhFamIpfD8pNnLnOPVg88adUkNz3kBVq8T74OkSreraTfa9ipjXcaWZXK6OTyDJRblpUf7vP_68XduMaawiaNATQn5qsE8Quu0dYmFfRvSqQVVi2aUk/s320/keeshond.jpg" width="320" /></a>I recently returned from an amazing vacation in the <st1:place w:st="on">Netherlands</st1:place>. It did not take me long after my arrival in <st1:city w:st="on">Holland</st1:city> to realize that I would not miss
having dogs around. There were dogs every where. </div>
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Dutch people are very active and I would estimate that 75%
of the people I saw out walking, hiking and biking had dogs with them. They
came in all shapes and sizes and seemed to vary in breeds depending on what
part of the country we were in. I spent
the most time in the central region of <st1:city w:st="on">Holland</st1:city>
near Nijkerk. Here the Belgian Tervuren is apparently very popular. I saw at
least 20 of them during my stay. In <st1:place w:st="on">Canada</st1:place> I have not seen that many in
all my years at the vet clinic. They are very athletic dogs and I assume that the
biking enthusiasts choose the breed for their ability to run alongside the
bikes for kilometre after kilometre. If the cyclists did not have a dog running alongside them, it was
not unusual to see smaller breeds with them on the bikes. I saw one Mom with a
basket for her dog and a child at the front with two older children on the
back. Amazing how they get around.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwgv8KG_RQRjxsZHQFRP9UvM4N0a-IhTKAhWvM5deiotLlR6VqB52xuvR8xYxMaqLzS8-V71yN_o6e1Bgpf9gCo_ienL_-q6_DRToEEyfNZlh8A9MAIpBPiG0VC-4cGH3X6zogpADzGvk/s1600/wirehaired.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwgv8KG_RQRjxsZHQFRP9UvM4N0a-IhTKAhWvM5deiotLlR6VqB52xuvR8xYxMaqLzS8-V71yN_o6e1Bgpf9gCo_ienL_-q6_DRToEEyfNZlh8A9MAIpBPiG0VC-4cGH3X6zogpADzGvk/s200/wirehaired.jpg" width="200" /></a>In the northern <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">province</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename w:st="on">Friesland</st1:placename></st1:place> the hunting
breeds are very popular, especially bird dogs. I saw Gordon, Irish and English
setters as well as many <st1:place w:st="on">Labradors</st1:place>. We also got
to see a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (right), a breed developed in <st1:city w:st="on">Holland</st1:city>. Not only are there thousands of sea
birds here but also a large population of wild pheasants.</div>
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We also saw a beautiful Keeshond (top left) which is also a breed
native to the <st1:country-region w:st="on">Netherlands</st1:country-region>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxM12SvpXWf2hYO_SAXJerZNH0luOTIax0Uqci7jeu1k6CVr9C4Sjz1lAx444f1EPyoBtslpdsHdJdsbU8amqQyCS4jCJhjuq4TPaev6BYW33vcBfiU8d6WgI9ncct3GGrt0_aax5UwjE/s1600/schipperke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxM12SvpXWf2hYO_SAXJerZNH0luOTIax0Uqci7jeu1k6CVr9C4Sjz1lAx444f1EPyoBtslpdsHdJdsbU8amqQyCS4jCJhjuq4TPaev6BYW33vcBfiU8d6WgI9ncct3GGrt0_aax5UwjE/s200/schipperke.jpg" width="143" /></a>In one of the fishing towns I also saw a very cute
Schipperke (left). I always thought this breed was also developed in <st1:city w:st="on">Holland</st1:city>
but apparently they are from Holland's neighbour, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Belgium</st1:country-region></div>
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The other thing that I really loved was that all of the dogs
were on leash, except the field dogs in <st1:place w:st="on">Friesland</st1:place>.
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In <st1:city w:st="on">Holland</st1:city> you are also permitted to have your
dog on the bus or train. They have to pay 3 Euro, but many people do this. You
are also allowed to have your canine friend go to dinner with you. I know there
are some places in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region>
that this can happen but I think it is uncommon. It certainly does not happen in <st1:city w:st="on">Durham</st1:city> region. I think I
read somewhere that the only place dogs are not allowed are in the
museums.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJLIKcmq9ngtmNTora7EnsuravJt03luvjqwB07QwbtzRUAcvKjuEPYcXawdgFLSRRNLRUruZzwXdzKJpP_lvyWqF6CmO1deGMEPUFpIp66Q0hG24dsZOqTZQYhG9uC05xNrM4tcR3sc/s1600/train+dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJLIKcmq9ngtmNTora7EnsuravJt03luvjqwB07QwbtzRUAcvKjuEPYcXawdgFLSRRNLRUruZzwXdzKJpP_lvyWqF6CmO1deGMEPUFpIp66Q0hG24dsZOqTZQYhG9uC05xNrM4tcR3sc/s320/train+dog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I did miss Kenzie while I was away but certainly saw a lot
of dogs for my daily dog fix.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Diane McGill</div>
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Technician</div>
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Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic</div>
Bowmanville Veterinary Clinichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07982005332685980641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2097439008101811172.post-39954320884655739522015-05-07T09:15:00.003-07:002015-06-10T11:29:10.461-07:00Roundworms!!<div class="MsoNormal">
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<o:p></o:p><br /></div>
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<b>Canine and feline Roundworm!</b>!</div>
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What is it and how does your pet get it?</div>
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<o:p></o:p><br /></div>
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Roundworms are a type of intestinal parasite commonly found
in the digestive tracts of cats and dogs. This parasite can be passed from Dam
to babies during nursing, across the placenta when puppies are in utero or
through the ingestion of contaminated hosts or soil. Soil that has embryonated
(infective) eggs or hosts that have ingested embryonated eggs pass roundworm
infections on to dogs and cats when consumed. Eggs become embryonated after
they have been exposed to the elements. Once the embyonated eggs are ingested
they hatch out and migrate thoughout the body. The adult roundworms can be
found in the small intestines.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Why have fecal examinations on your pet?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Fecal examinations are a great way to detect many intestinal
parasites in your pet. Roundworms are only one of hundreds of intestinal
parasites found in cats and dogs. Fecal examinations look for the microscopic
eggs that are shed by mature adults. You will not always see stool changes if
there is an active infection. It depends on the type of parasite, stage in the
lifecycle of the parasite and number of parasites present and your pets’
sensitivity to the infection.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Why deworm puppies and kittens?<o:p></o:p></div>
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It is known that puppies and kittens can become infected in
utero and puppies can become infected while nursing. If infection is present,
it can affect growth and development of the puppies and kittens. Poor hair
coat, pot-bellied appearance, and in severe cases death may occur. Puppies and
kittens can shed eggs in the environment and then can infect other animals.
When puppies and kittens are dewormed then the lifecycle can be broken. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Not only can roundworm infections affect your pet, but it is
also a zoonotic disease. A zoonotic disease is something that can be
transmitted between humans and animals. Dog and cat Roundworms can cause health
concerns in people, particularly in children. Children tend to play in dirt
that can harbour roundworm eggs and they tend to be less hygienic than adults.
Health concerns in people from dog or cat roundworm can be caused by larva
migrating through tissues in the body.
The parasite can travel through tissues causing inflammation. Many
people may be asymptomatic for infection. <o:p></o:p></div>
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How do we prevent infection?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Regular veterinary care for your dog and cat, including
fecal examinations, strategic deworming and monthly preventatives can help
protect your pet. Stooping and scooping is a good practice to minimize
transmission of many parasites. Eggs can be long lived in the environment. Hand
washing is very important. After handling pets, playing outside and before
preparing or eating food washing hands can decrease transmission to people. Do
not allow your child to eat dirt or play in areas soiled by animals. Covering
children’s sandboxes when not in use can also help prevent infection. Pets are
a great pleasure for people and the risk of transmitting parasites to humans
can be very small if the recommendations are followed.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Lisa, RVT</div>
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Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic <o:p></o:p></div>
Bowmanville Veterinary Clinichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07982005332685980641noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2097439008101811172.post-5234115736278724142015-04-24T11:14:00.001-07:002015-04-24T11:21:46.198-07:00Spring Time Toxins<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Tips from Pet Poison Helpline to Help Keep Your Pet
Safe!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>By Erica Carghill, CVT and Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC</i><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Spring is just around the
corner!</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Plant bulbs are just as excited
to break through the ground to add some color to our yards, as we are to see
some greenery!</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">That said, we need to be
aware of the potential dangers spring plants can be for our pets.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Here is a list of some of the most common
spring plants and their toxicities… so you know how to pet-proof your garden
and keep your pet safe!</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Tulips and Hyacinth</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Tulips contain allergenic
lactones while hyacinths contain similar alkaloids. The toxic principle of these plants is very
concentrated in the bulbs (versus the leaf or flower), so make sure your dog is
not digging up the bulbs in the garden.
When the plant parts or bulbs are chewed or ingested, it can result in
tissue irritation to the mouth and esophagus.
Typical signs include profuse drooling, vomiting, or even diarrhea,
depending on the amount consumed. There
is no specific antidote, but with supportive care from the veterinarian
(including rinsing the mouth, anti-vomiting medication, and possibly
subcutaneous fluids), animals do quite well.
With large ingestion of the bulb, more severe symptoms such as an increase
in heart rate and changes in respiration can be seen, and should be treated by
a veterinarian. These more sever signs
are seen in cattle or our overzealous, chowhound Labradors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Daffodils</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">These flowers contain
lycorine, an alkaloid with strong emetic properties (something that triggers
vomiting). Ingestion of the bulb, plant
or flower can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and even
possible cardiac arrhythmias or respiratory depression. Crystals are found in the outer layer of the
bulbs, similar to hyacinths, which cause severe tissue irritation and secondary
drooling. Daffodil ingestion can result
in more severe symptoms so if an exposure is witnessed or symptoms are seen, we
recommend seeking veterinary care for further supportive care.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lilies</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">There are dangerous and
benign lilies out there, and it is important to know the difference. Peace, Peruvian, and Calla lilies contain
oxalate crystals that cause minor signs, such as tissue irritation to the
mouth, tongue, pharynx, and esophagus – these result in minor drooling. The more dangerous, potentially fatal lilies
are true lilies, and these include Tiger, Day, Asiatic, Easter and Japanese
Show lilies – all of which are highly toxic to cats! Even small ingestion (such as the pollen or
2-3 petals or leaves) can result in severe kidney failure. If your cat is seen consuming any part of the
lily, bring your cat (and the plant) immediately to a veterinarian for medical
care. The sooner you bring in your cat,
the better and more effectively we can treat the poisoning. Decontamination (like inducing vomiting and
giving binders like activated charcoal) are imperative in the early toxic
stage, while aggressive intravenous fluid therapy, kidney monitoring tests, and
supportive care can greatly improve the prognosis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Crocus</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">There are two Crocus
plants: one that blooms in the spring
(Crocus species) and the other in the autumn (<i>Colchicum autumnale</i>). The
spring plants are more common and are part of the <i>Iridaceae</i> family. These
ingestion can cause general gastrointestinal upset including vomiting and
diarrhea. These should not be mistaken
for Autumn Crocus, part of the <i>Liliacease</i>
family, which contain colchicine. The
Autumn Crocus, also known as Meadow Saffron, is highly toxic and can cause
severe vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding, liver and kidney damage, and
respiratory failure. If you are not sure
what plant it is, bring your pet to their veterinarian immediately for
care. Signs may be seen immediately but
can be delayed for days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lily of the Valley</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The <i>Convallaria majalis</i> plant contains cardiac glycosides, which will
cause symptoms similar to digitalis (foxglove) ingestion. These symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, a
drop in heart rate, severe cardiac arrhythmias, and possibly seizures. Pets with any known exposure to this plant
should be examined and evaluated by a veterinarian and treated symptomatically.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In addition…. Fertilizers</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">As we gardeners work on our
rose garden, be aware of those fertilizers.
While most are not very toxic (resulting in minor gastrointestinal
irritation when consumed), some fertilizers can be fatal without
treatment. Here are a few ingredients to
be aware of so you know what toxins and symptoms to watch out for:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Blood meal</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> –
This is a dried, ground, and flash-frozen blood and contains 12% nitrogen. While it’s a great organic fertilizer, if
ingested, it can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
More importantly, it can result in sever pancreatitis, which is
inflammation of the pancreas. Some types
of blood meal are also fortified with iron, resulting in iron toxicity, so make
sure to know what is in your bag of blood!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bone meal</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> –
This is made up of defatted, dried, and flash-frozen animal bones that are
ground to a powder. This “bone” is also
what makes it so palatable to your dog so make sure to keep your pet from
digging in it and ingesting the soil.
While this also makes a great organic fertilizer, it can become a
problem when consumed in large amounts as the bone meal forms a large
cement-like bowling ball foreign body in the stomach – which can cause an
obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract – resulting in possible surgery to
remove it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Rose and plant fertilizers</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> – Some of these fertilizers contain disulfoton or other
types of organophospates (OP). As little
as one teaspoon of 1% disulfoton can kill a 55 lb dog, so be careful! Organophosphates, while less commonly used,
can result in severe symptoms [including SLUD signs (which abbreviate for
salivation, lacrimation, urination and defecation), seizures, difficulty
breathing, hyperthermia, etc. In some
cases, it can be fatal!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Pesticides / Insecticides </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> - Most
pesticides or insecticides (typically those that come in a spray can) are basic
irritants to the pet and are usually not a huge concern unless a pet’s symptoms
become persistent. Some may contain an
organophosphate which can be life threatening when consumed in large
quantities. It is always best to speak
to a trained medical professional if there are any questions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Iron </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">– This
is commonly added to fertilizers, and can result in iron toxicity (from
ingestion of elemental iron). This is
different from “total” iron ingestion, and can be confusing to differentiate. When in doubt, have a medical professional at
Pet Poison Helpline assist you with finding out if the amount ingested was
toxic or not. Large ingestion can
result in vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and potential cardiac and liver effects.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The best thing any pet owner
can do is to be educated on the household toxins (both inside the house and out
in the garden!), that way you make sure how to pet-proof your house
appropriately. Make sure to keep all
gardening and lawn products in labeled, tightly sealed containers out of your
pet’s reach. If you think your pet has
been poisoned, contact your veterinarian or <b>Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680</b> with any questions or concerns.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Resources:</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Pet Poison Helpline (</span>PPH<span style="font-size: 12pt;">) is an Animal Poison
Control that provides treatment advice and recommendations relating to exposures
to potential dangerous plants, products, medications, and substances, to
veterinarians, veterinary staff and pet owners 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Please be aware there is a
$35.00/per case consultation fee.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Pet
Poison Helpline is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Helpline number is 800-213-6680.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">For further information
regarding services, visit the PPH website at </span><a href="http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">www.petpoisonhelpline.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Bowmanville Veterinary Clinichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07982005332685980641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2097439008101811172.post-31782641467551848212015-04-06T07:19:00.002-07:002015-04-06T07:20:00.709-07:00Weighty Issues: Body Condition Scoring<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, now that we have discussed that obesity is a disease
that is preventable and manageable, it’s time to figure out where each of
our pets fall in the spectrum of obesity. To do that, we need a few different
pieces of information: a weight, and a body condition score. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first thing most people do when bringing their dog to
the clinic is to pop them on the clinic scale. When cats come out of the
carrier, the first place they land is on the cat scale. This is a vital piece
of information for the veterinary clinic, as it allows us to accurately dose
your pet should he or she need any medication, and we can also track the weight
over progressive visits to monitor weight gain or weight loss. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9oTVA3St7P7SIBXqf7LGjhfb5mFVtiqjqiFRbCasDdE3BuRpMrBW4wTO5BKEYOpnDAcONDOAh-EWTRrkuUeT3zsuRRgXd_PiJ8G2ukOWziaJ6WL4lhaXBdTKARHIf4BF89DkurUncrPk/s1600/good+dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9oTVA3St7P7SIBXqf7LGjhfb5mFVtiqjqiFRbCasDdE3BuRpMrBW4wTO5BKEYOpnDAcONDOAh-EWTRrkuUeT3zsuRRgXd_PiJ8G2ukOWziaJ6WL4lhaXBdTKARHIf4BF89DkurUncrPk/s1600/good+dog.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But veterinarians and technicians are also assessing a body
condition score. When we give your pet a good rub down in the room, we aren’t
just being friendly. We are feeling fat padding, muscle tone and the prominence
of bones like ribs and hips. Based on this tactile assessment and also a visual
look at the waist and belly, we assign your pet a body condition score. Body
condition scores can be out of 9 or 5, and this allows us to translate whether
that 10kg dog is healthy, overweight or underweight. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You can do body condition scoring at home. It takes a bit of
practice, and keep in mind that body condition scores are subjective analysis
of your pet. Don’t be surprised if you and your vet disagree slightly in the
scoring – we all tend to be a bit more optimistic regarding the health and
weight of our own pets, where as your vet likely has a more critical eye. Personal
experience can also affect how we view weight issues – what we perceive as
normal will be very different depending if we spend all day at the dog park
watching pudgy labs play, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>versus
spending time at a sport-dog competition where pets are typically more trim. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To perform a body condition assessment, start with feeling
your pet over its chest area, using light palpation. You are gauging how
prominent the ribs are. Ideally, you should not have to dig too deeply to be
able to feel your pet’s ribs. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGaKA1u9e-SjbW0_tQjBXNsnJUw7GPZyq-MqqJ8lFBmBtXVIvuRnHGf6OIGCliojPfaDwR-WlSvzZL6Z9AxWK6V_gusMreIkz8981IpZ4GsrA7cO2kv-YnHAT_1eF9MMctxQuaWjfBJ0/s1600/fat+cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGaKA1u9e-SjbW0_tQjBXNsnJUw7GPZyq-MqqJ8lFBmBtXVIvuRnHGf6OIGCliojPfaDwR-WlSvzZL6Z9AxWK6V_gusMreIkz8981IpZ4GsrA7cO2kv-YnHAT_1eF9MMctxQuaWjfBJ0/s1600/fat+cat.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Next, move your palpation down to your pet’s abdomen. You
are feeling for the presence of a waistline and also a “tummy-tuck”. Now run
your hands down your pet’s spine, hips and tail, feeling for excess fat
accumulation. Cats in particular are prone to developing a fat pad in front of
their hind legs. If your previously-overweight cat has been on a weight-loss
program and is doing well, don’t be surprised if this fat pad remains longer
than you’d like. It’s often the last evidence of obesity to disappear. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Compare what you feel and see to the scoring charts –
there are different ones for toy, small, medium, large and giant breed dogs and also cats: </span><a href="http://www.pet-slimmers.com/pet-obesity/how-to-tell-if-your-pet-is-overweight.aspx"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.pet-slimmers.com/pet-obesity/how-to-tell-if-your-pet-is-overweight.aspx</span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you’ve done this scoring and feel your pet is anything
other than ideal (4-5/9), call your veterinarian today to discuss what you can
do to get your pet in its optimal body condition. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Vanessa Tonn, DVM</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic</span>Bowmanville Veterinary Clinichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07982005332685980641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2097439008101811172.post-15578196072855111532015-03-12T10:08:00.000-07:002015-03-12T10:08:45.025-07:00Weighty Issues: Pet Obesity<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Obesity is one of the most common diseases that is
identified in our companion animals. Yes, I said disease. Obesity is a disease
that can greatly affect a dog’s or cat’s overall health and life-span. It is
more than a cosmetic issue; it is a health-risk. The good news? Obesity is manageable,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>but not only that, it is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">preventable. </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A dog or cat is classified as overweight when they weigh
more than 10% of their ideal body weight; they are obese when they weigh more
than 20%. Animals can be predisposed to obesity from a variety of factors,
including genetics, neutering and endocrine disorders, but the most common
cause of obesity is energy imbalance. Put simply, animals are often fed
too much and exercised too little. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cats and dogs that are obese have reduced quality of life
and their life-expectancies can be greatly shortened. Furthermore, obese pets
are at higher risk for many disorders, including: </span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cardiac disease</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Respiratory disease</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Osteo-articular disease</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Urolithiasis (urinary stones)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Diabetes mellitus</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But obesity is a touchy subject. In a world where the statistics
involving <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">human</i> obesity is on the
rise, many people are inclined to take any discussion regarding overweight or
obese animals personally. The fact is, most vets are not being judgemental or
mean when they diagnose a pet as obese or overweight; they have the pet’s best
interests at heart. It is a medical fact, the same as diagnosing an animal with
a fractured tooth or a broken leg or a heart condition. Similarly to those
conditions, treating an animal’s obesity can greatly increase their life-span
and make them more comfortable. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The problem with obesity is that it is not a curable
condition. It is a chronic concern that will affect that pet’s entire life. An
overweight animal can’t just start a diet, loose a few pounds and then go back
to eating lots and exercising less. Obesity will recur, and many weight-loss
programs must be maintained for life to keep an animal in ideal body condition.
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In animals that are obese, simply cutting back on the
current diet is not enough. Maintenance or even weight-control diets are not
properly formulated for weight-loss. Severe restrictions of these diets can
result in vitamin and mineral deficiencies, not to mention hungry pets. To achieve
healthy weight loss, animals need correctly-formulated calorie-controlled diets
that make an animal feel full so there is less begging or food-stealing, which
can be a hiccup in most weight-loss plans. Proper exercise is also very
important and needs to go hand-in-hand with proper nutrition. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This may sound very complicated. Not to worry – this is why
your veterinarian is here. We have access to all the latest research in nutrition, plus
special diets that have been put through rigorous testing and formulating – and
that we have seen WORK to achieve weight loss. We would love
to help, and celebrate the victories with you!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOG1t31zPvRNSt4GMEzM43yF2KAUIy0UrHK6Hdk67wM1KO9BEpiMK9E8TB3kFCq7tJj1_KVYPk5cZb7pK-vR75yYk1ZoffuEPYpqygFCSbB-YUXiZ61YB1pgq4IM8kBttIlQMY8nIVHcw/s1600/metabolic2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOG1t31zPvRNSt4GMEzM43yF2KAUIy0UrHK6Hdk67wM1KO9BEpiMK9E8TB3kFCq7tJj1_KVYPk5cZb7pK-vR75yYk1ZoffuEPYpqygFCSbB-YUXiZ61YB1pgq4IM8kBttIlQMY8nIVHcw/s1600/metabolic2.png" height="200" width="154" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WhQBWynNN-ejQMOCJi6D87G0ecfD0K97GKGeBbJoq6lFChtOYgXeHeoPd9V3V6FQlWXKIZJl-I0gqjK7NV0d1Y5P4ru8VJjGVrD9RFeqphHEJNv8HXuhw4-448b4MM0-p_tj1HGUGW0/s1600/feline_om.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WhQBWynNN-ejQMOCJi6D87G0ecfD0K97GKGeBbJoq6lFChtOYgXeHeoPd9V3V6FQlWXKIZJl-I0gqjK7NV0d1Y5P4ru8VJjGVrD9RFeqphHEJNv8HXuhw4-448b4MM0-p_tj1HGUGW0/s1600/feline_om.png" height="200" width="125" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelDzykZnMezWQkwJMmm15zkgUNObgPythyPwwVnspm8UnkUciBc7Yo_Rox6Pmsr4sGYNclZ31xwxuwkBO2TS5Xh9TN3DtX4fDBkU0LP9jH8azCbZ1d6WmnTTCSfC4Kiyngy8Ly9cUBp0/s1600/satiety.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelDzykZnMezWQkwJMmm15zkgUNObgPythyPwwVnspm8UnkUciBc7Yo_Rox6Pmsr4sGYNclZ31xwxuwkBO2TS5Xh9TN3DtX4fDBkU0LP9jH8azCbZ1d6WmnTTCSfC4Kiyngy8Ly9cUBp0/s1600/satiety.png" height="200" width="109" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Vanessa Tonn, DVM<br />
Bowmanville Veterinary ClinicBowmanville Veterinary Clinichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07982005332685980641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2097439008101811172.post-81178659713699690322015-03-02T11:16:00.001-08:002015-03-04T06:25:14.317-08:00Pet Food Nutrition: the Truth About Corn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FmR_ZgN0O4ZhqoO6W-nOewZaCc5LGYYJQpIrfLFLdt3XJVHj2lxh4we0ktgQbIIBby5us0e2vXe7KFephU66qjVZAni73VX1omupvLePPID3MK_GraEn4c06SqExY-X-wr_j6CfMEGE/s1600/corn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FmR_ZgN0O4ZhqoO6W-nOewZaCc5LGYYJQpIrfLFLdt3XJVHj2lxh4we0ktgQbIIBby5us0e2vXe7KFephU66qjVZAni73VX1omupvLePPID3MK_GraEn4c06SqExY-X-wr_j6CfMEGE/s1600/corn.jpg" height="151" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
There has been an increasing trend in the movement of pet food companies to exclude ingredients like corn based on the perception that it is an undesirable ingredient. It has been described as an indigestible "filler" ingredient (ingredients that do not contribute to any nutritional or beneficial properties to a food) that leads to food allergies. The reality is that most concerns regarding corn are invalid. <br />
<br />
Remember: <a href="http://bowmanvilleveterinaryclinic.blogspot.ca/2014/07/pet-food-nutrition-food-allergies-food.html" target="_blank">true food allergies are uncommon in dogs and cats.</a> It has been estimated that only 1% of all skin diseases can be attributed food allergies; more often flea-allergy dermatitis and atophy are responsible. Most gastro-intestinal conditions that respond well to diet changes are actually more food-sensitivities or intolerances to properties of the diet such as fat or fibre content. <br />
<br />
Further more, corn is a rare cause of food allergies. More often, allergies occur to other ingredients including beef, dairy and chicken. In general, animal-based protein is more commonly a cause of allergies rather than plant-based ingredients. <br />
<br />
So while there is little evidence to support the exclusion of corn, corn is also a source of essential nutrients. It contributes fibre, protein, vitamins, minerals and high-digestible carbohydrate to a diet. It is also one of the riches sources of linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid, and as such is not a "filler" ingredient. <br />
<br />
When it is properly processed (ie: rolled, ground, flaked, cooked), corn's digestibility greatly increases. Whole ground corn cooked via extrusion (the way that most dry pet food is made) has been shown to have a digestibility of greater than 97% in dogs and cats! <br />
<br />
Corn, like many other ingredients, has managed to develop a bad reputation based little on fact and more on myth. As always it is important to <a href="http://bowmanvilleveterinaryclinic.blogspot.ca/2014/05/pet-food-nutrition-interpreting-pet.html" target="_blank">educate yourself on interpreting pet-food ingredients</a> and marketing strategies, differentiating real information from hype. As always, your veterinarian can help you sort out fact from fiction when choosing an ideal diet for your pet. <br />
<br />
Vanessa Tonn, DVM<br />
Bowmanville Veterinary ClinicBowmanville Veterinary Clinichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07982005332685980641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2097439008101811172.post-3973449821039184942015-02-09T09:24:00.001-08:002015-02-09T09:24:32.414-08:00Brushing your Dog or Cat's TeethHow often do you brush your cat or dog's teeth? Do you know the optimal amount of brushing that is recommended to help control the progression of dental disease? <br />
<br />
Just like humans, cats and dogs require <em>daily</em> brushing of their teeth to provide the best control over the progression of dental disease. Many things can contribute to dental disease, including diet, age, breed and genetic predisposition. But the more at-home dental care you can provide, the better off your pet's teeth will be. <br />
<br />
Starting a teeth-brushing regime can seem like a daunting task if you've never brushed an animal's teeth before. Here are some easy tips to help you get started. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQuTLvkVVrjuNUAskewuNDUAkO4gWlnbfYQSuSP7JDCQfLj9YthhDKnXY5wph2JcBzkGPUe9LGRIcl2OCOgrzdGZs-xupU2RkCRv4mu1xRY0Zx2_B90tfQ-y7hZIrNN-_5iF5e_Il7oNc/s1600/dog+teeth+brushing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQuTLvkVVrjuNUAskewuNDUAkO4gWlnbfYQSuSP7JDCQfLj9YthhDKnXY5wph2JcBzkGPUe9LGRIcl2OCOgrzdGZs-xupU2RkCRv4mu1xRY0Zx2_B90tfQ-y7hZIrNN-_5iF5e_Il7oNc/s1600/dog+teeth+brushing.jpg" height="153" width="200" /></a>1) Start with getting your dog or cat used to having its mouth handled. Rub the muzzle, massage the gums, and be sure to make sure everything ends on a positive note.<br />
<br />
2) Introduce a small amount of toothpaste with your finger. Rub this against the teeth and the gums to get your pet used to the taste and sensation. Be sure to use a toothpaste designed for dogs and cats. <br />
<br />
3) Bring on the toothbrush! Wet the bristles down and start brushing the larger canine teeth in gentle circular motions. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkkral2Umuf-KQD9Eq4uVrl06UPJf3E6pN8KSq3E70cDrWWArh6_Vi1s1AcBhW3dpmDzN7mcrXSP9glaAGMv-rLDHueYcTxERytoycwmPLyjibNEzuki4xLHWioTik01cqvc4a163sfM/s1600/cat+teeth+brushing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkkral2Umuf-KQD9Eq4uVrl06UPJf3E6pN8KSq3E70cDrWWArh6_Vi1s1AcBhW3dpmDzN7mcrXSP9glaAGMv-rLDHueYcTxERytoycwmPLyjibNEzuki4xLHWioTik01cqvc4a163sfM/s1600/cat+teeth+brushing.jpg" height="200" width="193" /></a>4) Work your way back across the rest of the teeth, increasing the time and pressure used on each tooth. Focus on the outside surface of the teeth; tartar rarely occurs on the inner surfaces<br />
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5) Finish with brushing the front teeth by holding the muzzle with your other hand and lifting the lips to allow access. <br />
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When you are first introducing this to your cat or dog, you may need to start very slowly, and reward after each step. Do not rush into a full brushing as your dog or cat may object and be more resistant next time. The end goals are an easy teeth-brushing experience every time, fresher breath and a healthier pet!<br />
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<a href="http://www.petfoodnutrition.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/SIMPLE-STEPS-TO-BRUSHING.jpg" target="_blank">Check out this site for further teeth-tips!</a> <br />
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Vanessa Tonn, DVM<br />
Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic<br />
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Bowmanville Veterinary Clinichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07982005332685980641noreply@blogger.com0