Pet Poison Prevention Week

March 15 - 21 is National Pet Poison Prevention week.

At Royal City Animal Hospital we believe strongly in prevention as the first line of defense in your pet's health care.
Poison prevention is something we have to always be diligent about, as dogs and cats can get into many different things that they shouldn't despite our best intentions.

I am providing you with some great websites for information to have on hand in case something should happen to your pet.

Always call your veterinarian immediately if your dog or cat has ingested something they shouldn't have.

http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poisons/

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control

Also - know the plants you have in your home and whether they are toxic or not to your pets.
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants


If you think your pet has eaten or come in contact with any toxic or potentially hazardous items, please call your Veterinarian immediately to know what to do. Do not wait as many treatments need to be administered quickly in order to save your pet from potential life-threatening complications.

Call Royal City Animal Hospital today at 519-763-4992 to discuss potential hazards

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.

Pet Care University - "Say Cheese"

Come Join us on Saturday February 11th for the next session of our 

"Pet Care University" educational series: 

"Say Cheese: the facts about animal dental care"

Jennifer Deeks, RVT

Our special guest speaker for this session is Jennifer Deeks, a Registered Veterinary Technician with the Animal Dental Care team at the University of Guelph. She will be providing our students with valuable information on dental disease in cats and dogs.

She will be discussing the following topics:

• early detection of dental disease
• Prevention and treatment options
• brushing tips
• Severe dental problems
• Secondary diseases caused by dental infections
• products to help reverse or slow down the progression of dental disease
• Dietary options to help care for your pets teeth
• and much more

 If you have any questions about how to care for your pet's oral health, she will be happy to assist you.

Attendance to our seminars is open to all who wish to attend at no charge, but space is limited so please reserve your seat by calling or emailing our office.
Phone: 519-763-4992          email: rcahclients@rogers.com

Pet Care Tip of the Day

Every Day on Facebook and Twitter, we will be providing a valuable "Pet Care Tip of the Day".
Like us on facebook and follow us on twitter to keep up on the latest 'tip'. 

    

It is not always what we think it is

Have you noticed that your cat is suddenly spending his time going into and out of his litter box? Or that he stays there for a long time without managing to relieve himself?
He may be constipated, but the more likely cause of this behaviour is a urinary tract obstruction, which requires an emergency visit.
Act quickly; if there is a complete obstruction, the animal could die in a very short period of time.

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

Pet Nutrition Seminar: Saturday October 29th.

Come join us on Saturday October 29th for our next class in our "Pet Care University" series.

"Give a Dog a Bone: the Science of Nutrition"

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

Topics 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 diets and all natural diets: are they better or safer to feed your pet?
• 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 dont feed canned. Is this true?
• Bones - are they good for my dog's teeth?
• Should My cat (or dog) drink milk?
• 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.



Join us for our upcoming Seminars.



Unexpected Encounter?

If your pet runs into a PORCUPINE, it is preferable to have the porcupine quills removed under anesthesia. If they are removed without an analgesic, their removal causes pain for the animal, who might react aggressively. Furthermore, many quills are generally hidden underneath the skin or in the muzzle and any forgotten pieces can get in deeper and cause subsequent problems, such as limping or abscesses.
Do not delay - take your pet in to see your veterinarian immediately.

MYTH or FACT

Is the Following statement a fact....or is it a myth?

If a dog is wagging its tail, it is happy.

Find out the answer to this and many other common Pet Care Questions
by attending our next Pet Care University Seminar:

MYTH BUSTERS

Saturday Sept 17th 2:30 - 3:30pm

Attendance is free - but space is limited.

Reserve your seat today by calling

519-763-4992

Myth or Fact?

Is the following statement a FACT or is it a MYTH?

Dogs are sick when their noses are warm.

Get the answer to this and many other Common Pet Care Concerns by attending our next Pet Care University Seminar: 

"MYTH BUSTERS"

Saturday Sept 17th, 2:30 - 3:30 PM.

call to reserve your seat by calling 519-763-4992

Myth or Fact?

I have heard that cats should drink milk (or cream). Is this true? or is it a myth?

Find out the answer to this....and many other common Questions people have about Pet care at our next PetCare University Seminar "MYTH BUSTERS"

Saturday Sept 17th 2:30 - 3:30 PM

Call to Reserve your seat today. 519-763-4992

Myth Or Fact?

Will giving Garlic to your pet prevents them from getting Fleas?

Find out the Answer to this and many other common questions people have about pet care by attending our Pet Care University seminar on common pet care myths "MYTH BUSTERS" 

Saturday Sept 17th 2:30-3:30 PM.

Call to reserve your seat 519-763-4992

Myth or Fact?

Spaying or neutering your dog will make them Fat and Lazy?

Find out the answer by attending our Pet Care University Class on Pet Myth Busting
http://www.royalcityanimalhospital.com/index.php?view=pageView&pageid=1605

Myth Busters

Come to our next "Pet Care Univeristy" Seminar on Saturday September 17th from 2:30 - 3:30 pm.

The Topic of this lesson will Be "Myth Busters: busting common myths and misinformation about Pets and pet care"

Call Martha or Lisa to reserve your Spot as space is limited. Call: 519-763-4992 or email at rcahclients@rogers.com

If you have any myths you would like busted or would like to know if what you have heard is true, please feel free to ask.

Welcome to our Blog

Thank you for visiting our blog.

This is just the beginning of a very exciting time for us here at Royal City Animal Hospital. With this blog we will share with you some information on pet care in a fun and interesting way. We will share personal stories about our own pets and about some of the pets we care for. Our goal is to start a conversation with you about responsible pet care and how you can be a more active participant in your pets health care needs.

 At no time should any of the information on this blog replace seeking proper advice from your veterinarian and your veterinary health care team.