12/11/2023
HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
The clinic will be closed beginning at 4pm Thursday December 21st until Tuesday January 2, 2024 inclusively.
In case of emergency or for veterinary care during this period, we invite you to contact another clinic in the region. If you are unable to find a veterinary service, contact the Ordre des médecins vétérinaires du Québec (OMVQ) at 1-800-267-1427
For a non-urgent request, leave us a private message on Facebook or an email and we will contact you as soon as we return.
⚠️IMPORTANT
All prescription medication renewals and food orders must be made NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 14TH, 2023.
📌HOLIDAY SEASON TIPS
The holiday season can be magical and pleasant, but often involves a lot of preparations, shopping, receptions and guests to impress and no time for the unexpected! Certain foods, plants and decorations can harm pets. Here are some tips to avoid a lot of inconvenience or having to consult an emergency veterinarian during the holidays with your companion.
☑️HOLIDAY FOODS AND SWEETS
Many foods and sweets are problematic for pets.
•Avoid giving table scraps, fatty foods, high in sodium or sugary foods. Indeed, any food that is not part of your cat or dog's usual diet can cause indigestion, gastroenteritis, or even pancreatitis. Your pet may exhibit digestive discomfort, lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting and/or diarrhea. More severe cases will suffer from dehydration requiring hospitalization. It is therefore better to keep your favorite canine away from the paw stew and the pie even if you have to resist the pitiful eyes of the pitou!
•Never offer chicken or turkey bones. These can get stuck in the mouth, esophagus or intestine and injure the mucous membranes of the digestive system, sometimes leading to perforation.
•Chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats when ingested in too large quantities. The active agent is theobromine contained in cocoa. Intoxication will depend on the type of chocolate (dark chocolate contains more cocoa than milk chocolate), the quantity ingested but also the size of the dog. If your dog has eaten a significant amount of chocolate, you should call your veterinarian immediately. Symptoms that may be seen include agitation, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors and convulsions. This poisoning can be fatal if left untreated.
•Grapes (fresh and dried) can cause kidney failure in dogs.
•Macadamia nuts are also toxic. There is an individual sensitivity that is difficult to predict, so the slightest ingestion requires intervention.
•Avocados are very toxic to birds and can also bother cats and dogs with vomiting or diarrhea.
•Beware of carmelized onions! These - and all members of the onion family for that matter - are toxic to your animals whether raw or cooked. They cause anemia by destruction of red blood cells.
•Alcohol: pets are much more sensitive to the effects of alcohol than humans; a very small amount can cause signs of alcohol poisoning. Alcohol can be found in a fruit cake, macerated with rum, or in uncooked dough which contains yeast. Among the symptoms: vomiting, trying to vomit without result, distended abdomen, elevated heart rate, weakness and collapse.
☑️BE CAREFUL OF CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS
•Christmas icicles, artificial snow and tinsel are particularly attractive to kittens and puppies. Likewise, small objects (the characters in the nativity scene and the decorations on the Christmas tree, for example) can be swallowed accidentally and create an obstruction in the digestive system. Your pet would then experience vomiting, loss of appetite, depression and sometimes loose stools. This could require emergency surgery.
•Decorative lights and electrical extensions can cause electrocution if chewed. Place Christmas baubles at the top of the tree to avoid feline temptations. Be careful of shards from glass Christmas balls which can cause injury to the paw pads. It is also desirable to secure the Christmas tree well since it is not uncommon to see kittens climbing it and risking it falling.
•When unwrapping gifts, do not leave gift ribbons lying around as they are particularly attractive to cats.
☑️PREVENT POISONING
If your pet accompanies you on a visit, make sure that there is no rodent poison, ant traps or other insecticides in the house of the host who welcomes you. Main holiday ornamental plants to keep out of reach of your companions:
•Poinsettia
•Mistletoe
•Holly
•Jerusalem cherry (apple tree)
Whether the stem, leaves or berries, it is best to inform yourself if ingested, as some plants can cause kidney failure, lack of coordination, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions and even dead. For more information, visit https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control
☑️BEWARE OF FOOD INDISCRETIONS
Present hors d’oeuvres on high tables out of reach for your pet. Get rid of table scraps quickly and put the garbage bags in an inaccessible place, otherwise your pet could quickly go and stick his nose in them like a lunch box! If your pet tends to steal food from counters or beg at the table, it may be best to temporarily isolate him in a room during meals. Plan your pet's food reserves carefully. Veterinary clinics and pet food stores often have reduced opening hours during the holiday season. If you are short on food, a sudden change to another food range could cause unwanted digestive problems.
☑️STOP RUNAWAYS
Close the doors of the house securely and make sure your pet wears its identification collar. Unfortunately, elopements are common during the holiday season. Noise, loud music and lots of guests coming and going can be stressful for your pet and make him want to run away. If your pet has an anxious temperament, consider confining him to a remote, quiet and safe room.
