Cats and Dogs

We believe that behaviour is very important for the overall health and well-being of a pet. A well-behaved pet can bring joy and companionship to its family. On the other hand, a pet with behaviour problems can cause much stress and grief for the whole family. When a pet has a behaviour problem, we must analyze each situation and decide whether the behaviour is normal but inappropriate or unpleasant behaviour, or an abnormal behaviour.

It is important to start teaching your pet what you expect of it from the very beginning and keep at it all throughout its life. With a bit of time, patience and positive reinforcement, any pet can learn how to behave appropriately. Pets crave rules, boundaries and routine.

Here at HVO, we offer many behavioural resources, such as:

• Free behaviour information conferences
• Clicker training demonstrations
• No-pull harness demonstrations
• Behavioural consultations
• Behavioural consultations at home

Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any behavioural questions or requests.

There is also some documents and links below you can consult:

• After Getting your Puppy
• Bite free (kids)
• Bite Prevention
• Dog Body Language
• Desensitization to Strangers
• How to Choose a Good Dog Trainer
• Jumping
• Muzzle Game
• Puppy Behavior
• Separation Anxiety
• Spike Collar
• Cat Educator : Feline Behavior specialist
• Cat Body Language
• Soiling

 

Even though our pets’ dental health is very important, it is too often neglected. Fortunately, it is possible to heal a mouth in poor condition by doing a professional dental prophylaxis, also called teeth cleaning or dentistry.

First of all, during the preliminary examination, the veterinarian will evaluate your pet’s oral condition. This will allow him to evaluate the accumulation of tartar and the degree of gingivitis. He might also find abnormalities, like a dental abscess or a mass, for example. The veterinarian will give you a detailed estimate of the teeth cleaning. Blood tests on your pet can also be done prior to the intervention if needed. After this, the right moment for a tooth cleaning at the hospital will be determined.

The teeth cleaning is performed under general anesthesia. The veterinarian first proceeds to a meticulous dental examination and a chlorhexidine treatment will be applied. Then, the teeth cleaning is done with an ultrasound tool, which is safe for the tooth enamel. This procedure allows to dislodge the tartar and dental plaque from the surface of the teeth as well as under the gums. Teeth are then polished, to slow down as much as possible future buildup of plaque or tartar. However, the periodontal disease is sometimes too advanced and the veterinarian has no other choice but to remove one or several affected teeth. These extractions are thus only practiced when needed.

Pets having undergone a tooth cleaning usually stay overnight at the hospital where they receive intravenous fluids. Because the bad oral bacteria start to circulate through the blood after the teeth cleaning, the veterinarian will prescribe antibiotics for your pets. These antibiotics will be given at the hospital and will also have to be given at home to prevent possible infection of the heart, the liver or kidneys. Anti-inflammatory drugs and pain killers will also be prescribed in case of tooth extractions. The veterinarian will guide you towards a healthy food choice for your pet and also give you advice to protect and preserve your pet’s oral health. This will help delay the next preventative teeth cleaning. Your animal will be all smiles!

Stages of periodontal disease

Stage 1: Beginning of gingivitis

• Light bad breath;
• Inflammation of the gums;
• Can be reversible if measures are taken to maintain oral health.

Stage 2: Advanced gingivitis

• Gingivitis and œdema;
• Periodontal pockets;
• Moderate bad breath;
• Can be reversible if teeth cleaning is done and measures taken to maintain the oral health afterward.

Stage 3: Beginning of periodontitis (teeth cleaning needed)

• A lot of inflammation;
• Deep periodontal pockets;
• Pus;
• Bone lysis (bone destruction);
• Mobile teeth;
• Strong bad breath.

Stage 4: Periodontitis

• IMPORTANT bone lysis;
• Deep periodontal pockets;
• Pus;
• Mobile teeth;
• Very strong breath;
• URGENT teeth cleaning.

Dental radiography

Dental X-ray is an essential tool to diagnose dental diseases. The veterinarian needs the information revealed by X-Rays to establish a treatment plan that considers the whole dental condition of the patient.

It is important to X-Ray the animal’s whole mouth during the first evaluation. A study showed that when only the teeth with lesions were X-rayed, approximately 40% of the present lesions were not diagnosed.

Indications:

1. The parondontal diseases: teeth affected with parondontitis must be X-rayed to evaluate the bone support and establish an appropriate treatment plan.
2. The documentation of missing teeth: sometimes, the tooth is simply not present anymore. Other cases show a tooth which has never grown (inclusive tooth) in which case a cyst can form and destroy surrounding tissues. Sometimes, roots can still be in place while the crown is gone, which can predispose to inflammation or infection.
3. Evaluate a dental fracture, or a jaw fracture.
4. Diagnosis of a cancer and its implication on the nearby structures.

Equipment:

The Ormstown Veterinary Hospital recently bought a dental X-Ray device (VetVisionDC) combined to a digital probe (PROGENY VDX-Vet). This device is used to get digital images of an excellent quality within five seconds. This allows us to get more precise and detailed images. Pathologies are then easier to diagnose.

How to know when it is the right time

How to know when is the right time to send our pet on its last journey? It is a heart-wrenching choice and a painful moment, sometimes accompanied by a feeling of guilt.

Old age, disease, accidents, lifestyle changes are all reasons that can bring us to consider a pet’s euthanasia. First of all, we can investigate to see if our pet is in pain and see if there is anything we can do to reduce pain, or any treatment possible allowing it to have an acceptable quality of life. When an owner becomes incapacitated, he might consider a close one to take over the pet’s responsibility. A young and healthy animal usually tolerates a change of owner well, as long as the same life conditions are respected. When the animal is old, a health exam and a good discussion on the subject with your veterinarian will help you make a decision.

When you have decided to go ahead with euthanasia, you have to choose whether you want to assist the procedure or not. You can also choose to see your animal right after the euthanasia without being in the room during the intervention. It is important that everyone’s wishes be respected in order to help with the mourning process.

First of all, the veterinarian gives the animal a tranquillizer by injection to relax it and possibly relieve pain if it is suffering. This tranquillizer takes a few minutes to take effect. After this, the veterinarian administers an intravenous injection of a powerful barbiturate which anesthetizes then puts them to sleep definitively. The animal first loses consciousness, stops breathing, then finally the heart stops beating. The animal feels no pain during the euthanasia. It often takes less than a minute, sometimes only a few seconds, between the beginning of the injection and the cardiac arrest. Whether the owner is present or not during the intervention, the veterinarian and technician make sure to reduce the animal’s anxiety by talking to it and caressing it. The body is then manipulated respectfully and kept until it is cremated, or simply wrapped to allow the owner to take it home.

When it comes to the body disposal, there are different choices to meet your needs. You can bring the body home and dispose of it according to the municipal laws. You have the possibility of buying a small cardboard coffin for the return home (Afubox). The group cremation is a choice often made by owners. You can also have the body cremated individually with the return of ashes in an urn (Cremanimo). Cremanimo also offers to assist the cremation, on appointments.

We understand that this is a difficult choice for many reasons. You will be sad for your loss. Time will diminish your sorrow and happy memories remain.

Cremation

The loss of your pet can be painful and the choice of euthanasia is a difficult one to make. Be sure to know that we treat all animals with great respect. This is one of the reasons why we are proud to work with the animal crematorium CREMANIMO. Located in Sherbrooke, this establishment is certified by the Ministère du Développement Durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs. Therefore, this company is in compliance with the province’s environmental standards.

Cremation is a humane, environmental and ecological method of body disposal, and it decreases the spread of diseases and risks of contamination. Several cremation services are available through our hospital:

Group cremation (included with euthanasia)

It is possible to get a free cremation certificate for your animal with a hair piece (Upon request only).

Individual cremation (additional fees)

• Several choices of urns (some are included in the basic price);
• Commemorative plaque included to write your pet’s name and a brief message;
• Cremation certificate included;
• Ashes are returned to the hospital within 3 to 7 days

Assisted cremation (additional fees)

• It is possible to assist your animal’s individual cremation at the crematorium in Sherbrooke.
• Several urn choices (some are included);
• Commemorative plaque included to write your pet’s name and a brief message;
• Cremation certificate included;
• Ashes are given to you the same day

Contact us for more information or visit www.cremanimo.com to read different testimony and get to know Crémanimo.

Coming soon!

Laboratory and parasitology analysis

Our laboratory is equipped with several high technology diagnostic devices. The results are available within a few minutes which allows us to establish the appropriate diagnosis and treatments as soon as possible.

Laboratory analysis available

• ELISA screening tests and immunology
  • 4DX (heartworm, Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis and Ehrlichiosis)
  • “Triple Feline” (heartworm, leukemia, feline immunodeficiency)
  • Biliary acids
  • Pancreatic lipase
  • T4 (thyroid gland)
  • Cortisol
  • Parvovirus
  • Giardiose
• Intraocculary pressure (Tonovet)
• Fungal culture
• Diverse analysis under the microscope:
  • Cytology (mass, ears, gingival, cutaneous lesions)
  • Faecal smear
  • Coprology
  • Urinary sediment
  • Cutaneous scraping

External laboratories

• Idexx Laboratories (histopathology, Qc6 quantitative antibody tests, etc.)
• Spectrum Group (Allergy tests)

When are laboratory analysis needed?

1. Pre-anesthetic tests allow us to know if your animal can properly metabolize and eliminate the anesthetic substance administered to him during surgery. These tests confirm that your animal’s organs work well and do not suffer latent infections. These tests also reduce the risk of potential complications and can be used in the future as a reference point.
2. Combined with an annual exam by a veterinarian, laboratory tests help us make sure your animal is healthy, especially when it reaches a certain age. Also, these tests help us find out if a new animal is healthy.
3. To follow up on a pathological condition (hyperthyroidism, renal insufficiency, urinary problems, diabetes, etc.)
4. As means of diagnosis of a sick animal.
5. The coprology (stool test) allows us to detect parasites that might be transmissible to humans in some cases (zoonosis). Results allow the veterinarian to establish the proper treatment plan with the appropriate medication (deworming).

We are now equipped with a class IV laser; a new therapeutic tool for animals.

What is laser therapy?

Class IV lasers deliver specific red and near-infrared wavelengths of laser light to induce a therapeutic effect within the body.
Laser therapy is a drug free, surgery-free solution that increases circulation, reduces inflammation and swelling, reduces pain and enhances tissue repair.
Laser therapy has been used in Europe since the 1970s by therapists, nurses and doctors. Laser therapy has been cleared by the United States Food and Drug Administration in 2002 and has been used by practitioners worldwide for humans and animals.

How does laser therapy work?

The application of laser energy promotes increased circulation by drawing oxygen and nutrients to the affected area. This creates an optimal healing environment reducing inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness and pain. As the injured area returns to normal, pain is relieved and function is restored. During treatment, infrared laser light interacts with tissues at the cellular level. Increased metabolic activity within the cell stimulates the transport of nutrients across the cell membrane initiating increased production of cellular energy. This leads to a cascade of beneficial events promoting the acceleration of the healing process and reduced pain.

Which conditions can be treated by laser therapy?

In veterinary medicine, the therapeutic laser is used after surgery and dentistry, for wound treatment or musculo-skeletal problems. Numerous studies show that laser therapy can help with:

• Joint pain
• Osteoarthritis
• Arthrosis
• Tendinopathies
• Edema and congestion
• Ligament sprains
• Muscle strains
• Puncture wounds
• Post-traumatic injuries
• Post-surgical pain
• Neck and back pain
• Hip dysplasia
• Burns
• Chronic wounds
• Rehabilitation
• Post-orthopedic surgical recovery
• Ear infections

How long is each treatment?

A treatment takes on average between 3 and 8 minutes, depending on the area to be treated.

How many treatments does it take?

This depends on the nature of the condition being treated. For some acute conditions, 1 to 2 treatments may be sufficient and the animal often feels improvement after the first treatment. Those of more chronic nature may require 5 to 8 treatments. Some condition may require ongoing periodic care to control pain. Each treatment of laser therapy is cumulative in nature. The length and frequency of treatments vary with the animal’s condition. Your veterinarian will recommend a treatment plan specific to your animal’s condition.

Does laser therapy hurt? What does a treatment feel like?

There is no patient sedation or restraint required and the experience is usually pleasant and comforting for the animal. There is little or no sensation during treatment. Occasionally the patient feels a mild, soothing warmth or tingling. Areas of pain or inflammation may be sensitive briefly before pain reduction.

Has the efficiency of laser therapy been proven through scientific research?

Yes, the effects of laser therapy have been proven by many published studies. Scientific studies show how laser therapy can help in different clinical cases.

Are there any side effects or associated risks?

In more than 20 years of use by healthcare providers all over the world, very few side effects have been reported. Occasionally, some old injuries or pain syndromes may feel aggravated for a few days, as the healing response is more active after treatment.

Watch the following videos for more info on laser therapy:

• Short introduction video: https://vimeo.com/49623755
• Explanation video: https://vimeo.com/49623757
• Mechanism of K-Laser Therapy: https://vimeo.com/49623761
• K Laser website: https://www.k-laser.com/pet-owners

Food recommendations

Healthy food is the key to keeping an animal healthy: gleaming coat, healthy teeth, adequate digestion, and maintenance of a good immune system. A good quality food also has the advantage of reducing the quantities of food intake by the animal and reducing the amount of stool produced because of better quality ingredients.

The energy needs of animals depend on their activity, their health, the environment, their age, etc. Our qualified personnel can evaluate the nutrition needs of your pet and guide you with the choice of food and the appropriate quantities to feed your pet every day. We can advise you and answer your questions.

It is not necessary to give your pets a great variety of food. It’s better to keep your cats and dogs on a constant, complete and well-balanced diet while making sure they always have access to fresh water. However, to give canned food once in a while to a cat that only eats dry food allows us to verify a degree of tolerance if faced with a sudden change of diet because of diseases. (urolithiasis 1). Also, if changing food, it’s better to make a gradual transition over a 7-day period.

We offer a great variety of dry and can food suited for dogs and cats. We offer food from different companies like Hill’s Prescription Diet, Royal Canin and Purina Veterinary Diet. We also have food for ferrets (Totally Ferret) If the food you are looking for is not available at the clinic, it will be our pleasure to order it for you.

Veterinary ophthalmology has developed a lot during the last years. The hospital offers a series of diagnostic procedures as well as diverse medical and surgical treatments to meet our clientele’s needs.

Diagnosis:

• Fluoresceine test: allows us to detect an ulcer or an erosion of the cornea.
• Schirmer’s test: allows us to measure the production of tears.
• Direct ophthalmoscopy: allows the examination of the eye’s internal structures.
• Tonovet: allows us to measure the intraoccular pressure in a few seconds and without pain

Services offered:

• Complete ophthalmological examination
• Intraoccular pressure follow-ups, in case of glaucoma
• Deriding of corneal ulcer
• Entropion correction
• Enucleation
• Irrigation of the nasolacrymal canal
• Eyelid tumours or cysts resection
• Third eyelid gland prolapse reduction (also called “cherry eye”)
• Protasis of the globe correction (eye prolapsed out)
• Superficial keratotomy
• Tarsorraphy (temporary closure of eyelids)

Our installations allow us to perform a wide variety of surgical operations:

• Limb amputation
• Arthroplasty
• Biopsies
• Urinary blockage – catheter
• Neutering (cats, dogs, rabbits, chinchillas)
• Caudectomy
• Caesarian section
• Foreign object
• Cystotomy (bladder stones)
• Drains (pose)
• Draining of abcessesChirurgie
• Enterotomy et enterectomy
• Entropion (correction)
• Enucleation
• Removal of dew-claws
• Fracture reduction with steel pins and wires
• Gastropexy for fixing of stomach in case of gastric torsion
• Ear hematoma
• Diaphragmatic hernia
• Ombilical hernia
• Inguinal hernia
• Exploratory laparotomy
• Cruciate ligament (Flo technique)
• Masses
• Mastectomy
• Meniscectomy
• Nasal stenosis (correction)
• Ovariohysterectomy (cats, dogs, rabbits)
• Auricular polyps (removal)
• Nasalpharyngeal polyps (removal)
• ChirurgieProlapse of the gland of the third eyelid
• Rectal prolapse
• Lateral ear canal resection (Zepp)
• Patella (stabilization following luxation)
• Spleenectomy
• Thyroidectomy
• Oesophageal tube for force feeding
• Urethstomy
• Sterilization

Sterilization

Unless you want to dash into the adventure of reproduction, we recommend you to have your pets sterilized.

• It prevents unwanted behaviours associated with heats (leaks, meowing, excitement)
• It reduces risks of urinary marking
• It helps with the animal’s training, as it is quieter
• It helps avoid serious health problems, such as prostate or uterus infection
• It reduces the risks of mammary gland cancer in females and prostate cancer in males.

Furthermore, every year, veterinarians make an astounding number of euthanasia. Many people tell us how they have witnessed animals being dropped in fields or ditches. There is a problem of stray cats in the majority of municipalities and cities. Sterilizing your pet is also a question of responsibility.

Female

For the female dog or cat, the spay consists of removing the uterus and the ovaries. The surgery requires a general anesthesia and usually takes 20 to 30 minutes for a female cat and 30 to 60 minutes for a bitch. The veterinarian has to open the abdomen to reach the organs to be removed, which leaves a surgical wound by the navel from 5 to 20 cm long, depending on the size of the animal. The animal will be hospitalized a night at most and will return home with instructions to respect in order to recover well.

Male

For the male, the surgery is less invasive because it does not require going into the abdomen. The veterinarian has to do an incision on each testicle for the cat, and one incision in front of the scrotum for the dog. The testicles are simply removed. The recovery of the animal is rather fast and doesn’t require a night at the hospital in most cases. Instructions of care must be followed at home to avoid any complications and the use of pain killers

Should you breed your dog?

Although radiography remains the main tool in veterinary medical imaging, the ultrasound has become an indispensable one. Here are the services offered by the hospital:

• Early pregnancy diagnostic (20–30 days after last breeding)
• Abdominal exploration (tumours, bleeding, etc.)
• Evaluation of the reproductive system (uterus and prostate)
• Evaluation of the urinary system (kidneys and bladder)
• Evaluation of the spleen, the liver and the biliary system
• Evaluation of the digestive system
• Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration
• Ultrasound-guided biopsy
• Ultrasound-guided cystocenthesis

If your pet needs to lose some weight, we offer a free weight control program. It consists of an evaluation with a technician where she will weigh and measure your pet, and give you a food recommendation that is adapted to your animal’s needs. Whether it is a cat or a dog, we can help your pet lose weight!

Obesity plagues our population and it is also true for our pets. Indeed, nearly half of our four legged patients suffer from it. Obesity can seem common, but overweight animals are more at risk of having health problems and have a higher risk of complications during general anesthesia. Here are a few examples of those health problems:

• Diabetes
• Urinary problems such as infections (cystitis1)
• Skin problems (infection, pyoderma titis, peeling2, dull fur, hair loss)
• Respiratory problems (asthma)
• Cardiovascular problems (hypertension)
• Articular problems
• Hepatic problems (lipidose hépatique3)
• Cancers

Although excess weight predisposes pets to diseases, it is never too late to change the situation. Our team is trained to guide you. Our weight loss program is personalized for each pet. It consists of free consultations with your pet. During the first visit, the animal health technician evaluates the physical condition (body condition, waist measurement and weight) and establishes the physical score according to the Purina chart for Cats and Dogs. After this, she will be able to advise you on the choice and quantity of food to give, as well as recommend appropriate treats. We will give you tips and advice to guide you and help your animal reach its healthy weight.

Exercise and games are a part of the solution. For example, the use of Pipolino (mobile food distributor) will help your animal to lose weight while stimulating its hunting instinct. We will follow your animal closely during monthly rechecks and will make adjustments if necessary. Don’t forget that the key to success is patience and perseverance. You and your pet will both benefit from this as your pet will be more playful, will be in better shape and be less likely to get sick. So, if your pet has a few extra pounds, don’t hesitate to contact us for a free appointment.