Capital City Specialty & Emergency Animal Hospital, Ottawa, ON (2025)

07/09/2025

🐾 Emergency Spotlight: Chaos and the Fishing Hook 🐾

Meet Chaos—a sweet pup who found himself in a very tricky situation! 🐶🎣

Earlier this week, Chaos was rushed into our hospital after accidentally getting a fishing hook lodged in his mouth. Ouch! Hooks can be deceptively small but extremely dangerous, especially when they embed into delicate tissues like the tongue, lips, or gums—or worse, are swallowed.

In Chaos’s case, the hook was deeply embedded and required sedation and careful removal to avoid further injury. Thankfully, his quick-thinking family acted fast and didn’t try to remove it themselves (which can often cause more damage). After a delicate procedure and lots of cuddles from our team, Chaos is now back home and feeling much better. 💚

🎣 If you’re out near the water this summer, be extra cautious with fishing gear around curious pups! 👉 Keep tackle boxes sealed 👉 Don’t leave baited lines unattended 👉 If your pet swallows or gets caught on a hook—don’t pull it out yourself. Seek veterinary care immediately.

We’re so glad we could help Chaos through this scary ordeal—and even happier to see his tail wagging again! 🐾💥

07/01/2025

🇨🇦🎆 Happy Canada Day! 🎆🇨🇦

While we celebrate with friends, family, and fireworks, don’t forget — this can be a stressful time for our pets. Here are a few quick tips to help keep them safe and calm tonight:
🐶 Keep pets indoors and away from windows 🔊 Use calming music or white noise to help muffle loud sounds 🦴 Offer a treat or chew toy as a distraction 🪪 Make sure they’re wearing ID or are microchipped

Wishing everyone a safe and happy long weekend! 🍁❤️
 

06/27/2025

Meet Gabriel — a true survivor with the kindest soul. 💛 Gabriel was the victim of a horrific machete attack and left on the streets to die. But thanks to the incredible work of , his story didn’t end there.

Gabriel has required extensive medical care, and has gone above and beyond to ensure he’s received everything he needs. With the loving support of his amazing foster and a community that has rallied around him, Gabriel has come so far. 🐾💕

Now, he’s ready for the next step in his journey: a consult with our very own Dr. Thatcher, DVM, DAVDC, AVDC Fellow in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery to assess his jaw and determine the best plan moving forward.

We’re honoured to be a part of Gabriel’s care team and help him take the next step toward his happily ever after. 💫

06/26/2025

📢 Calling veterinary hospital team members! Join us for an evening of education and connection at Capital City Specialty & Emergency Animal Hospital! 🏥

🧠 Maximizing Your Surgical Outcomes 📅 Thursday, July 31st, 2025 🕕 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM 📍 747 Silver Seven Rd, Units 30–35 🥗 Dinner & light refreshments provided!
Led by Dr. Jessie Lubelski, BVM&S, our talented surgical resident, this lecture will offer practical pearls to improve your surgical success.

🎟️ RSVP to Lucy Desjardins at [email protected]
 🧪 Sponsored by Vetrex, Teva, Nutramax & Imrex

06/26/2025

Meet Theia 💜🐶 This brave girl came to our emergency department for sudden, severe vomiting and abdominal discomfort. After being hospitalized for supportive care—including IV fluids 💧 and anti-nausea medications 💊—we performed X-rays and an abdominal ultrasound to get to the bottom of her symptoms.

Her imaging showed concerning signs: a dilated stomach and intestines. An ultrasound confirmed a serious condition called intussusception—where one part of the intestine slides into another like a telescope, causing a dangerous blockage ⚠️

Theia was rushed to surgery with Dr. Mehrkens 🩺, where the intussusception was corrected. Unfortunately, part of her small intestine was too damaged and had to be removed. Her recovery wasn’t easy—she needed oxygen support 🫁 post-op—but this resilient girl pulled through💪🐾

Today, Theia is thriving! 🌟 While the exact cause of her intussusception remains unknown, we’re so proud of how far she’s come 💕

06/23/2025

☀️ HEATSTROKE IN PETS: KNOW THE SIGNS 🐾

Ottawa is in the middle of a major heat wave, and today is far too hot to be walking your dog — even short outings can be dangerous.

Our team has already seen multiple cases of heatstroke this season. It’s a life-threatening emergency that can escalate quickly, especially in extreme temperatures.
Pets don’t sweat like we do — they rely on panting to cool themselves, and in this kind of heat, that’s not enough.

🚨 Signs of heatstroke:
• Excessive panting or drooling 😰
• Weakness or collapse
• Vomiting or diarrhea 🤢
• Pale or bright red gums
• Disorientation or seizures
• Elevated body temperature 🌡️

🐶 Some pets are at even higher risk:
• Brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds like pugs and bulldogs
• Seniors and puppies
• Overweight animals
• Pets left in parked cars or without shade 🚗

⚠️ But the truth is — all pets are at risk in this heat.

💡 Prevention tips:
• Walk only early morning or late evening
• Keep pets indoors in a cool space 🧊
• Offer fresh water regularly
• Skip the walk altogether if it’s too hot
• Never leave your pet in a vehicle — even for a minute

If you suspect heatstroke, get to a veterinary clinic immediately.

Let’s keep our furry friends safe out there 💛

06/21/2025

Meet Caesar 🐾 — a 15-year-old senior pup who’s been in our care this week. He came to us weak, not eating, and clearly very uncomfortable.

Our team performed diagnostics and found multiple concerns, including pancreatitis, a urinary tract infection, and changes in his gallbladder and abdomen that were causing him pain and inflammation.

With supportive care including IV fluids, antibiotics, pain relief, and a feeding tube, Caesar has made amazing progress 💪 After three days in hospital, he’s now walking and eating on his own.

We’re all rooting for Caesar as he continues his recovery 🧡

06/10/2025

🚨 Meet Diesel – this brave 3-year-old Doberman was initially seen at another clinic after vomiting potatoes and a plastic toy. When his condition worsened with breathing difficulties and lethargy, he was transferred to our emergency department for further workup and care.

Here, we performed all the necessary diagnostics, including bloodwork, thoracic X-rays, and a CT scan to rule out a possible lung abscess—which thankfully he did not have.

Diesel received intensive critical care with IV fluids, IV antibiotics, high-flow oxygen therapy, nebulization and coupage, and NG tube feedings to support his recovery from aspiration pneumonia and elevated liver values.

Throughout this challenging time, his family never gave up on him, fighting alongside our team every step of the way. 💙

As his family said:
 “He defied the odds and pulled through — all thanks to your team.”

We’re so proud of Diesel’s strength and grateful to his incredible family for their love and trust. Keep fighting, Diesel — we’re all rooting for you! 🐾💪

06/09/2025

🚨 THIS is GDV – a life-threatening emergency. 🚨
 This X-ray shows a twisted, gas-filled stomach: Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV) — one of the most critical surgical emergencies in dogs.

💥 What is GDV? The stomach fills with gas and twists on itself, cutting off blood flow and trapping contents. It can progress in minutes and is fatal without urgent surgery.

🛑 Signs to watch for:
* Non-productive retching
* Sudden bloating
* Restlessness or pacing
* Collapse
*
🩺 Treatment: Emergency surgery is the only life-saving option.

✅ Prevention tips:
* Consider a prophylactic gastropexy (stomach tacking), especially for deep-chested breeds like Great Danes, Weimaraners, and Standard Poodles.
* Avoid exercise 1 hour before and 2+ hours after meals.
* Feed 2–3 smaller meals daily rather than one large meal.
* Use slow-feeder bowls to prevent gulping.
* Avoid excessive water intake right after eating.
* Limit stress and rapid eating, especially in multi-dog households.

❗But even with the best care, sometimes prevention isn’t possible. Some dogs develop GDV with no clear trigger — knowing the signs and acting fast is key.

⏱️ If you even suspect GDV, don’t wait. Get to an emergency vet immediately.

06/01/2025

🐾⚾ Bark in the Park is back! ⚾🐾

We had such a blast at Bark in the Park last time—we just had to do it again! 🎉
Join our team on August 23, 2025 at 6:00 PM at the Ottawa Baseball Stadium Park (300 Coventry Road) for a tail-wagging good time! 🐶💙
Bring your pup and enjoy an evening filled with baseball, community fun, and of course—dogs, dogs, dogs! 🐕🐾

Whether you’re there to catch a game, grab a treat, or just hang out with fellow dog lovers, we can’t wait to see you and your furry friends there!

📍 Where: 300 Coventry Road – Ottawa Baseball Stadium Park 📅 When: Saturday, August 23, 2025 @ 6 PM 🐕 Dogs welcome (and encouraged)!

05/30/2025

🚨 Emergency Case Spotlight: Meet Olivia! 🐶💚

Sweet Olivia came into our Emergency Department today after a walk in the forest took an unexpected turn. Her family noticed she was squinting and pawing at her eye—something was clearly wrong. Thankfully, they brought her in right away. 👏

Upon examination, our team discovered what appeared to be a small piece of bark protruding from beneath her eye. Olivia was sedated and monitored closely so we could safely take a closer look—and to everyone’s surprise, that tiny fragment turned out to be a 6 cm long stick embedded near her eye! 😱🌲

Miraculously, Olivia’s eye itself only suffered a minor scratch to the cornea, and her vision and globe remain intact. While the tissue around her eye is inflamed, she’s been started on appropriate medications and is well on her way to recovery. 💊🩺

We’re so proud of Olivia for being such a brave patient—and thankful her family acted quickly. Fast action made all the difference! ❤️‍🩹

05/23/2025

Meet Betty! This adorable girl just had bilateral MPL surgery to fix a condition called patellar luxation—when the kneecaps slip out of place 🦴 (common in small breeds 🐶). Thanks to our surgery team, her knees are now stable and she’s on the road to a pain-free, happy life! She’s been so brave and sweet through it all—we’re so proud of her! 💪💕
 Way to go, Betty!

Swipe to see her cute post-op bandages ➡️

Capital City Specialty & Emergency Animal Hospital

07/09/2025

07/01/2025

06/27/2025

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06/26/2025

06/23/2025

06/21/2025

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06/09/2025

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05/30/2025

05/23/2025

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