What's New at SVH?

PUDGY POOCHES AND CHUBBY KITTIES REJOICE! SVH CHUB CLUB IS HERE TO THE RESCUE!

Did you know that 25%-45% of adult cats and dogs are overweight or obese?? Being even just a little overweight can significantly shorten your pet’s lifespan and can put your furry friend at risk for a whole host of diseases from diabetes to heart disease; urinary tract disease to degenerative joint disease.

In the past, fat cells were viewed as inert little guys that strictly provided the body with energy and some extra insulation. But we now know that fat cells are metabolically active and constitute the body’s largest endocrine organ! Adipose tissue (where fat cells live) plays an active role in a variety of hormonal regulating and pathological processes and this tissue has been shown to secrete a variety of proteins and hormones that affect immune functions and inflammatory processes throughout the body.

Helping your pet lose the extra poundage is no easy feat and - as in other areas of life - going through the process with the support of others in the same boat can make the journey more enjoyable.

That’s why SVH is proud to offer our CHUB CLUB - a multi-dimensional program designed to help support you while you support your pet’s weight loss.

From monthly weigh-in sessions to nutritional consultations to online group discussions, the Chub Club will hopefully prove to be the missing link in your pet’s weight loss efforts.

If you are interested in signing your pet up and joining our Chub Club simply fill out the online form and we will send you a package filled with everything you need to get you started. Click here to learn more about your pet's battle of the bulge!

WELLNESS TESTING - CAN YOU AFFORD NOT TO DO IT?

No one likes to think about their furry little friend getting sick but sometimes, despite good intentions, even the most pampered of pooches falls ill.

While you can’t always prevent illnesses from happening, the earlier you catch it, the easier it is to treat and the more likely your pet will pull through without any major complications.

With only a few extra drops of blood, your veterinarian can help you to learn important information about your furry friend's health.

Even pets that look completely healthy can still be sick. This is because our pets are really great at hiding illness - a trick they learned when they were still living in the wild.

Unfortunately, old habits die hard and our now domesticated pets will often not show signs of any problems until the disease is quite advanced. For instance, did you know that by the time a pet shows signs of kidney disease the kidneys can already have widespread and irreversible damage?! Wouldn’t it be great to catch these problems when it’s still early enough to extend our pet’s life?

And it’s not just older pets that benefit from these Wellness Blood Tests - our young pets need careful monitoring too since even young pets can suffer the pitfalls of heredity and congenital disease.

Many pooch people prefer to do their pup's Annual Wellness Blood Test at the same time they do their Heartworm Test thus eliminating one extra poke; however, Wellness Blood work can be performed any time of year! Be sure to check with your veterinary team to find out if they offer any special packages for your pet's Wellness needs!.

To all you kitty lovers: Annual Checkups are an ideal time to check out what's going on inside your curious little kitten!

Click here to learn more about Wellness Testing!

SHOW YOU CARE WITH AN ECOLOGICAL GIFT FROM THE HEART!
We all know how important it is to do our part in reducing our ecological footprint. This means obeying the Three R's (Reduce, Reuse & Recycle) and doing what we can to keep harmful plastic products out of our landfills. And what better way to do this than with a fashionable SVH Tote bag?? Our SVH Tote bags are a great way to show that special someone you care and help Mother Earth all at the same time!

So whether you're looking to add a little pizzazz to your own wardrobe or
you're looking for a unique gift for someone special, be sure to pick up one
of our super-cute SVH Tote Bags!
(Click on the picture to see an enlarged photo!)

HELP MAKE PET CANCER HISTORY!

Every year thousands of pets succumb to the terrible effects of cancer. As it is in humans, cancer is a devastating disease that must be stopped. At SVH we want to do everything we can to prevent any more pets from suffering this horrible fate.

Show you care by purchasing one of our SVH Bracelets or ‘I my friends at Smith Vet’ bandanas.

Bracelets are only $5 each and Bandanas are only $10 each and all proceeds from the sale of these items will go directly to supporting the Ontario Veterinary College Pettrust Fund to support the development of the Institute for Comparative Cancer Investigation.

Your support for the cancer centre will help to:

* Fund Canada's first comprehensive animal cancer centre

* Improve the quality of care for sick animals

* Ease stress and suffering for pets and their owners

* Train highly specialized veterinary oncologists

* Support collaborative research into new diagnostic procedures and
innovative medical and radiation therapies

* Unlock cancer's deadly secrets for the benefit of human medicine

Please help us support this wonderful cause. For more information on the research institute, please go to www.pettrust.ca/cancer

A brief note from the Practice Manager.....
It’s strange how fragile life can be. One moment someone is there and the next moment they are gone. The holiday season is a time to reflect on the past year and make plans for the year ahead; it’s a time to laugh and love and enjoy spending time with the ones you love. No one can ever be sure how much time they have left ... CLICK HERE TO KEEP READING

THINK OF US THE NEXT TIME YOU CLEAN OUT YOUR LINEN CLOSET!

Is your linen closet beginning to creep out the door and down the stairs? Do you have towels or linens that you haven't used in years still shoved in the back corner of your closet? If so, maybe it's time for a little "Spring" Cleaning (or "Fall" Cleaning or "Winter" Cleaning...!!)!

If you have any towels, blankets or other linens lying around that you're just itching to get rid of, please bring them on in to our hospital! We will use them to help keep our patients warm and comfortable while they spend some time with us! We know all our furry critters will greatly appreciate your donations!

SVH GOES HIGH TECH

It's 12 o'clock midnight and you notice that Fluffy is running low on her food - what do you do? Well, you can give us a call in the morning (unless you're like me and you forget things the moment after you think of them). Or you can hop onto your computer and fill out one of our fantastic Forms!

We know how hard it can be sometimes to fit us into your busy schedule, and we want to do all we can to make your experiences with us more convenient. Whether it's a refill of medication, an appointment request or a food order, you can now do it all from the comfort of your own home at any time of day!

Simply go to our Forms Page and choose the form you need!

SVH THIRD ANNUAL HOLIDAY TREATS, TOYS & BLANKETS DRIVE
Every year thousands of dogs and cats are forced to spend the winter holidays in a cage while they await their forever home. And while they may not have a home to call their own they are never far from our thoughts. At SVH we believe that every pet deserves to have a happy holiday which is why we are holding our Third Annual Holiday Treats, Toys & Blankets Drive. Please help us give these pets a holiday to remember by donating treats, food, new toys and blankets.

Drop your donated items off in our Holiday Donation Box located in our reception area.