WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT YOUR VET JUST TO SAY "HI".

One of the best things you can do for your pet's medical well being is to the veterinarian’s office is to occasionally stop by for a brief visit just to say hello. We try our best to make your pet's vet visit as positive as possible, but more often than not dogs and cats may associate going to the vet with a poke and a prod. To break this pattern, we encourage you to drop in on a regular basis for a "friendly visit". Come by just to say hello and score a treat. Let your pet say hi to everybody, maybe hop on the scale and play with some toys. Keep the visit short and sweet.

Benefits of "Friendly Vet Visits"

Let us get to know your pet
We love getting to know our patients. We want to know which cookies your pet prefers, what toys they want to play with and where their favorite "scratchy" spot is. Friendly vet visits are a great chance for our team to get to know your pet's true self outside of the examination room.

Show your pet they can trust us
Like people, animals learn to trust. By allowing for a relationship to develop between your pet and their veterinary team it allows your pet to learn that they can trust us too.

Make difficult times less difficult
It is stressful for everyone when your pet is uncomfortable and even more so if your pet has to spend some time in the hospital. If your pet can look at our clinic and team and feel like they're in a safe place for help that provides a lot of comfort during a scary time. Likewise, the more time we spend with your pet the more information we have to make them as comfortable as possible.

Better assessment of your pet's true vital signs
Often your pet's vital parameters (heart rate, respiration etc) are elevated due to the stress or excitement of coming to the vet, veterinarians are aware of this and account for it during your pet's examination. But, imagine If your pet isn't stressed. Their vital signs e.g blood pressure, heart rate will better represent their value when they're at home and allow us to recognize abnormal values from true illness vs stress elevations.

Minimize the need for sedation
The more relaxed your pet is the more we can do for your pet without the need for pharmaceutical restraint

Get to know your veterinary care team
By coming in just to say hello, it allows you to get to know the team that is caring for your pet's well being in a more relaxed setting.

Friendly visits help take the stress out of veterinary visits for both patients and their families. We want your pet to feel like the vet clinic is a second home and a great place to be! Make these visits part of your pet’s socialization experience.

Tip: Try and call ahead and ask if there is a good time to stop by for a few minutes. You’ll want to make sure that your social visit is convenient for the vet and the office staff. You’ll also want to make sure they are not dealing with an emergency or an infectious disease at the time of your visit.

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Itchy Pet Awareness Month

By CY Mac • 03 Aug, 2023

August is Itchy Pet Awareness Month! This month was created to help unite pet owners and veterinarians in managing pets with skin conditions. We want to empower pet owners with the resources to identify signs of concern in their pets, and get the veterinary care they need to provide rapid and lasting itch relief. Did you know that allergic/atopic dermatitis (dry, itchy, inflamed skin) is the number one reason for veterinary visits? Even knowing this there are still an alarmingly large number of pets that go untreated by a veterinarian every year, often simply because owners are unaware of what to look for. Your pet’s itch could be caused by: Flea allergy Environmental indoor and outdoor allergens Food allergy Contact allergy Parasites such as fleas and mites Bacterial or yeast infections Remember, all pets will scratch, lick, bite, and rub. But if it is becoming more frequent or excessive, it may be a sign of an allergic itch. Signs of Itch Include: Excessive scratching. Biting, chewing, rubbing or scooting Frequent licking Recurrent ear problems Hair loss Body odor Skin changes Because the frequency at which something occurs is subjective and will vary depending on who you ask, we often refer to the Canadian Academy of Veterinary Dermatology Itch Scale . It is an incredibly helpful tool for us to be able to objectively measure the severity of itching. Early treatment is always preferred in these types of cases. Severe, prolonged scratching can damage the bond between pets and their owners by interfering with normal activities and increasing stress in pets themselves. It’s not uncommon that pet owners will experience stress, anxiety, and frustration about their pets itch. Especially when they know their pet is uncomfortable but aren’t sure how to help. Check out our Dermatology Page for more information and resources. If your pet is itching for help, don’t wait. Reach out to the M.A.C. team today at 905-208-9933 or at reception@macvets.com to see how to get help for your pet’s itch, fast.

Will My Pet Get Bored of Eating the Same Food?

By CY Mac • 20 Jul, 2023

Will My Pet Get Bored of Eating the Same Food?

Hot Weather Safety Tips

By CY Mac • 20 Jul, 2023

Many people love spending the long, warm days of summer outside with our canine companions, but being outside without the proper precautions in hot weather can be dangerous for our pets. Here are some of our top tips for keeping your pup cool in the heat: Adjust your walking routine Aim to go for walks either early in the morning, or later at night when it’s cooler. If you do choose to walk during the day, remember to check the temperature of the pavement. A good rule of thumb is that if it’s too hot for you to walk on it comfortably in bare feet, then it’s too hot for your puppy's paws! Provide lots of fresh, cool water Dogs can get dehydrated quickly, and it is therefore important to ensure there is always water easily accessible. Remember to take some on the go with you, even for just short walks. Provide cool surfaces to lie on A cool, damp towel is an inexpensive and easy solution. Reduce the amount of walking and exercise Even though it is tempting to keep our little ones' routine the same, their safety is more important. Providing activities indoors such as puzzle feeders or long lasting lick toys will help to keep them calm and occupied. Provide water playtime Try setting up a sprinkler or kiddie pool (preferably in the shade) to let them play in while supervised. Prevent sunburn Did you know that dogs can get sunburnt too? Those more prone are those with no hair, with white or thin coats, and dogs with light pigmented noses and eyelids. Applying a pet safe sunscreen or keeping them indoors is best.