Q: Why is an annual physical exam important?
A: It is important to have an annual exam in order to detect preventable and/or treatable conditions before they become problematic as well as to update vaccinations when needed.

Q: Can I give my dog or cat a cold?
A: No. Influenza viruses are highly species specific and do not pass from humans to pets or visa versa.

Q: What common food items should I avoid feeding my pet?
A: Some common toxic foods are grapes, onions, chocolate, macadamia nuts, raisins, mushrooms.

Q: Why is it important to have my pet's teeth cleaned regularly?
A: Like people, pets need regular dental cleaning to remove plaque and tartar buildup. If not removed, this buildup can lead to gingival and periodontal disease and more serious health problems relating to the spread of infection from the mouth to other parts of the body.

Q: When should I have my dog or cat altered? Will this change my pet's personality?
A: Spaying or neutering for cats and dogs is recommended at six months of age. This seems to be the best time to prevent future reproductive organ related health problems such as uterine, ovarian, and mammary infections and cancers, prostatic disease and testicular disease and cancer. Neutering will help prevent a pet's desire to roam (looking for a mate) and may also decrease aggressive tendencies, but will not change your pet in any other way.

Q: How long is a normal gestation period?
A: For both cats and dogs it is 63 - 66 days or about 9 weeks.

Q: Why does my neutered dog still mount?
A: Mounting is considered to be a display of dominance. Many times dogs will still mount objects, people and/or other animals even after neutering.

Q: Can Lyme disease be very serious?
A: Lyme disease can cause many problems including joint swelling, enlarged lymph nodes, fever, lameness, and the most serious - kidney failure.

Q: What are anal glands? Do all dogs need their anal glands expressed?
A: Anal glands are two fluid filled sacs located in the anus of a dog or cat. They are a normal part of an animal's anatomy and are usually emptied through defecation. Some animals have difficulty with impactions or swelling in or around the glands and need manual expression. Signs of an anal sac problem are "scooting" or excessive licking of the anal area.

Q: Can I get Herpes or Feline Aids from my cat?
A: No. Influenza viruses are highly species specific and do not pass from humans to pets or visa versa.

Q: My cat has chronic renal failure, is this curable?
A: In most cases, the diseases resulting in renal failure cannot be cured but many cats respond well to medical therapy for a long time.

Q: What are Heartworms and how can I prevent my dog from getting them?
A.Heartworms are parasites that actually live in the dog's heart. There is a blood test available to test for heartworm. Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitos so dogs need only to be treated in mosquito season (June to November). Heartworm is endemic in the Okanagan, Winnipeg, Southern Ontario and the Montreal area in Canada. There is a once a month tablet that is used for prevention and can be given to your dog after she is confirmed heartworm negative with a blood test. Phone your veterinarian if you have any further questions about heartworm.

Q: Are flea collars very effective?
A: Not really. Since they are placed around the neck of the pet, they usually cannot kill any fleas which are around the tail of your pet. The insecticide from flea collars is designed to be absorbed into the pets blood stream and can be toxic. There are much better forms of flea control such as Advantage and Frontline. Call us for more information.

Q:What is a spay?
A: Spay is the common term for a complete ovariohysterectomy, or the removal of the entire uterus and ovaries. We recommend spaying at 5-6 months but it can be performed any time after the age of 8 weeks.

Q:What is a neuter?
A: Neuter is the common term for castration, or the removal of the testicles. We recommend neutering at 5-6 months.

Q: When does a puppy or kitten start its vaccinations?
We recommend starting vaccinations at 8 weeks of age. We give them in a series 4 weeks apart so that your pet will have good immunity. A puppy would receive vaccinations at 8, 12, and 16 weeks and a kitten would receive them at 8 and 12 weeks. We give Rabies vaccinations at the time of your pets final booster unless you are planning a trip to the States. (Your pet then needs a Rabies vaccination at 12 weeks). Vaccination boosters are done yearly with Rabies being every 3 years after the initial year booster.

Q: What is Canine Distemper?
A:Distemper is a highly contagious disease among dogs. It is almost always fatal. Although it is more common in puppies than in adult dogs, all dogs are susceptible to it. We recommend yearly vaccinations against this dangerous disease.

Q: What is Kennel Cough?
A: Kennel Cough is a respiratory disease usually contracted in areas where large numbers of dogs are housed such as a kennel or a grooming salon. It is transmitted by nose to nose contact so they can get it from any dog. There is a vaccination available for protection against Kennel Cough.

Q: My cat is going to his litter box a lot and seems uncomfortable. What does that mean?
A:Cats are very prone to a condition called "feline lower urinary syndrome". Basically, it is a urinary bladder infection which can lead to urinary tract obstruction in male cats. This is a serious condition and you should contact your veterinarian IMMEDIATELY.

Q: My dog licks his feet all the time. Why?
A: A dog that licks his feet, rubs his face, or scratches behind his elbows may be showing signs of an allergy. Dogs can be allergic to all sorts of things such as house dust, grass or weeds. Consult your veterinarian about this, especially if your dog is showing any hair loss.

Q: What is a dog's or cat's normal temperature?
A: Cats and dogs have a higher body temperature than ours, which is why they sometimes feel "hot" to the touch. Their normal body temperature is 100 - 102.8 Fahrenheit or 38.5 + or - 1 degree Celcius. The best way to see if your pet is running a fever is to take his temperature with a rectal thermometer. If you notice that your pet's temperature is above normal, you should contact a veterinarian immediately.

Q: My dog has diarrhea. What can I do?
IA: If your dog is acting normally other than the diarrhea, then you can try withholding all food and water for 12 hours. After that time period, you can introduce small amounts of food at a time. However, if your dog is lethargic in any way, you should call a veterinarian for instructions.

Q: Why does my pet have to be dewormed?

A: De-worming your pet is important for many reasons. First, some parasites that infect cats and dogs can also be transmitted to humans. There are thousands of cases each year where children have been infected with pet parasites. In the most extreme cases these infestations can result in blindness.
In pets, internal parasites can cause vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, anemia, perforation of the gut, intussusception of the intestine and even death.
It is recommended that adult cats and dogs be de-wormed at least twice a year. Younger pets and pets that hunt should be de-wormed more frequently. A yearly fecal test is recommended to test for the presence of giardia and coccidia , in addition to the more common intestinal worms.

Q: Is aspirin safe for my pets?
A:You should never give your pet human medicine such as aspirin, Tylenol, or acetaminophen. While baby aspirin may not harm your dog, the dose depends on your dog’s weight.  Tylenol, naproxen and similar anti-inflammatories can be fatal in cats, even in very small doses.

Q: Is chocolate OK for my pet?
A: Milk chocolate can cause vomiting and diarrhea if ingested in large quantity. Baker’s chocolate can be very poisonous to pets. Best to keep the sweets stashed away where your pet can’t reach!