Local News Articles by Fairfield Staff

Staff from our hospitals regularly offer tips and information for pet owners in the Okanagan so that we can all stay safe and have fun with our furry friends in this beautiful valley! These educational articles are written by staff from Fairfield Animal Hospital, South Mission Animal Hospital, Central Valley Vet Hospital, and Westbank Animal Care Hospital, and are brought to you care of KelownaNow or Castanet.
June 2020 Business Matters Webinar with Kelowna Now
By Dr Amy Johnson

In this episode of Business Matters, we’re talking about your pets.

Dr. Amy Johnson of the South Mission Animal Hospital joined us to share how pets are being affected by having their parents home all the time.

During this insightful half-hour webinar, which you can watch below, Dr. Johnson tells her story, how the clinic continued to care for animals and she discusses how businesses adapted (or not) to their new reality.

Previously recorded on Tuesday, June 9, 2020, watch Business Matters with Dr. Amy Johnson by clicking HERE
April 2020 Castanet Article: Cannabis
By Dr Jennifer Watt

While it was a routine occurrence before the pandemic, a Kelowna veterinarian says she’s seen an increase in cases of canines getting sick on cannabis in recent weeks. 

Dr. Jennifer Watt of the Fairfield Animal Hospital says over the Easter long weekend alone, they had 13 cases in emergency of dogs showing signs of THC consumption. 

“We saw it before legalization happened, and it didn’t really change anything when [legalization] happened, but since COVID hit, the numbers have gone up,” she told Castanet News.

To read more of this article, click HERE
July 2019 Castanet Article: Water Toxicity
By Dr Jennifer Watt

With warm weather returning, pet owners are bringing their dogs to local dog beaches. And the folks at Kelowna's Fairfield Animal Hospital warn that water intoxication can be a real danger to your furry pals.

Veterinarian Dr. Jennifer Watt says the animal hospital has already seen two cases so far this summer, and staff expect to see more.

"We saw them all summer last year," says Watt.

"Okanagan dogs have it made with all the beaches and parks to visit in the valley ... but water intoxication is something to keep in mind to avoid a life threatening condition that can occur with too much of a good thing."

To read more of this article, click HERE
June 2019 Castanet Article: 6th Dog Bitten by Rattler
by Dr Stephen Ganton

There have been six cases of dogs being bitten by rattlesnakes in the Central Okanagan this year – and a local veterinarian says that number is sure to go up.

Dr. Steve Ganton at Fairfield Animal Hospital in Kelowna says vets in the area typically see a couple of cases a month in the summer, and will probably continue to do so through September or October.

"It's about par for the course," says Ganton.

The incidents typically happen once warm weather arrives and dogs are off leash on trails in natural areas.

To read more of this article, click HERE
June KelownaNow Article: Tips for Outdoor Activities
Pets First with Fairfield Animal Hospital

With summer just around the corner, June is the perfect time of year to begin preparing for outdoor activities with your pets! Here are a couple of activities and tips to keep your pets safe:

Camping
It's a good idea to have your dog's vaccines up to date, a vaccine certificate, and current contact information on their ID tag in the case of emergency.

Bring an extra leash or long line and a stake, so that if the campground requires dogs to be on leash you don't have to hold it the whole time.

Build a pet first aid kit! This is something that can be easily forgotten on camping trips, but is greatly appreciated if your dog becomes injured and you don't have a veterinarian close by. It should include items like tweezers, small scissors, bandaging materials, and alcohol wipes.

To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
May KelownaNow Article: Heartworm Season in the Okanagan
PetsFirst with Fairfield Animal Hospital

It's the time of year for heartworm prevention!

Heartworm (dirofilaria immitis) is a blood-borne parasite that is transmitted by mosquitoes. Heartworm infects dogs and other canine species such as foxes, wolves, and coyotes. Cats can also become infected, although they are more resistant to infection.

Heartworm infection was once limited to the southern regions of the United States, however it is now found in most areas of the continental United States, Mexico, and Canada – including British Columbia.

In the Okanagan, we have done a fantastic job of keeping this infection at bay by keeping our dogs on heartworm prevention medication during the months that mosquitoes are active: from June to November.

To read more of this article, click HERE
April KelownaNow Article: Common Pet Toxicities
Pets First with Westbank Animal Care Hospital

In our daily lives, we are consistently monitoring what goes into our body, and what may affect our bodies negatively.

However, many pet owners don’t realize how that list of potential risks is much more substantial with our furry friends, especially if they are prone to getting into things they shouldn’t! Something that seems fairly harmless to us can be extremely harmful for our pets.

Pet insurance companies have recorded paying out over $2.9-million in one year towards toxicity cases in dogs and cats. Educating ourselves on these risks is the first step to avoiding a potentially life threatening situation, and an expensive vet bill!

The ASPCA recently released a Top Ten list of the toxicity calls they received for households in 2018:

To read more of the article, click HERE

​​March KelownaNow Article: Tick Season is here!
Pets First with Westbank Animal Care Hospital

Once all of this snow clears up in the valley, we will be heading straight into tick season. Here is some information to help keep you and your pet protected from these pesky parasites!

So what are ticks exactly?

Ticks are external parasites that feed on the blood of unlucky host animals such as our canine companions, and even us!

Contrary to popular belief, ticks are not “insects.” They have eight legs, so they are actually arachnids, like spiders and mites.

To read more of this article, click HERE
​February KelownaNow Article: Dental Month
Pets First with Westbank Animal Care Hospital

Dental care is a very common practice among the human members of our families, but many don’t realize their pets are subject to the same issues!

Periodontal disease is the most common disease among companion animals like cats and dogs - in fact, 85% of pets have periodontal disease by the age of three. Dental disease results in bad breath, gingivitis, infection, and discomfort.

To read more of this article, click HERE

​January KelownaNow Article: Indoor Enrichment for Pets in the Winter
Pets First with Fairfield Animal Hospital

In the winter, families tend to spend a little more time indoors, away from the cold – but what does this mean for our furry friends?

Bored pets can get into some serious mischief, especially dogs who are used to being outdoors and getting a lot of exercise! By playing with our pets and engaging them in mental exercise, we can decrease the likelihood of destructive habits like chewing, scratching, and barking.

Keeping your dog entertained indoors can be a challenge, so check out these fun ideas for indoor activities:

Stuff a toy with treats
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A simple and effective way to keep your dog busy indoors is to put treats inside a toy for them to get out! For dogs, try stuffing a Kong or similar toy with wet dog food or treats.

To read more of this article, click HERE
December KelownaNow Article: Pet Holiday Safety
Pets First with Central Valley Vet Hospital

The holidays are a wonderful time of year for people and their pets to be together with family.

Will you be giving your pet gifts for Christmas morning? Some great safe toys for dogs include rubber items like Kongs and stuffing-less plush toys, while cats may enjoy laser pointers or toys with feathers or catnip!

With any pet toy, it’s important to monitor their play to be sure that stuffing, string, or ribbons are not ingested, which could cause an unexpected intestinal blockage.

No one plans an emergency visit with their pets over the holidays, so here are some other common risks to avoid during the Christmas season.

To read more of this article, click HERE
November KelownaNow Article: Celebrate your pet's life during Senior Month
Pets First with Central Valley Vet Hospital

November is Senior Month at the vet clinic, where we like to celebrate and honour our wonderful senior patients.

Generally, cats and dogs are considered a “senior” around seven to eight years of age. Larger breed dogs tend to have shorter lifespans compared to smaller breeds, so they are sometimes considered a senior by five to six years of age.

Once our furry friends become seniors, yearly wellness checks are important to identify, monitor and treat any issues that may arise due to advancing age. Age-related diseases can arise subtly, and their symptoms may be easy to miss.

Regular vet visits can help set a baseline for what is normal for your pet, which makes it easier for owners to notice when something has changed.

To read more of this article, click HERE

October KelownaNow Article: How to overcome obesity and lose weight
Pets First with Central Valley Vet Hospital

Though most don’t realize it, obesity is the most common nutritional disorder in companion animals.

An estimated 60% of cats and 56% of dogs are considered overweight or obese, and as we move into a time of year where we all lower our activity level, this is important to keep in mind for our furry friends.
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While many of us think it’s cute to see a chubby pet, the reality is that obesity can severely affect their health, as well as the longevity and quality of their life. Obesity can cause arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, and cardiac disease for our furry friends.

So how can an owner figure out if their furry family member is carrying too much weight? Owners can look to a veterinary Body Condition Score chart, and follow some simple steps.

To read more of this article, click HERE

September KelownaNow Article: Tips for hiking with your dog in the Okanagan
Pets First with Fairfield Animal Hospital

Now that the smoke is beginning to clear in the valley, pet owners will want to be getting outside and hiking with their furry friends again, and living in the Okanagan provides us with some of the best places to do so!

Before you hit the trails, here are some things to consider:

Do your homework
Always do your research before heading out. Nothing is worse than arriving to a trail only to find out it's not dog-friendly!

Familiarize yourself with who else might be using the trail. Many trails around the Okanagan are shared with mountain bikers, trail runners, and equestrians.

To read more of this article, click HERE.
August KelownaNow Article: Emergency preparedness for your fur family
Pets First with Fairfield Animal Hospital

While it’s not something we want to think about, emergency preparedness is important to keep in mind for residents in the Okanagan.

From flooding to forest fires, it’s imperative for families to have a plan in the event of a crisis or evacuation, not only for themselves but for their furry family as well.

Here are some simple steps you can follow to prepare your pets in the event of an emergency:

1. Get an Emergency Sticker for your front door
These stickers let emergency responders know there are animals in the house to be rescued. They indicate how many pets of each species are inside, and may give the name and address of your local veterinarian or rescue organization.

To read more of this article, click HERE
​July KelownaNow Article: Summer Safety Tips for Pets in the Okanagan
Pets First with Westbank Animal Care Hospital

Summer is here, and we’re here to help you and your furry family stay safe and have fun!

Here are some hazards to watch for when you’re exploring the valley with your pets, and ways to avoid them.

Hot Pavement
When temperatures are heating up outside, so are the sidewalks! Your dog’s paw pads are sensitive to the heat.

There is a simple test to see if the asphalt is too hot. Place the back of your hand on the pavement - if you cannot hold it there for five seconds, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws.

To read more of this article, click HERE

Check out our BLOG for Seasonal Pet Safety and Pet Health Tips:

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