Designer Mixes

Paraphimosis in Dogs

I am a veterinary assistant in Frisco, Texas, and one of the scariest calls I get from dog parents is, “My dog’s penis is out and it won’t go back in.” If that is happening to your dog, you are right to take it seriously. Paraphimosis can go from uncomfortable to urgent fast because the exposed...

How to Give a Cat Liquid Medicine

I am Shari Shidate, a veterinary assistant in Frisco, Texas, and if there is one thing I have learned at work and at home, it is this: cats do not “cooperate” with medicine. We set them up for success with good positioning, small amounts at a time, and a calm plan. This guide walks you through the...

What a Positive Lyme Test Means When Your Dog Seems Fine

When a dog feels perfectly normal and you still see that little Lyme “positive” line on a screening test, it can feel like the ground drops out from under you. I get it. In my work as a veterinary assistant, I have seen many families go from a routine wellness visit to sudden worry in about 30...

Organs Visible Through a Dog’s Spay Incision: What to Do Now

I am writing this with a lot of care, because if you are reading it, you are probably scared. If you can actually see internal tissue, fatty tissue, or especially intestine through your dog’s spay incision, this is not a “wait and see” situation. It is an emergency. This kind of incision failure is...

How Do I Stop My Dog From Jumping the Fence?

If your dog is jumping the fence, I want you to hear this first: it is not a “bad dog” problem. It is a safety problem. As a veterinary assistant here in Frisco, Texas, I have seen too many heartbreaking injuries from escape attempts, including lacerations, broken nails , torn dewclaws, and...

What Should a Puppy Eat After Parvo?

When a puppy survives parvo, it can feel like you can finally exhale. As a veterinary assistant here in Frisco, Texas, I have seen the relief on families’ faces when they get to bring their puppy home. Then the next question hits fast: What can I feed them now? The intestine takes a real beating...

Why Does My Dog Eat Horse Manure?

I have to tell you, this is one of those dog habits that makes people gasp, laugh, and then immediately say, “Wait, is that dangerous?” If your dog is eating horse manure on trails, around barns, or anywhere horses are kept, you are not alone. In veterinary clinics, we hear about this a lot. The...

Did My Dog Retain a Placenta After Birth?

When I talk with new mother dogs and their people, one worry comes up again and again: “All the puppies are out, but did she pass all the placentas?” That is a very fair question. A retained placenta (retained afterbirth) can lead to infection, and the sooner you catch it, the easier it is to...

When Do Kittens Lose Their Baby Teeth?

If you have a kitten who suddenly seems extra mouthy, you are not imagining it. As a vet assistant here in Frisco, Texas, I hear the same question every week: When do kittens lose their baby teeth? The good news is that kitten teething is usually quick, normal, and manageable once you know the...

Can a Heavy Flea Infestation Make a Puppy Anemic?

Yes, a heavy flea infestation can absolutely make a puppy anemic, and it can happen faster than many families realize. I am a veterinary assistant in Frisco, Texas, and one of the hardest things to see is a tiny puppy that is “just covered in fleas” and now too weak to play, too tired to eat, and...

Hyperlipidemia in Miniature Schnauzers

I work with a lot of Miniature Schnauzers here in North Texas, and I have learned to pay close attention anytime a schnauzer owner tells me, “We have dealt with pancreatitis before.” Very often, there is a bigger background problem that helps explain the repeat episodes: hyperlipidemia , meaning...

How Much Does It Cost to Euthanize a Dog?

As a veterinary assistant, I can tell you this is one of the most loving decisions a family can make, and one of the hardest. The cost question often lands on top of grief, and that can feel overwhelming. My goal here is to give you realistic price ranges, explain what commonly changes the bill,...

Can People Catch Ringworm From Dogs?

Yes, people can catch ringworm from dogs. I know the name makes it sound like a parasite, but ringworm is actually a fungal infection of the skin, hair, or nails. In a busy household, it can spread quickly because the fungus sheds tiny spores that hitch a ride on fur, hands, clothing, bedding, and...

Uterine Inertia in Dogs: When Labor Contractions Stop

As a veterinary assistant here in Frisco, Texas, I have seen how quickly a calm whelping can turn into an urgent situation when contractions stop. It is scary because dogs can have perfectly normal pauses between puppies, so many families wait, hoping it will restart. Sometimes it does. With...

What to Expect After a Dog Has a C-Section

I’m Shari Shidate, a veterinary assistant in Frisco, Texas, and I can tell you this: the hours and days after a dog’s C-section can feel like a blur. You are watching mom, watching puppies, watching the incision, watching everyone breathe, latch, sleep, and wiggle. It’s a lot. The good news is that...

Why Your Dog’s Lump Swelled After You Touched It

I have had more than one worried pet parent tell me, “I barely touched it and the lump got bigger.” If that happens to your dog, please do not feel silly or guilty. Some lumps react dramatically to even gentle handling, and that reaction can actually be an important clue for your veterinarian. The...

My Dog Ate a Sock: How Long Until It Is an Emergency?

If you are reading this because your dog just swallowed a sock, take a breath. As a veterinary assistant here in Frisco, Texas, I have seen this exact situation more times than I can count. A sock is soft, but that does not make it safe. Fabric can bunch up, lodge in the stomach or intestines, and...

When to Adopt Another Dog After One Dies

I am a veterinary assistant in Frisco, Texas, and one of the most tender conversations I have with families is this: “When should we get another dog?” If you are asking, you are not replacing your dog. You are trying to find your footing after a loss, while also thinking about what your home and...

How to Clean a Dog That Rolled in a Dead Animal

If you have ever watched your dog gleefully grind their shoulders into something foul while you sprint toward them yelling, you are not alone. I am Shari, a veterinary assistant in Frisco, Texas, and I can tell you this is one of the most common panic moments I hear about from dog families. The...

My Cat Ate String: Should I Pull It Out?

If you are staring at a piece of string hanging out of your cat’s mouth (or, just as alarming, from the rear end), your instinct is totally human: pull it out and fix the problem. But as a veterinary assistant here in Frisco, Texas, I have to tell you as clearly as I can: do not pull the string ....