Tuesday, November 11, 2014

The “Wild Side” of Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic

Barred Owl - Actual Patient 

For as long as I can remember the Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic has provided the community service of helping injured and orphaned wildlife at no cost. I started working at this clinic over 30 years ago and the wildlife assistance we provided was minimal. Over the years this service has expanded greatly and for the last several years we have seen approximately 250 cases a year! The work we provide is at no charge to the person who finds the wild life; we do however accept donations for their care.

In 1997 the Government of Ontario, through the Ministry of Natural Resources, issued the Wildlife Custodian Act. This act was implemented to protect and regulate the care of injured and orphaned wildlife. The clinic felt we should continue providing this service and have continued to apply yearly for our Wildlife Custodian Authorization. Our authorization is limited to birds and small mammals; we are not permitted to accept rabies vectors such as raccoons, skunks, bats or foxes.

Every animal that is brought to us is documented in three ways

  1. Wildlife admit sheet which requires the person’s name that brought the animal in as well as any pertinent information. This information also includes the address where the animal is found so that releasable animals can be released in the vicinity they were found.

  1. A case sheet that outlines each individual’s specific care and recommended diagnostics, feeding and medications. Animals that stay at the clinic for any period of time are examined by the attending veterinarian, weighed daily, medicated as needed, fed the diet specific to their needs-we have had to go shopping many times for smelt or fresh fish etc. depending on the creature we have at the clinic. Each carrier is cleaned daily or many times daily if necessary. Most of the wildlife we see also requires day long heat lamps to keep them warm and to encourage eating.

  1. A log book provided by the Ministry to document every animal that is admitted and the end result of their care i.e. released, transferred to long term care facility or euthanasia. All wildlife brought to us is examined by a veterinarian. The veterinarian will determine the next step for each individual whether that is re-release, x-rays, pain management etc. Unfortunately in many cases the animal is so severely injured or compromised that the veterinarian determines humane euthanasia as that animal’s outcome. The wildlife act clearly states that –“the wildlife custodian shall only provide rehabilitation or care to a specimen of authorized wildlife that has a reasonable chance of surviving in the wild following its rehabilitation or care.” This does cause some concern from the public as many “Good Samaritans” bond very quickly with the wildlife they find and are upset if they must be euthanized.

In the “old days” we did the best we could with staff volunteers taking the orphaned creature’s home or euthanizing the ones that unfortunately could not be released. At one point not that long ago we had 19 orphaned squirrels in our care. Fun, but a lot of work. Work, that became too much for the staff to do on top of our other demanding veterinary duties. We are fortunate to have in this area several great long term rehabilitation facilities. We now work most closely with Shapes of Hope in Pefferlaw and Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre in the Napanee area. If the veterinarian determines that the animal is ready to go to a long term center we make arrangements for transport. For this we rely on “angels” or volunteer drivers. There is also an excellent website – www.ontariowildliferescue.ca that can help direct people for specific species.


At the Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic we are very proud to provide wildlife rehabilitation services; we are one of the only veterinary clinics in this region to do so. It is a very interesting part of what we do day to day. Yes it costs a lot in time and expenses but it is something we feel is essential for the “wild” creatures that come through our doors.

Diane, Registered Veterinary Technician 
Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Human Food... To Feed or Not to Feed


Let's face it. We all know that ideally dogs and cats should stick to their nutritionally-balanced diets. However, when your little (or not-so-little) furry friend starts batting its eyes at you, its tempting to sneak them a treat from time to time. But do you know what human foods are safe and not-so-safe for your pet?

There are many reasons that human foods can be dangerous to your pet. Some can cause intestinal blockages. Some are toxic to cats or dogs. Certain others can cause extreme gastro-intestinal upset. Its important to know what foods to avoid when picking out a snack for your furry family member.

UNSAFE FOODS FOR DOGS AND CATS:
  • Grapes or raisins
  • Garlic, chinese chive or anything from the garlic family
  • Macadamia nuts
  • Chewing gum with Xylitol
  • Onions
  • Bones of any type
  • Raw bread dough of any type
  • Peaches with the pit or any stone fruit
  • Chocolate
  • Avocados
  • Moldy cheese or nuts
  • Alcohol
  • Coffee
  • Tea
  • Corn cobs
But there are several types of human foods that can be a fun addition to your pet's diet, if kept in moderation. Remember, treats should not make up more than 10% of your pet's daily intake. The treats listed below are safe, low-calorie treat options for your pet.

SAFE FOODS:
  • Carrots
  • Rice cake
  • Apple slices
  • Dry toast
  • Cucumber slices
  • Peanut butter (small amount)