Is your dog licking their paws obsessively? Or perhaps your cat seems to be grooming nonstop? While occasional licking is entirely natural for pets, excessive licking might indicate an underlying problem. According to the ASPCA, compulsive licking is one of the top reasons pet owners seek veterinary advice. At Animal Hospital Southwest in Fort Worth, [...]
Halloween brings a mix of spooky fun and sweet treats, but it can also present unique risks to pets. At Animal Hospital Southwest, we are committed to helping your pets stay safe so they can enjoy the festivities without harm. This guide highlights common Halloween dangers and provides practical tips to keep your pets safe. [...]
At Animal Hospital Southwest in Fort Worth, Texas, we know how nerve-wracking vet visits can be for both pets and their owners. But the stress your pet feels doesn’t have to be limited to the vet's office—it can happen at home during regular handling too. That’s why we’re big advocates of low-stress handling techniques. This [...]
Why Does My Doggie Daycare Require a Flu Vaccine? If your dog attends daycare, you may have noticed a new requirement for the canine influenza vaccine. This requirement has become more common, especially in areas like Fort Worth, Texas, where there was a significant influenza outbreak in 2023. Let’s explore why dog daycares now require [...]
Why Does My Bulldog Snort So Much? Understanding the Unique Needs of Brachycephalic Breeds If you’re the proud owner of a Bulldog, French Bulldog, or another brachycephalic (flat-faced) breed like a Boston Terrier or Pug, you may have noticed that your dog tends to snort, grunt, and even wheeze. While these noises can be endearing, [...]
Animal Hospital Southwest has been open on Saturdays since I founded it over 40 years ago. At that time, I believed access to a veterinarian on your time was paramount to providing care that your pet needs. I was asked recently why we are open on Saturday and Sunday now. First, let me provide some [...]
Often pet parents ask me in a moment of exasperation: What can I do to stop the itching and get rid of these fleas for good?! There are a whole host of options here. Most, in my experience, don't work. All shampoos do nothing for the fleas that aren't currently on your pet. Most natural [...]
Winter weather can bring new challenges to pet ownership. There are a number of recommendations that the AVMA says are important to prepare you and your pet for the winter months. You can read through the recommendations with the link above, but I just wanted to point out why some of these make so much [...]
Anesthetic protocols have changed a lot over the years. Twenty years ago, the standard of care in veterinary medicine for surgical sedation was ketamine and telazol, depending on the species. Over the last decade and a half, we have moved to a more advanced set of anesthetic protocols. For non-surgical levels of sedation we typically [...]
When we mention preventive medicine, clients often think of vaccinations. Vaccinations are an important part of your pet’s preventive care needs, but it’s not the only part of your pet’s preventive care needs. Some people ask, why does the City of Fort Worth want me to get a yearly examination? Why shouldn’t I just go [...]
