Blog

We are excited to dive into summer – into lakes, rivers, and pools, that is. And, we know quite a few dogs who are just as excited as we are! Although we may think of them as natural swimmers, the truth is that not all dogs know how to swim.

Whether your dog already knows how to swim or you’re not sure if she’s a water dog, every dog can benefit from a few swimming lessons. So as we get closer to summer, Ten West Bird and Animal Hospital is focusing on swimming safety for dogs!

Thanks to advancements in veterinary medicine, our pets are living longer and healthier lives. Sadly, however, our pets aren’t likely to outlive us altogether. Fortunately, by working together, we can help our pets age as gracefully as possible while maintaining a high quality of life. Although the way forward isn’t always easy or without complications, you can count on our team to provide you with complete and compassionate senior pet care.

Senior Pet Care

It’s easy to forget that by the age of 7, many pets are considered senior. Animals age much faster than humans, so depending on your pet’s species, breed, and genetics, it’s a good idea to increase the frequency of wellness exams once they enter the golden years. From age 1 to 6, we recommend annual appointments. Beginning at age 7, we’d like to see your pet 2 to 3 times a year. Continue…

A snake is something we all hope our pets will never encounter, but, unfortunately in Texas, most of us have run across a snake or two. Snake bites are painful and some are also extremely harmful to our pets.

With over 105 snake species in Texas, it’s important to understand which snakes are a risk, where they tend to live, and how to help your pet avoid an encounter. That’s why Ten West Bird and Animal Hospital has compiled a list of things to watch for when it comes to snake safety and pets.

Friend or Foe?

What’s slithering around in our neck of the woods? In Texas, we really only need to know about the two types of venomous snakes that live here:

Pit vipers – Pit vipers are venomous snakes that have an opening on each side of the head, between the eye and the nostril. There are three types of pit vipers in Texas: copperheads, cottonmouths (water moccasins), and rattlesnakes (Texas has 8 subspecies of rattlesnake).

Coral snakes – Coral snakes are highly poisonous, but also shyer than pit vipers. You can recognize them by their red, yellow, and black bands (the yellow and red bands always touch). Continue…