The animal health team from the Winnipeg-based Tuxedo Animal Hospital just travelled to Rankin Inlet for its annual pet clinic in the community.

While all was reported well with the health of the Rankin pet population by veterinarian Dr. Jonas Watson, the team did have to set up a hospital zone when one furry patient arrived with a menace known well to dog lovers.

Watson said the team comes to Rankin and does a lot of vaccination to prevent diseases like parvo virus.

In fact, he said, this is the first trip during which they actually had to treat a case of parvo virus.

SA国际影视传媒淎n owned puppy was presented to us very ill with vomiting and diarrhea,SA国际影视传媒� said Watson.

SA国际影视传媒淎 test confirmed the dog had parvo virus, so we immediately hospitalized it, placed it on intravenous fluids and began administering medications.

SA国际影视传媒淪lowly, but surely, through the week she got better and we were happy to send her home with her very grateful family.SA国际影视传媒�

Watson said the team did about 30 surgeries while in Rankin and had about 50 medical appointments booked.

He said the vast majority of the surgeries were spays and neuters, but they also did a couple of eyelid surgeries on some dogs that had problems with eyelids rolling-in against their corneas.

SA国际影视传媒淲ith most of the vaccinations we did the animals had already been spayed or neutered, in most cases by us in previous years.

SA国际影视传媒淚'm always impressed with how fit and in-shape the dogs are up here. They have fairly active outdoor lifestyles and, as such, they tend to be leaner than their counterparts down south.

SA国际影视传媒淪imilarly, a lot of dogs up here have very clean teeth, which is probably due to some nutritional differences in the way dogs are fed up here versus in the city.

SA国际影视传媒淚 was impressed this trip by generally how healthy most of the animals were that we saw, and, in those ways, it was a fairly typical visit.SA国际影视传媒�

During the year before the next clinic in Rankin, Watson reminds owners to keep feeding their pets well, make sure they get plenty of exercise, de-worm appropriately, and make sure they're booked every year the animal health team comes to visit.

He said the facility in Rankin provided by John Hicks and Page Burt meets every need the team has.

SA国际影视传媒淚t's extremely convenient, there's lots of space and we're able to set-up a full surgical suite on one side and a full exam room on the other.

SA国际影视传媒淚t meets our needs as well as any. It's comparable to many vet clinics I've worked at down south, so we're very happy, and feel very fortunate, that Page and John are able to afford us that space.SA国际影视传媒�

When it comes to possible pet owners, Watson said they need to be committed to a dog or cat for 10 or 15 years.

He said they need to understand medical issues could arise that may require veterinarian attention, which could mean an unscheduled trip down south.

SA国际影视传媒淭he basic needs for a pet include vaccination, de-worming, basic grooming and good food, and there are costs associated with pet ownership in order to ensure that they lead good, healthy lives.

SA国际影视传媒淚t's not something to enter into lightly. Puppies are not toys. They become dogs, and dogs require years and years of love and attention.SA国际影视传媒�