Friendship Veterinary Center, Inc.

08/25/2024

Glad to see this calf thriving!

"Humpty" was born about a week and a half ago with a hernia. Thanks to the quick surgical work of Dr. Warner at Elgin Veterinary Hospital Bovine and close supervision by Dr. Lastovica & Dr. Pitmon at Friendship Veterinary Center, Inc., he's doing better and ready for a bright future as a show steer!

05/04/2024

AT LAST we have an update… Robert Lastovica will start radiation and chemo treatments on Monday, May 6! We are eternally grateful for the love and support we have received from friends and family, near and far. Please continue to keep Robert, his care team, our family, and our staffs (whom are like family) in your prayers as we navigate this journey!

Thank you, Mollie Lastovica Dreibrodt for updating the CaringBridge and keeping the MealTrain on track!

A CaringBridge website is a personal health journal, rallying friends and family during any type of health journey.

04/17/2024

Sharing an update on Dr. Lastovica's health for our FVC community: https://new.caringbridge.org/site/31dda3be-fce0-11ee-83fb-09536a3afc6e?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web&utm_content=copylink_leftmenu_php

We appreciate your prayers and patience with our staff as they navigate the journey ahead.

A CaringBridge website is a personal health journal, rallying friends and family during any type of health journey.

02/20/2024

We enjoy loving on your pets every day, but today is National Love Your Pet Day! 🐶😍🐱

Show us the furry friend you love by dropping a photo in the comments.

Pictured here are Booker and Archie, Dr. Lastovica's pups.

02/06/2024

Caption this… 🦬🐮

01/03/2024

One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to lose some weight. This may be an ideal goal for your pet as more than 50 percent of dogs and cats in the U.S. are classified as overweight or obese, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP). Even a few extra pounds puts your pet at significant risk for a number of serious health problems. With the new year upon us, what’s a better New Year’s resolution than to help your pet achieve a healthy weight?

Weight Loss diet plans for your cats and dogs; learn more about the nutrition required for your pet and how to slim them down.

11/25/2023

'tis the season for show pig surgeries at FVC!

We know how much time, money and effort goes into 4-H and FFA show projects, so we don't cut corners when it comes to routine procedures like castration.

11/02/2023

Sweater weather 🥰

10/01/2023

Please vote for us! Drs. Lastovica and Pitmon have both been nominated!

Check it out now!

09/28/2023

Sometimes you need a little extra tug. Just another day in the office at FVC!

08/12/2023

Talk about a transformation!

At the beginning of May, Dr. Pitmon found her son’s steer, Uno, with a significant portion of his hoof ripped off in a freak accident. After months of intensive therapy at FVC, including daily cleaning, bandages, laser therapy and more, Uno is back to being a show steer.

Today, he won his class in both rings at the Texas A&M Saddle & Sirloin jackpot show. Big congrats to Riley Pitmon!

07/04/2023

Happy 4th from FVC! ❤️🤍💙

06/27/2023

The 4th of July is an exciting holiday for us, but can cause a lot of anxiety for our pets. Before the fireworks shows begin, stop by FVC to talk about natural remedies to help mitigate your dog’s anxiety. 🎆🐶

05/12/2023

Happy National Pet Week! Each day of this week celebrates a theme that raises awareness of responsible pet ownership.

Today’s theme is “Emergencies happen: Be prepared.” We never know when or where an emergency will happen. As a pet owner, you need to plan ahead, and include your pets in your family’s emergency plan. Know what to do in case of an emergency, how to assemble emergency and first aid kits, and how to properly identify your pets so your family can be reunited if you’re ever separated.

A dog first aid kit is an vital piece of safety equipment that pet owners should own and know how to use; they can be used in a variety of emergencies.

05/11/2023

Happy National Pet Week! Each day of this week celebrates a theme that raises awareness of responsible pet ownership.

Today’s theme is “Travel with care.” Traveling with pets requires advance planning and coordination to keep everybody safe. Whether you’re taking a short car trip or flying to another state or country, getting your pet safely to your destination requires special precautions. These range from proper restraints during travel to veterinary exams and travel certificates. Plan ahead, and know exactly what’s needed when you travel with pets of different species.

Are you considering taking your pet with you on a trip? Use the following checklist and remember that it is always better to be prepared for possible situations than to be caught in a crisis without the medications, food, belongings and records that are pertinent to your pet’s well-being. Medicati...

05/10/2023

Happy National Pet Week! Each day of this week celebrates a theme that raises awareness of responsible pet ownership.

Today’s theme is “Love your pet? See your vet!” Regular preventive care is critical to keep pets healthy and improve both quality and length of life. It also can save owners a great deal of money in the long run. Don’t wait to take your pet to the veterinarian only when it’s visibly sick or injured. Pets often hide signs of illness, and regular check-ups are vital to catching health problems early. Early treatment means better health for your pet.

Dog preventative care can define the health and longevity of your pet, so it's crucial that you read the ways a check in with a vet isn't a bad idea.

05/09/2023

Happy National Pet Week! Each day of this week celebrates a theme that raises awareness of responsible pet ownership.

Today’s theme is ”Nutrition and exercise matter.” An estimated 52.7% of dogs and 57.9% cats in the United States are overweight or obese. Many people face the same issue, and the AVMA encourages pet owners to get regular exercise—with their pets! This improves cardiovascular health, helps both pets and people maintain a healthy weight, supports good mental health for both owner and pet, and strengthens the human-animal bond.

The most common cause of unnecessary weight gain in pets is overfeeding. One crucial way to address this issue is portion control.

05/08/2023

Happy National Pet Week!

Each day of this week celebrates a theme that raises awareness of responsible pet ownership. Today’s theme is “Socialize now: New doesn't have to be scary.” Help your pet get comfortable in new situations by exposing it safely to a variety of interactions with other animals, people, places, and activities. Everyone is more comfortable when pets are well socialized!

It's important to safely socialize puppies with positive interactions and classes so they grow into well-adjusted dogs.

04/27/2023

As the weather warms up and the days get longer, it is natural to spend more time outside with our pets. However, all that fun in the sun can cause heatstroke, especially in indoor animals that are not acclimated to the heat. This article outlines tips on keeping your pet safe as the weather continues to warm.

Heatstroke, a life-threatening condition, can be prevented by removing pets from extreme heat, providing a fan and a wet towel.

04/10/2023

04/09/2023

In the fall of 2015 I said “if you ever want to move back to Fredericksburg I’ll build us a clinic…” and she did.

Friendship Veterinary Center, established in 1993, welcomed Dr. Casey Pitmon back home in August 2017. Together, Drs. Robert Lastovica and Casey Pitmon built their dream practice that recently celebrated its 5-year anniversary.

This past week, FVC celebrated its proudest moment as Dr. Pitmon was made partner in their mixed animal practice. To say that we are excited about the future would be an understatement. The future is bright and God is good!

03/07/2023

It’s a big day at FVC as we’ve officially upgraded to a hydraulic chute system! The chute is fully equipped with digital scales and a tilt feature and we can now more efficiently and safely perform hoof and lower limb procedures on all sizes of cattle. This includes corrective and general hoof trimming on herd bulls, in addition to pasture and show cattle.

Dr. Lastovica leaned on his 50+ years in the cattle business to custom design the hydraulic working chute to our specifications. Special thanks to Morgan Livestock Equipment and Berlinic MFG for helping us make this improvement to our Large Animal Facility.

Drs. Lastovica and Pitmon look forward to serving your bovine veterinary needs!

01/19/2023

We’re past the midpoint of January… how’s everyone doing on maintaining those New Year’s resolutions? 💪🏻🏃🏽‍♀️

Did you know that 50% of dogs and cats in the US are overweight or obese? It’s never too late to commit to a weight management plan for your pet. We’d love to help you out!

Weight Loss diet plans for your cats and dogs; learn more about the nutrition required for your pet and how to slim them down.

12/02/2022

Where are all our cat people?!? 🐱🐈🐈‍⬛😻

Did you know December is National Cat Lover’s Month?

As many cat lovers know, cats can be quirky about how they like to receive affection. This article from the Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation gives you some tips on how to show affection to your cat while respecting their boundaries.

Cats are particular about how they are pet. It's important to monitor their body language to guage whether they enjoy or dislike the tactitle affection.

11/18/2022

Pawsitively precious! 🥰

11/12/2022

Light therapy gives your pet’s cells the energy needed to heal themselves more quickly. Call us today for more information about our light therapy options.

08/22/2022

Please vote for us every day!! Friendship Veterinary Center, Inc. and Paws and Claws have been nominated for several "Best of..." Animal categories! We appreciate our clients, friends and family. Please vote!

08/22/2022

We're proud to be nominated in multiple categories for this year's Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post Readers' Choice Awards. You can vote daily from now thru September 16th and we'd appreciate your support! Friendship Veterinary Center (FVC) and our sister business, Paws and Claws Pet Resort (P&C), are nominated in the following "ANIMAL" categories:

-Best Veterinarian - Large Animal (FVC)
-Best Veterinarian - Small Animal (FVC)
-Best Pet Boarding (P&C)
-Best Pet Groomer (P&C)
-Best Pet Sitter/Walker (P&C)

Thanks for your support!

Abban Lindsey Lastovica Robert Lastovica

07/30/2022

Seeking a motivated people person to join our growing mixed animal practice. As practice manager, you will keep our front office running smoothly, handling client communications, invoicing, scheduling and other daily operations. Willingness to flex as a vet tech occasionally a plus. Salary commensurate with experience.