Client Feedback - Sirius the Cat Star

There are some pretty wonderful things about being a veterinarian - puppies and kittens, great owners and fantastic pets that you get to know over the years, just to name a couple. Unfortunately, though, conversations about the end of life stages for beloved pets is a reality that owners and  veterinarians face nearly every day. It is never easy. So, we do the best we can to make those decisions as comfortable for the owner and for the pet, but we don't always know how that is received by you, our clients.

A little while ago we received an email from a client who is new to our practice here at GLVH, but who wanted to share his thoughts with us and specifically asked us to make sure that we let you see it, too.

Thank you, Francois, for your kind words. We look forward to seeing you and your other feline family members under healthier circumstances.

The email, in its entirety, is posted here.

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Sent: Tuesday May 26, 2015
Pet's Name: Sirius the Cat Star
Subject: Exceptional Support and Service from the Staff at Guelph Lake VH

My wife, Carolyn, and I would like to express our sincerest thanks to Dr. Gardiner and the staff of the Guelph Lake Veterinary Hospital. We recently moved to Guelph and have found a sympathetic, understanding and truly supportive team of professionals. We brought our cat, Sirius, in for an assessment and treatment. 

The entire team from beginning to end provided support and assistance in determining what was troubling our feline family member. Everyone took time to explain exactly what was happening to our "boy" and what we needed to try to bring him back to health. 

Despite all attempts, Sirius did not improve after the first week or so of treatment. Tonight, we called after hours and Dr. Gardiner, who was still in the hospital, answered the phone. He remained after hours to help us ease the passing of our little boy. 

We wish to express our sincerest gratitude to Dr. Gardiner for his sympathy and kindness. You can be sure that if you need help with your animal companion, that the staff of the Guelph Lake Veterinary Hospital will provide unparalleled service.

Levi the long-legged wonder

It's been awhile since we've had a feline from the Guelph Humane Society here so we're pleased to introduce Levi to you! It's nice to have a "resident" cat in the clinic again, but we'd really love to find this handsome fellow a permanent home quickly.

Levi is a lovely long-tailed, long-legged green-eyed kitty who likes to be around people and has enjoyed exploring the clinic. He came to the Guelph Humane Society as a stray and has recently been neutered and had his first set of shots. He's a pretty mellow guy, and would likely do well in a house with other pets or children. He's got an easily coaxed purr, and is content to sit and cuddle for awhile!

If you or someone you know are interested in coming by to get to know him, just drop in during our regular business hours.

UPDATE: Levi has been adopted and is enjoying exploring his new home and getting to know his new family!

Our city is one of the most pet friendly in Canada

Congratulations, Guelph! Our city has recently been declared one of the Top 10 Pet Friendly cities in Canada... in fact, we trail only Kingston for the most pet friendly in Ontario! That's great news. It means that our city's pets have access to great veterinary care, lots of off leash parks and pet friendly businesses. Where's your favourite place to take your pet in Guelph?

You can read more in this article at TheRecord.com and see the whole list of the Top 50 here!

Image source: http://cdndogs.ca/canadas-top-50-pet-friendliest-cities/

Catnip, tug toys, gift cards and more!

With the snow last week and the chill today, it's pretty clear that the holiday season is upon us, and we think that the family pet deserves to have a little something in their stocking on Christmas morning, too!

The staff here at Guelph Lake Vet Hospital have carefully curated a selection of toys, leashes, treats and more to help you and your pets have some fun this holiday. We also have gift cards available in any denomination, which make a great stocking stuffer and will serve you or a friend well into the New Year. 

Check out this sneak peek of some of our holiday selection and stop by to see more! We take requests, too, and would be happy to be one of Santa's elves to help with your holiday shopping.

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Catnip toys! Treats! Tough as nails Kong knots buddies for those dogs who like to chew and tug. Prices range from $5.00 - $20.00 (+tax)

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These "stuffed" animals by Kong are really un-stuffed... filled instead with a tough rope, knotted to give your dog something to chew and tug on that won't fall apart on the first chomp! 2 sizes available from $9.50-$11.50 (+ tax)

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These cat collars, available in several collars, are priced reasonably at $8.50 and include a nametag, bell and reflectors for your outdoor kitty's safety (and the safety of the birds in your backyard feeder!).

Hallowe'en Pet Safety

A Daschund dressed up as a hotdog?  Who can resist?!  For many people Halloween is a time to dress up not only themselves, but their dogs and even cats as well.  However, before you get Fido all dressed up for a night of trick or treating, keep in mind that the most important thing for Hallowe'en night is to have a safe and fun evening and to accomplish this your four legged friends might be better off at home. 

While wearing coats, dresses, sweaters and boots may be regular attire for some dogs, the vast majority of pets are not used to sporting duds of any kind.  If you are considering putting your pet in costume for Hallowe'en take the time to consider what your pet is used to when picking a costume out.  Those dogs that usually wear a coat, would likely be quite comfortable in a coat or onesie type costume.  An animal that never wears any clothing other than their collar is probably better off with a dressed up collar than a full body suit.  Once you have picked out a costume provide ample time to “test drive” the outfit before the big day.  Assess how your pet is acting when in costume.  Do they appear their normal selves?  Are they shying away from people?  Do they seem “embarrassed”?  Unless your pet is displaying their normal attitudes and behaviours, you should think twice about whether they should be in costume.  Even if your pet is super confident in their costume, be sure to provide lots of positive reinforcement – treats, pats and fun games.  Cats can be more difficult than dogs, but the same concepts apply; pick an appropriate costume, test drive it first and make sure to have lots of positive reinforcement. 

It's also important to always supervise your pet while they are wearing their costume. Cats and dogs are curious and may try to chew at their costume, or become tangled in it themselves or in their environment. 

Now that the costume is all sorted out, where to go?  While it may be enticing to think of trick or treating with your dog, it is usually a safer bet to keep them at home.  Even very well socialized dogs can become frightened or startled by children running around in costume in the dark.  Additionally, costumes often make it difficult for us to read our pets’ body language so we may miss vital clues that they are becoming anxious in the situation.  If you must bring your pet with you try to stay away from large crowds, have lots of treats available to reward good behavior and act as a distraction, use an appropriately sized leash and collar so that you have good control.  Remember, the safest place for your pet this Halloween is usually at home in their familiar environment.  

Keep in mind, also, that chocolate and artificial sweeteners can be harmful to your pets. If they decide to taste-test the candy stash and you are concerned, please don't hesitate to give us a call. We can help determine whether they have ingested enough to be toxic. The type and quantity of chocolate as well as the size of your pet will let us know if there's a reason to be worried. Artificial sweeteners like xylitol can cause reactions in your pet as well, and they should be monitored if they've eaten sugar-free candies.

Whether you end up leaving the furry family members at home or taking them along for the evening, we wish you and your pets a safe and happy Halloween!

P.S. Did you know that we now have a Facebook page? Find us at Guelph Lake Vet Hosp!

Meet Shanti and Mowgli - kittens, kittens, kittens!

As I type, I can hear Mowgli and Shanti chasing each other through our treatment area, wrestling over one of their toys. They aren't littermates, but they certainly act like it, playing and tumbling like brothers and sisters do.

Meet Mowgli:

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A 2 month old grey tabby, this guy is speedy and lots of fun! He loves to lay in your arms like a baby and have his belly rubbed. He has an instant purr when he is picked up!

And here's Shanti:

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A 3 month old grey female kitten with pretty amber eyes, she is playful but snuggly. She's a little quieter than Mowgli, but just as feisty when she's wrestling or protecting a toy! She has a perfect rumbly purr.

These kittens could be adopted separately or together. As mentioned, they aren't littermates, but they have been together since they've been with the Guelph Humane Society - first at the same foster home and now with us. They get along well, and are often found sleeping curled up together.

If you or someone you know might be interested in adopting either Shanti or Mowgli (or both, for double the fun and love!), just drop by GLVH during our regular business hours and we'd be happy to introduce you in person. Cats adopted through our partnership with the Guelph Humane Society will receive a $25 gift card to be used at GLVH for future pet care. 

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Thunderstorms: Strategies to calm an anxious pet

It's that time of year in southern Ontario when warm humid days often mean evening thunderstorms. If you have a dog who shivers and quakes with anxiety each time thunder rumbles in the distance or someone in the neighbourhood sets off some holiday fireworks, spring and summer can be a stressful time.

There are a few things you can do to help your pet feel a little calmer.

Staying with your pet can help them feel more secure, but if that isn't enough there are prescription medications that can help. Reactions to thunder or loud noises are often very strong for animals, and being able to treat them in advance with a prescription medication can help reduce their stress levels once the storm sets in.

There is also a product on the market called the Thundershirt - a tight vest that goes around your pet's chest and uses constant pressure to help calm them. Swaddling babies to soothe them and using weighted blankets to calm people with anxiety is common practice and the same premise applies for dogs and cats. There are different sizes and styles to suit a range of pets.

If you have an anxious pet, be sure to mention it at your next appointment. Your veterinarian would be happy to discuss the options available and help determine which strategy would be best for your pet.  Maybe you and your pet can get a little more sleep the next time a thunderstorm rolls in!

What happens when your cat stops eating? Part 1

Thanks to Dr. Melissa Cirinna for sharing this story of her own cat, Galileo, and his recent health challenge. Our veterinarians approach each case individually, and even when it is their own pet, they often face many of the same challenges to care and diagnosis as with a client's pet. Read on to find out how Dr. Cirinna handled this rather tricky case from her own household.

Galileo

A few weeks ago I received a rather disturbing call from my husband - our cat Galileo would not eat his breakfast.  As a matter of fact he would not even enter the room in which the cats are normally fed.  Knowing Galileo’s love of food, this behavior was very concerning so I had Galileo brought to the clinic for a full examination and bloodwork.  Galileo’s exam showed lethargy and mild dehydration and the results of his bloodwork showed an increase in his calcium levels (hypercalcemia).  The two main causes of hypercalcemia are Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Intestinal Lymphoma.  A definitive diagnosis is made by intestinal biopsy and histopathology.  Treatment for IBD and lymphoma both involve the use of a steroid and an immunosuppressant, and for this reason Galileo was started on treatment immediately rather than pursuing a definitive diagnosis at this point.  Now I could work on encouraging him to eat again.

When cats are ill they will often develop an aversion to their regular food and become anorexic.  The causes for the original aversion can be anything from gastroenteritis (upset stomach), inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), stress, liver disease, kidney disease, bladder infection and a multitude of other diseases.  The sheer number of possible differentials makes the anorexic cat a very difficult patient.  To add another level of complexity, the anorexic cat is an urgent case.  Unlike dogs, cats cannot go very long without food.  If a cat is truly anorexic for more than a few days they may begin to develop hepatic lipidosis or fatty liver syndrome.  During anorexia the cat begins to mobilize fat stores which can accumulate in the liver cells.  The accumulation of fat hinders proper function of the liver leading to liver failure and death if the cat does not start eating.  Thankfully, with proper supportive care most cats recover fully from hepatic lipidosis.  Knowing the risk of hepatic lipidosis, I was anxious to get Galileo eating again.  With some anorexic cats, simply changing their food to something more palatable will work and with this in mind we offered Galileo a high energy canned recovery food.  Success!  He readily ate half a can of food while at the clinic, however, we knew we weren’t out of the woods yet.  The real test would be whether he would continue to eat at home.  After 24 hours of intravenous fluids, I was able to take Galileo home to see if his appetite would hold up with the new food.

Stay tuned for Part II as we find out whether Galileo continued to recover at home or needed more veterinary intervention.