Safety is important. Remember, each year around 40,000 pets die in drowning accidents and not all dogs can swim and many may fear the water. Do not force a dog in the water.
Keep in mind that what can harm you at the beach can also harm your pet, so protect Fido from high temperatures, riptides, sunburn, jellyfish, sharp shells or broken glass, and aggressive dogs.

Here are a few tips to ensure a perfectly safe time at the beach!

• Sun Protection: Some breeds – hairless, short-coated,
  light-colored breeds and dogs with pink noses – are more prone to getting sunburn. Pet sunscreens can be found at most pet stores or online. Be careful, don’t buy sunscreen that contains zinc! If ingested, it can be toxic. Your dog might also be tempted to lick the sunscreen. To avoid that, avoid products with fragrances.
• Seawater and freshwater: Many dogs will find drinking saltwater very enjoyable but it can lead to stomach irritation, vomiting, and dehydration. Teach your dog not to drink seawater or discourage him by offering him a bowl of freshwater. Also, when leaving the beach, an immediate freshwater rinse will wash off the sand and salt and help keep your pooch’s coat and skin healthy.
• Strong recall: If you let your dog wander off-leash, make sure he is under firm voice control and will come back to you as soon as you call him. This might keep your frolicking dog from harm if you see a danger he hasn’t noticed.
• Waves: Unless your pup is the Kelly Slater of canines, he’s probably not a great surfer! Make sure you are aware of rip currents and undertows. Even if dogs can be great swimmers, water currents can be very strong and put them in danger.
• Boating: Wishing to go on a leisurely cruise with your dog? Make sure he has a life jacket and that there is a secure area available, away from the edge of the boat, where you can keep your pet safe if the ride gets ruff! Secure your dogs so they don’t get overboard!
• Pools: pools are much more dangerous for dogs than they appear. Your dog will probably merrily jump (or accidentally fall) into the cool water for a swim, but if he doesn’t know where the stairs are, he’s in trouble! Don’t let your pet play near a pool if you’re not 100% sure he knows how to get out on his own. Visible pool ramps are also a good idea and can be purchased online and in most pet stores. Don’t force it: dogs are like people in so many ways. Some love water, some hate it. Also, make sure he doesn’t have any major health issues or physical limitations that would make swimming more difficult.

CityVet, a leading network of 19 veterinary-owned practices offering comprehensive pet care based in Dallas, TX, announced the opening of their newest clinic in Las Colinas, TX. Located at 861 W John Carpenter Freeway in the Las Colinas Village Shopping Center, the new state-of-the-art facility is ready to serve the community by providing full-service care for pets, including vaccinations, surgery, grooming, and healthy pet foods.

CityVet–Las Colinas is led by Jana Bryant, DVM, who has been part of the CityVet family for the last 12 years. “I’m excited to take this next step with CityVet. We believe in happy people and healthy pets. That’s why we are dedicated to providing the best, high-quality care for every pet we treat and look forward to being part of the Las Colinas community,” said Bryant.

“We are very excited to serve the people and pets of Las Colinas, marking our fourth new clinic this year,” said David Boguslawski, CityVet CEO. “Dr. Bryant is a great veterinarian and leader, and we’re excited to partner with a tenured member of the CityVet family on this location.” CityVet offers a unique local ownership structure, providing lead veterinarians the ability to have ownership in their clinics.

With COVID safe practices in place, appointments will start on May 24, 2021. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are recommended. Appointments can be made by calling 972.449.1654.

About CityVet
CityVet is a leading network of 19 branded and non-branded, veterinary-owned practices. Founded in 1999 by Dr. Chip Cannon with the mission to create client-centered, quality pet care.
CityVet is rapidly growing with clinics in Dallas, TX, San Antonio, TX, and Denver, CO that provide vet care, boarding, grooming, and healthy pet foods.

Dallas, Texas, May 24, 2021

CityVet, a leading network of 18 veterinary-owned practices offering comprehensive pet care based in Dallas, TX, announced their second acquisition in three months in the San Antonio, TX market. Alamo Ranch Animal Hospital joined the CityVet network on May 21, 2021. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Alamo Ranch Animal Hospital specializes in small animal medicine and is led by Greg Gaines, DVM. “Joining CityVet was an easy decision to make—I’m looking forward to the growth ahead and the administrative support so I can focus on practicing medicine,” said Greg Gaines, DVM.

“Dr. Gaines and his team exemplify our core values and are a great fit with the CityVet family,” said David Boguslawski, CityVet CEO. “We are executing an aggressive growth strategy in Texas. This is our fourth new location in the last five months, and we are very excited about what the Alamo Ranch Animal Hospital team, under Greg’s leadership, will bring to our organization.”

CityVet’s growth over the last 20 years has been focused on a de novo model, providing a unique opportunity for lead veterinarians to have ownership in their clinic. Alamo Ranch Animal Hospital will be the second non-branded clinic in the portfolio.

The acquisition is effective May 21, 2021. Alamo Ranch Animal Hospital will continue to operate under its current name.

About CityVet

CityVet is a leading network of 18 veterinary-owned practices providing exceptional pet care for more than 20 years. Founded in 1999 by Dr. Chip Cannon with the mission to create client-centered, quality pet care. CityVet is rapidly growing with clinics in Dallas, TX, San Antonio, TX, and Denver, CO that provide vet care, boarding, grooming, and healthy pet foods.

About Alamo Ranch Animal Hospital

Alamo Ranch Animal Hospital, located in northwest San Antonio, is a full-service, small animal veterinary hospital providing comprehensive medical, surgical, and dental care. Founded in 2016 by Greg Gaines, DVM.

Here are tips to allow your cat to prevent dehydration and heat stroke in the summer heat and to keep your cats safe for a PURR-fect summer:

• Put a few ice cubes in their water bowl to ensure that the water is continuously cold and change the bowl frequently to avoid the growth of bacteria.
• Keep your house cool. Use fans or air-conditioners to get the temperature down, especially if you plan on leaving your cat in the house for large parts of the day.
• Freeze water bottles! This is a simple task you can do to keep your kitty cool. By freezing water bottles, you can wrap them up in towels and lay next to your cat to cool them down.
• Use SUNSCREEN if your pet is outside! All pets can get sunburned. Apply just a little pet-safe sunscreen to the cat’s ears and nose, a little sunscreen can go a long way.
• If you open windows, make sure they have a secure screen to avoid an escape.
• Keep activity to a minimum. Cats love to play and run around but it may be too exhausting on a hot summer day. Encourage your kitty to take it easy on high temperature days!
• Ticks and mosquitoes are a big problem in summer months. Make sure you keep an updated preventative schedule to decrease tick infections and decrease the chance your cat can contract heartworms.

DO NOT

• Leave your cat in a parked car! Even with the windows open it is still a heat chamber for animals and can be extremely dangerous!
• Forget to leave fresh water for your cat.
• Ignore signs of heat stroke! Signs include walking funny, panting, drooling, vomiting and red gums. Take your cat to your veterinarian ASAP if you notice these signs!

Dallas, Texas, March 1, 2021

CityVet, based in Dallas, announced the acquisition of Country Hills Veterinary Clinic in Bulverde, TX. This purchase expands the CityVet portfolio into the San Antonio market, continuing their rapid expansion in Texas. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“At CityVet, we believe in happy people and healthy pets,” said, David Boguslawski, CityVet CEO. “When we can provide the opportunity for a clinical team to focus on delivering a best-in-class experience for their clients, and high-quality care for pets while we focus on the operational duties everyone benefits.”

CityVet offers a unique local-ownership structure, providing lead veterinarians the ability to maintain ownership in their clinic. Dr. Kenny Patin, owner of Country Hills Veterinary Clinic, said, “We are grateful for CityVet’s partnership, their belief in our clinic, and their view of this acquisition as an important milestone for the company.”

The acquisition is effective March 1, 2021. Country Hills Veterinary Clinic will continue to operate under its current name.

Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, January 4, 2021

CityVet is expanding and has opened their newest location in the North Fort Worth, Alliance area! Located at 9633 North Freeway, Fort Worth, the new state-of-the-art facility is ready to serve the great people of Alliance and Keller, and their pets. Providing full-service care for dogs and cats including vaccinations, surgery, grooming, and healthy pet foods.

David Boguslawski, CEO, said, “At CityVet, we believe in happy people and healthy pets and we are looking forward to bringing that to the Fort Worth area. 2020 has brought its’ own set of challenges and we are grateful for this new clinic.”

CityVet–Alliance is led by Dr. Sabrina Kordis.  “Whether you’re seeing us for preventative care medicine or surgery, our job is to make pet parents happy by making their pets healthy. We know animals are family and we will not be satisfied until both are accomplished,” said Dr. Kordis.

With COVID safe practices in place, appointments will start on January 4, 2021. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are recommended. Appointments can be made by calling 817.646.9982.

This guide covers everything you need to know about dog and puppy wellness, from vet visits and vaccines to nutrition, flea prevention and dental care.

Dog & Puppy Wellness 101: The Basics

1. Veterinary Exams
Examinations by a veterinarian are an essential tool in assessing your puppy’s health and wellbeing, and invaluable in making proper decisions about your puppy’s overall care from a young age. We recommend having exams performed at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age.

As your dog becomes older, regular physical exams by a veterinarian are an important part of a proactive and preventive approach to health and wellness. Checkups play a key role in the early detection of serious illnesses, especially since our pets can’t tell us when there is something wrong.

Dogs age more rapidly than people, and therefore changes in health status may occur more quickly. We recommend general physical exams every 6 months, especially for pets older than 5 years of age.

2. Core Vaccines
Core vaccines are those immunizations recommended for all dogs regardless of life stage or lifestyle due to factors such as the likelihood of infection, the threat posed to the pet’s health, or the risk of transmission to humans (zoonotic potential).

• DA2PPV – Recommend starting at the 8-week puppy visit with boosters at the 12-week and 16-week puppy visits. Boosters need to be at least 3 weeks apart but not longer than 5 weeks apart to be effective. The last vaccine must be given at 16 weeks or older to be fully protective. A booster should be given 1 year after completing the initial puppy vaccines, and every 3 years thereafter.
• Bordetella – Recommend starting at the 8-week or 12-week puppy visits with a booster 3-5 weeks after the initial vaccine. This vaccine is recommended every 6 months for dogs regularly exposed to high-risk situations such as grooming, boarding, day play, and dog parks. At a minimum, this vaccine should be given annually to all dogs.
• Rabies (RV) – Recommended at either the 12 or 16-week puppy visit. A booster should be given 1 year after completing the initial puppy vaccine, and every 3 years thereafter, unless state, provincial or local requirements stipulate otherwise. Rabies vaccination is required by law.

3. Spay / Neuter
We generally recommend that puppies be spayed or neutered at approximately 6 months of age, but some variations may apply to certain breeds and in certain circumstances. Consult with your veterinarian for specific recommendations.

4. Food / Nutrition
Your puppy or dog’s health depends on nutrition. The foods you feed your dog will have a life-long impact on overall wellbeing. We recommend feeding your dog a healthy, all-natural, meat- based or grain-free food that is free of dyes, fillers and low-quality ingredients. Choosing a healthy food can be difficult, which is why we only carry healthy foods that our veterinarians feed their own pets.

5. Microchipping
We recommend that every puppy and dog be microchipped regardless of age; it can mean the difference in whether a lost pet is returned home safely or not. Microchipping is a simple procedure that can be done in the exam room or while under anesthesia for other procedures. Some cities require microchipping for pet registration.

Ongoing Dog & Puppy Care

1. Non-Core Vaccines
Non-core vaccines are given depending on your dog’s exposure risk. Conversations with your veterinarian regarding the risks and benefits will help in determining a vaccine regimen that will provide the safest and best protection for your individual pet.

• Leptospirosis – Recommend starting at the 12-week puppy visit with one booster 3-5 weeks after the initial vaccine. Given annually after the initial puppy vaccines. It should be considered for dogs who are exposed to wildlife environments like ponds, or when urban and rural wildlife share the environment with your dog.
• Canine Influenza (H3N8 and H3N2) – Recommend starting at the 8-week or 12- week puppy visit with one booster 3-5 weeks after the initial vaccine. Given annually after the initial puppy vaccines. CityVet only recommends this vaccine for at-risk dogs (exposed via boarding, day play, grooming, dog park, etc.) based on risk assessment by your veterinarian or in the face of an outbreak.

2. Dental Care
Dental cleanings are recommended annually starting as early as 1 year of age for some small-breed dogs and 2 years of age for larger-breed dogs. Brushing your dog’s teeth regularly promotes good oral health.

Learn more about how to care for your dog’s teeth.

3. Parasite Screening, Testing & Prevention
The following protocols should be based on the known prevalence of parasites for your region and will be performed accordingly by your local veterinarian.

Parasite Screening & De-worming
Dogs can contract intestinal parasites from the environment in many different ways. Puppies, on the other hand, are most commonly infected with intestinal parasites from their mother in utero or from nursing. The best way to ensure your puppy is parasite-free is to have your veterinarian perform a fecal screening to identify any parasites that might be present. This is performed at the 8-week, 12-week, and 16-week puppy visits.

As your dog ages, it is possible for them to become infected and show few or no signs of illness. Therefore, routine screening and early intervention are important to good health.

The use of a general deworming medication is a practice recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While this treatment will address most of the common parasites, it does not treat all parasites your puppy or dog may have; therefore, it is still recommended that deworming be accompanied by regular fecal screening.

Heartworm Testing & Prevention
Dogs and puppies can be exposed to heartworms in almost any location where mosquitoes can be found. The risk of puppies getting heartworm disease is the same as that for adult dogs.

The American Heartworm Society recommends puppies begin a heartworm preventative as early as the product label allows, and no later than 8 weeks of age. Ask your veterinarian for advice about anticipating when a dosage change will be needed since the growth rate in puppies can vary widely from one breed to another.

All dogs should be tested annually for heartworm infection during a routine visit for preventive care. Annual testing is necessary, even when dogs are on heartworm prevention year-round, to ensure that the prevention program is working.

Flea Prevention
Most flea and tick medications are not safe to use on puppies until they have reached at least 7 to 8 weeks of age. Your veterinarian will be able to recommend a flea and tick medication that is most appropriate and advise you on when it is safe to begin administering it to your puppy.

Fleas and ticks can be found at any time of year and anywhere in the United States. They can cause irritation, discomfort, allergies and can carry diseases. Due to their small size, they can be difficult to locate on your pet, but screening for fleas and ticks is part of your veterinarian’s wellness exam.

Annual Blood Testing
Routine laboratory screening (blood testing) is recommended for all dogs as part of a comprehensive preventive health care program. In young adults normal values serve as a baseline against which changes can be measured as your dog ages and aids in early detection and management of many disease conditions. Annual health screens are especially important in senior pets and those with chronic medical conditions.

The CityVet Approach to Dog & Puppy Wellness
Our PetCare Plans make providing the best care f or your dog or puppy simple, convenient and affordable. Only at CityVet can you receive:

• Top-quality veterinary care
• The healthiest foods
• The best flea/tick/heartworm prevention
• Quality pet supplies
• One-stop grooming, bathing, and boarding services overseen by your local veterinarian

All at costs well below the local, regional and national averages. Our Complete PetCare Plans provide the very best for your dog or puppy, while saving your money and time along the way.

Questions? Find A CityVet! We are always here to help!

Studies show that good preventive care is the key to disease prevention and early detection of health issues. Committing to a comprehensive yet customized wellness plan for your kitten or cat will keep them purring and playful for many years to come.

We continue our commitment to providing the best care and service to our clients and their pets. This includes our enhanced safety protocols including face masks, curbside pickup, staff screening, and heightened sanitation for the health and safety of our clients and staff.

If your doggie wants to join in to see what all the fun is about check out our packages or schedule a DayPlay, or boarding!

Arriving for the first day of my career as a practicing veterinarian and being addressed as Dr. Jennifer Nguyen is surreal. I have my mask on (COVID times), my lunch packed, my laptop and notes in hand, and I am ready to take on my first day as someone who has practiced how to be a veterinarian her whole life. By the end of the day, my mind is racing in ten million directions. I am ecstatic, drained, lost, and scared all at the same time. What have I signed myself up for?

Nothing could prepare me for my first day, but maybe I could give you a glimpse of what it is like practicing in the real world as a new graduate. Let me offer up some advice.

5 Things I Wish I Had Known:

1. Pace yourself and learn how to depend on your technicians
2. Surround yourself with good mentors, including your peers
3. Student loan management
4. Not everything goes by the book, and it is all right to change your plan
5. Work is important, but make sure to prioritize your own wellness – EAT LUNCH

Pace yourself and learn how to depend on your technicians.
During my first week I found myself trying to do everything on my own. I stopped and asked myself – Why am I trying to do this all by myself? It is because I was taught to do everything on my own in vet school. In vet school, I had a max of 4 patients a day, at most, and I had all morning to develop the plan of care. As a new veterinarian, I am seeing 10-15 pets a day.

Do yourself a favor and learn how to pace yourself and depend on your staff. My caring technicians and receptionists reminded me that I am not alone during my appointment. They are there to assist me whether I need medications filled, blood drawn, vaccinations pulled, slides stained, records scanned, pets restrained, etc. Learn to rely on them so you can pace yourself during your appointment to meet your clients. needs during the time allowed.

Surround yourself with good mentors, including your peers.
My greatest advice would be to search for a 2-3 doctor practice when you are first starting out as a veterinarian. I have learned so much from my mentors and they take the time to teach me about topics I had little or no exposure to in school, even down to how to communicate with your clients. Instead of radiographs, I need to say x-rays – lesson learned! I am learning things every day and I am keeping notes on the most common medications, diagnostics, therapeutics, and plans I should take when encountering common problems/diseases.

I have found myself discussing some of my cases with previous veterinary friends as well. Sometimes all we need is some confirmation that our plan for our patient is something another veterinarian would consider doing as well. You did not suffer with your classmates for nothing. they are now your colleagues in the veterinary profession, and most are willing to learn from you as well as help you during your time of need.

Student loan management
I was not taught how to manage my loans walking out of veterinary school, point-blank. I have spent 8 years of my life in school, and now that I am out, I find myself struggling to manage my expenses.

First and foremost, do yourself a favor and visit the website below and watch the video:
• https://vinfoundation.org/resources/class-2020-veterinary-student-loan-playbook/

This video gives you a glimpse of different loan repayment plans from the basic standard 10-year plan to the income-driven repayment plans: PAYE, REPAYE, IBR, etc. This video educated me on all the plans so I could choose the one that best meets my needs in the future. VIN also has a student debt center that has a loan simulator that you can use to see which repayment plan best meets your goals. I wish I had learned this in school, but I am happy that there are resources that can guide my financial plan and debt.

Not everything goes by the book, and it is all right to change your plan.
I really beat myself up at the beginning because I had some cases I really struggled with. Diseases do not follow the book. Every patient is different. All clients do not have the same funds.

Keep your resources available: veterinary books, your notes from vet school, VIN, continuing education webinars, etc. I am continually referring back to my books, there is nothing wrong with taking a few extra minutes to re-look up a dosage, re-look up a diagnostic test, and verify your treatment plans with a credible source.

The books and resources I have found useful are:

• Clinical Veterinary Advisor
• Small Animal Clinical Diagnostics by Laboratory Methods
• VIN/ VIN Partner

In vet school, we learned gold standard and that money is not an issue. This is not the case for most of my clients. I have had to continually modify my diagnostic/treatment plan for a client because they did not have the funds. Some clients even surprised me with how far they wanted to go for their pets. Offer all approaches but be able to be versatile when a plan needs to be changed.

Work is important, but make sure to prioritize your own wellness. EAT LUNCH.
I was skipping lunch on some days when I first started working at my vet hospital. I felt like I was behind on paperwork and drop-offs and I would purposely choose not to eat to get those things finished. I found myself bringing notes home with me to finish or staying super late after everyone else has been long gone to finish my paperwork. After a week or two of doing this, one of my mentors lectured me on using my time more wisely during appointments and learning how to be more concise with my SOAP notes.

You will always have work to do, but you also have a life to live. We have sacrificed a lot of our life to the veterinary profession, it is alright to continue your hobbies, pick up new ones, and do the things you love. You will enjoy work way more if you do not have to dwell on it all the time. Prioritize your wellness.

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Please be kind to yourself and your peers, learn how to take constructive criticism, and always do what is best for your clients and their pets. I have had some of the hardest days of work in my life with some of the best people I know who continually teach me every day how to be a better veterinarian.

Dr. Jennifer Nguyen
Associate Veterinarian
Texas A&M University Class of 2020