The snow is finally melting, and the bounty of spring is beginning to arrive. Of course, along with the fresh breezes, colourful flowers, and singing birds come the parasites we all love to hate. Tick season has officially arrived, and protecting your pet – and your family – from the many diseases they carry is a top priority. Fortunately, the team at Parkside Animal Hospital is here to help!

The holidays may be winding down, but we still have plenty of time to feel grateful and reflect on the wonderful, exciting and fulfilling year it has been here at Parkside Animal Hospital. We’re truly lucky to be a part of the North Bay pet care community.

Our weekly educational blog is fun to write, and we’re even happier that it seems to be fun for you to read. Each year we take a look at the most popular blog posts, and share them with you, here. So without further ado, here are Parkside Animal Hospital’s top 5 most read pet care blogs of 2018.

Similar to humans, pets suffer from various age-related illnesses. When we make it our goal to promote senior pet health, we can prevent diseases that threaten longevity and quality of life in our furry aging friends. In other words, early detection makes a huge difference when it comes to effective treatment. For the owners of senior pets, this means more time together – what could be better than that?

Canada made history this year when the Senate approved Bill C-45, also known as the Cannabis Act. This sweeping legislation paves the way for the legal possession, production, and sale of recreational marijuana for people over the age of eighteen. It also makes Canada the first wealthy nation in the world to fully legalize marijuana (medicinal marijuana has been legal since 2001).

While marijuana enthusiasts are understandably pleased with this new law, pet owners must take care to prioritize their pets’ safety when it comes to marijuana. At Parkside Animal Hospital, we want to make sure our valued readers understand the risks involved when it comes to pot and pets.

Getting ready for a camping trip is a lot of work – especially if you’re taking your dog. On top of all your own necessities to deal with the great outdoors, you have to pack all of their gear, food, toys, and bedding, too. However, one of the most important items isn’t something you have to physically bring with you to the campsite. Instead, through your commitment to your pet’s year round parasite prevention, they’ll be totally prepared for what nature has in store.

When a health concern is unclear or can’t be diagnosed, turning to exploratory surgery has been the traditional method in veterinary medicine. After all, what better way to figure out what’s wrong with a pet than by taking a look inside?

Today, there are a variety of tools at our disposal that make diagnosing your pet easier, less stressful, and can often eliminate the need for surgery. At Parkside Animal Hospital, we’re proud to offer ultrasound technology for pets. This diagnostic tool helps us examine your pet’s internal organs painlessly, effectively, and safely.

One of the worst fears for a pet owner is the thought of their pet suffering an accident or illness. While we certainly don’t want to alarm you, statistics show the majority of pet owners have to make at least one trip to an emergency clinic during the lifetime of their pet. Thankfully, many of these scenarios end favorably, with the pet expecting a full recovery.

The problem with a pet emergency is that it can sometimes be elusive. Does vomiting signal an emergency? What if your pet is bitten by another animal but seems OK on the surface? The fact is, many of us adopt the wait and see tactic or jump on Google to look up our pet’s symptoms.

Your friends at Parkside Animal Hospital want to diffuse some of the fear and confusion around what constitutes a pet emergency.

No one knows your pet better than you. In fact, you understand them so well and anticipate their every need, that a regular doctor’s exam might seem unnecessary. In truth, it’s what you can’t see that can cause problems down the road. Because pets can’t tell you what hurts, they often suffer in silence until, finally, pronounced symptoms indicate a serious condition.

 Pet wellness exams give us the opportunity to care for your pet together. Not only can we update important vaccinations and parasite preventives, we can also help you provide the best possible life through consistent and clear communication.