Our Blog

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

Protect Your Pets from Garden Mushrooms
Keep dogs and outdoor cats safe in your yard and during walks

3 minute read Dogs (and outdoor cats) are curious. They might sniff, lick, or eat things they discover during walks or backyard playtime.Garden mushrooms are a year-round hazard for dogs and outdoor cats in Central Texas. That’s because our lawns become breeding...

How to Tell if Your Pet Has an Ear Infection
Know the symptoms and treatments for dogs and cats

5 minute readDr Natalie Davis’s tips for managing ear infections are: 1) Regularly clean your pet's ears with vet-approved cleaners, 2) Keep ears dry after swimming or bathing, and 3) Consult your vet for accurate diagnosis and treatment.Dr Natalie Davis is our newest...

When Cats Stop Eating: Call Your Vet
Next steps for pet parents

2 minute read Cats shouldn’t go through phases of not eating. Any significant reduction in food intake could be a sign of an issue. Stella, a 5-year-old domestic shorthaired cat, recently stopped eating her favorite tuna-flavored kibble. Her pet dad Doug...

Help! My dog won’t eat. What now?
Causes and solutions so you know when to call the vet

2 minute read If your dog is behaving normally, is responsive, and alert, there’s no need for immediate concern. However, call us if your dog has missed more than two meals, is lethargic, vomits, or has loose stools. When Lucy the doodle stopped eating in May, her dog...

Why Did My Pet Just Throw Up?
Practical advice for dog and cat owners

2.5 minute readDr Sherry Hill, Medical Director and veterinarian at Firehouse Cedar Park, offers tips for a vomiting pet.Last Saturday, Lucy, a playful Golden Retriever, threw up after her usual morning walk. Her owner, Jenna, panicked and wondered what to do next....

How much is too much exercise for your dog?
Drs Barbara Boechat and Michelle Henthorne offer advice

4 minute read Drs Boechat and Henthorne chat about exercise. They advise walking your dog a little every day instead of a lot all at once.Picture riding your bike on a sunny day with your dog trotting beside you. His ears are flapping in the wind and you’re delighted...

Keeping Your Pets Safe This Summer: Top Tips
Drs Sherry Hill and Kristen Ussery Share Expert Advice for a Healthy Summer

2 minute readPrep for a healthy summer alongside your pets with Dr Sherry Hill and Dr Kristen Ussery’s safety tips. Let’s keep our pets safe this summer. We’ve asked Dr Sherry Hill and Dr Kristen Ussery to share their tips and stories with us as we head into the...

Dogs & Cats: The Meaning Behind Their Actions
Understand your cat and dog to strengthen bonds

3 min readTake your relationship to the next level by understanding your pets’ nonverbal cues.Your pets are full of fascinating quirks and behaviors. Dogs and cats use interesting cues to let owners know their state of mind. In this blog, two of our Firehouse...

A Guide: Vaccinations for Cats and Dogs
Our careful, common sense approach. Customized for your pet.

3.5 minute read Vaccines are an important piece of your pet’s wellness plan to prevent certain diseases. Firehouse customizes immunization plans for each pet. We’ll chat at your pet’s yearly check-up. Then, we recommend only the vaccines your pet needs...

Expert Advice: Springtime Care for Furry Friends
Keep your cat and dog healthy in 2024

2.5 min readDr Brianna Armstrong has you covered with springtime tips to keep your pets healthy and happy.We asked Dr Brianna Armstrong, Medical Director at Firehouse 183, to prep us for Springtime in Central Texas. Keeping Pets Safe During the Eclipse We’re all...

Head off a heat emergency
If your pet has heatstroke, stay cool and take these steps

Jul 6, 2022

1.5 min read Watch your pet for signs of overheating when outdoors. If you notice them staggering, becoming weak, or collapsing, contact...

Our Careful and Common Sense Approach to Vaccines
We Customize the Plan for Your Dog and Cat

Jun 27, 2022

3.5 minute read Firehouse customizes vaccine plans for each pet. We’ll chat at your pet’s yearly check-up. Then, we recommend only the vaccines your pet needs based on your lifestyle and environment. Our advice is conservative and based on common sense. Vaccines are...

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

Jun 7, 2022

1 min read Old in years but young at heart. An older cat can be full of surprises. “I don’t know that there’s something I wish I knew before they become seniors,” says Jessica, a CSC at Firehouse Kyle. “Yet, I am constantly surprised by how resilient and playful...

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

May 5, 2022

3 min read “I always find that senior pets are happy to hang out and enjoy life,” says Dr Ashley Opyt, Medical Director of Firehouse Kyle (now in its new location!). “My beloved Corgi, Sam, passed away in 2021. His final years were filled with lots of walks, cuddles,...

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

Apr 1, 2022

2.5 min read “I once saw a German Shephard who was covered in ticks. They had so many they were falling off of her and crawling onto the walls in the exam room,” says Dr Ashley Opyt. “We gave her a dose of Bravecto to help start killing everything attached to her and...

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

Mar 4, 2022

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 easier than it seems!

Feb 4, 2022

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

Jan 5, 2022

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

Dec 1, 2021

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...

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