Winner of Pet of the Month November 2013

Congratulations to Lionel from everyone at North Shore Veterinary Clinic! He is the November 2013 recipient of our Pet of the Month Award. His playful pose and beautiful eyes brought us warmth during the rainy season on the North Shore!

During the spooky holidays, there are many poisonous hazards that are lurking in our homes. The most common Halloween hazards for pets are chocolate, candy overindulgence, raisins, candy wrappers, glow sticks and jewelry and candles.

• Chocolate – Of all candies, chocolate poses the biggest Halloween “threat” to dogs. Many dogs are attracted to the smell of chocolate, making it a significant threat for massive ingestion. The darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more poisonous it is. Methylxanthines are the chemicals in chocolate that are dangerous to pets, and they are more concentrated in darker chocolates. A single ounce of Baker’s chocolate can make a 0-pound dog very sick. Milk chocolate and white chocolate are less dangerous, but should still be kept out of the reach of pets. If you think your dog may have ingested chocolate, signs to watch for include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, agitation, increased thirst, an elevated heart rate, and in severe cases, seizures.

• Candy and sweets overindulgence – Candy and other sweet foods - especially those containing poisonous xylitol - can also be poisonous to pets. Large ingestions of sugary, high-fat candy and sweets can lead to pancreatitis in pets. Potentially fatal, pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas and very painful. Pet owners should be aware that clinical signs of pancreatitis may not present for several days after ingestion. Signs include a decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, abdominal pain, and potentially, kidney or organ damage.

• Raisins – Mini-boxes of raisins can be a healthy treat for trick-or-treaters, but they are extremely poisonous to dogs! Raisins are so dangerous that they deserve the same pet-proofing treatment as chocolate – stored in secure containers far from their reach. Dogs can experience kidney failure after ingesting very small amounts of raisins (including similar products with grapes and currants too). For this reason, any ingestion should be treated as a potential poisoning. Signs of raisin or grape poisoning include vomiting, nausea, decreased appetite, lethargy, abdominal pain, excessive or decreased thirst and urination, bad breath, and rapid onset kidney failure.

• Candy wrappers – When pets get into candy, they can eat the wrappers too. Ingestion of foil and cellophane wrappers can sometimes cause a life-threatening bowel obstruction, which may require surgery to correct. Watch for vomiting, decreased appetite, not defecating, straining to defecate, or lethargy. X-rays or even ultrasound may be necessary to diagnose this problem.

• Glow sticks and glow jewelry – Due to their curious nature, cats often accidentally ingest glow sticks and jewelry because they are bright and fun to chew. While not usually life-threatening, the contents can cause mouth pain and irritation, as well as profuse drooling and foaming. If your cat chews on glow jewelry, offer a tasty snack to help remove the product from the mouth. Bathing the chemical off the fur is important too, as grooming can contribute to further poisoning.

• Costumes – If you put a costume on your pet, make sure it doesn’t impair his vision, movement or air intake. If it has metallic beads, snaps or other small pieces, be aware that these pieces, especially those that contain zinc and lead, can result in serious poisoning if ingested. Also, before thinking about dying or coloring your pet’s fur, consult with your veterinarian, as some products can be very harmful to pets, even if it’s labeled non-toxic to humans.

• Candles – Curious noses and wagging tails have a way of finding lit candles. Keep candles out of your pet’s reach to prevent accidental thermal injury or burns.

This Halloween, please keep your pets safe. If you think your pet has ingested something poisonous, the veterinary and toxicology experts at Pet Poison Helpline suggest that it’s always easier, less expensive, and safer for your pet to be treated earlier, versus when he’s showing severe symptoms. Contact our clinic 604-980-0440 if you have any questions or concerns. If you have an emergency after hours contact Animal Emergency in Vancouver 604-734-5104. Have a Happy Halloween!

Winner of Pet of the Month October 2013

Congratulations to Romeo from everyone at North Shore Veterinary Clinic! He is the October 2013 recipient of our Pet of the Month Award. His festive spirit and adorable costume has brought us the Halloween spirit.

Thanksgiving 2013

Our clinic will be closed on Monday October 14, 2013 for Thanksgiving and will re-open on Tuesday October 15, 2013 at 7:30am. If you have an emergency, please contact Animal Emergency in Vancouver at 604-734-5104 or on their website http://www.animaler.com/. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving

Important Medical Alert:

There is a Parvovirus outbreak in Chilliwack, British Columbia. This virus is highly contagious and is debilitating among dogs. It is always vital to keep up to date with your pet’s vaccines, as viruses can spread quickly from one region to another. Some of the symptoms of Parvovirus are a high fever, profuse vomiting, severe diarrhea and can be fatal in some cases. If you are concerned that your pet may have symptoms of this virus or may have been exposed to it, please contact our clinic 604-980-0440; or if it is after hours- Animal Emergency in Vancouver is a 24 hour clinic 604-734-5104.

Winner of Pet of the Month September 2013

Congratulations to Towla from everyone at North Shore Veterinary Clinic! She is the September 2013 recipient of our Pet of the Month Award. Her graceful poise and elegance is a joy to see.

Labour Day 2013

Our clinic will be closed on Monday September 2, 2013 for Labour Day and will re-open on Tuesday September 3, 2013 at 7:30am. If you have an emergency, please contact Animal Emergency in Vancouver at 604-734-5104 or on their website http://www.animaler.com/. Have a wonderful Labour Day!

Winner of Pet of the Month August 2013

Congratulations to Miss Molly from everyone at North Shore Veterinary Clinic! She is the August 2013 recipient of our Pet of the Month Award. She won us all over with her sneaky mischievousness. Can you find the kitty?

B.C. Day August 2013

Our clinic will be closed on Monday August 5, 2013 for B.C. Day and will re-open on Tuesday August 6, 2013 at 7:30am. If you have an emergency, please contact Animal Emergency in Vancouver at 604-734-5104 or on their website http://www.animaler.com/. Have a fun and safe B.C. Day!

Winners of Pet of the Month July 2013

Congratulations to Kona and Dexter from everyone at North Shore Veterinary Clinic! They are our July 2013 recipients of our Pet of the Month Award. Their cheery attitude and stylish shirts captivated all of us.

Special Orders

Our clinic carries a variety of products and foods to keep up with our furry friends needs. However, if we tried to carry everything that there is on the market our clinic would be bursting at the seams! So, twice a week Amanda orders specialty products and medications. These days are Monday and Thursday mornings. If your pet gets food or medication special ordered through our clinic, call or email us the day before or before 10am on an order day. If you are unsure what is considered a special order, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Pet of the Month

All of us at the clinic love seeing everyone’s wonderful companions. That is why we have added a special section on our website just for our furry friends to showcase their adorableness.

There is an ongoing “Pet of the Month” contest where cute or funny photos are submitted and a cat or dog will have their photo selected to be that month`s winner. It is not going to be easy, as there are so many awesome animals out there! The winner will be announced on the 15th of each month and will receive a tasty treat. Check out this section to see the winning photo each month. The first winner will be announced July 15, 2013.

To have your furry friend entered into the contest, simply go to the Fury Friend section of our website and submit a photo with your information and the picture. We will post your photos on the website so everyone can see your cute pets too. If your photo is chosen, we will contact you directly to let you know the good news. If you have submitted a photo and it wasn`t chosen for that month, do not worry! Pictures that have been submitted previously will always be considered for the months to come. So send us those silly or sweet photos to have a chance to win!

Good luck to all!

Our Veterinarians Are Always Learning

Dr. Mary Plischke will be busy this July attending the 65th Annual C.V.M.A Convention from July 10-13 in Victoria, B.C. The convention is called “Ocean of Knowledge, Mountains of Progress!” But do not worry, Dr. Terri Clemett and Dr. Shaunne Gorrie will be holding down the fort here while Dr. Plischke is getting even smarter!