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Bloorcourt Veterinary Clinic

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Toronto, ON
Bloorcourt Veterinary Clinic

Our full-service animal hospital treats your cats & dogs like our own!

We offer expert preventative care, sick/injured pet treatment & dental & surgical services. Voted Best Animal Hospital & Vet Services in the Toronto Star's 2023 Readers' Choice Awards! We are proud to offer a full range of veterinary services including preventative and emergency care, vaccinations and parasite treatment, and comprehensive surgical and dental care. We also offer complementary care,

including Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Acupuncture. Thank you for voting us Toronto's Best Animal Hospital in 2020 in NOW's Reader's Choice awards (as well as 1st Runner Up in 2018 and 2021 & top 5 in 2019)!

03/27/2025

Happy 15th Bloorcourt anniversary Sheena!
We are so lucky to have your dedication, kindness, skill, compassion & creativity at the heart of our team. Please help us congratulate Sheena and let her know how much she is appreciated! ❤️

03/25/2025

Kittens making our Monday magical! 😻😻😻

03/24/2025

Let’s talk about human pain medications...and why you should NEVER give them to your pets! Also keep all of your own medications, vitamins & supplements away from your pet - an increasing number of pets are ingesting ADHD, cold & allergy meds, and large doses of Vitamin D, all of which are toxic! After chocolate, exposure to human medications & vitamins is the next most common reason why Ontarians call the Pet Poison Helpline. ***Keep pet medications, especially flavoured ones like chews, locked away well - pets have had serious & fatal overdoses by getting into their (or another family pet’s) meds!

Over-the-counter pain & anti-inflammatory medications like Tylenol (acetaminophen), Advil (ibuprofen), Aleve (naproxen), & Aspirin (ASA) can be deadly if given to your cat or dog. Pets should never be given a human pain medication because their livers and kidneys cannot break them down the same way humans do, and they quickly become toxic - sometimes fatally so. Cats in particular cannot process many human medications and are much more susceptible to severe reactions.

Symptoms can range from nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and lack of appetite, to increased drinking & urination, stumbling, depression, seizures, and comas. In both cats and dogs, acetaminophen can cause severe and irreversible liver damage. In cats, it can also cause anemia, and a blood transfusion may be needed.

Many other human medications are also toxic to pets, so please store them carefully - even a single dropped pill can look like a new treat and be toxic to your pet!

If your pet may have ingested something inappropriate, the first thing to do is call us (or after hours, call your nearest emergency clinic or the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661), and tell them what you think your pet ate, and how much, so they can advise you on next steps.

If it is within 1-2 hours the medication may still be in your pet’s stomach and not fully absorbed, so a vet may be able to induce vomiting immediately to remove the bulk of the medication. However, depending on the medication and time of ingestion, blood work and further treatment may be required. So lock those pills up!

03/23/2025

This morning's Pet Poison Prevention Week focus is grapes, raisins & currants, which can cause kidney failure and even death in dogs. That includes oatmeal raisin cookies, cinnamon raisin bagels, trail mix, raisin bran...all are potential toxins. (There have been anecdotal reports of cats & ferrets being affected too, so keep grape, raisin & currant treats away from all pets). Raisins are more concentrated than grapes, so are believed to be more dangerous, and dogs are more likely to become poisoned if they ingest large amounts of fruit - however, there is significant individual sensitivity amongst dogs. Some dogs appear to tolerate small doses of the fruit without consequence while other dogs may develop poisoning after the ingestion of just a few grapes or raisins. There is no way to predict which dogs may be more sensitive, and it is not currently known why these fruits are toxic, or why the toxicity differs across different dogs.

If you suspect that your pet has eaten any of these fruits, contact us immediately (if it's after hours call an emergency clinic or the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661). As with any toxin, the sooner the poisoning is diagnosed & treated, the less dangerous for your pet & the less expensive therapy will be for you.

Vets will take immediate action to block absorption of the toxins (by inducing vomiting & administering activated charcoal) and to prevent or minimize damage to the kidneys (by aggressively administering intravenous fluids to flush any absorbed toxins out of the body & using medications to help maintain kidney function). They will also recommend diagnostic blood tests to assess the amount of damage to the kidneys, which will help determine the dog's likelihood of recovery.

Prognosis depends on many factors, including how severe the poisoning was, whether treatment was initiated soon enough to block absorption of any of the toxins, whether or not the dog has already developed kidney failure, and whether the clinical signs and kidney values improved once treatment was started.

Prevention is the best medicine - always keep grapes, raisins, currants & treats containing them securely away from your pets!

03/22/2025

Onions, garlic, chives & leeks are at the heart of many culinary masterpieces. but today's Pet Poison Prevention Week article explains why they are bad news for cats & dogs.

These are all members of the Allium family, and are poisonous to both dogs & cats if they eat a single large serving or repeatedly nibble on small amounts over time. Garlic is considered to be about five times as toxic as onions for cats and dogs. Any form of these vegetables can be toxic, including dried, powdered, liquid, cooked or raw, as well as human nutritional supplements (like garlic tablets). Certain dog & cat breeds and species seem to be more sensitive to these plants, particularly those of Japanese descent (e.g., Akita or Shiba Inu).

Allium poisoning results in gastroenteritis (e.g., nausea, oral irritation, drooling, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea), and more seriously, oxidative damage to the red blood cells, which causes them to rupture. Red blood cells carry oxygen around the body, so their destruction leads to symptoms of anemia, including lethargy, pale gums, an elevated heart rate, an increased respiratory rate, weakness, exercise intolerance, collapse, and even death. Alliums also relax heart muscles and dilate blood vessels causing circulatory problems and low blood pressure. This leads to weakness and further impedes the delivery of oxygen to vital organs. Moreover, chemicals derived from some of these plants diminish the ability of the blood to clot.

Allium poisoning may have a delayed onset, and clinical signs may not be apparent for several days. If you suspect that your cat or dog has eaten one of these plants, call us right away (or after hours, call your nearest emergency clinic or the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661). If the ingestion was recent, vets may be able to induce vomiting to remove any undigested plants from your pet's stomach, and administer activated charcoal to prevent the toxin from taking hold in the body. If the allium has already been digested, your pet may require IV fluids & medications, and if they have severe anemia, they may require a blood transfusion and oxygen therapy.

03/21/2025

Believe us, your pet does NOT want to be high! As we go into the weekend, let's take a look at the risks cannabis poses to dogs & cats, and why it's so important to keep all cannabis products securely locked away from pets. It's Poison Prevention week, so we'll be sharing important information about pet toxins all weekend - check back often!

THC is the main psychoactive chemical in cannabis, and since legalization we have seen more dogs & cats suffering from toxicity. (THC is different than CBD, an extract that may have medical benefits for certain conditions at careful doses).

Pets are often coming in contact with cannabis products at home (including oils, 'edibles' (candies & baked goods) &dried ma*****na), but dogs can also find and consume discarded ma*****na joint butts on walks - they find the smell irresistible. Many cats love the taste of butter and the carrier oils that THC oils are made with, and will quickly consume a very dangerous amount if they find an open bottle, some spilled oil, or a homemade infusion for baking.

The symptoms of THC exposure in pets can include sedation/lethargy, dilated pupils/glassy eyes, dazed expression, difficulty walking, vomiting, whining or crying, agitation, dribbling urine, tremors and/or seizures. If you suspect your pet has eaten cannabis, call us right away (or after hours call an emergency vet clinic). Tell the vet what you suspect, as it's much harder to help your pet if we don't know what they have potentially been exposed to - we will never judge you, our duty of care is to your pets!

If we act quickly, it may be possible to induce vomiting and decrease the toxic levels absorbed. We also give activated charcoal by mouth to help bind up the toxins so they pass through the body unabsorbed. Depending on the pet's condition, hospitalization, IV fluids, gastro-protectant medications and warming may be necessary.

Keep any cannabis products in your home locked securely out of reach of pets, and always securely dispose of your butts - even outside - to prevent pets and wildlife from consuming them & suffering. Remember that chocolate is toxic to pets, so 'pot brownies' are doubly toxic. Keep your dogs on a short leash and always watch them carefully on walks to prevent them from eating *any* unknown substance!

03/18/2025

Are you owned by a cat? ;) If so, you need to know what Resorptive Lesions are!

This 5 year old floofball is Clementine - she had a dental at our sister clinic because she had a loose tooth and some gum recession & gingivitis around her canines (large front teeth). However, her dental x-rays also found a resorptive lesion on another tooth, so she ended up getting two teeth removed (and felt much better as a result)!

Feline oral resorptive lesions (FORLs) are one of the most common and painful dental conditions that cats can suffer from. The lesion is actually a hole where the tooth has started to dissolve. The nerves will eventually become exposed, making these lesions incredibly painful. If a resorptive lesion is advanced, you may see the tooth appear red at the base, or it may look like the gum is creeping up the tooth. When kitties are lucky (like Clementine!) we can catch resorptive lesions on dental x-rays before they get to the most painful stage, which is why regular dental health checks & periodic preventative cleanings with dental x-rays are so important. On an x-ray, a resorptive lesion will look like a portion of the tooth or root is missing.

The cause of these painful lesions on the teeth is unknown but genetics may be a factor. Unfortunately, even diligent tooth-brushing can't prevent these lesions (although it does help prevent other dental disease)! The only treatment for a resorptive lesion is to remove the affected tooth. While cats are very good at masking their pain, and may not show any signs that they have a resorptive lesion, we often hear clients tell us their cats seem more playful or friendly & “like a kitten again” once they have been diagnosed and had the affected teeth removed!

Oral health IS overall health & has a huge impact on our pets' quality of life. If your pet needs dental care, remember that our Pet Dental Health Month promotion ends in less than 2 weeks! Call or email us by March 31 with your request to book a dental for your cat or dog, and save 10% on their cleaning (and extractions if any are needed)!

03/14/2025

Let's Brush Those Teeth! (Why you should & How to do it!)

Dental disease is painful, expensive & to a large extent preventable, making home dental care one of the best and cheapest investments you can make in your pet's health.

Why do we have to brush our pets' teeth?

The exact same reason we do! Just like us, a film of plaque (bacteria) starts building up immediately after eating, and if it isn't brushed away this bacteria combines with the calcium in their food and hardens into tartar. Once tartar builds up, it starts to push their gums away from their teeth and create a pathway for bacteria to travel up the teeth toward the roots, and cause abscesses, destroy the ligaments that hold the teeth to the bone, and enter the pet's bloodstream.

Tooth brushing to remove daily plaque buildup before it can turn into tartar can short circuit this process and dramatically reduce tartar buildup. Daily is best, but even 3-4 times per week will have an impact - something is better than nothing! Once tartar has built up, professional dental cleanings under anesthesia are needed to remove the tartar from the teeth and under the gumline. All pets will still need veterinary dental cleanings (and you can save 10% by booking your pet's by March 31!), but brushing their teeth regularly can reduce the frequency, saving you a lot of money over their lifetime!

So HOW do I start brushing my pet's teeth?

Don't just dive in there - your pet won't understand what you're doing! The most successful method is to gradually desensitize your cat or dog to having their mouth handled. During your daily cuddle sessions, start massaging and lifting your pet's lips, and touching their front teeth. Work up to rubbing their teeth and sliding your finger back along their gum. Putting a bit of pet toothpaste, tuna juice or chicken baby food on your finger can make this seem like a treat. Then you can graduate to full tooth brushing by following the step by step guides on our website - visit https://www.bloorcourtvetclinic.com/en-ca/resources/pet-health-library and search "brushing".

Taking a few weeks to slowly build up to full tooth brushing can make all the difference to your pet's acceptance. If you're still having trouble, please tell us at your pet's next appointment and we would be happy to help!

03/12/2025

How did Kibo celebrate his 1st birthday? With a meowtini (bone broth, churu & catnip)! Happy birthday Kibo, you’ve officially graduated from kitten-hood! ❤️

03/11/2025

⭐New parasite protection specials for 2025⭐ Can you spot the tick? Now that the weather has FINALLY thawed, they are out and hungry (and fleas & intestinal worms have remained a risk all winter long). If your dog or cat isn't already on year-round parasite protection, it's time to re-start their monthly medication now. ⭐NEW FOR 2025⭐: order a full year (12 months) of parasite protection for your pet, and get 2 of your 12 doses FREE ... plus online rebates on orders of 6-12 doses!

You can order online or learn more about the diseases and health risks caused by parasites here: www.bloorcourtvetclinic.com/forms/fthmeds OR...if your pet is due for their annual exam (or tick & heartworm disease testing for dogs), give us a call at 416-537-9677 and we can take care of everything in one visit!

03/06/2025

You've got another chance to save 10% on dental cleanings, extractions & home dental care products! We've extended our promotion to all bookings made by March 31, 2025 - call us at (416) 537-9677 or email [email protected] to learn more.

Proactive dental care goes far beyond your pet's mouth...it can also add 3 to 5 years to your pet's life!!! When dental disease develops, the dangerous bacteria that live on your pet's teeth enter your pet's bloodstream, reaching and damaging their heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and other organs.

Dental disease is also very painful...think of how your own mouth feels when just one tooth is sensitive, or you have a single canker sore. Many cats and dogs suffer in silence with multiple diseased teeth or painfully inflamed gums around their entire mouth - for these pets, dental care can be life-changing, and their entire personality can transform once they are no longer in constant pain.

If we've recommended a dental for your pet or you want to proactively prevent dental disease before it starts, contact us now to save 10%...This only happens once a year!

03/05/2025

Making new friends at the vet…Sky & Stevie❤️
Sky (2 year old rottweiler) was visiting for a rabies vaccine titre test and Stevie (5 month old poodle) came in for his pre-neuter exam & bloodwork ⭐️

03/04/2025

Happy 18th Birthday Chico! 🎉 You’re such a fighter & we’re so proud of you! ❤️ Glad to see you shared your birthday feast with Daisy & Henry 😂

03/01/2025

It's National Peanut Butter Lovers Day! If your pup likes PB (it's a great way to hide pills) make sure to carefully check ingredients when you buy: some peanut butters (and other sugar free products) contain the natural sweetener xylitol, which is very toxic to dogs!

02/27/2025

Staff cats! 😻 Our surgery technicians Amber & Sheena both brought cats to work today - Amber’s tuxedo gentleman Ace is almost 12, while Sheena’s green-eyed Earl Grey is almost 2, and his brother Cannoli (hanging out in the tent) is almost 3 ❤️

02/26/2025

Dr. Garrett (& Jizo!) joined our team last September - let's get to know them a bit better!

Dr. Garrett grew up in Calgary and went to the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. After a short stint as a pathology resident at the Ontario Veterinary College, he moved to Toronto in 2024.

Dr. Garrett has a special interest in behavior medicine, recognizing that over 30% of pet surrenders to shelters are because of behavioral issues. Many pets experience stress that can manifest in various ways, and almost all pet families experience some dissatisfaction with their pet’s behavior at some point in their life. Pain management is also incredibly important to Dr. Garrett, and he plans to pursue further training in palliative care.

2 year old Jizo is a teeny-tiny Chorkie, and he comes to work with his dad each day, since he gets anxious if left alone. ❤️

Outside of the clinic, Dr. Garrett enjoys hanging out with Jizo, reading, and is working towards becoming a part-time Tendai Buddhist priest!

02/25/2025

This lucky lady just had a birthday & celebrated with catnip! Happy 7th Birthday Indigo! 🎉❤️🎉

02/21/2025

Tuna is back to show you everything that happens when your pet has a dental!
ps - Dental Month is almost over, but you can still save 10% on your pet's dental cleaning/extractions - contact us by February 28 to book!

Even perfect at home dental care won't replace the need for full cleanings - after all, we brush our teeth daily and still have to visit the dentist every year! With good oral care (and genetics!) only a preventative cleaning might be needed, but if dental disease has developed, some teeth might also need to be extracted. Tuna's going to share his day with you & show you each step:

1. Tuna gets a physical exam to ensure he's still healthy for anesthesia, and then his surgical team (a veterinarian and 2 veterinary technicians) decide on his anaesthesia drugs and give him the first one. Tuna feels goooood!

2. A vet tech shaves Tuna’s leg and places an intravenous (IV) catheter and starts him on IV fluids, which keep him hydrated and stable, reduce the time he spends under anesthesia, and ensure that in the rare event of an emergency the vet has instant access to his veins to administer life-saving drugs

3. The vet techs place an endotracheal tube to supply Tuna with oxygen and anesthetic gas while he is asleep. Then they hook up equipment so that a vet tech can monitor his heart rate & rhythm (ECG), blood pressure, oxygen & CO2 levels, respiratory rate and temperature throughout his procedure. Based on these numbers, his medication, anesthesia gases and fluid levels are continually adjusted to keep him stable under anesthesia. The red inflatable "blanket" is called a Bair Hugger and is filled with hot air to keep him warm during his procedure.

4. Dental x-rays are taken the exact same way they are on people, and are extremely important, since only 40% of the tooth is visible. Vets need to look at x-rays to examine the 60% of each tooth that's hidden under the gums.

5. A vet tech uses sterile probes to examine each of Tuna’s teeth, looking for any areas where the gums have pulled away from the teeth, creating pockets where bacteria can build up and cause decay. Next the vet does a complete oral exam, looking at Tuna’s teeth and checking for any masses, abnormalities or signs of cancer. If the vet finds any teeth that are so damaged or diseased that they need to be removed, they call the owner to discuss their findings. Luckily Tuna’s dental was preventative and there were no surprises, so he didn’t need any extractions this time!

6. The vet tech removes plaque and tartar from Tuna’s teeth, both above and below the gumline, using manual and ultrasonic scaling and polishing instruments just like when we visit the dentist.

7. Tuna’s anesthesia is reversed and he slowly wakes up with his vet tech keeping him company. ☺ He spends the rest of the day in his cage on IV fluids with warm blankets, recovering and being monitored, and then goes home with lots of tips on how to maintain his clean and healthy mouth. If he had any teeth extracted, he would have a courtesy recheck in 2 weeks too, to make sure he was healing well.

Address

1074 Bloor Street West
Toronto, ON
M6H1M5

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 8pm
Tuesday	8am - 8pm
Wednesday	8am - 1pm
	3pm - 8pm
Thursday	8am - 8pm
Friday	8am - 8pm
Saturday	9am - 3pm

Telephone

+14165379677

Website

http://www.bloorcourtvetclinic.com/

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Proud to be NOW Toronto’s Best Animal Hospital 2018, 1st Runner Up. Our full service clinic at Bloor and Dufferin treats your dogs and cats like our own! We provide a full range of veterinary services including preventative and emergency care, vaccinations and parasite treatment, surgery and dental care. We also offer holistic pet care and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, including Veterinary Acupuncture and Veterinary Food Therapy. Please come in and meet our team!