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A photo and description of our registered veterinary technicians. Veterinary Technician Sam started with us in September of 2024. She earned her veterinary technician diploma from Dalhousie Agriculture Campus. Prior to this she also earned a BSc (agriculture) in animal science and a certificate in animal welfare. Sam passed the National Veterinary Technician Exam in 2023 and has been working as a tech ever since. Sam has 2 cats at home named Bella and Luna, and a gentle giant named Beaufort, a St. Bernard. When needed, Sam and her furry family members make room for her Fiance Matt in their home in Oxford NS. Sam's love for animals extends to her love of the outdoors, as well as riding and training with horses. She loves all aspects veterinary medicine and looks forward to continuing her career at Colchester Veterinary Hospital.

A description of the accessibility of our website and how to contact us. Accessibility Colchester Veterinary Hospital is committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of circumstance and ability. We aim to adhere as closely as possible to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0, Level AA), published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). These guidelines explain how to make Web content more accessible for people with disabilities. Conformance with these guidelines will help make the web more user friendly to everyone. Whilst Colchester Veterinary Hospital strive to adhere to the guidelines and standards for accessibility, it is not always possible to do so in all areas of the website and we are currently working to achieve this. Be aware that due to the dynamic nature of the website, minor issues may occasionally occur as it is updated regularly. We are continually seeking out solutions that will bring all areas of the site up to the same level of overall web accessibility. If you have any comments and or suggestions relating to improving the accessibility of our site, please don't hesitate to contact our accessibility coordinator by phone or colchestervh@gmail.com . Your feedback will help us make improvements.

A description of lyme disease and the vaccine for lyme. Lyme Vaccine Lyme disease is caused by the spirochete (type of bacterium), Borrelia burgdorferi. It is transmitted to dogs through the bite of an infected tick. Once in the bloodstream, the Lyme disease organism is carried to many parts of the body and is likely to localize in joints or kidneys. The most common type of tick to carry Lyme disease is the deer tick, also known as the black-legged tick. These ticks are found everywhere in Nova Scotia. Many dogs affected with Lyme disease are taken to a veterinarian because they seem to be experiencing generalized pain and have stopped eating. Often, these pets have high fevers and may also be limping. This painful lameness often appears suddenly and may shift from one leg to another and if left untreated, may eventually disappear, only to recur weeks or months later. Non-specific signs which may indicate that Lyme disease is affecting the kidneys include vomiting, lethargy, anorexia (lack of appetite), and weight loss. The kidney form of the disease is less common but often fatal. Most dogs infected with the Lyme disease organism take two to five months before they show symptoms. By this time, the disease may be widespread throughout the body. Vaccination against Lyme disease is recommended for pets that live in endemic areas or that travel to areas where Lyme disease is prevalent. Most dogs that live in Nova Scotia should be vaccinated for lyme. This vaccine is initially given twice, at three to four-week intervals. Annual revaccination is necessary to maintain your dog’s immunity. The decision to vaccinate against Lyme disease can be discussed with your veterinarian based on your dog’s lifestyle and individual risk assessment. Read our blog on ticks here

A description of what we offer for surgery, including spays, neuters and soft tissue surgery. Surgery Colchester Veterinary Hospital provides many surgical services , ranging from routine to advanced procedures. Because we want to ensure that our patients receive the best possible outcome, we occasionally refer them to specialists (board-certified veterinary surgeons) to perform complex operations when advanced equipment or training will be beneficial. Our veterinary team takes every precaution so that your pet receives the highest-quality care. We perform a physical exam and preanesthetic testing before surgery, monitor your pet during surgery, and provide appropriate pain medication to keep your pet comfortable during recovery. Spay/Ovariohysterectomy Spaying, which involves removing the ovaries and uterus, is a surgical procedure and does need to be performed with the pet under anesthesia. We follow strict protocols and continually monitor your pet’s vital signs to help ensure her safety. Please see the descriptions under Anesthesia and Patient Monitoring for more information on what we do to keep your pet safe. Neuter/Castration Neutering, which involves removing the testicles, is a surgical procedure and does need to be performed with the pet under anesthesia. We follow strict protocols and continually monitor your pet’s vital signs to help ensure his safety. Please see the descriptions under Anesthesia and Patient Monitoring for more information on what we do to keep your pet safe. Soft Tissue Surgery We perform many types of soft tissue surgeries at our clinic. Soft tissue surgeries are those that are not associated with bone. These surgeries can provide many benefits to pets. Probably the most common soft tissue surgery performed on pets is the removal of masses, or lumps. Most of these masses, once removed and tested, are found to be benign (nonharmful); however, occasionally they are more serious. Early removal and accurate diagnosis of a lump is necessary to improve the outcome in your pet if the mass is cancerous. Other soft tissue surgeries include abdominal exploratory surgeries (such as those for foreign bodies), limb amputation, splenectomies, and cystotomies (for bladder stones).

A description of the FVRCP vaccine and why it is recommended Feline Rhinotracheitis-Calicivirus-Panleukopenia Vaccine (FVRCP) The FVRCP vaccine is one of two core vaccines for cats. Core vaccines are shots that are strongly recommended for all cats regardless of whether they are indoor or outdoor cats. Although you may believe that your indoor cat is immune to the infectious diseases listed below, viruses that cause these serious feline illnesses can survive on surfaces for up to a year. That means that even if your indoor cat sneaks out the door fo r a few seconds, they could contract the virus and become seriously ill. Conditions That The FVRCP Vaccine Protects Against : The FVRCP vaccine protects your cat against three highly contagious and potentially fatal feline diseases: Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (the FVR part of the vac cine name), Feline Calicivirus (the C), and Feline Panleukopenia (the P at the end of the vaccine name). Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FHV-1) Feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR, feline herpesvirus type 1 or FHV-1) is believed to be the cause of 80-90 percent of all infectious upper respiratory diseases in cats. This disease can harm your cat's nose and windpipe, as well as cause complications during pregnancy. Fever, sneezing, inflamed eyes and nose, and discharge from the nose and eyes are all symptoms of FVR. These symptoms may be mild in healthy adult cats and clear up after 5-10 days, but in more severe cases, FVR symptoms can last for 6 weeks or longer. FHV-1 symptoms may persist and worsen in kittens, senior cats, and immune-compromised cats, resulting in depression, loss of appetite, severe weight loss, and mouth sores. Bacterial infections are common in cats suffering from feline viral rhinotracheitis. Even after the symptoms of FVR have cleared up the virus remains dormant in your cat's body and can flare up repeatedly over your kitty's lifetime. Feline Calicivirus (FCV) This virus is a major cause of upper respiratory infections and oral disease in cats. Feline calicivirus (FCV) symptoms incl ude nasal congestion, sneezing, eye inflammation , and clear or yellow discharge from the infected cat's nose or eyes. In some cats, FCV can also cause painful ulcers on the tongue, palate, lips, or nose. Common symptoms of FCV infection include loss of appetite, weight loss, fever, enlarged lymph nodes, squinting, and lethargy. It's important to remember that there are several different strains of FCV, some of which cause fluid buildup in the lungs (pneumonia) and others that cause symptoms like fever, joint pain, and lameness. Feline Panleukopenia (FPL) Feline Panleukopenia (FPL) is a virus that causes damage to your cat's bone marrow, lymph nodes, and intestinal cells. FPL symptom s include depression, loss of appetite, high fever, lethargy, vomiting, severe diarrhea, nasal discharge, and dehydration. Due to the weakened state of their immune systems, cats infected with FPL frequently develop secondary infections. Although this disease can affect cats of any age, kittens are particularly vulnerable. Because there are currently no medications available to kill the vir us that causes FPL, cats with feline panleukopenia are treated with intravenous fluid therapy and intensive nursing care to alleviate symptoms such as dehydration and shock. When Your Cat Should Receive The FVRCP Vaccination To provide th e best possible protection, your cat should receive their first FVRCP vaccination at around 8 weeks old, followed by a booster shot every four weeks until they are around 16-20 weeks old. When your kitten is just over a year old, they will need another booster, and then every three years for the rest of their lives.

A description of rabies and the vaccine. The importance of vaccination. Rabies Vaccine Rabies is a fatal viral disease that can infect all mammals—including dogs, cats, and people—and is certainly not something you want to risk or mess around with. It’s transmitted to other animals via a bite, and kills tens of thousands of people every year worldwide. While canine rabies has been mostly eradicated in North America, an infected animal can still infect other dogs, cats, cattle, horses, people, and domestic animals. Making sure you get a rabies vaccine for cats in your home is the best way to protect everyone—including your furry friends. Doing so also helps prevent the re-emergence of rabies. In most domestic species, the incubation period is generally between 3 to 8 weeks, but can be as short as nine days or as long as a year or more. The virus attacks and replicates in the nervous system, causing the clinical signs of rabies. There are two forms of rabies: the excitatory form (sometimes call the “furious” stage) and the paralytic form (also referred to as the “dumb stage.”) Not all animals experience both stages, and symptoms can vary. Symptoms may include: Vicious, erratic behavior (the classic form) Foaming at the mouth Heightened sensitivity to visual and auditory stimuli Weakness Paralysis Death from respiratory failure Once symptoms appear, rabies generally results in death in 3 to 8 days. There is no treatment for rabies. The good news is this disease can be easily prevented via a rabies vaccine for cats. Generally, kittens receive their first rabies vaccine at or after16 weeks of age, which stimulates the immune system to make antibodies. A second single dose of rabies vaccine is administered one year later regardless of the age of the cat, and then every three years thereafter.

A description of FeLV and why we recommend the vaccine. Feline Leukemia Vaccine Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is one of the most common infectious diseases in cats, affecting between 2 and 3% of all cats in the United States and Canada. Infection rates are significantly higher (up to 30%) in cats that are ill or otherwise at high risk (see below). Fortunately, the prevalence of FeLV in cats has decreased significantly in the past 25 years since the development of an effective vaccine and accurate testing procedures. Cats persistently infected with FeLV serve as sources of infection for other cats. The virus is shed in saliva, nasal secretions, urine, feces, and milk of infected cats. Cat-to-cat transfer of the virus may occur from a bite wound, during mutual grooming, and (rarely) through the shared use of litter boxes and feeding dishes. Transmission can also take place from an infected mother cat to her kittens, either before they are born or while they are nursing. FeLV does not survive long outside a cat's body – probably less than a few hours under normal household conditions. Cats at greatest risk of FeLV infection are those that may be exposed to infected cats, either via prolonged close contact or through bite wounds. Such cats include cats living with infected cats or with cats of unknown infection status, cats allowed outdoors unsupervised where they may be bitten by an infected cat, and kittens born to infected mothers. FeLV adversely aff ects a cat's body in many ways. It is the most common cause of cancer in cats, may cause various blood disorders, and may lead to a state of immune deficiency that hinders a cat's ability to protect itself against other infections. Because of this, disease that usually do not affect healthy cats can cause severe illness in FeLV-infected cats. These secondary infections are responsible for many of the diseases associated with FeLV. The only sure way to protect cats from FeLV is to prevent their exposure to FeLV-infected cats. Keeping cats indoors, away from potentially infected cats is recommended. If outdoor access is allowed, provide supervision or place cats in a secure enclosure to prevent wandering and fighting. All cats should be tested for FeLV prior to introducing t hem into a home, and infection-free cats should be housed separately from infected cats. Food and water bowls and litter boxes should not be shared between FeLV-infected cats and non-infected cats. Unfortunately, many FeLV-infected cats are not diagnosed until after they have lived with other cats. In such cases, all other cats in the household should be tested for FeLV. Ideally, infected and non-infected cats should then be separated to eliminate the potential for FeLV transmission. A relatively effective vaccine against FeLV is available, although it will not protect 100% of cats vaccinated, and it is not considered a core vaccine. Owners contemplating FeLV vaccination for their uninfected cats should consider the cats' risk of exposure to FeLV-infected cats and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of vaccination with a veterinarian. Since not all vaccinated cats will be protected by vaccination, preventing exposure remains important even for vaccinated pets.

Application page for current open positions at Colchester Veterinary Hospital Come Work With Us! Available Positions at Colchester Veterinary Hospital Associate Veterinarian A job description will be posted soon. In the meantime, we will accept applications if you wish. Please forward your CV to kmjohnson21@gmail.com . All inquires will be confidential. Registered Veterinary Technician A job description can be found here . Please forward your CV to kmjohnson21@gmail.com . All inquires will be confidential. Veterinary Assistant/Customer Service Representative A job description can be found here . Please forward your CV to kmjohnson21@gmail.com . All inquires will be confidential. Colchester Veterinary Hospital is excited to begin building the team! Our goal is to find like-minded individuals to help build a clinic at which you love to work!

A description of the anesthetic procedures and patient monitoring. Anesthesia and Patient Monitoring Ensuring our patients remain safe during surgery and other medical procedures is extremely important to us. Our team of veterinarians and veterinary technicians is skilled in using anesthesia and monitoring patients to ensure their safety and provide the most comfortable experience. Anesthesia and patient monitoring vary greatly from clinic to clinic. You can be confident that we use the most effective and up-to-date protocols. The type of anesthesia we use depends on the procedure. Some require general anesthesia, while others may only call for sedation or local anesthesia. We also closely monitor every procedure, regardless of whether it’s routine or more advanced.

Euthanasia services are an important part of veterinary medicine. Euthanasia One of the hardest things we will ever do as pet owners is saying goodbye. Our pets are such an important part of our families, and making the decision to end suffering is a very difficult and emotional choice. The staff will do what they can to help you through the process. Our goal is to help you and your pet by ensuring a calm environment and a peaceful passing. Please contact us for additional information.

Financing At Colchester Veterinary Hospital, we are dedicated to providing exceptional care for your beloved pets Our experienced team of veterinarians and staff is committed to ensuring the health and well-being of your animals through comprehensive services. To make pet care more accessible, we partner with iFinance to offer flexible financing options tailored to your needs. Trust us to provide compassionate and professional service for your furry family members.

A description of rabies and the vaccine offered at Colchester Veterinary Hospital. Rabies Vaccine Rabies is a fatal viral disease that can infect all mammals—including dogs, cats, and people—and is certainly not something you want to risk or mess around with. It’s transmitted to other animals via a bite, and kills tens of thousands of people every year worldwide. While canine rabies has been mostly eradicated in North America, an infected animal can still infect other dogs, cats, cattle, horses, people, and domestic animals. Making sure you get a rabies vaccine for dogs in your home is the best way to protect everyone—including your furry friends. Doing so also helps prevent the re-emergence of rabies. In most domestic species, the incubation period is generally between 3 to 8 weeks, but can be as short as nine days or as long as a year or more. The virus attacks and replicates in the nervous system, causing the clinical signs of rabies. There are two forms of rabies: the excitatory form (sometimes call the “furious” stage) and the paralytic form (also referred to as the “dumb stage.”) Not all animals experience both stages, and symptoms can vary. Symptoms may include: Vicious, erratic behavior (the classic form) Foaming at the mouth Heightened sensitivity to visual and auditory stimuli Weakness Paralysis Death from respiratory failure Once symptoms appear, rabies generally results in death in 3 to 8 days. There is no treatment for rabies. The good news is this disease can be easily prevented via a rabies vaccine for dogs. Generally, puppies receive their first rabies vaccine at or after16 weeks of age, which stimulates the immune system to make antibodies. A second single dose of rabies vaccine is administered one year later regardless of the age of the dog, and then every three years thereafter.