Western Animal Clinic

07/01/2025

As a loving pet owner, it’s crucial to be aware of the foods that can be hazardous to your furry friend. Some common items like chocolate, grapes, and onions can lead to serious health issues. Always prioritize their well-being by sticking to pet-safe treats and meals. Educate yourself on what your pets should avoid and ensure they stay healthy and happy! Your attention to their diet makes all the difference in their life. If you're unsure what to give your pet, call us at 519-672-1210.

06/30/2025

We wish to welcome Vicky as a new addition to our veterinary technician team.

For Vicky, being a veterinary technician is more than just a job - it’s a chance to make a difference in the lives of animals and build meaningful bonds with their owners.

To read more about Vicky please read her profile on our website

https://westernanimalclinic.ca/about-us/team/

06/28/2025

Caring for our furry friends means ensuring their cleanliness and comfort. Bathing your pet can depend on their breed, coat type, and lifestyle. Regular grooming helps keep them healthy and happy. What’s your routine? Do you prefer a monthly spa day for your dog or maybe a quick wash for your cat? Remember to use gentle shampoos made specifically for pets to avoid skin irritations. Let’s share tips on keeping our beloved companions fresh and clean!

06/26/2025

Cat owners, do you agree? There's a delightful truth about our furry friends: while dogs think of us as their beloved owners, cats have an amusingly different perspective. Some say they see us more as their devoted staff, ready to serve their every whim. It’s this charming dynamic that reminds us of the unique personalities each pet brings into our lives. Dogs may crave loyalty and adventure with their humans, but cats are experts at balancing independence with affection in the cutest ways. Each pet adds joy and laughter to our homes in its own special way!

06/25/2025

It’s that time of year, construction time.
Please be advised that the city is putting in a new gas line in front of the clinic affecting southbound traffic intermittently for the next couple weeks.

06/24/2025

Heat warning until Wednesday!

There is an extreme heat and humidity warning until Wednesday. Although we hope common sense will prevail, here's a reminder:

06/24/2025

Microchipping your pet is a vital step in ensuring their safety and well-being. It provides a permanent form of identification, making it easier for them to be found and returned to you if they ever get lost. Unlike collars, which can come off or be removed, a microchip stays securely embedded beneath their skin. For more information on microchipping, please call us at 519-672-1210.

06/21/2025

Like this if you agree! Does your pet wake you up bright or early, or let you sleep in? Let us know in the comments below! We love hearing your stories!

06/20/2025

We are heading into a hot weekend, stay cool!
But just in case, here’s a good post on heat stroke prevention and treatment in dogs.

🐕HEATSTROKE IN DOGS🐕

We've been banging on about this for years! HEATSTROKE is a MEDICAL EMERGENCY! Fortunately, now more and more professionals are communicating the same message!

Whilst the need for rapid cooling with COLD water (1-15°C) has been recognised for decades in equestrian and human medicine, the dog world has lagged behind, and very poor information still circulates. e.g. "cool the paws", "cover with wet towels", "avoid cold water as it will cause shock"

THE KEY MESSAGES ARE............

💦"WET THEN VET"💦

💦"COLD WATER IMMERSION" (1-15°C)💦
(If you can't immerse, keep pouring ANYTHING COLD over the dog - hose, soft drinks, milk, etc)

💦Dogs die of heatstroke because they were NOT COOLED QUICKLY ENOUGH, NOT BECAUSE THEY WERE COOLED!

♨️RISK FACTORS FOR HEATSTROKE IN HOT WEATHER♨️

♨️Large dogs
♨️DOUBLE-COATED breeds
♨️Brachycephalic breeds
♨️June, July, August (UK)
♨️Exercise, being outdoors, left in cars

EDIT: - If a dog is PANTING, it's struggling to control its body TEMPERATURE! 💦HOSE IT TO COOL IT DOWN!💦

❤️PLEASE SHARE - Spread accurate information; potentially save a dogs life!❤️

CHECK OUT FREE RESOURCES HERE: https://askanimalweb.com/managing-dogs-in-hot-weather/

Welfare in the Heat: https://askanimalweb.com/heat-welfare/

If you don't believe me, look at the research: Beard S, Hall EJ, Bradbury J, Carter AJ, Gilbert S, O'Neill DG. Epidemiology of heat-related illness in dogs under UK emergency veterinary care in 2022. Vet Rec. 2024;e4153. https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/vetr.4153

06/19/2025

Today is Veterinarian Appreciation Day!
We are lucky to have 4 amazing Veterinarians at Western Animal Clinic providing the best care to pets and their people . Dr. Rachel Thomas, Dr. Izabela MacDougall, Dr. Laura Somerville and Dr Jameela Joseph are some of the most passionate , kindest and compassionate people you will ever meet. Thank you Dr’s for all you do!

06/19/2025

Heat stroke can be life-threatening to your pet. It is crucial to recognize signs of heat exhaustion early on so that you can avoid any harm to your animal. Here are some key points to identify symptoms of heat stroke. Do you have questions about how to care for your pup? Give us a call at 519-672-1210 and we can provide you with more personalized care.

06/18/2025

Tid bit Tuesday!

Did you know that we see more gastroenteritis (vomiting and diarrhea) in dogs in the spring? Often we don’t know what causes these episodes, usually it’s something that they have ingested. Growing plants are high on the list of potential culprits. Here are a few plants that commonly bloom in London in the spring.

For a more comprehensive list, of both indoor and outdoor plants, please go to
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants?plant_toxicity=non-toxic-to-dogs%22%20%5Ct%20%22_blank