Pet food recall

We would like to distribute this information to as many people as possible. We know that some of our clients use pet foods that have been recalled by Diamond Pet Foods.

Diamond Pet Foods Expands Voluntary Recall of Dry Pet Food Due to Potential  Salmonella Contamination 

Batches of the brands manufactured between December 9, 2011 and April 7, 2012 are affected

Please visit the following website for more information and a list of foods affected: http://www.diamondpet.com/information/

Take my cat to the vet?

We focus much of our hospital’s information on dogs in the spring and summer months, as our canine friends prepare for more time spent outdoors.  However, our team always looks forward to wellness appointments with cats. This past week we have seen feline patients in all colours, shapes and sizes, ranging from age 8 weeks to 20 years of age!  Many people assume that cats do not need to visit the vet regularly (particularly if indoors exclusively), but we would like to challenge this notion. Here are some things to consider if you are putting off your cat’s annual physical exam:

(1)    One important part of any veterinary visit is the history that you give the doctor about how your cat is acting at home. By asking lots of questions, the vet is looking for clues to decide if your friend may be developing problems such as arthritis, diabetes or hyperthyroidism.  This history is combined with a complete physical examination, which may detect early signs of health concerns such as heart disease or dental issues.  We all need to remember that: (a) our pets age much more quickly than we do and (b) animals are made to hide signs of weakness and therefore do not show obvious symptoms of disease until problems have progressed significantly.

(2)    During a wellness visit you will also get a chance to ask questions of the vet and discuss things such as nutrition, how to handle behavior problems or what to watch for as signs of illness. Remember to bring a list of concerns if necessary so that nothing is forgotten!

(3)    The doctor may recommend vaccinations to prevent death or illness. We believe that these vaccines should always be tailored to your cat’s unique lifestyle (other than a Rabies vaccination which is required yearly by law in Toronto, even for indoor cats).

(4)    With routine wellness visits, the vet and their team can get to know your cat and keep a consistent record of weight, coat condition and personality.  

(5)    You will be able to feel comfortable with the vet and the way that they and their team handle your friend. A sense of trust when your cat is healthy will help everyone involved if emergency care is ever necessary.

We know that very few cats enjoy coming to the vet, but we strive to make the visits as comfortable as possible.  If you are unsure if the stress of a visit to the vet is worthwhile, consider the points above and please remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

Some thoughts on 'wellness testing'

Our veterinarians will often speak to clients about “wellness testing”. We have previously highlighted this topic on our front office bulletin board and in our newsletter, but feel that it is an important enough topic to continue the discussion here.

Wellness testing is the term given to a group of tests that is performed specifically to detect signs of early disease in an animal that otherwise appears healthy. Testing may include blood panels (for blood cell and organ function levels or parasite exposure), fecal testing and possibly a urinalysis. Done in combination with a thorough physical exam by a veterinarian, these tests are invaluable in identifying health problems in our patients.

Clients often ask why tests should be run on animals which are not showing any signs of illness. There are many reasons that this testing does make sense, especially if you consider the following:

• Animals cannot tell us when there is a problem, and many illnesses can be silent in the early stages.  The classic case for this is kidney disease in cats, as up to 75% of kidney function may have been lost before the cat shows clinical signs of concern.
• We can use wellness testing to establish baseline normal levels for blood values for an individual pet. These values can then be watched and trended over time to identify changes of concern.
• Early diagnosis of a medical problem may allow for more effective management or treatment programs.  For example, a cat with decreased kidney function may be switched to a special diet which will be more easily processed by the kidneys over the long term.  Another example is the early detection of Cushing’s disease, a hormonal disease commonly seen in older dogs. When therapy for Cushing’s is started early, a dog will have an increased chance of doing well.

Wellness testing does come with a price tag. But is it worth it to have a record of your pet’s blood values when well (a great baseline) and the peace of mind to know that your pet is as healthy as possible? Each owner needs to answer those questions individually.  As your pet’s health care advisors, our veterinarians do believe that wellness testing is incredibly worthwhile and recommend that it be done yearly, or possibly more frequently in older pets. Please ask our vets if wellness testing makes sense for your pet at your next visit! 



Where are they going?

Today's blog post was inspired by a colleague's recent Facebook post, pointing her friends to an article entitled “Why do your veterinarians take your pet ‘to the back’”. The full article can be found in the Tucson Pet Health Examiner here.

As veterinarians, one of our jobs is to balance the needs of our patient and those of their owner. We understand that pets are often scared when brought into a veterinary clinic, and we want to be as gentle and efficient as possible when dealing with that pet.  Owners may be nervous as well; many people are unsure about what is involved in a visit to the vet, or worried about the health of their pet.

In almost all veterinary clinics, there is an area of the hospital designated for treatment of medical cases and our clinic is no different. Our 'treatment area' is the hub of the hospital. Here, we co-ordinate care for our hospitalized patients, collect laboratory samples, perform simple medical procedures and meet as a team for ‘rounds’ at specific times of the day.  Our treatment area adjoins the the hospital's kennel area, laboratory and x-ray facilities, and compliments our surgical and dentistry suites, which are found on the lower level of the clinic. 

What do we keep in the treatment area of our veterinary clinic? When 'in the back', our doctors have more pairs of experienced hands to help, better lighting, specialized equipment for visualization of the eyes, ears and mouth, supplies for laboratory testing, space to perform lameness exams and medications to aid your pet…the list is endless. Working in this space, our team is able to quickly and easily tend to your pet, and complete the tests or treatments that need to be done without any fuss.  Of course, there are always lots of cuddles and treats to be had as well!

We are always happy to have our clients be part of everything that we do with their pet at the clinic, and we hope that our clients would tell us if they were not pleased at seeing their friend disappear to ‘the back’. However, when our veterinarian makes a request to take an animal into our treatment area, it is merely because they have a reason to want to treat your animal in this area of the hospital; the veterinarian has some specific need in mind or simply wants the support of our skilled technicians and assistants.  By working with them, the veterinarian can accomplish what needs to be done quickly and without any fuss.  This benefits our clients and all of our four-legged friends!



Spring newsletter release

We are very excited to release our Spring 2012 Newsletter! Our focus in this edition was the concept of preventative medicine for our pets ("wellness" visits to the vet). Our doctors believe very strongly that it is better to prevent health problems when we can, rather than treating your pet when sick. Please let us know if you have any questions after reading the newsletter or suggestions for future editions.

To view the Spring newsletter, please click here.