A triple-digit Texas afternoon takes the normal walk off the table, but your dog can still exercise safely in the early morning, well after sunset, or indoors with games and training that burn energy without the heat. Before any warm-weather walk, press the back of your hand to the pavement and hold it for seven [...]
The body condition score is a 1-to-9 hands-on rating, and is how veterinarians sort out whether the extra pound or two on your pet actually matters, independent of breed, frame, or what the scale says. You feel along the ribs, look down at the waist from above, and check whether the belly tucks up from [...]
Enlarged lymph nodes are worth your attention, but they are not an automatic reason to panic. A node swells whenever the immune system is working hard, and far more often that means it is fighting an infection, reacting to a skin or dental problem, or responding to inflammation than that it is cancer. How worried [...]
Auto-immune blood disease often builds silently before it announces itself. Your dog who seems a little off for a few days, slightly less energetic, a little pale around the gums, not quite finishing their food, can be in the early stages of immune-mediated hemolytic anemia before any single symptom demands immediate attention. By the time [...]
Walk into any pet store and you will find an entire wall of products promising to make your life easier and your dog happier. Some of them deliver on that promise. Others end up in our treatment room. Prong collars and choke chains can injure the neck, throat, and spine. Retractable leashes create cord-burn and [...]
The reddish-brown streaks beneath a Maltese's eyes or along a Bichon's muzzle are so familiar they can start to seem like a breed characteristic rather than a medical question worth asking. Tear staining, and the similar discoloration that comes from chronic licking, are caused by porphyrins, pigment compounds found in tears and saliva that oxidize [...]
If your dog has been squinting more than usual, or your cat keeps pawing at their face like something is bothering them, you might be noticing the early signs of an eyelid problem. Excessive tearing, redness, avoiding bright light, or discharge that keeps coming back can all point to issues with how the eyelid is [...]
The Dog Daycare Must-Haves: Ensuring Your Pet's Safety and Health Daycare promises socialization and exercise while owners work, but the quality of that experience depends entirely on facility management. Are vaccines verified through veterinary records or accepted on owner word? How quickly can staff intervene when play becomes too rough? What training do handlers receive [...]
You know your pet’s normal behavior better than anyone. So when your normally playful dog starts hiding under the bed, or your affectionate cat suddenly growls when you approach, you immediately know something is off. These sudden changes in behavior, be it increased aggression, withdrawal, or a loss of interest in their favorite activities, can [...]
Surgery can sound intimidating, but for many pets, it’s a vital part of staying healthy and pain-free. From preventive procedures like spaying and neutering to complex orthopedic repairs, surgical care often helps pets live longer, more comfortable lives. At Spring Branch Veterinary Hospital, we know that understanding what’s ahead can make the experience less stressful [...]
