In the weeks leading up to Christmas 2020, we saved a portion of the revenue generated from dog and cat nail trims and donated this money to the Manna Food Bank. This year we raised $610, which is 50% of what we can usually donate, but given the limitations placed on everyone this year, we are still proud of this accomplishment. Thank you to our clients, as it is your ongoing support that allows us give back to our local charities!
In 2019, our clinic was one of few selected to participate a study funded by the Ontario Veterinary College Pet Trust.
The goal of the Canadian Pet Tick Survey is to understand tick and tick-borne disease risks for companion animals across space and time in Canada. From April 2019 to April 2020, we submitted ticks collected from our clients' pets to the laboratory. The ticks will be identified by species and testing will be conducted for tick-borne pathogens. Find out more at: www.petsandticks.com MAY 2020 UPDATE: Since February, we have received the following results on submitted ticks: of the 7 ticks submitted in April and May, 2019, ALL were the Ixodes scapularis ("Deer Tick"/"Blacklegged Tick"). This is the tick that carries B. burgdorferi, which causes Lyme disease. Fortunately, ALL 7 of these ticks were NEGATIVE for both the Lyme disease agent AND A.phagocytophilum (which causes Anaplasmosis). Further results have been stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We will update this section of our website with more results as they become available. In November and December we offered "Christmas Nail Trims" at a discounted rate. All proceeds were donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Muskoka. Together we raised $1120!
Thank you so much to our clients who helped contribute to this great cause. In July, 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a list of 16 pet food brands that may be linked to an increased risk of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). A graph of this information is displayed below. The investigation began in July 2018 when there appeared to be a drastic increase in reports of DCM in dogs, including in breeds without genetic predisposition. Many of the foods identified were labeled as “grain-free” and contained a high proportion of peas, lentils, other legumes and/or potatoes/sweet potatoes.
Although most commonly reported in larger dogs, some smaller dogs and a few cats have also been affected. Due to the complexity of the issue, the FDA has announced it will continue to investigate the link between pet food ingredients and DCM. To read the full report and learn more, visit the FDA website: True grain allergy or intolerance is rare in the dog and cat. The current recommendation is to transition pets eating grain-free diets to a more conventional alternative. We are happy to provide nutritional advice and diet recommendations for our patients, including those with documented food allergies. For more information on this important topic and others, please visit: https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/petfoodology/ A link to one of the many articles on Grain Free Diets and DCM in dogs: https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2018/11/dcm-update/ and this article on the same topic updated July 2019: https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2019/07/dcmupdate/ Unfortunately winter is still here! This article shows some Winter Hazards to keep in mind this season for our furry friends: Winter Hazards - Pet Poison Helpline
With the cooler weather, we humans spend more time indoors in close contact with each other, and this can make us prone to "colds". This is also the time of year when we often visit friends and family and have to board our dogs. When dogs are housed in close quarters, they are at higher risk for contracting kennel cough. Please click HERE for more information about kennel cough. If you think your dog has kennel cough, please CALL US to see if an appointment for an examination is recommended.
If you own or care for a cat and are 18 years of age or older, you are invited to participate in this survey. The study is funded by the Ontario Veterinary College Pet Trust. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. The research is looking into antibiotic use and resistance, and what drives antibiotic prescription use and compliance. This complex subject needs to be approached from a variety of angles. One angle is looking at what pet owners perceive or want. This survey is designed to gather information about pet owners’ perceptions and preferences when treating their pets for an infection.
The survey, along with full details and ethics approval information, are available here: https://uoguelph.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cMa6oKErbLCZhE9 The study's authors appreciate pet owner's help with this research. The previous study about antibiotic use in dogs (see an earlier post) provided some interesting and useful information. More details about that soon…. There is a study underway funded by the Ontario Veterinary College Pet Trust at the University of Guelph. The study is designed to gather information about pet owners’ perceptions and preferences regarding antibiotic use when treating pets for infections. If you own or care for a dog and are 18 years of age or older, you are invited to participate in this survey by clicking the link below (it is voluntary and anonymous).
Full details and ethics approval information are also available at this link: https://uoguelph.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5uUBn8xoG9kBLeJ We want you to know about a NEW tapeworm of concern in Ontario this year: Echinococcus sp. The concern is that your dog can become infected and pass a very dangerous form of this disease on to you. The tapeworm usually cycles through the fox and coyote population. Talk to us to see if your dog is at risk. If so, we can recommend prevention. Click HERE for more information from the University of Guelph.
Congratulations are in order for 3 of our team members. In the last month, Crystal, Kristy, and Dayna have all tied the knot! April, 2019 My last website post...![]() It is with a heavy heart that I post my last website and facebook post on behalf of Centennial Animal Hospital. It has been my privilege to launch the new website and facebook page for Centennial Animal Hospital. I have thoroughly enjoyed interacting with you all in a less formal environment and getting to know you, your pet(s) and the relationship you share with them even better. I hope that my efforts have ensured that you have learned some new things, were advised of some important information and that you had a bit of fun over this past year. I wish you and your pet(s) all the best and, if you see me out and about, please don’t hesitate to stop and say hi. I hope my new adventure brings me as much joy as you, and especially your pet(s), have given me over the years. |