What to Expect

Welcome to Jane Animal Hospital, your trusted Toronto veterinarians. Our passionate veterinary team is dedicated to caring for your pet through all stages of life and is proud to serve the greater Toronto area. Our state of the art, full service veterinary facility will care for your pet's wellness needs starting from your very first visit with us. 

Annual Exams Are The Key To Your Pet's Longevity

We cannot stress enough the importance of maintaining your pet's annual wellness exams. Many pet owners consider their pets to be in perfect health at all times and may not consider the importance of scheduling annual exams. Annual exams with our Toronto veterinarians will ensure your pet stays in their most optimized state of health. 

Because we love your furry friends, we are always ready to catch health concerns before they pop up. Annual exams ensure that we are able to provide  the highest level of comprehensive, preventive care for your pet. While our goal is always to keep your pet their healthiest, we know that annual exams  help save pet's lives and can contribute to their longevity. 

What You Can Expect At Your Pet's First Visit to Jane Animal Hospital

Our first visit meeting you and your pet can be considered as a get-to-know you and your pet meeting. If you have the records of your pet's previous care, we will go over these with you. If you are the owner of a new, young pet, we will begin your pet's medical record at this visit. Similarly to when you visit a new health care provider, we first aim to create a comfortable atmosphere that makes your pet feel at home with us. Once your pet is comfortable, we will begin their exam. 

Our Toronto veterinarians perform a comprehensive exam that they call a head-to-tail exam to assess all vitals. We will assess respiratory and cardiovascular wellness along with a blood lab panel to go over any aspects of health that can not be determined by visual examination alone such as internal organ function. The results of these tests will act as a foundation for your pet's regular care with us. 

If your pet is due for any vaccinations, we may also administer at this time after discussing with you. We will set up a vaccination schedule and answer any questions you may have. 

During your visit we may also provide: 

• dental services that may include dental cleaning or dental x-rays
• feline vital testing to monitor FeLV and FIV
• nutritional counseling 
• a stool analysis 

As we near the completion of your pet's first appointment we are happy to answer any questions that you may have. We will also discuss a visit schedule and offer current and near-future recommendations for these visits. This may include any future vaccinations, how to address specific health concerns if they were discovered in your visit and future dental care. We may also offer nutritional or lifestyle suggestions for your pet that enhances their quality of life. 

Jane Animal Hospital looks forward to becoming part of your family. Ready to introduce your pet to our caring team? We look forward to scheduling your pet's first visit with us and becoming your family's go-to Toronto veterinarians. Please call 416-762-5558 to schedule with us now. 

Owning a kitten changes your life! From the cuddling and playing to the feeding and veterinary care, your new kitten will require a lot from you in the first year of life. At Jane Animal Hospital in Toronto, we want our patients to be prepared for the kind of responsibilities they'll face when they own a kitten. We help our patients understand the scope of care that a kitten needs, so they can give their kitten the love and attention they require.

Wellness Exams

Wellness exams are an important part of every pet's life. You can think of wellness exams like doctor's checkups. During the exam, the veterinarian will perform a thorough examination of your pet's body. Your pet's veterinarian will check your pet's coat, skin, eyes, ears, mouth, teeth, feces, heart rate, breathing and more. During wellness exams, the veterinarian will look for signs of illnesses, chronic conditions, unhealthy weight gain, poor dental hygiene, parasites and other problems.

You may have many questions for the veterinarian about your kitten's care and feeding. Your pet's veterinarian will answer these questions at your kitten's wellness checkups. Your kitten's first visit to the veterinarian should be be at 6 weeks old. We'll advise you about future visits when you come in.

Vaccines

Kitten vaccines are important because they keep your kitten safe from deadly diseases and illnesses. That's why we administer the core vaccinations to all pets. If your kitten is at risk for specific diseases due to lifestyle considerations, we may advise that your pet receive non-core vaccinations. Vaccines are a safe, easy way to help keep your pet healthy, improve your pet's quality of life and increase your pet's lifespan. At every appointment with a vaccination, a full exam is performed by the doctor to ensure that your kitten is growing and developing properly.

Kitten Vaccination Schedule:

8 wk - rhinotracheitis, calici virus, panleukopenia

12 wk - rhinotracheitis, calici virus, panleukopenia, chlamydia & feline leukemia virus (FeLV)

16 wk - rhinotracheitis, calici virus, panleukopenia, chlamydia, FeLV, rabies (1yr vaccine) & feline leukemia (FeLV)

1 yr - rhinotracheitis, calici virus, panleukopenia, chlamydia, FeLV, rabies & leukemia for high risk pets

Spaying and Neutering

When your kitten is old enough, we'll talk to you about spaying or neutering. According to the ASPCA, it is generally considered safe for kittens as young as eight weeks old to be spayed or neutered. We recommend this procedure to pet owners for a variety of reasons. While spaying and neutering does help control the pet population, there are many other important reasons to spay or neuter your kitten. Spayed and neutered pets are at lower risk for certain diseases and may have a longer lifespan as a result.

General Care

Kittens need a lot of attention in the house as well as in the veterinarian's office. You'll have a lot to learn if your new kitten is the first kitten you've ever owned. Some things to consider include:

• Playing and socializing. Your kitten will need to spend time playing and socializing with you. This is important for your kitten's physical and emotional health. We encourage owners of new kittens to set aside time each day for playing, petting and cuddling.
• Feeding. Kittens have different dietary requirements from older cats. Kitten food is rich in nutrients and calories, so your kitten can get all the nutrition he or she needs from small-sized portions. Your veterinarian will help you determine how much food is appropriate for your kitten to eat, and may have brands to recommend as well.
• Kitty litter. Kittens need a litter box just like adult cats. Keep your kitten's litter box tidy by scooping out waste at least once per day. If more than one kitten uses the litter box, clean the box multiple times per day.
• Toys. Kittens have sharp claws. To prevent your kitten from tearing up your furniture at home, provide your new pet with toys that are specifically made for cats and a scratching post. This way, your kitten will be able to expend energy and avoid destroying your home.

Owning a puppy is a big responsibility! As a pet owner, it's your job to ensure that your pet is getting the food and care that he or she needs in order to be healthy and happy. At Jane Animal Hospital in Toronto, we help puppy owners keep their pets safe and healthy. The following tips tell you what you need to know about first year puppy care in Toronto.

Wellness Exams

To raise a healthy first year puppy, you'll need to bring your puppy in for wellness exams. During your puppy's wellness exams, we'll check your puppy's coat, skin, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, teeth, feces, breathing and heart rate. This examination helps us to catch illnesses and medical conditions in their early ages, which helps us keep your pet healthy.

Your puppy's first wellness exam should happen when he or she is about 6 weeks old. During that appointment, we'll answer any questions you might have about caring for your pet and make suggestions that might help you take better care of your new puppy. We will also show you how to brush your puppy's teeth, talk to you about puppy dental care, and have a talk about vaccines and spaying and neutering.

Nutrition Basics

Puppies need to eat puppy food, not adult dog food. Puppy food is rich in the nutrients and calories that puppies need to grow and stay energetic throughout the day. When they're very young, puppies eat small portions several times per day. As your puppy gets older, you'll feed your dog in larger portions fewer times per day. By the time your dog is an adult, he or she will only eat about two portions of food in a day.

Spaying and Neutering

Bring your puppy before the 6-month mark so we can evaluate your pet’s health. Spaying and neutering prevents unwanted pet pregnancies and helps keep animals out of shelters. However, there are many other reasons to spay or neuter your puppy. Spaying or neutering your puppy can help control your puppy's behavior and prevent your puppy from wandering away from home. Spaying or neutering can also put your puppy at lower risk for certain diseases and chronic conditions. All in all, spaying or neutering your puppy can help him or her live a longer, healthier life.

Vaccines

Puppy vaccines are divided into two different categories: core and non-core. Core vaccines are designed for all puppies, while non-core vaccines are only administered to puppies who are at high risk for certain diseases. At Jane Animal Hospital, we help you determine whether or not your puppy needs any non-core vaccines. We'll also help you track when your puppy's booster shots are due, so you can be sure to keep your puppy's shots up to date. In the first year, puppies require a lot of care and attention. A full exam is also performed by the doctor to ensure your puppy is growing and developing properly.

Below is the recommended Puppy Vaccination Schedule:

8 wk - Full Examination + distemper, adenovirus, parainfluenza & parvovirus
12 wk - Full Examination + distemper, adenovirus, parainfluenza, parvovirus, bordetella & leptosporsis for high risk pets
16 wk - Full Examination + distemper, adenovirus, parainfluenza, parvovirus & rabies (1yr vaccine) & leptosporsis for high risk pets
1 yr - Full Examination + distemper, adenovirus, parainfluenza, parvovirus & rabies (3yr vaccine), bordetella & leptosporsis for high risk pets

Dental Health

Your puppy will need his or her teeth brushed in order to maintain good oral hygiene. You can brush your puppy's teeth at home using a specialized toothbrush and toothpaste formulated for animals. Puppies need to be trained to accept regular tooth brushings. To make this routine easier for the both of you, we'll show you how to brush your puppy's teeth and check your puppy for good oral hygiene. Being able to recognize the signs of dental disease will help you care for your pet's teeth.

Exercise

Your puppy will need regular exercise. We recommend taking your puppy for a walk at least once per day. We also recommend setting aside time to play with your puppy. This will help keep your pet healthy, and will also help you bond with your puppy.

Pets can need surgery for various conditions such as soft tissue damage. Neurological, laparoscopic, and oncological conditions also require surgery. When your pet needs surgery, it can be very stressful, especially if you are unsure of what to expect. Our veterinary care team is dedicated to helping protect and treat your pet while helping you understand more about the treatment process.

Initial Consultation

The pet surgery process starts with an initial consultation. This appointment is necessary to help examine the pet, review all information sent from the primary care veterinarian, and discuss the pet’s medical history. Our veterinarian will also discuss your pet’s condition, provide information for all treatment options, and give their medical opinion on what type of surgery your pet needs.

During your initial consultation, we will discuss treatment costs and payment options. During this appointment, you will have the opportunity to ask questions about the risks of the procedure, how your pet will benefit from it, any necessary follow-up care, and what the expected outcome is. Once the surgery is scheduled, the veterinarian will provide a pre-surgery to-do list. This will include fasting information and any other special instructions. 

The Pet Surgery

Keeping your pet safe and comfortable before, during, and after surgery is vital. A surgical animal hospital is equipped to provide the utmost comfort for your pet, including detailed anesthetic and pain management protocols to help treat your pet with the highest level of surgical care. Surgery times may vary based on the procedure being completed, but once done, the surgeon will let you know what happened during surgery and provide information regarding at-home recovery. 

Pet Surgery Recovery

As with any surgery or medical procedure, keeping your pet comfortable and relaxed at home is vital. Allow time for your pet to recover by reducing playtime and activity. Provide a comfortable place for your pet to relax at home and provide it with lots of love and attention. Make sure to follow the veterinarian’s orders for recovery to ensure your pet has a full recovery and returns to its usual, healthy, and happy self. If at any time you have questions about your pet’s recovery, do not hesitate to call the animal hospital to get answers.