Designer Mixes

How Long Must a Tick Be Attached to Transmit Lyme Disease?

If you have ever found a tick on your dog, you know that sinking feeling. I see it all the time as a veterinary assistant here in Frisco, Texas. The first question almost every pet parent asks is the same: “How long was it on my dog… and is Lyme disease now a real concern?” Timing matters a lot...

Why Is My Dog Snapping at Invisible Flies?

I have met plenty of dogs in clinics and foster homes who suddenly start snapping at the air, like they are trying to catch invisible flies. It can be funny for about two seconds and then it quickly turns into a worried feeling, because you know something is off. This behavior is often called...

Why Your Dog Can’t Poop When Fur Is Matted Around the Anus

I’ve met plenty of sweet dogs in clinic who looked “constipated” at first glance. They were squatting, straining, and clearly uncomfortable. But when we checked the back end, the problem was not inside the belly at all. It was right there at the exit. If the fur around your dog’s anus is severely...

Lymphangiectasia in Dogs

I have talked with a lot of worried pet parents who start with one scary symptom: “My dog is pooping mucus.” Sometimes that really is a one-off irritation that settles down in a day or two. But sometimes mucus is part of a much bigger intestinal problem, especially when it shows up alongside weight...

Chronic Bloody Mucus in Boxer Stool: Granulomatous Colitis

I have worked with a lot of upset tummies as a veterinary assistant here in Frisco, Texas, and most bouts of mucus in the stool are short-lived. But there is one situation that makes my ears perk up fast: a Boxer (or French Bulldog) with frequent bloody, mucous diarrhea that keeps coming back ,...

How to Keep Skunks Out of a Dog's Yard

As a veterinary assistant here in Frisco, Texas, I have heard every version of this sentence: “My dog got sprayed again. How do I keep skunks out of my yard for good?” The best long-term strategy is not chasing skunks away after they show up. It is making your yard a place they do not want to live...

Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dogs

I have had so many worried pet parents ask me, “My vet heard something with the stethoscope. Does that mean my dog has dilated cardiomyopathy?” I totally understand the anxiety. Heart words feel scary. Dilated cardiomyopathy, usually shortened to DCM , is not just “a heart murmur.” It is a heart...

Is Miralax Safe for a Constipated Dog?

I am Shari, a veterinary assistant in Frisco, Texas, and constipation is one of those issues that looks simple from the outside but can turn serious fast. One of the most common questions I hear is whether Miralax is safe for dogs. Miralax is the brand name many people recognize for polyethylene...

What Are Seed Ticks on Dogs?

If you have ever parted your dog’s fur and suddenly realized the “dirt” is moving, you know the exact kind of panic that seed ticks can trigger. I’m a veterinary assistant in Frisco, Texas, and one of the most distressing tick situations I see is not a single tick on a shoulder. It is the dog who...

How Can I Tell If My Cat’s Eardrum Has Ruptured?

I’m Shari Shidate, a veterinary assistant in Frisco, Texas, and I want to start with the most important truth: you usually cannot confirm a ruptured eardrum at home. The eardrum, also called the tympanic membrane, sits deep in the ear canal. If it is torn or open, some ear medications and cleaners...

What If a Mast Cell Tumor Was Incompletely Removed?

When I’m helping families in the exam room, one of the hardest phone calls is the one that starts with: “The tumor came back as a mast cell tumor… and the margins weren’t clean.” Even when the lump is already gone, the word incomplete can make it feel like you are right back at square one. Take a...

Retained Testicles in Dogs: Cryptorchidism Explained

I have had more than a few families come into the clinic worried because they cannot find one of their puppy’s testicles, or because their dog was “neutered” but is still acting very hormonal. If you are staring at an empty or half-empty scrotum and feeling confused, you are not alone. Retained...

Status Epilepticus in Dogs

I am Shari, a veterinary assistant in Frisco, Texas, and I want you to hear this clearly: a seizure that does not stop is not a wait-and-see situation. It is an emergency called status epilepticus , and minutes truly matter. This page focuses on a seizure that will not stop. If your dog has...

What Is a Barn Cat Program?

When I tell people I work with cats, I hear the same thing all the time: “I want to help, but I cannot take home a shy cat that hides under my bed for six months.” That is exactly why barn cat programs exist. A barn cat program, sometimes called a working cat program, places unsocialized or poorly...

Why Phosphate Enemas Are Dangerous for Dogs and Cats

As a veterinary assistant here in Frisco, Texas, I have seen a very specific kind of emergency that starts with good intentions and ends with a pet in real danger: a Fleet-type phosphate enema given at home. These products are made for people, and in dogs and cats they can trigger fast, severe...

Is Anesthesia Safe for a Dog With a Heart Murmur?

I hear this worry all the time as a veterinary assistant in Frisco, Texas: “My dog has a heart murmur. Is anesthesia even safe?” If your pup needs a dental cleaning, a spay or neuter, or another procedure, it can feel like you are choosing between their heart and everything else. Here is the good...

Sago Palm Poisoning in Dogs

I’m Shari Shidate, a veterinary assistant in Frisco, Texas, and I want to say this as clearly as I can: if you think your dog ate any part of a sago palm (or another cycad plant), treat it like an emergency. These plants can cause severe poisoning and may trigger rapid liver injury. Waiting to “see...

Marijuana Poisoning in Dogs

I have seen a lot of “my dog is acting drunk” emergencies, and marijuana exposure is high on the list, especially when edibles are in the home. If you suspect your dog got into THC, try to take a breath. Secure your dog and the product, then call your veterinarian or an emergency clinic right away....

What to Do If a Dog Eats Rat Poison

As a veterinary assistant here in Frisco, Texas, I can tell you one thing with total confidence: if you think your dog ate rat poison, don’t wait to “see what happens.” The stressful part is that some rodenticides cause problems right away, while others are sneaky and don’t show up until later. The...

Tremorgenic Mycotoxin Poisoning in Dogs

If your dog is suddenly trembling, wobbling, or even seizing after getting into compost, moldy food, or moldy walnuts, I want you to treat it like an emergency, not a “he’s cold” moment. As a veterinary assistant here in Frisco, Texas, I have seen how fast this can turn scary. I have watched dogs...