Category: General Health
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April Showers bring … puddles and ticks (Part 1): Leptospirosis
Categories: PreventionBy: Dr. Emma Bush One of the five main vaccines that are used for our canine pets in the Maritimes Provinces is the Leptospirosis vaccine. But what is Leptospirosis, and why do we care so much about preventing it? What is it? Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that can affect the liver, kidneys and even…
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Parasites and Parasite prevention products (Part 2): Intestinal Parasites
By: Dr. Emma Bush (DVM) When we think about parasite prevention products, we often think about external parasites like fleas and ticks. However, prevention of internal (intestinal) parasites (included, but not limited to worms) is also important for your dogs and cats. This is done through what is commonly called deworming. Deworming is recommended monthly,…
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Parasites and Parasite prevention products (Part 1): Fleas and Ticks
By: Dr. Emma Bush, DVM The most common external parasites of dogs and cats that we see are fleas and ticks. There are both oral and topical preventative products to protect against one or both of these parasites. Most products are given monthly; however, some can last for longer durations. It is recommended to give…
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A Less Romantic Type of Valentine: Heartworm By Dr. Emma Bush
In February we often think about and send one another love hearts and valentines. However, today I wanted to talk about a less romantic type of heart-lover. This is the parasite heartworm. What is Heartworm? Heartworm (or Dirofilaria immitis) is a large worm that, in its adult stage, lives in the heart and pulmonary (blood…
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New Year, New Pet: Preparing for your new puppy or kitten By Dr. Emma Bush
It is the start of the New Year and we are all excited about what the coming months will bring. Many of us are considering welcoming new additions to the family, namely new puppies and kittens. Some may even have already had a new pet come to them, found underneath the Christmas tree.In any of…
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September is Happy Healthy Cat Month!
Although we spend our entire year trying to make sure all of our feline patients are happy and healthy, September is the OFFICIAL month to celebrate! It is a common misconception that cats are self-reliant and don’t need as much attention as dogs. Cats are extremely social creatures, and require the same amount of care…
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Obesity in Pets and how to Achieve Weight Loss
Categories: General HealthObesity is the most common health problem of pets. Approximately 45% of pets are considered overweight (15-30% over the ideal weight) or obese (30% over the ideal weight). Overweight and obese animals have a number of health problems that can be directly linked to being overweight including Diabetes Arthritis – can actually cause arthritis, and…
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5 Ways to HAVE FUN with your Cat!
Cats have acquired many reputations as their media portrayal is always changing, but a persistent belief that continues to show up is that cats are lazy and uncooperative. Some people would probably say, “If you want a fun animal, get a dog!” The truth is that there are many ways to engage with cats to…
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Feces eating in Dogs and Cats: Why do they do that?!!
Eating feces (known as coprophagia) is a frustrating thing. You may have a dog or cat that is constantly trying to eat their own (or others) feces and unfortunately this can be a hard habit to break. There is nothing worse than chasing your dog around the backyard as he playfully runs away, or seeing…
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Common Winter Injuries in Dogs
Categories: General HealthWhile some dogs avoid the cold and snow, others love to run and play in all types of weather! For the most part, playing/walking/running in the snow is great exercise and is safe for all dogs to do. Sometimes we will see problems in bad weather if they overdo it or have an accident. The…