Our Blog

Our Standards

Posted on March 2, 2014 by CShowers | Category: News

Spring is eluding us here on the North Shore and just like the weather outside, our clinic is a flurry of activity. We are preparing for our A.A.H.A. inspection which will be done this April. Being an A.A.H.A. accredited clinic, we are held to a higher standard which we take pride in. We voluntarily became a member of this association and choose to be evaluated on numerous levels to be able to provide the best care possible. I just wanted to take this month’s blog to explain what A.A.H.A. is and what it means to you as pet owners.

So what is A.A.H.A.? It is the American Animal Hospital Association which was founded in 1933. The leaders of the association wanted to create a standard of care for companion animals. Today A.A.H.A. provides more than just a standard of care; they also provide informative publications and educational programs. The association’s mission statement explains its purpose: to assist veterinarians to provide exceptional medical care, to ensure that veterinary facilities are held to a high standard of excellence and to meet the needs of pet owners as it relates to veterinary medicine. The number of A.A.H.A. accredited clinics in Canada is about 7%. However there are even fewer clinics in B.C. that choose to be held to this higher standard of care, which is less than 1% of all small animal veterinary clinics in the province.

What does this mean for our clinic? Well, a lot to put it plain and simple. To be an A.A.H.A. accredited clinic, everything from how we document and keep records to how the hospital is staged, is scrutinized to ensure quality. As well, the staff has to be held to a higher standard. We are constantly being educated in safety protocols (such as radiology as we have a digital x-ray machine onsite), health protocols for the workplace (such as WHMIS and CPR training) and of course education about conditions, diseases, and treatment for the animals that we take care of. I personally love this aspect of the accreditation. I like knowing that my employer voluntarily advocates for my safety and my education.

What does this mean to you as pet owners? First of all, you can take pride that your animal is being cared for by a clinic that chooses to be scrutinized and inspected for quality of care. Being A.A.H.A. accredited, we provide educational resources to pet owners. If you have questions about anything, such as vaccines, we will discuss this with you and give you reading materials so can make an educated decision on what is best for you and your pet. Our clinic is not only somewhere that you take your animal when they need a vaccination or when they get sick. We are a resource to you. If you want to learn more about anything, just ask and we will assist you. The accreditation also means that your pet is getting more than just the bare minimum care. We hold ourselves to standards of excellence and we will always strive to go above and beyond for you and your pet.

Starting out in this business without the extensive education that my colleagues have was pretty intimidating. But working here, we are constantly having educational meetings or going to conferences to broaden our knowledge which I think is fantastic. Having standards helps not only our clinic, but all the A.A.H.A. accredited hospitals to provide the best care for animals, the safest work environment for all of the staff. So when I say that we take pride in being A.A.H.A. accredited, you know that we really put in a lot of time and effort and we are truly proud of this.

Moving In

Posted on February 2, 2014 by CShowers | Category: News

At the clinic we are constantly visited by new pet parents who have just adopted their first furry friend or those who are growing their furry family. Adopting an animal is exciting and honestly, I would have a million animals if I could manage it. However, adoption is something that should not be taken lightly. There are many factors that should be taken into consideration when thinking about bringing in an animal into our homes. So before we decide on a pet, we should first evaluate what we can handle, how much time can we give them, and if financially we can afford adopting an animal. Pet ownership is not all cuddles and playful walks, it is real work and a lot of responsibility but if we are smart about our decision, it can be one of the best relationships of our lives.

Let’s start with the basics: what kind of commitment can I handle? Time is something few people have to spare so knowing how much time in a day that can be allocated to a pet is important. If you are going to be the sole caregiver, can you take a dog out at least 3 times a day? If you are a family adopting an animal, who will take the dog for walks or clean up after the cat? Knowing how much time you can give to a pet will help you choose which animal is right for you or your family. For instance, if you are a busy person with only about an hour or two to spare a day, an Australian Shepherd might not be best for you as they require a lot of interaction and exercise.

Are there any environmental factors that need to be taken into account? Living in the city, many of us live in apartments with little or no yard at all, which would not be ideal for dogs. Having a specific area that is dedicated to our animals is key; they need their own space. We need to ensure that there will be space for a scratching post or crate area with storage/ space for toys and all of their things.

Is there anyone in the house that might have allergies? Most people know if they are allergic to animals or their dander. However, there are those, like children, who may not have been exposed to animals for a prolonged period of time to know that they are allergic to them. We have seen cases at the clinic where people have to surrender their newly adopted pet due to unknown allergies to the animal. If you are unsure if someone in your home has allergies, you might want to talk to your GP to discuss allergy testing prior to adoption.

Will you be adopting an older pet or an infant? Again, knowing how much time you have to give to an animal will help you answer this question. We all love seeing kittens and puppies, and really, who doesn’t? However, older animals need love too and they have their own personalities which is a lot of fun to see. If you have time to crate/ litter train the youngster and teach them that your furniture is not be chewed or clawed, then that’s great. However, if you are a busy person and cannot dedicate time every day to their education, then you might want to consider an animal that is already house trained and knows how to interact with people and other animals. Whichever age of animal that works with your household and schedule, you are in for a ridiculously cute adventure.

The last point that I want to make is very important but unfortunately it’s kind of a touchy subject: can I financially afford to care for an animal? When we have our homework on which pet would be best for our homes, most of us are somewhat naïve when it comes to the financial part of pet parenthood. We are prepared for the adoption fees and the monthly cost of food. However, we never think “what if?” What if my cat has kidney failure? What if my dog gets hit by a car? These types of questions get us thinking in huge dollar signs. Unfortunately, our furry friends are just like people: they grow old, they develop diseases and unforeseen accidents happen. So we have to think, can I afford medical bills? Dental-care? Boarding? Or pay to fix Mrs. Smith’s garden and yard when Spot decides to dig a million holes in it? Starting your own savings account can be a great relief down the road, as can pet insurance. Before adopting an animal, we need to make sure that we can take care of all of our furry friend’s needs, especially the ones that they can’t pay for themselves.

In the end, these are just a few of the factors that we need to be aware of before we become pet owners and we need to make the decision for ourselves. However, we can’t be selfish. I would love to adopt every pet that needs a home, but I know that I would not be giving those animals the best life possible. We just need to evaluate our situation and see what we can manage, then find a little critter that will call our house a home. If you are like me and don’t have enough space or time for that Australian Shepherd but still want to help animals in need, volunteering at a shelter or donating money to them can be a way to help keep orphaned animals healthy and happy.

(If you have questions about adopting a furry friend or if you are new to pet parenthood you can always talk to your Veterinarian. They know what needs animals need and can share some insight into how to be prepared for the new addition to your home.)

Teeth Talk

Posted on January 5, 2014 by CShowers | Category: News

Going to the dentist can be less than exciting to most of us. We brush our teeth, we floss and use mouth wash but when we get our check-up we can still have problems like cavities or plaque buildup. So if can we get these problems, then what about our pets? They too suffer from dental issues which can range from discomfort when eating to being detrimental to their health. Your furry friend’s doctor will check their mouth to see what is going on during a physical exam, however sometimes our pets dislike having their mouth looked at even more than we do. This can prove troublesome but there are ways to ensure that our pets have a clean and healthy mouth.

Let’s start with the basics: why should we be concerned about dental care for our cat or dog? Good question. There are many different problems that can arise from poor oral hygiene, many of which are preventable. For instance periodontal disease, according to the CVMA (Canadian Veterinarian Medical Association), affects 85% of cats and dogs who are 4 years and older to some degree. Periodontal disease is caused by bacteria and is indicated by bad breath, excessive tarter and plaque, and inflamed gums. This condition causes loss of bone structure that supports the tooth/teeth which occurs below the gum line and can lead to tooth loss. Gingivitis is caused in the early stages. Moderate periodontitis is when the plaque and tater buildup attacks the gums and starts to make the tooth a bit wiggly. The longer it’s left the more inflamed and infected the gums become and the tooth will get very loose which is rather painful for our furry friends. The infection in the gums can spread to other areas of the body such as the liver, kidney and heart. To keep our cats and dogs happy and healthy, we must not forget about their pearly whites.

So how do we protect our little ones from dental issues such as this painful condition? We clean, we brush and we feed our furry critters the right food and treats to take down some of that plaque and tarter. Veterinary clinics such as ours carry specialty foods that have hard kibble that will be tough enough to get through the hard tarter as well as the softer plaque. We recommend Hill’s Prescription Diet T/D which is available for cats and dogs (even for small dogs) as either a primary food source or as treats. Talking to your Veterinarian about which food they would recommend for your pet, especially if they have any other health concerns (i.e. weight concerns, digestive issues, etc.) is the best way to start a dental regimen.

Brushing may be difficult if your pet is opposed to the idea. We recommend starting this when they are a puppy or kitten so they are used to someone touching their mouth. Older pets may need time to get used to bushing so starting out slowly may be the key to successfully cleaning their teeth. There are toothbrushes and finger-brushes that are specially designed for animals that can be picked up at your Veterinary clinic. If your pet isn’t keen on the bushes, you could try a wet cloth wrapped around your index finger and try rubbing one or two teeth (and the surrounding gums) followed by a treat. The more this is done, the more comfortable they will be with you touching their teeth and the treat will help keep the experience a positive one. Just like we always hear from the dentist- brush, brush, brush!

If preventative measures were not enough and my pet needs more than I can do at home, what is the next step? A dental cleaning would take off any plaque and tarter that has built up, just as if you were to visit your own dentist. Extracting teeth may be necessary depending on the condition of the teeth which is usually planned for before the procedure is done. However, there may be tricky areas to see in your pet’s mouth especially if you cat or dog doesn’t enjoy having their mouth checked out. Again, you would need to discuss all of the specifics with your animal’s Veterinarian such as the extent of cleaning, if extractions are a possibility, anesthesia and cost.

It is very important to keep an eye on our furry critter’s mouth on a regular basis for any changes. A healthy animal’s mouth may not smell like a bed of roses but it shouldn’t smell foul. The mouth should be relatively odour-free, the teeth should be evenly spaced and white and the gums should be glistening pink and tight around the teeth. If you notice that your animal’s breath has become repellant, the gums are red and swollen, your pet has been drooling excessively or the teeth look damaged or discoloured, you should call your Veterinarian to set up an appointment for a dental exam.

We are the front line of defense for keeping away bacteria and disease from our pets. We must be vigilant in monitoring and prevention. The more that we can do early and often at home, the happier and healthier our pets will be.

Christmas

Posted on December 1, 2013 by CShowers | Category: News

Christmas is right around the corner and we all want to make sure that our furry friends are having a holly jolly Christmas too. However, there are holiday favorites that can be a lethal present lurking in our homes. There are the typical things that we know that are dangerous for our pets: chocolate, small toys, etc. But there are many others and even a few that one wouldn’t peg as poisonous to our cats and dogs. So as we prepare for one of the most exciting and tasty holidays let us also be cautious about what we are bring into our homes.

Plants such as Poinsettias are beautiful and mark this festive time of year. However the sap in Poinsettias is poisonous and can cause irritation in the digestive tract (vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, etc.) for cats and dogs. Lilies are big culprits too. There are several different types of Lilies, so it is best to research which ones are safe for your home (such as Calla Lilies). If a cat ingests a couple of pedals or drinks from the vase water, this can have severe affects from lethargy, vomiting/diarrhea to kidney failure or it can even be fatal. If you have a frisky feline, it may be prudent to choose other flowers to keep in and around your home. Holly and Mistletoe are beautiful but again, not to pleasant for our furry family. These two can cause lip smacking, vomiting and diarrhea, head shaking and drooling. Keeping these festive plants out of reach will help lessen the stress through the holidays.

Christmas trees and toys are essential to keeping the yuletide spirit, but these also pose a threat to our pets this time of year. To reference an article from the North Shore News that Dr. Clemett wrote several years ago about holiday hazards, she said “Remember, most decorations are not edible and what goes in does not necessarily come out!”. I think that this is something that should be on all pet owners’ minds as they are decorating. Tinsel may look pretty and fun to us, unfortunately puppies and kittens agree; if they swallow any sort of sting (tinsel included) it may get stuck in their intestinal tract and have to be surgically removed. Being conscious of what is small enough to be swallowed, soft enough to be chewed or even licked can protect your animals. Keeping presents on tables, raising the tree decorations a foot taller and properly disposing of wrapping material once you are done with it could be all it takes to keep your furry loved ones out of the surgery room this Christmas.

Chocolate. It is something that we at the clinic love, as I am sure many of you do as well. We all know that chocolate is something to keep away from dogs. It is actually the theobraomine that is found in the chocolate that is toxic. This can cause digestive upset, seizures and can also be fatal. One snack that I personally was not aware of until recently are raisins. Grapes and currents are also as bad as raisins as they can cause kidney failure in dogs if ingested. So the oh-so-tasty fruit cake this Christmas is also a no-no for our furry friends. Turkey is also another Christmas staple but should be kept away from dogs as it can cause digestive unrest; vomiting, diarrhea and even pancreatitis.

The holidays are the time to show our appreciation for the happiness that our loved ones bring us, especially the little critters running around our homes. Taking the time to know what is safe for our furry friends and what could potentially cause them great pain is a must. I know that there are lists to tackle and shopping to be done, but safety has to take priority this season if everyone is to have a very Merry Christmas.

I hope that all of you have a safe and wonderfully holiday!

On This Side of the Bridge

604.980.0440 | [email protected] | Admin

227 MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY | NORTH VANCOUVER, BC | V7J 3P2

604.980.0440 227 Mountain Highway, North Vancouver, BC V7J 3P2

Clinic Hours:
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday	7:30-6:00 7:30-6:00 7:30-8:00 7:30-6:00 7:30-6:00 8:00-5:00 Closed

After Hours Contact: Vancouver: Animal Emergency Clinic 604 734 5104 Fraser Valley: Animal Emergency Clinic Of The Fraser Valley 604 514 1711

Spring is eluding us here on the North Shore and just like the weather outside, our clinic is a flurry … READ MORE

At the clinic we are constantly visited by new pet parents who have just adopted their first furry friend or … READ MORE