Wanted: Someone to Love!

We have two adorable kittens up for adoption here at the clinic.  They are about 9 weeks old and have had their first set of vaccines and deworming.  The boy is a rambunctious, playful black short hair while his sister, a brown and white tabby is much more laid back and cuddly.  They are both in search of their perfect family, could it be you?  If you would like to meet them in person feel free to stop by the clinic for a visit.  You're sure to fall in love!

Dog Breed Profile: BOXERS

Are you thinking about getting a new dog?
Is a Boxer on your list of choices?

Before you go to pick out a dog, here is some information that may help you to decide if a Boxer is the right dog for you and your family. 

Lucy playing with her pig toy

Origin: 

Boxers originated in Germany and have been found in Europe since the 16th Century. They were originally hunting dogs, and used for fighting and bull baiting until the practice was outlawed in Germany in the mid-nineteenth century. Boxers have also been used as police and military dogs, performance dogs, and general companions. They were rarely seen in North America until World War II, when servicemen became interested in the breed.
The name 'BOXER" comes from their tendency to use their forelegs when fighting.

Physical Description:
Medium size, compact, muscular, and squarely built. The Boxer is exemplary in it combination of stylish elegance with Strength and Agility. Its stride is free and ground-covering, with a proud carriage. Its head is distinctive with a broad, blunt muzzle and alert expression. Its coat is short and shiny.

Height: 21 - 25 inches     Weight: 50 - 80 lbs
Life Expectancy:  8-10 years

Temperament:
The Boxer is a fun-loving and playful dog that is extremely loyal and affectionate with family. They are exuberant, inquisitive, attentive, demonstrative, devoted, and outgoing. It is a perfect companion for an active family. They are excellent with children and generally good with other pets, and make friends easily.

Exercise:
They are extremely energetic but only have moderate exercise needs.  They need daily mental and physical exertion, they like to run but their exercise needs can also be met with a good jog or a long walk on a leash. They love to play with people, and other dogs.

Training: 
Boxers are fairly easily trained. They do require a moderate amount of attention.

Grooming Needs:
They have a very short coat needing bathing only as required and occasional brushing to remove dead hair. Nails should be trimmed once a month to keep them short, and ears checked regularly for the presence of debris and odour.

Best Owner:
The boxer does well with families, or in single owner households. They can live comfortably in house, apartments, or any dwelling provided they are getting the attention and play time they like/require.

Potential Health Concerns:
breathing problems, cardiac problems, various skin conditions, many types of cancers, thyroid disease, eye problems, orthopaedic problems, Gastro-intestinal conditions, and many more.

Before getting a Boxer puppy, it is recommended to look into getting pet insurance as Boxers tend to be one of the most costly breeds to own considering all of their potential health concerns. 

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Microchip your Pet

We have brought this up before, but it bears repeating:

 Have your Pet Microchipped.

Over the past few months, we have seen many signs posted around Guelph, social media sites created, mass emails, and received phone calls where concerned pet owners are looking for a lost dog or cat. Although we share in their pain of losing their beloved family pet, one common thread seems to run through these stories more often than not. The pet was not microchipped.

At Royal City Animal Hospital - we always recommend microchipping for your pets. Microchips are very small - not much bigger than a grain of rice.They are implanted under the skin in your dog or cat. It is a painless procedure - similar to getting a vaccination. Microchipping is the only truly effective way to permanently identify your pet. Tattoos not only are difficult to read, but they also have no central database for which to identify pets. Collars and tags can break off or be taken off.

Actual size of a microchip

Microchips cannot be removed, and every veterinary clinic, humane society or animal shelter in North America has a scanner by which to check for a microchip. If your pet goes missing or is lost, and someone brings them to a shelter or Veterinary clinic - they will be scanned for the presence of a microchip and the company that has manufactured the chip will be contacted who in turn will contact you, the owner. Every year, thousands of animals are lost, or euthanized at shelters because their owner's could not be found. This is heartbreaking to everyone and can be avoided if the animal is microchipped.

Getting a microchip for your pet is a one time cost - there are no membership fess and there are no additional costs when you update your contact information in the database. When your pet has a microchip, make sure you inform the company that has your pets unique number on file of any changes in ownership, address, or other contact information. If your contact information is kept current in the database - the better your chances of getting your dog or cat back will be. If you do not remember who to call - have your veterinarian scan your pet, and they will give you the number of the company that has your pet on file.

Scanning for a Microchip

Microchips save lives - and reunite families.

Dog Breed Profiles

We know you are excited about getting a dog, but before you do there are a lot of things to consider. At Royal City Animal Hospital, we believe knowledge is power. An informed pet owner is a great pet owner!

Some of the Many Breeds of dogs

We will be posting selected breed profiles from time-to-time in order to share what you need to know about that particular breed before you (or your friends) purchase the dog. We want you to be aware of temperament, exercise requirements, breed predisposition to diseases or medical problems, grooming requirements, and much more.

Teya- Dr Drewry's Purebred Golden Retriever

Our goal is to make sure that you are getting a dog that is right for you and your family. Far too often we see people who get dogs that they are unable to care for or deal with because they did not take these factors into consideration.

Cooper  - Greg's perfect match came through the GHS

Come back often and check out the breeds we will be profiling. We will start with common breeds and then work in a few less common ones. Don’t forget: there are many wonderful mixed breed dogs that are at the Guelph Humane Society all the time. Who knows, you may find your perfect dog match there.
Please come and talk to your veterinary team at Royal City Animal Hospital BEFORE you get your dog or puppy, to get more information on what is involved in owning this type of dog - costs, medical requirements, breed specific issues, and much more. We are always happy to help. Call 519 763-4992 to set up an appointment with Lisa or Greg, our Veterinary Technicians.  We hope this information will be useful to you and your family.

Are you Looking for a Dog Groomer in Guelph?

Pam Wilson -groom in progress

At Royal City Grooming Centre in Guelph, we have always prided ourselves on providing top quality grooming services to all of our clients - existing and new. If you are looking for a dog groomer in Guelph, with many years of professional experience, try us.



We offer full service grooming to all breeds of dog, as well as other services such as face and feet trims, nail trims, skunk baths, as well as 'do it yourself' grooming.

Jenny Treutlein shows off her handy work

Although Pam is here 5 days a week  and Jenny is here 2 days a week to meet your grooming needs; we find we are asking our clients to wait too long to get their pets in for their grooming. As of June 11th, 2012 Jenny will be increasing her time here to 3 days a week. We hope this will enable you to get your dog (or cat) in sooner and allow for more availability for those 'emergency' grooms.

 Pam and Jenny always welcome walk in nail trims as well.

Call today to book your grooming appointment for your dog:

 519-763-4992

Weight Loss Success Story

Lucy's Weight Loss Success Story:

Lucy - 95 lbs and BCS 3/5

 Lucy is a 5 year old female Newfoundland dog, and this is her story of how she managed to go from fat to fit with the help of proper diet, exercise, and support from her Veterinary professionals at Royal City Animal Hospital in Guelph. 

By the time Lucy was 18 months old she had already started to develop a weight problem. She was eating a commercial pet food from a pet store and allowed to eat as much as she wanted.  While some dogs are able to successfully regulate their own feeding amounts and only consume what their bodies require, Lucy was not one of them!  Between the high calorie content of her food and her love of eating Lucy grew to 130lbs - 30 lbs overweight.  At her annual health check she was diagnosed with a luxating patella, a condition in which the knee cap slides out of its normal position causing pain and lameness.  This condition is just one of the many medical problems often associated with obesity, along with diabetes, osteoarthritis, heart disease, and torn cruciate ligaments.

Lucy underwent orthopedic surgery to correct her knee, but her owner’s were given strict orders to get some of the excess weight off in order to help her heal and to prevent further problems. Her owner’s agreed to do a medically approved weight loss program with the support of her veterinary team to help monitor her progress.  

Her weight loss program consisted of an emphasis on proper diet, veterinary care, and increased exercise.

She was fed a veterinary exclusive diet which is lower in calories, high in protein and psyillium fiber. The increased fiber bulks up in the stomach causing a feeling of fullness or (satiety), and the increased protein takes longer for the body to digest, thereby helping to curb her appetite making her feel fuller – longer; with less food and calories.

Her family was careful to measure her meals precisely as directed by her veterinary technician, and made sure to bring her in for regular weigh-ins. Over the course of 13 months, Lucy’s weight began to drop. With this specially formulated diet, she never felt hungry and her owners were very good about not offering too many treats.

Lucy's weight loss progress report

In time, her weight slowly went from 130lbs in March, 2011 with a body condition score of 4.5/5 to 95lbs in the beginning of May 2012 with a body condition score of 3/5. A difference of 35 lbs. Body Condition Score is the way we accurately assess a dog or cats weight – are the ribs easily felt; is there a defined waistline; is there a nice abdominal tuck? In Lucy’s case – she is perfect – she has achieved her ideal weight and condition.

Congratulations Lucy – and your owners for caring enough to making your health their first priority. 

If you think your pet might have a weight issue, please let us help your pet reach their ideal weight just like we helped Lucy, Zeus, Nelly, and many others.  Call today: 519-763-4992

Parasite Profile: GIARDIA

Over the past few months, we at Royal City Animal Hospital have seen many pets in Guelph who have been infected with an intestinal parasite called Giardia. Some of these cases have been detected through routine fecal testing as done as part of the pets annual health examination. Other cases have come to us presenting with a complaint of diarrhea in the dog or cat. 


What is Giardia?

Giardia is a single celled parasitic organism (protozoan) that affects the gastro-intestinal tract of animals and people. It is not a worm, bacteria, or virus.

Giardiasis is the name of the diarrheal disease caused by this parasite.

Canada Geese in Guelph's Speed River

How did my pet get Giardia?

A dog or cat can become infected with Giardia when it swallows the cyst stage of the parasites through any of the following ways: 

Contaminated water such as ponds, puddles, standing water, and streams are the most common sources of Giardia infection. 

Geese, beavers, deer, cattle, and other wildlife are also carriers of this parasite and pass the cysts off into their stools

Giardiasis is also a common occurrence in environments that are densely populated such as kennels, pet stores, animal shelters, and puppy mills.

Giardia LifeCycle 

What are the Symptoms of Giardiasis?

Giardia infection can cause a variety of intestinal symptoms, such as 

• Diarrhea
• Stomach or abdominal cramps
• Nausea and vomiting
• Flatulence (Gas)
• Greasy stool that can float
• Dehydration 
• These symptoms may also lead to weight loss

How is Giardia Diagnosed?

Giardia is diagnosed through routine fecal testing as done through your veterinary clinic. Giardia is a microscopic organism so will not be detected with the naked eye. Routine fecal testing may fail to detect tiny cysts which are shed inconsistently in the feces. If your veterinarian suspects Giardia to be the causative agent of your pet’s diarrhea, a specific test which tests for the presence of the Giardia antigen (cell protein) may be requested to help detect the presence of Giardia.

How Is Giardia Treated?

Your veterinarian has several treatment options for Giardia, and the prognosis is very good in most cases. 

Can My Dog or Cat Give Giardia to me or my family?

YES.

If your dog or cat is diagnosed with Giardia, good personal hand hygiene and environmental disinfection are very important to prevent the spread to humans. Immediately pick up and dispose of all fecal matter that your pet produces to help limit potential reinfection, or the spread to other pets. Any surfaces that can be safely treated with bleach, should be disinfected with a diluted bleach solution (approximately 1/4 cup bleach to 1 litre water), Lysol and other common household disinfectants may also be effective. 

Wipe your dog's or cat's hind end after a bowel movement to ensure any cysts that are shed do not get to stick to the fur. 

If you have any questions about Giardia or other intestinal parasites, please contact us at 519-763-4992 for more information.