Understanding Pet Food Labels

Did you know there is very little regulation for what is required for a company to make pet food in Canada?!?!

Determining quality can be tricky as there is no way to determine this by reading the ingredient list or guaranteed analysis.  The quality of a food is based on the blend of ingredients that work together to provide the proper nutritional balance for your pet based on his/her age and stage.

Let us help you understand pet food labels so you can feel more confident when choosing the right pet food for your pet.

We’ll start at the beginning with…

Ingredients: 

Ingredients are the delivery method of nutrients to your pets body and are listed on every bag of pet food but the interesting part of this is they are listed by weight from heaviest ingredient to lightest and this is done prior to processing.  What this means is that the protein (let’s say chicken) is weighed when it is still intact with water, bone and fat.  This makes this ingredient far heavier than the rice or corn or wheat that is in the diet.  Also, the chicken we talked about has to be processed meaning rendered , dried and ground becoming chicken meal before it is used in pet food so if we weighed it in this state it would be more comparable to the other ingredients. 

By-product is a word that carries a connotation that it is an inferior product, however, by –products are common in both the human and pet food.  A by-product is simply “something produced in the making of something else” so to give an example of this oils are extracted from seeds making oil a by-product.

Grains are another great ingredient providing our pets with both energy and nutrition.  There are a lot of myths surrounding grains, particularly corn.  Despite the misconception that it is filler, corn is actually a great source of nutrients.  Corn once cooked is highly digestible carbohydrate which provides great energy as well as its protein promotes muscle and tissue growth.  It contains essential fatty acids for healthy skin and coats and antioxidants.

Guaranteed Analysis:

The guaranteed analysis (GA) provides nutrient information.  It indicates the minimum and maximum levels of nutrients such as protein, fat and fiber. If the diet makes a nutritional claim based on the nutrients (for example a diet to aid in mobility it must then list those nutrients that support that claim in the GA).    The GA can be tricky to interpret as it only provides the minimum or maximum NOT the actual amount.  For example, a product with a maximum guarantee of 5% may only contain 1% and a product containing a minimum guarantee of 15% could contain 30%.

More information on nutrient and caloric content can be obtained from calling the manufacturer and is advised.

The Nutritional Adequacy Statement:

This is where the pet food indicates that it is balanced for growing animals, pregnant or nursing mother, adults or seniors.  Caution if the product indicates it is for “all lifestages” as this indicates the diet is formulated to meet the needs of the most demanding stage which would be a growing animal and hence could contain excess levels of nutrients for adult and senior pets.

AAFCO Statement:

AAFCO is the Association of American Feed Control Officials and they set the standards for pet foods sold in the United States.  Canada recognizes these standards.  You should look for an AAFCO statement on the bag.  AAFCO does not have any bias and does not speak to the quality of ingredients; however, it does confirm that it is a balance diet.  There are two different methods they use to determine the nutritional adequacy

·       Feeding Trial Method

On the bag (we’ll say it is a bag of Adult Cat Food) this would read as “Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that Brand X Adult cat food provides complete and balanced nutrition for maintenance of adult cats.

This means is that the manufacturer of the food performed an AAFCO protocol feeding trial using the food as the sole source of nutrition to determine how the pet will perform on the diet and its nutritional adequacy.  This method is the “Gold Standard”.

·       Formulation Method

On the bag (we’ll say it is a bag of Adult Cat Food) this would read as “Brand X Cat Formula is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for Maintenance.

This method is less expensive as actual feeding trials are not required.

Please feel free to reach out to us for nutritional recommendations!

Understanding the Spay/Neuter Surgery

Understanding the Spay/Neuter Surgery

Spaying (ovariohysterectomy) and neutering (orchidectomy) is the surgical removal of reproductive organs.  Choosing to spay or neuter your pet will ensure that they live a healthier, happier and longer life. It is important to understand what is included in your pet’s care when comparing the cost of the surgery among other veterinary clinics or at the Humane Society.

At Davis Drive Animal Clinic we believe strongly in providing high quality care with an emphasis on anesthetic safety and patient comfort. Here are just some of the features and benefits we are able to include in the cost of your pet’s surgery.

Surgical Procedure

• We schedule a maximum of 3 surgeries per day to ensure our Veterinarians and Registered Veterinary Technicians have the appropriate time to care for your pet's needs

Preanesthetic Blood Tests

• We complete preanesthetic blood tests to ensure your pet's organs are functioning properly prior to anesthetic
•  If there are any abnormalities in these tests we can change the anesthetic protocol to meet your pet’s specific needs or even delay the surgery to address other health concerns first
• This bloodwork will also act as a baseline reference for your pet in the future     

Premedication

• We provide an injection of medication to your pet before the anesthetic to help with their comfort
• This reduces the amount of anesthesia needed to keep your pet asleep during surgery and lowers the risk of anesthesia

Intravenous Catheterization

• We place an intravenous catheter which provides us with instant access to your pet’s circulatory system (blood) while they anesthetized
• This saves time if medications need to be administered in an emergency situation

Intravenous Fluids (I.V. Fluids)

• Maintains your pet’s blood pressure while they are anesthetized and keeps your pet hydrated and their organs functioning
• Your pet recovers faster so they can come home to you sooner

Anesthetic Monitoring

• We have equipment that monitors your pet’s heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation as well as a Registered Veterinary Technician monitoring your pet while under anesthetic
• This keeps your pet safe

Inhalant Anesthetic

• This allows for a more controlled anesthesia which in turn is safer and more comfortable for your pet
• Very safe and allows us to keep your pet under anesthetic to the right depth so they are not feeling any pain

Suture Material

• We use suture material that supports proper healing as opposed to tissue glue which can lead to complications
• This allows your pet to heal faster

Analgesia

• We include pain medications to ensure that your pet is comfortable and not suffering from any pain or discomfort
• We also use local anesthetics (nerve blocks or freezing) to improve pain relief
• Pain relief medications are dispensed to keep your pet comfortable at home

Please call the clinic anytime with any questions or concerns regarding your pet’s surgery or to schedule a tour of the clinic.

The Team at Davis Drive Animal Clinic

The Importance of the Annual Health Exam

The Importance of the Annual Health Exam

Once a year we notify you when it is time for your furry family member’s annual health exam. This is a valuable opportunity for us to thoroughly assess the health status of your pet.

The first step is taking a complete medical history. We want to know if there have been any changes with your pet. Has there been any coughing, vomiting, or diarrhea? Have you changed the diet or feeding routine and if so why? Has there been changes in eating, drinking or bathroom habits? Are you noticing any stiffness when your pet gets up in the morning? Any changes in behaviour or unexplained weight loss or gain?

From this conversation we can gain insight into how your pet is doing at home and this can alert us as to what we can do to help. Do we need to run some tests to further investigate a concern? Can we prescribe a supplement to help with mobility? Has your pet’s lifestyle changed to include socializing at a doggy daycare where we should revisit their individual vaccine protocol?

The next step involves weighing your pet and taking their vital signs (temperature, heart rate and respiratory rate) and grading your pet’s body condition. From there, the veterinarian performs a thorough physical examination from the tip of the nose to the tip of tail. This involves auscultation of the heart and lungs, palpation of the abdomen and lymph nodes, examination of the ears, eyes nose, and joints, assessment of the coat and skin, examining the nervous system and the pet’s mobility. An oral health assessment is also done to determine the degree of periodontal disease present.

And that’s a thorough physical exam! Finally, we need to review your pet’s individualized vaccine schedule and whether or not your pet’s lifestyle has changed enough to warrant the inclusion or discontinuation of any particular vaccine. At the annual visit, we will also take a blood sample to screen for heartworm and tick borne diseases as well a panel of tests to check your pet’s overall organ function (something you can’t assess on physical exam). A stool sample is also required so it can be tested at the lab for any intestinal parasites. Finally, we review your pet’s medication requirements in order to ensure they are properly protected from fleas, heartworms, ticks and other parasites for another year.

All of us at Davis Drive Animal Clinic love keeping pets happy and healthy and can’t wait to see you and your pet soon !

Thinking of adopting a cat?

A Furry Feline Addition

Thinking of growing your family by adding a furry feline companion to the mix?  Here are some things to consider before adopting to ensure the right match for your family and for the feline you are bringing home.

You need to consider your home environment and lifestyle

It’s always important to consider these factors as you want to set yourself up for success from the beginning. If you already have pets at home you will want to consider their age, stage and personality as it might be harder to bring in an active kitten if you’ve got a house full of seniors. Perhaps adopting an adult cat might be a better fit.  Also, consider your lifestyle as any new addition is going to require your time. A new kitten can be especially mischievous and will require more of your time to help it burn off all that extra energy. 

You need to consider breed, hair coat and gender

Is there a specific breed of cat that you are partial too?  If so, is it a breed you have personal experience with to know their personality traits and medical predispositions?  If not, take some time to research the breed to determine whether or not they would be a suitable match in your home and be aware of any medical issues known to the breed. Being aware of any medical predispositions allows you to plan financially (time to consider pet insurance), catch on to signs and symptoms early and even to reconsider your choice if it is something you are not able to handle.

Hair coat considerations really come down to how you feel about brushing and cleaning.  Long haired cats require brushing and often shed in clumps versus a short haired cat which typically does not require as much brushing but when they shed it often goes everywhere so there will be a lot more vacuuming in your future!

Gender is really a personal preference. Males are less expensive to surgically alter (neuter) than females but beyond that there is little difference in the medical care or personalities between the genders. It always comes down to the individual personality of the cat you are looking to adopt.

Consider where you will choose to adopt this new member from

Do you wish to adopt from a breeder, shelter, rescue or a private adoption?  All of these options have pro’s and con’s but the biggest pro of all is that you are coming home with a new family member! 

Purchasing a kitten or adult cat from a breeder will provide you with a specific breed (if that is what you are looking for) as well as being able to provide you with some health history of their lines and some initial veterinary care. 

Adopting from a shelter or rescue provides a cat in need with a loving home.  More often than not these cats come without much background so it’s a learn as you go with respect to their personalities or medical history. Shelters and rescue groups often do personality tests with their cats to help match them to the right home.  These cats often come with some initial veterinary care.

If adopting privately, you are again providing a cat in need with a loving home and helping out another family re home their cat.  In this situation, you should be able to gain some valuable insight into the cat’s personality and be able to access their health history. These cats may come with regular veterinary care or may not.

No matter where you adopt, we always recommend a visit with the veterinarian for a complete physical exam. Please bring any history you were provided with so we can guide you through a preventative health care program.

Bringing your new addition home

After you’ve made your decision, it’s is time to bring the new addition home.  We recommend setting the cat up in one room with their food, water, litter and toys.  Providing the cat with their own space minimizes stress while adjusting to the new environment and allows them to adjust to sounds and scents of other pets in the household before they meet.  After some time to settle in, we recommend a gradual introduction by swapping bedding to exchange scents, allowing short meet and greets with existing pets, and a gradual introduction to the larger spaces.

Should you have any questions about adding a furry feline to your family, we would be happy to guide you through the process. Our hospital manager Kelly would love to help you find your next kitty!

The Team at Davis Drive Animal Clinic

Summer Safety Tips For You And Your Canine Companion

Traveling with your pet

If you are traveling with your dog in the car this summer, whether it be a short or long ride, never leave them alone, not even for a short errand! Temperatures within a car can sky rocket within minutes and this can become a life-threatening situation.

 Identification

Always ensure that your dog has a proper form of identification, especially when traveling. If your dog goes missing for any reason, proper identification will help the process of getting them back home to you! Options include collars that are embroidered with names and telephone numbers, collars with identification tags and microchips.

Check In with your Veterinarian

Before summer vacation begins, it is always a good idea to check in with your veterinarian regarding what type of parasite protection your dog requires. Here in Ontario, dogs routinely take a monthly preventative medication against fleas, ticks and heartworm. Is your dog going to a boarding kennel? Make sure your dog is up to date on all necessary vaccinations. We would also recommend that if you are traveling a distance with your dog, to research the local emergency clinic in the area so that if you ever do encounter a problem you know where to seek out help. Here at Davis Drive Animal Clinic we have a list of veterinarians across Ontario so if you let us know where you are traveling to we would be happy to help.

Having Fun in the Sun

When you take your dog out for a fun day in the sun, please remember that pets can get heat exhaustion just like people, so remember these helpful tips:

· provide access to water at all times
· provide access to shade
· limit your dog’s time outdoors
· do not let your dog overexert themselves (especially seniors and those breeds with flat faces as the shorter nose makes it hard for them to breath!)
· if you see signs of heat exhaustion seek out veterinary care immediately

Time to hit the Water 

Lots of dogs enjoy a day on the water just like we do. However, dogs are just like children and should never be left unattended near bodies of water. Here are some other safety tips:

- be aware of the body of water they are swimming in! Is it a pool, pond, river or lake? does it have an undertow? are there sharp objects (ie. Zebra mussels) they could injure themselves on? Any wildlife to be careful of? boats?
- know your dog’s ability to swim and always keep an eye on them
- keep lifejackets on hand, especially if taking your dog out on a boat!


The team at Davis Drive Animal Clinic wishes you a safe and happy summer

Clinic Renovations

We have recently completed some renovations here at the clinic. However, unless you take a behind the scenes tour you will miss out on all the improvements. We have installed new cabinets, flooring, plumbing, electrical, ventilation, added extra storage space and a beautiful tiled dog run complete with a glass door. It certainly has made a huge difference in our work space and the animals seem to like it too !

Dr Fussell

Pet Insurance

Everyone is aware of the importance of insurance when it comes to their life, vehicle, house and property. When disaster strikes, having an insurance policy protects us from potential financial ruin. No one likes to pay a monthly premium for a product that we likely will never need but if the house burns to the ground, an insurance policy allows us to rebuild.
In Ontario, most of our health care is covered by OHIP. Our taxes pay for our medical care and we never get to see that bill. Additionally, some employees are fortunate enough to have their company provide group insurance plans to cover dental, vision and prescriptions.
When it comes to our pets, most people are prepared for the costs for food, grooming, toys, and taking the dog or cat to the vet once a year for a check up. Approximately half of the appointments we see are for healthy animals that are in for a routine physical examination and perhaps updating their vaccinations. However, the other half of our day is dealing with sick or injured animals. We see it all - diabetes, kidney failure, liver disease, bladder stones, cancer, ruptured ligaments or fractured bones, osteoarthritis, immune mediated diseases, dental problems, seizures, blindness and the list goes on and on. Some of these problems are expensive to diagnose and treat and may also involve a referral to a specialist. There is so much help available for animals but the costs involved can be an unexpected financial burden.
There are a number of pet insurance companies in the marketplace that sell policies that cover illness and accidents. There are a number of factors that will affect the monthly premium but most companies allow you to generate this directly from their website.
I am a huge fan of pet insurance. When an insured pet comes in with a medical problem, we are able to provide the required care without the owner worrying about how they will pay for it. Every owner who has insurance is glad they purchased it when their pet becomes very acutely ill or lives with a chronic disease condition and virtually everyone who has an uninsured pet wishes they had it when things go badly. Pet insurance is not for everybody but it is something that is gaining popularity and is worth investigating.

Dr Fussell

Understanding Your Cat

To understand cats, we must first understand how they behave in their natural environment. Even if your cat lives indoors, its behaviours result from their survival value in the wild. In their natural environment, cats hunt for food, hide from predators (often by climbing), and defend their home territories. Indoors, these behaviours may look hostile (biting and scratching) or spiteful (climbing and marking), and we may not like them.

 The keys to enjoying cats in our lives are to:

1. provide acceptable outlets for their natural behaviours, and

2. reduce their exposure to threats.

 The following paragraphs describe natural behaviours of cats, and how the indoor environment can be modified to permit cats to engage in them in appropriate ways.

 Cats, unlike dogs and other domestic animals, are not a pack or herd species, which explains a lot about their behaviour, Pack species that are predators are mostly group hunters of large prey, whereas the prey species, cattle and horses for example, developed groups for self-protection. In contrast cats are solitary hunters of small prey. This strategy resulted in important differences in cat behaviour, which has been carefully studied. we can use our understanding of cat behaviour to improve the environment of the indoor cats that share our lives.

 1. Cats do not have the daily sleep-wake cycle that we and many other animals have. Rather, they sleep and wake frequently throughout the day and night. This is because cats in the wild need to hunt as many as 20 small prey each day: they must be able to rest between each hunt so they are ready to pounce quickly when prey approaches. This explains why our cats seem to sleep so much during the day when we are awake, and spend so much time awake at night when we need to sleep! We may conclude that cats are nocturnal creatures, but it only seems that way because their sleep/wake cycle is so different from ours. Adding playful activities to your cat's daily routine can diminish the occurrence of such nocturnal activity.

2. Dogs are cats' most common nautral predator in the wild. This is not to say, however, that cats and dogs cannot live amicably together in your home! Cats also may be afraid of other cats, of humans (if not properly socialized), and loud noises such as thunder, automobiles, and lawnmowers. Fearful cats generally have dilated pupils, flattened ears, a flattened or crouched body, and a fast breathing rate. If threatened further, they may hiss or growl, arch their back and puff up their fur, and may even attack.

3. Cats try to hide when they are anxious or feel threatened. They especially like to hide in high places, which permit a clear view of their surroundings. This is why it is especially important to provide indoor cats with hiding areas: these spots must permit the cat to feel safe from people, loud noises and other animals. If it is not safe for your cat to hide on top of the refridgerator, ect., then you will need to provide some other high location for your cat to hide in, such as a climbing tower or closet shelf.

4. Cats are not as social as many other species and they do not communicate in the same ways we do. Contrary to what people believe, cats primarily rely on smell, not sight, to communicate with other cats, locate food, and detect predators. Cats communicate by "marking" objects and other animals. These marks are scents (called pheromones) released from special glands located in their forehead, cheek, tail base, and paws when they scratch and rub their bodies on objects. Cats also do not rely too much on sounds from other cats, so they do not pay particular attention to the verbal sounds we humans make. Allowing your cats to mark scratching posts and other appropriate objects in the home will reduce the temptation for them to mark using urine. It is important that indoor cats have enough litter in a clean litter box to hide urine scents after covering. In the wild, cats urinate in new clean spots all the time; if we want them to use the same spot each time we have to keep it clean!

5. Cats are carnivores; they primarily eat small rodents, birds, and bugs. Because hunting is such a big part of a cat's life, even indoor cats want to engage in hunting types of activity. Keep this in mind when shopping for toys for your cat; most prefer those that resemble mice, birds, and bugs. If you really want to make it realistic, make the toy move like it really is alive!

6. Cats establish their home hunting ranges by scent marking them. Males will physically defend their ranges from other males, but females usually share or overlap their home range with other females. The size of a home range or territory can be up to 6km2 (~20 city blocks). Because cats in the wild hunt small prey, they tend to lead solitary lives so each cat gets enough to eat. If a food resource is very plentiful, cats may live in small groups, 2-25, consisting mainly of females. Male cats generally live alone regardless of food source, because they also complete with other males for mates.

7. Cats can be aggressive when defending territories, fearful when threatened, engage in play behaviour with one another (especially as kittens), and groom each other throughout adulthood. Mothers and other females in their group raise the kittens. Kittens begin to sample the mother's kill while still nursing, and begin to hunt alone at 8 to 16 weeks of age. They generally rest and groom together with their mothers until they are 6 to 12 months old. Adult males patrolling the mother's home range usually evict the juvenile males; juvenile females may leave if food resources are low. Adults establish their own home territory (range), and may be dominate or subordinate within the parts of their range that overlap that of other cats.

8. Sometimes cats play a little too hard and may scratch or bite you. You can teach your cat to inhibit this inappropriate play behaviour by leaving the area when your cat is not playing nicely!

9. Outdoor cats experience a wide range of temperatures. Since cats, cannot sweat very well, they learn to seek shade in warm temperatures, and warmth in cold temperatures. Indoor cats use shade, fans, bedding and blankets to regulate their temperatures throughout the year.

10. Most cats are so good at grooming themselves they do not need baths to stay clean. Longhaired (if the hair mats), obese, or sick cats may need extra combing and brushing. While cats in the wild do not have this luxury, you can help your cat stay healthy and clean if he struggles to do it for himself.

Tips To Keep Your Cat Happy

 To be at their best, cats have some basic needs; providing them will help ensure your cat's long-term health and welfare. If these needs are not met, your cat may feel stressed, which, can affect both health and behaviour. Listed here are things an "ideal" house for cats might include. Your cat(s) might not need all these features to get along, but making your house more "cat friendly" will ensure that you and your cat enjoy each other's company for years to come.

The MOST IMPORTANT fact for cat owners to understand is that cats DO NOT respond to force, and that they DO respond to praise! Reprimands only work if you catch you cat "in the act". Punishment that follows an action by more than a few seconds won't stop him from doing it again, and may even cause him to be afraid of you or the surroundings. If you do catch your cat making a mistake, it is better for both of you to create a distraction by making a loud noise or throwing something (NOT at the cat!) that will attract its attention, but not toward you.

Provide a room or other space she can call her own, complete with food and water, a bed (a cat carrier with a soft pad inside is a good choice), a litter box, a scratching/climbing post, a window to look out of, and some toys.

Place food and the litter boxes away from appliances and air ducts that could come on unexpectedly, and locate them such that another animal (or human!) cannot sneak up on the cat while she uses them. To keep them appealing to the cats, food and water should be fresh, and the litter box "scooped" every day.

Give her something to scratch on to ensure that she can "do her thing" without damaging your things. Praise her profusely when you see her use it to let her know that this is hers to use.

Provide places to climb and look out of windows to help keep your indoor cat(s) healthy and happy.

Cats seem to prefer to feel like they are "in control" of their surroundings, and to choose the changes they want to make. When you make changes (food, litter, toys, ect.), offer them in a separate container next to the familiar one so your cat can decide whether or not to change.

 Be sure to see your veterinarian regularly. In addition to providing preventative health care through regular check-ups, they also can help you troubleshoot any "issues" before they become problems.

If you have any questions regarding the health care of your cat please call or visit us online.

Dr. Fussell, Dr. Murray and your Veterinary Health Care Team

Quality Control

In order to provide high quality patient care, we rely on different types of medical equipment. This includes our anesthesia machines, xray generator, surgical instrument sterilizer, air driven dental drill and polisher, microscope and more. Once a year we schedule a service technician to come in to calibrate, clean, replace necessary parts and test our equipment and ensure that they are performing according to manufacturer's specifications. We feel that being proactive about equipment care allows us to have the confidence that we won't be caught by surprise by malfunction or inconsistent results.

Dr Fussell

Interesting Case

At Davis Drive Animal Clinic we diagnose and manage some very challenging cases. Recently, we had a dog with some very strange blood test results that required us to hit the books in order to come up with a diagnosis.
Chica is a female 6 year old Terrier Cross adopted from the SPCA in Mexico 3 years ago. She did have intestinal worms that we successfully treated but was otherwise healthy upon her arrival to Canada.
Last month, Chica came in for her annual examination and routine Lifestage Blood Tests. She was in great health physically but her labwork showed a peculiar elevation to her globulin proteins and a concerning reduction to her platelets. Platelets are involved with clotting and if a platelet count drops too far, spontaneous bleeding will occur. We elected to recheck her blood again 2 weeks later to trend these findings and found that these abnormalities were repeatable. There are several possible diseases that can cause a low platelet count. However, since she came from Mexico originally, I decided to test her for the various bacteria that can be transmitted by ticks. Chica tested positive for one called Ehrlichia canis which invades the white blood cell and she is currently on 6 weeks of antibiotics. We expect her platelet count to return to normal and plan on retesting her blood counts again in 1 week.

Dr Fussell

Chocolate Toxicity

Did you know that certain types of chocolate are very toxic to dogs? The chemical causing toxicity in chocolate is theobromine (a relative of caffeine). The darker, more brittle and more concentrated the chocolate is, the more dangerous it is. It can affect many different body systems including the gastrointestinal, nervous, respiratory and cardiovascular.  If your dog eats anything containing chocolate please call the clinic immediately and provide us with the type of chocolate and the amount ingested. We will then use the weight of your dog to calculate the level of theobromine toxicity and notify you if you need to bring your dog into the clinic for emergency treatment.

Dr Fussell

You Tube Videos

Looking for information on how to brush your pet's teeth or more about fleas and worms ? Check out our playlist of videos on You Tube. Simply click on the link on our homepage. We also have videos to tickle the funny bone. Let us know if you find any other videos that you would like to see added to our list.

Parasites

With warm weather finally here to stay, please remember that a variety of parasites would love to make a home in or on your pet.  Heartworm, fleas, ticks, mange, roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, and giardia are some of the parasites we worry about. In order to protect your pet, remember to start your monthly parasite preventative on June 1st. A stool sample should be tested for intestinal parasites at least once a year for adult cats and dogs and with each vaccine booster appointment for puppies and kittens. For more great information on parasites, go to PET HEALTH on our home page and select Web Resources for "Worms and Germs Blog" and "Companion Animal Parasite Council". If you want to watch some cool animated videos about parasites, click on our You Tube link and check out our playlist.

Dr Fussell

New Anesthesia Machine

Our new anesthesia machine finally arrived last week. The equipment has been assembled and tested and we had the opportunity to use it for the first time this morning. One of the many safety features of this machine is what is known as a "circuit alarm". If an abnormal level of pressure builds up within the breathing tubes, a high pitched alarm will sound and alert us to the problem which can then be immediately corrected.

Dr Fussell

New Equipment

We are currently awaiting the delivery of our new anesthesia machine. This state of the art piece of equipment has many new features that will enhance patient comfort and care. All medical equipment at the clinic is thoroughly tested for proper function by a medical equipment technician as part of our yearly quality control.

Unusual Dental Case

As many of you know, I have a particular interest in veterinary dentistry. I enjoy attending lectures, reading on the subject and going to hands on training seminars. Recently, I had a case that up until now I have only read about. Bella is a 6 month female Shih-tzu cross that came in for an ovariohysterectomy (spay). I had already prepared Bella's owner that small breed dogs are genetically predisposed to a variety of dental abnormalities and that I would take a closer look when she was under anesthesia. With digital x rays we found some missing teeth, retained primary (baby) teeth and 3 impacted teeth. I've attached an image of an impacted molar. You can see how the tooth is positioned in a horizontal plane. I called the owner to discuss the challenges involved in extracting this tooth and then went to work to get it out. This case was a great example how dental x rays are vital in the proper diagnosis of dental health issues.

Dr Mike Fussell

Help for cats with arthritis

Is your cat limping, reluctant to jump up on chairs or the bed or acting unusually grumpy ? It may be signs of osteoarthritis. This painful joint disease affects cats in their senior years however some develop it much earlier. I do see a lot of arthritis in cats at our clinic. Unfortunately, there isn't a medication specifically labelled for cats to use longterm. Options for treatment generally include joint supplements, custom compounded medications, and injectable medications. Of course weight loss is important also to reduce the added strain on these joints. If you think your kitty may have signs of osteoarthrtits, give us a call !

 Dr Mike Fussell

Tooth ache !

Smokey is a 14 year old female kitty who came in this morning to have her teeth cleaned. Dental radiographs revealed a hole in one of her teeth that required extracting. She has recovered from anesthesia and is looking happy.

Dr Mike Fussell

Check out our Vet Store for a wide selection of pet food, treats and toys. $10 discount on your first order and free shipping for orders over $75

Welcome to our Blog

Welcome to the new Davis Drive Animal Clinic Website and our blog. Stay tuned here for real time updates about how we improve the lives of our patients and learn why we love what we do !