Grapevine TX Animal Laboratory Services

Posted on August 5, 2011 by admin

Your pet is an important member of the family. Your children, especially when they’re young, have regular routine check-ups where the doctor does a number of tests and examinations. Your pet also deserves regular check-ups from your local Grapevine TX veterinarian.

Colleyville Animal Clinic offers regular animal check-ups and in-house laboratory services to provide fast, reliable results. On site lab work allows for minimal wait as to provide the best treatment for your pet should something show itself.

Blood draws help diagnose a number of things not seen on the surface. Blood work tells our Grapevine vet clinic a great number of things regarding your pet’s health. An excerpt from the Colleyville Animal Clinic’s website explains further:

Drawing blood and performing several types of evaluations from the single extraction can uncover a plethora of information that tells the doctor how healthy or unhealthy the pet is and how each of his or her organs are functioning at the time of the test…Other lab work includes examination of various fluids and substances collected from your pet with minimal invasion. Saliva, urine, and fecal matter can all be collected without any incision or needle prick and can be assessed to learn more about the well-being and condition of your pet at any given time. Checking your animal’s blood pressure can also determine whether or not medication is required to treat the pet. Fungal cultures can check for infections of fungus externally and internally, and parasites can be identified through laboratory test results.

Other screenings provided by Colleyville Animal Clinic serving the Grapevine area include biopsies that can prevent tumor growth and early signs of cancer, test for rabies, urinalysis, glucose levels and more. Please bring your pet in if you feel something is not right or if they have not had a regular check-up in some time. For all your pet health and lab services, contact Colleyville Animal Clinic by phone or make an appointment online today.

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Should My Pet Go On a Diet?

Posted on July 13, 2011 by admin

Southlake TX animal vetsEvery pet owner wants to create the ideal environment for their pet. A safe and happy home is essential for any dog, cat, or other domesticated animal. Yet there is more to a happy and healthy pet than a safe shelter. Our Southlake TX veterinarians at Colleyville Animal Clinic know a pet’s diet is essential for their health and life expectancy. So the question remains: how do you know when your pet may need to go on a diet?

Our veterinary team can help you determine if your pet would benefit from a diet. We can help you sort through the variety of food choices and options offered today and develop a meal-plan for your pet that reflects their dietary needs. Whether it is to help an overweight pet lose weight, or simply help your animal adjust to a sensitive stomach, we are here to guide you through it.

There are many reasons a pet may need to go on a diet. Excess weight in your pet can put your animal at risk for heart diseases and other disorders, a position no pet or pet owner wants to be put in. Overweight pets are caused by their consuming more calories than they burn off, be it in excessive treats from their owner or a lack of sufficient exercise. This additional burden of weight can negatively affect their health and happiness, allowing them to appear more slow and sluggish as their weight increases.

If you feel your pet may benefit from a new meal plan or decreased diet, our staff at Colleyville Animal Clinic can help you devise it. With any comments, questions, or concerns, or to schedule an appointment for you and your animal today, give us a call or contact us online today.

 

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Southlake Medicated Dog Bath and Flea Dip

Posted on June 28, 2011 by admin

When the temperature rises, so does the number of bugs and pesky annoyances causing bites and itchy skin. The professionals at your Southlake TX vet want to remind you that your pet experiences the same increase in skin irritation as you during the summer months. Dogs who are outside a lot or don’t have preventative collars or medication can often experience much discomfort if not treated.

Your local Southlake Texas animal clinic offers many pet grooming services. If your dog is itching, a regular or medicated bath from a veterinarian will have beneficial results and might be all your dog needs on a regular basis. The bath can clean off unwanted debris like excess skin and oils, flea eggs and dirt. In special situations, where a pet has been sprayed by a skunk or has overly dry infected skin, special medicated shampoos are available at Colleyville Animal Clinic for you to help bathe away the smell or provide moisture.

A flea dip from your Southlake veterinarian is a great launching point on the way to a healthier pet. Generally, a pet is scrubbed and rinsed in warm water. A flea dip is applied and worked in with warm water and the pet is dried. A flea dip treats ticks and is an excellent way to begin treatment. Other preventative measures like a flea collar or topical tick medications will help in continued treatment.

Medicated baths for pets treat other skin irritations. A common condition is seborrhea, an oily irritation and redness, which is very responsive to medicated baths. Many skin problems are spring boards to more serious problems such as hypothyroidism so scheduling a medicated bath at your Southlake area animal clinic for your pet is important preventative care.

For all your pet grooming needs, contact Colleyville Animal Clinic by phone or make an appointment online today.

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Are Your Pet’s Vaccinations Up-to-Date?

Posted on June 15, 2011 by admin

Debilitating illness and disease are not limited to an animal species. Both communicable and long-term diseases especially affect the more popular in-home pets like canines and felines. Your local Southlake Texas veterinary service will help you keep up with your furry friend’s vaccination schedule.

Vaccinations are essential to maintaining health and well-being for your pet. Dogs are prone to many debilitating illnesses including:

  • Distemper
  • Para Influenza
  • Parvovirus
  • Canine Distemper
  • Rabies

Cats are also prone to a number of diseases including:

  • Feline Leukemia
  • Calicivirus
  • Rhinotracheitis

Both cats and dogs can suffer from rabies and bordetella (kennel cough).

Colleyville Animal Clinic, your Southlake veterinarians suggest vaccinations administered on a regular pet vaccination schedule to assure that your pet is protected from viruses and bacteria building up causing harm on their systems. Full vaccination services for cats and full vaccination services for dogs are our specialty and priority.

If you are unsure of your pet’s next scheduled vaccination requirements or have a new kitten or puppy, be sure to schedule an appointment with your Southlake TX animal clinic. You can also view our pet vaccination recommendations to determine the current needs of your pets. Prevent your pet from unnecessary harm and call Colleyville Animal Clinic today.

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Preventing Motion Sickness In Pets

Posted on June 2, 2011 by admin

Just like people, animals have sensitivity to new environments, and as humans do, many animals have issues with riding in a car and may experience various levels of car sickness. Especially if you don’t take your dog or cat for frequent rides, the motion of the car could cause a nervous or symptomatic reaction from your pet.

There are several ways to address car sickness in pets, the easiest of which is to take your pet for more frequent, shorter rides. If your dog or cat never rides in the car, except for that 5-hour vacation trip once a year, it is likely your pet will not be accustomed to the enclosure or motion of the car. This can lead to excessive motion sickness or nervous energy in your pet. Rather than wait for the long trip, take your pets for short rides – a five-minute drive to the park or just around the block. This will help them acclimate to being in a moving vehicle so they can build resistance over time.

Sometimes, as with people, it is more than the lack of consistency in driving that leads to motion sickness in pets. No matter how often they ride with you, they experience sickness. In these instances, you may wish to purchase over-the-counter medicines to help ease the nausea and nervous reaction. Most of these OTC medications contain dimenhydrinate or meclizine and should be taken prior to symptoms occurring, meaning that you should give your pet its medicine before leaving for the drive.

Because dosage is not always the same in pets as it is in humans, and because these particular medicinal dosages differ by body weight, it is recommended that you consult a local Colleyville veterinarian’s office for recommended dosage for any pet suffering from motion sickness. Our professional veterinary staff will be more than willing to help you prevent your dog or cat’s suffering so that you can enjoy a relaxing vacation together, despite a long drive.

 

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The Importance of Pet Grooming

Posted on May 24, 2011 by admin

The thought of grooming your pet doesn’t come as naturally as the thought of grooming yourself.  But just like us, pets need to bathe, have their nails and coats trimmed, and even brush their teeth. Pet grooming is essential to the health and well being of every pet.

Whether you have a long haired pet or a short haired pet, bathing is essential to a pet’s over-all heath inside and out. Bathing regularly will often prevent tick infestation or skin irritations from developing, especially if your pet spends most of his time outdoors.

Combing and brushing your pets hair helps trigger oils in the dogs hair just as in humans to give a healthy shine to a pet’s coat of hair along with keeping the skin from drying out. It also prevents clumping in long haired pets and removes fur shed in the warmer months.

Another important step in grooming your pet is clipping nails and hair (in long haired pets). Trimming nails on a regular schedule and often helps avoid the sometimes painful experience of clipping the “quick,” a vein that runs into the nail. If left to grow between trimmings scheduled too far apart, the vein will grow closer to the end of the nail, making any clipping hurt. Hair trimming is different for all breeds, long or short haired. Have a professional at your local Colleyville TX animal clinic schedule an appointment for you today so you don’t have to worry about doing it right.

Your pet may require other specialized grooming services like ear cleaning, dental cleaning, or tick removal. Talk to your local Colleyville Animal Clinic about putting your pet on a grooming schedule.

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Tackling Dental Disease in Pets

Posted on May 3, 2011 by admin

Pet Dental Health Is ImportantPaying attention to your pet’s breath may not be your top priority when you’re out walking the dog or making your cat purr. Yet, your pet’s dental health is extremely important to his overall health and happiness.

Dental disease in pets affects the whole body. More serious problems such as heart, lung, and kidney disease can often be linked back to oral disease in pets at a young age. Your Colleyville TX animal care representatives at Colleyville Animal Clinic can provide your pets with proper dental care to prevent these more somber problems from emerging.

In addition, pet owner education regarding treatment options in dental care and home pet care can be just as important as a regular pet exam. The two most important things with regard to pet dental are regular oral examinations and periodic dental cleanings. Preventative maintenance is always more beneficial than long term damage or an emergency.

Talk to your local Colleyville TX veterinarians about beginning a pet care dental maintenance plan for your furry best friend. His bad breath will be a thing of the past now and for years to come.

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Finding the Right Pet Boarding Provider

Posted on April 21, 2011 by admin

Pet BoardingGoing out of town for an extended period can be difficult for individuals with pets. While some trust their pets with friends, others look for reliable pet boarding accommodations. Our Colleyville TX animal care experts at Colleyville Animal Clinic offer both long-term and day boarding options.

In searching for the right pet boarding provider, an owner should consider his pet’s health and safety issues. Do you own research on several providers, as a proven track record, a visit to the facility and positive feedback from reviews and testimonials can really win an owner over.

Our facilities at Colleyville Animal Clinic include a variety of options that will fit your pet’s preferences and specific requirements. We cater to your pet, offering a relaxing getaway for him while providing peace of mind for his owner.

Finding a pet boarding provider may take some time and a little persistence, but the time devoted is well worth it. Let our Colleyville TX pet boarding experts help you in choosing the right temporary location for your pet. For more information, call our Colleyville pet care company, or visit us online today.

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Caring for Your Senior Pet

Posted on April 8, 2011 by admin

Senior Pet CareAs we all want to believe our pets will be young and vibrant forever, they age, just like us humans.

After your pet has reached his or her prime, you may notice a decrease in activity level and a tendency for a milder manner. In some ways, senior pets are even more enjoyable, as they have a relaxed, calmer attitude not often found in younger animals. On the other hand, special considerations often must be made for the care and treatment of older pets.

To assure your pet enjoys his or her golden years, don’t hesitate to schedule regular full physical exams, which may find any abnormalities early on that will allow you and your veterinarian to make plans to resolve the issue.

Remember, pets age differently than humans, and your pet could become a senior citizen sooner than you think. Many times, something as simple as a special geriatric diet that is rich in fish oils (Omega 3) and glucosamine chondroitin can aid in reviving the spunk in your older pet. These supplements help keep joints better lubricated and healthier, which helps reduce inflammation and pain.

Contact our Colleyville TX veterinarians for more information. Give our Colleyville animal clinic a call, or visit us online for details.

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Pet Scratching: Allergies or Something Else?

Posted on March 24, 2011 by admin

Pet Itch: Allergy or Something Serious?As humans, when our eyes, nose or ears itch, we scratch. Our pets are no different in that aspect. There also are similarities with why pets and humans scratch.

Itchy ears, in particular, can be diagnosed as several things. Worst-case scenario, your pet could be battling an ear infection. Of a lesser concern, your pet may have fleas or having a test of wills against unwanted pests, such as ear mites.

On the flip side, pets have allergies just as humans do. Whether it pollen, hay fever, dander or any other foreign object in the atmosphere, your pet could have an allergic reaction to it, and that reaction may be itchy ears, watery eyes or the occasional sneeze. If this is the case (consult with your veterinarian first), switching to a hypoallergenic diet should assist in keeping those allergies under control.

Sometimes, it can be just as simple as you pet just needing to scratch. It’s all a part of normal behavior. If you spot a pet digging in his ear or even shaking his head, because they do not have thumbs, this is their method of solving the small-but-annoying problem.

If you notice your pet digging at his ears frequently, this may be a sign of something wrong. Our Colleyville TX veterinarians are here to assist you with all pet problems and ailments. Contact our Colleyville animal clinic today, or visit us online for details.

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