Royal Oak Pet Clinic

08/29/2024

The clinic will be closed on Monday, September 2nd for Labour Day.
Friday Aug 30th 8am - 6pm
Saturday Aug 31st 8am-5pm
Sunday Sept 1st CLOSED
Monday Sept 2nd CLOSED
Tuesday Sept 3rd 8am-6pm
Wishing Everyone a Safe & Happy long weekend!

07/09/2024

Blue-green algae blooms can be very dangerous to pets. Please keep your dogs out of Beaver and Elk lakes until the CRD's warning has been lifted.

🔺No swimming at Elk or Beaver lakes, says CRD; keep pets from entering the water🔺

Unfortunately, a blue-green algae alert that was issued for Beaver Lake now applies to Elk Lake, the CRD says. The algae bloom can be toxic to pets and harmful to people.

More from the CRD:

The Capital Regional District (CRD) advises, in consultation with Island Health, that there is a blue-green algae bloom at both Beaver Lake and Elk Lake, located in Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park.

Blue-green algae can produce cyanotoxins. Visitors are advised to avoid contact with blue green algae and to keep animals on a leash to prevent them from drinking or swimming in the lake until the advisory has been lifted.

The algae usually produce a visible blue-green sheen, which appears as surface scum on the water. Not all blooms are easy to see and toxins can still be present in the water even if you cannot see a bloom. Blooms are unpredictable and may occur at any time.

These algae are known toxin producers. Ingesting water containing these cyanotoxins may cause a range of symptoms, including headaches and abdominal pain in humans, and can lead to lethal liver damage in dogs.

05/16/2024

The clinic will be closed this weekend for Victoria Day. If you will need pet food or medication over the weekend, please contact us ASAP to order what you need. Contact us at 250-727-0003 or at [email protected] to order.

Friday May 17th Regular Business Hours
Saturday May 18th CLOSED
Sunday May 19th CLOSED
Monday May 20th CLOSED
Tuesday May 21st Regular Business Hours

Wishing Everyone a Safe & Happy long weekend!

05/10/2024

As of August 1, 2024, new rules will be in place for dogs entering the USA. This includes those travelling temporarily, those passing through, and those moving permanently. If you plan to travel to the USA with your dog in the future, ensure that you plan ahead!

Starting on August 1, all dogs entering the U.S. (including those that left the U.S. and are returning, and regardless of the country they are coming from) must be:
• healthy upon arrival
• at least 6 months of age
• microchipped
• accompanied by a CDC Dog Import Form receipt and required vaccination and veterinary documents.

Additional requirements may apply depending on where the dog has been in the last 6 months and whether or not the dog was vaccinated in the United States.

Use CDC’s Q&A tool (the CDC “DogBot”) to determine what rules apply to your dog: https://bit.ly/2rww2bq

05/09/2024

It's National Pet Week, and to celebrate Royal Canin has announced a flash sale on VetStore. From now until May 10th, both new and existing customers will receive 25% off of their Royal Canin one-time orders, or 30% off of new auto-orders. This applies to both clinic pick-ups and home delivery orders, up to a maximum savings of $150. This is a great opportunity to save if you feed your pet Royal Canin Veterinary Diets! Visit the VetStore for further details.

If you're not yet a VetStore customer, it's free and easy to join. Just visit https://www.myvetstore.ca/ROPC to sign up.

03/29/2024

Did you know March 28th is Respect Your Cat Day? We'd love to see photos of all of your precious kitties. Extra points if they're demanding respect in the photo! Please post your adorable kitty pics in the comments.

03/24/2024

It's National Puppy Day! If you have a new puppy in your home, we want to see it. Spam the comments with adorable photos of your puppy!

03/19/2024

Happy First Day of Spring! We can't wait for the mild weather and spring flowers! 🌷🪻🌻

03/19/2024

It's National Animal Poison Prevention Week. With spring just around the corner, it's important to be aware of potential toxins that your pet may face both inside the home, and out. Household toxins that are commonly encountered by pets in the spring include anti-freeze dripping from vehicles, fertilizers used in gardening, slug or rodent bait, fresh flowers (such as anything from the lily family, which can be deadly if consumed), mushrooms, and more.

Know the signs! Common symptoms of toxin ingestion in your pet may include (but are not limited to): vomiting, excessive salivation, unsteady gait, confusion, lethargy, excessive thirst, or collapse. If you are concerned that your pet may have encountered a toxin, please contact your veterinarian right away.

03/17/2024

Wishing everyone a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Did you know that some legends claim St. Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland after an unfortunate run-in that led to him being bit? Biologists and Historians say this probably isn't true, since there were never many snakes in Ireland to begin with, but in the spirit of his special day, we'll let St. Paddy have this one 😉🐍🍀

03/14/2024

March 13th is National K9 Veterans Day. Please join us in taking a moment to appreciate all of the hard-working dogs who help to keep us safe and protect their handlers. 🐶❤

03/10/2024

Today we get to "spring forward"! Remember to set your clocks forward by one hour ⏰

03/09/2024

Today is International Women's Day so we'd like to say a heartfelt Thank You to each and every one of the incredible women on our team who pour their heart and soul into caring for our clients and patients, every day. You are all amazing! ❤

03/07/2024

When big & small meet...

Recently, one of our larger patients (Jaxon the 42kg Bernadoodle) and one of our smaller patients (Jaxson the 2kg Beiwer Terrier) met in our reception area. Little Jaxson was sure star struck by his new friend, but his larger counterpart seemed uninterested.

03/05/2024

WE ARE HIRING!

Royal Oak Pet Clinic is looking for a Registered Veterinary Technician to join our team. The ideal candidate will have a passion for practicing gold-standard medicine and will be able to work comfortably in a positive group environment.

We are looking for: A Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) with a good current standing with the British Columbia Veterinary Technologist Association (BCVTA)
Must be comfortable performing all required duties as an RVT such as surgical patient preparation and monitoring, dentistry, anesthesia/sedation, laboratory services, radiography, and more.

Contact us at [email protected] for more information or to submit a resume.

03/02/2024

March 2nd is International Rescue Cat Day 🐱

Many of our team members have rescue cats, and we just love them to bits! Not only do they have wonderful personalities, but they provide lots of snuggles and comic relief. And the best part is that their lives were saved by being adopted!

If you have a rescue kitty (or kitties), please post their photos in the comment section and tell us a little bit about them.

If you are thinking of adding a cat to your family, consider adopting one. There are lots of local rescue kitties just waiting for their happily ever afters. The sweet kitty in the photo is Autumn and she's waiting to find her perfect family. Contact Pet Adoption Society to learn more about Autumn.

03/02/2024

March is Adopt A Rescue Guinea Pig Month!

Did you know that Guinea Pigs, or Cavies, are rodents that originate from South America? Although Guinea Pigs can make great pets, they do have some specific husbandry and nutritional requirements to keep them happy & healthy. Fortunately, our veterinarians Dr. Chambers and Dr. Bay both regularly care for guinea pigs. Contact us for an appointment if you have questions or concerns related to your piggies' health and well-being.

If you are looking to add a guinea pig to your family, consider adopting one from a local rescue organization. Broken Promises Rescue and Greater Victoria Animal Crusaders both currently have guinea pigs available for adoption.

03/01/2024

Last week, several of our team members attended the Western Veterinary Conference in Nevada; one of the largest veterinary conferences in North America. We are committed to continually learning new things and keeping up to date on the latest research, technologies, and surgical techniques. While at WVC, our team attended lectures given by veterinary specialists, participated in round table discussion groups, did hands-on surgical labs, and explored the exhibition hall. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with other veterinary professionals from all over the continent. Thank you, WVC, for providing world-class continuing education to those of us who are so passionate about what we do!

01/26/2024

Josie, the Australian Shepherd puppy, came in today for her first nail trim. She enjoyed treats and cuddles, and didn't even seem to notice the pedicure. It's pretty hard to have a bad day with adorable patients like this!

01/21/2024

Don't Forget that Royal Canin's flash sale is on now and ends tomorrow!

Both new and existing customers on VetStore will receive up to 30% off of Royal Canin orders placed through VetStore until January 22nd. Visit VetStrore for more details.

Not yet a VetStore customer? It's free and easy to join! Just visit https://www.myvetstore.ca/ROPC to sign up.

01/20/2024

Thank you for voting us Victoria’s Top Choice Veterinary Clinic of 2024! We are so incredibly humbled to have such wonderful clients, and to have been voted Victoria's Top Choice for the second year in a row ❤️

01/19/2024

The snow is continuing to fall, so to aid our team members in getting home safely the clinic will close tonight at 6pm. We anticipate being open for our normal business hours tomorrow. We appreciate your understanding.

01/18/2024

Let It Snow! Royal Canin has announced a flash sale coming up on VetStore this weekend: January 19-22 only. Both new and existing customers will receive 25% off of their Royal Canin one-time orders, or 30% off of new auto-orders placed this weekend. This applies to both clinic pick-ups and home delivery orders, up to a maximum savings of $150. This is a great opportunity to save if you feed your pet Royal Canin Veterinary Diets! Visit the VetStore for further details.

If you're not yet a VetStore customer, it's free and easy to join. Just visit https://www.myvetstore.ca/ROPC to sign up.

01/12/2024

The weather is changing this week and it's going to be much colder this weekend. Although it can be a lot of fun to play with your pet outside in the snow, the winter months can present unique challenges for pet owners that can lead to unexpected problems. Help your pet stay safe during the cold weather with some safety tips from Trupanion.

1. Bundle up - Your pet may come with a natural fur coat, but that doesn't mean they're immune to cold. Younger pets and short-haired breeds tend to be particularly vulnerable in cold temperatures, as are elderly pets or those with certain health conditions. Consider a pet coat or sweater that covers their back and underside and be sure to remove any pet clothing once they are back indoors.

2. Protect those paws - The cold snow and ice can quite literally be a pain in the paw. When you’re out on walks, keep an eye out for snow and encrusted ice that can cause cracked or bleeding paws. Salt and chemical de-icers can also cause damage to your pet's feet. Always avoid de-icers that you can see, and clean off your pet’s feet when they’re back indoors. If you spot any signs of injury, call your veterinarian.

3. Stay away from toxins - Salt and chemical de-icers, as well as anti-freeze, are commonly used during the winter but they can be highly toxic to pets. For your own yard, look for pet-friendly de-icers and antifreeze if you need to use them. Watch your pet closely while out for a walks and try to avoid any contact with these products. If you suspect your pet has consumed antifreeze or de-icer, seek emergency veterinary attention immediately.

4. Don't leave pets in cars - Just like when it’s hot out, never leave your pet in your car when temperatures are cold. Your vehicle can act like a refrigerator and quickly plunge to dangerous, frigid chill levels. Even leaving cars running with the heat on can come with its own level of risk and should be avoided. If there is a risk that you may need to leave your pet in the car, choose to leave them at home instead.

5. Check under the hood - Have a cat who goes outdoors or live near neighbors who let their own cats out? In the cold winter, outdoor cats in the area may find the engine block under the warm hood of your car to be a great spot to snooze. Turning on your car before checking can lead to dangerous consequences. So, before you start your car in the morning, bang on your hood a little to wake up any sleeping cats. You'll also want to take a quick look under your car and around the wheel wells to make sure no pets or wildlife are hiding in a place they could get hurt.

01/11/2024

Can you guess what these creepy little parasites are? If you guessed ear mites, you're right! Ear mites, Otodectes cynotis, are tiny external parasites that live in the ear canals of their host (a cat in this case.) They typically cause intense itching of the ears, and owners will often see a dark, chunky build-up in the ears that looks like coffee grounds. Ear mites can be passed from cat to cat so if you believe your kitty might have ear mites, talk to your vet right away about treatment options. The kitty that we collected these ear mites from has started treatment and is already beginning to feel better.

01/01/2024

Happy New Year! The clinic is closed today for the statutory holiday, but we will reopen tomorrow at 8am for regular business hours all week. Wishing you and yours a wonderful 2024!

12/30/2023

It's not quite New Years Day yet, but it will be here soon. Today is the last day that the clinic will be open for 2023. If you need any last-minute pet supplies, medications or food before New Years Day, please contact us ASAP. We will be here today until 5pm and will reopen at 8am on Tuesday, January 2nd.

12/26/2023

The clinic is closed today as our team continues to spend time with their families this holiday season. We will reopen at 8am tomorrow, and will have regular business hours this coming week.

12/25/2023

Wishing everyone a very Safe and Happy Christmas Day! The clinic is closed today so that our team can spend time with their families, but we will reopen for regular business hours on Tuesday, December 27th at 8am. Merry Christmas! 🐾🎄

12/25/2023

Wishing you all a Happy Christmas Eve! Who's excited for Santa to visit tonight?