Capital City Specialty & Emergency Animal Hospital

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Kanata, ON
Capital City Specialty & Emergency Animal Hospital

We are an emergency and specialty emergency animal hospital located in Ottawa, Ontario.
(4)

06/11/2026

Behind every healthy smile is a whole lot more than a dental cleaning! 🦷

Here, Dr. Thatcher, our Board-Certified Veterinary Dentist, is performing a COHAT (Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment) on one of our canine patients, named Ellis 💙

A COHAT includes a complete oral examination under general anesthesia, full-mouth dental radiographs (X-rays), professional scaling and polishing, and treatment of any dental disease that may be identified. Since many painful dental conditions occur below the gumline, dental radiographs are a critical part of assessing a pet’s oral health.

Dental disease is one of the most common medical conditions seen in dogs and cats, with many pets showing signs by just 3 years of age. Left untreated, dental disease can lead to chronic pain, infection, tooth loss, and a decreased quality of life.

Routine dental care—including regular veterinary examinations, at-home dental hygiene (tooth brushing!), and professional dental procedures when recommended—helps keep our pets comfortable, healthy, and smiling for years to come 🐶💙🦷

Way to go, Ellis! 💙🦷

06/06/2026

🐾 Difficult conversations are part of veterinary medicine—but they don’t have to be navigated alone

Join us for an evening of insight, discussion, and professional growth at:
“A Surgeon and a Social Worker Walk Into a Bar...”

This unique lecture will explore how veterinary professionals can better support clients facing complex medical decisions, uncertainty, and emotional challenges. Through the perspectives of both surgery and social work, we’ll discuss communication strategies, compassion, and practical approaches to client care.

🎤 Featuring: • Dr. Sarah Boston, DVM, DVSc, Diplomate ACVS • Dr. Michelle Lem, DVM, MSc, MSW, RSW

📅 June 18, 2026 🕕 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM 📍 Holiday Inn Kanata, Ottawa

📧 RSVP: [email protected]

A special thank you to Royal Canin for generously sponsoring this event.

We hope you’ll join us for an evening of learning, reflection, and connection with colleagues from across the veterinary community.

Please note: This event is intended for veterinary professionals only.
 

05/28/2026

Remember Jasmine? We certainly do 💜🐾

Jasmine was one of our previous Medical Marvels after she came to us in a life-threatening Addisonian crisis and experienced cardiac arrest TWICE during her hospitalization. 🚨❤️ Thanks to rapid intervention, CPR, and a very determined team (and patient!), she pulled through and made an incredible recovery.

This time, we were so happy to see Jasmine again under much less critical circumstances — she came in for a cystotomy! 🩺 A cystotomy is a surgical procedure where the urinary bladder is opened to remove bladder stones or other material causing irritation or obstruction.

We’re happy to report Jasmine’s procedure and recovery went smoothly with no complications ✨ Despite her previous hectic hospitalization, she still absolutely adores everyone here and remains one of the calmest, sweetest, most unbothered patients we see 😌🐶

It was so special to see Jasmine and her family again, and moments like this remind us why we do what we do every day 💕

05/26/2026

You’re not seeing double… 👀🐾

These gorgeous coonhound siblings got into a little trouble together after an unfortunate encounter with a porcupine! 🦔 Both pups came in with quills in their face, proving that sibling adventures can sometimes lead to sibling consequences 😅

It’s definitely porcupine season — we see many quill cases throughout the summer months, especially in curious dogs exploring the outdoors 🌲☀️

Thankfully, after sedation and careful quill removal, these two were feeling much more comfortable and ready to head home together ❤️

Porcupine quills are more serious than many people realize. Quills can migrate deeper into the body over time and cause severe complications — we have even seen migrating quills reach the heart before in previous patients (if you can remember our sibling Medical Marvels from this past year!)

If your pet has an encounter with a porcupine, prompt veterinary care is always recommended!

We’re so happy these beautiful siblings are back to causing less painful mischief together 🐶🐶

05/16/2026

✨ Meet Mavis — another one of our incredible Medical Marvels ✨🐾

Mavis presented to our Emergency & ICU team in October 2025 with worsening difficulty breathing 🫁 and was diagnosed with Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) — a condition seen in flat-faced breeds where narrowed upper airways (nostrils, soft palate, and throat structures) make it difficult to move air normally.

She was admitted to the ICU for stabilization and surgical planning. On sedated airway examination, Mavis was found to have stenotic nares (narrow nostrils), an elongated/thickened soft palate, and mildly everted laryngeal saccules.
Our surgical team performed airway correction surgery including an alar fold vestibuloplasty and folded flap palatoplasty 💙

Her recovery was challenging. She developed significant post-operative respiratory distress with concern for aspiration, including coughing, gagging, and nasal discharge. She required intensive ICU care, including intubation, high-flow oxygen support, IV fluids, pain control, sedation, anti-nausea medications, and IV antibiotics.

Despite aggressive support, Mavis continued to struggle breathing after extubation attempts, and a temporary tracheostomy tube was placed — allowing her to breathe through a tube in her neck while awake 🐶

With time, patience, and incredible care, Mavis improved steadily. She was eating, walking, and slowly returning to herself 💕

Four days post-op, her tracheostomy tube was successfully removed and she was finally able to go home 🏡✨

Today, Mavis is absolutely thriving — breathing easier, feeling better, and living her best life as the most photogenic Boston Terrier around 📸💖

A huge thank you to her devoted family for their trust and perseverance. Stories like Mavis’ are why we do what we do every day 🩺🐾

05/13/2026

✨ Meet Diesel — one of our incredible 2025 Medical Marvels ✨🐾

In March 2025, Diesel was hospitalized elsewhere after experiencing vomiting (including potatoes 🥔 and pieces of a plastic toy 🧸) and lethargy. After discharge, his family noticed he still wasn’t acting like himself. A few days later, he developed increasing difficulty breathing and was referred to our ER & ICU team for ongoing care.

On presentation, Diesel was struggling to breathe and had harsh lung sounds on exam. Chest radiographs revealed severe pneumonia 🫁, most likely secondary to aspiration. Bloodwork also showed inflammatory changes, elevated liver values, and increased bilirubin.

Diesel was admitted to the ICU for intensive supportive care including IV fluids, antibiotics 💉, and oxygen therapy 🩵 Despite treatment, his condition worsened over the following days. His oxygen levels remained poor, breathing became increasingly laboured, and he developed severe gas distension of his stomach and intestines — likely from swallowing excess air due to respiratory distress.

A nasogastric tube was placed to help decompress his stomach, and because of his history of ingesting pieces of a plastic toy, there was ongoing concern for a possible intestinal foreign body. Diesel underwent a CT scan of both his chest and abdomen, which thankfully ruled out an obstruction.

From there, his care intensified even further. He was started on prokinetic medications and advanced oxygen support using a high-flow nasal oxygen cannula. Slowly but surely, Diesel began to turn the corner 🌟

After 7 days in the ICU, Diesel was finally well enough to go home to his loving family 🏡💙

Cases like Diesel’s remind us how resilient our patients can be — and how teamwork, advanced critical care, and a dedicated family can make all the difference. 🐶✨

05/10/2026

🩺🐱 “Silent But Deadly” — Making Sense of FIP

Join us for an evening of continuing education with Dr. Galya Schwartz DVM, our small animal internal medicine resident, as we take a closer look at feline infectious peritonitis (FIP): a complex and often challenging disease that every veterinary professional encounters.

📅 Thursday, May 21st
⏰ 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
📍 Capital City Specialty & Emergency Animal Hospital
747 Silver Seven Rd, Units 30–35
Kanata, Ontario

Space is limited, and this is for veterinary professionals only ♥️
�To RSVP: [email protected]

Thank you to our sponsors, Trutina Pharmacy and Grey Wolf Animal Health, for supporting veterinary education.

04/29/2026

👑 Meet Queen Charlotte (QC) — one of our incredible Medical Marvels

When QC first came to us, she was 6 months old and had been experiencing fainting (syncopal) episodes at home. On exam, our cardiology team noted a heart murmur and a cyanotic (blue/purple) tongue—signs that her body wasn’t getting enough oxygen.

An echocardiogram revealed a complex congenital heart condition called Tetralogy of Fallot, meaning multiple structural abnormalities were affecting how blood flowed through her heart and lungs.

QC had:
* A ventricular septal defect (VSD) similar to “blue baby syndrome” in humans
* A Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) — a vessel that should close after birth but remained open, causing abnormal blood flow
* Reduced blood flow to the lungs

CT scan confirmed these abnormalities and revealed a blood clot. Bloodwork showed increased red blood cells and low platelets.

💊 Initial plan: QC was started on blood thinners and closely monitored. She did well—no more fainting, and she was bright at home.

⚠️ Then things changed… She became low energy, collapsing daily, & had laboured breathing. Repeat testing showed her red blood cells were even higher putting her at risk of stroke.

She was critical. Without intervention, she likely wouldn’t survive— surgery was risky but she had to have it.
 Our cardiology team, led by Dr. Whipp, performed:
* Angiogram with ductal stent placement to improve blood flow to the lungs
* Phlebotomy (removal of blood) to reduce clot/stroke risk

✨ The result?
* Her breathing improved
* Oxygen levels increased

🐾 And today? QC is thriving 💕
* No more collapsing
* Normal red blood cell levels
* Improved heart structure

She will likely remain on blood thinners long-term and continue cardiology check-ups—but her future is bright.

04/16/2026

📣 Join Us for an Upcoming Veterinary CE Lecture! 🐾

We’re excited to be hosting an evening of learning for veterinary professionals with Dr. Kathleen Beekmann (DVM, BVM&S, Residency-Trained in Veterinary Cardiology)

🫀 Lecture Topics: • Diet-Related DCM: An Update • Diagnosing & Treating Feline Congestive Heart Failure

Stay up to date on evolving cardiology topics and gain practical insights you can bring back to your patients.

📅 Thursday, April 30th, 2026 ⏰ 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM 📍 Capital City 747 Silver Seven Rd, Units 30–35 Kanata, Ontario

⚠️ Space is limited! To RSVP, please email Julie Campbell at: 📧 [email protected]

Thank you to Hill’s for generously sponsoring this event!

We look forward to seeing you there 🐶🐱
 

Address

Kanata, ON
K2V0H2

Telephone

+16132447387

Website

http://www.capcityvet.com/

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