What Do Enlarged Lymph Nodes Mean for Your Dog or Cat? Discovering a swollen lymph node on your pet during a cuddle or grooming session can be surprising and worrying. At Memorial Villages Animal Hospital, we understand that moment and use thorough exams and individualized diagnostics to find answers. Enlarged lymph nodes can reflect anything [...]
More Than a Number: Why We Use Body Condition Scores Instead of Just Weight Many pet parents are surprised to learn that a healthy weight isn't defined by a number on the scale. At Memorial Villages Animal Hospital, we rely on body condition scoring to understand how a pet's fat and muscle are distributed, giving [...]
The Full Picture: Why Spaying and Neutering Protect Your Pet's Health You want what's best for your dog or cat, their ultimate safety, happiness, and health. But sometimes, when they reach sexual maturity, you might start noticing heat cycles and certain challenging behaviors, like excessive marking or restlessness, that can make life difficult for both [...]
Itchy Ears, Ongoing Problems: Why Dog Ear Infections Return Do you feel frustrated when your dog’s ear infection clears up, only to return a few weeks later? You've followed the vet’s instructions and given the medication, yet the constant head shaking and scratching are back. If you are stuck in this cycle of recurring ear [...]
Supporting Stressed Pets With Compassion and Care When pets show anxiety, it's a sign they need reassurance, not punishment. Understanding their triggers and providing structure through training or calming aids builds trust. With patience, anxious pets can rediscover peace and confidence. At Memorial Villages Animal Hospital, our comprehensive approach to veterinary care includes helping pets [...]
From Curious to Critical: Protecting Puppies and Kittens from Common Emergencies For puppies and kittens, even a few hours can make a difference between mild illness and a true emergency. Because their bodies are still growing and their immune systems are developing, young pets can deteriorate quickly when something’s wrong. Understanding what’s normal- and what’s [...]
How Vaccines Protect Pets in Everyday Life A puppy sniffing where a raccoon passed by, a cat watching strays from the patio, or a friendly dog sharing water at the park- these everyday moments may seem harmless but can expose pets to dangerous diseases. Vaccines work quietly in the background, preparing your pet’s immune system [...]
From Limping to Diagnosis: Helping Pets Improve Their Mobility A limp may start subtly, but over time it can affect your pet’s ability to play, exercise, or even rest comfortably. Causes range from soft tissue injuries to arthritis, fractures, or systemic disease. Diagnostic imaging and lab testing help determine what’s minor and what needs immediate [...]
Tiny Trouble: How Grass Awns Can Harm Your Pet If you’ve ever brushed your dog after a romp through tall grass and found barbed seeds tangled in their coat, you’ve met the grass awn. These tiny plant parts may seem like an unavoidable nuisance, but they can cause serious- and sometimes life-threatening- medical issues in [...]
Itchy Paws? Sneezing Pets? Seasonal Allergies in Houston Explained When spring’s oak pollen clouds the Houston air or late-summer ragweed takes over, our pets often suffer as much as we do. Instead of enjoying the season, many dogs and cats are kept up at night by constant itching, paw licking, or endless sneezing. What starts [...]
