Popular culture celebrates chubby Chihuahuas and portly pit bulls, but the cruel reality is that overweight pets are suffering. Obesity significantly shortens pet lives, increases the risk for many inflammatory diseases, and alters their behavior. Your trusted south Austin vet, Oliver Animal Hospital, understands that talking about your pet’s weight during their appointment can be [...]
Is medicating your pet a battle? Dogs and cats are often challenging to medicate, because of a past negative experience. While this was likely accidental, you will need to have patience to replace your pet’s bad memories with good ones. These seven strategies from your trusted south Austin vet, Oliver Animal Hospital, will help your [...]
Cat owners frequently regard their pets as easy or low maintenance pets, but this falsehood fails to consider that indoor cats lead an unnatural, different lifestyle, compared with their feral cousins. While indoor cats’ lives are certainly safer, their lifestyle restricts and limits their natural behavior, and affects their physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. By [...]
Chewing is a naturally satisfying activity for dogs—which may explain why they find your dining room table legs irresistible. Healthy chewing breaks down plaque and tartar buildup on teeth, decreases boredom, relieves stress, and results in better behavior. Unfortunately, many chew toys are dangerous, and lead to broken teeth, choking, intestinal blockages, and gastrointestinal upset. [...]
You likely have several pet-specific cleaning products in your closet for cleaning up after your dog’s vomiting accidents, because dog vomit is one of the less alluring parts of dog ownership. Our veterinarians in south Austin at Oliver Animal Hospital want to provide information about why your dog vomits, and what conditions should cause you [...]
National Take Your Cat to the Veterinarian Day is August 22. If you cannot remember the last time you took your cat to the veterinarian, this is the perfect time to schedule an appointment for their wellness visit. Our veterinarians in south Austin at Oliver Animal Hospital want to explain why regular wellness visits are [...]
August 15 is National Check the Chip Day, so this is a great time to discuss why microchipping your pet is such an important part of their health care plan. Our team at Oliver Animal Hospital would like to answer some frequently asked questions concerning microchipping. Question: Why should I microchip my pet? Answer: Microchipped [...]
We hear a thousand clichés about summer heat, but none of them capture the beastly nature of a Texas summer. Fortunately, your south Austin veterinarian, Oliver Animal Hospital, knows how to keep your pets cool and comfortable during this scorching season. Check out our Top 10 pet safety tips for beating the heat in the [...]
Nothing ruins the summer faster than a pet emergency. Texas summer heat is nothing new to Texans, but the devastating power of high temperatures is often taken for granted. Heatstroke—a condition where a pet’s body temperature becomes dangerously elevated—is a potentially tragic emergency in people and pets. Oliver Animal Hospital treats countless pets every summer [...]
Your famous summer barbecue is ready to begin. You look over the backyard one last time—side dishes are prepped, the grill is hot, the lawn chairs are arranged, and the pool is sparkling. You have thought of everything. A low woof from behind the back door begs to disagree. Fortunately, the south Austin veterinarians of [...]