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

Giving a Pet as a Gift this Christmas?

Were you thinking of giving a puppy or Kitten as a Christmas Present?
Perhaps you were going to buy that cute puppy for your partner, family member, or kids.
Maybe you even considered adopting one from a shelter or humane society.
Before you purchase or adopt a pet this holiday season, think again.
Many animals that are given as Christmas Presents, end up in shelters all over the country because the person who received them was either not ready for a pet, did not take the time to train them, or they were unaware of the costs involved in raising a puppy or kitten. Vaccinations, deworming, food, health care, training, and toys - all cost - and they can add up pretty fast. Be sure these costs are taken into consideration before you get a new pet.
If you have any questions about getting a pet, discuss it with your veterinary health care team before you make that commitment. Pets are a lifetime commitment and should never be given as a present.

Click image to enlarge. 

Holiday Giving

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Once again, Royal City Animal Hospital is holding our annual "Operation Santa Paws" charity supply drive for the Guelph Humane Society. 

We will be collecting any donations you can provide to help support the life saving work of our friends at the shelter.  

They have a wish list of items they are always in need of, some items they need but they have trouble getting the finances for, and items to help keep their administration costs down. 

This list can be found by clicking this link to the Guelph Humane Society, or you can pick up a copy in our office at Royal City Animal Hospital 245 Edinburgh Rd S in Guelph. 

Please give generously, they really need your help so they can continue to help the animals in need.

Recently, The Guelph Humane Society asked for specific donations of a good Washer and Dryer. Lets hope Santa can provide. 

Happy Canada Day

Happy Canada Day to everyone.

Keep your pets safe, and comfortable during the holiday weekend.
There will be fireworks all over our nation this weekend, and many pets are afraid of fireworks. If you need any advice on how to help your pet deal with fireworks, contact your veterinarian.

Have fun and enjoy your long weekend. 

Happy New Year

As we say goodbye to 2011....and ring in 2012.....
we would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year.
May 2012 bring you all much love, success and happiness.

Happy Holidays

We would like to wish all of our friends, family and our wonderful clients a 

Very Happy Holiday. 

All the best to everyone and their pets this holiday season. 

Track Santa

Why not track Santa as he flies around the world delivering presents to all the good boys and girls.

click this link to track where Santa is on his ride

http://www.noradsanta.org/en/

Guelph Humane Society "Toy Drive"

 The Guelph Humane Society is a non-profit organization and as such they rely heavily on donations in order to operate. 

This holiday season we will be collecting donations of supplies and delivering them to the shelter. 

Your generosity will help the Humane Society continue to care for lost and abandoned animals and provide them with the love and attention they deserve

Here are a few items from their wish list. If you have any items around the house or wish to purchase something from the list, feel free to bring it to the hospital and we will make a special Santa delivery in time for Christmas.

•Unscented, non clumping cat litter
•Large newspapers for lining cages
•Shredded paper for bedding (No Staples)
•Hay and treats for Rabbits
•High value training treats (Rollover, dehydrated liver etc.)
•Peanut Butter
•Stimulating dog toys (Kong, Buster cube, treat balls)
•Furminator grooming tools
•Bleach, all purpose cleaner
•Laundry soap, dish soap
•Disinfecting wipes
•Hand Sanitizer

•Large, heavy duty garbage bags

•Paper towels, Kleenex, Toilet paper 

•Cotton pads/balls 

•Plastic bags 

•Brooms, dustpans, cleaning supplies 

•Rubber gloves, latex gloves 

•Work gloves, welding gloves 

•Duct tape 

•Office supplies (pens, paper, tape, sharpies etc)

•USB drives 

•Postage stamps 

•Reflective vests 

•Gift cards (Canadian Tire, Zellers, Staples etc)

                                                                                                                    

Holiday Pet Emergencies

Holiday Pet Safety Tips

The holidays can be a fun and exciting time of year for everyone, including your furry little friends.  Unfortunately we see a lot of emergencies at this time of year. Chocolates are common gifts but can be quite toxic and even fatal to dogs.  Theobromine, the active ingredient in chocolate that is toxic to dogs, can be quite damaging to the heart so make sure you keep those tasty treats well out of reach.

Pets love turkey but we urge you not to give your dog or cat any of the trimmings or bones from the carcass.  Trimmings tend to be high in fat and can cause pancreatitis, a very painful inflammation of the abdomen often requiring hospitalization and intensive care.  Bones (cooked or raw) can be harmful as well.  Raw bones have the tendency to fracture teeth requiring them to be surgically extracted while cooked bones will splinter into tiny bits and can act like little razor blades on the inside of the gut (ouch!).

Try to keep these bits of information in mind while you are enjoying this festive time of year.
For a more detailed list of Holiday Hazards - please check out this link from the ASPCA. 

We wish you and your pet(s) a safe and happy holiday!!

 



Definitely a bad idea.

Happy Hallowe'en

Cooper got super excited for Hallowe'en....its his favourite time of year.....any excuse to get dressed up.
Did you dress your pet up for Hallowe'en?
If so...share your photos on our facebook page.

Pumpkin Carving

Free to download at Better Homes and Gardens magazine - Pumpkin carving Stencils of some of your favourite dog breeds.

http://www.bhg.com/halloween/pumpkin-carving/pumpkin-carving-stencils-of-favorite-dogs/

Try them out and let us see your results by posting photos on our facebook page.
Good luck and happy Hallowe'en

Hallowe'en Safety Tips

With Hallowe'en coming up...and all the "trick-or-treaters" coming to your door......all the candy and decorations that are around....
There are a lot of dangers lurking about for your pets.
Here are some Hallowe'en Safety Tips for you to help keep your dogs and cats healthy and help reduce stress.

Do You Dress your Dog up for Hallowe'en?  Share your photos on our Facebook Page.

Happy and Safe Thanksgiving

While you enjoy your Thanksgiving weekend with your family and friends, We would like to remind you that there are many hidden dangers that can seriously harm your dog or cat on this holiday.

Some of the biggest dangers that this holiday can pose to your pet are:

• FOOD: rich fatty foods from the turkey, gravy, skin, ham, desserts, etc can all contribute to a disease called Pancreatitis. This is a very serious condition which needs immediate medical care.
• BONES: the turkey itself is very tempting to dogs, but the bones from the bird pose a big threat as well. The bones can splinter and cause tears or obstruction in a pet's digestive tract.
• STRING: the string used to truss the turkey is full of the flavour of the cooked bird and your dog may want too eat it. It can cause problems if your dog decides to ingest it.
• TOXINS: Many food items we will have around (onions, grapes, raisins, chocolate, macadamia nuts, etc) are poisonous to our pets.
• BEVERAGES: Caffeine and alcohol are also very toxic to our pets as well.
• STRESS: with the Holiday comes guests, and this can be a big source of stress for your pet. There is a lot of commotion and your dog or cat may not be prepared to cope with it as well as you might think.

Some tips to help keep your pet healthy and safe:

• Keep all food out of reach from your pet.
• Keep a close eye on your pets and know what they are up to at all times, to ensure they do not 'sneak' something without your knowledge.
• Do not leave garbage, left-overs, unfinished meals, treats, and other items accessible to your pet.
• Help to reduce their stress by providing them with a safe haven and a favourite toy.
• Clean as you go, ridding your kitchen/dining room of as many potential hazards as possible.
• Do not Give your pet any of your meal as a 'treat'.
• Puppy & Kitty proof your house to ensure all potential dangers are eliminated.

Finally, just in case you have a problem, it never hurts to keep your emergency vet clinic or veterinary hospital number handy.

Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving for your entire family