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Firehouse is committed to keeping your pet happy and healthy while preventing disease.

5 Tips for Senior Cats
Easy ways to protect your best bud

1 min read Cayli never imagined her cat would end up with just one tooth. Cayli, a vet tech at Firehouse Leander, wishes she knew the importance of dental care when Midnight was young. “It wasn’t something I ever really thought about,” says Cayli. Midnight has had...

5 ways to nurture your senior pet
Make the most of your companion’s golden years

3 min read Senior pets can be as cute as their kitten counterparts. One of Dr Adriana Mendoza’s senior cats, named Sadie, “used to do the cutest little chirps in between her purrs,” says Dr Mendoza. “She was a domestic shorthair with beautiful eyes. She lived to be 14...

Ticks are Little. They Spread Big Diseases
Protect your cat and dog with preventive medicine

2.5 min read “We recently saw a dog who had a tick deep inside the ear canal. It seemed like the pup had an ear infection,” says Dr Adriana Mendoza. “A dose of Bravecto helped the tick crawl out on its own. It’s actually pretty common to find ticks inside the ears.”...

My pet ate poison. Now what?
The 5 things to do next

1 min read If you suspect your pet has eaten something they shouldn’t have eaten, don’t panic. Many pets eat toxins. We won’t judge you over the item or substance. Life happens. We’re here to help. Step 1: Find the packaging. It helps to have the product packaging so...

Brushing Your Pet’s Teeth: What to Know for Cats and Dogs
It's easier than it seems!

2.5 min read Brushing is a good habit to form as part of pet dental care. It’s a nice addition to professional cleanings. While there are a lot of tricks we can teach our pets, brushing their own teeth is not one of them. Alas, this task falls to owners. Get started...

Prep for Everything This Winter: How to Protect Your Pets During Austin Cold Fronts

2 min read Dogs (and even cats!) can enjoy the snow. The cold and texture of the snow are new sensations, triggering all sorts of positive stimuli in their brains. Read the tips below if you plan to be outdoors in the snow for long periods of time. Or if Mother...

When is the Right Time to Spay or Neuter Your Pet?
You and your vet decide together based on breed, age, and health

2 min read We wish there was a hard and fast rule when spaying or neutering your pet, but there is no perfect age. Your pet's health and breed, among other factors, determine the right time. What's the right age to spay or neuter my pet?Discuss this with your...

Xylitol: Is it Lurking in Your Pantry?
Symptoms, treatments, and what to do if you think that your pet has eaten it.

The number #1 recommendation from professionals is to read food labels before feeding anything to your pet. Do you have sugar-free gum, candies, or powdered peanut butter in your pantry? A sugar substitute called xylitol(also called birch sugar)is common in most of...

4 Halloween Treats to Keep Away from Your Pet

10/21/2021 | 2 min read Staying safe on Halloween doesn’t need to be tricky. Celebrate the spookiest night of the year by keeping your pet away from these hazards: #1: Candy bags and wrappers Bags and wrappers can be as dangerous to your pet as the treats...

How to Recognize Pain in Your Cat

Even though house cats have been domesticated for 10,000 years, their instincts still tell them to hide their vulnerabilities.Cats are stoic. This trait can make it hard to know when they're in pain.Your cat may experience pain for many reasons: joint issues, tooth...

How to Recognize Pain in Your Cat

Sep 20, 2021

Vacationing With Pets
8 tips for traveling with your pet

Jul 2, 2021

Distracting your dog is a great way to keep him calm during a long road trip.Quick travel tips in any season -Research veterinarians and pet-friendly hotels before leaving home. A veterinarian should be within 30 minutes of your final destination. Ask hotels about...

Car seats for dogs? You bet.
Buckle Fluffy into a harness to keep him (and you) safe on the road

Jun 11, 2021

Firehouse & Firehouse Pet Resort client, Remus, was safe in a recent car accident thanks to his car carrier. He wears his harness to and from all classes and playdates.We’ve all smiled upon seeing a dog’s happy face leaning out the car window and enjoying the...

How to keep your cat safe on car rides
Three tips for easier road trips (near and far)

Jun 4, 2021

For safe transport, put you cat in a hard-shell carrier in the back seat of the car. Secure the carrier with the seat belt. You can also push the passenger seat all the way back, sandwiching the carrier between front and back seats.After 200+ foster kittens, Kelly Erb...

Don’t waste money! Store your pet food right.
Original packaging, room temperature and storage location matter

May 3, 2021

Dr Hunter Bowen recommends storing dog and cat food in its original packaging, on a pantry shelf.You’ve done your research and chosen the best food for your cat and dog. Avoid these 3 mistakes once you get home. Don't decant food into new canisters, which could leach...

Introducing your cat to your newborn
Pets can grow to love your new baby with a few simple tricks

Apr 1, 2021

Dr Adriana Mendoza welcomed her baby girl in November 2020. She acclimated her cat before and after the birth so the two could become friends.Bringing a new baby into the house can be exciting but could also mean extra stress on your pets. Cats, fairly or unfairly,...

Non-anesthetic dental procedures don’t work
Anesthesia is safe and provides your pet with a stress-free and pain-free cleaning.

Feb 2, 2021

*filmed before COVID Cats and dogs won't sit still for a dental cleaning. Anesthesia is the only way a vet can remove disease-causing bacteria from your pet’s teeth and gums.Recently, we’ve seen non-anesthetic dental procedures promoted for pets. Don’t believe the...

New guidelines: fix your cat by 5 months
Cats can live longer when spayed or neutered one month earlier

Jan 12, 2021

Raj the cat might look a bit nervous, but really Feline Fix by 5 is a more humane option: It reduces disease, improves behavior and controls unwanted cat populations.Research indicates a decrease in cancer, behavioral issues, overpopulation, and infections. Firehouse...

Cats and dogs hate New Year’s Eve fireworks
Your pet’s ears are sensitive to sound

Dec 15, 2020

Dr Stacy Mozisek will keep Juniper, her Labradoodle, inside on New Year’s Eve, Juniper gets very nervous during fireworks on both NYE and July 4th. Loud bangs and pops scare pets and can make a well-behaved pet misbehave or run away. Celebrations can be stress-free if...

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