Minden Animal Hospital - Veterinarian In Minden, ON Canada

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Anesthesia, safety and success;	Many procedures require an anesthetic in our pets from minor procedures to complicated surgery. They are common place but not without risks. The older the pet, the more health problems, the higher the risk.
The Cost of Chronic Disease.	Your doctor likely has been telling you for years about the value of regular check ups, blood work, and various other tests. When you turn 50, doctors start recommending other tests for early detection of disease and early treatment. Annual exams in people would be comparable to every 3 to 4 months exams in your pet.
Dogs Eat Grass	People, dogs and even bears are omnivores, they eat a variety of foods including meat, vegetables, and fruits. Dogs are not cows and cannot digest the vegetable matter like cows do and it does not give them much nutrition when they do eat it. Then why do dogs eat grass?
Don’t Scratch that itch!	Once upon a time, there was a small flea li ving on a furry dog named Honey that had thousands and thousands of offspring one warm July in Haliburton county. The flea family covered the furry map. They spent time under the armpit, in the groin, around the tail and up the back, biting and taking blood meals when hungry.
February is Dental Health Month.	When I first started to tell clients about brushing their pet’s teeth, I got looks of astonishment and lots of laughter. We have come a long way and now I generally get “yes I brush my pet’s teeth” or a look of guilt and comments like, “I know I should but…..” And so ignorance becomes guilt. That is progress.
My Cat Is Mad At Me, He Peed On My Bed!	Cats cannot think like humans. We would like to believe they can, but we would be wrong. Cats cannot seek revenge by urinating on your bed. Although it may be a good way to get back at you since, I would bet you don’t like it, but they are not capable of reasoning that way.
Fighting Inflammation	Inflammation can be in a joint (arthritis) or in the bladder (cystitis) or the muscles (myositis) or many other places in the body. Most of the conditions with an “itis” on the end are inflammation and it causes pain. The conventional way to treat inflammation is with an NSAID (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug).
Hank's Gang	Gang members are not wanted in our town. Gang members are not usually pillars of society, they take from society not give, they cause havoc around town instead of helping. Hank is a gang member and he is not wanted here. He wanders the town, takes what he wants when he wants it, urinates in the street.
Heartworm Disease	Every spring in Ontario, veterinary clinics recommend testing dogs for the heartworm parasite infection. This brings up a lot of questions from pet owners. Is heartworm infection the same as heartworm disease? How much heartworm do we have around here? Do I need to test every year? Are all heartworm tests made equal?
Holidays and Pets	Keep your pet safe this holiday. Here are some dangers to avoid. Wrapped Christmas chocolates placed under the tree may be ferreted out by the family dog, unwrapped and eaten when you are not home. Chocolate contains theobromide which can cause heart arrythmias.
How do you make a town responsible for stray dogs, not private business?	Frequently we get calls from people who have found a dog on the road, running loose, no tags and do not know what to do with them. We take them into the hospital, thank the kind hearted person who found the dog and did not want to see him hit on the road. The dogs are examined for injuries, checked for a microchip or identifying marks, and we treat the urgent problems.
Is That A Placebo or Medication?	Modern medicine has a lot of drugs available to help reduce or cure our every ache and pain. We have options now that were not even imaginable back at the turn of the century. Medicine is changing so fast that it is hard to keep up, even at a run.
Letter to the Editor re: Rabies Clinics	Since coming to the Minden/Haliburton area, I have noticed that this is one of the only areas in Ontario where rabies clinics are still being conducted. I thought I would take this opportunity to share my view, which is on par with most other veterinarians in Ontario, as well as the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association, about rabies clinics in our area.
Lump It or Leave It	Does your pet have a lump or bump and you are not sure what to do about it? First, you should have it checked by your veterinarian as reading about it on the internet or in the newspaper will not give you a medical opinion but I will go through the process of what is done about them and why.
Local Veterinarian Reports first Minden Case of Heartworm disease in a Dog that has not left the county.	Wow,the mosquitos win this year. The first case of West Nile was diagnosed in Haliburton this year as well as the first heartworm in a dog who has not been outside of Minden as well. Heartworm is spread by mosquitos from one canine to another. Cats and humans can become infected but manifest the disease differently than dogs.
Microchipping	Numerous cats and dogs are lost annually and end up as strays in shelters, pounds and veterinary clinics, on the streets, and often euthanized because owners cannot be found. One in three pets is lost or stolen each year in Canada.
My Cat Is Mad At Me, He Peed On My Bed!	Cats cannot think like humans. We would like to believe they can, but we would be wrong. Cats cannot seek revenge by urinating on your bed. Although it may be a good way to get back at you since, I would bet you don’t like it, but they are not capable of reasoning that way.
Obesity	What do you think the biggest endocrine disease is in dogs and cats? I bet you did not guess that it was obesity, but it is. Obesity in dogs and cats is increasing annually. Our understanding of the metabolic, physiologic and endocrine changes that occur in obese animals improves yearly as well.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids	In the veterinary field, omega 3 fatty acids have been receiving a lot of attention. Supplementation of an animal’s diet with OFA’s has proven to be beneficial for a number of disease processes (skin disease/heart disease/kidney disease, arthritis and dementia).
On the loss of a pet.	One of the hardest things in life to do is to say good bye to a beloved pet. They become one of the family. They are the family member that never complains, never judges, is always happy to see you and always forgives you. The only problem with them is that they do not outlive us.
Pain Hurts:	"I have not heard any crying, no whining, so it can’t hurt” This is a phrase that veterinarians hear quite often from pet owners. A lot of people think that dogs and cats do not feel pain because they do not complain. Personally, I know some people with a little pain that complain a lot and others with a lot of pain that rarely complain.
Pet Food	Fido Food, still in the news long after the pet food recall. Still many months after the tragic melamine –tainted pet food recall, the question of pet food and it’s safety for pet owners to feed their pet comes up almost daily. Sometimes it is disguised in questions about alternative diets other than those found at the pet stores, grocery stores or veterinary clinics.
Pets for Christmas	Pets are the best company Who complains the least? Who is the most forgiving? Who is the most loyal? The answer of course is “man’s best friend”, your dog. Dogs and cats can be great company, and a great comfort for those who are lonely at Christmas time; however, this is not the best time to purchase or adopt a pet.
Letter to the Editor re: Rabies Clinics	Since coming to the Minden/Haliburton area, I have noticed that this is one of the only areas in Ontario where rabies clinics are still being conducted. I thought I would take this opportunity to share my view, which is on par with most other veterinarians in Ontario, as well as the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association, about rabies clinics in our area.
Pets Need Regular Check Ups	Pets need regular check ups just like people do to ensure they stay healthy and live a long life. Crucial to maintaining your pet's good health is the annual physical examination. Older animals usually have bi annual exams.
Quick Guide to First Aid	Emergencies are you ready? Are you prepared for an emergency with your pet. Do you know what to do if your pet has a seizure, laceration, fracture, bleeding, vomiting or diarrhea. Do you know how to tell if it is urgent, if you should call your veterinarian, or what to do before you get to the hospital? Want to know? read on…
Rabies Clinics, in Ontario?	Once upon a time in Ontario we had quite a few cases of rabies in wild animals so it showed up in domestic animals on a routine basis. There was an obvious health risk for people. There were many government initiatives and many veterinarians that helped to reduce the risk to people of this deadly disease.
Reading Pet Food Labels	Stay tuned and you will see why you cannot read a pet food label and know what is in it... It is difficult if not impossible to read a pet food label and know what is in the food. The manufacturers know what people want to see on the label and can make them read the way the consumer wants to see them.
Rex, the Burkinabe Dog.	Rex is a Burkinabe dog. Well, not really a breed but he comes from Yako, Burkina Faso and many of the dogs, owned and street dogs, look just like him, a breed of their own, an African street dog.
The Importance of Spaying/Nuetering Your Pet	Every year in Ontario, tens of thousands of dogs and cats, are euthanized (put down) because homes cannot be found for them. Pet owners must take responsibility for their companion animals by having them spayed or neutered.
To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate, That is a Very Good Question.	Not all vaccines are made equal and not all vaccines need to be given annually. The 2006 American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) had a task force meeting to re-examine and revise the vaccination guidelines for cats and dogs. The results are tabulated and published on the AAHA website (www.aahanet.org).
What Your Dog Told Me He Wanted For Christmas	When I go dog toy shopping, I am always amazed at the number of toys in the stores. Back in the day, there were 2 or 3 companies that made dog toys, now you can buy designer toys, clothes and gear at just about any pet store. What exactly is it your dog wants? I am glad you asked...
Wellness Blood Work, Why Bother?	We all know if we are sick or our animals are sick that sometimes the cause of the illness is not readily determined just on a physical exam or a quick look. Sometimes we have to do blood work, urinalysis, fecal tests, cultures etc to help us come up with a diagnosis. We also know that sometimes it works to just “guess” and try this treatment or that treatment or many treatments in hopes of success. Sometimes it does not.