Did you know?
Bathing is about more than smell! Proper hygiene helps prevent our pets from developing illnesses, and bathing is an important part of a pet’s overall hygiene.
We offer baths as drop off appointments so you can go run errands while you wait for your pet to be bathed. Anal gland expression and toe nail trims are included with a bath.
Medicated Baths
Medicated baths can help ease many skin conditions in your pet. If he or she suffers from seborrhea (a noncontagious condition that can cause skin to become dry and flaky or oily and scaly), a medicated bath can help alleviate the itching. Pets with allergies, flea infestations and other skin issues may also find relief with a medicated bath.
We may recommend a medicated bath after one of our veterinarians has examined your pet and diagnosed the problem. Illnesses seemingly unrelated to the skin, such as thyroid disease, can also cause skin problems in pets, so we want to be sure we’re treating the root of the problem, not just a symptom.
It is our goal to provide your pet with the best quality of care while they are with us. We promise to look after each and every pet as if they were our own, and treat them with the respect and loving care they deserve. We practice the highest standards of care and cleanliness for patients staying with us. We know that it takes a great deal of trust to leave your pet with someone else, so we want to assure you that we are professional, highly trained, and most of all, we love pets.
Our boarding facility allows us to accommodate both big dogs and small cats comfortably. The benefit of boarding with us versus a facility that specializes in boarding is that we have trained technicians come in during the weekend to take care of your pets, and during our operating hours there is a veterinarian in the clinic. If your pet’s health starts to decline, our technicians know what to look for and will take steps to try to help them.
Having healthy teeth and gums is an important part of safeguarding your pets’ well-being. Tooth and gum problems can affect your pets’ quality of life by causing discomfort and making it hard for them to eat their food. Dental issues, such as infections, can also lead to more serious problems if they spread to other areas. Routine animal dental care is an essential part of ensuring that your pets stay healthy and free of dental problems.
Healthy Teeth and Gums Result in Happy Pets
Dental care for pets is similar to what people go through at dental checkups. Our veterinarians will examine your pets’ teeth and gums to check for any indication of problems that need to be treated. We also clean your pets’ teeth and gums to remove plaque buildup and reduce their risk of tooth decay and gum disease. If we find problems, such as gum inflammation or decayed teeth, we can provide your pets with the necessary treatment to restore good oral health. Remember that your pets will not always let you know if they are having tooth pain or other dental issues. Bringing them in for regular exams helps ensure that problems are caught early.
One important difference to keep in mind is pets need to be anesthetized in order to have their teeth cleaned and checked. This protects our veterinarians from being bitten or scratched by nervous or fearful pets. It also ensures that pets remain calm throughout the exam and cleaning, so that our veterinarians can do a thorough job of checking their teeth and getting rid of plaque buildup. Although being under general anesthesia comes with slight risks, our veterinarians are there to monitor pets while they are under anesthesia.
If your pets need dental care, our veterinarians will perform cleanings and exams with their safety in mind. We can also discuss steps you can take at home to protect your pets’ teeth and gums, such as brushing their teeth on a regular basis. If your pets have any dental issues, such as gum disease or tooth abscesses, we will recommend effective and safe forms of treatment. Our facility is equipped to handle a wide range of dental procedures for pets, including oral surgery, extractions and dental radiology. With our state-of-the-art equipment and skilled veterinary team, your pets will receive comprehensive dental care to help them maintain healthy teeth and gums.
Brazos Bend Animal Hospital Offers High-Quality Dental Care
If your pets are due for a dental exam, please contact Brazos Bend Animal Hospital to make an appointment. We offer high-quality dental care in the Richmond and Pecan Grove surrounding areas.
An important part of our dental cleanings is dental x-rays that helps us detect hidden problems that might require treatment. This is because the majority of a pet’s tooth is located under the gumline, and it may be impossible to diagnose an abscess without an x-ray. Extracting an abscessed tooth is vital to your pet’s oral health as well as freeing them from the pain that it may be causing them, which can affect their mood and diet. Finding dental problems early helps ensure prompt treatment that lowers your pets’ risk of developing more serious issues.
There are many pets who struggle with skin conditions, and these are usually challenging for our veterinarians.
We see all types of skin problems, including fleas and other parasites. We also diagnose allergies and skin infections. Sometimes we see autoimmune diseases and cancers that can lead to skin problems for your pets.
Most of the time when owners bring their pets in for skin problems, they say their pets are constantly itching. Sometimes, they will scratch until they lose their hair. Even that will not stop the itchiest pets from scratching. Some will develop full-blown skin infections from all of their scratching and licking.
Luckily, some patients will have skin problems only once or twice in their lives. However, skin problems can be ongoing for others. Some pets seem to scratch themselves constantly, while allergies can make a pet scratch seasonally.
Many owners struggle with their pets’ skin. Sometimes, problems can last for months or even years. Owners don’t always want to bring their pets in every time they start to scratch. Scratching can be going on for a few months before they decide to bring their pets in to the vet.
The veterinarians at Brazos Bend Animal Hospital are equipped to handle emergency situations, however we have limited hours and the specialized facility of an emergency clinic is more suited to these emergency situations.
If you fear that your pet may be in an emergency, life or death situation, we always recommend heading to an emergency clinic first. If you’re not sure if your pet can make it to an emergency clinic and our facility is closer, we recommend calling us and letting us know about the situation. If it’s during our business hours and it’s something our veterinarian on duty is able to treat, we may recommend that you visit our clinic.
Keep the informaiton of your nearest emergency clinic on the fridge just in the case that we are unable to treat your pet due to hours or limitations on equipment. Visit our Emergency Clinic Page for the phone number and addresses of all the emergency clinics in the area. Having this information handy could mean life or death for your pet!
Our clinic recommends for adult feline patients to come to the clinic once per year for their annual wellness exam and vaccines. For our canine friends, we recommend for them to come in every 6 months, once for their annual exam and once for their semi-annual exam.
One of the most basic steps you can take to protect your pet’s health is to bring him or her into your local vet for their wellness exam. This, in addition to making sure your pet is up-to-date on all of its vaccinations, will help your pet lead a healthier and happier life. However, as a pet owner, it’s also wise to understand the importance of regular pet exams, along with what they should expect from a thorough wellness exam.
Why Pet Wellness Exams Matter
There are many reasons as to why regular wellness exams are important to your pet’s overall health and wellness. For starters, a routine exam could very well detect a potential health problem early on before it becomes more aggressive and difficult to treat. In this sense, regular exams could very well save your pet’s life.
Furthermore, exams are a great way for you as a pet owner to get more insight into your pet’s overall health. For instance, an exam could reveal that your pet is overweight, and your vet can provide you with some tips for helping your pet lose weight (in a healthy manner), such as encouraging more exercise and switching to a different type of food. These seemingly routine exams can really make a huge difference in your pet’s overall health and happiness.
What to Expect From a Pet Exam
When you bring your pet in for a pet exam, there are a few things that will most likely happen. For starters, a veterinarian or vet technician will likely weigh your pet and take his or her temperature. From there, a veterinarian will take the time to assess your pet’s eye and ear health while also feeling around for potential lumps or unusual masses on your pet’s body. An exam appointment is also a great opportunity for you as a pet owner to bring up any questions or concerns you have about your pet’s health.
Vaccines are normally done at annual or semi-annual exams. We also recommend having bloodwork done annually for your pet. Every pet is different, and it’s important to establish a baseline throughout their life of what levels are normal or typical for them. It also can help catch a problem before your pet starts showing symptoms, or after it’s already been suffering for a while. Treating before a condition worsens is key to saving money on expensive treatments and can mean the difference between life and death in some cases.
At the end of the exam, you should receive a detailed “bill of health” for your pet, which may include recommendations on changes to his or her diet or overall lifestyle.
Our Groomer
You can visit our Groomer’s Page for more information about our amazing groomer, Bridgett and some examples of her grooms.
The Groom
The services involved for grooming range from a full groom (specialized trim/cut on the whole body) to a sanitary clean up (small trim on face and feet). Both of these include a bath, ear cleaning, anal glands expression, and a toe nail trim. We also offer additional services for your pet such as nail grinding, toothburhsing, and a blueberry facial. Additional charges may be added based on the coat thickness of your pet’s coat, if they require sedation/an extra holder, they have matting, or if they have fleas. To avoid the matting fee, regularly brushing out your pet and bringing them to the groomer once a month can optimize the quality of the groom.
Health benefits of grooming include:
Detection of Early Warning Signs
Professional groomers are familiar with dog anatomy and if they notice abnormalities such as lumps, skin discoloration, rashes, skin lesions, bald patches, gum discoloration or bleeding, they might be able to alert the medical staff to early warning signs of illnesses.
Detection of Parasites
A well-trained professional groomer will be able to tell the medical staffimmediately if your dog has parasites. He will check your pet’s coat for fleas, the ears for ear mites and other parasites that may not be visible for you.
Valuable Tips
A professional groomer can observe if your pet’s skin is too dry or too oily. The medical staff will then be able to make suitable dietary recommendations for your dog’s well-being. The skin of your dog will reflect his diet. If this is imbalanced, your dog will have unhealthy skin. An unhealthy skin means dull fur and hair loss, so it’s better to detect the problem from its root and start healing the skin to a get shiny, good-looking coat for your pet.
Dog breeds that require regular grooming to stay happy and healthy:
- Afghan hound: the long, impressive coat must be groomed daily, if not it will rapidly mat (tangle).
- Airedale: a hard, wirey and dense coat that requires consistent, regular grooming.
- American Cocker Spaniel: the slightly wavy coat with long hear and dense feathering on the legs must be groomed daily to prevent matting. The long hair on the ears can get messy after eating.
- Bichon Frise: the flully coat requires regular grooming, otherwise it rapidly forms mats.
- Bouvier des Flandres: the coat is best kept short to avoid matting. For dog shows the coat is slightly trimmed.
- Cesky Terrier: the dark, wavy hair is clipped, except on the legs and head, leaving prominent beard and eyebrows.
- Chinese crested dog: the Hairless variety needs careful maintenance of its skin that should be oiled regularly to prevent it from becoming dry and scaly.The Powder Puff’s coat needs thorough grooming once or twice a week.
- Chow Chow: the plushy, thick coat needs regular brushin to avoid the building of thick mats.
- Cocker Spaniel: the silky coat requires daily brushing and combing to avoid matting.
- English Cocker Spaniel: the coat needs regular brushing and combing.
- English Springer Spaniel: daily brushing and combing is recommended to keep the feathers and long hair from tangling and matting.
- Kerry Blue Terrier: a soft, silky and dense coat that should be cut with scissors.Great Pyrenees: the double coat needs regular brushing, two or three times a week.
- Lhasa Apso: the coat requires daily brushing and combing, even when trimmed shorter for ease of care.
- Maltese: the coat must be brushed daily with a pin brush to get through the dense coat.
- Old English Sheepdog: when the soft puppy coat becomes harder and shaggier, it needs a weekly, extensive grooming to prevent the hair from matting.
- Polish Tatra Sheepdog: coat must be brushed two or three times a week.
- Pekingese: the coat needs to be brushed thoroughly several times a week to prevent it from tangling.
- Poodle: the poodle’s coat needs either regular home-grooming or professional grooming sessions. The modern show ring only allows three clips: the English Saddle Clip, the Continental clip, with the pompons, but with full-lenght body hair requiring constant attention, and the Puppy clip (for puppies under one year of age). The show clips require so much care to keep the hair in show condition that it is nearly impossible for the average person to keep the trim in perfect condition. The Kennel (or sporting) clip and the Dutch clip are much shorter and popular among pet owners because they are easier to maintain. Poodles kept shaggy, with a fuzzy face and fuzzy feet (a popular trim among Toy Poodle owners) still need to brushed out daily. Even though the show clip may look a bit peculiar to the novice eye, it does have a history in the breed. Standard Poodles were originally bred as water retrievers. The long “lion mane” and puffs on the feet were designed to keep the dogs vital organs and feet warm when they swam in cold water. The puff on the tail allowed the owner to spot the dog while it was swimming in the water. The rest of the hair was shaved to keep the dog from getting water logged and to prevent sticks from catching in the hair.
- Puli: the puli’s coat hair form a corded pattern. The long cords should not be brushed out but regular bathing is advisable to preven the dog from developing a strong odor. From an early age, the coat is trained to form the traditionally corded pattern.
- Rough Collie: the abundant coat needs daily, thorough brushing sessions, right down to the skin to prevent the hair from matting close to the dog’s skin.
- Schnauzer: the coat needs constant attention and should be trimmed regularly. The bushy beard catches food and needs to be cleaned after eating to prevent infections.
- Scottish Terrier: pet dogs are usually clipped, while show dog coats need to be stripped.
- Sealyham Terrier: the long-wiry coat requires expert preparation for the show ring.
- Shih Tzu: the long, double coat should be brushed daily.
- Silky Terrier: the coat of the Silky Terrier should be shorter than that of the Yorkshire Terrier and should not feet and pasterns. Regular brushing will keep the coat in good condition.
- Welsh Terrier: the coat requires stripping four times a year. Hand-stripping performed by an expert will make the breed look at its best.
Heartworm disease is a devastating and sometimes fatal disease for pets, and it’s important to know how your pet can get heartworms and what happens if they do. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for cats at this time. However, our clinic does offer treatment to dogs that have contracted heartworms. Read below for more information.
What is Heartworm Disease?
Heartworm disease occurs when an animal is infested with foot-long worms that reside in various parts of its body. Most often the worms reside in the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. Dogs, cats, and ferrets are particularly susceptible to contracting heartworms, but some species of wild animals also get it.
How is Heartworm Disease Contracted?
The cycle begins with an already heartworm-infected animal whose blood is infused with the baby worms of the mature heartworm. That animal is bitten by a mosquito who then deposits what has matured into infective heartworm larvae onto its skin. The larvae invade the host through the mosquito’s bite.
How Likely is My Pet to Get Heartworms?
Unfortunately, heartworm has been detected in all states across the country. In some areas it is not that relevant, however the Houston area is consistently a high risk for heartorms. The risk significantly increases of your pet contracting heartworm disease if there is even one dog in your neighborhood with heartworms.
How to Prevent Your Pet From Getting Heartworms
A good heartworm prevention plan is absolutely necessary to keep your pet safe from this dangerous disease. The first step is to make sure to get your pet tested during your annual visit with our veterinarian. If positive, your pet will need heartworm treatment, including a course of heartworm medicine. If negative, we will proceed with the prevention plan. If your pet does contract heartworm disease, it is very expensive to treat, much more so than an effective prevention program. However, keep in mind there is no treatment for cats.
The way that heartworm prevention works is the developing larvae are killed when you administer it. That’s why it’s important to give prevention monthly so that you kill developing larvae while the prevention can still kill them. After a certain point the larvae cannot be killed, even if you administer prevention.
Successful heartworm prevention plans include Heartgard, Trifexis (also flea), Revolution Plus (for cats), and Proheart 6. The other prevention plans are given monthly, however Proheart 6 is an injection that will be effective for 6 months.
How are Heartworms Treated?
If you suspect your pet has heartworm, a visit to our veterinarian should be immediate. Once we confirm the diagnosis, keep your pet as quiet as possible. We’ll then work with you to design a treatment protocol based on the severity of the disease. This protocol will involve heartworm medication. We have good results with Brazos Bend AH which offers both heartworm treatment and prevention.
The best plan to spare your pet potential misery and even death is a solid heartworm prevention program. Once a pet has heartworms, even if they receive treatment, damage still remains on the heart.
Heartworm Disease in Dogs
When a dog is truly infected, he or she can harbor up to several hundred worms that lodge in the heart. Damage is often significant and the reason why heartworm prevention is critical. Dogs may show few if any symptoms of heartworm when first infected but later on, they may cough, be less active and tired after being somewhat active, and lose their appetite.
Heartworm Disease in Cats
Heartworm disease acts differently in cats. A cat may cough, vomit, have trouble breathing, and decreased appetite. More severe symptoms include fainting, swollen abdomen, seizures and trouble walking. Unfortunately, an owner may not see any symptoms until their cat suddenly collapses or dies.
Additional Resources
The Heartwormsociety.org is a resource for clients to learn more about heartworms, it’s prevention, how it’s treated, and how serious of an issue it is for your pets.
We understand that it is not always possible to bring your pet to our clinic. That is why we offer house calls and see animals in your own home. House calls are approved based upon the veterinarian on duty’s patient load for the day and the distance traveled to your home.
There are many challenges in caring for an animal that cannot be moved from their location for one reason or another. Please let us know of any specific requests or conditions that will require special attention. We promise to communicate with you throughout the process to make sure it goes smoothly for you and your animal.
Brazos Bend Animal Hospital is now offering Classic IV Therapeutic Laser Treatments for Advanced Pain Relief and Enhanced Healing!
High-power laser therapy provides a safe, non-invasive solution for pain management, wound healing and rehabilitation.
Laser therapy can have your pet’s acting their normal selves again! Many of our patients have seen a change in their fur babies after treatment is completed. We’ve included some of our clients’ testimonials at the bottom of the page!
What is Laser Therapy?
Laser Therapy, or “photobiomodulation”, is the use of specific wavelengths of light to create therapeutic effects. These effects include improved healing time, pain reduction, increased circulation and decreased swelling.
Laser Therapy Can Help With:
- Osteoarthritis
- Joint Pain
- Tendinopathies
- Edema and Congestion
- Ligament Sprains
- Muscle Strains
- Puncture Wounds
- Post-Traumatic Injury
- Post-Surgical Pain
- Neck and Back Pain
- Hip Dysplasia
- Burns
- Chronic Wounds
- Rehabilitation
- Post-Orthopedic Surgical Recovery
About the Laser
Brazos Bend Animal Hospital chose the Platinum 4 VET because it is the most innovative and effective Class IV therapeutic laser. High-energy laser therapy with the Platinum 4 VET safely penetrates deeply into the body to diminish pain and stimulate healing. Many pets suffer from chronic pain due to arthritis caused by hip dysplasia, spondylosis, traumatic injury, etc. Non-steroid anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) provide significant relief from pain, but long-term use of these drugs can have some undesirable effects. In addition, some animals are NSAID-intolerant. Cats are particularly sensitive to some of these medications, so there are fewer pain-management options available for the feline patient. Laser therapy provides a safe solution for them.
Laser therapy has also shown very good results when used on surgical incisions and wounds. Traumatized tissue swells less and heals more quickly when treated with a high-powered therapeutic laser. Treatments last about 2-5 minutes per site and are completely comfortable for the patient.
Brazos Bend Animal Hospital has staff members who have been professionally trained to effectively provide laser therapy treatments. We are ready to answer any questions about suitability for your pet’s condition. Clients interested in knowing more can call or text us at (281) 342-1117. Additional information about laser therapy can be found at www.k-laser.com.
Testimonials
First Name: Ruth
Pet’s Name: Florence
Testimonial: After the first laser treatment Florence became a happier cat. She’s up to her old antics and again getting into places she does not belong! After the 4th treatment I have also been able to start the weaning off process of her anti inflammatory medication.
Microchipping your pets greatly increases your chances of finding them if they go missing. Having a collar with tags may not be enough if it falls off, leaving the microchip as a last defense. Microchipping is even more vital for cats since often times they have no outward form of identification. If your pet is found on the streets and taken into a shelter, the first thing the shelter does is check if there’s a microchip implanted and contact the number associated with the ID.
Keep in mind that a microchip is not a GPS device. When scanned at a veterinary clinic or a shelter, an identification number is shown. When looked up on an online database, this number links to contact information of the owner. This is why it’s important to make sure your contact information stays up to date, so in the case your pet is found you can be notified and reunited with your fur baby.
If you’re not sure if your pet has been microchipped or not, no problem! Bring your pet into the clinic during business hours and we can scan it for the number free of charge. If no number is found, we can go ahead and get your fur baby set up with a microchip using the discount! If you know your pet has a microchip but you’re not sure what the number is, you can ask us to verify this information any time. Scanning only takes a second!
Keeping information up-to-date is of the utmost importance. If your pet has a microchip but the information is incorrect, the shelter or clinic will be unable to reach you if they find your pet. If you received your microchip from us, your pet has a Home Again Microchip. Call them at 1-888-466-3242, option 3, option 1 to update information.You can also gain online access with the information we had on file at time of implant by following this link: https://www.homeagain.com/homeagain/createOnlineAccount.do
The idea of your pet being infested with parasites is a disturbing thought, but it’s also a medical issue that can have serious consequences if not properly dealt with or prevented. Parasites pose a variety of health issues for our pets, who can be very susceptible to certain parasites depending on age, region, and other factors.
At Brazos Bend Animal Hospital, we emphasize the importance of preventing parasites. Through preventative measures, you can successfully protect your pet. But pets that are not protected often develop parasites, leading to serious problems for them and their owners.
The cost of prevention is minimal compared to the cost of treatment, which can be expensive and stressful on your pet. Parasites like heartworm can even be fatal, so preventing parasites is of the utmost importance.
Many pet owners instinctively resist the idea of scheduling animal surgery unless it’s a matter of life or death. But you might be surprised to learn that one particular type of elective animal surgery, sexual sterilization, really can improve your beloved companion’s health and even reduce the risk of an early death. Cat and dog spay and neuter surgery helps these animals thrive even as it prevents the conception of litter after litter of puppies and kittens. That’s why your veterinarian at Brazos Bend Animal Hospital wants you to have the necessary spay and neuter information to give this procedure some serious thought.
How does spay and neuter surgery help pets?
As you probably know, sexual sterilization is primarily employed to prevent pregnancy. This is an obvious benefit for owners who can’t turn their home into a pet sanctuary. But it also benefits the animal community by lessening the burden on already-crowded animal shelters. Fewer unwanted pets means fewer animals who aren’t able to get adopted out and more resources for other animals who badly need them.
But there’s an even more direct health benefit to be obtained from dog and cat spay and neuter surgery. Neutering (castration) of males and spaying (ovariohysterectomy) of females dramatically reduces your pet’s lifetime cancer risk by removing the source of reproductive cancers such as testicular cancer and ovarian cancer. The risk of mammary (breast) cancer is also significantly lowered. Anything that can prevent your pet from developing a potentially deadly disease like cancer should be at the top of your preventative medicine list.
Cat and dog spay and neuter surgery can also protect your pet’s health by modifying the animal’s behavior. Pets who receive this surgery won’t go into heat — which means that they won’t exhibit frustration-related behaviors such as aggression toward other animals. This could keep them out of potentially dangerous conflicts. This type of animal surgery also removes the urge to roam that accompanies heat cycles, so your pet is less likely to wander into harm’s way. Overall, sterilization can extend your dog’s life by up to 3 years, and your cat’s life by up to 5 years.
Animal Spay and Neuter Surgery
Your trusty animal doctor here at Brazos Bend Animal Hospital performs dog and cat spay or neuter surgery on pets. We advise owners to bring their pets in for a spay or neuter as soon as they are 6 months, although the surgery is beneficial for older pets in their first year of life. The earlier we can put your pet on the road to a longer and healthier life, the better.
Call (281) 342-1117 to learn more about spay and neuter surgery and schedule the procedure with your animal doctor here at Brazos Bend Animal Hospital. You’ll be doing your best friend an enormous favor; one that lasts a lifetime!
When Your Animal May Need Surgery
Just like their owners, pets may find themselves on an operating table sometime during their lifetimes. Unlike their owners, most of them experience their first surgery before reaching adulthood. While having your animal spayed or neutered is critical if we are to make a dent in the tragedy of unwanted dogs and cats, it will also enable your pet to live a longer, healthier life. A spayed female will never develop uterine cancer, nor will males encounter prostrate problems or testicular cancer. According to a report in USA Today, dogs who have been neutered live 18% longer than un-neutered males, and females have even better odds at 23%. Females should be spayed before they reach their first estrus, or heat. Males should be neutered by four months of age, or when they show signs of growing territorial which in dogs can take the form of aggression, and cats, spraying.
Common Richmond Area Animal Surgeries
Dental Surgery: Despite being fed the best foods available, many of our pets still develop dental decay, and some experience injuries and infections that impede their ability to eat. Damaged, decayed, or infected teeth pose potential damage not only to the healthy teeth that surround them, but also to gum tissue. For this reason, they need to be surgically extracted. Periodic deep cleanings in which tartar is removed from above the gum line can save a pet from tooth loss in their older years. In the interest of minimizing stress, we treat this as we would surgery, anesthetizing them under the watchful eyes of both the veterinarian and support staff.
Injuries: Fights with other animals, falls, or being struck by automobiles often require surgery. Bites and wounds may need to be sutured closed to stem bleeding and prevent infection. Broken bones may also need to be reset with metal plates or screws. Modern technology has also made ACL surgery a more common procedure to relieve knee pain, lameness, and instability.
Cancer Surgery: Oral, stomach, skin, and liver cancer are common afflictions suffered by our pets. Surgical tumor removal is necessary as soon as they are detected. In the case of skin cancers, especially prevalent in white or light colored animals, tumors need to be removed for biopsy to determine whether they are benign or malignant.
Emergency Surgery: When an animal swallows a foreign object, surgery may be necessary if x-rays or ultrasound reveal they pose internal blockage or other danger. Cats with urinary blockage due to bladder stones may also need emergency interventions such as catheterization which calls for anesthesia and post-surgical care.
Should your pet need any type of surgery in the Richmond/Fort Bend county area rest assured that at Brazos Bend Animal Hospital, they are in the best hands and in the most vigilant care of our veterinarians and team of technicians. Call us today at (281) 342-1117 with any questions or concerns.
As a hospital, we make it our goal to offer our patients the very best care that veterinary medicine has to offer. We use only state-of-the-art equipment so we can diagnose and treat your pets as quickly as possible.
We are proud to offer ultrasound because it is a quick and painless procedure. Ultrasounds are often better than radiographs because they do not give off any harmful radiation.
Sound waves are used to look inside your pets, allowing us to diagnose them. The resulting images are better than radiographs, and several conditions can be diagnosed only with an ultrasound.
Many veterinary hospitals do not have the use of an ultrasound, so they have to rely on radiographs to diagnose their patients. Luckily for us, we are able to offer ultrasounds to our patients. It is always our goal to offer you the very best care and diagnostic tools so we can help your pets feel better, faster.
If you would like to schedule an ultrasound for your pets or if you have any questions, feel free to contact us today at (281) 342-1117.
Pet vaccinations help keep pets safe. At Brazos Bend Animal Hospital, we strongly encourage pet owners in our community to vaccinate their pets. We provide this service to pets of all ages. Pets who stay up to date on their shots often live longer and healthier lives, and are less likely to spread illnesses to other pets.
Why Pet Vaccinations are Important
Pets benefit from vaccinations for many reasons, including:
- Protection. Vaccinations protect pets from common illnesses and life-threatening diseases. In this way, pets who stay up to date on their vaccinations can have better quality of life into old age.
- Public safety. Vaccinations stop the spread of deadly illnesses, like rabies. In fact, the rabies vaccine protects more than the animal population: these vaccines also protect the human population.
Vaccinations and Pet Safety
Many pet owners worry about the safety of their pets when they are given vaccines. Some pet owners have concerns that the vaccines will weaken the pet’s immune system and possibly infect the pet with the very diseases that they are being vaccinated against.
The truth is that the risk to pets who are being vaccinated is comparatively small. Some pets will experience negative side effects from vaccines, but these side effects are generally minor. Some common side effects include:
- Pain and tenderness at the site of injection
- Irritability
- Lethargy
- Mild fever
- Cold or flu-like symptoms
- Swelling at the vaccination site
- Decreased appetite
In some very rare cases, pets will experience more severe side effects like diarrhea, difficulty breathing and vomiting. Pet owners are instructed to contact the veterinarian if their pet experiences severe side effects.
The risks of adverse side effects may be small, but the risk to pets who are not vaccinated can be great. Pets who don’t get vaccinated can live shorter lives and die of deadly diseases. At Brazos Bend Animal Hospital, we help pets live longer lives by vaccinating our patients.
Services Provided By Brazos Bend Animal Hospital
We provide two different types of vaccines: core, and non-core. Core vaccines are standard vaccines given to all pets. Non-core vaccines are only given to pets who are at risk for certain diseases. We help pet owners decide which non-core vaccines are right for their pet, to help maximize pet immunity. Puppies and kittens require booster vaccines spaced a few weeks apart, however once they are an adult some vaccines are only required annually. Typical pet vaccinations that we administer include:
Canine Vaccines
- Rabies – This is required by Texas State Law. Luckily, your dog only needs to get this every three years if they stay up to date. Being late on this vaccine means you will need to come back to get it again in a year.
- DHPP – Canine distemper has a death rate of almost 50%. The DHPP vaccine protects your dog against Distemper as well as Hepatitis, Parvo, and Parainfluenza. This is an annual vaccination.
- Bivalent Flu – The Canine Flu is highly contagious, similar to the flu humans get. Just as it’s important for you and your children to get vaccinated for the flu, so does your dog! Most boarding and grooming facilities require this vaccine to board. This vaccine is an annual vaccination.
- Bordatella – This is required to board or groom your dog anywhere. This is a vaccine your pet will need every 6 months
- Lepto – In Richmond, this is an important vaccine because of our large deer population. Lepto can also spread to your children! We strongly recommend this if you take your dog hunting with you, and highly recommend even if you don’t.
- Lyme – Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness. We recommend giving your dog this vaccine if you will be traveling with them to an area where ticks are prevalent. You can check for this by going to the CAPC website and searching for the Tick Borne Disease Agents. By clicking on each individual state, you can see the risk by county to pinpoint exactly where you will be. There is a slight risk involved even in Texas, so we recommend getting this vaccine if you are able to.
Feline Vaccines
- Rabies – This is required by Texas State Law. It’s important not only to protect your pet, but to protect your family as well. This is an annual vaccination.
- Leukemia – Feline Leukiemia has no treatment to eliminate the virus from the body and can be fatal for your cat. It depresses the immune system and can cause persistent infection.
- FVRCP – This vaccine prevents three potentially deadly airborne viruses. To read more about them, you can visit the Purina website which has a good explanation of the three illnesses and the affects they can have on your cat.
Contact Your Veterinarian in Richmond TX Today
We want to keep all our pet patients as healthy as possible, and we know you want the same for your animal companion. For more information about pet vaccines, or for dog shots and cat shots in Richmond, contact us today at (281) 342-1117.