Reunited....and it feels so good

Micro-chipping saves lives.....and reunites families

After months of missing their lovely cat "Priscilla", a very happy reunion took place here at Royal City Animal Hospital.

A family in Rockwood, Ontario found her hanging around their house, and had been feeding her and caring for her as a 'neighbourhood stray' hoping she would find her way home. After weeks of caring for her, they brought her to our clinic so we could scan her to see if she is micro-chipped. The scan was successful.

Priscilla's family live in Ariss, Ontario and somehow she escaped on them. How she made it from her home in Ariss to Rockwood, we will never know, but because she was micro-chipped, we were able to contact the microchip company and find her owner. A couple of phone calls was all it took to find the owner and inform them that their beloved cat was found, and safe.

If her owner's had not had the wisdom to microchip her, this reunion would never have taken place and who knows what kind of life Priscilla would have had.

From Ariss to Rockwood is a long walk

Nikki's Day at the Dentist

Have you ever wanted to know exactly what is involved in a dental cleaning for your pet?
This video takes you through the process of a complete dental cleaning and dental surgery - step by step.

If you have any questions about your pet's oral health care, contact your veterinary team for a complete assessment. They will be happy to answer your questions and address any concerns you may have.

Your pet will thank you for it.

Pet Care University -Science of Nutrition

Come join us at Royal City Animal Hospital on Saturday March 24th for our next class in our "Pet Care University" series.

"The Science of Nutrition"

Our guest speaker is Heather Lowe, AHT, MBA.
Some of the topics she will be covering include: 

• What is the difference between grocery store, pet store and Veterinary exclusive diets?
• Quality of ingredients, Nutrients vs. ingredients.
• If I can't compare food based on the label, how do I decide what is best for my pet?
• The Cost of pet food:  Cost per bag vs. Cost per Day feeding
• Raw food diets - are they good for your pet?
• Organic, holistic, and all natural diets: are they better or safer to feed your pet or just buzzwords?
• Should the first ingredient in the diet be meat?
• I have heard I should stay away from foods with corn....is this true?
• My Dog or Cat is a 'fussy eater' - he doesn't like anything else.
• What about people food - my dog loves eating my left overs
• I heard dry food is good for their teeth - so I don't feed canned. Is this true?
• Bones - are they good for my dog's teeth?
• What kind of Treats are good for my pet?
• How much is too much? - obesity prevention and treatment

If you have any other questions about pet nutrition, please bring them along with you.

Your veterinarian is always the best source for information on Your pet's Specific nutritional requirements.


Class is free to all who attend, however space is limited so please register to reserve your seat.


519-763-4992    rcahclients@rogers.com

Guelph Trails and Parks

Going for a long hike with your dog is an excellent way for both you and your dog to get exercise.

Just a few friends enjoying Starkey Hill

 People regularly ask us where in Guelph they can take their dogs for a nice hike. Guelph is such a beautiful city with many parks and trails to enjoy, and we don't always know all the good spots to go. Here is a blog where the author has taken the time to not only identify many of the great trails and parks, but also map them out for you, and post photographs showing the beauty and splendor of each. 

http://guelphtrails.blogspot.com/

The City of Guelph also has a listing of all of the leash free zones you and your dog can enjoy in one of the city's many beautiful parks. 

Always be mindful of other users of these recreational areas by picking up after your dog, keep your dog under control, and avoid conflicts with other people and dogs. 

Happy Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is just a few days away, so I thought I would take this opportunity to remind everyone of the hidden danger this day to celebrate love can bring - Chocolate. 

Every year for Valentine’s Day, many people receive gifts of chocolates from their special someone not realizing that this gift can be deadly to their other special someone – their dog.  Chocolate contains a chemical compound called theobromine, which is a stimulant that is found in the cocoa bean. This chemical is easily processed by humans  with no affect on our bodies, however dog’s metabolize this compound much more slowly and as a result it can lead to very serious health effects. Some of the symptoms of chocolate toxicity are vomiting and diarrhea, tremors, heart problems, seizures, and death. The severity of the problem depends upon a few factors; such as the size of the dog, the amount of chocolate consumed, and the type of chocolate that was eaten. White chocolate has much less theobromine in it than dark or baker’s chocolate and therefore the amount needed to cause a problem is greatly reduced.

Keep all chocolate out of reach from your dog – even the best dogs can be tempted by a tasty treat.

If your dog has eaten any chocolate – regardless of type, please consult with your veterinarian to ensure immediate attention can be given to your dog before the toxin has a chance to take effect. Your veterinarian will have better success in treating your dog for chocolate toxicity if immediate action is taken. Do not delay treatment or any reason.  When you call your veterinarian, be prepared to tell them what type of chocolate your dog ate, approximately how much was eaten, and when it was eaten.

Enjoy the day with your special someone – and your 4-legged valentine as well.

Pet Care Tips From The Super Bowl

I confess I am not a football fan.  However, I do like to google the commercials the day after the Super Bowl.  As usual, animals were a big hit among this years group of ads. As I sat watching them I realized that there even seemed to be some good pet care tips behind all of the propaganda. 

So here is my Top 10 List of Pet Care Tips From The Super Bowl

10.  Even pets should wear a seatbelt in the car

9. Leave wild animals alone

9 continued

8. Teach your dog to be calm and well behaved when visitors come over 

7. Even animals need to brush their teeth

6. Keep your dog safe around water and wear a lifejacket

  

5. Rescued animals can be amazing pets if given the chance

4. Dogs paws can be sensitive so keep them clean and protected, especially in winter



3.  Cats are safest when they live indoors or are supervised outside

2. Human food should be reserved for humans, not pets

1.  Obesity is a leading disease in pets, it's never too late to start a weight loss program

If He Walked Into My Life

Cooper @ 8 weeks

It’s hard to believe but two years have passed since this handsome little man entered our lives. 

February 5^th, 2010 Cooper (who was then known by a different name) was eight weeks old and living with a different family. He unexpectedly escaped from his house and was struck by a car when he ran into the road. He was brought to Royal City Animal Hospital to be assessed; and it was determined that although there were no internal injuries, he did have a broken Radius/Ulna (two bones in the front left leg).  The break was clean, and due to his young age it was determined he would do just fine to have the leg splinted for several weeks until the bones healed.

Unfortunately, his previous owner could not afford the cost of treating him, so he was surrendered to the Guelph Humane Society. They in turn asked if the staff of Royal City Animal Hospital would mind caring for him until the leg was healed and then they would put him up for adoption. I placed a crate under my desk, where he would be safe all day but would still be within eye sight if something should happen. He seemed to enjoy his place at my feet, and would constantly be staring up at me with those beautiful, but odd looking eyes.  My fate was sealed; and after a few weeks of caring for him, I knew I was hooked.  I could not let anyone else take our little man.

We took him home for a trial weekend to see how we all would get along, and when the weekend was over, the adoption papers were signed. From that day forward, Cooper would have a new home and be a regular fixture at Royal City Animal Hospital.  He loves to play with everyone a the clinic – canine and human alike (and the occasional cat) and I know he misses his play dates with his best girl Teya.

Many of you know Cooper well and know his story, others might be hearing about him for the first time. Every week I have one of our clients ask me “how is your little dog?”  Many will remember him as the 20 pound ball of energy that would run around the clinic with his little splint on, as if it was perfectly normal to have it there. Well, two years later that little ball of energy is a 60 pound ball of energy that is full of love, kisses, and exuberance. He isn’t always the best behaved dog –he forgets his manners some times, but he is always happy to make a new friend, meet new people, and show off something from his (albeit small) bag of tricks. 

Cooper and Teya after a fun play date