Central Cowichan Animal Hospital

04/25/2025

This week is veterinary receptionist appreciation week.
Why We Celebrate
Receptionists are a pet family's first & last point of contact during veterinary visits. The communication & care they provide is invaluable. Veterinary receptionists often act as channels for information flow between clients, veterinarians and technical staff.
A big huge thank you to our reception team for all they do to keep the clinic running smoothly!

04/23/2025

April 23 is National Lost Dog Awareness Day in Canada, but it’s always a good time for pet owners everywhere to become better informed on how lost pets happen and what can be done to bring them home. The sad truth is that over 10 million pets become lost or stolen every year. To put that into perspective, The Humane Society estimates that as many as one in three pets become lost at some point during their lifetimes.

Always try to make sure your pets have an ID tag on their collar. Another thing to consider is having your pet microchipped or tattooed in their ear (when they get spayed/neutered) so that if they do escape and go missing there are some ways to get them safely back to you. Give us a call to set up an appointment with an RVT to have a Microchip implanted.

Take a peak at this article from Trupanion with some other great tips:

April 23 is National Lost Dog Awareness Day in Canada. Learn what this canine-focused day means and steps to take if your dog goes missing.

04/19/2025

April 19 is National Cat Lady Day. The reputation of a cat lady has come a long way since medieval Europe when a woman’s love for cats was a cause for suspicion and even scorn. Since then, the cat lady stereotype has transformed from a negative label into a popular one that many modern cat ladies wear with pride.

We definitely have a couple cat ladies working at Central Cowichan Animal Hospital. If anyone has a selfie with their feline friends share below.

04/18/2025

Happy Easter Weekend!

We will be closed today for the holiday and will reopen at 8am on Monday.

If you are having a visit from the Easter Bunny this weekend remember to keep your pets away from the chocolate.
Check out this article about hazards around the holiday. https://spca.bc.ca/news/easter/

We hope you won't need it but just in case here is the contact information for the Emergency Hospitals and Poison Helpline.
WAVES (Langford) 778-432-4322
VCA Central Victoria 250-475-2495
CIVEH (Nanaimo) 250-933-0913
Pet Poison Helpline 1 (855) 764-7661

With Easter around the corner, it's a good idea to keep your pet's safety in mind while also considering the well-being of other animals.

04/14/2025

Have you checked on your food and medications lately?

We will be closed on Friday April 18th for the Holiday and we want to make sure you don't run out of what you might need. Be sure to give us a call if you need any refills this week.

04/13/2025

We were very honoured to be a finalist in the Exceptional Customer Experience category at the 2025 Black Tie Awards on Friday evening. A huge thanks to the Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce and Cowichan Valley Citizen for putting on such a great event, and of course to all of our incredible clinic staff (a few of whom were able to attend), who are very much responsible for us being nominated and becoming a finalist!

04/11/2025

For your information, we will be closed at 4:30pm today.
We appreciate your understanding.

04/10/2025

Please be aware if you have after-hours or emergency veterinary needs, that CIVEH (in Nanaimo) will be closed starting April 13th, weekly from Tuesday at 8:00 AM until Friday at 8:00 AM, until further notice - due to ongoing staffing challenges.

We are lucky in the Cowichan Valley to have access to the following: WAVES (Langford) (778) 432-4322 & VCA Central Victoria (250) 475-2495. Both are open 24hrs a day, 7 days a week.
If you have an emergency, please call ahead so they are able to anticipate your arrival and expedite check in process.

04/05/2025

April is Pet First Aid Awareness Month.

As the weather improves its not a bad idea to consider putting together a pet first aid kit. Whether its an incident at home home or an injury out and about having some tools ready on hand can help keep your pet safe.

Check out this article by Zoetis about Pet First Aid. They have some great tips and a pretty comprehensive list of what to have on hand in your first aid kit.
https://www.zoetispetcare.com/blog/article/pet-first-aid

Make sure to keep some basic information regarding your pets health readily available in case you need to take your pet to an emergency hospital.

AND having the contact information for the Emergency Hospitals in the area and Pet Poison Helpline saved to your phone or printed out somewhere handy can be a great benefit.

WAVES (Langford) 778-432-4322
VCA Central Victoria 250-475-2495
CIVEH (Nanaimo) 250-933-0913
Pet Poison Helpline 1 (855) 764-7661

Learning basic pet first-aid techniques and having a proper first-aid kit for your dog or cat will help you manage accidents more effectively. Learn how with this blog post.

03/24/2025

Have you checked your pets for ticks lately?

We pulled this juicy bug off a fluffy little friend today. Don’t forget flea & tick season is all year round on Vancouver Island.

Give us a call if you need some parasite prevention.

03/17/2025

Do you have an Irish pup?
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/irish-dog-breeds/

Happy St Paddy's Day! Whether you plan to indulge or not, make sure to keep your furry friends away from festive holidays:
Food
Corned beef and cabbage: High in fat and salt, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and pancreatitis.
Irish soda bread: Contains raisins, which can cause kidney failure in dogs.
Onions, garlic, chives, and leeks: Toxic, even in powdered form.
Chocolate: Toxic to pets, and foil wrappers can cause a bowel obstruction.
Alcohol
Can cause depression, drunkenness, and difficulty walking. Dogs who ingest large amounts may have a decreased gag reflex and are at risk for aspiration pneumonia.
Decorations
Plastic beads can be confused for toys and can cause an intestinal obstruction.
Fire pits, sparklers, and other holiday items can spark a fire.
Safety tips
Keep pets away from flames.
Keep shamrocks out of reach.
Keep pets in a safe, quiet room away from the action.
If your pet eats something potentially toxic, contact your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline 800-213-6680.

03/03/2025

Tripawd Awareness Day
Every year, March third (3/3) is Tripawd Awareness Day. Triday honors animal amputees and the people who care for them by celebrating pet amputation awareness among pet lovers and the veterinary community. Whether an animal is born with a limb difference, or undergoes amputation for any reason, 3/3 is the best day of the year to showcase the resilient ways that dogs, cats, and other animals face limb loss and life on three legs.
Seen here is Maple - she belongs to one of our Vet Techs and losing a leg never slowed her down. When she was rescued she had a broken front leg. Unfortunately the break was along the growth plates and could not be repaired. She had the injured arm amputate and it was like nothing happened! She runs, and jumps and plays with her cat and kid friends.

Check out more stories here:
https://triday.pet/

Share your tripawd below!

03/02/2025

Do you love cats?
Today is International Cat Rescue Day!

Here at Central Cowichan Animal Hospital we are proud to help out the Cowichan District SPCA with their feline (and occasionally canine) friends.

If you are looking to add a kitty friend to your family consider rescuing one from one of our local cat rescues and be sure to bring them in to see us for their follow-up medical care.

Its a good idea to have your cat checked out once a year by a veterinarian to ensure their best health.

We're know some of you have great stories about how some kitties joined your families - please share them below.

03/01/2025

Has your pet ever eaten something it shouldn't???
March is Poison Prevention Awareness Month.

Check out the photos to see the most common toxins, and most common side effects and which type of pet is most likely to have gotten in trouble.

take a look through the Pet Poison Helpline's website for more information
https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/

It doesn't hurt to have their phone number saved in your phone (or on your fridge) in case of emergency! 1(855) 764-7661

02/27/2025

Having you been feeling blue this winter? Talk to your Doctor to see if prescription-dog or prescription-cat may be right for you.

We all know that our pets make us feel great. But could there be more to these benefits?

02/23/2025

Have you checked your pet for Ticks today?

Remember there is no off season for fleas/ticks. Make sure to check your pets after coming home from hikes or playdates. Even indoor only pets should be checked over in case something got tracked in on your pants or shoes.

02/22/2025

Have you noticed your kitties slowing down?

Get Your Cat Back to Their “Normal”
Cats hide almost everything, especially pain. But if your cat is suffering from osteoarthritis (OA) pain, you’ve probably noticed changes in their everyday behavior. Things like jumping, climbing stairs, and even playing might not be so easy for them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ALYKty0fkM

Book a wellness exam with your doctor to discuss your cats wellness future.

02/19/2025

Did you know today is National Whippet Day! (And we missed World Greyhound day on February 2nd)

Although many dogs chase game, sighthounds are unique hunters. They have thin, wiry bodies, breakneck speed, and endurance. A flexible back, long rear legs, a large heart, and efficient lungs enable these hounds to provide food for their owners. Some work alone, while others function well in packs.
Check out more information about sighthounds here: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/meet-sighthound-breeds/

For those who have one of these swift friends post below! We love to see your cuties.