Preparing for the Unexpected

How to plan for the Unexpected with your pets. 

Recently, Dr Drewry was the guest on Alex Fullick's radio show on preparing for the unexpected. 

They discussed the many ways pet owners can be prepared and plan for unexpected events as a caring pet owner. 

Pet ownership is great, but some times, bad things can happen, and how we prepare for these things, can help reduce our risks, and minimize stress and trauma. 

Listen to this great podcast. 

Thank you to Alex Fullick for helping to get this information out to pet owners.

Christmas Plants Toxic to pets

Do you know several #Christmas plants can be harmful to your pets? Keep an eye on your Pets this Holiday and ensure their safety.

to learn more about toxic plants -check out the ASPCA's toxic plant website.

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants

Pine Needles

Mistletoe

Holly

Amaryllis

Pointsettia

and more

10 Most Common #Toxins for #Cats

Do you know what items can be toxic to your Cat?
At Royal City Animal Hospital, we want your cat to stay healthy and happy, and one way to do that is to provide you with information on potential problems that could be lurking in your home.

Cats can get into all kinds of things, and knowing what can harm them will help keep them safe.
Poison Prevention is key.

courtesy catingtonpost.com

The top 10 Toxins for cats are:  Topical Spot-on Flea Medication (from pet and retail stores), Household Cleaners, Antidepressants, Lilies, Philodendron,  Mouse and Rat Poisons, Human & Pet NSAIDS (Pain Relievers), Cold and flu Medicines, glow sticks, and ADD/ADHD medications, amphetamines.  There are many, many other common items that can be dangerous to pets. For a Full List of toxic items, and Plants - be sure to check out the following websites.

Pet Poison Helpline
ASPCA Poison Prevention.

If your Pet has ingested any toxic item - please consult your veterinarian immediately. Bring the packaging of the item with you when you take your pet to the vet.

GSB Social Media Management

Cold Weather Life Saving Tip

Royal City Animal Hospital would like to remind everyone, that as the cold weather approaches, please bang on the hood of your car before you start the engine. 

You could be saving a life. 

In the cold weather many outdoor cats seek warmth and refuge from the elements by jumping up into the engine of cars. This can lead to injury or death if they are there when the car starts. In addition, some cats will be under the car, and can easily be run over when you move the car. 

Foods You Should Never Give Your Pet

We all love to give our pets a treat once in a while, it is all part of the Human-animal bond that we love to share. What we should be careful of is the foods we often share with our pets.

There are many food items we humans eat that our pets should never get a hold of. Some foods are toxic to pets, some foods cause choking hazards, some foods can cause diseases such as pancreatitis.
Before you give your pet a little snack from the foods you eat, check out this list of the most common household foods that can cause problems for them.

Image courtesy of Royal Canin Canada

As always - consult with your veterinarian if you have any questions about potential dangers of any food items, before you give them or if your pet has eaten anything you are not sure of. In addition, the ASPCA is always a great source of information for pet hazards and dangers.

Hot Cars Kill Dogs

The following video from Dr Ernie Ward demonstrates how hot it gets in a parked car.
Do not leave your pets inside the car on warm days.
Leave them at home where it is cool, comfortable, and safe.

Don't Leave your Dog in the Car

HOT CARS CAN KILL DOGS

With the warm weather we see far too many examples of poor judgement from some pet owners.

We have heard many stories this summer already of dogs being left in the car while their owners are running errands. This is never a good idea. Do not leave your dog (or cat or child) in the car in the summer for any length of time, not even a 'minute or two'. Many pets die each year as a result of being left in  parked cars during warm weather.

http://www.guelphmercury.com/news/local/article/748448--guelph-police-rescue-15-dogs-from-ovens-on-wheels

Temperatures inside a parked car, even with the  windows open and in the shade, can rapidly reach very

dangerous levels, even on a relatively mild summer day.

A dog’s normal body temperature is about 39º C (102º F). Because of a limited ability to sweat, even a short time in  a hot environment can be life threatening.

Hot Cars Kill Dogs

Leave them Home - where it is cool. 

Call Your Local Humane Society or Police Department if you see a dog locked in a car. 

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.

Pet Food Recall - update

There have been more diets added to the list of Petfood recalls due to Salmonella contamination

This time, Solid Gold Pet food.

If you feed any of the affected diets, check into this website to learn more about the recall.

http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth/RecallsWithdrawals/default.htm

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm303371.htm

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.

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