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...
Pets Cannot Transmit or Contract COVID-19

Pets Cannot Transmit or Contract COVID-19

Updated April 2, 2020: We've brought you the good news that your pet cannot transmit COVID-19 or become sick with it. And you're likely getting more snuggles in these days. So we hope you're hanging in there! Our team pulled together their go-to "tips and tricks" to...

read more
Jessie’s Story

Jessie’s Story

A ten-year-old stray dog goes from shelter pet to best sister ever Earlier this year, Kyle Animal Center brought Jessie to Firehouse Westlake. Jessie is a ten-year-old stray who was found on the streets of Kyle and in desperate need of some healthcare. When we did a...

read more
You were gifted a puppy or kitten for the holidays. Now what?

You were gifted a puppy or kitten for the holidays. Now what?

Congratulations! We know that this is an exciting time, but also there is a lot to do and adjustments to be made to make sure your pet is happy and healthy. So, what are the immediate next steps? Dr Ashley Opyt, Medical Director at Firehouse Kyle, says "The first two...

read more
The Holidays are Here!

The Holidays are Here!

The Holiday season is upon us and so is the hustle and bustle of this busy time of year. As visitors come and go, keep an eye on your pet to ensure they don't escape through an unintentionally open door. In fact, now would be a good time to get a microchip if your pet...

read more
GOBBLE, GOBBLE!

GOBBLE, GOBBLE!

While you sit down to Thanksgiving feast in your finest stretchy pants, remember that certain kinds of human food can cause tummy upset, diarrhea, or possible food poisoning in our furry friends. It’s always best to keep your pets on their regular diet, even during...

read more
Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween Safety Tips

Boo! Halloween will be here soon. While you are busy celebrating, keep in mind that this spooky holiday can be an extremely scary time for your pets! The constant doorbell ringing and noise of eager trick or treaters might cause unnecessary stress to our favorite...

read more
Please Switch Your Dog to a Non-Grain-Free Diet

Please Switch Your Dog to a Non-Grain-Free Diet

The FDA released data at the end of June that links grain-free diets – and food rich in peas, lentils, soy or other legumes -- to heart issues in dogs. At Firehouse, we never recommended grain-free diets because we never saw any evidence that these diets provided a...

read more
Translate »