Anicare Veterinary Hospital

FOOD ORDERS:  

We submit food orders every Monday and Thursday, with delivery on the following business day.  Please submit your order by 10:00 a.m. on order days to ensure that you will get next day delivery. (These days may change on the weeks with a statutory holiday)

•  PLEASE BE AWARE THAT WE SOMETIMES EXPERIENCE DELAYS ON SHIPMENTS FROM OUR SUPPLIER.  IN ADDITION, WE HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY OBTAINING SOME DIETS DUE TO SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.  THESE ARE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER.  

Please remember to submit your order by 10:00 a.m. on order days!

Orders may be submitted by email, or give us a call.

E-mail : reception@anicare.ca

Phone: 250-652-5505

The internet is full of great information, and in many cases not so great information. Here are some useful resources to check out:

Pet Nutrition:

http://petnutritionbysmart.blogspot.ca/

List of poisonous plants:

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants

 Veterinary Info for Pet owners:

https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/

 College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies:

(includes courses for pet owners)

https://civtedu.org/

For information on the use of acupuncture in companion animals please see the following link: www.avacanada.org/whatis.htm ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Acupuncture is one of the main components which make up Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine and involves the insertion of thin sterile needles into specified points, called acupuncture points, where nerves and blood vessels converge, causing a therapeutic and healing response. From a more Western medicine perspective, these acupuncture points are thought to be places that enhance blood circulation as well as stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissue, essentially stimulating the central nervous system. Scientific research now confirms that acupuncture can reduce inflammation and pain, promote tissue healing, regulate gastrointestinal motility, modulate the immune system, and improve local circulation.Chinese herbal medicine utilizes herbal ingredients listed within the Chinese Herbal Materia Medica in particular combinations or formulas to treat particular disease patterns. Dr. Chapman uses food and herbal therapy to decrease inflammation, increase energy, and heal organ dysfunction. Chinese medicine helps the body heal itself. These herbs can be used to treat many conditions like arthritis, skin problems, endocrine disease (thyroid, adrenal), kidney failure, immune-mediated disorders, and cancer.

Appointment Policies

Late appointments:  Because of our full schedule, we are generally not able to see patients that arrive late for an appointment.  If you are late for your appointment and we have to reschedule it for another day, you may be charged a missed appointment fee.

Missed Appointments:  If you need to reschedule or change an appointment, please provide us with 24 hours notice.  If you miss your appointment, regrettably we must charge you a missed appointment fee. This fee will be 50% or more of the full cost of your appointment. As a courtesy, we do endeavour to give reminders the day prior to your scheduled appointment.    We are a busy practice and missed appointments are spots that have been lost, and could have been given to another client who has been waiting to be seen. Thank you for your understanding.

Surgical Appointments Surgical or dental procedures that are missed, either due to absence or the failure to fast your pet for anaesthetic will also result in a fee.

CONSENT FOR TREATMENT will be reviewed and signed at the time of your pet's admitting for their procedure. Arrangements can be made to have it completed ahead of time if needed. 

 Please note that masks are voluntary at this time.  If you would like the veterinarian to wear a mask during your appointment, please ask and we will do so. 

If you are unwell and have a non-urgent appointment, it may be advisable to reschedule. Please call us to discuss, and giving us as much notice as possible would be appreciated. Thank you!

As of December 2024,

Current regulations appear to be:

If a dog is coming from a Rabies-free or low-risk country (Canada)-

- Dogs must be at least 6 months of age and appear healthy. 

-Dog must be microchipped with a chip that can be detected by a universal scanner. 

-You will need a valid Rabies vaccine & certificate to return to Canada. It may also be requested in different US States/ borders.

-A CDC Import form must be completed and a receipt available to show at the border. 

More information can be obtained through the CFIA website, and the US CDC website.

If a dog has been in high risk (for Rabies) country in the last 6 months, please consult these websites as the regulations are different in these cases.

**Please note that all clients are responsible for researching all the requirements needed for their pet's travel. While we try to be aware of the things needed for travel, we cannot keep up with all the changes that may happen, and therefore are not responsible for knowing all the requirements. Please make sure you know EXACTLY what is needed from us prior to your travel! 

 Support for the Humans in Pet Loss 

Grief is a healthy and normal response. Trying to hold in these feelings can extend the grieving process. Losing a pet can leave us feeling lost and exhausted. Where once we had a routine and a being to care for, now we feel unanchored and unable to move forward. In time we will find a new pattern, but in the meantime the feelings of loss feel like they will never leave. 

 Grief can cause changes in appetite, sleep, and health, all of which should be addressed if left too long. Feelings of intense loneliness, isolation, and a sense of being “out of control” are often spoken of with grieving. This is all a normal process of grieving and is different for everyone. 

Guilt is often encountered with loss as well. We often second guess the decisions we make around our pets and their death, wondering if we made a decision too soon or too late. It is important to know that each experience is unique and it is truly a rare event that euthanasia is unnecessary. When you make this decision, the support of friends, family, and your Veterinarian is so important. Euthanasia is a difficult decision and should never be made lightly, but all the second guessing about “what I could have done” only heightens guilt. Inevitably all creatures die, their lives are so much shorter than our own, and euthanasia is a kind and peaceful end.

 If feelings of grief and loss start to impact your life, and daily work and family function is impaired, reaching out to a friend, counsellor, or a pet loss support group, or reading supportive books are all good options for support. We are only human and this sense of loss can often feel overwhelming. Here are some links that may help you through this difficult journey: 

https://bcbh.ca/grief-support/pet-loss-support/ 

https://www.pet-loss.net/resources/Canada.shtml 

https://rspcavic.org/learn/grieving-for-a-lost-pet/ 

https://counsellingbc.com/counsellors/location/victoria-33/practice/grief-and-loss-pets-133 

http://www.tinypetmemories.com 

https://www.smilingblueskies.com/resources/pet-loss-support-books-and-resources/

British Columbia Bereavement Helpline  (www.bcbh.ca) 1-877-779-2223

Here are a few suggestions to memorialize a beloved pet:

• Keep pet tags and put them on a key ring.

• Make a donation to an animal welfare organization in the pet’s name.

• Record the happy memories in a journal.

• Create a collage of photographs or a photobook.

• Write a poem about the pet.

• Plant a new life in their memory, like a tree or flowering bush.

Visit the spot where the pet is buried or place the urn containing their ashes in a central location in the home. Know that your furry family member had a wonderful life and was deeply loved.

[Information in part courtesy of The Ohio State University- Veterinary Medical Center - "Coping with the Loss of a Companion Animal -Support Guide for Families" ]

The Veterinarians at Anicare do their best to make a house call euthanasia possible for our clients. But they are not always able to be available, or to come at the time that is desired.  In this event, please see the list below of Mobile Veterinarians, who can be contacted to help:

PenVet Mobile Veterinary Services @ 236-361-0422 (www.penvet.ca)

Resting Paws Veterinary Hospice Services @ 250-951-7297 (www.restingpawsvet.ca)

Epiphany House Call Services @ 250-686-6511 (www.epiphanyvet.com)

South Island Mobile Vet Services @ 250-818-5526 (www.southislandvet.com)

East Gate Veterinary Services @ 250-598-1067 (www.eastgatevet.ca)

At Home Veterinary Services @ 778-677-7713 (www.athomevet.ca)

Please call the clinic if you would like to request this visit by Dr. Smith or Dr. Chapman- but if they are not able to help you at that time, please know that we have heard many good things about our local house call services. 

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Cremation Services

The cremation service that we use is called Glory Bound. They are a locally-run, family-owned company that has been providing us with excellent service for many years. They offer urns and boxes, as well as clay paw prints and cremation jewelry. All arrangements are made for you by the clinic at the time it is needed.

An alternative company that is available is Gateway Pet Memorial Service. Please visit their website for more information on their service and the items they offer. To use this service, clients will have to call the company directly to make their own personal arrangements.

www.gatewaypetmemorial.com

 Email: info.victoria@gatewaypetmemorial.com