B u s i n es s N am e

Pawspaper Volume 1212 Volume4,4,Issue Issue

December 2012 2012 December

Pet of the Month: Cash & Tango Comeau

In this issue:  Pet of the Month: Cash & Tango Comeau  5th Annual Pet Photo shoot—Thanks!  Christmas Reminders  Ask The Vet  Pet Store Puppies—No!  Holiday Hazards for your Pet  Toby’s Corner: “Furry Holidays to You!”  Recipe of the Month: Peanut Butter and Banana Brownies

Tango and Cash don’t let genetics determine family. These boys have been inseparable since they came home from the Humane Society together. Whether they are chasing each other around the house, playing, grooming each other, causing mischief, or enjoying some snuggles (their favourite group activity) they always team up to make it as adorable as possible.

Enter for your chance to win! 613-698-8033

Rufflections Dog Grooming

www.MontrealRoadAnimalHospital.ca

 Welcome and Dearly Departed

Please visit our website @

~Brotherly Love~

February 2012

Think your pet has what it takes to be highlighted in our publication? 

Submit a photo and a little blurb saying why your furry friend should be published in our next month’s Pawspaper, home page, and Facebook page.

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You don’t have to be a professional photographer, but you do have to have a camera and a clear picture. Why not try and see if your pet has what it takes! You get bragging rights, and a chance to show your family and friends how your pet got to be featured in our publication. How: Email: [email protected] Snail Mail: Be sure to enter it a week before the end of the month for a chance to participate. Address to:

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Pet of the Month, 1700 Montreal Rd, Ottawa, Ont K1J 6N5

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Photo Shoot Success! Thanks to all who came out to our 5th Annual Photo Shoot! We all had fun dressing up our pets and making them do cute little poses for the camera. Our Photographer has already submitted your edited photos that we will post online for you to choose your favourite photo that you want us to print (8x10”). Also, thanks to all who donated and participated to the Nail Trim for Charity. We were able to raise $136! One hundred percent of the proToby helped himself to the props in-between ceeds are going to Veterinarians Without Bortakes. ders. By spring of 2013, we hope to double that number and send it to all those animals who need it. For those of you who don’t know, Vets Without Borders mission is to work for, and with, communities in need to better the health of animals, people and the environment. Thanks again everyone! We hope to see you again next years Photo Shoot.

Meet Pilar, from Puerto Natales, Chile. Her family’s dog used to get attacked by roaming packs of wild dogs in her village. Pilar and her sisters and brothers were bitten. But there were no vet services in the area and no one to care for animals. Since 2008, VWB/VSF has visited Pilar’s town twice a year to offer veterinary servies, sterilize dogs that owners wanted treated and work with communities to reduce dog bite incidences and disease. Now, Pilar and her whole village feel safer. “I can walk through the village now without being afraid.”

Click on the image above to read more about their mission and how you can help.

1700 Montreal Road, Ottawa, ON [email protected]

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Clinic Christmas Hours It is time for the holidays. Just like everyone else, the Staff of the Montreal Road Animal Hospital will be visiting their loved ones. For this reason the clinic will be closed on Chirstmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. We will be closing early on Christmas Eve and New Years eve. To make up for the reduced hours we will be open on Saturday December 22nd. Appointments will be by phone only. If no one is able to come in then we will be closed.

Holiday Food Order As always, we request that all our clients CALL AHEAD OF TIME before they run out of their pet’s food, prescription diet and/or medication. We just want to remind everyone that since we will be closed for the Christmas holidays. We don’t want your pet to go hungry over the holidays or be without their medication!

Hill’s Feline y/d Diet We have great news for our clients that are currently feeding their cat Hill’s Feline y/d. You have asked, and Hill’s delivered! There is a now new bag size available! We will now be carrying the 3.5kg bag along with the 1.8kg bag and canned food! We are all very excited about this new development. The new bag size will be in our clinic in the first week of December.

We ask that you call ahead to ensure that we have a bag for you. Many Thanks!

1700 Montreal Road, Ottawa, ON [email protected]

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Paws Full of Hope Charity Pet Food Drive for Community Veterinary Outreach For those of you who have not heard, the Montreal Road Animal Hospital will be partaking in the 2nd Annual Food Drive for the Community Veterinary Outreach organization. Community Veterinary Outreach is a local organization here in Ottawa, ON that provides preventative veterinary care and supplies (mainly food) to pet owners in need. They help out pet owners who are living on the streets or who live in government funded housing. To learn more please visit www.vetoutreach.org for more information about the organization and how you can help. This Christmas season is upon us. There are many community food drives taking place in Ottawa this year. One of them being Paws Full of Hope. This food drive is specifically for the pets of the clients of Community Veterinary Outreach. We will be collecting dog and cat food as well as toys/blankets/collars/leashes/bowls. Basically, any item that you would purchase for your pet we will be collecting for their pets. Donations will be accepted all through December.

Pet Store Puppies Come From Mills Puppies for Christmas: An average Christmas present lasts about 4 weeks before the novelty wears off. A puppy requires life long commitment, they are not a disposable commodity like most other Christmas presents. People tend to ‘give now, think later’ when it comes to dog ownership– the end result usually leads to behavioural issues and abandonment. Few people consider the time, energy and money it takes to raise a puppy. Do you have the patience it requires when housebreaking a puppy? Some canines can up to a year to house train. Are you willing to go through that? Do you have the time in your schedule or energy that it takes to walk your dog every day for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour every day? Do you have the funds to get your little one completely up to date on vaccines every year and take care of its health needs when they need it (spay/neuter, emergency visits etc.)? The little puppy’s cuteness tends to wear off when they become hyperactive adolescents and the reality of life with a dog sets in. Between January and March are the busiest months of the year for shelters and rescue groups. Some even refuse to re-home a pet during this season to discourage impulse decisions. When you get a puppy or any animal, you are choosing to share your life, time, money, and love. You must be prepared and willing to spend the rest of its life with you, which can be a 15 to 20 year commitment. Not until you grow tired of it, realize you have an allergy, or the pet is too much work. If you decided that you do want to bring a puppy into your home, please ensure that you DO NOT buy from a pet shop. Unless they get their animals from a shelter, 99% of pet shops get their animals from a puppy mill. They can often carry an inherent illness that will only become apparent later on. Pet shops are not concerned that you may not be ready to take on a puppy. What they do consider is the profit the sale will bring. Check out the list of rescue organizations by clicking on the picture 1700 Montreal Road, Ottawa, ON [email protected]

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Ask the Vet: Dr. Briones Answers your Questions Dear Dr. Briones, I have an 8 year old medium breed dog (schnauzer). He’s been healthy his entire life and received annual vaccines. I don’t want to stress him out anymore by bringing him into the vet’s office. I’ve heard that dogs don’t need to be vaccinated when they are older if they’ve been vaccinated every year of their life since puppyhood. I’ve been told this is called “over vaccination” and it can cause more harm to my dog, is this true? ~Sincerely, Mrs. Tony

Dear Mrs Tony: There is a great deal of misunderstanding about over/under vaccinating, to the point that there's so much written about it, that we all end up being confused. The guidelines that I follow rely on the legal aspect of practicing veterinary medicine, and the licensing of each product (namely vaccines) that I give in my practice. If the label stipulates one year vaccine, we give it every year. If it says 3 years, we then give it every three years. It is true that some older dogs may not need to be vaccinated, but we cannot tell one from the other. And it would go against the College of Veterinarians of Ontario (CVO) if we advised not to do it, and ended up with a sick pet. On that note, we often hear clients say “ My pet doesn’t need an exam or vaccines, he/she has always been healthy.” Getting an annual health check up is crucial to having a long-lived pet. We often pick up early warning signs of a serious problem that will affect animal in the future. If caught early, they can often be corrected or at least slow the progress when they are detected. By the time you actually see your pet show signs of pain or behavioural changes, the potential problem has already progressed to a point that your pet can no longer hide their discomfort. Animals who show weakness in the wild are usually singled out and killed. This survival behaviour is engrained in your animals genetics. To summarise, prevention is the best cure.

Sincerely, Roberto Briones DVM If you have a something you’d like to ask our veterinarian, Dr. Briones, please email us your inquiries to: [email protected]

Holiday Hazards and Cautions The holiday season is here and with all of the celebrations and decorations it is easy to forget about potential toxins and dangers that are posed to your pet. Here are a few tips to keep in mind to make the years holidays as safe and enjoyable as pos- 5) sible for you and your furry friend. 1)

2)

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If you are planning to go away, make sure you have a pet sitter or boarding facility lined up well in advance to ensure your pet is well taken care of. Don’t forget to keep your pet updated on vaccines. Call to find out which ones they require for boarding.

the hustle and bustle of parties and visitors is a great idea—sometimes it can become overwhelming for them! If you are planning on decorating, make sure you use ‘petfriendly’ plants, avoiding lilies, mistletoe, hollies and poinsettias. It is also a good idea to skip tinsel if you have cats or kittens. Plastic ornaments are safer to use. 6) After gifts are unwrapped, put any ribbons, bows or other decorations away so your pet cannot swallow them. 7) If you have thrown bones, food scraps or other leftovers into the garbage, store the bag somewhere where your pet cannot get into it.

If you are planning to have houseguests, make sure they know you have pets and do not have allergies or other concerns. Make sure you advise all guests of any rules you impose for your pets (i.e.: no table scraps, no pets on the furniture, etc.). Also, let your guests know not to feed your pets as there could be potential food poisonings. Chocolate, alcohol, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, uncooked dough are irritating to their stomachs that can lead to diarrhea or even death. Setting up a ‘quiet refuge’ for your pet to get away from

8) Keep your pets paws clear of salt by rinsing after coming in from outside, or have them wear special boots when going for walks. 9)

When walking you pet– Be Seen. Wear reflectors or lights.

10) If it is too cold for you, it is cold for your pet. Make sure you and your pet are properly protected from the elements. 11) Be sure to keep the lids on antifreeze tightly closed and away from animals. The sweet taste is appealing to animals and it will kill them in a matter of minutes.

1700 Montreal Road, Ottawa, ON [email protected]

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Toby’s Corner “Furry Holidays to You!”

1700 Montreal Road, Ottawa, ON [email protected]

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Recipe of the Month: Peanut Butter and Banana Brownies Our sense of smell has a stronger connection to memory than any other; the aroma of something baking subconsciously evokes a feeling of well-being and contentment. By merely baking a batch of Peanut Butter and Banana Brownies, you could increase your dog’s happiness while reducing your own stress level and improving the mental health of everyone in the house. Who knew so much good could come from a simple brownie? These are soft and cakey (without being loaded with sugar) - perfect for old dogs that have difficulty chewing hard biscuits. Bananas add flavour, moisture, sweetness and potassium; eggs and peanut butter (and extra peanuts, if you like) contribute protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals. This batter can be stirred together in less time than it takes to preheat the oven. If you want to make cupcakes, divvy it among greased mini muffin tins and bake for 15-20 minutes, until springy to the touch. If you like, frost the cooled cupcakes or brownies with spreadable low fat cream cheese, sweetened (or not) with a dab of honey.

Makes about 16 brownies. Store in a tightly sealed container; freeze any that don’t get eaten within a few days.         

1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about two) 1/2 cup all-natural peanut butter 2 tbsp canola, olive or other vegetable oil 2 tbsp honey 2 large eggs 1 cup whole wheat flour 1 tsp baking powder Pinch of salt 1/4 cup chopped unsalted peanuts (optional)

Overripe bananas are sweeter and more intensely flavoured than those that haven’t ripened yet. If your bananas are ready to bake be1. Preheat oven to 350ºF fore you are, throw them in the freezer, skins and all put them into a bowl of warm water to 2. In a large bowl, combine bananas, peanut butter, oil, honey and eggs. Add flour, bakquickly thaw them when you need them. ing powder, salt and peanuts (if using). Stir just until blended. 3. Spread in an 8x8-inch pan that has been sprayed with non-stick spray, and bake for 25-30 minutes, until the top is springy to the touch. Cool in the pan on a wire rack.

1700 Montreal Road, Ottawa, ON [email protected]

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Welcome!

We would like to send out a warm welcome to our new clients and patients for September.

“Misty” Rock

“Osiris” Girard

“Ben” Colwell

“Buster” Molinari

“Missy” Madaire

“Latte” Parent

“Caramel” Jeaurond

“Scout” Mundy

“Clark” Hobbs

“TJ” Keeble

“Chev” Alexander

“Obi & Bianca” Trenholme

“Kody” Bedard

“Jessi” Turner

“Buster” Legault

“Felix” Legault

“Finn” Cote

“Georgia” Marion

“Riley” Chaban

“Roxy” Bacquain

“Pippin” Gemus

“Benson” Vanker

“Charlie” Maltaif

“lady” Amorim

“Hunter” Cyr “Ashley” Deslauriers “Jenga” Dorian “Toby” Jackson

We are always happy to welcome new furry additions to our hospital and to your family.

In Loving Memory We would like to extend our “Simba” Bellefeuille deepest sympathies to all our “Mersy” Urquhart clients who have lost a beloved “Nika” Lamoureaux friend last month. “Baster” Thibeault On special note: Please vacci“Benny” Van Velthoven nate your pets Every Year. “Chase” Barrette “Jenny” Bisson 1700 Montreal Road, Ottawa, ON [email protected]