Newsletters 2021
DR. NELLISSA STALENHOEF
We are excited to announce that we have welcomed a new veterinarian to the Glendale family!
Dr. Nellissa Stalenhoef graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 2019, afterwhich she completed a small animal rotating internship at the Atlantic Veterinary College in PEI. Dr. Stalenhoef has been working in a small animal hospital ever since.
She has an interest in all animal species which has led her to work as a mixed practitioner here at Glendale. Dr. Stalenhoef will be splitting her time between Glendale and working with Dr. Sherri Cox at the National Wildlife Centre. Dr. Stalenhoef looks forward to meeting all of the pet-parents and of course our furried friends!
Dr. Nellissa Stalenhoef graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 2019, afterwhich she completed a small animal rotating internship at the Atlantic Veterinary College in PEI. Dr. Stalenhoef has been working in a small animal hospital ever since.
She has an interest in all animal species which has led her to work as a mixed practitioner here at Glendale. Dr. Stalenhoef will be splitting her time between Glendale and working with Dr. Sherri Cox at the National Wildlife Centre. Dr. Stalenhoef looks forward to meeting all of the pet-parents and of course our furried friends!
As of Friday July 16th, Ontario will enter Step 3 of the Roadmap to Reopen. Our team is busy in the process of making plans that will allow our clients to once again be present during their pets' appointments, while at the same time, keeping you and our staff safe. Please stay tuned for more details over the next couple of weeks as plan to open our doors as of August 3rd! We cannot wait to see you all face to face again!!
PANDEMIC INDUCED SEPARATION ANXIETY
Our pets are family members, and during the pandemic so many pet owners have been at home with their pets more than ever before. Spending most of our time together can increase the human-animal bond, deepen our relationship with our pets, and connect pet owners with the veterinary team in ways we never predicted. One prediction we can make though, is that as we return to work and life outside the home after this period of constant connection, our pets may be at risk for developing or displaying signs of separation distress.
Our pets are family members, and during the pandemic so many pet owners have been at home with their pets more than ever before. Spending most of our time together can increase the human-animal bond, deepen our relationship with our pets, and connect pet owners with the veterinary team in ways we never predicted. One prediction we can make though, is that as we return to work and life outside the home after this period of constant connection, our pets may be at risk for developing or displaying signs of separation distress.
WHAT IS SEPARATION ANXIETY?
Separation anxeity, or separation distress, means the pet experiences a feeling of anxiety or even panic when they are separated from preferred people. The signs most commonly associated with this disorder include vocalizing, salivation, destructive behavior especially at exits like doors and windows, urination or defecation indoors/in unwanted locations, lack of appetite when alone, self-trauma like licking or chewing when alone, and attempted or successful escapes.
In severe cases, pets may even break through fences or windows, chew through walls or doors, and engage in other dangerous behavior when they are feeling panic. Often, the signs of anxiety such as pacing, panting, jumping up on the owner or attention-seeking, avoiding confinement areas, or trying to escape begin when the owner first starts preparing to leave home (brushing teeth, picking up keys, lacing up shoes, etc.).
If your pet is showing the signs listed here, tell your veterinary team right away. A doctor's diagnosis is needed to confirm separation distress or separation anxiety disorder. The good news is, there is a lot we can do to help prevent separation distress, and to treat it if it occurs.
Separation anxeity, or separation distress, means the pet experiences a feeling of anxiety or even panic when they are separated from preferred people. The signs most commonly associated with this disorder include vocalizing, salivation, destructive behavior especially at exits like doors and windows, urination or defecation indoors/in unwanted locations, lack of appetite when alone, self-trauma like licking or chewing when alone, and attempted or successful escapes.
In severe cases, pets may even break through fences or windows, chew through walls or doors, and engage in other dangerous behavior when they are feeling panic. Often, the signs of anxiety such as pacing, panting, jumping up on the owner or attention-seeking, avoiding confinement areas, or trying to escape begin when the owner first starts preparing to leave home (brushing teeth, picking up keys, lacing up shoes, etc.).
If your pet is showing the signs listed here, tell your veterinary team right away. A doctor's diagnosis is needed to confirm separation distress or separation anxiety disorder. The good news is, there is a lot we can do to help prevent separation distress, and to treat it if it occurs.
HOW CAN I MEET THE NEEDS OF MY PETS?
Pets need their daily needs met in order to remain both physically and mentally healthy. Proper nutrition, medical care, and grooming/husbandry are at the top of the list. Some other crucial daily needs of companion animals:
Protection from undue stress or fear
Physical exercise (cats, too!), including individual maximum speed at least once a day
Mental stimulation (including foraging, training using positive reinforcement by building the skills you want your pet to have a little every day, playing structured games, solving puzzles, social interaction, exploring novel environments)
Social interactions with family members
Time for calm rest/Alone time (unless this causes distress)
Developing a routine that includes a plan for meeting the needs of companion animals on a daily basis is so important. Routines build predictability which helps life to feel more stable and less uncertain. Stability reduces anxiety in people and in animals. It can be difficult to maintain routines such as daily walks, playtimes, rest times, work and mealtimes during the pandemic: both for people and for pets. The routine does not need to be strict, meaning the same activity at the same time every day, but it should be regular, allowing time for each activity each day. Maintaining a routine can help protect against separation distress once the family is spending more time away from home.
Pets need their daily needs met in order to remain both physically and mentally healthy. Proper nutrition, medical care, and grooming/husbandry are at the top of the list. Some other crucial daily needs of companion animals:
Protection from undue stress or fear
Physical exercise (cats, too!), including individual maximum speed at least once a day
Mental stimulation (including foraging, training using positive reinforcement by building the skills you want your pet to have a little every day, playing structured games, solving puzzles, social interaction, exploring novel environments)
Social interactions with family members
Time for calm rest/Alone time (unless this causes distress)
Developing a routine that includes a plan for meeting the needs of companion animals on a daily basis is so important. Routines build predictability which helps life to feel more stable and less uncertain. Stability reduces anxiety in people and in animals. It can be difficult to maintain routines such as daily walks, playtimes, rest times, work and mealtimes during the pandemic: both for people and for pets. The routine does not need to be strict, meaning the same activity at the same time every day, but it should be regular, allowing time for each activity each day. Maintaining a routine can help protect against separation distress once the family is spending more time away from home.
HOW CAN I TELL IF MY PET IS SHOWING SIGNS OF STRESS?
Common body language signs of stress in dogs include: refusing treats, takes treats roughly when normally gentle, dilated pupils/wide eyes, furrowed brow, ears held down or to the side, pacing, panting when not hot, shaking off when not wet, licking lips in the absence of food, yawning when not tired, look/move away from stressors, tail held low or tucked, head held low, looking away or moving away, being overly solicitous, attention-seeking (jumping, pawing, licking), fidgety (cannot settle), moving slower than normal, tense muscles, trembling, and vocalization.
Common body language signs of stress in cats include: refusing treats, takes treats roughly when normally gentle, dilated pupils/wide eyes, furrowed brows, head lowered, ears held to the side or back, whiskers held flat to the cheek or far forward, move away/desire to escape from stressors, faster breathing without exercise, tail held close to body, attention-seeking (rubbing, climbing, scratching), crouching, leaning away, swishing tail.
If you are noticing any of the above body language in your pets, please do not hesitate to call. Together we can come up with a plan to reduce or eliminate any stress your pets may be feeling.
Common body language signs of stress in dogs include: refusing treats, takes treats roughly when normally gentle, dilated pupils/wide eyes, furrowed brow, ears held down or to the side, pacing, panting when not hot, shaking off when not wet, licking lips in the absence of food, yawning when not tired, look/move away from stressors, tail held low or tucked, head held low, looking away or moving away, being overly solicitous, attention-seeking (jumping, pawing, licking), fidgety (cannot settle), moving slower than normal, tense muscles, trembling, and vocalization.
Common body language signs of stress in cats include: refusing treats, takes treats roughly when normally gentle, dilated pupils/wide eyes, furrowed brows, head lowered, ears held to the side or back, whiskers held flat to the cheek or far forward, move away/desire to escape from stressors, faster breathing without exercise, tail held close to body, attention-seeking (rubbing, climbing, scratching), crouching, leaning away, swishing tail.
If you are noticing any of the above body language in your pets, please do not hesitate to call. Together we can come up with a plan to reduce or eliminate any stress your pets may be feeling.