Posts in Category: Pet Safety
Keeping Your Pet Safe in a Disaster
No one wants to think that a catastrophic event will touch their lives or the lives of those they know and love. It’s important to have a safety plan in place before disaster hits. Preparedness makes safety possible in many cases.
Continue…Rabies Vaccination for Puppies and Kittens: What You Need to Know
While almost everyone has heard of rabies as a disease, most of us have some dramatized concept of what it actually is. In honor of World Rabies Day on September 28, Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital would like to share a little bit about this devastating disease and why rabies vaccination for puppies and kittens (and adult animals as well) is so very important.
Continue…Microchip Your Pet for Check the Chip day!
August 15 is an important day for you and your furry family members. It’s National Check the Chip Day. On this day each year, we are reminded to check our pet’s microchips to make sure they are still functioning properly. It’s also a great day to remember to microchip your pets so they can be returned to you if they’re lost.
Continue…Pets and Fireworks: Keeping Everyone Calm and Happy
You may be excited to wish America a happy birthday, but chances are that your pets are not so stoked. Pets and fireworks tend to go together like oil and water. Here is Leon Valley Veterinary Clinic’s advice for keeping everyone calm, cool, and collected this fireworks season.
Continue…Diarrhea in Dogs: When is it an Emergency?
Dog diarrhea is not fun for you or for your canine companion. Diarrhea might be a quick remedy. However, chronic diarrhea can require more treatment. Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital wants to help you determine if your dog’s diarrhea is cause for concern:
Cause of Diarrhea in Dogs
Diarrhea is caused by malfunction of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Here are a few reasons your pet might have diarrhea:
Infectious diarrhea: Can be caused by Viral (Parvo, distemper, coronavirus—NOT COVID-19), anthelmintic parasites (roundworm, hookworm, whipworm), protozoal parasites (giardia, coccidia), bacteria (clostridium, leptospirosis, salmonella, E.coli), or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
Trauma: a foreign body, penetrating wound, toxin exposure, or ulceration
Autoimmune: Inflammatory bowel disease
Vascular infarction: blood clot blocking blood flow to the GI tract
Last, but not least:
Iatrogenic: Dietary indiscretion, stress, chocolate, or overfeeding
Human Food: A Lead Suspect
While it might be tempting to give your dog a bite of lasagna, foods high in salt or fat can lead to diarrhea. Human bodies are accustomed to this diet, but we assure you: your dog is not.
Try feeding your dog some fruits and vegetables such as apples (no seeds), green beans, and carrots instead of a piece of a pizza slice or turkey breast from your sandwich.
How Your Veterinarian Can Help
If your pet has diarrhea, your veterinarian at Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital will be able to help you determine the type and the cause of the issue. We can walk you through the difference between large-bowel diarrhea and small-bowel diarrhea and find the best treatment option to get your dog feeling like his normal self.
When to Visit the Vet
We know, there is nothing cute about this, but acute diarrhea episodes often resolve on their own. Try giving your dog a bland diet for 48 hours.
However, if the episode is lasting longer than 48 hours or you see blood in the stool, or your dog loses their appetite or begins vomiting, call us for an appointment.
Chronic diarrhea is another reason to visit.
Your veterinarian can help you determine if the cause is from any of the following:
- Parasites such as whipworms
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
- Hyperthyroidism or other metabolic condition
- Cancer
- Dysbiosis
We are available to treat pet emergencies during the following times:
- Monday–Friday: 7 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Saturday: 8 a.m.–1 p.m.
Please call us before coming at (210) 681‑1391 so we can prepare to treat your pet.
For Emergency Veterinary Care After Hospital Hours
When you have a pet emergency after our hospital has closed, you can call our number for emergency information. Our recording provides contact information for nearby emergency facilities that can help you get the treatment your dog needs.
Securing Your Home Against Pet Poisons
We love our pets and want them to be happy and healthy. We provide them with good food, fresh water, and any pet medications they might need. Their toy bins are overflowing. Their beds are clean, soft, and almost as comfortable as our human beds. We snuggle and cuddle with our pets as often as we can. We know their every cue that tells us what they want next from us. But how much do we know about dangerous poisons that pets could access in our homes?
Continue…Preventing Pet Cancer: Is it Possible?
It’s pet cancer awareness month, and the burning question here at Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital is whether we stand a chance when it comes to preventing pet cancer. The long and short of it is that we can’t entirely, but with some diligent wellness care, we are not totally helpless when it comes to pet cancer.
Continue…Know Their Daily Water Needs, Prevent Pet Dehydration
It makes sense that if you leave out a bowl of water for your cat or dog, they’ll drink whenever they feel thirsty. In actuality, however, animals can be as picky about their hydration needs as humans. Some pets need their bowls filled with fresh water a few times every day, whereas other pets aren’t as thirst-driven. The amount of water they drink is largely determined by their species, breed, lifestyle and general pet health, and is critical to support important body functions. Owners of both cats and dogs can maintain proper levels of pet hydration, but what exactly does that mean?
Continue…Keeping Pets Safe from Dangerous Decorating Trends
By now, most of us are aware of the many risks to our pets associated with traditional home decor, but did you know that many of the latest decorating trends can also put pets at risk?
From macrame to decorative grasses and succulents, home decor is trending in some dangerous directions, at least where our pets are concerned. Our team at Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital is here to provide some guidance.
Continue…The Question Remains… Harness, Leash, or Both?
Many dog owners have a preference for certain types of leashes that work best for their pets. Some claim to love the traditional nylon leash, while others feel that a harness type leash is safer for their squirrely dog. Then you add to the mix the wide variety of styles, colors, materials, and so on, and it can be exceptionally hard to determine the right one for your furry friend.
The good news is that there is no one correct answer, but there are some suggestions to keeping your pet safe. The team at Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital is here to explain why the harness, leash, or both question is a great one. Let’s take a closer look.
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