Nixa Animal Hospital

18/03/2025

The bird flu strain that has been making its rounds through bird populations and sending egg prices soaring can also affect cats!
The cats most at risk for bird flu are outdoor cats (especially those who hunt a lot), cats who interact with livestock and backyard flocks, and those who eat raw diets.

The best way to protect your kitty is to keep them indoors when possible, fully cook all poultry and eggs your cat consumes, and limit any interactions with farm animals.

If you're seeing symptoms like coughing, sneezing, lethargy, or neurological changes in your cat, contact the clinic right away.

15/03/2025

Some patients need a little extra moral support when recovering from anesthesia ❤️ Our technicians never complain when it comes to snuggling puppies!

11/03/2025

Spring is here! 🌷🌸 Time to update the NAH cover photo! Comment your favorite pet pictures below so we can fill in the blanks with our patients ⬇⬇

24/02/2025

Just a few more days left of Pet Dental Health Month! 🦷 Never fear, dental health remains just as important after February is over!!
Have you ever wondered what's going on when you drop your pet off for their dental? Here's a quick behind the scenes of a full Dental Prophylaxis Procedure ⬇

1️⃣ Anesthesia - Pets aren't very good at saying "aah" so general anesthesia is required for a dental procedure. Your pet will have an IV catheter placed and be induced with propofol. An endotracheal tube will then be placed in their trachea to maintain anesthesia with isoflurane gas and prevent water from being aspirated.

2️⃣ Oral X-Rays - All dental procedures start with x-rays. This allows the doctors to see problems under the gum line that may not be visible on exam. Our skilled technicians take x-rays of your pet's full mouth and the doctor reviews them.

3️⃣ Cleaning - A technician will use a combination of ultrasonic scaling and hand scaling to remove the gross tartar from your pet's teeth. A polish is then applied to fill any abrasions and delay future tartar accumulation.

4️⃣ Oral Exam - The doctor will conduct a thorough examination of your pet's whole mouth while they are asleep. This allows them to see all surfaces of all teeth, gums, and oral tissues.

5️⃣ Oral Surgery - If your pet has any infection or other oral disease necessitating extraction, the doctor will perform those very last. A local nerve block is performed prior to oral surgery to numb the area. After the diseased tooth is removed, absorbable sutures are used to close the site.

Once complete, your pet will be recovered from anesthesia and be ready to go home within a few hours! Pets with dental disease often feel so much better just a few days after their procedure 💙

20/02/2025

Very Important News! 🚨 Daisy is wearing her snow boots and it’s really cute 🥰 😊

19/02/2025

We are opening today at 12pm. You can reach us by text or phone at 417-725-8700. We hope everyone is enjoying some snow zoomies!

18/02/2025

Due to inclement weather, the clinic will be closing early at noon today❄️🌨 Our team will still be available by phone this afternoon.

As of now, we are planning to be open for regular business hours tomorrow. We will be watching the weather closely and update you ASAP if that changes. If you'd like to reschedule your appointment, please call us at 417-725-8700.

Stay warm and drive safely!

14/02/2025

A pet microchip company, Save this Life, has abruptly gone out of business, making their database of pet owner information inaccessible. Owners of pets with Save this Life microchips will need to re-register their chips.
If your pet's microchip was put in at Nixa Animal Hospital, it is NOT a Save this Life microchip. We use chips made by PetLink. Save this Life microchips were primarily used on the west coast, but now is a good time to check that your pet's microchip information is up to date!

✅ Obtain their microchip number - If your pet was microchipped elsewhere, they should have provided you with paperwork listing their number. If their number is on file with us, it will be printed on your pet's paperwork. Call or text us anytime and we can give you their number! If we don't have it on file, you can bring your pet by anytime to have their microchip scanned.

✅ Check their registration - Each microchip company has their own website where you can view and update the information to which your pet's chip is registered. If you're not sure or can't remember the website, visit https://www.aaha.org/for-veterinary-professionals/microchip-search/ to look it up.

✅ Keep your information up to date - If you move, get a new phone number, or change any other contact info, it's important to update your pet's microchip registration so that you can be reached should they get lost.

Having your pet microchipped increases their chances of being reunited with you if they are lost by more than 30%. Unfortunately, many owners forget to register or update their pet's microchip which renders them useless!

A microchip company has abruptly gone out of business, affecting pet owners nationwide.

12/02/2025

The clinic is open for normal business hours today! ❄️ The parking lot has not yet been plowed and roads are still a bit slick, so please use caution on your way in.

03/02/2025

Happy National Golden Retriever Day!! 💛🐶 Dr. Molly's dog, Joy, and Grace's dog, Sylvia, think you should give all your dogs an extra cookie in their honor today 😇

It's no secret that our staff has a soft spot for goldens! Show us your golden babies in the comments ⬇⬇

03/02/2025

February is National Pet Dental Health Month!! 🦷 Your pet's mouth can play a huge role in their overall health. Unchecked dental disease can lead to systemic problems like heart and kidney disease, as well as being uncomfortable for your pet. Do you know what things to look for that might indicate your pet needs a dental procedure?

🐶 Red or inflamed gums can often be the first sign that it's time for some dental care. Bacteria in the mouth, tartar rubbing against their gums, and infection can all cause your pet's gums to look angry and more red than normal. Certain diseases, like stomatitis in cats, can also cause gingivitis.

🐶 Receding gums can indicate that too much tartar has accumulated and is pushing your pet's gums back. It can also be caused by an infection underneath the gumline.

🐶 Tartar accumulation is normal as pets can't brush their teeth like we do! However, too much traps bacteria and can lead to infection as well as irritating oral tissues.

🐶 Bad breath is usually what owners notice first. Bad breath from dental disease is caused by the bacteria overgrowing in your pet's mouth. Infection under the gums and around broken teeth also produces a foul odor.

🐶 Other things in your pet's mouth that may be cause for concern include broken or overly worn teeth, masses or overgrown tissue, wounds, and discolored teeth.

Our vets check your pet's teeth at every single exam to look for potential problems, but many dental health problems aren't visible to the naked eye. A dental procedure includes a full sedated exam and dental x-rays that allow the doctors to get the full picture. If you're concerned about your pet's dental health, contact the clinic to schedule an exam!

24/01/2025

Socializing puppies involves so much more than just letting them meet other dogs and people! Check out this great list of tips from the AVMA for more info!

Socialization prepares dogs and cats to enjoy interactions and be comfortable with other animals, people, places and activities.

11/01/2025

There are confirmed cases of rabies in Christian County recently ‼️

Make sure your pets’ rabies vaccinations are up to date!

Skunk tests positive for rabies in Christian County

Keep pets up to date on rabies vaccinations.



Christian County, MO – A second skunk collected in Christian County has tested positive for rabies. The first skunk was collected in late December from the Clever area, and the second skunk was collected this week in the Billings area. There have been no reports of any humans being bitten.



The reports of these infected animals serve as a reminder that rabies is present and that residents should be cautious around wildlife Keeping pets up to date on rabies vaccinations is the best way to prevent infections in pets and their owners.



Rabies information:

In Missouri, the animals most often found with rabies are bats and skunks.

The rabies virus is found in the saliva and brain tissue of an infected animal.

Humans and pets can become exposed to rabies through bites or scratches from an infected animal.

· Rabies is deadly in people if medical care is not received before symptoms start.

· Rabies in humans is completely preventable after exposure by promptly seeking medical care and receiving treatment called post-exposure prophylaxis.

· Consult a healthcare provider regarding contact to an animal with possible rabies to determine if post-exposure treatment is needed.



The Christian County Health Department recommends the following actions:

Ensure your pets are properly vaccinated against rabies.

Avoid direct contact with wild animals or unknown pets.

Report animal incidents or potentially rabid animals, to prevent the spread of the disease to the Christian County Health Department or local law enforcement agency.

People bitten or scratched by an animal should clean the wound immediately with soap and water and seek any necessary medical care.

Contact your veterinarian for guidance if pets are exposed to an animal that could have rabies.



For more information about rabies, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/index.html

10/01/2025

Due to inclement weather, the clinic will be opening at 10:00 AM today to allow time for snow plows to work and employees to arrive safely. We will be reachable by phone and text at 417-725-8700 for normal business hours today.

Stay safe and warm today! ❄️

07/01/2025

With winter weather having finally arrived, many of our roads, sidewalks, and driveways are treated with ice melt. While super helpful for preventing slips and falls, ice melt products can pose a hazard to your pets.

❄️ Ice melt products, even ones marked as pet safe, can be toxic if ingested. While most ingestion is accidental, some pets like the taste. Avoid letting your dogs eat ice melt or snow that may have been treated with it.

❄️ Ice melt can irritate paw pads and large crystals can even cause cuts and scrapes. Wipe your dog's paws immediately after coming inside and treat dryness or cracking with a paw balm. For dogs with more sensitive paws, booties can be worn to protect their pads.

❄️ There are pet safe alternatives that can help reduce slipperiness outside your home. Sand, sawdust, or kitty litter can all be spread on your driveway and sidewalks to increase friction.

As temperatures drop and snow begins to fall in many parts of the country, you may be taking precautions to prevent slips and falls in the snow and ice. While products like ice melts can be helpful, they can be dangerous if ingested by your pets. Learn all you need to know to keep your pets safe thi...

31/12/2024

Happy New Year!! 🥂🎉 Reminder that the clinic will be closing early today, December 31st, at 3:00 PM. We will be closed all day tomorrow, January 1st. If your pet has an emergency, please contact the Emergency Veterinary Clinic at 417-890-1600.

We hope you have a joyous holiday and we'll see you in 2025 😎

23/12/2024

In observance of Christmas, the clinic will be closing at 12:00 PM on Tuesday, December 24th and closed all day on Wednesday, December 25th. If your pet has an emergency, please contact the Emergency Veterinary Clinic at 417-890-1600.

Happy Holidays from the NAH pack! We hope your Christmas is peaceful and merry!! 🎄❤️