9 Bobcaygeon Road, Minden
705-286-2919
www.MindenAnimalHospital.com
November 2016 • Vol. 8
Caring For Aging Pets
Senior pets are very special because they have
been a part of our family for years, and sometimes
decades! While age is not a disease, older pets are
more predisposed to diseases. Because pets age more
quickly than people, we strongly recommend semiannual appointments. By checking their weight,
physical examination and monitoring bloodwork we
are able to pick up problems earlier. With an early
diagnosis we can often slow progression and have
better success with treatments.
Senior pets often require a bit of extra care. They
may need more frequent grooming or nail trim
appointments to keep them feeling and looking
clean. Diet can play a key role in prevention of
disease, as well as maintenance of a healthy weight.
As arthritis develops they may need supplements or
medications to keep them comfortable. At Minden
Animal Hospital, we have a variety of supplements
available, as well as alternative therapies such
as laser and acupuncture to help keep your pets
comfortable – especially as the cold and damp
season is upon us! If it’s been awhile since your pet
has come in to see us, we recommend booking an
appointment today and we can help make sure your
pet is healthy for years to come!
Fun
Facts!
Until December 7th, your pet
can receive a nail trim for a
minimum $10 cash donation to
the Minden Toy Drive! (New
toys of $10 value will also be
accepted) Give us a call to
book your pet’s pedicure!
Squirrels plant THOUSANDS of trees each year
by simply forgetting where they put their acorns!
Why do I feed my dog RAW?
Hi There, Dr. Jenn here. I am excited to announce that
Minden Animal Hospital is now offering a RAW diet.
Many people are surprised to hear that I feed my dogs a
whole food diet. Let me tell you why:
First, I would like to say that I strongly believe in the
Prescription Diet kibble we sell in our clinic. These diets
are completely balanced, convenient, backed by scientific
research, and we have seen great success with them.
Regardless of the source of the kibble, it is dehydrated and
processed to get it into kibble form. There also has to be a
higher level of carbohydrates to hold the kibble together
which can be a cause of underlying inflammation in your
pet. For pets that are not doing well on a kibble, it’s nice to
be able to offer an alternative approach.
(food or environment), inflammatory bowel disease or
inflammation in other organs such as kidneys, bladder,
joints or pancreas. In general, the diet can be easier to
digest compared to a kibble and the low carb diet is helpful
to reduce levels of inflammation in their body.
Now let me tell you a bit more about my furry kids:
RAW is not right for everyone nor all of our patients. With
the Raw Diet, you are handling raw meat and therefore
need to ensure proper hygiene when thawing the food,
cleaning your pets’ dishes and handling their feces. If
your family or your pets are immunocompromised in
any way, I do not recommend this diet. In general, the
cost is higher than kibble, and you need to ensure you’re
adding supplements for Calcium, Vitamins, and minerals.
I also advise to add in some fruit and vegetables for a “full
feeling” and fiber support to keep your pets regular.
Phoebe is my 6 year old Bouvier. She’s a “bull in the china
shop” kinda girl. She is overall healthy other than I have
always struggled to keep her at a healthy weight, an extra
treat here or there and she just seems to pack on the pounds.
She also has a nasty habit of eating dog poop. After switching
Phoebe to the RAW diet, I have been able to manage her
weight more effectively. She has a great coat on her and her
nasty poop-eating habit has gone away. Although Phoebe
had appeared to be healthy on the outside, I believe that she
was having trouble digesting the kibble and a whole food
approach lessened the digestion power needed so she more
easily absorbed the nutrients she was craving.
As with kibble, not all Raw diets are created equal. There are
a variety of sources and ways it can be available – in bulk or
ready-to-feed patties. There may be different percentages
of meat, bone, organ and fruit/veggies. You also need to be
cautious of the fat content within the diets as high levels of
fat can counteract the benefits of a low carbohydrate diet.
Not all the diets are fully balanced – so it’s up to you to
double check what you need to add to the diet.
It can be tricky to figure out all the different nuances of any
diet, which is why we at Minden Animal Hospital have done
the homework for you and can help you decide which diet is
best for your pet and what you need to get started.
Clyde is 10 year old Labradoodle my parents adopted
many years ago. They knew he had chronic allergies from
the day they adopted him, and he had been on prednisone
(steroids) for years to treat this. They tried several times
to get him down or off the
medications but struggled
with keeping his itch in check.
Over the last 6 months, we
have seen a great improvement
with his allergies by changing
his diet to RAW. He’s not off
all of his medications, but we
have been able to finally wean
him off the steroids!
Please give us a call today to set up a no-charge diet
consultation with one of our Registered Veterinary
Technicians who can help you figure out what diet will
best suite both you and your furry children!
With that said, there are many
pets that can benefit from
a whole food approach. A
whole food/Raw diet is ideal
for patients with underlying
inflammation. That could
mean they have allergies
Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is a disease that can affect humans and animals. The
disease has been diagnosed more frequently in the past few years.
Keep on reading to learn how to protect yourself and your pets from
leptospirosis, and what to do if your pet becomes infected.
What Is An RVT?
R.V.T.’s (Registered Veterinary Technicians) are
highly educated professionals that work as a part
of the animal health care team. To become an RVT,
an individual must graduate from an accredited
veterinary technician college program, successfully
pass the Veterinary Technician National
Examination, participate in a Professionalism and
Ethics Workshop and participate in continuing
education. They must obtain continuing education
credits to maintain their licence. This is to ensure
that all R.V.T.’s are up to date on current medicine
in the animal health field. Their membership in
the Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians
needs to be renewed annually. Some of the jobs that
an R.V.T. does in a day includes being a:
• Nurse
• Surgical Assistant
• Oral Hygienist
• Groomer
• X-ray Technician
• Phlebotomist
• Anesthesiologist
• Janitor
• Lunch Lady
• Dog Walker
• Educator
• Shoulder to cry on
• Doctors Assistant
We are proud to employ the services of 2 R.V.T.s,
Katie and Morgan, at the Minden Animal Hospital.
They ensure all of our patients are well cared for
each & every day and should be part of every
Animal Health Care team!
Leptospira is the name of the bacteria that causes leptospirosis. There
are many different types of leptospira. Some animals can carry the
bacteria and spread it in their urine without actually becoming sick.
The bacteria can then get into nearby water or soil and can survive
there for weeks to months. The bacteria’s ideal climate is 0-30°C with
rainfall, so spring and fall are favoured. Infection happens through
contact with the contaminated urine, water, or soil. It can enter
the body through skin, eyes, nose or mouth especially if the skin
is broken from a cut or scratch. Drinking contaminated water is a
common way to become infected. Infected wild animals (skunk,
deer, raccoon, fox, beaver, etc) may continue to shed the bacteria into
the environment for months to years.
Clinical signs of leptospirosis vary and are nonspecific. The time
between exposure to the bacteria and development of the disease
is usually 5-14 days. Sometimes pets do not have any symptoms.
Common clinical signs are: fever, vomiting, abdominal pain,
diarrhea, not eating, weakness, depression, and stiffness. It can cause
kidney or liver failure, which can be very serious. If you think your
pet may have leptospirosis, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Your veterinarian can perform tests to determine whether or not
your pet has the disease.
Leptospirosis is treatable with supportive therapy and antibiotics.
If an animal is treated early, it may recover more rapidly and organ
damage may be less severe.
To help prevent leptospirosis infection, keep rodent problems under
control. Rodents can carry and spread the disease. Keep your pets
away from standing water as water can act as a reservoir for the
bacteria. Getting your dog vaccinated, while it does not guarantee
100% protection, is helpful in preventing some of the most common
types of the bacteria. This is especially important in areas with
an abundance of wildlife like raccoons. Cities, with their large
population of rodents & raccoons, are of special concern.
Fun Facts!
Dogs do not have a collarbone, but cats do!
Rabies in Ontario
Rabies vaccines
are highly effective
at preventing
infection and can
be given by your
veterinarian during
your pet’s annual exam. At Minden Animal Hospital, we
What is Rabies?
use a feline vaccine that requires boosters every year, and
Rabies is a virus that affects the central nervous system
a canine vaccine that requires boosters every three years.
(brain and spinal cord) of mammals, including humans.
Rabies vaccines are extremely important, even if your cat
Infected mammals spread the virus through their saliva,
is strictly indoors, or your small dog only goes outside in
most commonly after a bite that breaks the skin. If
your backyard. Rabid bats can get into your house, and if
left untreated, the rabies virus is almost ALWAYS fatal,
especially once the person or animal is showing symptoms. caught/bit by your pet pose a serious risk!
What to do if you or your pet is exposed
What is the risk in Ontario today?
If your pet catches or gets in a fight with a fox, skunk,
In the ’80 and ‘90’s, Ontario was considered to be the
raccoon or bat- call your veterinarian ASAP! The
rabies capital of the world. Since then, rabies control
programs (including vaccinating wildlife with edible rabies Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
(OMAFRA) is responsible for suspected rabies cases
vaccines) instituted by the Ministry of Natural Resources
involving animals in ON. Your vet will work with
have dramatically reduced the risk in Ontario. Until last
year, very few cases of infected wildlife were reported since OMAFRA to determine the best course of action. If you
the early 2000’s. In 2015, a reported raccoon infected with or your children are bitten by a dog or cat that is not
vaccinated, or a wild animal- call your public health unit.
rabies was the first raccoon-rabies case in ON since 2005.
• Be safe!!
Since then, over 250 cases of rabies have been reported in
• Don’t pet strange dogs or cats, and remind your
wildlife, including raccoons, skunks, foxes and bats. The
children as well
majority of cases have been reported around the Hamilton
• Be wary of any wild animals that are acting strangely
area - one of the most concerning being a human bit by a
or appear to be unafraid of humans
rabid stray cat.
• Avoid all contact with wildlife, and keep your distance
Rabies vaccination for your pet
whenever possible
Ensuring that your pet is up to date on their rabies
vaccinations is now more important than ever! Both dogs To report a suspicious wild animal, contact the MNR
Rabies Hotline at 1-888-574-6656
and cats are required by law to be vaccinated for rabies.
When most people hear the word “rabies”- they associate
it with a vaccine that their dog and/or cat are given or
perhaps a flashback to ‘Old Yeller’. What is rabies? What
is the risk in Ontario today? What do we need to worry
about? These are important questions that not only pet
owners, but everyone should know the answers to.
Fun Facts!
Dogs’ noses are as
unique as a human
fingerprint and can be
used to identify them.
Cats can make
about 100 different
sounds. Dogs make
about 10.
705-286-2919
9 Bobcaygeon Road, Minden, ON K0M 2K0
www.MindenAnimalHospital.com
ut
Passionate Abo
h
t
l
a
e
H
’
s
t
e
P
r
u
Yo