While there are some obvious similarities in human diabetes and diabetes in our pets, we tend to approach treatment a little differently in pets.  Let’s review and see how much you know about diabetes in pets!

WHAT IS DIABETES?

Diabetes Mellitus occurs when your pet’s body produces too little insulin, stops making insulin completely or has an abnormal response to insulin.  Pets and humans alike need insulin so that our bodies can convert glucose into energy to use as fuel.

If we don’t have enough insulin and we cannot convert glucose in our bodies, glucose then builds up and we become Continue…

What is Noise Aversion or Noise Anxiety?

Have you ever wondered if your pet suffers from anxiety that is related to noise like fireworks, thunderstorms or even just loud noises?  This is called noise aversion and it is a real problem for many pets.

Since Fourth of July is fast approaching, this is a wonderful time to talk about noise aversion and the anxiety that our furry friends experience.  For many people Fourth of July means fun in the sun, cookouts and fireworks.  For the rest of us it means hunkering down with our dogs, inside, dreading nightfall and the noise of fireworks going off in our neighborhoods.  If you have a dog that has noise aversion or anxiety, you fit right into the second group of people.  Unfortunately, this can be a miserable time for your pet and you.  Many pets suffer with this type of anxiety during thunderstorms or when loud noises are present. Continue…

May 31st is the National Weather Service’s National Heat Awareness Day and this is perfect timing for us to remind you to be careful out there!  The heat is something that we are all too used to here in south Texas but Continue…

Are You Prepared?

Now is the time to get prepared.  Now is the time to review what it takes to be prepared for disaster.  May 11^th was National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day.  Even though the day has passed, we want to help you prepare in the event that you and your pets are ever involved in an evacuation or disaster.  Remember, the key to staying safe is to plan ahead.  DO NOT wait Continue…

Celebrate Be Kind to Animals Week

Be Kind to Animals Week is May 5 -11 this year and we could not think of a better subject to blog about!  Certainly it seems like common

sense to be kind to animals but in reality life isn’t always like that.  We (those of us who work here and you, our clients) all share a common love for animals and we can explore ways that we can be kind to animals all year round.

American Humane brought Be Kind to Animals week to light.  This commemoration is the oldest of its kind and is the longest running humane education program in the country. You can check out American Humane here.

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February is National Pet Dental Health Month.  We talk about teeth a lot in veterinary medicine.  The reason is that dental health is important.

Dental health can affect your pet’s quality of life, other internal organs and if neglected Continue…

Love your pet?  Give them heartworm prevention!

Of course you love your pets, but do you love them year round by keeping them on heartworm prevention?  You probably do love your pets all the time!  Ok, maybe not when Rover tears into last night’s trash or when Fluffy vomits a hair ball on your newly cleaned comforter but most days, we all love our pets.  What does loving our pets entail?  Part of loving them is keeping them safe.  One of the biggest dangers to a pet in Texas is heartworm disease.

Is heartworm disease on the rise?

The answer is unfortunately, yes.  In Bexar County, the risk Continue…

Is Safety That Important?

When we think of the holidays we aren’t always focused on safety.  This doesn’t mean that we

shouldn’t be, especially if we have pets.  Holiday safety is very important and something that if overlooked can put a real damper on your holiday season.

It Sparkles and Shines

Safety with pets around the holidays can be simple and can include suggestions that are easy to implement.  Tinsel, garland, ribbon on packages or yarn are so inviting for cats, kittens and puppies.  These twisty, toy-like objects are Continue…

What in the world do all these appointments mean?

In the world of veterinary medicine, it is very simple, these are all appointment types.  At Hill Country Animal Hospital we operate with an appointment schedule.  This means that our clients call to schedule appointments to have their pets seen by the doctors.  These are called Continue…

What is a pet microchip?

May is Microchip Awareness Month and we want to help you become aware of the importance of microchips.  A pet microchip is a small, electronic device encased in a protective shell.

A microchip is the size of a grain of rice and is implanted under the skin of pets to provide a means of identification once the pet is scanned.  A microchip is the gold standard for reuniting lost pets with owners but only if the chip is registered!  Otherwise a microchip cannot be traced back to an owner. Continue…