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.