Articles

Dogs Don’t Need Help Keeping Their Feet Warm in winter

If you are an obsessed or overprotective dog owner then you have likely browsed the dog apparel aisle in your local pet store and paused briefly to contemplate “winter booties.” A recent discovery by researchers in Japan however, finds that your dog may not need “winter booties” after all thanks to a specialized circulation system in their paws...  read more »

Separating the effective methods from the ineffective ones

When it comes to household pests there is one pest in particular that sends fear in to everyone because they are rumored to be so difficult to get rid of – fleas. There are many common misconceptions about fleas and a wide number of purported solutions to getting rid of them; however, not every “cure” was created equal. Some “cures” for flea infestations have been proven to be completely effective while others don’t even make a dent in the population of such a rapidly reproducing pest. Whether your flea infestation begins as a single flea carried by your pet dog or whether it begins with a whole host of fleas transferring in to your home in items that have been purchased or borrowed, the end result will always be a flea infestation that rapidly becomes more than the original flea population. So how do you get rid of such a determined pest? Well that depends upon what approach you want to take....  read more »

Does Your Dog or Cat Have Mange?

"Doc, I think my dog's got mange. Do you think we can treat or is too late?" This is how a conversation once started when I entered an exam room to see a dog that was "bald all over and chewing hair out". Growing up in and starting my veterinary career in south central Texas made me no stranger to itchy dogs and cats. We have allergies and parasites galore down there and of all the common and relatively benign disease processes I see, mange is one of the most misunderstood...  read more »

A special exclusive by our Pet Doc, Jacob Mireles, D.V.M.

When to Put Your Pet to Sleep

Unfortunately, it's a common part of everyday vet practice that we need to say goodbye to our patients and friends. As difficult as it can be on me, the veterinary technicians and other staff in the hospital, it is always more difficult for that pet's owner. Making the decision to humanely euthanize your pet can be hard. We all want to minimize or eliminate any pain or discomfort our pet may be experiencing, but when is it time to say goodbye?...  read more »

Harmful if Swallowed

If you have ever had a dog, then surely you know what it is to come home and find your best pair of sneakers, your carpet, or in my case your small animal internal medicine book chewed to pieces. Looking back on these things it often makes for a good story and a laugh, but we also need to understand that there are some household items that can be harmful and even fatal to your pet if chewed on, eaten, or drank. Inanimate objects, improper food, chemicals and poisons, and plants are the most common things I see causing problems on a daily basis...  read more »

Canine Osteoarthritis: Age is Not a Disease

We have made great advances in veterinary medicine. New diagnostic tests and improved treatments have given veterinarians more power in their pursuit of preventing and treating illnesses in our pets. Improved client education and client willingness to provide better care for their animals has also given rise to more geriatric patients being seen at veterinary hospitals across the country. Age is not a disease but it predisposes our pets to more disease. Everyday I meet someone who tells me their dog has slowed down or has more trouble getting up and down in the last few years. There are numerous reasons for older animals to slow down with age and one of the most prevalent and common is canine arthritis or canine osteoarthritis...  read more »

Getting a New Puppy?

Getting a new puppy can be both an exciting time and an uncertain one. You have this new living, breathing, chewing addition to your family and you aren't sure what to do next. Every day I have people come in my hospital and say "Doc, educate me." That is what I will try to do here...  read more »