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 […]

Author: Tanya Crocker In late November, we held our first invasive cardiology lab here at Canada West. Invasive cardiology involves using diagnostic and therapeutic tools, such as balloons, catheters or stents that are inserted directly into the patient’s body to treat heart disease.  They are much less invasive than traditional surgical procedures and can be […]

In my last blog, I alluded to some medications that can affect the liver. Medications used to treat infections caused by fungus is one such family of drugs and when they are used, blood tests are done on a periodic basis to help monitor the health of the liver. While fungal diseases have always been […]

The recent article in the Vancouver Sun about the established presence of Amanita Phalloides (a.k.a. the “death cap”) in Vancouver made me think of the cases I have dealt with over the years where mushroom toxicity was suspected. Mushroom toxicity is a year round concern in the Lower Mainland due to our temperate climate. Cases […]

Palm was at our hospital yesterday to get her sutures removed from the 2nd surgery.  We are happy to report that the surgery was successful.    The key to success in such wounds is to go back to surgery when the underlying tissues are not infected.  This is problematic when the skin is not intact […]

We had been concerned that Palm’s large thoracic wound would not heal easily with the first surgery. The size, the depth and the contamination of the wound which would have occurred at the time of her trauma made it very likely that some of the skin would not be viable. About 25% of her wound […]

All of us at Canada West Veterinary Specialists and Palm’s family are touched by the caring and generosity we have witnessed since she has been hospitalized. Palm has well-wishers from North America, Australia and as far as Bejing! Our miracle girl has been doing well.  We were hoping to send her home for a few […]

Authored by Dr Laurence Braun Palm, a blind woman’s guide dog, was involved in a tragic accident last Thursday. When she was suddenly caught by the automatic closing door,  Palm was dragged by the Skytrain to the end of a station, striking a pole. Fortunately, a staff member from Burquitlam Animal Hospital happened to be […]