Pet blood donor clinic FAQs

Blood donation for pets: What you need to know We’re excited to be hosting our first blood donation clinic for the Canadian Animal Blood Bank in our offices on Saturday, October 27thth from 10am-4pm! We know that the idea of dog blood donation is a new one for many people, so we’ve compiled a list of the questions we’re asked most often, along with answers. As always, if you have any questions or want more information, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Looking forward to seeing you on the 27th! What is the CABB? The Canadian Animal Blood Bank is a not for profit organization that facilitates and acquires blood donations from healthy dogs to be used for sick dogs in need of various blood products Which dogs can donate blood? Your dog must be between 1 year and 8 years old and weigh at least 25kg (55lbs).…

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More information about canine blood donation – and why it’s so important

  Blood donor clinic: January 27th, 2024 We’ll be hosting a canine blood donor clinic on Saturday, January 27th, 10-4pm at our Liberty Village location. We know that not everyone has heard of canine blood donation, so the graphic below answers some of the most commonly-asked questions. If you’re in the Toronto area and have a largish dog who could donate blood, please email the CABB at niagara@canadiananimalbloodbank.ca to book your spot!  

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Why your dog’s teeth are so important

It’s more than just cosmetics You may have seen our recent dental care promotion (book and complete a dental assessment and completion before February 15, 2020 and you could win tickets to the Raptors vs Bucks game on Feb 25th!) and thought, “Yeah, I should really try brushing my pet’s teeth more often – but it’s always such a pain in the neck! And it’s not like my pet eats sugar all the time – I mean, can his/her teeth really be that big of a deal?” Yes. The medical community has known for decades that oral health is crucial to good overall health for humans – after all, “…the mouth is the entry point to your digestive and respiratory tracts…”, and that means bacteria. There’s increasing research demonstrating that the same is true for animals, and our cats and dogs are no exception. As the AAHA pointed out in…

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What does summer mean for your pet?

Pets need a little extra TLC in the summer months. In lots of ways, pets love summer as much as people do: More outdoor activities, more frequent (and probably longer) walks, and trips to exotic places like the cottage. But pets – and particularly dogs, who tend to spend more time outside – also face some dangers unique to summer. The ASPCA has listed the top 5 risks for pets in the summer: 1.   Fireworks & thunderstorms. According to the ASPCA, loud noises like fireworks are one of the main reasons that pets go missing, especially in good weather. If you’re outside at a fireworks show, keep your pet on a leash; if you know your pet gets frightened by thunderstorms and the loud bangs of fireworks, try keeping them in their crate in a quiet area of your home. 2.  Sun & heat. High summer temperatures and more time…

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Welcome to Dr Erin Reid!

A great addition to the LVAH team We are very pleased to announce that Dr Erin Reid, DVM, has joined Liberty Village Animal Hospital! We’ve known Dr Reid for a long time: She and Dr Ellen were graduating classmates at the Ontario Veterinary College in 2006, and worked together for many years at the Veterinary Emergency Clinic in Toronto. We’re thrilled that Dr Reid has chosen to join LVAH. Some of you have already met her, and probably know that she fits in very well around here: She genuinely cares for all the animals she works with and is committed to doing everything she can to help pets live their best lives. With 3 cats and 2 dogs of her own, she knows that when your pets are healthy, life is just better. We’d like to extend a very warm welcome to Dr Reid – and we can’t wait for…

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An ode to Vet Techs!

October is RVT month We’ve always celebrated RVT/Vet Tech Month, here at LVAH. If you’re one of our pet parents or caregivers, you know why: Vet techs are crucial to a thriving veterinary clinic, both for their clinical knowledge and expertise and also for their genuine love and affection for the pets we look after. Whether you’re a new or longtime visitor to LVAH, you probably know Renata and Frankie, our very own RVTs. They can be found assisting with surgeries, helping examine animals, or, let’s face it, giving some extra TLC to a pet who needs it. We love our vet techs! This month, a personal message from Dr Ellen: “I can honestly say that a significant reason why I am the kind of veterinarian I proudly become is the amazing technicians I Have had the pleasure of working with over the years. When I was a baby vet…

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COVID-19 protocols and practice updates

Not quite back to normal, but we’re getting there As you may have heard, the Ontario government has announced their plans for reopening businesses and services in the province. As of this week, veterinarians may resume ‘normal’ operations. We were very happy to hear this, because we know that so many of our clients have been putting off ‘routine’ visits and checkups for weeks now. And we’re looking forward to seeing you! However, while formal restrictions have been lifted, the coronavirus and COVID-19 haven’t gone away, and social distancing is still considered best practice when it comes to preventing transmission. With that in mind, we wanted to let you know that: We will be returning to our normal hours, Monday-Friday We will continue to be closed on Saturdays for the foreseeable future We can now accept appointments for non-emergency treatments, such as annual checkups and vaccinations Given the backlog of…

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Enjoy your long weekend!

Be honest: You’re taking Friday off too, right? Whether you’re an essential worker, have been working from home, or have been furloughed, the past couple of months haven’t been easy. Sure, you may be able to wear pyjamas around the house more than usual, but that doesn’t mean you’re really ‘relaxing’. So we wanted to take this opportunity to wish you a peaceful, relaxing, and enjoyable long weekend – you deserve it! Holiday weekend hours Friday 15 May – 8am-6pm Saturday 16 May – closed Sunday 17 May – closed Monday 18 May – closed Tuesday 19 May – open at 8am and back to regular hours In the event of an emergency If you need a veterinarian outside of normal hours, please go to one of the following emergency clinics: Emergency Hospital of West Toronto 150 Norseman Street 416.239.3453 Central Toronto Veterinary Referral Clinic 1051 Eglinton Avenue West 416.784.4444…

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COVID-19, social distancing, and your pets

  Caring for pets during a pandemic If you live in Toronto – or in almost any part of North America right now – you’re probably already taking steps to avoid transmitting or catching the COVID-19 coronavirus. You may already be working from home, or ensuring you’re keeping a safe distance from others, avoiding crowded areas – and washing your hands with soap and water a lot. But what about your pets? Coronavirus is not transmitted between humans and pets. So far, there is no evidence that coronavirus is transmitted from humans to pets. Researchers have found one dog in Hong Kong who appeared to have COVID-19 cells, but it’s unclear what this means. Right now, it’s reasonably safe to assume that you and your dog or cat can’t pass the virus back and forth, but healthcare professionals are advising that until they know more, you should probably avoid letting…

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