Community Events from the weekend...



Melissa and Natalie down by the South Shore Center

Sunday September 11, 2011, was the annual Ovarian Cancer walk in Barrie. They  started the walk-a thon at the South Shore Center and continued around the bay and back.  Allandale Veterinary Hospital was proud to sponsor the canine watering station. Here are a few pics from the day.

On the same day we were also at Paws for a Cause Family Day.
From 2004 to 2009, PAWS FOR A CAUSE raised over $52,000 for Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind.  Another $8,900 was dog-ear marked in 2010, support of The Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guide Program.  In total:  10 Guide Dogs, and 2 Hearing-Ear dogs have now been sponsored and assist people in our community and from across the region.

Ovarian Cancer Walk-A-Thon

Organized by Pet Country Estate, together with the South Barrie, Thornton and Gilford Lions Clubs, and Pet Country Estate is  proud to support The Lions Foundation of Canada.  These very special dogs provide vital assistance to people living with physical or medical disabilities, vision or hearing impairment, or autism. Our Allandale Vet Team was out to help some a little face painting and answer any questions about our hospital!

An Itchy- Scratchy Time Of Year

Atopy is a pruritic (itchy) skin disease of animals that is caused by an allergy to substances in the environment that are contacted through the air, either by absorption through the respiratory tract or contact through the skin. Atopy is thought to be an inherited disease. It is the second most common allergic skin condition in dogs.
Symptoms of atopy usually begin relatively early in life, often by one year of age. Symptoms usually are seasonal at first, with most dogs showing clinical signs in the summer months when airborne allergens

(such as plant pollens) are present in higher concentrations. As atopic dogs age, their symptoms tend to become less seasonal as they become allergic to more substances. Eventually, their itchiness can occur year-round.

Dogs with atopy are usually itchy, particularly the hands and feet. The skin may be red and irritated due to scratching, and the ears may also be inflamed. The symptoms of food allergy are difficult to distinguish from those of atopy.

What to Watch For

Chewing at the paws

Scratching the muzzle or rubbing it on the ground or with the paws

Scratching the ears

Shaking the head

Diagnosis
Diagnostic tests are necessary to rule out other skin diseases, as well as to support the diagnosis of atopy. These tests may include:

A complete medical history and perform a thorough physical examination, especially checking the ears and the skin of the face and paws. Often, abnormalities may not be detected on the physical examination of dogs with atopy. Occasionally, redness between the toes or around the muzzle of the face is the only finding.

Skin scrapings to eliminate other diagnoses such as demodectic or sarcoptic mange (caused by mites).

Fungal culture to rule out ringworm.

Skin testing (or occasionally blood testing) to determine specific allergens to which your pet may be allergic.

Career Fair!

Allandale Veterinary Hospital Career Fair!

Sept. 8th & Sept 13th

3 pm - 7 pm

Super 8, 441 Bryne Dr Barrie, ON L4N 6C8

We are growing! If you have a passion for animals and possess a calm and caring demeanour, please drop by our Career Fair with your resume and cover letter. We are currently seeking several individuals to fill the following positions:

-Exam Room Technicians
-Registered Veterinary Technician
-Pharmacy/Inventory Control Technician (part time)
-Client Service Representatives
-Kennel Staff

If you have any questions, please email: hireright@hrpr.ca

Where did the summer go?

Well, we only have approximately one month of summer left! It went by so  fast! I apologize that I haven't blogged sooner, but vacation got in the way! :) This week's blog is what has been happening here lately. We have been hustling and bustling and ensuring the construction is coming along nicely- I will post some photos from the Tuesday visit. A few topics that you will see in our next newsletter are:

Dr. Laferrierre has been away on maternity leave, but in her hectic schedule, she has put together a fabulous presentation for our annual Client Education lecture on Small Animal First Aid that will debut Tuesday Nov. 29th, 7-9 pm, make sure to mark your calendars. It will be held in our new hospital that will be located on 66 Caplan Ave, in our "conference room". Space is limited so you will need to reserve soon.

The other party we have been organizing is our OPEN HOUSE! It will be on Saturday Nov 5th, 2-5 pm, where the mayor of Barrie will be present for our ribbon cutting ceremony. There will be hospital tours, slideshows, face painting, demonstration of our new rehabilitation room using our hydrotherapy pool, and more. You won't want to miss this day!

Hope to see you at our events! Enjoy the remainder of the summer!

An update on our new hospital!




poking our heads and tools out of the
luxury boarding suites.

 

the walls are taking place














Last week a few of us laced up our pink construction boots and headed over the the construction site of our new hospital located at 66 Caplan Ave. We chatted with the site supervisor, where he gave us a tour and showed us where rooms will be built. He (George) made it easy to understand the layout once explained. As of today July 25th, the walls were created so rooms are now easily seen. We have taken a montage of photos to show everyone the progress. The exam rooms look bright with large windows and much more spacious. Each kennel run and each luxury boarding room has its own window. There are now two surgical suites instead of just one with windows to allow natural light into  the surgery rooms. We proudly present some photos ( some are funny goofy as well!) of the progress. We hope to see everyone at our open house in the fall. Date to be determined based on the progress of the building.

having some fun on the constuction site

having a tour from the supervisor George

Kim waving from the laboratory area

Allergic Reactions to Insect Bites...

Warm weather months often include run-ins with bees, wasps, and mosquitoes. Very often bites and stings produce an allergic reaction that adds to our misery. This is also true with our pets. Allergic reactions are just as common in our pets and can occur in dogs of any age, breed, or sex. It generally takes several exposures before a reaction occurs, and reactions can vary from mild to severe.

Mild. Mild reactions include fever, sluggishness, and loss of appetite. Mild reactions are probably also related to an immune reaction from a vaccination. They usually resolve without treatment.

Moderate.  Swelling of t he face is a moderate vascular reaction of the skin marked by hives or wheals and rapid swelling and redness of the lips, around the eyes, and in the neck region. It is usually extremely itchy. It may progress to anaphylaxis and is considered life-threatening. This is the most common reaction.

Severe. The most severe reaction is anaphylaxis, a sudden, severe allergic reaction that produces breathing difficulties, collapse and possible death. Symptoms usually occur within minutes following an insect bite or sting and proceed rapidly. Symptoms usually include sudden onset of vomiting, diarrhea, staggering, rapid drop in blood pressure, swelling of the larynx leading to airway obstruction, seizures and cardiovascular collapse or death. This reaction is life-threatening for your dog.

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Treatment
Anaphylaxis is an extreme emergency and it occurs soon after being stung. Your veterinarian will begin immediate emergency life support. This will include establishing an open airway, administering oxygen, and intravenous fluids to increase blood pressure. He will probably administer drugs such as epinephrine and corticosteroids. Animals that survive the first few minutes usually return to normal health.

If your dog is known to be allergic to stinging insects, your veterinarian may recommend that you administer Benadryl®  in the early stages of the allergic reaction. Unfortunately, oral medication may not be sufficient, and you will have to take your dog in for examination and treatment.

"Hot Spots" - All you need to know!

Acute moist dermatitis, also known as hot spots, are localized, moist, reddened bacterial infection of the skin. A hot spot starts because something irritates the skin.  The body's response is either to itch or become inflamed. The itching then causes the dog to lick or chew the area, which further damages the skin, and creates a cycle of itching, scratching and chewing.

Hot spots can be caused by anything that irritates the skin and initiates an itch-scratch cycle, but the most common irritants are fleas. Other causes are allergies (flea, inhalant, food), parasitic disease (sarcoptic and demodectic mange), anal gland disease, poor grooming, tick and mosquito bites, burrs, and summer heat. They are most common in long-haired and heavy-coated breeds, and are more prevalent during the summer months.

Typical locations for "hot spots" are the side of the face and the flank areas.

What to Watch For
Typically, your pet will exhibit the following:

Areas of hair loss with very red skin that is moist and oozing

In some cases, the skin becomes crusty or scabbed

Intense scratching. Hot spots are extremely itchy and your dog will scratch without letup

Diagnosis

Diagnostic tests are needed to recognize acute moist dermatitis and exclude other diseases. However, your veterinarian can usually make a preliminary diagnosis based on a history of rapid onset and the clinical appearance of the lesions.