Most Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions at our hospital.

• Why do I have to vaccinate my pet?
• What are the benefits of spaying and/or neutering my pets?
• Why should I buy my pet food at the vet?
• How do I brush my cat's teeth?

Vaccinations are essential to your pet's health by ensuring they are not susceptible to various diseases that your dog or cat may come in contact with.  These diseases can be very serious and can in some instances cause death to the animal.  Your pet could also be a carrier of such diseases and infect other unprotected animals causing them serious illness or harm.  

Vaccinating your pet is a relatively inexpensive and safe way of preventing diseases that jeopardize the life of our pet and may cost a significant amount to treat.

Organisms that can cause disease are prevalent in most pet populations but fortunately regular booster vaccination protects against outbreaks of disease caused by these organisms.  Your participation in the process of regular vaccinations of your pet protects your pet and helps protect the greated population of domestic animals in your community. 

Regular vaccination visits and physical examinations of your pet go hand-in-hand in assuring continued good health for your feline or canine friend. 

Spaying or neutering your pet helps reduce the number of unwanted pets, and it provides long-term health benefits to your dog or cat.  In females, it helps to prevent breast cancer, uterine infections, and complications from difficult pregnancies.  In males, it prevents testicular cancer and infections and other diseases.  By spaying or neutering your dog or cat, you may also avoid certain problematic behaviours, like begging for attention or spraying urine. 

Generally, veterinarians have recommended that a female pet be spayed before her first heat cycle, which means at about six months of age.  Male dogs and cats can be neutered at six months to one year of age.  Your veterinarian will be able to recommend the most appropriate timing for your pet's surgery. 

Nutrition is of major importance in veterinary practice since it has a significant impact on the health and well-being of all patients.  It plays a fundamental role in both the prevention and treatment of disease.  The specific nutritional needs and individual preferences of each patient can be met with the extensive number of diet options offered.

It is our firm belief that your veterinary team is the best source of animal health information, including nutrition.  The growth of the veterinary nutrition market in Canada has been exceptional as pet owners become more educated on nutrition and see the benefits of feeding their pets superb diets under the guidance and monitoring of your veterinary team. 

It is best to teach your cat to accept brushing while he or she is still a kitten.  If you have an older cat, the process may take a little longer

Choose a quiet time and place to start the brushing.  Hold your cat securely in your lap.  Start by rubbing your finger or a soft cloth over the cat's teeth in a back-and-forth motion.  Be careful to stay on the outside surfaces of the teeth to avoid being bitten.

Once the cat is comfortable with this, let him or her taste a little bit of toothpaste from your finger.  Pet toothpaste is recommended for several reasons, and the flavour is very appetizing to most cats and may make brushing more enjoyable for them.  Pet toothpastes often clean the teeth enzymatically, thereby reducing the amount of actual abrasive brushing that you must perform.  Human toothpaste should not be used as it can result in your cat having an upset stomach and may contain higher levels of sodium than your cat needs.

Once the cat has accepted the taste of the toothpaste, apply a small amount to a toothbrush and begin by placing your free hand over your cat's head with your thumb and index finger on the opposite sides of your cat's upper jaw.  Gently raise your cat's lip on one side and begin by brushing one or two cheek teeth.  A finger-brush toothbrush works well for most cats.  This type of toothbrush should be placed right along the gum-line and used in a circular motion.  Start from the back and work toward the midline of the jaw.  In order to brush the lower teeth, you will need to open your cat's mouth just a little.  This can be done by gently tilting your cat's head backward while holding onto his or her upper jaw with the thumb and index finger of your free hand.

Do not worry about brushing the tops or insides of the teeth unless your cat is very compliant.  Most of the periodontal lesions occur on the outer surfaces of the teeth and this is where you should direct your efforts.  The tongue tends to remove plaque from the inner surfaces of the teeth reducing the need for brushing these surfaces.  Gradually work up to brushing all of the teeth (this will probably take several days or weeks).  Make sure you reach the big teeth at the back of the mouth.

Try to brush for approximately 30 seconds per side.

Remember - a cat's mouth contains plenty of harmful bacteria, so it is a good idea to wash your hands and the toothbrush thoroughly when you are done.