Veterinary Specialty Centre of Newfoundland & Labrador
860 Topsail Road A1N 3J7 Mount Pearl, NL, Canada

Happy Chinese Lunar New Year! 2021 The Year of the Ox Let's welcome this year with hope and a wish for health and happiness!

LOOK AT THAT FACE Meet Molly. The sweetest 11 year old female Lab. Molly was diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy (seizures without an underlying disease) at 6 months of age but with great care provided by her family veterinarian and tons of TLC from her family, she has done very well with her condition. Recently, however, she had a cluster of seizures (5 in an hour!) and was brought straight to our emergency services. ... Molly had blood work done to ensure she was not experiencing any changes in her liver or kidney functions that could lead to a worsening of her condition. Happily, her blood work was good but to give her family peace of mind, Molly was admitted to the ICU for seizure watch. With Molly tucked in for the night in our ICU Department, her family could go home and get some rest knowing she was in good hands. Our ICU team members are present 24/7 and we place a bell on the patient so we can hear their movement if we aren't looking their way. Molly also had an IV catheter placed so that if she were to have additional seizures, we could quickly give her injectable medications to stop the seizure. Molly did very well with us and had no additional seizures she subsequently went home with her beloved family. We enjoyed having her smiling face with us and wish her the very best!

Here's something to warm your heart on this stormy winter day: Meet Boomer the awesome Boxer. Boomer is a recent first time blood donor who joined our program with a BOOM! We had an emergency case that required fresh blood immediately. Boomer's Mom, Samantha, brought him to our hospital within 30 minutes and together they helped save a life. To Boomer and his Mom THANK YOU! You're both amazing!... #vscherodogs #vscblooddonors

Pet emergencies happen, and even our own team's pets are not exempt. Case in point: Dr. Brown-Bury's uneasy Christmas with her 16 year old cat, Stewie Stewie had a seizure on Christmas Eve which led to a diagnosis of kidney failure. He was admitted to our ICU for 24 hour care which included staff being ever-present to notice if he had additional seizures, keeping him clean and dry, rechecking his blood regularly, and offering fresh food frequently to tempt his appetite. ... This intensive care plan allowed Stewie to head home and get on with his head booping and food stealing ways. Since then, we are happy to report that he has continued to do well following a consistent care plan to manage his condition (along with a lot of TLC from his pawrents and fur-siblings). ___ We know your pets are part of your family because we are pet owners too. We understand the stress of having your precious sidekick sick and/or away from home because we know the feeling. This is why every animal that comes through our doors is treated as part of our family...because caring for them is what we do.

Snow storm? ...We've got this! With the impending winter storm coming our way, we want to remind everyone that we will remain open despite any weather! We wish you a safe, cozy, storm chip kinda day/night but if you have a pet emergency we're here for you 24/7.

TO APPLY: Please submit your application with a resume to Lisa Janes at careers @ vscnl.ca We are now hiring a Veterinary Custodian to join our awesome team! Do your strengths lie in organizing, cleaning, and great attention to detail? Do you have a love of animals? The Veterinary Specialty Centre has a full-time Veterinary Custodian position available and we are looking for an eager team member to come on board and help us continue providing exceptional care to the pets of N...ewfoundland and Labrador. Applicants Qualities: Excited to work around animals Punctual with have weekend availability Work well independently and as part of the team Friendly with a positive attitude Motivated/ Hard-working/ Strong work ethic Quick learner Have an acute attention to detail Multi-task successfully and prioritize time and duties Responsible/ prompt / dependable Comfortable with medical waste Excellent communication skills and a calm demeanour are a must Not afraid of hard work and getting dirty! As a Veterinary Custodian, you will help maintain the clinic by: Detailing exam rooms: exam tables, counters, walls, and floors Stocking inventory Making sure laundry is run throughout the day Cleaning all floor surfaces including sweeping and mopping Emptying trash cans and surgical trash cans Keeping restrooms cleaned and stocked Cleaning hospital lounge areas including dishes, coffee makers, tables, and floors At VSCNL, we consider our team members to be our most valuable resource and we are searching for someone who is interested in staying and growing with us. We believe acquiring the right employee is contingent on the level of skills, cultural fit, and ability to be a team player. To acquire long-term, happy employees, VSCNL offers: Fair, Competitive Wages Health, Dental and Visual Benefits Annual Uniform Allowance CE Allowance Matching RRSPs Subsidized Pet Insurance ___ EXPERT CARE, CLOSE TO HOME Dr. Bailey’s goal in opening VSCNL was that no pet owner would have to leave the province to get the care their pet needs. We have the only board-certified surgeon and radiologist in the province, a CT scanner, offer chemotherapy, run a canine blood donor program and have the only ICU that is fully staffed 24 hours a day. When it comes to diagnosing and treating the pets of Newfoundland and Labrador, there is nothing we can't do! The Veterinary Specialty Centre of Newfoundland and Labrador is the province’s only specialty referral centre and 24-hour, full-service emergency clinic. For more information about our clinic, please visit: www.vscnl.ca.

Our very own Dr. Brown-Bury's beloved cat, Stewie, was amongst our emergency visits this holiday season (we're happy to report Stewie is home now and doing ok!) The holidays can be a busy and possibly stressful time for your pet (and sometimes for us owners) but rest assured despite the season, the pandemic, or whatever is thrown our way... we're here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. __ Thanks to The Chronicle Herald for the spotlight on Stewie.

Merry Christmas, everyone...humans and pets alike Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday season from all of us here at VSC!

UPDATE Today (Friday, Dec 18) is the last day to enter our photo contest! See full details below...good luck! ___... HOLIDAY PHOTO CONTEST We want to see your fave holiday season photos of your pets! To Enter Comment below with a photo of your festive fur/scale/feather fam for a chance to win a Carter's Vet Kit Play Set (recommended for ages 3+). A perfect holiday gift for the little aspiring vet in your life! Contest closes Friday, December 18th at 5pm NDT. A winner will be chosen at random and contacted via direct message. ___ No purchase necessary. This contest is not endorsed, sponsored, administered by or associated in any way with Facebook.

We are proud to sponsor such a wonderful team sport! UNL is the cat’s pyjamas! #UltimateFrisbee #UNL #SupportingCommunity

October is Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) month! This year, more than ever, we are very thankful for our wonderful RVT's. During the pandemic closures, our RVT's rose to the challenge to ensure that all of our patients received the best possible care! We are certain that our patients are appreciative of all the love and endless hugs they received !

Being involved in and supporting our community is very important to us. We are so honoured to learn of our nomination for St. John's Board of Trade Community Champion Award! Congratulations to all nominees and best of luck!

Meet our newest clinic scallywag Willy At the end of September, at just 9 weeks old, he was brought to us by a good samaritan in need of urgent care. Willy had a severe injury to one eye and needed it removed right away. With lots of TLC from our staff, Willy is now doing great. Willy has an amazing personality and we all quickly fell in love with him. He certainly lives up to the nickname scallywag... which perfectly suits his pirate hat/patch made by our very own Dr. Suzuki.

Effective immediately, we will now be offering 'curbside' service. As always, we are here for you 24/7 however, our clinic reception will be closed to the public to reduce traffic in order to protect clients, patients and staff. Please note the following procedure for clinic visits:

Being an Emergency and Specialty Hospital, we never know what our day might bring Today, our rehab team got to work with a SHARK! ... Thanks for making us smile today, Oz!

The SPCA St.John's Paws on the Pond 2020 event was a little different this year but nonetheless, a great success! Thank you to everyone who participated to raise funds and awareness for a wonderful organization and the animals they help every day.

#SuperfanFriday Have you caught a glimpse of our new lawn sign out in front of the clinic starring the one and only HANK? We had a super fan moment when he stopped by to grab a snap next to his sign! Hank is a canine rehab superstar

Update - Owners have been found. Thank you everyone for your information! This sweet, male neutered cat was brought to VSC last night by a good samaritan after being hit by a car. With no microchip, we have no way to identify his owners. If you think this may be your cat, please call us here at the clinic.

Thank you to CBC News for visiting our clinic and highlighting our Blood Donor Program! Check out the story below! If you, or someone you know, are interested in having your pet become a blood donor, visit us at www.vscnl.ca and complete a blood donor application! https://www.cbc.ca//newfo/nl-pet-blood-donations-1.5725104

If you don't know Hank...he's a real superstar around here Hank has been a long-term rehabilitation patient who has had tremendous success with his tailored rehab program. We love working with him and he lights up the clinic every time he visits. He is also BFF's with our Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner, Maria ___... We want to send out a big thank you to his Mom, Allison, who shared her and Hank's rehab experience with us: "Hank is a 4 year old Labrador Retriever and he has dwarfism. He had bilateral FHO surgery when he was 7 months old. Because of his condition, his recovery process was not typical but he did recover quite well. About a year ago, we became very alarmed when he almost completely stopped walking. He was extremely stiff and was having trouble doing his normal activities. He started doing rehab at VSCNL twice a week shortly after and we are amazed with how far he has come. He does laser and hydro therapy. Within just a few weeks we noticed major changes in his mobility. Now, a year later he is walking better than ever. His stamina has greatly improved. He used to only be able to do a few minutes on the treadmill and now he can do over 20 minutes. This has allowed him to lose the extra weight he had on as well which is a huge help. Besides all of these benefits, Hank has gained so much confidence. He isn’t nervous to walk up hills or on slippery surfaces anymore. Rehab has brought normalcy back into his life. And we are forever thankful for that. We cannot recommend these services enough." Allison, Hank's Mom

How majestic is this beautiful girl, Rhea? Rhea is another one of our kitty blood donors and has donated 3 times now! Thank you for sharing the love and saving lives, Rhea! #VSCHeroCats #VSCBloodDonor

Did you know? Cats have two major blood types: and Cats sometimes need blood but we do not keep cat blood on hand. Instead, we have a small crew of VSC Hero Cats that we can call on when in need. This beauty's name is Orion. We called on him earlier this summer when a patient was in need of blood. Thank you Orion, you're a hero! ... #VSCHeroCats #VSCBloodDonor

If you weren't able to tune in last week, catch our very own Dr. Maggie Brown-Bury discussing Pets & COVID-19 (as well as some additional topics) on VOCM here: bit.ly/3lAzexe

Meet Stryder and owner Chelsey! Stryder recently donated a bag of positive blood to help his fellow furry friends in need. Way to go, Stryder you're helping save lives and we are very grateful! #VSCHeroDogs #VSCBloodDonor

Supporting community starts in your own back yard (or on the nearest track!) We are pleased to sponsor our very own Curt Bastow this year who is as passionate about his work as he is about racing. Curt is a very talented (and titled!) motorcycle racer and we hope the VSC logo on his bike helps to bring him many victories! Best of luck at your race tomorrow at the Eastbound Park! We're rooting (and ruffing) for you!... #SupportingCommunity #GoodLuck #EastboundSpeedway

Happy #InternationalDogDay to all of our fur friends out there! We celebrate you not only today but every day! Show us your best fur friends in the comments below!

Have you met Jynx, the 7 year old Boxer? He’s a real legend around these parts... Knowing we had an emergency surgery at the clinic yesterday, Jynx donated to ensure we had an extra bag of negative blood just in case the patient needed it...talk about a HERO! Jynx has been donating blood @vscnl for over 5 years now! The bestest boi! ... #vscherodogs #vscblooddonor

Meet Moose - a VSC Blood Donor Veteran! Moose started donating blood with us at just a year and a half old. He’s now 4 years old and has donated SEVEN times! Thank you, Moose, for helping to save lives. You’re a very special boy! ... #VSCHeroDogs #VSCBloodDonor

Caring has the gift of making the ordinary special. George R. Bach __ We are honoured to once again support a fellow local organization whose mission is care-centric. For 25 years, The Gathering Place has provided a caring and nurturing environment for those who need it most. We think that's pretty darn special. #WednesdayWisdom #SupportingCommunity

Look at this guy GO!!!! Yay, Stanlee!!!! From total paralysis on one side to walking like it ain't no thang within a few weeks! It's amazing what can happen when you mix a determined doggo, his supportive family, and continued canine rehabilitation!

The SPCA St.John's Paws on the Pond event may look a little different this year being a virtual event but participating just got even sweeter... This year, there is no registration fee AND the first 50 registrants will receive an awesome limited edition POTP 2020 t-shirt! If you haven't registered yet, what are you waiting for? Get your tee while supplies last!... Register here: bit.ly/2Edcpye

#MotivationMonday Meet Stanlee the 1 year 6 month old amazing mixed breed doggo who's progress has been absolutely incredible over these past weeks. Here's his story: Stanlee came to us at the end of July for a sudden paralysis on his right side after waking up from a nap and falling. After various diagnostic tests with our state-of-the-art equipment, and receiving normal test results, our team had to work on a diagnosis of exclusion; ruling out potential causes.... With a team of experts working his case, Stanlee was diagnosed with a suspected fibrocartilage embolism (FCE). FCE is when a piece of cartilage causes a sudden blockage in circulation to the spine, impeding blood flow and function. There is no direct treatment for FCE so supportive care and rehabilitative therapy was the plan of action. Stanlee stayed with us in the hospital for 10 days receiving 24-hour care as well as daily physiotherapy and rehabilitative treatment. After showing tremendous improvement, Stanlee was able to go home to his family where he is continuing a custom exercise program tailored to him and his condition. He also attends regular rehab sessions with our Certified Canine Rehabilitative Practitioner, Maria, at the clinic. Way to go, Stanlee! We are SO proud of you your determination and progress has been outstanding! #CanineRehabilitation #DeterminedDoggo #VSCRehab

Save Lives. Donate Blood. We are so proud of and grateful for all of our VSC Hero Pets and excited to welcome new ones to our pack! A little blood goes a long way...consider donating today!... For questions, please email: [email protected] To register, visit: bit.ly/3fwhmiK

While many businesses are closed for the holiday, we are open 24/7 in case you need us. We hope everyone enjoys this beautiful sunny day! Stay safe and keep hydrated (pets and humans alike! :)

Another Hero Dog joins our pack! Meet Maverick! One of our team members’ brave big boy who recently joined our Blood Donor Program. Thank you, Maverick, for helping to save lives by donating your blood! You’re a hero!... #VSCHeroDogs #VSCBloodDonor