Pet Poison Helpline
855-764-7661
petpoisonhelpline.com

Texas Veterinary Behaviorist
Dr. Lore L. Haug (DVM, MS, DACVB, CABC)
281-980-3737
texasvetbehavior.com
2627 Cordes Dr., Sugar Land, TX 77479

Michael’s Dogs
Michael Baugh CDBC CPDT-KSA
713-934-9922
michaelsdogs.com

Barker Canine Academy
Rosina Barker, LVT
barkercanineacademy.com

Peace, Love, Dogs
713-467-1177
peacelovedogshouston.com
9619 Yupondale Dr., Houston, TX 77080

There are many diets out there so it can be hard to choose the best diet for your pet! Below are our 3 favorite brands. These diets put money back into their research instead of marketing. They have an array of both dry and wet food that you can choose tailored to your pet’s needs, and are veterinary approved!

DOGS: We DO NOT recommend “Grain-Free” diets, as these can be associated with Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) and can lead to congestive heart failure in dogs. For more information on why grain-free diets are not recommended for dogs, please visit:
dcmdogfood.com
akc.org

CATS: We recommend wet food. Cats are carnivores, so they do better with a high protein and low carbohydrate diet. Also, they are not great water drinkers so the additional moisture in canned food helps keep them more hydrated as well.

Royal Canin
Order Royal Canin

Hill’s Science Diet
Order Hill’s

Purina Pro Plan
Order Purina

• Rabies: This is a state required vaccine that helps with the prevention of the Rabies virus. This is a “core” vaccine that is done annually, or can be done every 3 years if it was boostered appropriately.

 

• DHPP: This is a combination vaccine that protects against Distemper, Hepatitis, Parovirus, and Parainfluenza; four viruses that could be harmful to your pet. This is a “core” vaccine that is usually done every 3 years, if it was boostered appropriately.

Lifestyle Vaccinations:

These are non-core vaccines that your pet may need depending on their lifestyle. Some of these vaccines need a booster shot at 3-4 weeks for them to be considered effective for one year.
 

• Bordetella: The “kennel cough” vaccination. This vaccine is usually required, and recommended, if your pet goes to grooming, daycare, boarding, or if they have nose-to-nose contact with strange dogs. This doesn’t completely eliminate the risk of your pet contracting it, but if your pet does get it then they will improve much faster than if they had not received this vaccine. The oral version of this vaccine is good for one year.

 

• Leptospirosis: We have been seeing more Leptospirosis cases in the past few years. We suspect that this is due to the high rainfall we’ve had, as they can get this disease from stagnant puddles of water, or bodies of water, that have been infected with wildlife urine (or the urine of an infected animal). This disease is zoonotic, meaning that you can contract it from your pet. We recommend this for most dogs in the area, as they can even contract it from their backyard if there has been an infected animal there. This vaccine does need a booster shot in 3-4 weeks, and then it is good for one year.

 

• Canine Influenza: The strain H3N2 (commonly referred to as the “new strain” of canine flu) and H3N8 (the “original” strain) are usually given together in a bivalent vaccine, but they can also be given separately depending on your pet’s needs. We have not seen many cases of either strain in recent years, so it is not a highly recommended vaccination for this area. We recommend checking with your boarding, daycare, or grooming facility to see if they require these vaccines. This vaccine does need a booster shot in 3-4 weeks, and then it is good for one year.

 

• Rattlesnake: This vaccination is recommended if you take your pet on hikes or anywhere that they could be in danger of a rattlesnake bite. This vaccine DOES NOT mean that you don’t need to pursue medical treatment for your pet if they get bitten, but it does help give them more time while you find a veterinarian in the area. This vaccine does need a booster shot in 3-4 weeks, and then it becomes an annual vaccine.

Pet First Aid: avma.org/resources/pet-owners/emergencycare/pet-first-aid-basic-procedures

Disaster Preparedness: avma.org/resources-tools/animal-health-and-welfare/disaster-preparedness

For Pet Owners – External parasites

Helpful information about pet dental health