News
Welcome Sally and Lynne, February 2012
Greenbank Animal Hospital is happy to welcome two new front staff team members. Both Sally and Lynne are currently in training. Lynne has been a client of ours for many years and we are happy to now have her on "our side" of the counter.
Dental Awareness Month
Does my pet need routine dental care? - January 2012
February is dental awareness month. According the American Veterinary Dental Society more than 80 % of dogs and 70% of cats have dental disease by 3 years of age. Good dental hygiene increases your pet's life span and improves his/her quality of life! Plaque and tartar harbour the bacteria that lead to infections not only in the mouth, but also the heart, kidneys, and liver. Daily brushing of your pet's teeth combined with regular professional cleaning by your veterinarian is your pet's best defence.
Photo Contest December 21, 2011
Every year both the Greenbank Animal Hospital and the Rideau Animal Hospital hold a pet photo contest. Clients are asked to submit their favourite photos of their own pets. Two winners are selected at each clinic by the staff. The winning photos are then laminated and placed on the wall in the hospital waiting area and, more recently, will be placed on our website. Click here to enjoy the winning photos over the past few years.
To enter the contest for 2012, please submit a standard 4x6 photograph. Photographs of all pets are welcome, but we will only accept one submission per family. Please do not submit professional photographs. Photos must be submitted by March 1st 2012 after which time we will notify all contestants of the outcome. This years winner will also receive a hand-painted portrait of their pet from a local artist, Jane Pickett.
Barrhaven Santa Claus Parade - November 20, 2011
The staff of Greenbank and Rideau Animal Hospitals will be dressed up in festive attire and marching with some of our four legged friends in the parade. We hope to see you there!
Happy Retirement Karen - November 17, 2011
Karen has been working at Greenbank Animal hospital for over 10 years and has been an integral member of our team. We will all miss her very much and wish her the best of luck as she is soon to become a Grandmother!
Goodbye and best wishes to Dr. Oliver - Sept 2011
We are sad to announce that Dr. Oliver has left our team. Dr. Oliver has moved to the United States to be with her fiance. We will all miss her very much and wish her happiness as she begins this new journey.
WARNING REGARDING CHICKEN JERKY TREATS THAT MAY BE TOXIC - June 2, 2011
We are recommending that all dog owners avoid feeding their dog chicken jerky treats after several cases have recently been reported where dogs are developing serious side effects after consuming these treats.
The Ontario Veterinary Medical Association has received multiple reports at present of otherwise healthy dogs who are developing kidney disease after the consumption of chicken jerky treats. One severe case has resulted in the dog being euthanized. The autopsy of the euthanized dog revealed a toxic substance in the dog.
To ensure your dog's health is protected, please refrain from feeding any sort of chicken jerky treat until more information can be found as to whether they are responsible for these potentially life threatening reactions.
Study Shows 60 Percent Increase in Canine Heartworm Cases in Ontario- May 20, 2011
A 2010 study published by the Ontario Veterinary College’s Department of Pathobiology at the University of Guelph has revealed a 60 percent increase in the number of pets carrying the heartworm parasite in Ontario since the last study of its kind was conducted in 2002.
The study revealed that 564 dogs tested positive for heartworm in 2010, and of these cases, 431 were located in Ontario. 80 percent of the dogs had not been on heartworm preventative medication.
The full results of the study can be accessed at http://www.ovc.uoguelph.ca/heartworm/2010/
HAPPY 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY - May 2011
We would like to congratulate Karen, Sandy, Dr. Willis, and Dr. Shibata who all started working for our animal hospitals 10 years ago. We are happy to have had these amazing, caring, and hardworking women on our team for a full decade now and we hope to continue working with them for years to come.
Heartworm season is upon us again- April 10, 2011
Heartworm is carried by mosquitoes and an infection can result in serious lung and cardiac problems including death primarily in dogs and on rare occasion in cats. We prevent infections in our pets by using a monthly preventative medication during the mosquito season (June 1 through November 1). In addition, we routinely screen our canine companions for adult heartworm infection through blood testing.
We are currently following the recommendation of the Center for Disease Control and the Companion Animal Parasite Council with respect to year round deworming for intestinal parasites. The easiest way to accomplish this is through the monthly heartworm preventative used year round. Please see the following news release of Year Round Deworming of Our Pets for more detail.
Please remember to call to see if your pet is currently due for a heartworm test and then pick up the appropriate preventative medication
Year Round Deworming For Our Pets- April 10, 2011
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Companion Animal Parasite Council are currently recommending year round deworming of our pets along with annual fecal examinations. The intestinal parasites that can be carried by dogs and cats can cause significant health problems in our children including blindness. Studies in the Atlantic Provinces have shown that as many as 30% of children test positive for exposure to these parasites. Children under the age of 5 are most susceptible since they tend to put many things into their mouths. It only takes a bit of soil or sand on a toy to transmit the microscopic eggs to another pet or a child. Furthermore, the microscopic eggs are very hardy and have been shown to remain viable in the soil for as long as six years! Sand in particular is an ideal substrate for maintaining viable eggs, so sandboxes, beaches and sand lined playgrounds are even more susceptible to harbouring infective eggs. Year round deworming can be achieved for our canine companions through heartworm preventative. Outdoor cats pick up the parasites from mice, squirrels, etc., when hunting and leave their contaminated feces in gardens and sandboxes. Outdoor cats are, therefore, an extremely important source of these parasites and should be dewormed on a monthly basis as well. Ask your veterinarian which parasite control product is best for you pet and your life style.
Tick Control - April 10, 2011
Ticks are more and more a concern in the Ottawa area. Statistics show that tick numbers are increasing every year. There are several prescription medications available to help defend you pet against these pests. Also, be aware that the tick season in Ottawa is longer than the heartworm season. There is a "bloom" of ticks in April/May and again in October/November. Pets being exposed to ticks should be protected from early April through December. Some medications kill the ticks directly, but cannot prevent the spread of diseases such as Lyme's disease. Pesticides can be used to repel ticks, but must be used with caution especially when dogs are in close contract with cats.
We all know that ticks can carry diseases such as Lyme's disease that is difficult to detect, but can profoundly affect the lives of our pets. Along with increasing tick numbers, as you would expect, we are also seeing a rise in the number of Lyme's disease cases. A new heartworm test is available that also screens for Lyme's disease. If your pet is exposed to ticks, consider also this combination test. The earlier we diagnose and treat Lyme's disease, the better our chances of producing a good outcome for our canine companions.
WHEATEN CLINIC - MARCH 2011
Owners of Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers should be aware of this breed's risk for certain diseases. These include kidney and intestinal diseases which can result in protein loss as well as Addison's disease which causes electrolyte abnormalities. Early detection of these conditions is important since all are life threatening when not controlled. There is no test to predict carriers or dogs at risk among so called normals, so annual screening allowing for early detection is highly recommended. Early intervention is critical to changing the course of these diseases.
For pets who are up to date in their vaccines we are offering annual screening and monitoring of these conditions at our Wheaten Testing Clinic. This year Dr. Willis will be running our annual Wheaten testing clinic which will be held on Wednesday March 9th, 2011 from 4 pm to 8 pm at Greenbank Animal Hospital.
Fit 4 Life
Obesity is as much of a problem for our companions today as it is for us. The majority of our patients are overweight and many of those are considered obese. This predisposes them to diabetes, liver problems as well as arthritis and will shorten the life span of our beloved companions. For their own good health and well being, proper weight management is very important. In addition, our companions "train us" to refill the food bowl on command. We now have a program to help you improve your companions’ weight. We will work with you to help you take charge of your pets eating habits so that your pet will lose weight, feel full and satisfied between meals and be happier and healthier overall. Coupled with the use of a prescription weight loss food and proper exercise, we will help you to get you pet back to a healthier body condition. Our veterinary technician staff will schedule a weigh in for your pet every 2 weeks to ensure controlled weight loss at a healthy rate. It is important that the weight loss be controlled and not be too rapid nor too slow. Working with our prescription weight loss foods and our staff we will work together to achieve a healthier life style for your companion. Contact us to enrol now!
Midlife Wellness Testing
As our pets start to age, the incidence of disease begins to rise. Due to survival of the fittest in nature, our companions tend to hide signs of pain and illness very well. Indications of serious diseases such as diabetes, kidney failure, heart failure and arthritis can be very subtle if they exist at all in the early stages. Yet, early intervention can significantly impact on the course of the disease. Altering the course of the disease can lead to not only more comfort for your pet but also increase the life expectancy. Today, we have many tools from nutritional modification to medications for slowing the progress of diseases. However, early detection is a key component of this process. We are now offering a package for an overall health screen of your middle aged pet to help in the early detection of these problems. Included are screening radiographs of the chest and abdomen, in depth blood work panels and a urinalysis. The radiographs will screen for diseases such as early heart failure, liver or spleen tumours, bladder stones, and more. Blood screening will help identify problems with the kidneys, liver, pancreas, as well as diseases such as diabetes, anemia, leukemia, autoimmune diseases, etc. Urine tests will help evaluate kidney function, urinary tract infection as well as urinary crystals and stones. Finally, normal results will establish a baseline for your individual pet that can help evaluate change in the future. All of this information will ultimately lead to a healthier and happier life for both you and your pet. Contact us for scheduling and price information.
Below are the press releases we've issued over the last year. You can also search for topics by keyword.
