Cat’s meow – spaying and neutering your cat

cats playing

Spaying and neutering domestic cats is especially important. Currently, there are established feral populations of felines whose numbers just keep growing. Unwanted stray cats lead to the spread of transmissible diseases such as feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline leukemia virus (FeLV), intestinal parasites as well as respiratory and other infectious diseases that infect other cats. […]

Veterinarian Heights: Treating Abscesses From Bite Wounds

An abscess forms when an infected bite wound heals over on the surface, sealing the infection inside. Fever is generated as the infection incubates. Diseased tissue and the inflammatory cells liquefy into pus. The pus breaks through the overlying surface skin and drains, leading to foul odor, pain, and discharge. The area may or may […]

Matters of the heart – murmurs, coughing and cardiac disease

Cats and dogs like people have cardiac disease, which when noticed, often presents itself as a cough of exercise intolerance. Without symptoms noticed at home, during a routine visit to your veterinarian, a clue that something is going on my be noticed when your veterinarian hears a heart murmur. What is a murmur? A heart […]

Urinary Obstruction in Cats – A Life-Threatening Emergency

Recognizing the Emergency We have already described the signs of feline idiopathic cystitis (F.I.C.) as straining to urinate, bloody urine etc. If the cat is a male, he is at risk for an especially life-threatening complication of this syndrome: the urinary blockage. Mucus, crystals and even tiny bladder stones can clump together to form a […]

Intestinal Parasitism in The Houston Heights

Many cats and dogs are affected by intestinal parasitism, which can either be intestinal worms or protozoal organisms. Most pets show symptoms such as diarrhea or soft stool, but in some cases older animals may not show signs at all. Fecal floatation done in-house at your veterinarian’s practice or sent out to your veterinarian’s reference […]

Canine and Feline Obesity – Here’s The Skinny

Obesity has become an extremely important health problem in the Western world, not just for humans but for dogs and cats as well. Obesity in pets is associated with joint problems, diabetes mellitus, respiratory compromise, and decreased life span; recent estimations suggest that up to 35 percent of dogs and cats in the U.S. suffer […]

Dogs and Roadtrips

Off for a vacation road trip and looking to bring your canine companion? Kudos to you for bringing your furry friend along. Some dogs love hopping in the car, peering out the window and seeing new places. But other dogs get anxious in the car and/or in new surroundings. If your canine companion is not […]

Flea Anemia in The Houston Heights

Fleas aren’t just a nuisance. They drink blood and blood loss can kill. In almost every case, the owner had no idea that flea infestation could be lethal. It is hard to imagine that something as tiny as a flea could be dangerous. We all know that fleas can make pets itch. Some of us […]

Canine Lamness in The Houston Heights

There are a number of reasons your canine companion might be favoring a leg. If lameness persists more than 24 hours, it should be brought to the attention of your family veterinarian. Below are some of the common reasons for lameness: Medical/Infectious: -Tick borne disease can results in shifting leg lameness -Auto-immune inflammatory disease such […]

Allergies- they are in the air

Airborne particles (pollen, dander, etc.) are harmless to someone who is not allergic to them. Allergy develops in individuals who are genetically programmed to do so – This includes our dog and cat companions. Features of Atopy (allergy to airborne things) There are many reasons for pets to itch: parasites, allergy to flea bites, food […]