It may be better to give than to receive, but adopting a dog for Christmas sounds like the best of both worlds—one lucky dog receives a loving home and you receive the beautiful companionship of their love. But are the holidays the best time to welcome a new furry friend?  The answer depends on your [...]

As a responsible pet owner, spaying or neutering your pet should be a priority, but you likely have questions about these procedures before proceeding. Our team at Star of Texas Veterinary Hospital would like to answer some common questions concerning spaying and neutering, to ensure you understand why these procedures are such an important choice [...]

The sounds of summer include two types of whining—one is the mosquito that sneaks into your ear, and the other is a child saying, “I’m bored.” When dangerous heat and humidity keep us indoors, your dog may also be thinking they are bored, as they sigh from their place on the couch—the couch they have [...]

You and your pet are warm weather fans and spend as much time outdoors as you can when the mercury starts to rise. Mosquitoes and ticks also prefer the warmer conditions, and find your pet perfect for a quick meal. When these parasites latch onto your pet, they can leave behind unwanted reminders of their [...]

Noise aversion is a common problem that affects many household pets, but the condition is not caused by lack of training or disobedience. Noise aversion is a medical condition akin to panic attacks in humans, and negatively impacts your pet’s quality of life. The team at Star of Texas Veterinary Hospital wants to educate you [...]

You adore your pet and want to ensure they get the medical attention they deserve, but how can you know when there is an actual emergency and when you can take a breath and monitor your pet? Our team at Star of Texas Veterinary Hospital is here to address any concerns you have about your [...]

Separation anxiety is one of the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorders in pets, with dogs most likely to be affected. This debilitating disease can lead to destructive and annoying behaviors, often leaving owners stressed and overwhelmed. Since behavioral problems are a common reason for pet relinquishment—which also contributes to the pet’s onset of fear-based disorders—addressing [...]

If you live in Texas, you cannot use cold-weather excuses to snuggle up on the couch with your pet and avoid exercising outdoors. With more than half the U.S. pet population tipping the scales to the overweight or obese side, daily exercise is a must to shed those extra pounds. Additional weight can create a [...]

Remember when you were a child and your parents gave you $10 for every A on your report card? That cash acted as a huge incentive to try to get all A’s on every report card. This is known as positive reinforcement, which can work equally well with your pet, although, of course, money won’t [...]

Pets are naturally predisposed to a variety of medical conditions as their bodies and minds grow older. One common, yet often under-diagnosed condition, is cognitive dysfunction. Similar to dementia or Alzheimer’s disease in people, cognitive dysfunction is typically a slow-moving process that affects your pet’s mental function. Let’s take a look at three pets who [...]