Animals First Clinic

06/26/2024

06/25/2024

Grande Cache, we enjoyed our visits so much that we're coming down on a few more days! We will be running our wellness clinics on July 8, 31, and August 15, 27.

This means any pets that need their annual vaccines, puppy/kitten vaccines, or just a look over to make sure they're healthy can get their exams without a 2 hour drive to Grande Prairie. Any animals with health concerns or that may need a further work up will need to come to Animals First Clinic on a different date, as we cannot bring all of our lab gear with us!
We can also bring any prescriptions or prescription diets that owners may need up to Grande Cache with us for you to pick up!
A HUGE thank you to Little Critters - Bed & Biscuit for hosting us! We will be using their location for the wellness clinics.

To book your appointment, order food or prescriptions, or to ask any questions about this event, please call Animals First Clinic at 780-814-8544
See you soon!

06/21/2024

People in Canada celebrate National Indigenous History Month every June and recognize National Indigenous People’s Day on June 21. These are great opportunities to acknowledge Indigenous Peoples, to learn about their histories, cultures and ways of life.

https://bit.ly/3yN248C

06/19/2024

Did you know that the fur on the inside of your cat's ears are called 'ear furnishings'? These hairs help to increase their sensitivity, letting them pick up quieter sounds and directing sound into the ear itself. They also help to keep the ear warm, and keep debris out of them!
Percy is the best at giving the side-eye, especially when we are trying to take pictures of him. He doesn't have the longest ear furnishings, but they're pretty neat!

06/17/2024

We are open every Saturday in June! Please give us a call at 780 814 8544 if you would like to book a Saturday appointment!

06/14/2024

It's that time of the year again. Blue-green algae is starting to build up in Alberta watersources, and it can be deadly in minutes to dogs that drink water contaminated with its toxins.
Blue-green algae is a serious concern in many parts of Alberta. If you see any kind of surface scum, be careful. If you are worried about a lake having blue-green algae, contact AHS.
https://ephisahs.albertahealthservices.ca/create-case/
Before you head out to any lake, check the BGA advisories page. It is being updated daily as soon as the test comes back positive and is always changing. So make sure to check every time you go.
https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/news/bga.aspx
Take care this summer.

06/13/2024

With the thunderstorm possibly coming tomorrow, many pets are going to be very anxious - which means their owners will be too.
Here are some things you can do to help your pet feel safer during thunderstorms and make the weather not so stressful!
- Provide a small, warm, safe space for them to hide in
- Offer distractions such as toys, treats, games
- Putting on white noise or a movie for background noise to reduce the impact of thunder
- Some pets feel safer in tight clothing such as thundershirts
- Some pets may need anxiety supplements to help with their fears

If you have concerns about your pet and thunderstorms, please give us a call at 780 814 8544 and we would be happy to help!

06/07/2024

Just a reminder that we are open tomorrow until 5:00pm! If you need any food or prescriptions, you can pick them up tomorrow as well.

We also have appointments available today! Give us a call at 780 814 8544 to book in.

06/06/2024

This may look like a needle, but it's actually from an animal!

This is a porcupine quill that was stuck in the mouth of one of our patients today. Porcupines don't 'throw' their quills like many rumors say, but they do come out very easily if something tries to attack them! Because they're barbed, they get embedded into skin and tissues, where they can actually migrate to other parts of the body.

Thankfully we were able to take this quill out safely and our patient has gone home to rest!

06/05/2024

🐾 Did you know ear mites are a common issue for cats, especially in Alberta?

These pesky pests can cause severe discomfort for your furry friend.

Learn the signs and treatment options to keep your cat healthy! https://tailsofhelp.ca/signs-your-cat-has-a-ear-mites/

06/03/2024

Welcome to June, and welcome to Pride Month! This month we celebrate, show support, and raise awareness of LGBTQIA2S+ rights and celebrate the importance of creating a future full of inclusivity and safe spaces for everyone.

Have any photos from your Pride celebrations? We’d love to see them in the comments below!

In the meantime, here are our odd hours for this month! We are open almost every Saturday, so give us a call to book in!

Happy Pride!

05/31/2024

Our first day at Grande Cache was a huge success! Huge thank you to Little Critters - Bed & Biscuit for hosting us, and a thank you to all of our clients that came to see us!

We will be back in Grande Cache on June 19th - see you all then!

05/29/2024

Reminder that we are open until 8:00pm tonight if you need to come pick up food, prescriptions or would like an evening appointment!

Welcome to May! We haven't had many April Showers, so it's probably going to be late for May Flowers, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy it!

Here are our late hours and Saturdays for May. We will be closed on May 20 for the long weekend. Please give us a call if you would like a later or weekend appointment!

05/28/2024

Did you know we now have a Tiktok account? Follow us for videos on pet advice, Percy shenanigans, cool cases and more!
on tiktok

17 Followers, 20 Following, 38 Likes - Watch awesome short videos created by animalsfirst

05/27/2024

Percival is not very impressed with us on this fine Monday. He isn't the fondest of playing dress up - even if it is a super cool bandanna for the clinic!

05/24/2024

Just a reminder that we are open tomorrow and have appointments available in the afternoon!

Welcome to May! We haven't had many April Showers, so it's probably going to be late for May Flowers, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy it!

Here are our late hours and Saturdays for May. We will be closed on May 20 for the long weekend. Please give us a call if you would like a later or weekend appointment!

05/23/2024

Happy World Turtle Day!

05/22/2024

Do you think it is a myth or a fact that dogs with allergies are always itchy?

It is...
A Myth!

Allergies in dogs can show up as many different signs. While scratching or itching is very common, we also see other symptoms such as hair loss, recurring ear and paw infections, and GI upset!
If your dog is itchy, it does not mean they must have allergies. It also means that just because your dog ISN'T itchy, doesn't mean they DON'T have allergies. It may just be showing up as a different sign!

05/22/2024

🚩!ATTENTION ALL PET PARENTS!!🚩

We are holding Neuter Days EVERY Wednesday📅 for the Months of June and July.
This means any MALE Cats or Dogs that need the big "snip" are eligible for this day.

For more information please contact the clinic at (780)-532-4638 between the hours of 8:30-5:30 Monday to Friday.

05/21/2024

Meet our Team!

05/21/2024

If you are uncomfortable or unable to remove a tick from your pet yourself, contact your veterinarian for removal. The earlier a tick is removed the less chance it has to cause infection.
https://bit.ly/42WcgXi

05/17/2024

Percy is excited to have 3 days off! Reminder that we will be closed tomorrow and Monday, and will be open again for regular hours on Tuesday, May 21.

Enjoy the weekend and take some time to relax!

05/16/2024

Little Gumpy here is very excited to show off his brand new teeth! Kittens are born WITHOUT teeth, and their baby teeth don't come in until they are around 3 weeks old. This is when they start biting instead of suckling, and momma cat decides they are going to be weaned.
Their adult teeth don't come in until they are 5-6 months!

05/15/2024

While reptiles do get many of the same diseases as our mammalian pets, most of their health problems relate back to husbandry issues. Improper temperature, humidity, decor or food can cause drastic problems.
Make sure you are ready for a reptile by doing your research and knowing what that pet needs before you get it! Set up your enclosure ahead of time and make sure everything is running well before you add a reptile to it. And if you don't know, ask! Most reptile owners are happy to help new owners. There are plenty of spaces online and in person to find a reptile enthusiast to help with any questions.

05/14/2024

Wildfire season is here. Be prepared and have a plan ready for you and your pets in case of evacuation. Here are things you can have ready in case you do have to evacuate!

Keep up todate with the wildfire situation in your area by checking: https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-wildfire

05/13/2024

We are open late this Wednesday and have appointments open most of this week! Please give us a call to book in.

Welcome to May! We haven't had many April Showers, so it's probably going to be late for May Flowers, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy it!

Here are our late hours and Saturdays for May. We will be closed on May 20 for the long weekend. Please give us a call if you would like a later or weekend appointment!

05/10/2024

This old man was brought to us by a Good Samaritan after he followed them home last night! He was found in the Copperwood area. Neutered male, no microchip, declawed in the front.
Bylaw will be coming to pick him up. Please contact the GP Regional Pound if this is your kitty!

05/10/2024

We've had some clients wondering lately: If restrictions are gone, why do we still have the parking spot numbers up in our windows?
The reason is because during the pandemic, we found that getting pets to wait with their owners in the vehicle had quite a few benefits!
- Decreased patient stress from being in a familiar environment with their owner
- Pets aren't waiting together in the lobby and getting each other worked up
- Less pressure on the reception team
- Less overall anxiety with our patients and clients
- If clients forget a leash/carrier, we can bring it out to them without having a loose pet in the clinic

All of this is working along with our Fear Free Pets protocols, to help reduce stress for our clients and our patients. This improves their experience and increases their trust with the clinic.
Because of this, we have implemented that when you are bringing your pet in for an appointment, please wait in your vehicle. Call or text in to let us know you are here and which stall number you are in, and when we are ready to bring you in, a technician will come out and bring you inside.

05/09/2024

We are open this Saturday from 8:30am-5:00pm if you needed to come pick up any medications or food!

Welcome to May! We haven't had many April Showers, so it's probably going to be late for May Flowers, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy it!

Here are our late hours and Saturdays for May. We will be closed on May 20 for the long weekend. Please give us a call if you would like a later or weekend appointment!