St. Clair Veterinary

01/21/2025

📚🐾 Calling all pet-loving bookworms!
Dive into our curated reading list celebrating furry companions.
Whether you're drawn to adventurous comical pet sidekicks, non-fiction stories of heroic dogs, or fun children’s books that teach important lessons about pets, there's something on our list for every animal lover.
Ready to curl up with a good book and your pet?
Hit the library or your local bookshop and explore these top book recommendations. https://pbxx.it/ZxB1ek

01/20/2025

ATTENTION
If you are driving to your pet's appointment with us this week, the Green P parking lot will be closed.
The Green P located west of the clinic will be closed from Monday, January 20th to Wednesday, January 22nd, 2025.
Please give yourself extra time to find parking prior to your pet's appointment.

01/16/2025

Cats can be notorious for being picky eaters. Especially our older felines that desperately need to eat!

Some easy to try tips at home:
1) Heat up the wet food. This is to enhance the small to entice your cat to eat.
2) Offer the food on a clean plate/bowl. They are able to smell remnant food which turns them off.
3) Check if the dry food has gone stale.
4) Change feeding location. Have the bowl away from a high traffic area, away from kids, and separate from other pets in the home.
5) Work up an appetite. Exercising can help provide important mental and physical stimulation.

Ensure to consult your veterinarian right away if your cat is not eating as they normally do. By consulting your veterinarian, you are ruling out underlying illnesses (e.g. dental disease) that could be causes the lack of appetite.

https://www.petmd.com/cat/nutrition/why-are-cats-picky-eaters

01/15/2025

Understanding pet first aid is important for every pet parent, giving you the know-how and confidence to handle all sorts of situations. https://pbxx.it/FIZG1v

01/10/2025

In the recent news of a cat dying in BC from the Avian Flu (H5N1), here are a couple resources to read from to keep your dogs, cats, and pet birds safe from H5N1.
Tips for prenventing Avian infection your pets:
-Keep cats indoors.
-Keep pets that do go outdoors away from wild birds, poultry, and cattle and their environments.
-Prevent pets from eating dead birds or other animals.
-Avoid feeding pets raw meat or poultry and unpasteurized milk.

- https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/animal-health-and-welfare/animal-health/avian-influenza/avian-influenza-companion-animals

- https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/virus-transmission/avian-in-other-animals.html

01/08/2025

Recall from Northwest Cat Food after contracting the Avian Flu (H5N1) the infected cat, an indoor-only pet, dies. Read more about what happened below:

https://www.veterinarypracticenews.ca/pet-food-recalled-in-b-c-after-cat-dies-from-bird-flu/?qnewsletter=20250102&en_click=1&utm_campaign=2025-01-02&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=news&oly_enc_id=3792I0306267A1W

Unsure if your Northwest food is recalled? See their site below:
https://www.nw-naturals.net/12-24-24-voluntary-product-recall/

Northwest Naturals, an Oregon-based pet food company, is recalling its 2 lb. (0.9 kg) Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food after a cat in Oregon died from H5N1 avian influenza linked to the product. The recalled food was sold in British Columbia, Oregon, Washington, and California.

01/06/2025

Not much history on how this day came to be but we are not complaining to have a day dedicated to snuggling with Twiggy or Oliver!

Did you know? Cuddling releases oxytocin. This hormone alone has tremendous health benefits. Besides giving us warm and fuzzy feelings, oxytocin reduces pain. So when the cold has made those muscles and joints ache, cuddling can help reduce those aches and pains.

01/02/2025

Today was created by celebrity pet and family lifestyle expert Colleen Paige, this day covers all areas of travel, be it by car, airplane, or even a little bike ride. Every trip should be a safe one for you and your pets, and National Pet Travel Safety Day is dedicated to this cause.
Few items to do when travelling with your pet: take their medications along, ensure they have I.D. tags, bring water from home, make a list of vets in the place(s) you’ll visit. BEFORE travelling, have your vet clear your pet for travel and research the requirements/protocol for your pet to cleared for the destination!

01/01/2025

12/30/2024

Ringing in the new year with fireworks, champagne, balloons, and parties may be exciting for us, but they’re usually a nightmare for pets. New Year’s Eve can be a pretty loud holiday with noisemakers, music, fireworks, and other sounds of celebration. Unfortunately, loud noises can frighten pets and cause them to run off or hide.

12/29/2024

The holiday season is coming to an end! As the New Year approaches don't forget to check your pet's food supply. Sign up and order today on our online webstore at https://www.myvetstore.ca/stclairveterinary and sign up today.

12/27/2024

As much as some things have changed, cold weather and certain foods remain a health and safety risk for pets. Road salt can cause painful burning to paw pads, and when licked off by your dog, salt can cause irritation and inflammation to the mouth and digestive tract.

12/25/2024

Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah! We wish everyone a safe and fun times this
holiday season!

12/24/2024

While some dog breeds are built better than others to withstand cold temperatures, prolonged exposure for dogs to wind chill and cold temperatures can cause fatality from hypothermia. When temperatures drop, keep walks and outdoor playtime to a minimum. Dog jackets can help dogs stay warmer for longer in winter weather, but don’t wait until your dog starts shivering before heading back indoors.

12/22/2024

Ho ho ho! Christmas is near! Don't forget to check your pet's food supply. Order online and tick off one less task on the list! Sign up today at our online webstore at https://www.myvetstore.ca/stclairveterinary and sign up today.

12/21/2024

Holiday season is here! Save this photo to have a digital copy of our hours of operation this season. Don't forget to stock up on medication and food! If you find yourself in need of emergency veterinary care please see the emergency numbers to the top right of the calendar.

12/19/2024

Chemical de-icers containing ethylene glycol are a deadly poison for dogs. As a standard de-icing agent found in antifreeze and winter windshield washer fluid, ethylene glycol has a sweet taste that many dogs find irresistible—and it only takes a small amount to cause permanent and fatal damage to their kidneys.

12/17/2024

Delicious meals and treats are intrinsic to the holiday season, and you may be tempted to share the feast with your furry family member. However, many foods found in seasonal dishes and treats are toxic to pets. Do NOT give these foods to your pet:
•Chocolate: All forms of chocolate are toxic and potentially fatal to dogs and cats.
•Onions, garlic, chives, and leeks cause a form of anemia in dogs and cats. Depending on the amount consumed, the results can also include increased heart rate, elevated respiration, collapse, and often death. Toxicity can occur from raw, fried, dehydrated, or powdered forms of these foods.
•Grapes, raisins, and currants can cause kidney failure in dogs. Any ingestion should be cause for concern, regardless of the grape variety.
•Macadamia nuts: Both raw and roasted macadamia nuts are considered dangerous. Symptoms of toxicity include lethargy, joint stiffness or hind limb weakness, fever, tremors, and vomiting. Some dogs can also develop pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) due to the high fat content of these nuts.