Posts Tagged: Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital

The story collection Winnie-the-Pooh was published 92 years ago by the British author A.A. Milne. Pooh (and his highly relatable group of friends in the Hundred-Acre Wood) not only soothed kids still shaken by the effects of war, but with his beautifully simple, yet philosophical, musings Pooh spoke to people of all ages. The characters still endure to this day, in part because we have a treasure trove of insightful quotes that remind us of what really matters in life.

As we prepare to close out the year, we can’t help but reflect on the things we’re grateful for. To quote Eeyore, “ A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference”. Our compassionate veterinary staff couldn’t agree more!

If you’ve never seen a dog being walked on a retractable leash you might very well be living in a cave or under a rock. These wildly popular leashes aren’t really leashes at all, rather they consist of a cord which is wrapped around a spring loaded device and contained inside a plastic handle. A button on the handle allows the walker to control the amount of leash that extends out, allowing a dog to walk as far or as close as their human chooses.

While this may sound like great fun and freedom for both dog and walker, retractable leashes pose significant risk to the health and safety of both the dog and human who uses it.

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We do our best all year to keep our clients abreast of the the pet health and ownership issues that matter the most. This is certainly part of why we’ve decided to launch a blog this past year, and also why we’ve chosen to highlight the top 10 most popular posts of the year.

Whether you found these blogs to be informative or touching, you read them more than the others, so we think they deserve closer look. Share this list with with your animal-loving family and friends, and please let us know what you’d like to see us blog about in the year ahead! Continue…

Is your dog patiently waiting for you to finish shopping, decorating, checking of the list of December to-dos, and wrapping gifts? Has your cat been cleverly waiting for you to retire for the evening, only to go ballistic on the decorations? Maybe this is a signal that your pets – as well-behaved as they are – may need a bit of attention and fun time during the holidays, too.

After all, they are a part of the family and sharing some seasonal joy with loved ones is what this time of year is all about! Continue…

As the holidays descend rapidly upon us, it’s time to consider more than the shopping and the Naughty-or-Nice list. After all, the holiday season is as ripe with excitement and temptation for pets as it is for their people. As with humans, pets can behave more easily when the temptation to misbehave is limited.

Christmas Trees

As we strive to bring home the tallest, most perfect tree and get it set up without putting a hole in the ceiling, our animals know exactly what we’re up to. The cat is sure you found it the most amazing scratching post. The dog knows it’s an intruder that must be vanquished. Continue…

Winter provides lots of delights for pets and their humans. For many senior pets, though, the colder months provide nothing more than extra pain, discomfort, or unhappiness. Age-related illnesses or diseases have symptoms that colder temperatures exacerbate, and senior pets can suffer from respiratory or cardiac conditions, malnutrition, or depression. Even here in Texas, where the winters tend to be mild, the shift in temperature can affect senior pets, and shouldn’t be discounted.

Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital is here to eliminate any guess work you may have by addressing some of the specific concerns facing your senior pet. Continue…

For many of us, Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on all we have to be thankful for. Family, friends, our health, and prosperity are all common sources of gratitude, but for those of us fortunate enough to be pet owners, another blessing to be counted is our four-legged and feathered friends.

While we all have our individual reasons to be thankful for our pets, one of the greatest things that makes pet ownership so rewarding is how thankful our pets are for us. The unbridled joy they have to see us again, whether we’ve been gone five minutes or five days, can’t help but make us feel good. And, of course, the excitement and appreciation they show for being fed the same food every single day is not something we’re likely to get from our families.

Many studies have proven that having a pet helps us feel better, stay healthier, and live longer lives. But for many of us, one of the most poignant aspects of pet ownership is that loving and wanting the best for our furry beasts helps us learn to be unselfish.

Here are a few examples… Continue…

If you are like us, you have a long holiday to-do list looming in front of you. You may have special events to attend and, if you are hosting, lots of food and decorations to attend to.

While adding one more thing to your list may seem untenable, when it comes to your pet’s safety this Thanksgiving, emergencies can be prevented if you plan ahead. Let’s accomplish this task together by committing to the Thanksgiving basics we’ve listed for your success. Continue…

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…