Happy New Year

The staff of Royal City Animal Hospital

would like to wish all of our clients, their pets, and all of the wonderful people who visit our blog, facebook, and twitter sites a 

Very Happy New Year. 

May 2014 bring you a year of joy, happiness, health, and well-being for you, and your pets. 

 If you have any New Years resolutions you are thinking of starting for your pets, please let us know how we can help. 

Guelph Humane Society needs Newspapers

The Guelph Humane Society is in desperate need of newspapers to line their cages. 

If you have any newspapers around the house, or in your recycling bins, please drop them off at the Guelph Humane Society at 500 Wellington St, W. Guelph, ON   N1H 6L3

Royal City Animal Hospital would also be willing to collect donations for them as well and we will be sure to deliver them to the shelter if that is more convenient for you. 

In addition: be sure to check out the Guelph Humane Society's donation wish list. They can always use your help. 

http://www.guelph-humane.on.ca/how_you_can_help.htm

Lost Dog found in Guelph.

FOUND - MALE - BORDER COLLIE/AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD GUELPH

Help us find the owner of this wonderful little dog who was found in in Guelph near the Downtown Guelph Bus Terminal. 
If you have any information on who might own this dog, please contact the person on the flyer. 

http://www.helpinglostpets.com/

Christmas Pet Photos Made Easy

It's that time of year again.....time to make Christmas cards with the Pets.
Do you find taking Christmas photos of your pets to be a challenge?
Our friends at Vetstreet have created this infographic to help minimize the stress and the ability to create amazing photos that your family and friends will cherish.



How to Take the Best Dog or Cat Photos for Holiday Cards — Infographic by Vetstreet

Christmas Dog Grooming

It is hard to believe - but Christmas is just around the corner.
If you usually get your dog groomed in time for portraits with Santa, or visits with the family - you are probably aware that grooming appointments can some times be hard to get just before the holiday.

If you are looking to get your little dog clipped, trimmed, washed, puffed, and pampered in time for Christmas, be certain to make your grooming appointments now.
Prime spaces fill up really fast, and to prevent being disappointed -call ahead and book.

We have 2 groomers- Jenny and Terri who look forward to making your pooches look and feel their best.

Call today to Schedule  a dog grooming appointment before they fill up. 

 519-763-5788

Royal City Grooming Centre

245 Edinburgh Rd S, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2J6

Whole Food Pet Nutrition

Attention Canadian pet owners:
There is a brand new Pet nutrition company in Canada that is making veterinary exclusive diets with a whole food philosophy: RAYNE CLINICAL NUTRITION.

Many pet owners have been looking for a more natural, whole food based maintenance and therapeutic diets for their pets. Some of these owners have been led by marketing gimmicks to foods of lesser quality and very little scientific research behind them. Now there is a new option you can feel good about. Unlike many diets found in pet stores that have claims of 'natural', 'whole food', or 'feed them like family'  - These new diets have actually been formulated by experts, have been verified by independent testing and research, and guaranteed for quality and safety as well as completely unique, dedicated solely to the veterinary market, whole food based with minimal processing.

If you are a passionate pet owner looking for a new way to feed your pet, while still giving them quality nutrition, with no wheat, corn, or meat by-products - Ask your veterinarian about Rayne Clinical Nutrition.

Kittens up for Adoption

Are you a resident of Guelph or the surrounding area and looking to add a Kitten into your family?
At Royal City Animal Hospital in Guelph, we have 3 very sweet little kittens who are looking for their Furr-ever homes.
These kittens are all around 5-6 months of age right now, and have been living with us here at the Veterinary hospital since they were 7 weeks of age. They are all fully vaccinated, de-wormed, feleuk/fiv tested (negative), and all have had stool samples tested for intestinal parasites (none found).

There are 2 boys - both orange tabbies "Cringer" and " Orko"
and one girl "Teela" a tortoiseshell.
The boys have already been neutered, and Teela will be spayed when she reaches 6 months of age.

If you would like to know more about them, please call our office to discuss the adoption process and fees.
They might just be the most adorable kittens you have seen.

Cringer

Teela

Orko

Charity Dog Wash -Sept 15th, 2013

One Sunday Sept 15th - once again, Royal City Animal Hospital  and Royal City Grooming Centre in Guelph will be hosting our annual Charity Dog Wash.
This year the beneficiary of our Dog wash will be Guelph Humane Society.
In the past, we have raised upward of $1500 to benefit other charities, and this year our goal is $2000 and up.
If you have a dog who could use a bath, or if you just want to help us raise money for a great cause please come to our Special event between 11am - 3pm.
If you are unable to attend, but would still like to donate - please contact our clinic to make a donation.
During the event, we will have many games and raffles to help increase the proceeds. We already have many great gift baskets that have been donated by many amazing companies like Rens Pet Depot, Home Depot, Sweet Distractions, Royal Canin Pet Nutrition, Zoetis animal health, Merck, Merial, and more.
Help Support our efforts to help those who help the homeless dogs and cats at the Guelph Humane Society. 

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Pet Portraits

Teya

Many of our regular clients and visitors have seen a hand drawn portrait of Dr Drewry's dog Teya, hanging in our waiting room.
This portrait was done by one of our former staff members Lisa B. as a Christmas Present to Dr Drewry.
Lisa has recently decided to take her art to a new level and focus on it full time.
Her preferred subjects are dogs and cats, and has done many portraits for people, as well as for Dogs in Canada magazine.

If you would be interested in getting a hand-drawn portrait of one of your pets done by Lisa, she would love to hear from you.
You can find her contact information and samples of her work on her Facebook Page:  Dustpan Drawings by Lisa B. 
 

Dustpan Drawings by Lisa B.

If you are in Elora, Ontario - stop in to Sweet Distractions Candy Shop and you can ask to view her portfolio. 

Protect your dog from Lyme Disease

click to enlarge

What is Lyme Disease?

Lyme Disease is a tick-borne bacterial disease that affects both humans and Animals.  The bacterium that causes Lyme disease is Borrelia burgorferi, which is picked up by ticks when they feed on infected animals. The tick then transmits the bacteria to other animals (or people) when they attach and feed again.

Signs of Lyme Disease: 
The signs and symptoms of Lyme disease can take several months to appear and are often mistaken for signs of other diseases. The most common sign is lameness due to joint pain, but Lyme disease also cause Kidney problems, as well.

click to enlarge

Deer Ticks  or black-legged tick (the type of tick that transmits Lyme Disease) are found in grassy areas (including lawns), brush, shrubs, and woodlands - particularly along trails. Ticks prefer moist humid areas. Due to climate change, migratory birds, and other factors, the range of where these ticks can be found, is growing and expanding all the time.

click to enlarge

At Royal City Animal Hospital in Guelph - as part of your dog's yearly spring check up for Heartworm disease, your veterinarian will also test for 3 tick borne diseases as well - Lyme Disease, Ehrlichiosis, and Anaplasmosis. 

Need Pet Health Care Advice?

Before you go looking to "Dr. Google" for your pets' health care needs, advice, and treatments, we have compiled a list of reputable websites that will help you get advice written by veterinary professionals, Pet Nutritionists, behaviourists, and much more. Here are a select few Sites that we recommend our client's visit.

Please bookmark these sites and refer back to them when you have a question about your pet's health.

Remember....these sites are intended for general information purposes only, and not meant as an actual diagnosis, or treatment plan for your pet. Please consult your veterinarian if you have a real concern or question about your pet's specific conditions. 

The Importance of Pet Insurance

We are all familiar with insurance, whether it is for our home, our vehicle, or our family’s health but what about our pets? 

Pet insurance has been around for years, but has been steadily gaining popularity due to the increasing economic challenges we have all faced.  Pet insurance helps cover the unplanned veterinary costs that come up, and always seem to occur at the worst of times. It is most helpful for the pet parent whose Labrador decided to swallow his rope toy and now requires an emergency surgery, the family whose Pomeranian puppy jumped off the couch and  broke her leg in 3 places, or the retired couple whose healthy senior cat stops eating and develops hepatic lipidosis ( also known as fatty liver).  It is impossible to predict when our pets will need non routine veterinary care, and having pet insurance provides the peace of mind that you can afford the treatments needed to heal your four legged friend. There are a variety of options available: most plans cover accidents and illnesses, but policies are available that cover routine care as well.  The best thing you can do is be informed: do research, compare your options, and ask questions.

Here at Royal City Animal Hospital, we are pleased to offer a 6 week trial of free pet insurance from PetSecure for all cats and dogs between 8 weeks and 4 years of age at the time of examination. 

If you would like more information, please contact our hospital! 

Angela N.

National CupCake Day for SPCA

Monday February 25th is National CupCake day for SPCA's and Humane Societies. 

At Royal City Animal Hospital in Guelph, We will be taking part in this special day. 

We will be selling cupcakes hand made by our very own Lisa's.

(who are both amazing bakers)  

All proceeds will go to support the Guelph Humane Society. 

We encourage everyone to come in and satisfy their Sweet tooth and purchase a cupcake to help raise some  much needed money to help those animals in the Humane society. 

No donation is too BIG

My Dog ate What?

At Royal City Animal Hospital, we see our fair share of patients who have eaten items that are not meant to be eaten. One of the most interesting items is often Rocks or stones.

What dog would eat stones, you might ask?  Unfortunately, many dogs do this.  They also eat fabric, plastic, sticks and rocks.  This ingestion of non-nutritive, non-food items is known as “pica”.  Some dogs show an extreme form of this behaviour toward stones, actively seeking and swallowing numerous rocks.  The rocks chosen are usually large enough to require surgical removal.  Most pica, if shown by dogs that are past the puppy stage, involves an extreme focus on ingested objects.  These behaviours are not normal and can become sufficiently intense that the dog disregards other activities.  There are several possible reasons for this behaviour: it may be an obsessive compulsive disorder; it may be indicative of a central brain lesion; or it may be due to abnormal metabolism of a specific enzyme.  Treatment is difficult and focuses on avoidance, early interruption and substitution of a more appropriate behaviour as well as the use of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors.

Actual item removed from a dog

X-ray with barium to help identify objects

If you know or suspect your dog or cat has eaten a non-food item, Contact your veterinarian immediately for the best treatment options available. 

The Puppy Tutor

Leslie Marshall, RVT

At Royal City Animal Hospital in Guelph, we firmly believe in getting the right type of training for your puppy right from the beginning and  recently a new training option has become available to puppy owners in Guelph and surrounding area, called "The Puppy Tutor". 

The Puppy Tutor is owned and operated by Leslie Marshall. Leslie is a Registered Veterinary Technician in Guelph, Ontario and has worked in a veterinary clinic for over 20 years. She has seen many puppies, and dogs over the years and has helped to mould and shape them into well-trained citizens. 

Over the years, Leslie has developed foundation puppy classes for Campaign Dog Academy in Georgetown, where she started assisting classes in 1988. She quickly became a head instructor, teaching classes for the new family puppy, as well as more advanced classes for the competitive dog enthusiast. She has also instructed hundreds of puppies in these positive-based training methods at classes she has offered over the years. She has recently designed foundation 'Performance Puppy' classes for the competitive dog enthusiast, offered at Campaign Dog Academy. 

http://www.thepuppytutor.com/

Leslie offers individualized consults to help teach your new puppy how to "Learn to Earn". Puppies learn faster in a distraction-free environment.