Northgate Animal Hospital

People in Canada usually prefer dogs that don't have their pups. Most dogs here get an operation called spay or neuter , where the vet takes out the male or female parts. About 80% of dogs in Canada have had this done. People might think you're not a good dog owner if you don't do it. Some places even say all dogs in shelters must get this operation before they find a home, even when they are still very young. But some new studies say that doing this to dogs, especially when they are young, can make them sick. Reasons to Consider Before Spaying or Neutering a Dog 1.     Breast Tumor More than 25% of non-spayed female dogs can get lumps in their breasts. But if they get spayed at the right time, it can help protect them. If a female dog gets spayed before her first time getting heat, the chance of getting these lumps is really low - only 0.05%. But if she has her first heat, it goes up to 8%, and after the second time, it's 26%. If a dog gets spayed after 2 years, it doe...

Vaccinations help to protect your cat from severe infectious diseases. It also prevents them from passing anything nasty on to other animals in your area. Vaccinating your kitten is one of the most important things you should do in your first few weeks as a cat owner. When Should Kittens Be Vaccinated? Your kitten will need two sets of vaccinations to get them started – the first set, for nine weeks old, and a second booster set at three months old. After this, kittens and cats usually need ‘booster’ vaccinations once a year . What Diseases Can Vaccinations Protect Against? Cats are commonly vaccinated against: -           Cat flu -           Feline infectious enteritis -           Feline leukemia virus Your vet can advise which vaccinations your cat or kitten will need to help protect them from infectious diseases. When you get your kitten, one of t...

When you have a feline family member, it’s natural to do everything you can to look after them well and keep them safe and healthy. Unfortunately, the chances are high that you’ll face a situation that could be an emergency at some point in your cat’s life. Knowing how to distinguish true, time-dependent emergencies from milder illnesses and injuries is very important to ensure that you seek veterinary help in an appropriate timeframe. Signs Your Cat Needs a Veterinarian Right Away 1.     Straining to Urinate If you have a male cat straining to urinate, this could indicate a blocked urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body from the bladder). If grit, mucus, or a painful spasm causes a blockage to the urethra the bladder becomes more and more full. Eventually, it can burst or cause permanent kidney damage. This condition can become life-threatening very quickly. Often cats are seen going in and out of the litterbox, vocalizing loudly, but unable to pass any...