Our Blog

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

Giving Back: Firehouse’s Season of Care
Ensuring pets receive essential medical services
3 minute read“We do everything the pet needs,” says Dr Brianna Armstrong, Medical Director of Firehouse183. “It’s an incredible opportunity to provide healthcare with an underserved community.” “We give because pets bring joy to their humans and offer support during...
Garden Mushrooms Are Toxic to Dogs (And Outdoor Cats)
You can help your pet: recognize and prevent exposure after rainfall
3 minute readDogs (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...
4 Halloween Treats to Keep Away from Your Pet
2 minute readStaying safe on Halloween doesn’t need to be tricky. Celebrate the spookiest night of the year by keeping your pet away from these hazards: #1: Candy bags and wrappers Bags and wrappers can be as dangerous to your pet as the treats they contain. Plastic...
Next Steps When Your Cat Stops Eating
Call the vet! Plus, more advice from your Firehouse veterinarians.
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...
What to Do When Your Dog Stops Eating
Causes and when to seek veterinary advice
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...
Quick Tips For Vomiting Pets
What do you do first? When should you worry? Quick tips for a vomiting cat or dog.
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 readDrs 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...
8 Top Summer Safety Tips for Your Pets
Drs Sherry Hill and Kristen Ussery Provide Their Top Tips for a Safe and 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...
Decoding Your Furry Friend’s Behavior
Understand your cat and dog to strengthen bonds
3 minute 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...
6 Signs Your Pet Has Allergies  Dogs suffer more often than cats

6 Signs Your Pet Has Allergies
Dogs suffer more often than cats

2 min read Goldie’s allergies strike in the summer. Her eyes get red and oozy, her paws swell, and her eating is disrupted. Goldie’s mom says, “everything is affected and she feels miserable.”  Firehouse doctors and vet tech, Mary, helped Goldie with an injection and...

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

1 min read   Your pet might become persnickety! Yet, a picky eater isn’t necessarily cause for alarm.  “Something I didn’t expect is Bachan, who is 11, has increasingly become picky with food” says Alex, a CSC at Firehouse Westlake. “When it first started happening, I...

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

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

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...

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