By Dr. Laurence Braun, ER + Critical Care Specialist [Editor’s Note: Earlier this year, Canada West Veterinary Specialists’ Dr. Laurence Braun experienced first-hand the range of emotions and considerations that our clients encounter as pet-owners of an animal in need of advanced care when her own dog was diagnosed with a fast-growing form of cancer. […]

At Canada West Veterinary Specialists, we are always inspired whenever one of our patients recovers. However, the exuberant and determined efforts of the animals that are guided through long processes of rehabilitation, following the development of life-altering conditions, are always particularly uplifting.  Though the process of recovery can be arduous, the spirits of the animals […]

Dharma was referred to Dr Margiocco because her family veterinarian had detected an abnormal heart rhythm (cardiac arrhythmia) approximately two weeks earlier   while investigating Dharma’s history of exercise intolerance and an episode of acute weakness (“flopping down”) while walking.  Dharma was not receiving any medication at that time.  An ECG was done and revealed a heart block […]

We all know the adage that you can’t teach an old dog a new trick.  However, advances in treatment for canine knee injuries in recent years have shown that rethinking – and reshaping – how the knee works actually results in better outcomes than the older approach of trying to restore the same movements in […]

Pyothorax literally means an accumulation of pus in the chest around lungs. The fluid causes the lungs to partially collapse. These types of infections occur more often in cats.  We believe that their thin chest walls can easily be penetrated with a sharp claw; the hole closes over and we now have a moist, dark […]

While poisonings are typically seen either at the family veterinarian or local emergency clinics, if the pets deteriorate, they are often referred to us for intensive care, monitoring and follow up tests in our laboratory. I was struck in the past few weeks by how many toxicities we have seen recently. One of of them […]

We recently worked on a Serval Cat! Serval cats are medium size cats from Africa.  The cheetah is thought to descend from them.  Like so many other animals in the wild, their numbers have dwindled.  Their population has been in decline largerly due to human population encroaching on their habitats or being hunted for their […]

Recently, Canada West Cardiologist Dr. Marco Margiocco and teamed up with Bertie Nelson of the Cavalier Club of BC to preside over a heart-check clinic day (the technical term is an “auscultation clinic”) for a large and happy group of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (“CKCS”). Mitral valve disease is the most common form of heart […]

Author: Dr Marilyn Dunn Bella, a 6 year old female Lhasa Apso had bladder stones in the past which had necessitated 2 surgeries in the previous 2 years.  The stones had been  analyzed and she had been on a diet to prevent stone formation with added water to keep her urine dilute.  Over the last […]

Breakfast Television Vancouver came to the hospital today for a live  on-camera visit to show their viewers some of the work we do.  Today’s segments included: Wilma – a cat who received a stent for a blocked kidney  (described by Dr. Marylin Dunn); Wally – a dog with arthritic knees who receives stem cell injections […]