The Westmorland Animal Hospital

08/01/2024

We hope everyone is having a great summer!

We would love to see pictures of you and your pets enjoying summer vacation!
Flinn loves to go to the cottage with his Grampy!

07/30/2024

Hey Everyone!
Sorry missing a few weeks of updates. WAH has had a busy few weeks. Flinn has been staying on track and we are happy to say he is now down to 49.4lb!
Only 4.4lb until his first weight goal!

Exercise is hard to do in the heat for not only dogs struggling with weight issues, but for all dogs. Here's some helpful tips to keeping our pups comfortable in the heat.

It's summertime and we know you want to be outside soaking up the beautiful sunshine and enjoying the warm weather with your dog. Some dogs can be particularly sensitive to the heat, so you may need to take a few precautions as you plan your summer adventures. Read our expert tips on how you can kee...

07/19/2024

We had a cell phone left behind this morning, if this is yours please give us a call or stop into the clinic!

07/11/2024

Today Flinn weighed in at 54lb! He's been enjoying going for walks and swims, and has been getting zoomies outside in the yard!

Measurements from first day of weight loss.
Waist: 30.5 inches
Chest: 32.5 inches

Now, he measured
Waist: 28.5 inches
Chest: 31.5 inches

We are very happy with our results so far! We will keep his routine the exact same!

07/04/2024

Flinn with his new friend Bandit!

Stay tuned for Flinn's weigh in next week! We are also going to compare his measurements!

07/02/2024

We keep reminding Flinn not to compare his athletic capabilities to the springers. But you can see with the side profile, he's starting to get his figure back!
He's nicely adjusting to the diet change, he now meal feeding happily. (Although Lilly still steals a kibble or two)

06/27/2024

Did the thunder this morning bother your pet? Do fireworks trigger anxiety or fear in your cat or dog? If the answer was Yes, know that we have many different natural options for you that can ease your pet's anxiety over the long weekend.

Feel free to stop into the clinic or give us a call to have an assistant or technician help you chose a product that works for both you and your pet.

Just a reminder we are closed Monday July 1st for Canada Day. We ask if you are in need of prescription refills to give 24-hour notice for those pickups. We are open tomorrow Jun 28th until 5:30pm

06/27/2024

Flinn took a dip in the lake, and he loved it! Because he responded so well, we are going to incorporate slow walks in the water in his exercise program. This is great for dogs who may be experiencing any joint pain or have arthritis. This is a nice low impact activity where the water takes the weight off their joints and allows them to use their muscles easily. Flinn especially likes to go on hot days to cool off!

06/25/2024

Today is Flinn's next weight check, almost a month into our journey!
He weighed 58lb, which is the same as his last weight check.
This news can feel discouraging but his mobility is even better than last week, so we are still going to consider this a win. We are taking into consideration that he also may be gaining muscle weight.
But now that he is feeling better, we are going to start an exercise program. We are going to start slow walks on a soft surface, like grass and start with a short distances and work towards going a bit longer every day.
We may tweak his diet a little bit and cut back a couple of kibbles, but if his muscles are building then he needs his diet to support this. Food is fuel!

06/20/2024

Flinn has been having a blast practicing being off leash. He went on a trip to Samantha's camp in Sussex and loved sniffing around the woods and playing in the streams. He's been struggling a bit with separation anxiety, which is common for beagles. So the plan is to try and exert him mentally, because he physically isn't able to exercise the amount his brain needs. We are going to do this by using lick mats, playing sniffing games and practicing basic commands. Stayed tuned for Flinn's weigh in next week!

06/18/2024

Flinn has been feeling great after his weight loss! He loves to explore with housemates Lilly and Maverick. He's even started to jog after them when they run! It might take a little bit longer before he can keep up with them, but he certainly tries his best.
We have been working on recall training and being off leash while he isn't hard to catch, and it's been going really well. He loves to leisurely walk around outside the clinic and to roll around in the grass. We can already see improvements in his mobility and are hopeful with more time, he will be running and playing with the springers!

06/11/2024

Today is Flinn's 2 week weight check.
Flinn weighed in at 58.6lb today! That's 4.4lb down.

Ideally, Beagles should weigh between 20-30lb. Just like most breeds, there is a variation in size between different lines. But based on his height, we believe Flinn should be on the smaller end of the range.
That being said, his journey needs to be a slow process. If we restrict too much of his food, then he might risk having nutrient deficiencies.
Thanks to Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets , we know that each kibble has all the essential nutrients that he needs to thrive. They also provide feeding instructions on the bag that we used to calculate how much to give Flinn daily.
Although weight loss is the goal. Flinn's weight loss was only supposed to be 1.3lb. So we will monitor his intake very carefully to ensure he isn't missing important vitamins and minerals, and may even increase how much he's getting daily.
Reasons why he might have lost too quickly:
-Very few treats, compared to what he got previously.
-More light activity than what he's used to on a daily basis.
-Measured meals, that took him a little while to get used to. He would sometimes skip a meal.
Flinn used to have food available out all the time. But to ensure that he isn't over eating we had to train him to meal feed instead. Most dogs who are free fed, often will resist the transition at first. But once he saw the other dogs in the house eating at certain times, he eventually caught on.

06/04/2024

We wanted to introduce everyone to our new WAH mascott, Flinn!
Flinn is a sweet beagle that is having difficultly controlling his weight. Unfortunately, his winter weight gain has caused exercise intolerance. He will be staying with our head technician, Samantha while she helps with a weight loss program.
We will share his weight loss journey every Tuesday!
Thanks to the help of Purina Pro Plan, we have started Flinn on OM Overweight Management dog food. This diet is made to help dogs lose weight, while protecting muscle tissue.
Flinn's first weight is 63lb!
We are going to keep activity light for now, to avoid injuring any muscles or ligaments. Samantha just allows him to walk around and sniff the her property at his own leisure.

05/16/2024

These beautifully colored coonhound puppies made a visit this week for their examinations and vaccinations, so they can start their hunt for loving homes. Jill, Dr. Hebert, and Brittney couldn't get enough of their sweet puppy breath!

Just a reminder that the clinic will be closed Monday May 20th for Victoria Day. So do make sure you have all your pet's medications and food for the long weekend. We do ask for 24-hour notice for prescription medications to be refilled.

Thanks you Stella Corsaut for letting us use this sweet picture.

05/01/2024

Some of you might have already spotted her, but Alysha one of our RVTs and assistant office manager is back with us again after her second maternity leave!

Shes is pictured here with sweet Moonlight all wrapped up in a little Purrito, receiving some cuddles after his surgery.

Welcome Back Alysha! We missed you.

Posted with owner's permission. 😊

04/24/2024

This week is Administrative Assistant/Veterinary Assistant week and we would like to shout out to our fabulous Veterinary Assitants (Jill & Brittney) and our awesome Office Managers (Sue & Alysha). These ladies are often the first people that greet you and your pet as you enter our hospital.
From keeping patient appointments flowing effectively, keeping our hospital shelves stocked, ordering all your pets food/treats/medications, to helping in surgery, updating patient charts, caring for patients and so much more - these ladies do it all and are a vital part of our Veterinary Care Team! They work extra hard at making sure you and your pet feel welcome and looked after while you are in our hospital. These ladies are highly skilled and we definitely wouldn't function as efficiently (likely not even at all) without them.
Please take a moment to help us thank and appreciate our wonderful Veterinary Assistants and Office Managers.

Thank You!

04/10/2024

Unfortunately due to an increased number of no shows for both surgeries and appointments we have implemented a "no-show" fee. Our goal is to provide timely care to all our patients and to respect our veterinary care team's time. If you must cancel your appointment, we request a call, email or Facebook message at least 24 hours before your pet’s scheduled appointment. This allows us to accommodate other patients who may need prompt medical care or who are on our wait list.
Cancellations: An appointment must be cancelled at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled appointment/surgery drop off time. Cancellations that occur with less than 24 hours’ notice may result in a charge.
Late: In the event a pet parent arrives late to their appointment (more than 10 minutes after their scheduled appointment time) and cannot be seen by the veterinarian on the same day, they will be rescheduled for a future clinic visit, if available. We will try to accommodate your pet as best we can to be seen the day of your appointment, unfortunately there is no guarantee we will be able to see you the same day if this occurs. Should this happen more than once in a calendar year, the "No-show" fee will be applied to your account.
No-Shows: “No Show” appointments will have this fee applied to their account.
If two (2) no-shows occur in a row or within a calendar year, the client may be required to pre-pay for the exam portion of any future appointments.
We understand that extenuating circumstances do arise; if you have concerns please discuss with a member of our team for more information.

Thank you for your understanding.

04/10/2024

UPDATE: Owner Found - our condolences are with the owner at this time.

ATTN Sackville Residents:
A good Samaritan brought in a cat that was hit by a car this morning. The cat is deceased and was found on Ogden Mill Rd. in Sackville.
The cat is black and white, neutered male adult cat.
If you think this may be your cat, please contact us at the clinic (506) 536-0999

04/05/2024

Hello friends!

The total solar eclipse is just around the corner, and just about everyone is ready to see the once in a lifetime event. We are seeing some mixed information about pet/wildlife safety.

Contrary to what some may read, the sun itself is not any more dangerous during the eclipse. The reason protective eye wear is recommended for humans (who wish to observe the eclipse) is because many of us will be staring directly at the sun that day, which is something we typically avoid.

For our pets, and outdoor wildlife, that day will be similar to any other day. Our pets don’t stare at the sun, so there is no need to keep them indoors on April 08, 2024 for any extended period of time. They may notice the change in temperature, but it is unlikely they will exhibit any unusual behaviour.

The eclipse can be more unsettling for birds. The dimming of the sky can mimic behaviour at dusk and during early storm formation, so some birds may demonstrate a wind-down behaviour and there may be less activity in the sky during the peak eclipse. Once the sky returns to normal, so does their behaviour.

For additional information about the eclipse please see:
https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/safety/

Safe watching friends!

By Dr Renee Fleming - Guelph Animal Hospital

04/03/2024

People often ask us what a day in the life of a veterinary professional is like - this day was memorable as we were able to help deliver 4 healthy puppies via an emergency C-section. Our whole team was very excited to welcome these 4 to the world. Both puppies and Mom are doing well.

Can anyone guess their breed?

Posted with owner's permission.

03/25/2024

Friendly Reminder that the clinic will be closed this Friday (March 29, 2024) in observation of Good Friday however, we will be open our regular hours on Easter Monday (April 1st, 2024). If your pet is on prescription medications please check to make sure you have enough medication for your pet until at least Tuesday. If you require a refill please let us know as soon as possible so we can ensure it is ready before Thursday afternoon.

On another note, please make sure to keep your pets in mind if you are partaking in an Easter Egg Hunt. Make sure pets are safely kept away while the eggs are out and that any leftover treats are put up out of reach of your pets. Remember the darker the chocolate the more toxic it is. If you think your pet ingested any chocolate or Easter treats please call us or an emergency clinic right away, as chocolate or sweetener toxicity can be fatal to pets.

03/19/2024

Friendly PSA:

We would like all of our clients to know that effective immediately we will be introducing a 24 hour prescription refill protocol. Please ensure that when you call to refill your pet's medication that you have AT LEAST enough medication to last your pet 24 hours. Also please know that some medications may be a special order and take a few days to receive. It is always best to request a prescription refill the week before your pet runs out of their medication.
For safety we require a veterinarian to sign off on all prescriptions. We can happily refill your pet's medications all week but are unable to fill any Friday afternoons (as there is no available veterinarian to sign off). If you call to place a refill order Friday, please ensure that your pet has enough medication to last until Monday.

03/09/2024

If you’ve been in recently you may have noticed our vestibule looks a bit different…
Thank you to our wonderful (and talented) client Melissa M Comeau who painted our entry way with adorable artwork. We hope it brings a smile to your face as you enter or leave the hospital.

Melissa also made all of our staff adorable Harry Potter themed cups filled with yummy goodies. We have a few HP fans here; if any of you are also fans the cups say ”Hogwarts wasn’t hiring so we fix Fantastic Beasts instead” 😝

02/22/2024

Let’s talk Dental Radiographs:
Dental radiographs (x-rays) are vital and provide information so our veterinarians can offer the most accurate diagnosis and treatment for your pet.
It is very common to find more advanced or additional dental disease than what was seen on the oral exam; this is why all of our dentals include full mouth radiographs.
To give you an example: Below are some dental radiographs from one of our staff member’s dog, Reese. Reese was in for her dental and upon taking the radiographs it was clear that Reese was suffering from a tooth root abscess. This was unexpected and was a surprise when the radiograph was taken. Tooth root abscesses are often very painful and are unlikely to resolve on their own; sometimes severe tooth abscesses can even lead to a more serious infection in the blood or the bone of the jaw. Luckily Reese had pre-surgical bloodwork done prior to her dental so we knew she did not have any systemic (blood/full body) infection. Treatment of tooth abscesses typically requires the diseased tooth to be removed, sometimes antibiotics will be given and sent home with the pet to treat any remaining or underlying infection. In Reese’s case the tooth was removed as she made a full recovery.
Picture 1: Shows a dark area around the tooth root – this is where the bone has actually be destroyed by the infection leaving a large pocket around the root of the tooth (ouch this would have been very painful). There is also evidence of bone loss closer to the tooth's surface as well.
Picture 2: Is the radiograph of the other side of Reese’s mouth. You can see that there is no large black pocket – aka no tooth root abscess.

02/16/2024

Reminder:
We will be closed Monday February 19 for Family Day

Thanks for your attention.
Look at these cuties who were in the other day for their Health Checks, Vaccinations and Deworming - aren’t they just a wagon full of ADORABLE?!

02/08/2024

Did you know dogs and cats have a full set of baby teeth (called deciduous teeth)? Just like people your dog or cat's baby teeth will fall out to allow for a full set of adult to grow in. When dogs are fully grown they should have 42 teeth where cats have only 30. A common issue we see with dogs and cats is what's known as a retained deciduous tooth, this is where the adult tooth grows in behind, beside or in front of the baby tooth. This means that the baby tooth often remains, crowding the adult tooth.
Does this affect your dog or cat?
The answer is, yes!
Since the adult tooth and the baby tooth are so close together food and debris build up in the space in between the baby and the adult tooth. This causes bacteria to build up and this can lead to the development of early dental disease, therefore we often recommend them to be removed to prevent future dental disease.

If your pet has a retained baby tooth feel free to book an appointment to have it looked at.

The red arrow is pointing towards the retained baby tooth. In this picture we can tell that by the rate of growth that this is a younger animal - can you see the buildup of plaque is already starting to occur between the baby and adult tooth?

02/05/2024

Due to weather conditions, we will be closed today.
Sorry for any inconveniences.

We hope you all stay safe and warm! ❄️

02/01/2024

Happy February!
February is Dental Health month here at Westmorland Animal Hospital, so this month we will be talking about all things Dentistry!
Did you know that up to 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have dental disease before the age of 3?
Since dogs and cats are unable to brush their teeth, plaque and tartar forms on the teeth - as this buildup continues it causes painful inflammation of the gums called gingivitis. After time plaque and tartar eventually cause the gums to recede, exposing the root of the tooth leading to painful periodontal disease, infection, and eventually tooth loss.

During the month of February we will be offering a special “Dental Month” promotion, which includes: Your pet’s dental cleaning and polishing at a promotional price and goody bag with some dental products for your pet to try.

Think your pet could benefit from a dental? Call the clinic to book an appointment for a pre dental exam.

Keep a look out this month on your news feed for more interesting dental facts, pictures and information.

01/15/2024

Did you know the first insurance for animals was introduced in Sweden in the 1890s for livestock and horses but by 1924, people began insuring their pets as well.
That means pet insurance has been available for a century! Are your pets insured in case of emergencies?

Just like the world of human medicine the world of veterinary medicine is constantly evolving. New techniques, protocols, treatments, diagnostic/surgical procedures and medications are being developed every day. While all these advancements are amazing for your pet, they come with an increased cost of veterinary care to the pet owner.

As an owner there may come a time in your pet’s life that they require or may benefit from veterinary care. As pet owners we all know that making decisions about your pet’s medical care can be extremely stressful, especially if cost becomes a substantial part of a potentially life or death decision.

Would you like to have a piece of mind knowing that should your pet need emergency veterinary care, advanced diagnostics or surgical procedures that your decision to get these doesn’t have to be influenced by how much they cost?

If you answered yes, pet insurance might be a great option for your pet.

*Picture below is the famous "Lassie", who was the first American dog to become insured in 1982*

12/25/2023

We hope Santa found you all! Here’s some of our Westmorland Family members enjoying the holiday season! 🎄🎅🏼🎁