Star Hill Veterinary Clinic

08/29/2025

This is a very interesting discovery. We get asked all the time about feeding our pets. Those of you feeding diets such as The Farmers Dog, JustFoodForDogs and even homemade diets should read the article. This is the leading veterinary research lab on bladder stones (uroliths) in the United States.

UPDATE:
Good afternoon, it appears the intention of this post was misunderstood. The intention of this post was to inform our clients that a new stone was found and could be linked to a certain compound ( choline bitartrate). This compound is found in supplements as well as some foods. It was not intended to make it sound like a common issue or a reason for you to switch your pet's food without talking with your veterinarian. Thank you for all who kindly commented, clearing up some of these concerns. If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to us or your family veterinarian.

BREAKING NEWS -- use caution when feeding your dog fresh food from brands such as The Farmers Dog, JustFoodForDogs and Nom Nom⚠️

The University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine Urolith Center has discovered a NEW urinary stone and the likely cause🔬
The UMN Urolith Center is the laboratory we use for all bladder stone analysis that are conducted for HAH patients and we recently received notification of this new information.

These new stones are called "calcium tartrate tetrahydrate" (CTT) uroliths according to Dr. Lulich (co-director of UMN Urolith Center). Canine patients get "choline bitartrate" (the main compound in CTT uroliths) from fresh dog food and supplements recommended for dogs that eat homemade food.
The data collected by Dr. Lulich and his team showed a link between choline bitartrate found in some of the most popular fresh dog food brands -- including The Farmers Dog, JustFoodForDogs and Nom Nom -- and the newly discovered CTT uroliths.

This discovery was published in April 2025 in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

08/27/2025

We will be Closed Monday September 1st in observance of Labor Day. We will not have a doctor on call that Monday. We will be open the Saturday prior with a doctor on call the weekend otherwise. If you need help with an emergency on Monday, please look at VEG at 99 and I-10 in Katy for the small animal emergencies. For equine emergencies please call De Cillo in Hempstead or Waller equine in Waller for assistance. For the food animal emergencies, use Texas A&M LA hospital. We apologize for any inconvenience but we will not have a doctor on call Monday.

08/15/2025

06/16/2025

Update — we are back up and running. Phone lines are open again

Sparklight is down at the office. We are working to see when we will be back up and running. We appreciate your patience.

Please call or text 979-270-3903. This is the clinic cell phone so please bear with us as this is the only open line at the office.

06/14/2025

The office will be closed in the morning but we will have a Doctor on call for any emergencies. If you need assistance please call 979-270-3903. Thank you. Yall have a blessed weekend and Happy Father’s Day!

06/09/2025

Exciting news!! We have added a third veterinarian to the SHVC Family.

Yall help us welcome Dr. Kristen Autrey!
She was born and raised in Galveston/Santa Fe, Texas. Dr. Autrey turned her love for animals into a lifelong passion. She graduated from Ball High School and went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Tarleton State University. Her academic path continued at Texas A&M University, where she earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2023.

She joins us with experience in mixed animal practice and a special interest in food animal medicine and herd health, but she enjoys caring for animals of all shapes and sizes. At home, she enjoys life with her husband Kevin, their one-eyed husky Nova, their German Shepherd Beckham, and their cat Murphy. She’s also a strong advocate for drowning prevention, including CPR and swim safety programs.

Dr. Autrey is excited to be part of the Star Hill Veterinary Clinic team and is looking forward to providing compassionate, high-quality care for both large and small animals!

05/24/2025

Attention Clients and Family!

Due to some unforeseen circumstances we will be closed this weekend May 24-26th. Unfortunately we will not have a doctor available those days for appointments or emergencies. We apologize for any inconvenience. If you have an emergency this weekend, we recommend VEG or All Pets Animal Hospital in Katy for small animals. For horses, the closest options are De Cillo in Hempstead or Waller Equine. For cattle or small ruminants, Texas A&M Large Animal hospital.

We will be back in the office on Tuesday morning at 7:30am.

05/15/2025

A trip to the veterinarian can bring a mix of emotions — concern for your pet, hope for healing, and, oftentimes, surprise at the cost.

Unlike human health care, where cost-covering mechanisms often shield patients from the true cost of treatment, veterinary bills reflect the actual price of every service and resource used. And in recent years, those prices have continued to rise — not only because of inflation and the economic effects of COVID-19 but also because of major advancements in technology, treatment, and overall veterinary care.

Dr. Lori Teller offers insight into what pet owners are paying for and how they can better prepare for the cost of keeping their pets healthy.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/aLN950VMibP

04/18/2025

We will be closed this weekend (Friday through Sunday) in observance of Easter. We will have a doctor on call all weekend and will do our very best to accommodate emergencies to the best of our abilities.

Reminders:
We are currently only seeing our current clients for emergency call. We do close down the emergency line between the hours of midnight and 7 am.

Please be safe out there this weekend as we all celebrate Jesus and the Easter traditions.

03/08/2025

Attention Clients and Family! We will be closed this weekend March 8-9th, as we will not have a doctor available those days for appointments or emergencies. We apologize for any inconvenience. If you have an emergency this weekend, we recommend VEG or All Pets Animal Hospital in Katy for small animals. For horses, the closest options are De Cillo in Hempstead or Waller Equine. For cattle or small ruminants, Texas A&M Large Animal hospital.

02/22/2025

Chorioptes bovis is a mange mite that infests sheep and goats. Commonly referred to as Chorioptic Mange, the mite is more common in rams than in ewes or lambs. In goats, the entire herd is more likely to be infected. The mange mite typically causes papules and crusts on the feet and legs. These mites do not require a blood meal like other mites, rather they lice surface of skin and feed on skin debris. There are no known zoonotic cases. The mites can be found on cattle, sheep, goats, horses and llamas.

We have seen several cases of these mange mites over the past month. It is a reportable parasite to the Texas Animal Health Commission. There are effective treatments against the Chorioptes mite. If you notice crusty lesions on the legs or belly of your livestock or horses, there is a chance you may be dealing with these mange mites.

01/18/2025

This little cutie was rescued and is looking for a furever home! If interested please contact Janice at 806-939-2109 for all the details.