About Dr. Michael Morris, DVM

Dr. Morris is the founder and owner of Animal Hospital Southwest, an AAHA-accredited veterinary practice serving Fort Worth, TX since 1975. A graduate of Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine, he brings over 50 years of clinical experience with a focus on preventive care and strengthening the bond between pets and their owners. Dr. Morris also founded Animal Hope, a nonprofit dedicated to finding homes for hard-to-adopt pets.

Body Condition Score: How to Score and Why It Matters

What Is a Body Condition Score? How to Tell If Your Dog or Cat Is at a Healthy Weight Here is something most families do not realize: the number on the scale at your vet visit is only part of the story. Two dogs can weigh exactly the same and be in completely different shape. [...]

Deworming Schedules for Puppies & Kittens

Deworming Your Puppy or Kitten: Why the Schedule Matters and What Fecal Testing Actually Tells Us Here is something most new pet owners do not expect to hear: your adorable, freshly adopted puppy or kitten probably has intestinal parasites right now. Roundworms, hookworms, and other worms are incredibly common in young animals, and many puppies [...]

Hairloss in Dogs & Cats: Endocrine vs. Dermatologic Causes

When Fur Loss Signals an Underlying Medical Condition Hair loss in pets is one of those diagnostic puzzles that looks straightforward until you start pulling on the threads. A symmetric bald patch on both flanks? Could be hormonal. Patchy, inflamed, itchy loss around the face and paws? Probably allergic or infectious. Diffuse thinning with otherwise [...]

Dog Daycare: What to Ask, Vaccine Requirements, and Safety

Choosing a Safe Dog Daycare: Questions Every Owner Should Ask A cheerful lobby and happy photos on social media do not tell the whole story of a dog daycare. Many daycares promise fun and socialization, but few explain how they keep dogs safe in the process. The right daycare is genuinely great for dogs who [...]

Senior Screening: Blood Pressure, Thyroid, and X-Rays

What Senior Screening Reveals About Aging Pets Aging pets hide disease remarkably well until problems become advanced. What looks like normal slowing down might actually be kidney disease, hypertension, or thyroid dysfunction in disguise. Senior screening catches these hidden problems early when treatment is most effective. Blood pressure checks detect hypertension before it damages organs. [...]

Calorie Calculators for Dogs & Cats: Feeding the Right Amount

Getting Portion Sizes Right: Using Calorie Calculators CorrectlyYou measure out what looks like a reasonable amount of food, toss in a few treats throughout the day, and maybe slip your dog a bite of cheese when those big eyes stare up at you. It all seems harmless enough. But then you notice your cat's belly [...]

Congestive Heart Failure: What Owners Should Watch For at Home

At-Home Red Flags Every Owner Should Know About Congestive Heart Failure A mild heart murmur can become severe in just a few months time, and previously well-managed cardiac diseases can become out of control overnight. So how do you know when heart disease has turned into heart failure? Perhaps breathing has changed, maybe there is [...]

Is your current veterinarian independently owned?

Community-Rooted Veterinary Care: Why Independent Practices like Animal Hospital Southwest Deliver Superior Pet Care When it comes to your pet's health and happiness, few decisions carry more weight than choosing the right veterinarian. Your dog, cat, rabbit, or guinea pig deserves more than just a place to get their annual shots. They deserve a partner [...]

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