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It’s just a fact of life that dogs eat weird stuff. They help themselves to all sorts of questionable items, and many of them aren’t actually considered edible (like socks or coins).

This time of year in particular, flies are in hot pursuit of making us all crazy and the correct canine response to their yuckiness is to snap their jaws around them, often in mid flight. This can be amusing (and certainly helpful), but is it unsafe when a dog eats flies? 

Of all their beautiful features, your cat’s long whiskers are probably among your favorites.

While they may not get as much credit as the highly capable eyes or ears, whiskers bring a lot to the table. They make your cat look really cool and help them navigate the ever-changing world around them. But since they poke outward from the sides of their face, can these touch receptors suffer from whisker fatigue?

Dogs and trucks seem about as rural America as apple pie. Most dogs do love to feel the wind on their face, picking up all of the scents of the natural world around them. You have probably seen more than a few big goofy smiles from dogs as they put their head out of the car window. The same is true when dogs ride in the back of the truck.

Unfortunately, this combination of dogs and truck rides is a very dangerous one. The team at Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital wants to explain why letting your dog ride in the truck bed is unsafe and what you can do to better protect your best pal.

There are various illnesses or injuries that befall pets throughout their lives. Sometimes they’re sneaky and don’t arouse suspicion. Other times, obvious symptoms ring the bell that a pet emergency is unfolding right now.

When faced with a sick or injured pet, it’s easy to panic. Knowing what to do for them isn’t always clear, but when you train for this eventuality you’re doing a favor that benefits both you and your pet.

To that end, we offer 5 things to remember when dealing with a serious, potentially life-threatening situation.

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. 

As a couple grows closer and makes plans for the future, the idea of expanding their love to include caring for a pet is often a natural choice. This is especially true for pet lovers. Adding a pawed friend to the mix is a common theme when two people commit to greater responsibility and the sharing of interests. If you and your sweetie are looking to add a new pet to your little family, that’s an exciting step! 

If you are about to embark on adopting a pet with your significant other, there are some things to consider before you take the plunge into mutual pet ownership. Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital wants to help you make an informed decision to create the best possible home life for your wonderful new pet.

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.

Wildlife is abundant in Texas, including those that are venomous and carry zoonotic diseases, which are transmittable to humans. While wildlife are beautiful and necessary, domestic dogs still have their innate prey drive that causes thousands of wildlife related emergencies each year.

Many pet owners lament why they can’t stop the family Fido from running after wild animals, which carry disease and threats of injury. This is why the team at Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital is here to give you some suggestions on how to discourage your dog from chasing squirrels and other wild animals.

Most of us use a wide variety of chemical-based products in our home and on the lawn and garden. Unless you have switched to eco-friendly and pet safe products, these cleaners, pesticides, and other products can harm your pet if they come into contact with them.

Despite how noxious and unappealing they seem to us, hazardous household products can seem interesting (or even appetizing) to a curious pet.

Your friends at Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital is here to help keep your pet safe and protected from harmful chemicals. Here are a few ways to effectively store these pet toxins while not in use.

Most of us know that peanuts and other nuts are something that we need to be careful with around our fellow humans, but what about dogs? Are things like peanut butter safe for your pet? What precautions should you take if giving your pet nut products? 

Dogs and nuts can make a great partnership, but at Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital we want you to know how to pamper your pooch safely.

The Thing About Dogs and Nuts

Nuts can make a terrific and tasty treat for your pet. The majority of nuts are safe for pets and nut allergies are uncommon.

There are a few exceptions, however, such as macadamia nuts, which can result in vomiting, fever, tremors, high heart rates, and incoordination when consumed in large quantities. Less common nuts such as English walnuts, ginkgo nuts, and horse chestnuts should also be avoided.