Veterinary Blog in Lakeland, FL

Canine Influenza is back – Is your pet at risk?

Canine Influenza has recently been confirmed in Florida. Several dogs have been diagnosed with the potentially deadly virus, according to the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. Many of the cases are thought to have been spread during a dog show in Volusia County, with many of the infected dogs participating in another recent…

The Deadly Cane Toad (AKA Bufo Toad)

At Tampa Veterinary Hospital, we love seeing all types of animals- not just the furry ones! We enjoy seeing lots of reptiles and amphibians- but there are some toads out there that we wish just weren’t around. You may have already heard of the Bufo toad- and how deadly they can be. There have been…

Your Pet’s Oral Health

Why is Dental Care for My Pet Important? It’s now early February, and I’m actually on the road in Orlando at the NVX Conference- where thousands of veterinarians like me are taking classes and continuing to learn about the latest trends in our industry.  It’s also National Dental Health Month- so I’ve been looking out…

The Screwworm- a Major threat to Florida UPDATED

UPDATED 1/11/17 The Florida Department of Agriculture has confirmed the first case of screwworms found on the Florida Mainland. A stray dog in Homestead was found to be infected with the parasite. It is the first time in more than 30 years that the screwworm has been identified on the Florida mainland. At this time,…

The scoop on your pet’s poop

Every day at our hospital, and at animal hospitals all around the country, people bring us gifts. We really appreciate the thoughtfulness of our guests who bring us the occasional box of doughnuts, bagels, homemade cookies and other sweet treats! But the ‘gift’ that we get more than any other does not come in a…

Could your pet be suffering in silence?

Several years ago, I suffered a fall from a horse and was hurt pretty badly. I still feel the effects of that fall to this day, and am constantly speaking with my doctors and specialists as to the best way to make the pain go away. We’ve all felt pain at some point in our…

Can the Zika virus affect my pet?

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…

Controlling Noise Phobias

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…

Ultrasound- what is it, and why could my pet benefit?

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…

Keeping cool in the summer

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…