Posts in Category: Pet Health & Wellness

Your pet relies on you for necessities like food, water, exercise, and affection, but he or she also needs your help when it comes to preventing disease, too. Certainly regular wellness exams, routine vaccinations and parasite preventatives are all on the list of keeping your pet happy and healthy, but but have you thought of other potential health problems that your pet may develop, like cancer?

Just as it does with us, pet cancer can develop in any part of the body where abnormal cells grow and divide at a rapid rate. Pet cancer is frighteningly prevalent – and while there are certain breeds that are genetically predisposed the disease, it can be found in any pet at any age.

Thankfully, there are steps you can take to reduce your pet’s cancer risk. Here’s what you need to know… Continue…

We truly enjoy seeing all of our pet patients, and always want the best possible outcome for them – whether it is regarding general wellness or critical care. At Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital, we strive to deliver excellent customer service to our clients and superb care to their pets, and hope we meet (if not exceed) those expectations.

However, sometimes we need help from pet owners during appointments to make sure that all the needs of the animal are addressed. We love to answer pet owner’s questions and, in preparation for your pet’s next visit to see us, we suggest bringing some notes and questions to help us serve your pet in the best possible way. Continue…

No one likes to think about parasites. Unfortunately, they are a reality in pets (and people too!). Part of responsible pet ownership is protecting your pets from unwanted invaders. Doing so helps to keep dogs and cats healthier longer.

Parasites in Pets

It is not uncommon for our pets to be affected by one or more parasites at some point in their life. Parasites are organisms that live on or in a host (your pet) and benefits by taking nutrients from its host. There are a wide range of parasites that affect our animals. Some are just annoying, while others can cause major illness or even death. Continue…

Vaccinations have garnered a lot of media attention lately, and there is quite a bit of misinformation being driven by the negative attention. Because of this, there is an array of general misconceptions among pet owners about whether or not certain pet vaccinations are necessary, or whether vaccinations compromise the health of their pet. Unfortunately, this kind of misinformation can create health risks for unvaccinated pets.

By ensuring your pet’s vaccination protocol is met, you provide protection against many diseases, such as leptospirosis, rabies, distemper, parvovirus, and more. Some of these diseases are highly contagious and sometimes fatal to our pet and other animals exposed to the disease.  Some are also zoonotic diseases, meaning that they can also be transferred to humans, as in the case with rabies and leptospirosis. Continue…

With tough economic times still impacting many family budgets, there can be a tendency to wait until emergency situations occur in our pet’s health before seeking veterinary care. However, foregoing routine examinations, vaccinations, and testing can diminish the quality of life for our pet, and end up costing much more in the long run.

Just like our own annual physicals and tests that are vital to diagnosing and preventing the onset of disease, our pets benefit from the same type of preventative care. At Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital, our wellness plans focus on every facet of health in your pet’s life, including behavioral, physiological, and age-related needs.

Wellness plans also include those important examinations that provide a baseline of information to be used as your pet ages. Consistent veterinary care and comprehensive testing are incredibly helpful in determining underlying health issues and increasing longevity. Continue…

You may have heard of parvo before, but do you really know what it is?

Parvo (also known as parvovirus) is a deadly virus that strikes dogs (mostly puppies), primarily during the summer months. The disease was not recognized prior to the 1970s, but since then veterinary hospitals across the country have become all too familiar with this terrible condition.

The good news is, parvovirus in dogs is completely preventable. However, in order to protect your pet, it is essential to understand what parvo is and where it comes from.

What Parvo Does

When an animal is infected with parvo, the virus invades the bone marrow where the cells that fight infection are produced. This causes the body to be unable to fight off the infection effectively. The virus also invades cells in the intestine and causing severe Continue…