Helmcken Veterinary Clinic

07/30/2024

Happy B.C. Day from all of us at Helmcken Veterinary Clinic!

B.C. Day Long Weekend Hours:
Friday August 2 - 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday August 3 - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday August 4 - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Monday August 5 - CLOSED
Tuesday August 6 - 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

07/29/2024

Summer months gift us with long, sunny days to enjoy the outdoors with our furry companions, but it’s important to be aware of the summer do and don’ts when it comes to keeping our pets safe.

Monitor Your Pets For:

🌊**WATER INTOXICATION**🌊
By drinking/taking in excessive amounts of water, sodium levels become unbalanced resulting in the swelling of some organs, including the brain.

Symptoms include:
nausea, lethargy, weakness or loss of coordination, excessive salivating, dilated pupils, pale gums, difficulty breathing, and other neurological symptoms.

High risk:
Toy breeds and small dogs.

☀️**HEAT STROKE**☀️
Pets left in high temperatures for even short periods are at risk of suffering from heat stroke or irreversible organ damage.

Symptoms include:
excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, weakness, loss of coordination or collapse, seizures, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and elevated body temperatures.

High risk:
animals with flat faces (such as bulldogs and persian cats), elderly animals, animals that are overweight, and those with heart or lung disease.

🪴 (Link for ASPCA list of toxic and non-toxic plants: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants)

07/26/2024

Exciting News for Pet Owners Traveling to the U.S.! 🐾

The CDC regulations and the process for exporting dogs to the U.S. from Canada have been simplified! Here are some of the key updates:

1. Eligibility: The new regulations apply to dogs that have only been in Canada or other countries that have low-risk for dog variant rabies.

2. Rabies Vaccination: Highly recommended, but not required to enter the U.S. However, some states may require a rabies vaccination. A valid rabies certificate is mandatory for re-entry into Canada

3. Dog Age and Health: Dogs must be over 6 months old and appear healthy at the time of travel.
Microchip: Your dog must have a microchip that is readable by a universal scanner.

4. CDC Dog Import Form: An online form must be completed for each dog traveling across the border. This form is valid for 6 months and there is no charge. You can find the form here: https://cdc-786687.workflowcloud.com/forms/090dc543-7b2f-4538-b2c7-2919d12ecc73

5. Documentation: Have the following ready for travel
- Rabies vaccination certificate (highly recommended)
- CDC Dog Import Form

Please note that these regulations might change again in the future. Stay informed and check for updates as your travel date approaches.

For more detailed information, you can visit the CDC FAQs, Worms & Germs Blog, and the CFIA website (listed below).

CDC FAQs: https://www.cdc.gov/importation/dogs/faqs.html

Worms & Germs Blog: https://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/

CFIA website: https://inspection.canada.ca/en/animal-health/terrestrial-animals/exports/pets/dogs-usa

We understand that the regulation changes may have caused some frustration, and we appreciate your patience as we navigate these updates together. Safe travels!

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us.

07/12/2024

Hello everyone!

We wanted to let as many people as we can know that our email is currently down. For any urgent questions please call 778 265 6133.

Thank you, so much for your patience.

07/05/2024

Spear Grass Season Is Here! ⚠️

While it may look harmless at first, spear grass (aka foxtail) has the potential to create a serious health issue for your pet. The barbed seeds from the plant can easily attach to fur and are most commonly found in areas such as the ear canals, nostrils, eyes, and between toes. The barbed seeds can migrate into the body and, if not removed quickly, can lead to inflammation, serious infection, and - in extreme cases - be fatal if the seed travels to the lungs or heart. If the barbed seed does pe*****te the body, sedation is often required in order to safely remove the entire seed.

Check your pets after being outside, focusing on the common areas mentioned above. Running a comb through your pet's fur can help locate any barbed seeds that may not be obvious to the eye.

If you have any concerns about your pet and spear grass, call our client care team at 778-265-6133.

06/26/2024

Happy Canada Day from all of us at Helmcken Veterinary Clinic 🇨🇦

Canada Day Weekend Hours:
Saturday June 29 - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday June 30 - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Monday July 1 - CLOSED
Tuesday July 2 - 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

🎆Please note:
There will be a fireworks display over downtown Victoria on the evening of July 1st. Please make arrangements to keep your pets safe inside for the evening.
If your pet is sensitive to loud noises, feel free to call our team at 778-265-6133 for tips on how to decrease your pets stress during the fireworks display.

For any medical emergencies, please contact:
Central Victoria Vet Hospital at 250-475-2495
or
WAVES at 778-432-4322

05/30/2024

📣Attention all dog owners traveling to the US!📣 🇨🇦➡️🇺🇸

Starting August 1st, 2024, changes to the export regulations for dogs leaving from Canada and traveling to the United States will be in effect. The changes include rules for microchipping, rabies vaccinations, and scheduling appointments with both your regular veterinarian AND a veterinarian at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) prior to travel.

Regulations are subject to change at any time. Please refer to the following CDC resources for up-to-date information:

For general information about the new regulations, visit https://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/required-forms-for-importing-dog-united-states.html

For information more specific to your dog's travel plans, you can Launch Dogbot through the link below.
Dogbot will ask you a series of questions about your travel plans to determine what regulations may apply to your beloved canine companion 🐶
https://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/dogs.html

Safe travels! 🚗✈️🐾

05/17/2024

Happy Victoria day!!

Please note: Our clinic is closed on May 20th for the holiday. We will reopen for regular hours on Tuesday. For any medical emergencies, please contact:
Central Victoria Vet Hospital at 250-475-2495
or
WAVES at 778-432-4322

02/11/2024

Hello everyone!
We wanted to let as many people as we can know that our email is currently down. For any urgent questions please call 778 265 6133. Thank you, so much for your patience.

08/07/2023

We will be closed Monday, August 7th for BC day, and re-open Tuesday, August 8th at 8am. If you have an emergency, please contact the Central Victoria Veterinary Hospital at 250-475-2495, or WAVES in Langford at 778-432-4322.

Hope everyone has a great long weekend! :)

07/01/2023

Happy Canada Day!
We will be closed Saturday, July 1st for Canada Day but will re-open Sunday, July 2nd at 9am. If you have an emergency, please contact the Central Victoria Veterinary Hospital at 250-475-2495, or WAVES in Langford at 778-432-4322.

05/22/2023

Happy Victoria! We will be closed today, but will re-open tomorrow at 8am. If you have an emergency, please contact the Central Victoria Veterinary Hospital at 250-475-2495 or WAVES in Langford at 778-432-4322. :)

04/07/2023

We will be closed Friday, April 7th and re-open Saturday, April 8th at 9am. If you have an emergency, please contact the Central Victoria Veterinary Hospital at 250-475-2495 or WAVES in Langford at 778-432-4322.

02/28/2023

Unfortunately we will be CLOSED today due to snow. We will be open again at 8am tomorrow morning if weather permits. Thanks for understanding!

02/20/2023

Happy Family Day!
We will be closed today, but re-open tomorrow at 8am. If you have an emergency, please contact the Central Victoria Veterinary Hospital at 250-475-2495 or WAVES in Langford at 778-432-4322.

12/20/2022

Due to weather, we are closed today- Tuesday Dec. 20.

12/03/2022

Please note that we will be closing early today at 3pm for our Annual Holiday Staff Party. If you have an emergency, please contact the Central Victoria Veterinary Hospital at 250-475-2495.

11/11/2022

We will be closed today for Remembrance Day, and re-open Saturday, November 12th at 9am. If you have an emergency, please contact the Central Victoria Veterinary Hospital at 250-475-2495.

10/31/2022

things are getting strange at Helmcken…

Happy Halloween everyone! 🎃🦇

10/19/2022

Did you know that we have an online store? You can order your pet food anytime, from anywhere, and have it delivered right to your door. For even more convenience, sign up for AutoOrder and never run out of food again. You also receive a 5% discount when you sign up for AutoOrder. Click here for access to our online store: www.myvetstore.ca/helmckenvet

10/10/2022

We will be closed today for Thanksgiving, and re-open at 8am Tuesday, October 11th. If you have an emergency, please contact the Central Victoria Veterinary Clinic at 250-475-2495.

09/05/2022

We will be closed Monday, September 5th for Labour Day and re-open Tuesday, September 6th at 8am. If you have an emergency, please contact the Central Victoria Veterinary Hospital at 250-475-2495. Please note that WAVES is currently not seeing emergencies.

08/01/2022

We will be closed Monday, August 1st for BC Day and re-open Tuesday, August 2nd at 8am. If you have an emergency, please contact the Central Victoria Veterinary Hospital at 250-475-2495, or WAVES in Langford at 778-432-4322.

07/08/2022

Please note that our debit/credit machines are down today due to this outage, so please bring cash into the clinic or we take down a credit card number to process the transaction later. Thanks for understanding!!

The Rogers cellular and internet networks were down in areas across Canada Friday morning.

07/01/2022

Happy Canada Day!
We will be closed Friday, July 1st for Canada Day and re-open Saturday, July 2nd at 9am. If you have an emergency please contact the Central Victoria Veterinary Hospital at 250-475-2495 or WAVES in Langford at 778-432-4322.

04/21/2022

Starting tomorrow!

Don't forget to pack your reusable bags when going shopping in
!

The new Checkout Bag Bylaw regulating single-use plastic bags comes into effect on Earth Day 🌎 Friday, April 22.

https://bit.ly/3jTvZRO

04/19/2022

EARLY CLOSURE:
We will be closing at 2:30pm on Tuesday, April 19th for annual duct cleaning and reopen on Wednesday, April 20th at 8am. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding. :)

04/15/2022

We will be closed today for Good Friday, and will re-open Saturday, April 16th at 9am. If you have an emergency, please contact the Central Victoria Veterinary Clinic at 250-475-2495, or WAVES in Langford at 778-432-4322.

03/11/2022

MASK MANDATE UPDATE:
BC is lifting the mask mandate today, our office will continue to keep our clients and staff safe by having masks highly recommended inside the reception area, and mandatory inside exam rooms due to limited space for social distancing. We can still accommodate face shields or drop-off exams. If there are un-masked individuals in the reception area, we will limit the capacity to a maximum of four people.

We thank you for your accommodation and understanding.

01/06/2022

We will be CLOSED today due to snow. All appointments for today will be cancelled but reception will be calling to reschedule. See you tomorrow!