Kincardine Veterinary Services

06/04/2026

This week, our team spent time sharpening our lifesaving skills through pet CPR training! While we hope to never need to use these emergency techniques, being prepared can make all the difference when every second counts.

Veterinary medicine is constantly evolving, and we are committed to staying up to date with the latest training, protocols, and best practices. From emergency procedures to advances in patient care, ongoing education helps us provide the highest level of care possible for your beloved pets.

Our team is passionate about what we do, and investing in continued learning is just one of the many ways we demonstrate our dedication to the health, safety, and well-being of every patient who walks through our doors.

Thank you for trusting us with your furry family members. ❤️🐾

06/03/2026

UPDATE: OUR INTERENT HAS BEEN RESTORED! YAY!

Good Morning,

Our internet is currently down, we are working on getting restored. This means we do not have access to emails and texts.
If you have an urgent inquiry please call us at 519-396-2071.
Thank you for your patience and understanding. ❤️

06/01/2026

Do you know what today is? 😀

It's Parasite Prevention Day!

In Bruce County, heartworm prevention should be given monthly from June 1st through November 1st to ensure your dog is fully protected during mosquito season. We also recommend year-round protection against fleas and ticks to keep your dog comfortable, and actively safeguard them against Lyme and other tick-borne diseases

Strider, Alaska and Pursuit are all smiles because they readily took their parasite prevention today! 👌

We wish you and your pets a safe, healthy, and parasite free summer! ❤️

05/30/2026

Are you feeding Raaw Energy dog food?

This brand is being recalled - All dog food products manufactured between July 17, 2025, and December 23, 2025, as well as a Beef and Turkey Medley batch dated March 31, 2026. The recall was prompted by positive testing for Listeria monocytogenes, which poses severe health risks to both pets and humans.

Feeding raw diets to dogs and cats has become increasingly popular, but many pet owners are unaware of the serious risks that can come with feeding uncooked meat and homemade raw meals.

The biggest concern? BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION.

Raw meat can contain harmful bacteria such as:
🦠 Salmonella
🦠 E. coli
🦠 Listeria

These bacteria can make not only pets sick, but also the humans in the household, especially children, seniors, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals. Pets eating raw diets can shed bacteria in their saliva and stool, contaminating food bowls, floors, furniture, and even your hands after cuddling them.

Other risks of raw diets can include:
❌ Nutritional imbalances
❌ Bone fractures or intestinal blockages from raw bones
❌ Dental fractures
❌ Parasite exposure
❌ Unsafe food handling concerns in the home

For pets who truly need a homemade diet due to allergies or medical conditions, homemade meals CAN be an option, but why not make them safer and nutritionally balanced?

Cooked, veterinary-approved homemade diets help:
✔️ Reduce harmful bacteria risks
✔️ Ensure pets receive proper vitamins and nutrients
✔️ Lower the chance of foodborne illness for both pets and people

If you are considering a homemade or raw diet for your pet, we strongly recommend discussing it with your veterinary team first. Nutrition plays a huge role in your pet’s long-term health, and not all diets are created equal! 🐶🐱💙

I wasn't very quick to write about this because while some incidents of contamination of raw pet food prompt recalls, such contamination is a largely

05/29/2026

🌈 We are gearing up for Pride Month 🌈

If you have an appointment scheduled with us over the next month, don't forget to pick up your Pride bandana and strike a pose ❤️

We have the best patients! 🥰

Happy Friday!

05/27/2026

Heartworm Awareness 🦟

Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially life-threatening illness caused by worms that live in the heart, lungs, and blood vessels of infected dogs and cats (although lower risk, still a possibility). It is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito, not directly from dog to dog.

How is heartworm spread? 🤔
When a mosquito bites an infected animal, it can pick up tiny heartworm larvae. If that mosquito later bites another dog, it can pass those larvae along. Over time, the larvae grow into adult worms inside the dog’s body.

What’s the risk in Ontario?
Ontario does have heartworm risk, especially during mosquito season. Warmer temperatures and changing weather patterns can increase mosquito activity and extend the transmission season. While heartworm is less common here than in some southern regions, cases do occur every year, and even indoor pets can be exposed if mosquitoes get inside.

How is heartworm treated?
Treatment for heartworm disease can be lengthy, costly, and hard on the body. It often involves:

Confirming the diagnosis with blood testing
Restricting exercise to reduce strain on the heart and lungs
A series of medications and injections to kill the worms safely
Careful monitoring by your veterinarian
Because treatment can be complicated and carries some risk, prevention is always the better option.

Prevention is key 👌
The good news is that heartworm disease is largely preventable. Monthly preventives prescribed by your veterinarian can protect your dog during mosquito season. Regular testing is also important, even for pets on prevention, to make sure they stay protected.

Protect your pet
Talk to our team about the right heartworm prevention plan for your dog. A simple preventive routine can help avoid a serious disease and keep your pet healthy all season long. ❤️🐾

05/25/2026

Check this out! 🧐

We are already seeing an increase of Lyme disease in our canine patients this spring 😢 .

Did you know it takes 6-8 weeks after a tick bite to show a positive result? This means that these 2 recent Lyme positive test results are from ticks that attached to a patient in March or earlier.

In order to test for tick borne diseases after a tick bite we take a small blood sample 6-8 weeks after exposure. The first photo is of a snap test we performed in clinic with that small blood sample. This test screens for antigens and/or antibodies of Heartworm, Lyme disease, Anaplamosis, and Erlichia. The small blue dot at the bottom is a Lyme positive result.

The next step is to send a blood sample to an external lab for a Lyme Quant test to find out if the patient has an active infection or not. A urine sample is also recommended to ensure Lyme disease has not affected the kidneys as it likes to set up camp here 😵‍💫.

If an active infection is present a course of antibiotics is recommended. Often, our canine patients are asymptomatic, meaning they show no signs of Lyme disease which leaves it untreated and potentially detrimental to their health.

Prevention is key! Get yours now!

05/23/2026

🌿🐢 Happy National Turtle Day! 🌿🐢

Did you know Ontario is home to 8 species of turtles and every single one of them is considered at risk? Habitat loss, pollution, and road traffic are major threats to our slow-moving shelled friends.

This time of year, turtles are especially active as they travel to nesting sites, often crossing busy roads. A few small actions from humans can make a BIG difference! 💚

If you see a turtle crossing the road:
✔️ Slow down and stop when safe to do so
✔️ Move the turtle in the direction it was already heading
✔️ Pick them up carefully with both hands near the back of the shell
✔️ For snapping turtles, NEVER pick them up by the tail, use a shovel, car mat, or gently guide them instead
✔️ Never relocate turtles far away from where they were found

Even if you move them “to a safer spot,” turtles will often try to return home and may attempt to cross the road again.

Every turtle matters, many species take years to mature and losing even one adult turtle can impact the population for decades.

Let’s work together to protect Ontario’s wildlife and keep our turtles safe this spring and summer! 🐢☀️

This snapping turtle was making its way across our field! Have you spotted any turtles yet this season? Share your photos in the comments! 📸

05/20/2026

Can you believe it is almost June? ☀️

That means mosquito season is here, and it’s time to start your pet’s monthly heartworm prevention on June 1st. Heartworm disease is spread through mosquito bites and can cause serious damage to the heart and lungs of dogs and cats.

Starting prevention on June 1st is an important part of keeping your pets protected throughout the season.

Monthly preventatives also help control intestinal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms, helping protect not only our four-legged friends, but the humans who love them too. ❤️

If your pet needs a heartworm test, prevention refill, or is due for deworming, please contact the clinic to make sure they’re ready for parasite season!

Questions? Ask away!

05/19/2026

Sun's out, tongues out 😋!

Kilfane hopes everyone had a wonderful long weekend and wanted to show you how good he is wearing his doggles during his laser treatment this morning 🥰.

Kilfane is also sporting our new bandana for Pride! ❤️

Happy Tuesday!