SPCA Veterinary Hospital

08/07/2024

Our goal is to keep more pets in loving homes. 🐾 And access to veterinary services is a key tool to keep pets safe, happy, and healthy. That’s why we established the first social enterprise hospital in eastern Canada – the SPCA Veterinary Hospital.

However, because of our name, many families believed we only cared for shelter pets, and they weren’t aware they could take their pet to our hospital. So, moving forward, we are changing things up and we’ll be called…🥁

(drum roll please)

𝗧𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝗩𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹!

Please go like and follow our new page here: Tartan Tails Veterinary Hospital.

We are hopeful that this new name will reinforce to our community that we are open and available to everyone. With more pets being treated at our hospital, we will be able to make an even bigger difference for shelter pets. 🤗

It’ll be the same level of love and care you’re used to, just with a brand-new name to showcase our Nova Scotian hospitality.

To learn more and book an appointment:

🔹 Dartmouth – 7 Scarfe Crt, Dartmouth: 902-706-4155 | dartmouth@tartantailsvet.ca
🔹 Cape Breton – 401 East Broadway, Sydney: 902-241-2240 | capebreton@tartantailsvet.ca
🔹 Stellarton – 15 Heritage Ave, Stellarton: stellarton@tartantailsvet.ca (scheduled to open later this fall)

Thank you for your compassionate and continued support! We can’t wait to see your furry friend soon. 💙

07/25/2024

We’re coming to the end of Veterinary Assistant Week, so we have one final feature of our SPCA Veterinary Hospital family… Jennah! ⭐

Jennah is a current Veterinary Assistant student at the Nova Scotia SPCA College of Animal Welfare and is set to graduate soon. For the past nine months, she has been working as a student VA and the team was SO impressed that she will become a full-time VA in August. Lucky us! 😻 “My favorite experience at the hospital was when I first started on my Internship and was able to see everything that we had been learning and all of the skills we had been practicing come together,” Jennah shared.

When Jennah isn’t running around looking after pet patients or studying, she is caring for her two kitties – Daisy-Mae and Zero. 🐱🐱

“I wanted to become a VA because I had a cat who had sadly passed away, and when we brought her into the hospital all the VAs that were there were extremely helpful and made me feel as if I wasn't alone in the whole process, which made me feel better in a truly hard time,” explained Jennah. “After that I decided that I wanted to be someone like that and be able to provide the same level of care and help to other people and animals around!” 🐾

It is truly a full-circle moment for Jennah as she is now that kind VA helping others. We know our pet patients, their families, and our team all agree that Jennah is fur-abulous! 🥰 Please join us in thanking Jennah and Veterinary Assistants everywhere. We are so grateful for you!

07/24/2024

Happy, happy, Veterinary Assistant week! 🎉 We have someone very special to shine a light on today.

Amy was a student AND Valedictorian of the inaugural graduating class of Veterinary Assistants from the Nova Scotia SPCA College of Animal Welfare. 📚 Since then, she has been one of our key members of the SPCA Veterinary Hospital helping pets and people every single day.

Growing up, Amy always loved animals but didn’t have many opportunities to connect with them. “Thanks to the SPCA College, I have gained extensive knowledge about animal welfare,” Amy explained. “It brings me great joy to apply this knowledge to help both animals and their owners.” 😻

“I have a lot of favourite and fun memories, but if I have to choose one, I would say was one of the most memorable days,” Amy smiled. “I had never seen so many patients at our hospital before, and it was incredibly busy. However, all the staff worked so hard, and we completed 51 spay and neuter surgeries, with every patient going back home happily! It was definitely a memorable and great experience. I was and I am also grateful to be part of such an amazing team.” 💙

Well Amy, we think YOU and VAs everywhere are absolutely amazing. You definitely deserve a big round of a-paws for everything you do for pets, families, and our community. 🐾 Especially for those adorable little pet hats you crochet. Thank you – for everything!

07/23/2024

Raise the woof! 😜 It’s time to highlight one of our wonder-fur Veterinary Assistants in celebration of Veterinary Assistant Week. Meet Chandini! ⭐️

When we asked Chandini why she wanted to become a Veterinary Assistant she explained: "The love for animals and passion for medicine." 💙 In fact, Chandini has always had a strong connection to animals. That's why it was a perfect fit for her to pursue a career where she could help pets and the people who love them.

We sometimes feel like we need to pinch ourselves that we have been so lucky to have Chandini as a part of our team since November 2022. When Chandini isn’t caring for pets at the hospital, she is busy looking after her own – an SPCA alumni kitten named Cutie Pie and an SPCA alumni cat named Nova. 🐱🐱

There aren’t enough words to show our true appreciation for Chandini’s hard work, dedication, and compassion. So instead… Chandini this is how we feel about you and VAs everywhere for being so amazing – 🥰💃🥺👍😻🌟💓 Thank you!!

07/22/2024

With these skyrocketing temperatures, please keep your pet safe and cool inside at home. High temperatures make it difficult for pets to cool themselves and heatstroke can be fatal. 💔 On top of potentially losing your furry bestie, you could be fined $697.50.

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤?

If you see an animal in distress in a parked vehicle, remember to ACT. A-C-T. ❗

A – Assess the situation. Signs that a pet may be in distress from overheating include exaggerated panting, rapid breathing, drooling, dark pink gums, lack of coordination, inability to get up, vomiting, convulsions or collapse. 😿
C – Collect information. Note relevant information about the vehicle (make, model, license plate, colour, exact location) and pet’s description (species, size, colour, breed if known). 🚗🐾
T – Time to call. ☎️ If you cannot find the owner and the animal is in distress, call your local police, RCMP, or the Nova Scotia SPCA at 1-888-703-7722 and stay at the vehicle until reinforcements arrive.

Share and save this and you could save a life. 💙

*Note: While we appreciate your compassion and empathy, we ask that you refrain from any comments that include profanity or may be considered disrespectful in accordance with our social media policy.*

07/22/2024

Happy Veterinary Assistant Week! 💙 It’s time to celebrate our wonderful VAs here at the SPCA Veterinary Hospital.

Meet Kristen! We have been extremely lucky to have Kristen as a part of our SPCA family for over a year and a half. Kristen originally started as a Kennel Assistant and then moved to full time in August 2023 after graduating from the Nova Scotia SPCA College of Animal Welfare. 📚

Kristen decided to take a leap and attend the Veterinary Assistant Program because she was curious about a career change. After spending eight years in the retail/administrative field, she wanted to switch things up and pursue her real passion – pets. 😻

As a lifelong animal lover (especially dogs!), Kristen adores helping everyone at the SPCA Veterinary Hospital. 🐶🐱 “I just like that every day is different,” she explained. “You never know what you're going to face or what new skills you're going to get. That's what makes it interesting. I want to thank the amazing team at SVH for all the laughs and their ongoing support.”

Please join us in giving Kristen and Veterinary Assistants everywhere a big round of a-paws for their hard work and dedication. 🐾 You are amazing!

07/15/2024

We all enjoy fun in the sun with our four-legged family members. 🌞 However, summer poses unique risks to your pet’s health. Leaving pets in parked cars isn’t the only tragic mistake people make. 🚗

Check out this video from our team at the SPCA Veterinary Hospital to learn real facts about summer safety. And make sure to let us know in the comments below if you have more myths for us to explore. ⬇️

By taking precautions to ensure your pet is cool and safe, you’ll both enjoy a wonder-fur summer! 🐾💛

*Note: While we appreciate your compassion and empathy, we ask that you refrain from any comments that include profanity or may be considered disrespectful in accordance with our social media policy.*

07/10/2024

07/08/2024

“The windows are open.” “I’ll park in the shade.” “It’s windy and I’ll be quick.” These are three of the most common excuses people give when they leave their pet in a hot vehicle. 🚗

Special Constable Kevin Strooband, Deputy Chief Inspector at the Nova Scotia SPCA, locked himself in a car to demonstrate the dangers. 🔥 Even though the windows were cracked, the van was shaded by a tree AND there was a breeze… the internal temperature skyrocketed to almost 45°C within 20 minutes! 😲

Check out the full video for tips on what to look for AND what to do when you find an animal in distress. 🐾 Remember, friends don't make friends wait in hot cars.

*Note: While we appreciate your compassion and empathy, we ask that you refrain from any comments that include profanity or may be considered disrespectful in accordance with our social media policy.*

07/02/2024

See a pet trapped in a hot vehicle? 😲 Remember… ACT! A-C-T. ❗

A – Assess the situation. Signs that a pet may be in distress from overheating include exaggerated panting, rapid breathing, drooling, dark pink gums, lack of coordination, inability to get up, vomiting, convulsions or collapse. 😿

C – Collect information. Note relevant information about the vehicle (make, model, license plate, colour, exact location) and pet’s description (species, size, colour, breed if known). 🚗🐾

T – Time to call. ☎️ If you cannot find the owner and the animal is in distress, call your local police, RCMP, or the Nova Scotia SPCA at 1-888-703-7722 and stay at the vehicle until reinforcements arrive.

Please save and share this. It's not cool to keep pets in hot cars. 💙

*Note: While we appreciate your compassion and empathy, we ask that you refrain from any comments that include profanity or may be considered disrespectful in accordance with our social media policy.*

06/28/2024

Our hospital will be closed on Monday, July 1st. We hope everyone finds a sweet sunbeam like SPCA alumni Gordie, named after Gord Downie, a beloved icon, musician, and activist. We look forward to seeing you when we re-open on Tuesday, July 2nd at 8am. 🥰

Should your pet have an emergency, please contact Metro Animal Emergency Clinic at 902-468-0674. ☎️ With the hustle and bustle of the weekend, please remember these tips to keep your pet safe:

𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗺 𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹𝘀. Many animals have extreme anxiety and panic when they hear fireworks. 💥 Running away from the noise is a survival instinct and many animals go missing – or worse. 😢 Learn more about the dangers of fireworks for animals, people, and the environment at www.novascotiaspca.ca/fireworks-are-dangerous ⬅️

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲’𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁: 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸. While ticks can live all year round, activity increases with spring and summer temperatures. According to the CVMA, tick population has grown 10x over the past two decades – yikes! 🤯 You can visit our hospital for preventative care. Book your furry friend’s appointment online here: https://spcans.use2.ezyvet.com/external/portal/main/login 🐾

𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝘀. High temperatures make it difficult for pets to cool themselves and heatstroke can be fatal. 💔 If you plan to run an errand (no matter how quickly) that your pet cannot accompany you on, keep them safe and cool at home. 🌡️ If you see an animal in distress, call your local police, RCMP, or the Nova Scotia SPCA at 1-888-703-7722.

06/16/2024

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads in your life… including all the amazing fur-dads out there!! 💙 Your friends at the SPCA Veterinary Hospital hope your day is just as PAWsome as you are! 🐾

☎️ 902-706-4155
💌 vet@spcans.ca
🌐 https://spcans.use2.ezyvet.com/external/portal/main/login