More than Just a Heartworm Test.

TICK - TALK

Ticks

Did you know that your dog is now tested for 3 important tick-borne diseases in addition to their Heartworm test each spring?

As the climate continues to change, the prevalence of many vector-borne diseases is rapidly increasing throughout Canada, not only in pets and wildlife, but in people as well.

Of greatest significance are Lyme Disease, Ehrlichiosis, and Anaplasmosis. Symptoms can range from mild joint stiffness to severe kidney disease and bleeding disorders.
Animals can also carry a low grade infection for years before they become ill. It is this subclinical stage that makes yearly screening so important.

Treatment is simple and effective as long as we catch it early.
Migratory birds and songbirds are helping to spread Lyme disease into areas further north than ever before.

Engorged Tick 

Many species of ticks

 

Heartworm Disease

Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition caused by parasitic worms living in the arteries of the lungs and occasionally in the right side of the heart of dogs, cats and other species of mammals, including wolves, foxes, ferrets, sea lions and (in rare instances) humans. Dogs and cats of any age or breed are susceptible to infection.

Despite increased awareness and yearly testing, heartworm infection rates remain unchanged over the past 10 years. 

This video explains how Heartworm disease is transmitted to your dog by mosquitoes. 

Have you had your Dog tested for Heartworm Disease yet this season? Call today to book an appointment and we can discuss testing, prevention, and treatment or other parasites. 

Pet Food Recall - update

There have been more diets added to the list of Petfood recalls due to Salmonella contamination

This time, Solid Gold Pet food.

If you feed any of the affected diets, check into this website to learn more about the recall.

http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth/RecallsWithdrawals/default.htm

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm303371.htm

Pet Food Recall

Our goal here at Royal City Animal Hospital, is to keep you up to date on important pet related issues and topics. One such issue has come up in the past week, that we feel all pet owner's need to be aware of:
 a pet food recall.

Diamond Pet Foods, the manufacturers of many well-known brands of pet food have recently issued a voluntary recall of many of their products due to a potential Salmonella contamination. The recall does include many brands sold in Canada as well as the United states.

Salmonella is a group of bacteria that can severely affect pets fed the following foods, as well as potentially affecting their owners. Pets with Salmonella infections may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

States and Provinces affected by the recall.

Brands affected include:

• Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul
• Taste of the Wild
• Kirkland Signature products - sold exclusively through Costco
• Diamond
• Canidae
• Natural Balance
• Apex 
• Diamond Naturals
• Premium Edge
• Professional
• 4Health
• Country Value

If you feed your pet any of these products, please check out the link below for further information.
http://diamondpetrecall.com/diamond-expands-voluntary-recall/

Sit....Stay....Wait

Are you looking for a Dog Trainer in the Guelph area?

At Royal City Animal Hospital, we always emphasize the importance of professional dog training to our clients.
There are several very qualified and reputable dog trainers within the city of Guelph and surrounding areas, but today we are spotlighting Jason Shute.

His biography as copied directly from his website: 

Jason is a certified master dog trainer and dog behaviorist based in Guelph, Ontario and has trained dogs internationally including a recent contract in Cebu, Philippines. He has attended dog psychology seminars with Cesar Millan and Stanley Coren, apprenticed with master dog trainer Dave McMahon in Niagara Falls and is a registered trainer with the International Association of Canine Professionals, and theCanadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers. He has also attended k9 detection seminars with ATS K9 services, Search and Rescue Ontario, and FireK9, and arson detection unit based in California. Jason won the gold award for "Best Dog Trainer" by Guelph Tribune's Readers Choice Awards 2011.

Check out this video of Jason showing off a dog that knows how to do an out of sight "Down-Stay".
More videos can be seen on his YouTube channel.

Happy Easter!

Teya had a great time collecting Easter Eggs for the National Service Dogs Easter Egg Hunt!  There were about 100 dogs (with their families) at Riverside Park hunting for eggs (dog treats were inside the plastic eggs!).  Thanks to everyone who signed the pledge sheet!  We raised almost $100.  It costs $30,000 to train a Labrador or Golden Retriever as a Service Dog, so every bit that we can contribute really helps!  Thanks again!  Barbara and Katherine

Easter Egg Hunt for National Service Dogs.

Easter Egg Hunt for your Dogs

National Service Dogs is holding an Easter Egg Hunt for Dogs and their families on Good Friday, April 6^th 2012 at Riverside Park in Guelph (and other cities across Ontario).

This is an excellent opportunity to show your support and help out to raise money and awareness for a great cause. 

Register your dog, sponsor another dog (or team), donate Canadian Tire Money or Zehrs receipts the day of the event.

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If you would like to sponsor "Teya" in her quest to hunt for Easter eggs, we have a pledge sheet at the clinic.