Upcoming, Recent and Interesting News at Carling Animal Hospital
Heartworm Test
Effective 2008, the Heartworm Test we use screens for Heartworm, Lyme disease, Uhrlichia and Anaplasmosis. Over 18 dogs have tested positive, and been successfully treated, for Lyme Disease at our hospital since April, 2007
Sponsoring local Hockey Team
Carling Animal Hospital is proud to be a sponsor of the Ottawa West Golden Knights.
New Heartworm Test
On April 7th, 2007 we switched to a new Heartworm Test for dogs which also screens for Lyme Disease and Uhrlichia. During the subsequent 90 day period, 11 dogs were diagnosed with, and were treated for, Lyme Disease.
Longer Appointments
Out-patient appointments for annual check-ups, vaccinations and ill or injured pets are 30 minutes in duration to provide our Doctors with ample time to attend to you and your pet.
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Given the ongoing advancements in medicine and surgery, our Doctors and staff have recently attended, or will soon attend, the following continuing education conferences:
February 2008 - Dr. Katharine Jones
Western Veterinary Conference, Las Vegas
February 2008 - Chantal Heirlihy (RVT)
Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians Conference
January 2008 - Dr. Keith Johnson
Ontario Veterinary Medical Association Conference, Toronto
January 2008 - Dr. Saye Clement
North American Veterinary Conference, Orlando
July 2007 - Dr. Saye Clement, Dr. Janet Biggar
Canadian Veterinary Medical Association Conference, Ottawa
March 2007 - Dr. Melanie Ellison
American Animal Hospital Association Conference, Denver
August 2006 - Dr. Saye Clement
Northeast Veterinary Conference, Cape Cod
June 2006 - Dr. Karen Sime
California Veterinary Medical Association Conference, San Francisco
February 2006 - Dr. Keith Johnson
Western Veterinary Conference, Las Vegas
February 2006 - Chantal Miller (RVT)
Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians Annual Continuing
Education Conference, Toronto
January 2006 - Dr. Janet Biggar
Ontario Veterinary Medical Association Conference
November 2005 - Dr. Saye Clement, Julie Michaud-Technician
Central Canada Veterinary Association Fall Conference, Ottawa
February 2005 - Dr. Karen Sime
Western Veterinary Conference, Las Vegas
August 2004 - Dr. Saye Clement
Northeast Veterinary Conference, Rhode Island
February 2004 - Dr.'s Janet Biggar and Keith Johnson
Ontario Veterinary Medical Association Conference
January 2004 - Dr. Karen Sime
North American Veterinary Conference, Florida
February 2003 - Dr. Keith Johnson
Ontario Veterinary Medical Association Annual
January 2003 - Dr.'s Melanie Ellison & Saye Clement
North American Veterinary Conference, Florida
September 2002 - Kelly Hobbs (Office Manager)
How to Get Things Done course, Oregan
February 2002 - Dr.'s Karen Sime & Melanie Ellison
Ottawa Academy of Veterinary Medicine, Neurology Lecture
February 2002 - Tracy Bouley (Technician)
Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians Annual Conference, Ontario
January 2002 - Dr. Janet Biggar
Ontario Veterinary Medical Association Annual Conference
November 2001 - Dr's Keith Johnson & Karen Sime
Lifelearn's Laser Surgery Course (Advanced)
University of Guelph
November 2001 - Julie Michaud, Technician
Sandra Fields, RVT
Dental Care Wet Lab, Kingston, Ontario
August 2001 - Dr. Melanie Ellison
26th World Congress of Veterinary Medicine, B.C
WEST NILE VIRUS
The risk factor to dogs and cats is minimal. Horses and people are far more susceptible to West Niles than dogs and cats. The overwhelming majority of non-human cases are in horses. While a vaccine exists for horses, no vaccine currently exists for cats or dogs.
To date, over 9000 cases have been reported in horses, yet very few cases in dogs and cats.
The best means of prevention is to minimize the number of mosquito bites your pet receives since the virus is transmitted by an insect bite.
Should you choose to use an insect repellent on your pet,do notapply a human insect repellent and never apply products containing DEET to cats, dogs, rabbits and other small animals. Our hospital does carry an insect repellent which is safe for use on animals.
BREAKING NEWS!
"Pet Cockatoo......killed while trying to protect....owner from an attacker....."
The bird flew at the defendant, pecked his head and drew blood. The defendant
then wiped his head and subsequently touched a light switch, thereby leaving
his DNA at the scene. The defendant was convicted f capital murder. Source:
LA Times, Feb, 2003
VET CAMP FOR KIDS
If you have a child entering grade seven(7), eight(8) or nine(9) who is interested in becoming a Veterinarian, the Atlantic Veterinary College's VET CAMP may be of interest. Held each summer in Charlottetown, PEI, the camp exposes young people to the profession. To apply for the next camp session, visit: www.upei.ca/avc
ABANDONED WILDLIFE/BIRDS
Ever wonder where to turn for assistance when you find an abandoned bird or small animal in your backyard?
For assistance with an INJURED, captured wild animal, contact the Humane Society at 725-1532
For assistance with an UN-INJURED, captured wild animal, contact the City
of Ottawa at 580-2400
To arrange for pick-up and disposal of a dead, wild animal, contact the City of Ottawa at 274-7374 Ext 222
TIMERS GALORE
If you have ever heard the ringing of a timer while visiting our practice, you may have wondered the reason why. As each client arrives for their appointment we start a ten minute timer. Every ten minutes, our staff are alerted to the client's waiting time. This way, we can keep our clients informed of the Doctor's status and/or initiate appropriate action to prevent any undue delay in the client being seen.
Email: If we have your email address on file, you may have already received
an informative message from us. Rest assured that we are quite selective about
the email messages we send you such that the content is applicable and the
frequency is minimal. Reminders for your pet’s annual check-up and vaccinations
will continue to be mailed through the postal system.
Should your email address change, simply email us at :
info@carlinganimalhospital
.com
and we will gladly update your file.
FELINE VACCINE
New Feline Vaccine: Effective May, 2002, Vaccine to protect cats against
the Giardia parasite is launched.
What is Giardia ? Giardia (pronounced jee-AR-dee-ya) is a microscopic parasite
which can infect the bowels of humans and many species of animals causing
severe gastro-intestinal disease. Dogs, cats & people can all be infected
by the Giardia Parasite.
While cats are susceptible to Giardia (sometimes called Beaver Fever), the
incidence is lower in cats than in dogs. A possible explanation for the lower
incidence may be that cats are less likely to drink from puddles, streams,
rivers, lakes and other bodies of water which contain Giardia cysts (eggs).
Giardia cysts are deposited in soil or water through the feces of infected
birds, rodents, beavers or livestock.
Vaccination is most applicable to cats who:
“go camping” with their owners
OR have a history of chronic diarrhea (symptom of Giardia)
OR live near or have access to a stream, pond, lake, body of water
OR live in a rural area where there are ponds, puddles, streams, etc.
OR dig in soil which may be infected with Giardia cysts (eggs) and then lick
his/her paws
We are not recommending vaccination of indoor cats or outdoor cats who could not come into contact with bodies of water.
MEDIA TAKES NOTICE
Starting in January, 2002, the installation of our laser surgery unit caught the attention of local print, TV and radio media. To date, newspaper coverage has included the Ottawa Citizen, all 7 editions of The News and The West End Chronicle.
CJOH Television aired a feature story on the 6:00pm Evening News with Max Keeping; the most widely watched local 6:00pm newscast in the City of Ottawa.
CFRA radio broadcast a live interview with our very own Dr. Janet Biggar at 3:50pm in February on their drive home show. On March 9th, Dr. Janet Biggar and Dr. Keith Johnson were Ray Stone's guests on CFRA radio's Experts on Call where they answered callers questions regarding the benefits of laser surgery.
ON-GOING STAFF DEVELOPMENT
Please note that the hospital will be closed each Thursday between 2:15pm and 3:45pm for ongoing staff training and development.
Should you have an emergency with your pet, simply proceed to the hospital, depress the intercom at the front door and we will attend to you immediately.
PROTECTING YOUR DOG FROM LEPTOSPIROSIS
Leptospirosis is a bacteria which primarily affects dogs, horses and humans and is carried by wild animals and livestock. A severe and sometimes fatal disease, the Lepto bacteria attacks the liver and kidneys, resulting in organ damage and/or failure.
Typically, dogs become infected by drinking from puddles, streams, rivers or ponds that have become contaminated by the urine of infected animals. Infected pets pose a serious threat to their owner's health as well. While there exist a number of strains of Lepto, a vaccine now exists to provide protection against the more common strains affecting dogs.Please contact our Hospital for further information.
PROTECTING YOUR CAT FROM INTESTINAL PARASITES
Over the past few years, new products have entered the market which simplify the process of protecting your cat and your family members from intestinal parasites. Requiring only once-a-month administration or application, parasite prevention has been simplified.
Two of the intestinal parasites which are of concern and which can also be transmitted to humans are Tapeworm and Roundworm.
Tapeworm is transmitted to a cat from fleas or by eating mice or rats. Diarrhea and weight loss are the most common symptoms.
Roundworm stems from your cat eating mice, rats or the feces of other cats
or dogs which contain the infective larvae stage of Roundworm. Symptoms include
weight loss and diarrhea.
Other parasites which can be protected against depending on which once-a-month
Product best suits your pet include fleas, ringworm, ear mites and some ticks.
Protect Your Pet AND Your Family Members From These Parasites and Avoid the
Unpleasant Symptoms.
Ask Us About Once-A-Month Protection
