Killarney Vets Blog

Vancouver Vets : Healthy Dog Series

We humans mostly feel comfortable in the company of dogs because they are easy to ‘read’. The facial expressions, tail movement and position, bark and urine mark are all familiar to us in their general expressions, though their detailed integration into an expressive language may not be understood. In practice, an owner becomes highly skilled in detecting the smallest changes in their dog’s well-being and likely next move, just by trial and error. Here is a brief description of canine vocabulary:

• Vocalisation
• Bark: On surprise, defence of territory
• Yap: In play, to solicit attention
• Bark-whine: In distress, to attract attention
• Howl: ‘Here I am’, a contact call
• Growl: Threat, a dominant challenge
• Growl: In play, mock dominance
• Whimper: In submission, to appease

Sound analysis of dog vocalisations reveals many variations of these basic calls for each dog, and further variations between individuals, breeds and possible between sexes.

• Visual signs
• Ears: Forward/back
• Lips: To hide/reveal pigmentation
• Eyes: Lid opening and papillary dilation
• Neck: Angle and hair erection
• Back: Height and hair erection (the ‘hackles’)
• Tail: Hair movement and height – a thousand variations
• Body: Stand, squat, roll-over (inquinal...

Vancouver Veterinarians : Healthy Dog Series

Dogs surgery procedures can be divided into two major categories, elective and required. Elective surgery for dogs includes spaying, castration (sterilization by complete removal of the testicles), vasectomy (sterilization by severing of the testicular tubules), tail amputation (tail docking), dewclaw removal and ear cropping. Required surgery for dogs are those performed after traumatic or disease induced injury, examples including repair of a fractured thigh bone or removal of a tumor. No matter which dogs surgery is being considered, the decision to perform veterinary surgery should be based on a thorough understanding of the risks, possible complication, and consequences of the procedure. Any anesthetic/surgical procedure can potentially result in the death of the patient. The chance of death is often very low, however, the perceived benefits of the surgical procedure must always outweigh this inherent risk. When discussing possible surgery for dogs, pet owners should as accurately as possible convey their expectations to the veterinarian and have all their expectations concerning the contemplated procedure answered to their satisfaction before leaving the veterinary surgery examination room.

Elective surgery at Killarney Animal Hospital

Elective veterinary surgery is usually performed on healthy dogs. Preoperative management...

Vancouver Veterinarians : Recognizing Pain in Dogs and Cats

Research has verified that animals feel pain to the same extend as human beings.  Pain sensation originated either in the skin, the deep tissues such as bone, joint and muscle, or in the internal organs.  Pain is evidenced by decreased use of the painful part, possibly by overall decreased activity. 

Dogs may cry out in pain, especially if the pain is intermittent and sharp in nature; they may not cry out even when in severe pain if the pain is dull, aching and continuous.  Thus the absence of crying, whining, or groaning is not an indication that pain is absent.  Better indicators of the presence of pain include:

• attempts to decrease use of the painful part, such as by limping
• reluctance to move the neck or back
• reluctance to change body position or to assume any particular body position (refusing to lie down or to stand or sit up)
• withdrawal from all unnecessary activity  

Touching a painful area may elicit sights of resentment, such as motion away from the touch, tightening of the muscles in the area ( splinting ), or aggressive behavior such as growling or biting.  Some dogs, however, may be so tractable or stoic in nature that it is difficult to elicit signs of pain even when pain is undoubtedly...

Veterinary knowledge base by Vancouver vets: Pet owner's examination

At our Vancouver Animal Hospital we are committed to our pet patients' heath and well-being.  We strive to share veterinary knowledge with wide community of pet owners.  To this end we present a series of  blog posts devoted to pets health.  The pets health care topic covered in the following posts will help you to learn the signs of a healthy pet and will teach you to recognize animal disease symptoms at the very early stages of  the illness development.

Please note that these posts were never intended or cannot replace the professional advice of a licensed veterinarian .  Our goal here is to help pet owners recognize the conditions when pets are in trouble and make an educated decision when it is the time to see your vet.

The following guide may help confirm a dog owner's suspicion that something is not quite right so that vet advice and medical care should be sought.  Any marked change in appearance of behavior, whether or not it is included in the following list, should be evaluated by your veterinarian or by vets at our Vancouver Animal Hospital.  Redness, heat, swelling, pain, breaks in the skin, masses or growths, bloody or foul-smelling discharge are signs of disease.

Abnormalities...

Vancouver Animal Hospital: Modification of the Joint by Triple Pelvic Osteotomy or Juvenile Pubic Symphysiodesis.

In the young growing patient without significant osteoarthritis, the surgeon may recommend trying to improve the joint and stop the subluxation. Subluxation is when the ball (femoral head) begins to move out of the socket (acetabulum) as the animal walks or runs. Subluxation leads to destruction of the cartilage and malformation of the joint as the dog matures. In young dogs, the pain of hip dysplasia comes mainly from the subluxation. This abnormal movement of the joint causes tension on the soft tissues around the joint, resulting in great pain and dog limping. 

The surgical procedure involves twisting the socket (acetabulum) by cutting and rotating the bone. This results in decreased subluxation and therefore less pain. It may also dramatically decrease the progression of arthritis later in life. In very young dogs, this may be achieved with a technique called juvenile pubic symphysiodesis, but for the most benefit, the hip dysplasia must be diagnosed before the dog is 20 weeks of age. In older dogs, modification of the joint is accomplished ina surgical procedure called triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO). In this procedure, the pelvis is cut in three places to permit rotation of the acetabulum, to stop the femoral head from subluxating. The success of this procedure depends mainly on careful patient selection . The deciding...

Pet Dental Care at our Vancouver Animal Hospital in Killarney

Your pet’s dental care doesn’t stop with a dental exam. At home aftercare is a vital part of your pet’s dental health. Toothpaste, gels, and rinses formulated for use in pets are readily available from pet stores or from our vet clinic.

Killarney Animal Hospital veterinarians recommend choosing one that contains chlorhexidine, as this antibacterial compound can remain effective for up to 12 hours after application. Human toothpaste should not be used, as it can cause stomach upset if swallowed by your pet. Also, the much-advocated home formula mixing baking soda and salt in water can be effective as a toothpaste alternative, yet, because of the high sodium content of this mixture, it should not be used in older pets or in those pets suffering from heart ailments. A regular, soft-bristled, human toothbrush can be used to apply the dental product. For cats and smaller dogs, a child’s toothbrush can be a substitute. However, for best result, purchase a special “finger” brush that fits on the end of your finger. These can be purchased at any pet supply store in Vancouver. Apply the paste, gel, or solution to the brush, and proceed to brush as you would your own teeth, concentrating on the gumline as well as the outsides of the large premolars and canine teeth. No...

Common Vancouver Neutering & Spaying Concerns

Vancouver dog spaying and  Vancouver cat spaying are  important veterinary procedures most pet owners must face at some point in time. The general belief is that there might be some kind of problem if the dog or cat is sent in for a spaying procedure before the onset of at least one heat cycle. But that notion is entirely false. You can get safe spaying for your car or dog in Vancouver even when the heat cycle has not started. Studies have shown that there are no side effects from this procedure after the onset of the heat cycle and there are no psychological, emotional or medical problems to worry about either. Female cats should be spayed before their heat cycle has commenced and also before they have had a litter. 

Dog neutering in Vancouver and cat neutering in...

  At our Vancouver Emergency Clinic there is an emergency vet on duty 7 days a week.

Poisoning

A recent survey shows that of all emergency situations among pets, poisoning is the most common. If you think your pet has ingested a toxic substance, do the following:

First, don’t panic. Most poisons take a while to work.

When calling one of our on duty emergency vet be prepared to provide the following information:

• Your name, address, and telephone number
• Generic or trade name of poison
• Information concerning the amount of poison ingested, the time it was eaten, and other significant circumstantial data
• The symptoms your animal is experiencing
• Appropriate credit card information

Broken limbs

Before transporting an animal with a broken bone to the hospital – but only if absolutely necessary – splint the wound. Incorrect splinting can make an injury worse, so be sure you know your animal first aid before attempting this technique, so be sure you know your animal first aid before attempting this technique.

If...

Use a flea shampoo (available at Killarney Animal Hospital) to get your pet’s fur squeaky clean while simultaneously killing pests.

Some shampoos are made just for dogs, others are for dogs and cats, and still others are safe even for kittens. Be sure to consult your veterinarian about which product is right for your pet. The answer will depend on the factors such as where you live, how old you pet is, and whether the animal has sensitive skin.

It’s fine to use an over the counter flea shampoo to keep your pet’s coat and skin clean and to wash away fleas. But be sure you don’t use the same shampoo on your cat that you use on your dog. They don’t contain the same ingredients and could even be harmful if used on the wrong animal. Check the label carefully when you buy any flea shampoo at a pet supply store. If still in doubt, consult the veterinarian at Vancouver Animal Hospital in Killarney.

If you visit someone whose pet or home has fleas, toss your clothes in the wash as soon as you return home. Otherwise, you’ll bring those unwanted critters...

How to Recognize a Healthy Cat

Whether you are buying a kitten or cat from a breeder or adopting one from a shelter, you want it to as healthy as possible. Optimally, kittens should be at least eight weeks old before being taken from their mom and littermates. If you are getting a kitten or cat from a shelter, try to find our as much as you can about its past and its personality.

The Healthy Cat Scan

Eyes should be clear of film or discharge – and look alert.
Ears should be clean (white or light pink) and not sensitive to touch.
Nose should be clean with no discharge.
Mouth should have healthy pink gums, and no offensive odour.
Coat should look healthy
Kitten fur should be fluffy and glossy,

• Whiskers should be long and unbroken.
• Skin should be free of lumps, growths, or swellings – above and below the surface.
• Paw pads should be uncracked.
• Cats should be responsive, energetic, and curious.

Vet’s hint: Some breeds, like the British shorthair, are naturally laid back, other, like the Somali, are anything but. Nonetheless, there’s a big...