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Did you know that September 28^th is World Rabies Day? This day is meant to raise awareness about Rabies and ultimately to prevent Rabies from occurring. Sadly, in many countries in the world people are still infected and almost 59,000 people are killed every year from this fatal disease.

What is Rabies?

Rabies is a virus that is spread by infected animals biting other animals or transmission of their saliva to an open wound. The virus travels through the nervous system to the brain where it will cause neurological signs including changes in behaviour, aggression, paralysis and death. Once signs are evident, Rabies is almost 100% fatal.

What is the Risk of Rabies in Canada?

Luckily (thanks to extensive vaccination programs), the risk of Rabies is low in Canada, but still present. According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in 2021 (up to July), there were 21 confirmed cases of Rabies in Ontario (56 in Canada).  Half of those cases were bats.

Other animals such as raccoons, skunks and foxes are also more common carriers, though any mammal can be infected.

How Can I Protect Myself and My Family From Rabies?

• Vaccinate your pets: Make sure your pets are always kept up to date with their vaccinations, even if they are indoor only and don’t interact with other pets These vaccination programs are an important part of the reason why the risk of rabies is so low in Canada.
• If you are bitten by a wild animal: Wash the wound well and see a doctor immediately. Tell your doctor that you were bitten by a wild animal so that the treatment for Rabies can be started.
• If your pet is bitten by a wild animal: Wash the wound and take your pet to your veterinarian right away. Depending on the vaccination status of your pet, he may need to go into quarantine. To avoid this scenario, it is best to keep your pet up to date on its Rabies vaccine.
• Keep your pets indoors. Only allow your pets outdoors when they are supervised.
• Teach your children not to approach wildlife.
• Bat proof your home. Learn more about this here: http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/bats/index.html

Rabies is 100% preventable, but people are still exposed every year which is why this is still an important issue. Keep your family safe by talking to one of our team members at Coventry Animal Hospital about Rabies vaccinations for your pets.

Recommended read – Rabies blog

Did you know that according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), more that 56% of dogs and 60% of cats are classified as overweight or obese.  If you are looking at your pet and wondering if it is overweight, here are some things you can check:

• Can you feel the ribs and spine? On an ideal body type you should be able to feel the ribs and spine with a little layer of tissue over it.
• Does he have an hourglass figure? You should be able to see and feel your pet’s waist. It should be clearly visible when viewed from above.
• You should also be able to see the tummy tucked up when viewed from the side.

You may be thinking, “So what? My animal is overweight; there is just more of him to love.”  This may be the case; however, pet obesity can cause some serious health problems, and make existing ones worse, which can reduce your beloved pet’s life span and decrease his quality of life. Some conditions are:

• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Respiratory compromise (difficulty breathing)
• Exercise intolerance
• Osteoarthritis (lameness, joint pain etc.)
• High blood pressure
• Increased anesthetic risks
• Lower immune function
• Cancer

Your Vet may have told you that “Fluffy” should lose a little bit of weight, but did you know that for cats and small dogs 1 lb overweight = 10 lbs overweight for humans? For large breed dogs 1 lb overweight = 5 lbs overweight on a human? Even if Fluffy is only 5 lbs overweight (if we think about it in human weight), Fluffy would be a 50 lb overweight human!

What is the next step for losing weight?

*Feed a specific weight loss food to guarantee the appropriate amount of nutrients, as decreasing regular food could be depriving your pet of its dietary needs.

* Increase exercise slowly

• More frequent walks
• Hiding daily food food portion throughout the house to encourage their hunting instinct
• Throw treats of toys up stairs
• Use food toys or puzzles

* Decrease food intake

• With measured meals
• Keep a food diary
• use a portion of meals as treats for the day

*Consult your Veterinarian with any questions

If you have any questions or concerns about your pet’s weight, talk to one of our team members at Coventry Animal Hospital.

December is Cat Lover’s Month, and so we decided to put together a list of some fun facts about why cats are so amazing. This list only reflects a very small reason as to why we love cats so much!

Purr Therapy

Cat purrs come in a range of frequencies, but scientists have discovered that these frequencies can have healing properties. It is known that a cat’s purr can help increase bone density and maintain muscle mass. It is well known in the veterinary community that cats are remarkable healers, healing from trauma much quicker than dogs and people. This is likely due to the therapeutic nature of their purr!

Cat purrs have also shown to have a significant benefit on people. It can decrease stress, lower blood pressure, and help people heal from injuries as well. Owning a cat in general also improves health, significantly decreasing the risk of having a heart attack.

Cat Talk

Cats can make many different noises. In fact, cats can make well over 100 different vocal sounds (unlike dogs who can only make around 10).  Obviously, one of the most well-known is their meow! But did you know that cats mostly meow as a way to communicate with humans? When cats communicate with other cats, they use other forms of communication such as body language and scent. Over time cats have learned that those methods don’t work so well on humans. But what does catch our attention? Meowing! Cats have many different styles of meowing, and most cat owners learn what each meow means for their kitty.

Speed

We all know that the famous feline, the Cheetah, is one of the fastest animals on earth, getting up to speeds of 120km/hr. But did you know our own house cats can run pretty fast too? Some cats can run as fast as 48km/hr! If you consider that speed when you are driving around, it is pretty impressive!

Landing on their Feet

Most of us are familiar with the old saying “Cats always land on their feet”. While that saying may not be entirely accurate, it is pretty close to the truth! Cats have a very strong righting reflex. When they are falling, their vestibular apparatus in their ears allow them to quickly figure out which direction is up and down, and they are then able to maneuver their very flexible body to right themselves. Their flexibility also allows them to absorb some of the shock of impact when they hit the ground, decreasing injuries.

Cats are amazing animals who truly become very special members of our family. They bring us so much joy, there is really very little that compares to the love of a cat!

If you have any questions about your cat, talk to one of our team members at Coventry Animal Hospital.

November 7^th is National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day.

Canine lymphoma is one of the most common canine cancers. Lymphoma is the expansion of lymphoid cells and can include other lymphoid tissues. This illness targets organs associated with the immune system including the spleen, bone marrow, and lymph nodes but can affect other organs.

Unfortunately, there is no known cause. Scientists are looking into the possibility of genetic predisposition for this cancer, as we tend to see it happen more commonly in certain breeds, such as Golden Retrievers. Older dogs seem to be more prone to developing lymphoma but younger dogs can develop it as well.

Signs

Signs and prognosis are dependent on the type of lymphoma present, and how far it has progressed. The following is a list of some of the common types and signs we see:

• Multicentric lymphoma (most common)
  • Swelling of the lymph nodes is usually the first sign. People usually first notice the lymph nodes under the jaw when they are enlarged. Without treatment the pet could develop signs of weakness, high temperature, lethargy.
• Alimentary lymphoma
  • Diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, and abdominal pain.
• Mediastinal Lymphoma
  • Coughing and shortness of breath due to lesions formed in the chest cavity. Swelling and increased thirst leading to urinating more.
• Extranodal lymphoma
  • Is dependent on the affected organ.

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian will need to do a full physical exam and gather history about your pet. Other diagnostics may be performed such as blood work, x-rays, ultrasound, or biopsy. Frequently, one of the first tests would be a small biopsy, called a “fine needle aspirate”, of an enlarged lymph node.

Treatment

Although lymphoma is not curable, it is one of the most successfully managed cancers. The main treatment for lymphoma is chemotherapy. Quality of life is always the priority for our pets, so chemotherapy in dogs is very different than chemotherapy in humans. Great care is taken to make sure it is well tolerated, minimizing side effects as much as possible. Animals do not tend to lose hair with chemotherapy, but can have vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy or decreased appetite. With chemotherapy, as many as 70% of dogs will go into remission. However, survival times vary based on many factors, but can range anywhere from months to over 2 years.

Talk to one of our team members at Coventry Animal Hospital if you suspect your dog may have canine lymphoma.

Senior pets are some of our most special patients. We’ve seen them through the chaotic puppy and kitten stage and had many years to develop a strong relationship with them and now they are more willing to calmly spend time relaxing with us.  We recommend a physical exam every six months for senior pets.

Here are some medical differences between an adult and a senior pet:

1. Decreased ability to digest protein and decreased metabolic rate
2. Behavior changes due to brain aging
3. Declining hearing, vision and sense of smell
4. Skin and coat changes
5. Increased risk of heart and lung disease
6. Progression of tooth and gum disease
7. Increased risk for hormone disorders
8. Decreased muscle mass and degeneration of cartilage
9. Declining kidney function
10. Intolerance to extreme heat/cold

We recommend feeding senior pets a high-quality food that is very easy to digest and contains anti-oxidants, omega fatty acids and an appropriate amount of protein and calories. Joint health supplements, soft padded bedding and neutral temperatures are also recommended.  Deterioration of body systems may be painful and many geriatric pets benefit from pain medication.  Routine blood work can trend organ function and determine if therapy for chronic kidney disease, hypothyroidism (in dogs), hyperthyroidism (in cats), diabetes or other diseases should be implemented.  Routinely having masses assessed may catch cancer early and allow it to be cured.

Just because your pet is old, it doesn’t mean that it should be slow or stiff, smell bad or be non-interactive and painful. Do not accept diseases in your pet simply because it is a senior.  Unlike in people, your pet may not show you symptoms that you would associate with illness.  At Coventry Animal Hospital, we aim for early detection of disease in pets that may outwardly appear healthy.  Our goal is to prevent or delay disease and death where possible.  We also assess your senior pet’s current quality of life to determine whether measures can be taken to improve its daily comfort.

Talk to one of our team members at Coventry Animal Hospital to discuss your senior pet’s individual needs.

Other Recommended Reading:

Cognitive Dysfunction in Senior Pets

Feeding Mature and Senior Dogs

Feeding Mature, Senior and Geriatric Cats

Benefits of Adopting a Senior Pet

With our Fur Babies being such a big part of our lives now, we treasure our time with them even more.  They love us unconditionally and are also so dependent on us.  We shower them with our love and attention; through food, cuddles and play.  Our biggest responsibility as pet owners is to keep them safe and healthy.  Even with good preventative care we are not able to prevent everything as accidents and illness still happen.  Pet insurance can provide us the comfort we need to know that we are prepared for these surprises.

There are many different types of Pet insurance out there.  Often you can choose from plans that help with emergency and illness care only and others that also include preventative care. We encourage you to do research and choose a plan that works best for you and your Pet.

Pet insurance helps to maintain and improve our human and animal bond! 

Please feel free to check out the links below for some of the available pet insurance companies (listed in no particular order) or talk to one of our team members at Coventry Animal Hospital.

OVMA

Trupanion

Pets + Us

National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) is an annual observance held by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.  During the month of August, there is a focus on the importance of vaccination for the human population.  On-time immunizations play a role in preventing serious disease for people of all ages.

Just like for people, immunization for animals is also important for the health of our pets at all life stages. 

What Vaccines Does Your Dog Need?

• Core vaccines
  • Rabies
  • DHPP (this includes 1) distemper 2) parvovirus 3) adenovirus and 4) parainfluenza)
  • Leptospirosis
• Non-core vaccines
  • Bordetella (kennel cough)
  • +/- Lyme

What Vaccines Does Your Cat Need?

• Core vaccines
  • Rabies
  • FVRCP (this includes 1) feline herpes virus, 2) feline calicivirus, as well as 3) feline panleukopenia virus, which is also known as distemper)
• Non-core vaccines
  • Feline leukemia

A series of vaccines are required to achieve immunity.  Immunization against core vaccine DHPP and FVRCP is generally given to puppies and kittens respectively every 3-4 weeks between the ages of 8 and 16 weeks.  Very young puppies/kittens have maternal immunity (antibodies from their mother), which fades in the first few months of life.  Early on, maternal immunity will block disease, as well as vaccines, but when it has faded, will not prevent disease.  The purpose of the series of boosters is to ensure that the puppy or kitten is protected against disease during the window of time where maternal immunity no longer is protective. 

The second core vaccine is rabies, which is generally given at 4 months.  This immunization is extremely important to protect the public from rabies exposure.  

Leptospirosis is also a core vaccine for dogs in Perth County, due to the number of cases contracted from local wildlife.  

Lifestyle-specific vaccines

• Feline leukemia vaccine may be appropriate for kittens that may have exposure to other cats outside. Prior to immunization, they are ideally tested for feline leukemia virus. 
• Bordetella (kennel cough) is recommended for dogs at risk of exposure through boarding, grooming, dog parks or public dog interactions
• Lyme vaccination may be appropriate for dogs travelling to areas in Ontario where there is a high risk of Lyme disease transmission from infected ticks 

Vaccines may not be protective unless they are correctly administered at the appropriate intervals.  There are vaccine guidelines that form the basis for your veterinarian’s recommendations for which vaccines should be given to your pet.  These recommendations change based on your pet’s age, risk of exposure, health and history of vaccine reactions.  There is a small risk of vaccine reactions, ways to minimize these risks can be discussed with a veterinarian.   Titers, a blood test that evaluates a pet’s antibody level, may be discussed with a veterinarian as well.

For additional information, please check out the “Vaccinating Your Pet” section on the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association website: https://www.ovma.org/pet-owners/basic-pet-care/pet-health-101/   or talk to one of our team members at Coventry Animal Hospital.

Recommended blog

What Happens at My pet’s Annual Visit to the Doctor’s Office?

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture has been practiced in both animals and humans for thousands of years to produce a healing response in the body.  Acupuncture involves the use of very thin, sterile needles at specific energetic points just under the skin where there is a high density of free nerve endings, blood vessels, lymph ducts and mast cells.  Through placement in these energy channels the needles enhance circulation and induce the release of beta-endorphins, serotonin and other neurotransmitters throughout the body with the goal of restoring normal body homeostasis.

Is Acupuncture Safe?    

Yes! Acupuncture is a very safe medical procedure when administered by a qualified practitioner. Many animals become sleepy and relaxed after a treatment. Some animals may experience minor discomfort as needles are placed.

How Long Does Each Treatment Take? 

Each session may take between 20-40 minutes. The first session takes longer than follow-up appointments.

How Soon Can We See Results?

Some results can be seen immediately but others require several treatments.  Generally speaking a minimum of 3-5 treatments 1-2 weeks apart for chronic conditions are needed before seeing significant improvement.

How Can Acupuncture Benefit My Pet?

Clinical trials indicate that acupuncture therapy can be effective in the following conditions:

• Musculoskeletal problems: pain management for muscle soreness, back pain, osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease
• Neurological disorders: seizures, intervertebral disc disease, laryngeal hemiplegia, nerve paralysis
• Gastrointestinal disorders: nausea, diarrhea, colic, constipation
• Other chronic conditions such as skin problems, renal failure, chronic liver disease, behavioural problems, infertility, Cushings disease, geriatric weakness
• Quality of life and hospice care
• Performance enhancement and disease prevention

Always work closely with a veterinarian to develop a treatment plan for your pet.  Alternative healing methods like acupuncture might have the potential to make your pet’s life more comfortable and can be used in conjunction with traditional medicine. 

To determine if your pet’s condition may be responsive to this treatment modality, please set up a consultation with Dr. Angela Gerretsen at Mitchell Veterinary Services or Coventry Animal Hospital. 

Click here to view our Acupuncture Service page