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As I go through my morning routine- which consists of a shower, coffee, feeding the dogs and cat, and putting on my scrubs- I almost always have the news on in the background.  For months, the Zika virus has been making headlines almost every day.  The threat to humans is very real, and we should evaluate our own behaviors and take precautions to minimize…

If your pet suffers from noise phobias, this is almost always a difficult week. I have a sneaky suspicion that this week’s backyard fireworks celebrations could possibly be louder- and more numerous than in years past- for a few reasons. First- the holiday falls on a Saturday. Second, with many municipalities postponing or canceling their…

By Dr. Melissa Webster For almost as long as I can remember, I knew that my calling was to help animals.  Growing up in upstate New York, I watched (and sometimes assisted) my mom, who volunteered as a wildlife rehabilitator.  I was amazed by the wide variety of animals she would nurse back to health…

Many of you know that I’m not originally from Florida. For those of you that didn’t know, I’m originally from upstate New York. Growing up, it could get hot in the summer, but nothing like what we have here in Florida. After living in Florida now for going on 19 years, I’ve learned pretty quickly…

One of the things I love about being a veterinarian is that I can never really know what my day has in store for me each time I walk into Highland Pet. Of course, I know I’ll be seeing lots of different patients for wellness exams, a variety of maladies, or have surgeries or dental…

As a veterinarian, I get asked all the time “How many pets do you have?” Sometimes, I feel like saying “Thousands” because I truly feel that I am responsible for each and every pet that comes in to Tampa Veterinary Hospital for care. But the practical answer is five. My husband and I love our 2 Jack Russell Terriers, our cat and two birds.…

I love caring for your pets. My husband jokes that I spend more time with your pets than I do with him. It’s true. I spend a lot of time here at Tampa Veterinary Hospital, because caring for your pets is our first priority. But when I do have an opportunity to spend time away,…

Why Crate Train Your Dog? •They learn it is their ‘Room’- even with the door open •Provide a safe, cozy place that she can call her own and sleep in at night. •Gives you a safe way to transport your dog and travel with her to hotels, to friends’ homes, when on vacation, etc. •Helpful when introducing a new dog…

Does the sound of your car keys jingling make your dog excited? Do the words ‘car ride’ send them into a frenzy? Many dogs love the excitement of a ride in the car. It’s fun for them, and we want to make sure that the fun ride is also a safe one. Whether you’re going across town, or across…

We hear about it all the time. That we, as humans, need to eat less and exercise more to maintain a healthy weight. We see articles in magazines and newspapers. We see stories on the news telling us about the expanding waistlines across the nation, and it is reaching epidemic proportions. Many of us have…