Pesky mosquitoes bug pets and humans alike! While you may have found some good repellents that work for you, be cautious about what products you use on your pets. DEET containing products do tend to be most effective against mosquitoes for humans, but DEET can also be harmful to our pets. Even the OFF brand clip on - a repellant that is not applied to your skin but rather spread out in a cloud around you by a little fan, says directly on the product that the metofluthrin (active chemical) can be harmful if inhaled, and it should be noted that this particular chemical has also been shown to cause neurotoxic symptoms in dogs.
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While protecting your pets from mosquitoes might not be the first thing on your mind when outdoors, it is a good idea because: itchy annoying bites on their skin can lead to further skin problems if excessive scratching leads to irritation and infection, and mosquitoes can carry a parasite that can be fatal to pets, called heartworm.

So what can you safely use on your pets to repel mosquitoes?

First note that products that can be used safely on dogs cannot always be safely used on cats. Many of these products will be based on essential oils, and many essential oils are toxic to cats. Some of these oils include: Peppermint oil, Lemon oil, Lavender oil, Melaleuca oil, Tea Tree oil, Cinnamon Bark oil and Wintergreen oil. If you are unsure of a certain product or recipe, check with your veterinarian at Chestermere Veterinary Clinic, and do not use unless it is specifically marked safe for use in cats.

"Outdoor Life Oil" from Herbal Healing can be purchased from the Calgary Farmer's Market at 17th Avenue, Ogden or Symon's Valley. It is based on oils like: Geranium, Eucalyptus and Clove. It comes in a spray or oil form. Our own veterinarian Dr. Gabby Rotaru has tried the spray on her dogs and finds it works well, but needs re-application every 1 - 2 hours.

Advantix (only for use in dogs) can be purchased from Chestermere Veterinary Clinic by calling 403-272-3573, or sending us an e-mail. Advantix repels mosquitoes, ticks, sand flies and stable flies, and is applied once per month.

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We help to make your pet’s veterinary visit as Fear Free as possible. One thing you can do is help your pet arrive to the clinic in a calm state of mind.

Here are some tips:

• Your pet should voluntarily go into a carrier or crate or wear a seatbelt harness in the car. Give any prescribed anti-nausea or anti-anxiety supplements or medications as prescribed by your veterinarian. If you think your pet would benefit from such medications or supplements, let us know when booking your pets appointment.
• Cats should be resting comfortably in their carrier before being placed in the vehicle. Walk dogs to the car on leash. Like cats, small dogs can get in the carrier indoors and be carried to the car.
• When transporting your cat or small dog in a carrier, minimize movement. If possible, support the carrier from the bottom, with one side resting against your chest, as if you are carrying a fragile gift. This helps your pet to feel more secure.
• Prepare the car so it promotes a calming environment:
  • Play calming music or pop in an audiobook.
  • Apply calming pheromones (ask our team about Adaptil or Feliway) or scents like lavender. 6 to 8 sprays of a calming pheromone or 2 or 3 sprays of a diluted lavender scent will suffice. Apply 10 to 15 minutes before your pet enters the carrier or car.
  • Cool or warm the car to a comfortable temperature before putting your pet inside.
• Properly secure carrier/crate in the vehicle.
  • A nonslip surface should be in and under carrier/crate or on the car seat.
  • Place a pheromone-infused towel or blanket over the carrier, leaving one side uncovered for ventilation.
  • The floorboard behind the passenger seat is the most secure location for a small pet carrier.
  • Secure large crates or carriers to prevent sliding.
• Avoid feeling rushed. If you are stressed, your pet will sense this and may become stressed.
• To prevent carsickness, accelerate slowly from a stop, allow extra distance between other vehicles to prevent sudden braking, and take turns slowly.
• Be matter of fact, and don’t speak to your pet in a sing-song voice. If you are calm, happy, and relaxed, your pet will be, too.
• Cats need 5 to 10 minutes to adjust to their new surroundings and feel safe. If you cannot avoid waiting in the clinic lobby, place your cat’s carrier on an elevated surface & cover the front and two sides with a pheromone-infused towel. Depending on your dog’s preferences, you might wait in the vehicle, take a short walk, or wait in the clinic lobby.
• If you know your pet gets stressed waiting in the clinic lobby, call us when you arrive. We can ensure your pet's exam room is ready. 

For more great Fear Free tips visit Fear Free Happy Homes!

Your cat isn't himself. He's been vomiting since yesterday and has been lethargic. He doesn't seem interested in his food, but he is very thirsty and has spent a lot of time in the litter box. It all started a few hours after he knocked your flower vase off the table and you caught him chewing on the lilies... 

Many people are unaware of the popular Easter gift's danger to their feline companions. The tiniest amount ingested from the lily plant can prove to be fatal, causing lethargy, vomiting, excessive drinking and urination and within 72 hours of ingestion can potentially lead to kidney failure. If emergency treatment is provided immediately, a full recovery may be possible. Treatment usually includes inducing vomiting and administering activated charcoal to absorb toxins as well as hospitalization and intravenous fluid therapy. 

A typical veterinary bill after ingesting lilies can exceed $1000 and include charges for some of the following items: Consultation/Examination, emergency charge, vomiting induction, charcoal intubation, blood work and urinalysis, IV leg catheter, IV fluid maintenance, hospitalization, professional care, and nursing care. Additional hospitalization and care and repeat blood work may also be required. In the event of kidney failure, additional hospitalization and care would be required. 

Interestingly, dogs that ingest lilies have shown only mild gastrointestinal upset. Safer alternatives to lilies include Easter orchids, Easter cactus, Easter daisies or violets. 
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Let's keep our feline friends safe and happy this Easter season by keeping them away from lilies!

For more information call Chestermere Veterinary Clinic 403-272-3573.

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By: Dr. Gabby Rotaru 

I always believed in the body’s ability to heal, and I was fascinated by some natural supplements that can help healing.

Becoming an Animal Aromatherapy Specialist was an exciting journey and it continues to be an amazing experience! I was able to find reliable, safe, research-based information regarding the use of Essential Oils in animals and to pass this knowledge to our clients. 

We use Essential Oils for their physical properties (antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory etc.) but also for their emotional properties (for shy, fearful, anxious pets). Essential oils can reduce stress, help with training, help your pet build confidence and overcome certain fears. 

Here are some things to consider when using essential oils for your pet:

• Always use therapeutic, natural medical grade essential oils
• Stay away from synthetic essential oils
• Not all essential oils are created the same. Ensure that the essential oils you are using are third party tested and Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade
• Starting with single oils is a good idea rather than blends of essential oils
• How to use essential oils in pets? Diffusing on intermittent setting, applied topically (but diluted) and even internally
• Start SLOW when you introduce essential oils to your pet
• Allow your pets to choose what oils they like – it is called “self-selection” and yes, it is an amazing experience to see how your pet chooses a specific oil
• Here are some common oils we use in our day-to-day practice: Frankincense, Copaiba, Lavender, Helichrysum, Roman Chamomile, Myrrh
• Be aware if your pet has a medical condition, there are some essential oils that should not be used for dogs with seizures, diabetes, clotting issues
• Avoid in pets with seizures: Rosemary, Fennel, Sage, Camphor, Eucalyptus, Basil, Wintergreen
• Oils to use caution with when diffusing around your dog: Tea Tree, Cassia, Cinnamon, Oregano, Thyme
• Oils to use caution with when diffusing around your cat: Tea Tree, Cassia, Cinnamon, Oregano, Thyme, Peppermint, Spearmint, Wintergreen

Ask us before using ANY essential oil for your pet! We can design a treatment plan and help your pet live a happy and healthy life by integrating natural remedies in your pet’s health plan! For an appointment call 403-272-3573 or email chestvet@telus.net.

​These days there is a lot of awareness about being healthy and going natural! While we may have lots of great ideas about natural health care for ourselves, many of us don't know how we can also care naturally for our pets. Read on for some great ideas! 

Like humans, the best and most natural way to stay healthy is by taking preventative measures. Just like us, pets benefit from a good diet and exercise. For exercise, most dogs benefit from a daily walk of at least 30 minutes - this is also great for our health! 

Vaccinating is also an excellent preventative measure to keep your pet healthy. 

Other preventative measures for pets include:
-maintaining oral hygiene: brushing your pets teeth and feeding them a good dental diet, and having dental cleanings and extractions done when needed.
-spaying and neutering: helps to prevent some behavioral and health concerns such as territoriality, roaming, and cancers of the sexual organs.

Holistic and alternative medicine and therapies may also be beneficial to your pet, if they suffer from a disease or health condition. If these types of alternative therapies are of interest to you, talk to your veterinarian to see if they think these therapies might benefit your pet, or ask for a referral to a holistic practitioner. Holistic pet care includes things like chinese herbal remedies, chiropractics, massage, laser therapy, physical therapy, aromatherapy, and hydrotherapy.

Lastly, there are also many natural pet products your veterinarian can recommend to you for your pets care. Whenever your pet is prescribed something, ask if there is a more natural approach that could be used to help the concern. Some products include pheromone therapy for behavioral concerns, or vitamins and supplements for skin conditions and arthritis.

If you have any other questions regarding natural pet health care, speak to the team at Chestermere Veterinary Clinic today at 403-272-3573, e-mail us at chestvet@telus.net. 

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- A cat can jump as much as seven times its height!
- Cats have over one hundred vocal sounds while dogs only have about ten.
- Cats have better memories than dogs. Tests at the University of Michigan showed that a dog's memory lasts no more than 5 minutes while a cat's can last as long as 16 hours!
- Studies show that people with pets live longer, have less stress, and fewer health problems.
- A dog named Laikia became the world's first astronaut in 1957, when she was sent into space by the Russian government.
- Ever wondered why dogs scratch the ground after going to the bathroom? Although thought to be a way of covering up their doings, it is actually a way of further marking their territory after they pee or poop. Dogs have scent glands in their paw pads and the act of scratching helps to mark their territory. This action is predominantly a trait of intact males, but neutered males, and occasionally females, will be seen doing this too!
- Ever wondered if dogs dream? Like humans, dogs have the same types of sleep, slow wave sleep (SWS) and rapid eye movement (REM). SWS is the first stage of sleep and REM is when the body is relaxed and the eyes move rapidly. It's during this REM stage that dogs can dream. The twitching and
paw movements that occur during their sleep are signs that your pet is dreaming. 
- Ever wondered if dogs have super-power night vision? Dog's don't actually have night vision. Instead, their eyes contain a special membrane that allows them to see in the dark. This membrane is called the tapetum lucidum. When car headlights or a flashlight is directed at a cat or dog, it is this eye structure that reflects this light. Cats however, can concentrate small amounts of light in their eyes, which allows them to see at night when the rest of us have difficulty. This special talent gives them their extraordinary night hunting vision. 

If you have any questions or concerns about your pet, please contact us at Chestermere Veterinary Clinic 403-272-3573, chestvet@telus.net.
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For those special pets in your life, why not bake them some tasty treats?

Homemade Dog Treat Recipe: Cinnamon Chicken Treats
1 cup of flour
1 cup of low sodium chicken broth
3/4 cup of oatmeal
1/4 corn starch
1/4 cup of oil
1 tablespoon of baking powder
2 tablespoons of cinnamon
Mix the ingredients together thoroughly with your hands. Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness and cut with cookie cutter. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 20 minutes at 350 degrees or until golden. Cool and let your dog enjoy!

Homemade Cat Treat Recipe: Cat Crackers
6 ounces undrained tuna
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup flour
1/3 cup water
Mix the ingredients together thoroughly with your hands. Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness and cut into treat sized pieces. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 20 minutes at 350 degrees or until golden. Cool and let your cat enjoy!

Pets that don't enjoy treats or have allergies may enjoy a toy instead. We recommend puzzle toys that will help keep your pet entertained! Puzzle toys can be a plush container type toy which houses smaller plush toys that the pet can figure out how to pull out. Or non plush types that you can hide food or treats inside. Most pet stores will sell both of these types of toys, or you can purchase them directly from our online e-boutique. Not sure how to access our e-boutique? E-mail us and we will send you an invitation. 

For the pet Lovers in your life, here is a great recipe for making homemade paw print Christmas tree ornaments:
1 cup cornstarch
1 1/2 cups baking soda
1 cup water
Mix together in a saucepan and cook until a dough like consistency forms. Remove from heat and let cool until mildly warm. Roll to 2 cm inch thickness. Push the pets paw into the dough. For a good impression, apply pressure to each toe pad. Cut out impression with a cookie cutter. Push a hole through the dough with a toothpick (to hang the ornament). Let dry overnight. Once dry, you can sand rough edges with sand paper, and you can paint with acrylic paint, or leave natural. You can also paint on the pets name and year with a paint pen. An acrylic varnish will help seal and strengthen the ornament. Once dry, thread a ribbon through the hole to hang.

Lastly, a pet first aid kit is a great gift for any pet lover, especially those that like to hike and camp with their pets. Again, you can purchase pet first aid kits directly from us at the clinic. Keep in mind there are a number of items that make a pet first aid kit different from a human kit, but you can definitely build your own! We would also recommend a pet first aid course or book to accompany your gift! 
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If you want to build your own kit you should include the following supplies:
-Rolled gauze
-Gauze pads
-Cotton Swabs
-Hydrogen Peroxide (3%)
-Betadine or chlorhexidine soap
-Wound wash saline
-Instant cold packs
-a blanket
-Tweezers
-Forceps
-Muzzles
-Antibiotic ointment
-Scissors
-Medical tape
-Duct tape
-Three wire coat hangers for splinting, or popsicle sticks for small animals
-Washcloths
-Water
First Aid Kit Supplies: Over-the-Counter Medications for Dogs & Cats
The following medications should also be included in each first aid kit for dogs and cats
-Benadryl®
-Pepto Bismol®
-Activated Charcoal (for toxicity)
-Mineral Oil (for constipation)
The following phone numbers should be included in first aid kits:
-Regular Veterinarian: Chestermere Veterinary Clinic 403-272-3573
-24-hour Emergency Veterinary Clinic
-Pet Poison Control Phone Number 855-764-7661
-Information and dosing chart for drugs in your emergency kit

E-trainingfordogs offers Pet First Aid CPR and other courses.
We want to wish you all a safe and Happy Holiday, and all the best in the New Year!

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​Here are some tips to keep your pets safe this Halloween:
-Keep your cats indoors at Halloween. This is a time of year when cats (especially black and orange ones) may be stolen for pranks or other unfortunate reasons. 
-Halloween can be a frightening and stressful time for a pet. 
-The doorbell ringing continuously can get some pets so worked up they can potentially injure themselves or get stress diarrhea. Keep your pet in a quiet, calm location during trick-or-treat hours. Natural pheromone products can help keep your pets calm and give them a feeling of safety. Ask us about dog appeasing pheremone for dogs (Adaptil) or Feliway for cats, which can be purchased at Chestermere Veterinary Clinic.
See www.feliway.us or www.adaptil.co.uk for more information!
-Strangers in costumes can make some pets fearful or even aggressive; ensure your pet is a safe distance away from trick-or-treaters to prevent unexpected bites.
-Jack-o-lanterns and candles pose a fire hazard to wagging tails or frightened felines. Battery powered flickering bulbs are a nice alternative to real candles.
-Chocolate is poisonous, but plastic candy wrappers can also be dangerous if ingested.
-Xylitol is especially poisonous to pets and is an ingredient in gums, baked goods, mints, and other sweets. Always make sure that candy containers are out of your pets reach, or placed in a sturdy pet proof container if on the floor.
-The morning after Halloween scan your yard and sidewalk to ensure no candies were dropped overnight by trick-or-treaters.
-Ensure you set your children up with a good hiding place for their loot and inform them of the dangers of giving chocolate to pets. Double check after your child has treats, that they remembered to put their loot bag back in their special hiding place.
-Signs of chocolate poisoning include rapid heartbeat, muscle tremors, vomiting, and seizures. Without treatment, pets can lapse into a coma and die.

For more information or if you have questions, call Chestermere Veterinary Clinic at 403-272-3573.

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Sources:
Tobiassen, Janet DVM. About.com Veterinary Medicine. "Halloween Safety Tips for Pets." Web October 13, 2021. http://vetmedicine.about.com/cs/winterinfo/a/halloweensafety.htm.

Thanksgiving is a great time to spend with your family, friends, and pets. It is also a great time for sharing some delicious meals! However, there are some hazards to think about at this time of year. How can you keep your pets safe and have a great holiday?

To start, a safe place for pets to go, prevents potential exposure to hazards in the kitchen. People can easily trip over pets that are waiting under foot for some yummy treats to drop. If you are handling hot food, pans or boiling water, your pet should not be in the kitchen.

Although very tempting to feed your pets leftovers from dinner, remember that the foods we most often eat at Thanksgiving are very high in calories and fat. Ask your guests and teach your children not to feed your pets table scraps. Foods to avoid include turkey skin, gravy, fat trimmings, onions, chocolate and alcohol. Eating fatty human food puts pets at risk of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). This can be a life threatening disease and signs include vomiting, diarrhea, painful abdomen, lethargy, inappetence and dehydration. Most pets require hospitalization on IV fluids, IV painkillers, antibiotics and other supportive treatments. 

Fatty food also puts pets at risk of being overweight which increases their risk for diabetes, joint issues, heart disease, high blood pressure, and heat intolerance among other concerns. Overfeeding can also increase the chance of bloat, where the stomach twists on itself. This is often a fatal condition which requires emergency surgery. Remember that any change in diet can also cause stomach upset. 

Instead of feeding human foods, give your pet a favourite toy or put some of their regular kibble in a puzzle treat ball for them to play with. Once dinner is over make sure leftovers are stored safely away. Never feed turkey bones to your pets. All poultry bones splinter very easily and can cause intestinal perforation or blockage. Skewers, string, roasting bags, cellophane wrap, tin foil and plastic bags can also act as foreign bodies and cause intestinal blockage. Put these items into a pet proof garbage. 

Please note that Chestermere Veterinary Clinic will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, so if your pets get into trouble take them to an emergency veterinary clinic. You should always have your local veterinarian and emergency clinic phone numbers by the phone, and a good pet first-aid book that lists common poisons and what to do if your pet ingests them. If you can bring a sample of what your pet ingested, it can help your veterinarian treat your pet faster. 

Emergency Numbers:
Western Veterinary Specialist & Emergency Centre 403-770-1340
CARE Centre 403-520-8387 

If you have any questions or concerns, call Chestermere Veterinary Clinic at 403-272-3573. 

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One of the only things you can do every day to keep your pet healthy is feed them a diet that is nutritionally balanced to meet their needs. 

How do you decide what food is the best for your pet?
The team at Chestermere Veterinary Clinic is a great place to start, stop in or call us at (403) 272-3573 for a nutrition consultation. Our team is trained to help you make the best choice for your pet. 

We only carry and recommend foods that:
- Use licensed independent laboratories for analysis.
- Have clinical and scientific data supporting their medical claims.
- Do not perform invasive research on animals.
- Use feeding trials to test the food for taste acceptance, quality and freshness.
- Continually test and upgrade their recipes.
- Support pet owners by answering their questions and providing more information when required.
- Conduct clinical studies with veterinarians and pet owners.
- Have an established quality assurance program, and test the quality of each ingredient put into the food.
- Provide veterinarians with support from board certified internal medicine veterinarians.
- Provide detailed information on the diet including: a complete list of ingredients and quantities, digestibility, urine acidity (which helps to keep your pet free from bladder stones and urinary infections), amino acid profiles (ensuring all essential building blocks of protein are provided), and fatty acid analysis (ensuring a correct balance of fats).

What about raw and homemade diets?
There is no scientific analysis to show that these diets are nutritionally balanced for pets. One study on raw food found significant inadequacies, specifically in calcium and phosphorous ratios, which can be devastating for growing pets. Other risks of feeding raw diets (both home-made and commercially prepared) include presence of bacteria such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. Coli, and Listeria. Pets have died from Salmonella in raw food and if infected with Salmonella can infect other pets and people. Even the most stringent cleaning methods may not kill the bacteria. One study found that after putting food bowls containing Salmonella infected raw food through a residential dishwasher cycle or after soaking in 10% bleach for 5 minutes, 67% of bowls still contained Salmonella. 

Common Food Myths: 

Meat first diets are better - MYTH!
High meat diets are usually excessive in calcium, sodium and phosphorus which are not appropriate for older pets.

More is better - MYTH!
Higher amounts of poor quality protein is not as good as smaller amounts of high quality protein.

Corn is just a filler - MYTH!
Fillers offer no nutritional value, but corn is a highly nutritious ingredient chosen as a source of protein (for muscle and tissue growth), carbohydrates (for energy), fibre, antioxidants (Beta-carotene, Vitamin E, Lutein) and linoleic acid - an essential fatty acid that promotes healthy skin and coat. In addition, corn causes no more food allergies than any other grain. Corn is also highly digestible, even more so than rice, wheat, barley and sorghum.

By-products are bad - MYTH!
By-products are common ingredients found in both human and pet food. Vitamin E, gelatin, beef bouillon, beef liver and vegetable oils are all by-products. For example, chicken by-product meal is a high quality, concentrated source of protein. It consists of ground, rendered, wholesome parts of the chicken including white meat, dark meat, liver and viscera.

Dogs are carnivores - MYTH!
Dogs are omnivores. Dog food should have a balance of nutrients, not just protein, but also fats, carbohydrates, fibre, etc.

Fibre is a filler - MYTH!
Fibre is a complex carbohydrate. The primary function and benefit of fibre are to increase bulk and water in the intestinal contents to help promote and regulate normal bowel functions.

Organic, Natural, Holistic and Human Grade - FACTS!
The term "organic" was legally defined for human foods by the USDA. Pet food companies can currently use the term "organic" if they follow the same rules applied to human foods. Foods that are "100% organic" or "organic" will carry the USDA Organic Seal on the package. Natural and organic are not interchangeable terms. "Holistic" has no legal definition. There is no regulation defining what the word holistic means with regard to pet foods. The use of "human grade" or "human quality" is not allowed in pet food marketing unless the food is made in a human food approved plant.

Remember, the right food can help your pet live healthier and longer and can also manage or prevent certain diseases. Talk to the veterinary team at Chestermere Veterinary Clinic to find the right food for your pet.

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