Nutrition is key to both health and the healing process. We carry a number of different pet foods for specific medical conditions. Each of these foods are selected based on their quality and effectiveness. For routine feeding, we recommend Medi-cal - www.medi-cal.ca
both for the quality of ingredients they use and because of the company’s integrity. All their foods are naturally preserved with no hidden chemicals; it’s what we feed our own pets.
Nutrition is a complex topic and we encourage you to ask one of our veterinarian
if you have any questions about which diet is right for your pet.
There are many people who feel strongly about feeding their pets a raw food diet.
The internet abounds with conflicting, emotionally charged and very polarized
opinions about whether to feed raw or commercially prepared diets. Although we
respect the desire to avoid excessive food processing, we are also concerned about
the potential risks of raw diets, including disease transmission to pet owners.
Nutrition is a complex topic. Discussions that lump all commercial foods into the same
category cannot be taken at face value. Similarly, all raw food or homemade diets need to be considered on their individual merit rather than as a single group. For those who wish to make their pet’s food at home, we recommend obtaining a recipe from a board certified veterinary nutritionist. www.petdiets.com is a good resource. As a general rule, we recommend basing your pet’s diet on a good quality naturally preserved commercial diet, and then supplementing with a fresh source of whole food nutrients (e.g.: a dehydrated supplement such as Rx Vitamins Nutritional Support, or by pureeing a mix of vegetables and organ meats to use as a top dress).
If you are interested in learning more about the best way to feed your pet, please do not hesitate to consult with one of our veterinarians.
Because there is no government mandated standards for nutritional supplements, the industry suffers from a severe quality control problem – two products with identical labels can have vastly different contents. For example, a U.S. study found that 20% of tested glucosamine products had 96% less glucosamine than their label claim, and some had no glucosamine at all! That same study found a strong correlation between the price and quality of the product - you get what you pay for.
A similar situation exists with probiotic products – many have far fewer live organisms than they claim to have on the label. Because name brand quality varies so wildly, we carefully screen each product we carry. Our preferred glucosamine sources (Glycoflex III and Sasha’s blend) voluntarily submit themselves to independent laboratory evaluation. The manufacturer of our other supplements self tests their products well beyond what is required by law.
We also recommend supplements containing natural ingredients from whole food sources, rather than chemically synthesized supplements. Although it has yet to be proven, we believe the many supplements perform best when they are available in their original form, rather than as isolated or artificially manufactured chemicals.
Because our pets frequently can’t tell us when they are experiencing discomfort or malaise, many medical conditions go unnoticed in the early stages. The annual physical exam, coupled with appropriate laboratory testing is the best way to detect these conditions and prevent them from becoming worse.
Our juvenile exams screen for genetic conditions as well as overall health. They are an excellent opportunity to discuss issues important to the developing pet – behaviour and training, nutrition and husbandry, parasite control and personalized vaccination protocols Middle aged pets need more help with dental issues, body condition, changing dietary needs, and an increase in the incidence of certain diseases. Geriatric patients face a number of unique conditions. In many cases, by wellness testing, paying attention to early changes and implementing simple treatments, we can markedly improve both
the quality and length of your pet’s life. Joint and back pain, tumours, kidney, liver, or heart issues are all common findings in older patients.
Although vaccinations are an important part of disease prevention, there are many products available and not all of them are appropriate for all patients. We feel it is important to assess our patient’s individual needs in order to personalize a vaccine protocol. We distinguish between core and non-core vaccines, and carefully select safe but effective products.
The human medical field is growing increasingly aware that dog and cat parasites pose a significant disease risk to people. Consequently, we recommend a regular deworming protocol using safe but effective products.
Again, our staff is trained to assist you in selecting the best product for your pet. For example, an indoor cat does not have the same needs as an outdoor cat who regularly feeds on mice. Consideration is also made for the needs of households with small children, pregnant, or immune compromised individuals. Detailed information can be found at www.petsandparasites.org .
We have a number of flea products available, all of them more effective and safer than what was available even a decade ago. Each of them has pros and cons depending on your pet’s individual situation. Some flea products work well against lice, but others do not. Our receptionists and technicians are trained to guide you through the process of picking which product will best suit your pet’s individual needs.
Although annual physical examination is an excellent test for assessing health, there are a number of conditions that can be detected even earlier though the use of blood tests. Blood panels, or screening tests, assess liver and kidney function, glucose and protein levels, electrolyte balance, as well as a full assessment of red and white blood cells, and platelet levels.
Senior patients, surgical candidates, animals taking long term medication, and pets who are unwell benefit most from blood testing.