San Antonio Pet Surgery: Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital

pet surgery.

Pet surgery is a large part of the services we offer at Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital. Almost every pet will need to have some kind of procedure at some point, even if it’s just spay and neuter. It’s important to us that our pet parents know how much we care. Pet health and safety are what we do, and it shows through in our veterinary surgery offerings every step of the way. 

Continue…

No Couch Potatoes: Encouraging Safe Pet Activity After Surgery

Post-surgical care is important when it comes to proper healing and health. Healing can be a long process, and providing proper pain relief and nutrition can help tremendously.

While your pet patient is likely to have activity restrictions post procedure, Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital knows that post-op exercise has value. Encouraging safe pet activity after surgery can aid in recovery in a big way.

Knowing the Limits

Of course every pet and every surgical procedure are different. It is important to understand any post-surgical restrictions your pet has,  so that you can be sure exercise and activity is performed safely. 

Continue…

Safe Exercise and Play for Your Pet After Surgery

After a surgery, your pet will be required to rest for a set period of time. In more complex surgeries, they may need to be crated to avoid movement. But eventually, your pet will need limited forms of exercise and activities to keep them healthy, encourage better recovery, and make them happy.

The team at Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital wants to give our pet owners some insight into how to safely exercise your pet after surgery. Movement is important to their healing and well-being, which is why understanding the right way to exercise and play post-surgery is so important.

Continue…

What to do About Surgery Site Licking

It’s no secret that dogs, and to some degree cats, love to lick. Pets explore the world with their noses and mouths, and spend plenty of time each day grooming their fur and paws with their tongues. 

Licking is a natural behavior, but it can cause problems for a pet after surgery. While a wound is healing, skin can feel itchy or uncomfortable, prompting an irresistible urge to lick. Surgery site licking can severely impair healing, however, and may even lead to infection. Not only is this hard on the pet, it’s hard on the owner too. 

Your team at Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital has a variety of ways to prevent this type of licking, all of which are relatively inexpensive and simple to use.

Continue…

Caring for Your Pet After Surgery: Common Post Surgical FAQs

Caring for your pet after surgery is part of healing your petIf your pet has had surgery, likely you’ve left the hospital with a long list of home care instructions. Once your pet leaves the operating room and is on her way home, it’s up to you to help make her more comfortable using these instructions, so that the healing process can begin.

But this responsibility can be daunting, and there are common questions that arise after surgery. Since we all want to make sure our pet is as comfortable as can be, Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital is spending some time talking about these frequently asked questions, and how to best care for your pet after surgery.

Common Questions About Caring for Your Pet After Surgery

Continue…

On the Road to Healing: What to Expect After Pet Surgery

Recovering from pet surgery requires post-op pet careIt can be scary, loading your pet up in the car and heading home after a major surgery. You are expected to help him recover, but you may not feel all that prepared to do so. At Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital, we know that feeling confident helping your furry family member heal is important for you. We are here for you during the time before, during, and after a pet surgery.

How to Prepare to Bring Your Pet Home

During recovery, your pet should have a quiet, comfortable place to rest that is dry and clean. Be sure to prepare an area with food and water, and an easy to access place to relieve himself. A crate can make a great recovery den, if your pet is used to using one.

The area should be free of obstacles, such as stairs, that may pose a safety hazard to a pet who is under the influence of medications. Block off any potentially dangerous areas with a childproof gate or doors. Continue…

More Than Meets the Eye: The Unseen Benefits of Microchipping Your Pet

Dog with a microchip.

As a general rule, pets adopted from animal shelters are already microchipped. Because the practice occurs prior to adoption, and the chip is hidden beneath the skin, it’s possible to forget that it exists. Until, that is, a pet’s chip is called upon to identify their owner. A practice with an enormous impact on both pets and people, microchipping your pet sets the standard for responsible pet ownership.

Continue…

Cat Wellness Exams: All About That Base(line)

A cat with a red heart pillow.

Kittens experience rapid growth and development in their first year, and we typically see them every 3-4 weeks to complete vaccinations. Once they are 4-6 months old, they’ve likely received all the preventive care necessary to thrive, including spay/neuter surgery, microchip, and parasite prevention. At this point, annual cat wellness exams are the norm (unless they need emergency care). 

The differences between the first and second year might be subtle, but as cats age, health concerns increase. Some illnesses present obvious clinical signs, others are far more sneaky. This is just part of the reason why annual cat wellness exams are recommended at Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital. 

Continue…

Magic Number: 3 Tips to Support Senior Dog Care

Dogs are wonderful at any age, but we have a soft spot for seniors. They are mellow, sweet, and reliable. They know what they like and when, and really don’t keep their owners guessing about preferences or proclivities. 

Owners know their senior pets so well by the time they reach their golden years. While they are generally easy to provide for, you can elevate senior dog care to another level with our 3 essential tips.

Continue…