The Stiles Files (blog)

It’s a Privilege – by  Dr. Enid Stiles  I consider my time on this earth as a veterinarian a privilege. And the reason why is simple, and yet for some people, it may seem odd. I hear myself and my colleagues using words with clients like ‘it is our duty’, ‘we are always considering the welfare of the patient’, ‘we have …

Finding the Right Dog  –  Dr. Enid Stiles  Dr. Stiles helps her retired parents navigate the world of pet adoption, and finds the perfect older dog! When I was growing up, my parents always had puppies. Sometimes from breeders, sometimes from someone we knew (neighbour, friend of a friend, etc). Once we had a dog simply show up at our house, …

Full disclosure – by Dr. Enid Stiles  Things in veterinary medicine are changing and at an incredibly fast pace. The days of veterinarians like James Herriot are in many ways behind us. Don’t get me wrong. Being a vet is still everything I hoped and dreamed it would be. But gone are the days for most of us where we …

When I speak with veterinary colleagues in Europe and Australia, I am simply embarrassed. I live in this wonderful country where we are often leading the way of research and innovation in animal health and welfare. And yet, we still declaw. Twenty-eight countries (and counting) have made declawing illegal and considered inhumane. Why is Canada so far behind?   I …

It’s all about trust and confidence in your veterinarian by Dr Enid Stiles, Sherwood Park Animal Hospital So I am sitting here, anticipating what I know will likely be a lot of hype after tonight’s Market Place show. I don’t know what they are going to say and if the previews are any indication, it should be TV at its …

by Dr Enid Stiles, Sherwood Park Animal Hospital When I first started seeing veterinary behaviour cases, I was a strong believer, as I had been taught, that most behaviour problems in domestic animals occurred because “The owner wasn’t doing it right”, “Who’s the master here?”, “He doesn’t get enough exercise”, “He’s spoiled”, etc. Nurture was far stronger, in the opinions …

So I have a simple rule I live by: thank all dogs who growl! It takes every ounce of my will-power not to get upset at my own dogs when they growl about something. Some kind of natural or parenting instinct that overtakes my inner being…. “NO, AHH, DON’T BE LIKE THAT, I DON’T UNDERSTAND, HE IS NEVER LIKE THAT”, …