Central Carolinas Animal Hospital, LLC

04/25/2025

National Hairball Awareness Day 4/25/25

Nothing makes you move faster than a cat vomiting a hairball! Whether on the rug, the couch or the bed, hairballs are gross but normal for all cats.
Hairballs are a collection of hair and stomach contents that form in a cat’s stomach. They develop as a result of a cat’s fastidious grooming. Cats that shed a lot or groom themselves compulsively are more likely to have hairballs. They swallow loose and dead hair that gets caught on their tongue. Cats cannot digest the hair, but usually, most of it passes through the digestive tract but some may form a mass in the stomach. Your cat may cough and then gag or retch as they throw up the hairball. Sometimes, cats cry or howl before vomiting. Hairballs are more common in longhaired cats. There are things you can try to reduce the chance of your cat having hairballs or at least decrease their frequency. You can help your cat minimize the number of hairballs they get by regular brushing and grooming, food or treats that reduce hairballs, feeding a high fiber diet, or trying a hairball laxative. Veterinary care is essential if your cat is having hairballs more often than once or twice a month or if you’re seeing other symptoms, like poor appetite, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation. Together, you and your veterinarian can come up with the best way to treat and prevent hairballs, which means less hairballs for you to clean up!

04/23/2025

4/23-4/29
National Scoop the P**p Week.

Sometimes, owning a dog stinks—literally. No one wants to pick up their dog’s p**p. But it is very important. Here’s why….
Part of being a responsible dog owner is picking up p**p daily, whether in the yard, at the dog park, or during your walks. Too many dog owners fail to clean up after their dogs. They may have forgotten to bring a p**p bag or they are in a hurry. Some don’t see the big deal. The rain will just wash it away, right? Wrong. Leaving dog p**p on the ground isn’t just irresponsible. It’s also harmful to other pets and people.
Dog p**p can contain several types of parasites, viruses, and bacteria, which can make other animals and humans sick. Serious illnesses like giardia, E. coli, and parvovirus can be spread through f***l matter. Tapeworms and ringworms can also be spread through dog p**p. Giardia and coccidia, hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms are some of the intestinal parasites that dogs can get from contaminated soil or water.
Not picking up your dog’s p**p is disrespectful to others. It smells, kills the grass, looks gross, and contaminates the environment. It’s also bound to ruin someone’s day when they step on it. Rock Hill, SC has "p**p laws”. These laws require dog owners to clean up after their pets. So, be a good owner and clean up after your dog!

04/22/2025

Don’t let fleas and ticks ruin playtime! Keep your dog protected for a full 12 weeks* with BRAVECTO® (fluralaner) Chews. Ask us about longer-lasting coverage at your next visit.

04/22/2025

Salmonella and listeria risk prompts another kitten, puppy food recall.
Blue Ridge Beef has recalled more than 2,300 pounds of kitten and puppy food due to potential contamination with salmonella and listeria. The products were distributed in at least eight eastern states and Wisconsin. Blue Ridge Beef is recalling their 2 lb logs of Kitten Mix Lot # N26 0114 and 1,380 lbs of their 2 lb logs of Puppy Mix Lot # N25 1230 (Lot numbers are stamped in the clips on the end of the chubs/bags). The Statesville, North Carolina-based pet food manufacturer has issued several other recalls related to salmonella contamination in recent months. You can read the full recall notice on the FDA's website, www.FDA.gov/safety.
If your pets show any signs of illness, please contact your veterinarian immediately. If you have purchased any of this food, please stop feeding it, return it for a full refund, or contact the company right away.

04/21/2025

National Bulldogs Are Beautiful Day 4/21/25
Bulldogs turn slobbers and wrinkles into an art form. They have been companions in historical literature for about five centuries. Bulldogs were originally bred to assist farmers and butchers in controlling livestock. The history of bulldogs traces back to 5th century England. There are three breeds of Bulldogs consisting of English, French, and American varieties. Today, these sweet snorting, drooling mushballs rank as one of the most popular dog breeds in the U.S.

04/19/2025

It's National Cat Lady Day 4/19/25
We all love cats! Some of us are proud cat owners. Some of us have been deemed crazy cat ladies! Either way, today is our day to shine. Today is all about celebrating the joy and love our feline friends bring into our lives. Maybe we could spoil our cats a little more, get new toys, a scratching post, or more treats. We could volunteer at a local cat shelter or adopt (another) cat. Maybe make today your day to celebrate the special bond we share with our feline friends. Whether you’re a cat lady, a cat gentleman, or simply a cat enthusiast, get ready to celebrate all things cat-related!

04/18/2025

04/15/2025

OC is channeling his inner Easter Bunny. He says we better "hop to it" and get his fluid therapy done!

04/14/2025

And then there were 2! We still have these 2 cuties up for adoption. All the others are spoken for and will be adopted. Please let us know if you have room in your heart for a new baby.

04/14/2025

Adrenal diseases in dogs

The adrenal glands, located right in front of a dog’s kidneys, are responsible for many bodily functions such as metabolizing nutrients, balancing minerals, reducing inflammation, and immune responses. They also aid in hormone production, stress response, adrenalin output, balancing heart rate and blood glucose, and aid digestion. Some little-known conditions can be caused by the adrenal glands producing too much or too little of a particular hormone.
Cushing Disease, or hyperadrenocorticism, is an endocrine disease common in adult and older dogs. This disease results from chronic over-production of the hormone cortisol. The most common cause of Cushing’s disease is a tumor in the pituitary gland, but could also be from a tumor in the adrenal glands, or from extended use of corticosteroids. Symptoms include a pot-bellied appearance, polyuria (excessive urination), polydipsia (excessive drinking), anxiety, excessive licking, abnormal sleep patterns, irritability, pacing, thin hair coat, skin changes, and excessive panting. Some symptoms may be more severe such as palsy, weakness, UTI (urinary tract infections), and high blood pressure.
Addison Disease, hypoadrenocorticism, is caused by a deficiency of adrenal gland hormones. It is most common in young to middle-aged dogs. Causes may not be easily noted, but veterinarians believe it is an autoimmune response within the pet’s body. Sings of Addison’s disease may include loss of appetite, dehydration, vomiting and diarrhea, weight loss, and poor body condition. More severe symptoms could include weakness, organ failure, shock, low heart rate, and adrenal crisis.
Diagnostics and testing can determine if your pet has one of these endocrine diseases. These conditions are not reversible, but are manageable. With medications and scheduled monitoring, these diseases can be managed by our doctors with the help of consults with an Internal Medicine Specialist.

04/11/2025

Did you know? We are open Saturdays from 8 am to 2 pm.

04/10/2025

See how many tennis balls your dog will catch all while protected by BRAVECTO® (fluralaner) Chews! Ask us about extended flea and tick protection at your next visit.

04/10/2025

What is a Mast Cell Tumor?
No one wants to hear the word Cancer. Especially when it comes to your pet’s test results. Mast cell tumors (MCTs) are among the most common neoplasms in the dog. Mast cell tumors can affect dogs and cats. They are malignant tumors that contain Mast cells. Mast cells are a type of white blood cell that is a part of an animal’s immune system. Mast cells respond to allergens and produce histamines, a chemical that causes inflammation. They typically form nodules or masses in the skin but they can also affect other areas of the body. The tumor cells are unstable and can degranulate easily. MCTs can range from being low-grade to high-grade (I-III). Low grade MCTs, if removed properly, don’t often regrow. High grade MCTs often recur and carry a shortened survival time. According to Idexx Labs, despite the vast amount of knowledge on canine MCTs, there is no single test or measurable feature that could unequivocally establish the prognosis of MCTs, and patients should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, taking into account all factors, including patient information, clinical history, anatomic location, microscopic features, biopsy results, and degree of staging. If your pet has a suspicious mass or growth, please call us and schedule an appointment.

04/09/2025

We still have 3 little babies up for adoption. They will be ready to go to their forever homes once they are weaned from their momma and can eat on their own. If you have room in your heart and your home, come by and visit and see which one you want to take home.

04/08/2025

National Dog Fighting Awareness Day 4/8/25
Cuts, scrapes, bite wounds, broken bones, missing ears, damaged eyes, or scars. All signs of dog fighting. Dogfighting victims often have scars across their faces, lips and head. If a dog has been forced into fighting, you can often find scars across their paws, legs and haunches. No one wants to see a dog with these injuries.
Dogfighting is an illegal, secretive industry that operates underground. Dog fighting is a type of blood sport that turns game and fighting dogs against each other in a physical fight, often to the death, for the purposes of gambling or entertainment. Dogfights can happen anywhere, anytime of year. They may happen in a city park or a remote wooded area, a field, a barn, garage or basement of a house or apartment complex or an empty warehouse. Items like treadmills, muscle enhancers and break sticks, wooden rings, cramped cages, all may indicate dogfighting.
So what can we do? If you suspect a dog fighting ring in your neighborhood, or out in the woods, report it to the proper authorities. Call 911, your local police department, county animal control or the Humane Society. Or call the HSUS animal fighting tip line at 877-tip-hsus.

04/06/2025

National Siamese Cat Day

We love Siamese cats. Those blue eyes and colored points, that chatty personality and sleek build. What is not to love? Show us a picture of your Siamese cats.

04/05/2025

Kitten photo dump. Two litters of adorable babies were born 1 week apart, right in our hospital! They will be adoptable when they wean from their moms in five to six weeks or so. If you want to add a new baby to your household, come visit them and chose your favorite. (The black/white male and calico female have already been chosen.)