- 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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​Tent - check!
Sleeping Bags - check!
Cooler - check!
Kids & Pets - check! 

As nice as it would be to pack up the car and hit the road, here are some things to consider before heading out with your furry friends: 

Ensure your pet's vaccines are up to date and consider parasite prevention, especially if your pet likes to hunt or eat animal feces. Tick protection is also a good idea if your pets will be hiking with you. Talk to your veterinarian to determine which parasite prevention suits your pets needs best. 

Slowly introduce your pet to the campground. Bring their own blankets, food and water bowls and toys to make them more comfortable. Ensure your pet has a clean dry place to sleep and fresh drinking water. Be sure to remove any uneaten food to prevent wildlife visitors! 

Also make sure you always have ample water for your pet, they too can become dehydrated just like us, especially if having an active day out in the heat. If hiking, remember to bring a water bottle and bowl for your pet to drink out of. Collapsible and disposable bowls are great for hiking as they take up very little space in a pack. Alternatively, pet water bottles that have a special drinking spout can be purchased so that a bowl is not necessary. 

When you can't directly supervise your pet, have them on a leash in a shaded area. If you have a dog that may become aggressive, consider putting up a sign to warn other campers to keep their distance. 

One of the most important things when taking your pet to a strange new place is identification. A tattoo or microchip can help a lost pet find its way home. ID tags can be purchased at most pet stores including temporary ones that allow you to write information directly on a paper insert that slides into a protective tag. Make a temporary name tag with your campsite number on it in case your pet explores without you! 

Pets can have a fun weekend camping with no injuries or illnesses, especially if you are prepared. Do your research ahead of time to find a veterinary clinic nearby so you can save time if an emergency situation arises. 

Remember to keep your pet away from campfires and cook-stoves, and consider a life-jacket for your pet if you are spending time on a boat or near water. Don't forget to have a stocked pet first aid kit on hand just in case! 

Happy Camping! 
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Collapsible bowls, pet water bottles, pet life-jackets and pet first aid kits can all be ordered through our e-boutique.

On a walk you or your dog may find or encounter some baby rabbits that appear to be abandoned. Many people mean well when they contact professionals after discovering an abandoned nest of wild rabbits or an orphaned baby rabbit alone in an open field. Often they wish to care foster them. The reality is fewer than 10% of orphaned rabbits survive once being fostered, and the care that people attempt to provide can be illegal, unnecessary, and potentially harmful. Baby rabbits are extremely difficult to raise. Just by touching them, humans put them at great risk of potentially deadly intestinal infections due to our normal bacteria. The baby is probably not abandoned. You are most likely seeing a baby who has recently left the nest and is now exploring his surroundings in preparation for living on his own. It is best to leave him to his own abilities, and not disturb him. The best thing you can do is leave the rabbit alone, or put the rabbit back where you found him (at least in the general area). The Mom will come back at night to call and find him. A mother rabbit stays away from her babies when she's not feeding them, so she does not attract predators. She will feed only once or twice a day, and when she returns to feed, she calls to the babies so they can find her. If you find a baby rabbit and he looks perky and active, then you can be confident that mom is caring for him, even if you can't see her and you can let him be. If the rabbit is injured or you can absolutely confirm that the mother is dead and the baby is in desperate need of help, please contact a wildlife rehabilitator or rabbit veterinarian immediately. 

Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation
403-946-2361

For more information call Chestermere Veterinary Clinic 403-272-3573.
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Sources:
Dana. "Saving Wild Baby Rabbits." Web June 18, 2021. www.bio.miami.edu/hare/wildbabies.pdf.

House Rabbit Society. "Orphaned Baby Bunnies." Web June 18, 2021. rabbit.org/faq-orphaned-baby-bunnies/.

Spending time outside with your pet can be enjoyable and relaxing. But what happens when your pet's curiosity gets the best of them? They may try to help you plant your new garden or even munch on the new pile of mulch you just had delivered.
Though gardening with your pet can be fun and entertaining, it is important to understand the risks and hazards of the products you are using on your lawn or garden. Your pet could unknowingly be playing in, digging in, or eating something toxic or harmful.
Putting mulch over a flowerbed or around trees is a popular gardening trend. While most types of mulch are safe, there is one type that could be lethal to your best friend. Cocoa Mulch is a common mulch that can be purchased from most garden supply stores. Just like the name, it contains an ingredient found in cocoa and chocolate called theobromine. Dogs & cats metabolize theobromine much slower than humans, leading to potential poisoning or even death. If you see your pet chewing the mulch stop them immediately and monitor for early signs of toxicity such as vomiting, restlessness, diarrhea, muscle tremors, and increased urination. If you are worried or see any of these signs contact Chestermere Veterinary Clinic right away.
Mulch isn't the only thing to watch out for in your garden. Although cats and dogs may like a tasty treat and give those vegetables or flowers a bite, there are some varieties you should keep them away from. Here are some common things we plant in our gardens that are NOT healthy for your pet:
-onion, garlic, rhubarb.
-sweet pea, tulip, lilies, daffodil, iris, daisy, gladiola, geranium, dahlia, black-eyed susans, peony.
This is a small example of the many plants, veggies and fruits that can be toxic to your pet. If your pet does ingest any of these items, or any other poisonous plant, please call Chestermere Veterinary Clinic at 403-272-3573.
Here is a short list of common plants that are ok for your pets:
-beets, cucumber, strawberry, buttercup squash.
-blue eyed daisy, Christmas cactus, marigold, moss fern, petunia, rose.
For a comprehensive list of plants, veggies and fruits that are OK for your pet, and a list of those that may be harmful, please visit the ASPCA website http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/.
Also be aware of the fertilizers and pesticides you use. If possible, don't use any in areas where your pets frequent, use pet safe products, or keep your pet away from these areas for at least a few days after application.
If you have any concerns or questions please contact us at Chestermere Veterinary Clinic 403-272-3573, or visit us at www.chestermerevet.com.
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Happy Planting!

Spring has finally sprung! The weather is improving and dogs and cats that have been cooped up all winter are loving the outdoors! Unfortunately, that also means that you are very likely to encounter an "unwanted gift" (fecal matter) on the grass and even on the sidewalk while you take your pets for a walk. This can harbor intestinal parasite eggs that your pet can easily become infected with. A single parasite can produce up to 85,000 eggs per day, which are shed in the stool! Some eggs can survive over a year, are not killed by most chemical disinfectants, and can even survive extreme temperature conditions up to -80 degrees Celsius! This is why it is so important to clean up after your pet!

Rodents and insects that are also out enjoying the nice weather can carry these parasites too, and pass them to your pet. The most common types of parasites are roundworms, tapeworms, and hookworms. Other parasites not covered by regular deworming products are giardia and coccidia. All of these parasites have shown prevalence in the Chestermere area and have the potential to cause diarrhea, vomiting, anemia, poor fur coat and development, and even death if left untreated. Puppies and kittens are most susceptible.

Your pets may be harboring parasites with no adverse signs, but they are still able to spread them to other pets and humans. Parasites are often invisible to the naked eye and the eggs may require a microscope to be seen. All of these parasites can be detected by a simple fecal test at your veterinarian's office. This test can also detect giardia and coccidia, which are not covered by routine deworming products.

Prevention of intestinal parasites is also important to human health since these parasites are easily transferred from pets to people. Parasites can cause serious irreversible health problems. Roundworm eggs can cause visceral larval migrans, where the tiny worm larvae can migrate through our intestinal wall to other organs where they can grow to large sizes. If they travel behind the eye they can even cause blindness, and children are most at risk! A tapeworm identified in southern Alberta causes symptoms similar to invasive liver cancer!

We have also seen a number of ticks in the Chestermere area, even on pets that have not left their own backyard besides a regular walk in their neighborhood! There are a number of diseases that pets can contract from ticks, including Lyme disease, erlichiosis, anaplasmosis and rocky mountain spotted fever.

Parasite prevention is our best line of defense. Speak with your veterinarian at Chestermere Veterinary Clinic 403-272-3573 about which deworming product is best suited to your pet's needs. Also, always clean up after your pet and wash your hands after doing so.
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We recommend providing parasite prevention for your pet once a month from spring through fall, approximately May to October. If you have young children or people who are susceptible to picking up disease living at home (such as the elderly or immune compromised individuals), we recommend providing parasite prevention for your pet monthly all year round. Contact us to discuss a parasite prevention protocol for your pet to keep them and your family safe from these parasites!

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Sources:
Jenkins, E., Gesy, K., Peregrine, A., Schwantje, H. "Newly found tapeworm potentially infective for people and dogs in central BC." Canadian Vet, Volume 8, Number 1. January/February 2013.

Easter is just around the corner! Please remember to keep these popular Easter items away from your pets: 

1) Easter Lilies - Highly toxic to cats (yet only causing minor gastrointestinal upset in dogs), all parts of the Easter Lily are toxic; leaves, stem and even pollen. As little as 1 leaf or a small amount of pollen is enough to cause serious problems including kidney failure or death. Symptoms begin around 6 - 12 hours after ingestion and include: vomiting, inappetence, lethargy, dehydration, disorientation, staggering and seizures. There is no antidote so immediate treatment by a veterinarian is absolutely necessary. Other toxic Lilies include: Tiger Lilies, Asiatic Lilies, and Day Lilies. 

2) Easter Grass - The stringy paper or plastic grass that often lines Easter baskets can create an obstruction in a pets intestines if ingested, and can potentially be a choking hazard. The grass tends to be particularly inviting to cats to play with. If an obstruction were to occur, a pet would likely require an expensive foreign body abdominal surgery. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, inappetence, abdominal pain, and straining to defecate or constipation. 

3) Chocolate - The darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more dangerous it is. For small pets the effects can be even stronger. Symptoms of chocolate toxicity from ingestion include: hyperactivity, restlessness, vomiting, elevated heart rate, elevated blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms, tremors, increased body temperature, seizures and collapsing. Chocolate toxicity can be fatal, so always call your veterinarian to check, even if you think your pet is fine. 

4) Candy sweetened with Xylitol - A natural sugar free sweetener, most commonly found in chewing gum, but also found in some candies, mints, Jello or pudding. Symptoms of toxicity from ingestion include: weakness, lethargy, collapsing, vomiting, tremoring, seizures, jaundice, malaise, black-tarry stool, and coma. Xylitol toxicity can be fatal, so seek veterinary care if you think your pet has ingested something containing xylitol.
If you suspect your pet has ingested any of these items, contact your veterinarian immediately. You can also call the pet poison helpline: 855-764-7661 (24 hours, 7 days a week) or check out www.petpoisonhelpline.com for more information. 

For more information on things that are toxic to pets, contact Chestermere Veterinary Clinic at 403-272-3573. 

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Source:
Pet Poison Helpline. "Easter Pet Poisons" Web March 21, 2021. http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/pet-owners/seasons/easter/.