We give your pet a full physical exam. We are looking for normal and abnormal things. Part of this is the history you give us. We need to know what foods your pet is eating and how much; how much water are they drinking; what do their bowel movements look like; if there is any vomiting (remember for cats this includes hairballs). We need to know if there are any behavioural problems.

Senior pets (over the age of 7 years) ideally should have a physical exam twice a year.

We give your pet the necessary vaccines to protect it against diseases. Vaccinations keep your pet healthy. Some vaccines we give on an annual basis, and some we give every couple of years. The veterinarian will discuss with you which ones are important for your pet.

The law requires that all pets get a rabies vaccine, even indoor pets! Other serious diseases we vaccinate pets against are distemper, parvo and leptospirosis in dogs, and feline leukemia in cats. Bordetella or kennel cough is required for dogs who go to boarding kennels. However, it should also be given to dogs going to obedience classes or dog parks. Lyme vaccine is recommended for dogs who are likely to be exposed to ticks. All cats need to be vaccinated against the upper respiratory viruses.

All puppies and kittens need to be dewormed at each exam and booster vaccine appointment. This is because their mothers’ milk infects these young pets with intestinal parasites. We also treat adult pets for parasites that they are at risk for.

Some parasites are zoonotic, which means we are at risk of getting them from animals. It is important to discuss with us any concerns you have.

We carry maintenance diets—puppy/kitten, adult and senior diets. For those pets with medical problems, we will recommend the appropriate diet—ranging from weight loss diets, gastrointestinal diets, kidney diets and cancer diets. To be sure, we will accurately calculate the calories your pet needs to eat every day. We will also help you to transition your pet to their new food. If there are any problems with your pet and their food, then please tell us. Veterinarians and veterinary technicians are very knowledgeable about nutrition, as they are taking courses in these subjects.

A veterinarian is the best source for helping you with any behavioural problem. We can book you in for an extended appointment time to discuss these problems. We will help you start on the right track with your puppy and kitten for socialization and handling. If you have an adult with problems, then we will work with you through training, prescribing any medications if necessary and referring you to a specialist if necessary.

Each year, millions of pets wander from home and many are never found again. If your pet is lost, then you can increase the chances of finding your companion by microchipping your pet. Microchipping is a simple, painless procedure that implants a small microchip under your pet’s skin. (The microchip is about the size of a grain of rice.) Your pet’s information is then registered in a national database, thus increasing the chances that your pet will return home if lost.

Spaying a female or neutering a male pet will not only avoid unwanted litters, but your pet will also avoid some reproductive diseases, such as pyometra (infection of the uterus). In addition, it will decrease the incidence of mammary tumors, avoid testicular cancer and decrease the chances of prostate problems.

We strive to keep pets as pain-free as possible before, during and after surgery. Pain management is always a concern with any procedure or treatment. We provide pain medication before, during and after surgery to ensure your pet’s comfort. We also make sure to send adequate pain medication home following any surgical procedure.

Some pets have chronic pain that needs to be managed for comfort and good quality of life. Generally, there are many ways to address this. However, pain in animals is not easy to recognize. Sometimes they may not move much anymore, maybe they no longer walk up the stairs. Sometimes their appetite has decreased. Generally, panting and restlessness are signs of pain. It is important to discuss with the veterinarian any changes in your pet so we can diagnose what the problem is.

Radiology is a technique and diagnostic tool that we use to look inside the body in a completely non-invasive way. X-rays allow us to create images of all the body’s organs. In other words, the use of radiology gives us a view of the internal organs in your pet’s body that we otherwise could not see. It’s an important diagnostic tool that helps veterinarians detect and prevent illness.

We can also do in-clinic blood work, fecal analysis, urinalysis and skin scrapes. In addition, we do send out samples to a laboratory for testing.

If your pet needs to be hospitalized, then we have comfortable cages to keep them in, with lots of room for them to stretch out and to place a litter box, a bed and food for a cat. While in the hospital, they receive intravenous fluids and medications. However, we do the necessary tests such as blood work or x-rays. Our veterinary technician is keeping a good eye on your pet and providing them with great nursing care.

Brant-Norfolk Veterinary Clinic
519-720-0753
155 Lynden Rd
Brantford, ON N3R 8A7

London Regional Veterinary Emergency
519-432-3300
41 Adelaide St. North, Suite 45
London, ON N6B 3P4

When your pets’ quality of life is no longer good, and they start to suffer, it is time to make the decision to humanely euthanize them. We will help you with your decisions and explain the procedure, as well as give you and your pet comfort and provide aftercare for your pet.

Proper dental care is a large part of keeping your pet healthy. Regular teeth cleanings and dental check-ups can prevent periodontal disease (disease of the gums and supporting tissue of the teeth) and other dental problems before they affect your pet’s overall health. We offer dental care counseling in addition to our regular cleaning services. We will also advise clients on how to best administer dental care at home.