At our animal hospital in Mississauga, Ontario we offer a wide range of veterinary services including medical, diagnostic, surgical, and preventive health care needs for your pet so they live a longer, healthier, happier life.
At Britannia Animal Hospital it is very important to us that our clients feel welcomed. We know that when it comes to the well-being of your pets, you are an important part of the team. We encourage our clients to join us on a tour of our facilities so you feel comfortable with where your pet receives medical care. We strive to nurture a warm and caring environment with clean facilities and state of the art medical equipment. For a tour of our animal hospital please call to arrange a time.
Dogs and cats (and other pets) age far faster than people. Significant changes in your pet’s health can happen in a short time. Wellness programs allow us to diagnose diseases and conditions early when they’re easier to treat or manage. Often we can help prevent diseases entirely just by ensuring that your pet has received appropriate vaccinations and preventives. We’ll work with you to create a wellness program, including a vaccination and prevention protocol for your pet. Call us today to schedule your pet’s wellness exam.
You can help keep your pet healthy by protecting him or her against parasites. Heartworm, fleas, ticks, and other internal and external parasites are much more than just pests; they can cause life-threatening conditions in your pet. They can also be a source of zoonotic disease with the potential to cause health problems for you and your family. We will recommend a preventive regimen for your pet based on their lifestyle and risk factors. We can also provide advice on keeping your whole household safe from parasitic infection. Set up an appointment with us to discuss parasite prevention.
Birds, large and small, tend to live longer and healthier lives when they receive regular veterinary care. We provide complete physical examinations, nutritional counseling, grooming, DNA sexing, fecal parasite testing, as well as medical and surgical services. In addition, we can discuss general care, disease prevention, safety, appropriate housing and toys, toxicities and training. We recommend that you bring your bird in for an initial checkup followed by an examination/beak/nail visit twice a year. Some birds require more frequent visits.
Our veterinarians are experienced in providing care for exotic companion animals. We routinely see ferrets, gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, chinchillas, rats, mice, hedgehogs and degus. We also see a wide variety of reptiles and amphibians. We understand their unique health needs and can provide diagnostic, therapeutic, surgical services, nutritional counseling, behavior consulting, and general care.
In the unlikely event we need to see your pet for an emergency we are equipped to handle the situation. In some cases, your pet may require hospitalization and diagnostic tests. Types of medical services we offer include: blood work, on-site blood diagnostics such as biochemistry profile and thyroid function test, urinalysis, cytology, on-site radiology (x-ray), on-site ultrasonography (interpreted by specialists), pharmacy, pain management, geriatric care, dermatology, cardiology, ophthalmology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, and more. If there’s something you don’t see, call to inquire.
We provide many surgical services for all species at our clinic including spays (ovariohysterectomies) and neuters (orchiectomies) and soft-tissue and dental surgeries. To facilitate the best care we may recommend referral of our patients to specialists (board certified veterinary surgeons) to perform complex operations and orthopedics.
During surgery, dentistry and other medical procedures, our team of veterinarians and veterinary technicians monitor all patients to ensure their safety. This is done both with both a veterinary technician and monitoring equipment (electrocardiogram, oscillometric blood pressure, Doppler etc). We monitor every procedure, regardless of the procedure. The type of anesthesia we use depends on the patient’s needs. Some require general anesthesia, while others may only call for sedation or local anesthesia. The anesthetic protocol used will be tailored specifically for your pet. All protocols and associated risks will be thoroughly discussed.
A comprehensive oral health assessment and treatment plan (COHAT) is a vital part to your pet’s overall wellbeing. Just like us, pets are prone to dental disease. While this can be helped by brushing and other commercially available products, an anesthetized COHAT should still be part of your pet’s dental health plan. After all, we need regular dentist visits too. This is performed under a general anesthetic. The teeth are ultrasonically and hand scaled (cleaned) and then polished. A complete oral exam and dental x-rays are performed. If required, diseased teeth are addressed and potentially surgically extracted.
Nutritional requirements vary for pets depending on their age, breed and health status. Your pet will likely go through many diet changes in their lifetime. We are well suited to help you make educated choices around potential diet adjustments. Our feathered, scaled, and more “exotic” furry patients also have special dietary requirements. We would be happy to set up a consultation so that we can discuss them with you.
Microchipping has become a very popular and safe identification tool to reunite lost pets with their owners. We usually implant a microchip at the time of their spay or neuter surgery. Adult pets may be microchipped during an office visit. We do carry a smaller microchip suitable for birds and exotics if required.
Pet food, supplements and treats: Proper nutrition is one of the best preventative tools available. We carry a variety of preventative diets to support your pet throughout its lifetime. Some of our patient’s medical conditions require a special diet. We regularly stock prescription diets used for chronic illness and short term management. We carry safe and nutritionally appropriate treats for dogs, cats and birds. We also stock a wide variety of safe bird toys.
We carry a selection of grooming products including shampoo/conditioners, ear cleaners, brushes and nail trimmers. These products help to maintain healthy skin and coat while at home. Teeth are also an important part of your pet’s well-being. We carry dental toothbrushes, paste, and treats to help keep your pet’s smile healthy and bright.
We have a close working relationship with veterinary specialists in all areas of care, including exotic specialists. On-site ophthalmology consultations, examinations and surgical services with Dr. Michael Zigler. Dr. Zigler has practiced in the field of veterinary ophthalmology for over 35 years. Dr. Zigler graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1979. In 1993 he received a Certificate in Veterinary Ophthalmology from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. In 2017 he became an Advanced Practitioner with the College.