We are very excited to announce a new addition to our practice!

Dr. Nichole Crainick comes to us with 15 plus years as a Veterinarian. She is very excited to join the Markham Woods family and start meeting your furry companions! Dr. Crainick has an extensive background in both internal and emergency medicine with a special interest in geriatric and emergency medicine.

Dr Crainick lives locally here in the Markham Woods area.In her spare time she enjoys hiking, participating in canicross, and competing in obstacle course races with her Australian Shepherd, Lily. She also enjoys scuba diving, traveling, kayaking, and playing video games.  Dr. Crainick shares her home with 3 dogs, 2 cats, and 2 map turtles.

Please give her a warm welcome when you see her!

Here's a quick Q&A with Dr.Crainick!

What are the most important things to keep in mind when you are having an emergency with your pet?

Stay calm- as with any emergency staying calm & keeping a level head makes all the difference! This is often the hardest part of an emergency but is also the most important.

Use caution- pets that are very frightened or in pain may bite or scratch without meaning to hurt you.  A thick blanket or towel can be used to wrap a pet making it easier to safely handle them in an emergency.

Be prepared- make sure you know when your veterinarian is open & what to do when they are not.  Keep a copy of your pets’ records & a list of your pet’s medications on hand.

What are the top pet emergencies that require immediate medical attention?

1. Severe bleeding or bleeding that doesn't stop within five minutes

1. Choking, difficulty breathing or non-stop coughing and gagging

1. Bleeding from nose, mouth, rectum, coughing up blood, or blood in urine

1. Inability to urinate or pass feces (stool), or obvious pain associated with urinating or passing stool

1. Injuries to your pet's eye(s)

1. You suspect or know your pet has eaten something poisonous (such as antifreeze, xylitol, chocolate, rodent poison, etc.)

1. Seizures and/or staggering

1. Fractured bones, severe lameness or inability to move leg(s)

1. Obvious signs of pain or extreme anxiety

1. Heat stress or heatstroke

1. Severe vomiting or diarrhea – more than two episodes in a 24-hour period, or either of these combined with obvious illness or any of the other problems listed here

1. Refusal to drink for 24 hours or more

1. Unconsciousness

The bottom line is that ANY concern about your pet's health warrants, at minimum, a call to your veterinarian.