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Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Pet Photos With Santa

A big thank you to all who attended our Annual Pet Photos with Santa. It was a great day to celebrate all the pets who came through our door.


Just a quick reminder that the weather is changing drastically and fast.  The cold weather is upon us now so please be very mindful that your pets get cold too. Purchasing a coat to help keep the chill out of their bones is one way to make it a bit easier.  Many stores carry winter clothing and its actually becoming a fashion statement.  You may also consider buying pet booties to help with their little feet hitting the cold snow or ice.
If your pet will not tolerate the booties be sure to check your pets paws after their walk for any ice build up as it can cause irritation to the pads and inbetween the toes.

If you have a dog that LOVES the outdoors and cold weather, be sure to have enough bedding in their dog house for warmth and that the water they have in their dish is not frozen. 

Remember never to leave your animal unattended for long periods of time in your car during the winter months as hypothermia can still set in even though they are in an enclosed space.  Some signs of hypothermia are:  shivering, lethargy, weakness, difficulty breathing.  Please call your Veterinarian if you see any of these signs or if you just need to find out what you need to do.

Another thing to watch for is frostbite:  Frostbite usually affects the paws, ears and tails.  Some signs of frostbite are:  Paler than normal skin, cold to the touch, pain of the affected area, swelling or discoloration of the affected area.  Again, please call your Veterinarian if you see any of these signs or need to have your pet assessed and treated where necessary.
Thursday, November 20, 2014

Pet Photos with Santa coming this Sunday!

Pet Photos with Santa are here this weekend! Please join us on Sunday November 23 from 12-2pm.
Photos are the cost of a 10$ donation (CASH ONLY) to the Guide Dogs Association.
Bring your furry friends and family for a day of fun, food and refreshments! We look forward to seeing everyone again!


Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Pet Photos with Santa

We are once again holding our Annual Pet Photos with Santa.  It will be held at our clinic on Sunday, November 23, 2014 from 12:00-2:00pm.  All proceeds go to the Guide Dog Foundation.  We would love to see you and your pet so come out and join us.  Refreshments will be served as well.
Monday, September 15, 2014

Falltime is here

Wow, it is that time again.  The leaves are starting to fall and the air is getting crisp and cold. 

We want to remind you that with Fall around the corner, so is Thanksgiving and Halloween.  Just a reminder to be careful when cooking your Thanksgiving Turkeys.   Always make sure that you keep your furry friends away from any Turkey meat, gravy, onions and bones. 

As Halloween approaches, be careful with chocolate. Children are always excited with all of their candy but if your pet accidentally ingests some Chocolate, they could become very ill as Chocolate is extremely toxic to animals.    Remember, with the little ghosts and goblins coming to your door, it can be fun for people but some animals may find it scary.  Make sure you have your pets in a safe place so they feel comfortable.

From Winrose to all of you, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and a Fun Halloween
Saturday, July 26, 2014

Summertime!

Wow...where has the time gone?

Seems like just yesterday we were talking about Hallowe'en and now it's nearly the end of July!

Well...having survived the coldest and snowiest winter in 116 years, I think we can all give ourselves a pat on the back!

Unfortunately, the warmer temperatures brought with them rain...and we all know that with all that rain have arrived oodles of mosquitoes!   Do you know what comes with mosquitoes?   That's right!  HEARTWORM disease!

Heartworm disease is transmitted by mosquitoes!   Here's what happens!   Mosquitoes feed on an infected dog which has adult worms living in it's heart.  These worms are busy producing baby worms (larvae) which are then taken in by the mosquito with a blood meal.  The larvae develops a bit more in the mosquito and then is ready to be deposited into the next susceptible dog (or occasionally cat...more on this later")  with the next blood meal.   These larvae then go  on to develop into adult worms...unless of course your pet is on heartworm preventative medication.   What the preventative medications do is kill off these baby worms (larvae) before they are able to go on to develop into adult worms.  Once adult worms are present, the treatment for the disease is completely different.

Dogs that develop adult heartworm infection typically show symptoms of heart disease....cough, exercise intolerance, loss of appetite and weight loss.  Left untreated, it can be fatal

The most common heartworm preventative medications are given monthly, either as a tablet/chewable or as a topical (squeeze on the skin) treatment.   These products typically also dewormer for intestinal worms which is an added bonus.  In Manitoba, we typically medicate monthly from the end of May to the end of October.   Because the preventatives kill of larvae that have already been deposited, we typically say they 'work backward' ...the tablet that you give at the end of July, for example, kills off any larvae deposited during the month of July.  This is why it is especially important to remember to give the last tablets of the year AFTER all of the mosquitoes are done for the year.

Getting back to the cats...Cats can also be infected with heartworm but the incidence in cats tends to be much lower.  We typically estimate that the incidence in tats is only about 1/10 that in dogs.   Unfortunate thing for cats is that a single worm can be fatal and often the first symptom noted in cats is sudden death!   Outdoor cats should be on a preventative as well.  These product provide the added advantage of treating for tapeworms which are the worms that most commonly affect hunting cats.  You know...those little icky rice-like ones that stick to the back end of affected cats!

Well...hope this little heartworm lesson has been useful.  If you have any questions about heartworm or preventatives, please give the clinic a call at 204-254-3150!  We are always glad to help,

In the meantime...have an awesome summer and hope to see you soon!

Dr. Eichkorn and all of us at Winrose