At this point masks are optional for both our clients and our staff. Please come ahead inside for your in person appointment or to pick up medication or food. If you prefer, we are still happy to continue curbside service and appointments - simply call us and let us know what we can do to help you.

We are also happy to announce that as we have been able to increase our staffing, we can now accept new clients!

We are excited to see you!

The safety of our staff, clients and patients remains our top priority. Being mindful that both clients and staff have varying levels of comfort as we adjust to these changes, we are happy to announce the option for clients to customize their appointment based on their personal preference between the following two options:

When you arrive in the parking lot, please remain in your vehicle, and call the clinic at (613) 692-2434 at your scheduled appointment time. The doctor will obtain a history and discuss your appointment preference at that time.

In-Person Appointments: A Veterinary Assistant will meet you at the front door to guide you and your pet to the exam room.

Curbside Appointments: A Veterinary Assistant will meet you outside the clinic front door and bring your pet into the exam room while your return to your vehicle. Once the exam is complete, the doctor will call you to discuss the results. The Veterinary Assistant will then return your pet to you. Payment can be made either over the phone or in-clinic.

If you are coming to the clinic to pick up food or medications for your pet there will be no limits on the number of people that can be in the lobby. Please come in and we will be with you as soon as we can! If you prefer not to come in, please call us upon your arrival and reception can do contactless payment and pick up of food or medications.

*Please note wearing a mask within the clinic IS NOW OPTIONAL. We will review this policy on a regular basis as we monitor public health trends.

During this time of transition, we ask for your kindness and respect towards all staff. Any abusive behaviour will not be tolerated.

We are excited to see you!

As restrictions are set to lift as of March 21st, 2022, the safety of our staff, clients and patients remains our top priority. Being mindful that both clients and staff have varying levels of comfort as we adjust to these changes, we are happy to announce the option for clients to customize their appointment based on their personal preference between the following two options:

When you arrive in the parking lot, please remain in your vehicle, and call the clinic at (613) 692-2434 at your scheduled appointment time. The doctor will obtain a history and discuss your appointment preference at that time.

1. In-Person Appointments: A Veterinary Assistant will meet you at the front door to guide you and your pet to the exam room. Please limit one person per appointment.

2. Curbside Appointments: A Veterinary Assistant will meet you outside the clinic front door and bring your pet into the exam room while your return to your vehicle. Once the exam is complete, the doctor will call you to discuss the results. The Veterinary Assistant will then return your pet to you. Payment can be made either over the phone or in-clinic.

If you are coming to the clinic to pick up food or medications for your pet there will be no limits on the number of people that can be in the lobby. Please come in and we will be with you as soon as we can! If you prefer not to come in, please call us upon your arrival and reception can do contactless payment and pick up of food or medications.

*Please note that we will continue to require all clients entering the clinic to wear a mask. Staff will also remain masked. We will review this policy on a regular basis as we monitor public health trends.

During this time of transition, we ask for your kindness and respect towards all staff. Any abusive behaviour will not be tolerated.

Recently many veterinary clinics in Ottawa have had to be shut down due to staff members testing positive for COVID. In an effort to prevent this from happening to our clinics so that we can remain open and continue to treat our patients, we will be going back to 'curbside' service. Starting Monday January 3rd we will to go back to having our reception area closed to the public.

For picking up anything for your pet (food, medication, supplements etc) we request that you contact us in advance to have your order prepared and set aside. At this time we will take credit card payment over the phone. When you are ready to come to the clinic to pick up your order, please call the clinic on arrival and a receptionist will bring your pet's items outside for you to pick up.

As this change will result in higher call volumes, we do ask that for anything that is non-urgent (including order requests) please feel free to contact us via email at greenbankanimalhosp@gmail.com. It may take up 24-48 hours to respond, but we promise we are checking them routinely! You can also use your petly account to make the requests for prescriptions and appointments directly while our webstore can be used for food orders.

We have not been restricted in the kind of procedures we can perform, so all our routine appointments can continue as scheduled in curbside format. As usual please show up in the parking lot at your pet's scheduled appointment time, and a veterinarian will call your cell phone to get the appointment started. We will go back to doing all payments via credit card over the phone after the appointment.

We hope you had a great New Years!

Thank you to everyone for the kind comments and wishes! I reflect on having had the opportunity to work with all of you and am grateful for so much: Our staff of loyal, caregiving people who get so excited when puppies and kittens come in! Or the satisfaction of being able to heal a pet that someone loves so much. The dedication to giving the best possible care and love to so many. Our clients for the trust and respect they have shown me year after year. So many of my clients have been through generations of pet ownership with me and I am truly blessed to have been their doctor. This is truly the best profession and I cannot imagine doing anything more gratifying! Our philosophy is simple: Give the best possible care you can and the rest will follow. I leave behind a wonderful team and community and wish all of you the best in the New Year. Thanks, Rob Kartes, DVM

With the current situation, we are now allowing light traffic back into the reception area only in the clinic. This will allow for clients to come into the reception area to pay, as well as pick up medications and food.

FOR OUR VILLAGE OF MANOTICK ANIMAL HOSPITAL LOCATION: All appointments will remain curb side. We ask you to please call us when you arrive to the parking lot. We will allow only 1 client at a time into the reception area for medication/food pickup and to collect payment.

FOR GREENBANK LOCATION : All appointments will remain curb side - please continue to arrive at the clinic at your scheduled appointment time. You will receive a phone call from us to get the appointment started. - please see below for a refresher on our door way organization to help with flow and in and out of the clinic, and trying to avoid traffic jams in this area!

You will notice there is a light at the top left corner of the door, and the reception team has control over its colour. When they are ready for another person to come into the clinic they will turn that light green to signal that it's all clear and the next person in line is welcome to come in.

If the light remains red, please kindly wait outside and they will be with you as soon as possible!

Please also be aware of our cancellation fees. If an appointment is cancelled within 24 hours of the appointment time, or the appointment is missed without notice there will be a charge of $50. If a surgery is cancelled with less than 2 business days there will be a charge of $100.

Thank you for bearing with us as we continue to try to adapt and stay efficient as the COVID-19 situation evolves. Stay well!

With the latest announcements yesterday, we need to re-adjust our policies to follow the guidelines given by the government. As of today, we will have to go back to having our reception area closed to the public.

For picking up anything for your pet (food, medication, supplements etc) we request that you contact us in advance to have your order prepared and set aside. At this time we will take credit card payment over the phone. When you are ready to come to the clinic to pick up your order, please call the clinic on arrival and a receptionist will bring your pet's items outside for you to pick up.

As this change will result in higher calls volumes, we do ask that anything that is non-urgent (including order requests) please feel free to contact us via email at greenbankanimalhosp@gmail.com for our Greenbank location or villageofmanotickah@gmail.com for our Manotick location. It may take up 24-48 hours to respond, but we promise we are checking them routinely!

We have thankfully not been restricted in the kind of procedures we can perform, so all our routine appointments can continue as scheduled in curbside format. As usual please show up in the parking lot at your pet's scheduled appointment time. We will go back to doing all payments via credit card over the phone after the appointment.

If an appointment is cancelled within 24 hours of the appointment time, or the appointment is missed without notice there will be a charge of $50. If a surgery is cancelled with less than 2 business days there will be a charge of $100. THIS WILL BE EFFECTIVE STARTING APRIL 5, 2021

With the restrictions lifting slightly, we will now be able to go back to the system we were using in December with respect to allowing light traffic back into the reception area only in the clinic. This will allow for clients to come into the reception area to pay, as well as pick up medications and food.

FOR OUR VILLAGE OF MANOTICK ANIMAL HOSPITAL LOCATION: All appointments will remain curb side. We ask you to please call us when you arrive to the parking lot. We will allow only 1 client at a time into the reception area for medication/food pickup and to collect payment.

FOR GREENBANK LOCATION : All appointments will remain curb side - please continue to arrive at the clinic at your scheduled appointment time. You will receive a phone call from us to get the appointment started. - please see below for a refresher on our door way organization to help with flow and in and out of the clinic, and trying to avoid traffic jams in this area!

You will notice there is a light at the top left corner of the door, and the reception team has control over it's colour. When they are ready for another person to come into the clinic they will turn that light green to signal that it's all clear and the next person in line is welcome to come in.

If the light remains red, please kindly wait outside and they will be with you as soon as possible!

Thank you for bearing with us as we continue to try to adapt and stay efficient as the COVID-19 situation evolves. Stay well!

Owners of Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers should be aware of this breed's risk for certain diseases. These include kidney and intestinal diseases which can result in protein loss as well as Addison's disease which causes electrolyte abnormalities. Early detection of these conditions is important since all are life threatening when not controlled. There is now a test for genetic markers. Early detection of these conditions is important since all are life threatening when not controlled. Annual screening allowing for early detection is highly recommended since early intervention is critical to changing the course of these diseases. We can improve both life span and quality of life associated with PLE and PLN if caught early enough. Early intervention is critical to changing the course of these diseases.

For our clients who have pets who are up to date in their vaccines we are offering discounted annual screening and monitoring of these conditions at our Wheaten Testing Clinic. A heartworm/tick borne disease test can also be added at a special discounted price. This year Dr. WIllis will be running the clinic on Wednesday March 17th, 2021 from 4-8pm at Greenbank Animal Hospital.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE URINE TEST IS NON-REFUNDABLE AND THE SAMPLE MUST BE SUBMITTED WITHIN 1 MONTH OF THE BLOOD SAMPLE

The past 10 months have been full of change, and we are adjusting yet again to the newest protocols that have been set out by the government and our veterinary governing body. We are very pleased that we have not been restricted in being able to perform routine procedures like we had been in March, but we will be needing to close the reception area of the clinic again. This will take effect tomorrow, December 23rd.

This means that for all food and medication pick ups, please call the clinic and reception will do credit card payment over the phone and bring your items outside to the front step. To avoid over purchasing of medical diets as we have run into issues with suppliers being able to keep up when this happens, there will be a limit of 2 bags of food for each kind of food bought.

Our appointments with your furry friends will run as per usual on a low contact basis. Please show up in the clinic parking lot at your scheduled appointment time. If the doctor is not able to speak with you right away, please bare with us! We are likely running a little behind with our previous patient. Payments for appointments will also be done over the phone via credit card ideally. If you do not have a credit card please alert our staff members and we will make alternate arrangements.

We are so happy that we get to continue to take care of our patients during the lock down! If you have any questions please feel free to contact the clinic, although phone traffic is likely going to be high again. For non-urgent issues email will be the preferred method of contact again:

Greenbank Animal Hospital - greenbankanimalhosp@gmail.com

Village of Manotick Animal Hospital - villageofmanotickah@gmail.com

If your pet needs attention outside these hours, please reach out to a 24 hour emergency facility, such as the Ottawa Animal Emergency and Specialty Center (http://animalemergencyspecialty.ca/)

NEW FOR OUR GREENBANK LOCATION: Please watch the RED and GREEN light to the left of the door. This is to limit the number of people that are present in reception area for everyone's safety. You may enter the clinic when this light is turned to GREEN. FOR BOTH OUR GREENBANK AND MANOTICK LOCATIONS: Please take note of the weather and dress accordingly in case there is a wait.

We continue to shift and work on delivering veterinary care to our amazing patients while keeping our staff and our clients safe during this time. Our front door is now unlocked for those that wish to come into the reception area of the clinic to pick up medication and/or food. Please note that a mask covering the nose and mouth should be worn and physical distancing must be adhered to. We will continue to offer curbside service for our clients that wish to pay over the phone and have their items brought outside of the front door for pickup rather than come into the clinic.

We are continuing with a low contact protocol for our appointments where we ask that when you bring your pet to the clinic, you remain in your car in our parking lot. Please call us from your car to alert us you are here, and a doctor will speak with you on the phone to obtain a medical history. If you do not have a cell phone please come to the door and wave to alert reception you are here, and a staff member will come out to your car and speak with you there at a safe distance.

We will then bring your pet into the clinic, and perform our exam then call you again to go over findings and next steps. Estimates will be given over the phone and consent will be obtained from you before we proceed with any work up on your animal. Your pet will be brought back out to you in your car along with any other medication, food or supplements that are needed. We will continue to take credit card payments over the phone or you may come into the reception area to pay in person as long as you are wearing a mask covering your nose and mouth.

If you are showing symptoms of COVID-19, or are currently in a 14 day quarantine please have another family member or friend who has not had contact with you bring in your animal. If this is not possible please inform staff members of the above when making your appointment so that additional steps can be taken to ensure everyone remains safe.

We are closely following the guidelines being set by Ottawa Public Health regarding the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). We are committed to protecting the health of both our staff and our clients. While Greenbank and Village of Manotick Animal Hospitals routinely follow rigorous hospital cleaning and disinfection procedures, we have increased both the frequency and scope of our efforts in order to protect the health of our staff and clients.

We ask that you consider rescheduling any non-urgent appointments for your pets if you are showing any symptoms of illness or have travelled out of country within the last 14 days. If your pet requires emergency or immediate care and you are ill, please call us before arrival so that we can prepare and take steps to limit exposure of our staff and other clients.

Please contact us if you have any concerns or require special accommodations.

As the situation develops we will be monitoring government recommendations and adjust our protocols as necessary. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this time.

Over the years, "grain free" pet foods have become increasingly popular among pet owners. It has been suspected that SOME foods that are typically marketed as "grain free" may be associated with the development of DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY (DCM) in dogs, even in dog breeds that are not typically affected by this disease.

DCM is a disease of the heart muscle that eventually leads to heart failure and death. The definitive cause of canine DCM is the subject of debate, although a number of factors including nutritional, infectious, and genetic predisposition have been implicated. Breeds predisposed to DCM include the Doberman Pinscher, the Great Dane, the Boxer, and the Cocker Spaniel. Dietary carnitine deficiency may play a role in some cases of Boxer DCM, and taurine responsive DCM has been identified in Cocker Spaniels.

The FDA is continuing to investigate and recently released a report listing the brands of food that have been implicated. If your pet is showing possible signs of DCM or other heart conditions, including decreased energy, coughing, laboured breathing and episodes of collapse, you should contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. If the symptoms are severe and your veterinarian is not available, you may need to seek emergency veterinary care.

https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/news-events/fda-investigation-potential-link-between-certain-diets-and-canine-dilated-cardiomyopathy

Dr. Mark Rowett has officially retired. While we are happy for him to enter this new exciting phase of life, we are all very sad that we won’t be working alongside him anymore. Dr. Rowett is an excellent veterinarian who was always kind, honest, and compassionate with clients and their pets. Please join us in thanking Dr. Rowett for his many years of excellent service and wishing him all the best in the future.

The canine influenza virus is a type of influenza that is adapted to dogs. The H3N2 influenza virus is believed to have originated in Asia and suspected to have been introduced to the US in 2015 through importation of dogs from South Korea. This virus has spread throughout the US and has caused regional outbreaks.

H3N2 was first identified in Canada is southwestern Ontario in late December 2017. It causes upper respiratory disease that is indistinguishable from other causes of infectious respiratory disease (kennel cough). While dogs of any age and breed can be affected, this disease is more likely to be severe in very young and old dogs as well as brachycephalic breeds (ie: pugs, bulldogs, boston terriers).

The main symptoms include coughing, sneezing, discharge from the eyes and nose, decreased appetite, and fever. Most dogs fully recover within 2 to 3 weeks however some dogs may get secondary bacterial bronchitis or pneumonia. Fatal infections are rare but can occur.

Treatment is supportive. Antibiotics are not used unless a secondary bacterial component develops.

Commercial vaccines are available for both H3N8 and H3N2 flu viruses. The vaccine is not 100% effective but can reduce the risk and severity of disease. The vaccine is administered in 2 doses, 2 to 4 weeks apart.

WHICH DOGS NEED THE FLU VACCINE?
The flu vaccine is recommended for dogs that are travelling in the USA or Asia or dogs that may be exposed to other dogs imported from the USA or Asia.

Otherwise, vaccination may be useful for dogs likely to have increased exposure to other dogs from a wide geographical range, such as those dogs that participate in dogs shows or other competitions. It may also be considered in dogs that are predisposed to complications from the flu, including elderly dogs, those with heart or lung problems already, or brachycephalic breeds.

We are currently carrying the "flu vaccine" for dogs that are at risk. Give us a call if you think your dog might be at risk.

Greenbank Animal Hospital created the Weight Loss Club, a new weight loss program designed especially for your pet. As a member of this club you and your pet will be working closely with our professional team to ensure a successful and healthy journey to weight reduction.

It's Hard to ignore that unfortunately, our pets are becoming more "big boned" or "a little chunky". This extra weight on your pet's smaller frame is a direct cause of low grade chronic inflammation in the body. In other words, your pet's joints are becoming more arthritic. In addition, there are many other diseases and issues associated with overweight/obese pets such as: heart disease, diabetes, depression, high blood pressure, and skin infections. As little as 10% weight gain can result in reduced health and shorter lifespan.

With the Weight Loss Club we can help your pet live a healthier, happier, and longer life. Diets have been designed to suit your pet's nutritional needs as well as helping them feel fuller longer. The club gives you one on one access to our professional and knowledgeable team with FREE sign up, incentives such as FREE food and helpful tips for success. Please join us and make an important difference in the life of your companion!

Dr. Lee James has officially retired as of January 2013.

Dr. James opened the Greenbank Animal Hospital back in 1977. He started his career doing large animal and small animal medicine and surgery, then switched to small animals exclusively. Throughout his career, Dr. James developed excellent surgical skills and performed many specialized surgeries, saving the lives of countless beloved pets. He has also been a great mentor to many new graduate veterinarians.

Dr. James will be sorely missed by all of our staff and clients. We hope that he enjoys his retirement - spending time at the cottage, traveling, and spoiling all his little granddaughters.