Pierce Housecall Veterinary Service

11/04/2024

10/30/2024

With Halloween quickly approaching we just wanted to send a friendly reminder to keep candy, especially chocolate, out of pets reach!

Theobromine and caffeine in chocolate may cause vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, tremors, seizures, tachycardia (high heart rate) progressing to abnormal heart rhythms, and death in severe cases. The fat and sugar may also lead to GI upset and pancreatitis.

If your pet does happen to indulge in sweet treats, seek veterinary care ASAP! We can often give medication to effectively induce vomiting and prevent or mitigate further complications. Be sure to note what kind (dark, milk or white chocolate) and the quantity ingested if possible!

On a related note, what’s your favorite Halloween candy?? 🎃 👻

09/11/2024

💔 🇺🇸 💔🇺🇸💔🇺🇸

08/15/2024

Brachycephalic dogs, which have short, flat noses and elongated skulls (like Bulldogs, Pugs, and Shih Tzus), are at risk of heat-related issues because their anatomy makes it harder for them to cool down. They have less efficient respiratory systems and struggle with effective panting, which is their primary method of heat dissipation. In hot weather, they are more susceptible to overheating, heatstroke, and respiratory distress. To keep them safe, it's best to avoid walks during hot weather and ensure they stay cool with plenty of water and shade.

08/03/2024

🫡🫡🫡🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

06/17/2024

REMINDER: I’ll be on vacation (and unavailable) June 22-30. Call or text ASAP if you need to make an appointment or if you need records emailed to you. ☀️ 🛥️ 😎

06/11/2024

PSA: I will be on vacation (and out of the country) June 22-30. I do have some appointments available before then, but they’re filling up fast so call ASAP to book. If your pets are boarding during that time and you need records, call now as I won’t be able to send records while I’m gone. 😎

06/02/2024

🤣🤣🤣

04/22/2024

Its spring and that means gardening! As well as calls relating to plant ingestion, here at Animal PoisonLine/VPIS we have seen an increase in enquiries about exposure to fertilisers and patio cleaner, slug baits and weedkillers. We would urge everyone to keep garden chemicals away from pets and follow all safety advice on the labels.

🪴Fertilisers - will usually cause vomiting and diarrhoea, but no serious effects unless eaten in large quantity

🪴Slug bait - metaldehyde slug pellets are very dangerous even in small quantity and immediate advice should be sought for any ingestion. Ferrous based baits may cause gastrointestinal upset but the risk of iron toxicity is low unless large amounts are ingested relative to bodyweight.

🪴Patio cleaners - these generally contain quaternary ammonium compounds. They are very irritant and may cause damage to the skin and the mouth. Cats are particularly sensitive to these products and can develop serious oral injuries , pyrexia and inappetance. They often require veterinary care and recovery can take several days. Walking through wet product can be enough to cause a problem .

🪴Weedkiller - toxicity will vary depending on the active ingredient in the product, dilution and level of exposure. Glyphosate (an organophosphate) and dicamba/phenoxyacetic acid chemicals are often present in products available widely for use in the garden. Follow instructions carefully, keep all packaging and seek advice after exposure. In all cases ingestion of the neat product is more likely to cause significant toxicity than walking through treated grass. Signs include gastrointestinal upset, skin irritation and neurological signs (in severe cases)

04/18/2024

04/02/2024

ANNOUNCEMENT!
Next week, April 8-12, I will be covering for another doctor in a clinic and will be unavailable for housecalls. I do have a few appointments left for the end of this week, so text or call me ASAP if your pet needs to be seen.

02/25/2024

We are so fortunate to have this resource in our area!

We are so grateful for the positive response from our community! We have had several questions regarding what services we do and do not offer.

Our sole purpose is to care for emergencies in dogs and cats, whether you are a pet owner experiencing an emergency or a fellow practitioner who has an emergency during a booked schedule. Being open 24/7 affords us the opportunity to practice the continuity of care we envisioned when designing Valor.

We recognize the tremendous value of preventative medicine, and we leave that in the hands of our colleagues. We do not offer services such as vaccines, flea and tick prevention, dental prophylaxis, or elective procedures. We focus on emergency care only, with the desire to return pets to their family veterinarian for follow-up and wellness care.

Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to serving the Ark-La-Tex area for years to come.

02/20/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/Eo8hMt9AjocKAMHb/?mibextid=WC7FNe

BOSSIER CITY, La - There is good news for pet owners in Bossier Parish. The heart of Bossier just got its first 24-hour veterinary emergency hospital.

02/03/2024

This morning I’m attending Housecall Vet Academy, a virtual CE conference for housecall veterinarians! I’m excited to learn how how I can help my wonderful clients and patients!🤩

02/02/2024

Good news!!

02/01/2024

I love this!!❤️

“A shelter full of Michaels”: animal shelter invites people to donate $50 to have feral cat named after ex and then neutered (link in the comments)