Our Blog

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

Adventure Ready: 5 Safety Tips for Hiking and Camping With Pets

Make sure to pack caution in your travel bag with these top 5 trail tips from Firehouse Animal Health Centers!#1: Plan with weather and terrain in mind Research trail conditions, difficulty level, elevation, and expected weather before you plan your trip. Be prepared...

5 Ways to Support Pets With Separation Anxiety

Dogs and cats are naturally social creatures who thrive on the comfort and connection of their owners. While it’s normal for pets—and even pet parents—to feel a little uneasy during time apart, some dogs and cats experience severe emotional distress. Separation...

Blue-Green Algae Can Cause Death for Dogs
Check the status of this toxin before enjoying waterways with your dog

3 minute readBlue-green algae is a year-round growth found in Austin waterways. It produces a dangerous toxin that can be deadly to dogs. Please read below to keep your pet safe.Dr Natalie Davis recalls the scary day her dog Dakota got sick after they spent the...

Protect Your Puppy from Canine Parvovirus
Every puppy & dog parent needs to know these basics

3 minute readParvovirus is something we’ll be battling forever,” says Dr Davis. “But we have great preventive measures.“We did gold standard of care, and little Bean turned the corner,” says Dr Davis, one of our veterinarians at Firehouse 183. “And (she) ended up...

Natural Disaster Preparedness for Families with Pets
Keep your cats and dogs safe in wildfires, floods, and more

3 minute readEnsure your pet’s safety by getting them microchipped. A microchip with up-to-date information greatly increases the chances of being reunited with your pet if they become lost, especially during emergencies or natural disasters.Natural disasters like...

Heartworm Prevention for Dogs & Cats
Monthly prevention is the key to avoiding this painful (and deadly) disease

4 minute readWhen a mosquito bites an animal with heartworm disease, they transfer the disease to the next animal they bite.In vet school, Dr Natalie Davis’s roommate adopted an adorable German Shepherd puppy named Winnie. At Winnie’s first puppy visit, the...

Grain-Free Foods Aren’t Healthy for Dogs
Studies Show these diets actually harm a dog’s heart

3 minute readSeemingly healthy grain-free pet diets aren’t helpful to a dog's health. In fact, research shows they cause issues with the heart.“Everybody just wants what’s best for their pets,” says Dr Natalie Davis, a veterinarian at Firehouse 183 in Austin, Texas....

A Purr-fect Love Story for Valentine’s Day
How a blind kitten found love, warmth, and family

3.5 minute readCaption: Dr Rebecca Davies, Medical Director of Firehouse Round Rock….When Dr Rebecca Davies met Cici, a fragile kitten with a fighting spirit, it was the start of a story of resilience, compassion, and love. For nearly two years, Williamson County...

Protect Your Pets from Coyotes, Bobcats, and Owls
Keep cats & dogs safe from local predators

3 minute readIt’s important to protect cats and dogs from local wildlife who might see our pets as a tasty meal, especially at night. Dr Natalie Davis has a friend who protects her Yorkie from the local hawk population with a spiked vest. “The spikes will deter...

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...

New guidelines: Fix your cat by 5 months of age
Cats can live longer when spayed or neutered earlier

Jan 12, 2021

Raj the cat might look a bit nervous, but really Feline Fix by 5 is a more humane option: It reduces disease, improves behavior and controls unwanted cat populations.Research indicates a decrease in cancer, behavioral issues, overpopulation, and infections when cats...

Cats and dogs may not love fireworks as much we do
Your pet’s ears are sensitive to sound

Dec 17, 2020

Dr Beth Spencer and her dogs, Mobi and Brownie, who will enjoy New Year’s Eve together this year!Loud bangs and pops scare pets and can make a normally well-behaved pet misbehave or run away. Celebrations can be stress-free if you plan ahead. Consider your pet as you...

Nourish Your Pet with the Best Diet

Nov 3, 2020

You are what you eat! The saying is true for pets, too. Good nutrition is one of the most important things you can do to help your pet live a happy, healthy, and long life. That’s why we discuss what you feed your pet at every visit.Small tweaks to diet and lifestyle...

Your Pets Can Live Better Lives
Catch disease early or prevent it entirely with annual wellness check-ups.

Oct 5, 2020

The Focus at Firehouse is Prevention We aim to keep your pet well for as many years as possible Everything we do is focused on your cat or dog's long-term wellness. We aim to prevent disease through annual wellness check-ups. That is why we recommend assessing your...

Take a page out of the new schooling playbook for dogs!

Sep 9, 2020

Kids might be in virtual classes, but that doesn't mean dogs need to stay home.While this back to school looks different than past years, one thing hasn’t changed and that is the excitement of socializing and seeing your buddies. Much like kids, dogs are social...

Firehouse Makes an Impact Through Giving

Aug 11, 2020

Firehouse Animal Health Center’s charitable giving reflects a commitment to lifelong wellness for animals. When she launched the business late last year, Dr Beth Spencer decided that Firehouse would play a key role in Central Texas’s collective effort to elevate the...

Pets and Pet Parents: Fear the Vet No More

Jul 13, 2020

We use Fear Free® calming methods at Firehouse. We thought we’d take a moment to explain more about these tactics so you can see how they benefit your cat or dog. You might hear us talking about “Fear Free®” a lot at Firehouse. That’s because we’ve found that these...

Summer Travel Tips

Jun 1, 2020

Summer in Central Texas is a great time to get out and enjoy all that our beautiful state has to offer! Whether it’s hiking, enjoying farmer’s markets or road trips, Firehouse Animal Health Center has you covered on health and safety tips for your dogs and cats. Road...

Summertime Tips

May 27, 2020

Summertime in Texas — A great time to get out and enjoy all that our beautiful state has to offer!Whether it’s boating on one of our lakes, hiking along the Greenbelt, or road tripping, Firehouse Animal Health Center has you covered on health and safety tips for...

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