Mac Animal Clinic

Calling all Indoor Cats of Oakville. There is a new game to play!

Feed your cat like the tiger she really is. 

We keep our Oakville cats indoors to keep them safe from the potential dangers of the great outdoors. However, this sedentary lifestyle can lead to weight gain, bad behavior, boredom and abnormal sleeping patterns. 

What if you could find a way to:
  • Entertain your cat
  • Encourage your cat to exercise.
  • Make your cat beg less for food.
  • Improve some of your cat's antisocial behavior. 
  • Stop your cat from eating their food too quickly. 
Dr. Mac loves interactive feeders which is why she was so excited to try out the Doc and Phoebe Indoor Hunting Feeder for her previously feral cat, Matilda. 

How does it work?


  1. Put food and some of your cat's favorite treats in the "trainer mouse" at bedtime. Remove the food bowl overnight so your cat can use the trainer in private. Once your cat gets the hang of the trainer, you can start using the actual mice!
  2. Measure out the recommended amount of food for your cat based on their weight and life stage.
  3. Fill the mice with the appropriate amount of food, remove the food bowl and put all three mice in its place.
  4. Once your cat has figured out how to eat from the mice. Start hiding the mice around the house. Start in easy to find places at first, then increase the difficult of the hiding spot as your cat becomes an expert hunter!


You can find these feeder mice at your local pet store.




THE BENEFITS OF HUNTING

(from Doc and Phoebe website)

PREVENT BAD BEHAVIOR

Cats redirect the hunting instinct into bad cat behavior. Exercising natural hunting instinct improves your cat’s mood and preserves your furniture.

SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT

Your cat will hunt for feeders at night, instead of hunting you!

STOP SCARF AND BARF

Your cat’s stomach is the size of a ping-pong ball. Hunting multiple small portions eliminates scarf and barf.

LITTER BOX SOLUTIONS

Cats show distress by peeing outside of the litterbox. Hunting feeders relieve stress and can eliminate this terrible problem.

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

Portion Control + Exercise = Healthy Weight

PREVENT BOREDOM

Your cat will happily spend the day hunting, receiving much-needed exercise.



Visit the Doc and Phoebe website for more information. 

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.
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