Our Blog
Firehouse is committed to keeping your pet happy and healthy while preventing disease.
Coughing & Respiratory Issues in Dogs in 2023 and 2024
“Mystery” illness has new treatments
1 min readThe current “mystery” respiratory illness is severe. We can see you fast at our 183 and Cedar Park locations if symptoms arise.The current strain of coughing a respiratory issues in dogs isn't ordinary kennel cough. It's a prolonged cough, leading to severe...
5 questions you’ve always wanted to ask your vet, but were too embarrassed to ask
Candid answers to awkward cat and dog topics
2 min readThere’s no topic we’re uncomfortable with. So bring us your questions! Is your dog’s penis sticking out? Is your cat humping stuffed animals? Did your pet ingest marijuana? We’re here to answer all your questions. Doctors Rivas & Bonnet answer questions we...
Firehouse’s 4 Pillars of Care
The core beliefs that guide your pet’s care: wellness, nutrition, dental, and fear/anxiety/stress
8 min readPets bring us immeasurable joy and companionship. Firehouse Animal Health Center’s mission is to prevent your cat, dog, and exotic pet from getting sick so they can stay by your side – healthy and happy – for as long as possible. Our care guidelines are...
Ease Your Pet’s Stiff Joints in 2024
3 tips for cold weather days
3 min read "Before starting Librela, Dizzy wasn't using all four legs to go up and down the stairs," says Firehouse 183 Client Service Coordinator Lisa Berletch of her 8-year-old Sheltie. "She was also hesitant to jump and run at full speed." Dizzy started...
3 Reasons Every Pet Owner Should Microchip Their Pet
Ensure your pet is findable in 2024
3 min read Blue, a young and active husky/shepherd mix, was brought into Firehouse Belterra twice this spring. The second time, she wasn’t wearing a collar because her parents had just bathed her. Amanda Lopez, a Firehouse Belterra Veterinary Technician, recognized...
Why Do Cats Knead?
Here’s why cats “make biscuits.”
3 min read “Simply put, kneading brings cats peace and comfort,” says Georgie Chadwick, Hospital Manager at Firehouse Westlake. Kneading is when cats rhythmically push their paws against a soft surface, often with a kneading motion like the way dough is kneaded. A...
Cats and dogs hate New Year’s Eve fireworks
Your pet’s ears are sensitive to sound
Loud bangs and pops scare pets and can make even the most well-behaved pet misbehave or run away. We have tips.Bruno is one of the few cats who doesn't scare easily during New Year’s Eve and July 4th fireworks. “When I first adopted Bruno,” says Dr Sherry Hill,...
Pets and Diabetes: Prevent, Recognize, and React
New med make this disease more manageable than ever
7.5 min read Charlie, an 11-year-old beagle, began to urinate all the time. This raised concern for his family, who brought him to Firehouse Belterra. We did lab work and found out that Charlie had diabetes. In the last few months, Charlie’s family has embraced...
How to keep a deaf dog safe
Safety tips for owners of deaf and hard-of-hearing pets
Franklin’s family realized he was hard of hearing soon after they adopted him. “We learned he might have hearing issues when he was just a puppy,” says Katie, Franklin’s mom. “The only way we’d know for certain was to put him under general anesthesia and monitor his brain function. We declined this option, as it really wasn’t a big deal for us,” Katie continues.