Updates & Special Events
INVITATION: Our Remarkable Companions
In honour of this coldest, darkest time of year – and the promise of returning light & warmth – we invite you to recall the ways our
companion animals bring light & warmth into our lives,
from the simplest acts or habits that make us smile, to grand heroic deeds such as rescuing little Timmy from down the well, and all points in-between!
Please share a story about your pet (125 words or fewer).
Use this link to send your entry to our webmaster. Feel free to include a photo as well.
All entries will be posted online.
View stories here.
Three prize winners will be randomly chosen, each winner receiving a copy of Animal Talk: Remarkable Connections
Between Animals and the People who Love Them, by NS author Joyce Grant-Smith.
Contest deadline has been extended to Valentine's Day (2012), but please don't hesitate – we look forward to hearing from you!
Grand Prize Winner and all entries in the 1st Annual (cruelty-free) Hallowe'en Costume Contest may be viewed here.
*Warning, posted June 4, 2011:
Chicken Jerky imported from China may be making dogs ill.*
The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association has informed us that veterinarians in Ontario are reporting that dogs are
falling ill with kidney damage after eating chicken jerky imported from China. It appears that the chicken jerky is
contaminated with melamine, a chemical previously implicated in causing kidney disease in cats that consumed certain
brands of canned cat food. Melamine contamination of chicken jerky was reported in the US in the past.
(See these links: FDA Warning, AVMA Warning)
We recommend that you avoid chicken jerky imported from China until the situation is more clear. If you are feeding chicken
jerky to your dog and your dog seems more thirsty and is urinating larger amounts or more frequently than before, please bring
your pet for an examination.
Pesky parasites:
As the warmer weather lingers, so do the many types of parasite: ticks, fleas, intestinal worms,
mosquitoes, and black flies all target our pets more heavily as the temperature rises. Not only do they irritate our
four-legged family members, but they can be harmful.
We strongly recommend prevention of disease and infestation
whenever possible. Due to the migration of many species, these parasites are multiplying quickly and
sticking around much longer. Our veterinarians are now suggesting that preventative products be used year 'round, in
several cases.
We offer many options to accommodate your pet's individual needs. Please discuss your concerns
with the veterinarian during your next visit, or call us anytime; our staff will be happy to go over the available products with you.
Heartworm and Lyme Disease on the rise:
For many years, we have been concerned about the spread of heartworm and lyme disease. Each year the risk has increased,
and we are doing our best to ensure prevention and treatment for our patients.
Heartworm disease is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Adult heartworms live inside the heart and the blood vessels
that supply the lungs. As a result of infestation, the heart, lungs, and liver are gradually affected. Eventually the damage to
the lungs restricts the animal's breathing and if there are enough worms they can fill the chambers of the heart – making this a
potentially fatal disease if left untreated. Owners should be aware that lethargy, breathing trouble, excessive coughing, and
exercise intolerance are possible signs of heartworm disease. Heartworm disease is a growing concern in Nova Scotia, as in the
past few years there have been a number of confirmed cases in the maritime provinces. Prevention can be as simple as a pill once
monthly.
Lyme disease is becoming more and more prevalent in Halifax Regional Municipality, especially in Beaverbank, Bedford, and any
other vastly wooded areas. It is spread via the saliva of an infected tick, while the tick feeds on a host (animal or human).
This too can be fatal, eventually affecting the entire body by spreading through the bloodstream.
Signs and symptoms to be aware
of are lethargy, fever, behavior that mimics a quick onset of rheumatoid arthritis, depression and anorexia. It is strongly
encouraged to have the tick removed as soon as possible. Ticks can be tested to see if they are carriers of this disease. We
offer titre testing and vaccinations to prevent lyme disease. We also offer collars and monthly treatment to aid in the
prevention of tick attachment.
We currently offer in-house heartworm/lyme disease testing to see if your pet has been exposed to any of the above infected
parasites. Unfortunately, there is no known tick prevention for cats.
Our new name – from Richardson's to Cobequid Animal Hospital:
Upon the retirement of Dr Frank Richardson, founder of the practice, Drs Collard,
Moncayo and Runnalls have taken on owner-partnership in the practice. We look forward to continuing to offer the same fine care that our clients
know and appreciate, for many years to come.
Given our Cobequid Road location, the name Cobequid – derived from a Mi'kmaw word signifying the place where flowing waters run –
was a natural choice, and should make us even easier to locate!
We have recently added dental x-ray to our services, and strongly encourage clients to take advantage of this service while their
pet is anesthetized for dental cleaning.
Dental x-ray is extremely helpful in determining the necessity for extractions, in the best-case scenario allowing the
retention of teeth that otherwise may have appeared to require removal. The x-ray also allows us to make note of current issues such as neck lesions, abscesses,
and tooth decay.
(For more information, see Dr Moncayo's article on Dental Care for Dogs and Cats.)
Managing pain is a major concern for any patient.
Pain associated with cancer has its own set of causes that merit specific
methods to ease discomfort. Click here for tips and information
on helping pets that are suffering from pain due to cancer.
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