Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Weeding out the facts...




Many people have questions regarding the use of Cannabis and Cannabis oil on their pets. With the new Cannabis Act, there raises a concern within the pet health field. This act creates a new environment for Canadians which will increase their pet’s exposure to marijuana.  


Currently, there are no approved cannabis or cannabidiol (CBD) prescription drugs for animals, which is the safest pathway for veterinarians to prescribe cannabis to animals. There are veterinary health products (VHP) with hemp that are approved for sale in Canada; these are low risk substances used to maintain or promote the health and welfare of animals and do not make health claims. VHPs can contain ingredients such as hemp seed derivatives containing no more than 10 ppm THC, which will be exempt from the Cannabis Act. These products can be identified by a notification number on the label. Pet owners should be aware of unapproved products being marketed to consumers. If a cannabis product does not have a drug identification number (DIN) or a notification number (VHP) then its safety and efficacy cannot be verified. Anyone can visit Health Canada’s VHP web App and search the notification number or brand name.


Marijuana toxicities can occur when pets ingest the substance or if smoke is blown into their nose or face. Signs can include lethargy, disorientation, wobbliness, vomiting, increased salivation, and urinary incontinence. Marijuana toxicosis can be life threatening so please do not be afraid to let your veterinarian know you pet could have been exposed.

Thursday, November 1, 2018

Always learning






On October 19th Melissa and Natalie headed up to Sudbury to attend the first Northern Animal Summit hosted by the OSPCA.  It was a 2 day event with lots of speakers discussing the issues that
Northern Summit Panel
are currently affecting the overpopulation of dogs mainly in the indigenous communities in northern Ontario.
The summit kicked off with a smudging ceremony, which was a first for Melissa and Natalie and they were very excited to join.  The smudging ceremony is a custom of Native American and other indigenous cultures. For centuries many cultures have used smudging as a way to create a cleansing smoke bath that is used to purify the body, aura, energy, ceremonial/ritual space or any other space and personal articles.
 

The speakers were great!  One speaker talked about the mobile spay/neuter campaigns that are happening in northern Ontario.  To Melissa and Natalie’s surprised this speaker commented on the great work Allandale/GAAP has done and they were humbled to see their photos in the presentation along with some of the other AVH team members. 
It was fantastic to hear what other organizations are doing. One organization strictly transfers dogs from the north to the south to find them new homes.  Another organization ships dog food up to remote communities, their last shipment weighed in at 1500lbs, that’s a lot of dog food!
Melissa
However there are still many obstacles.  Some of these communities don’t have drinking water.  They are so remote that vet care is not possible, internet is non-existent and costs of dog food is $40 a small bag and a delissio pizza is $15.  There are not many veterinarians that hold a special license to travel and do mobile clinics and if they do, the cost to run a spay/neuter clinic up north can cost between 10, 000 to 20, 000 for a 3 day clinic in one community.
Melissa and Natalie left feeling optimistic and excited.  They had seen some old friends and made some new, and with all the work these charities are accomplishing, hopefully we can see a brighter future for the northern dogs.