At Bayside, we love your pets as much as you do, and we’ve been doing some digging to help explain how those deep, loving bonds are formed. Do our pets feel the human animal connection as deeply as we do?! We’ve learned a lot on our journey and, to no surprise, discovered that 68% of US households are home to a pet (including four-, two, or no-legged varieties).

While cats and dogs are by far the most common choices for household companions—in studies and here in the clinic—it got us thinking: What is it about our furry friends that keep us coming back for more? And how important is the connection with pets to our health?

We’ve all heard the old wive’s tale that dogs have the “cleanest mouths.” But if you’ve ever met a dog, we’re sure you’ve questioned that more times than you can count. Every dog owner knows that their beloved pup will put almost anything in their mouth—from scavenged “food” finds and dirty toys to someone else’s waste. If you get our drift.

So, it would seem perfectly normal—natural even—that your dog would have a bad case of doggie breath, right? Wrong: Dog breath, while extremely common, can be a sign of larger oral health issues and may lead to more serious health complications as your pet ages.

Outside of regular, professional dog dental care, dog owners can turn to these vet-recommended preventative measures to keep their pup’s pearly whites clean and dog breath smelling oh-so fresh.

Whether you’re a long-time cat owner or just bringing a kitten home for the first time, keeping your fur babies active and entertained is a top priority for ensuring their health and happiness—and, at times, your sanity. At Bayside Animal Hospital we encourage all our feline-loving clients to think outside the box when it comes to selecting kitten games, toys, and indoor cat activities to keep your cat playfully engaged.

Pet parasite prevention should be of the utmost importance to a pet parent. Taking precautions throughout the year to prevent pet parasites will extend your pet’s health & longevity. Every pet deserves the best health care possible, including year-round pet parasite prevention. It’s much less expensive and risky to prevent a parasite problem than treating a pet infected by a parasite. The staff at Bayside Animal Hospital is here to provide the best information so you can protect your pet’s health. After all, pets are family, and we want them to live long, healthy lives by your side. 

The busy days of back-to-school are upon us, and they can be stressful for everyone, including your pet. While dogs often feel the stress more than cats, the stress of spending more hours alone can affect everyone. You can take some proactive steps to reduce pet separation anxiety for your furry friend–here are some of our team’s top suggestions.

Adopting a new pet into the family is always an exciting time. Your newly adopted puppy will quickly become your best friend, and at Bayside Animal Hospital, we want to ensure that you and your puppy start your life together on the right paw.

Today we are exploring the basics of new puppy adoption and new puppy care that every puppy parent should know.

With pet obesity on the rise and the modern pet diet lacking sufficient nutrients, the number of pets with diabetes is steadily increasing. Diabetic pets are much more common than they once were. The AVMA  says diabetes is most common in dogs aged 4-14 years and cats aged 7-10 years. Since it’s Pet Diabetes Month, we want to provide you with the knowledge and know-how to care for a diabetic pet. We’re here for all of your local pet wellness needs here in Kemah, Texas. Whether your pet is diabetic or you’re investigating issues that could be ailing your beloved pet.

As always, if your pet is experiencing any unusual symptoms, please schedule a veterinary appointment right away.

As we approach the first holiday season in this post-pandemic world, it’s important to consider the impact our holiday festivities can have on our pets. From Christmas ornaments to tinsel and mistletoe, it’s important to keep pet holiday safety in mind. There are more than a handful of holiday traditions that can accidentally harm pets during the holidays. Cats and dogs can be delightfully included in celebrations, and with these important pet holiday safety tips in mind, you’ll be prepared for a wonderful holiday season with your pets.

We hope you find these holiday pet safety tips from our team at Bayside Animal Hospital helpful as you prepare for upcoming festivities. If you ever have questions or need a trusted Galveston area veterinarian, we’re here when you need us.

Taking the best care of your dog during the course of his or her life takes planning and work, and includes preventing illness. This is a top goal of ours at Bayside Animal Hospital. We’re here to help you every step of the way and to help provide your pet with the best life possible. While some breeds live longer than others on average, the stages of every dog’s life will unfold in the same way. This guide is designed to provide your dog with preventative dog care for the absolute best in lifelong dog care.

At Bayside Animal Hospital, we have been working extra hard to make pet care easier during the pandemic, for our clients and staff. We have accomplished this while striving to book as many appointments as we can safely. We’ve also taken extra measures to ensure pets and owners are greeted with a smile, even if it’s from behind a mask.

Discover some of the additional challenges of being a local veterinary clinic or animal hospital during COVID, as well as how COVID-19 has affected veterinary medicine. We hope this will provide a better understanding of how things have changed for us during the pandemic. Our goal is to do our best to work together to protect the health of your pets, you, and our local community.