Alabama summers are hot and humid, which puts your pet at risk for heatstroke. Pets have inefficient cooling mechanisms that start to fail when temperatures reach the 80’s and 90’s, and pet owners must carefully monitor their pets for elevated body temperatures. All pets are at risk, but dogs are most often affected, with some [...]

Many parasites can cause problematic health issues for your pet, and some can affect you and your family. Our team at Countryside Veterinary Hospital wants to help by providing information about parasitic diseases in pets, and ways you can safeguard your four-legged friend. Roundworms in pets Roundworms are the most common parasites that affect pets, [...]

Every pet is unique—some are escape artists, while others are counter-surfers, thrill seekers, dumpster divers, or weekend warriors. Regardless of your kind of pet, their natural hyperactivity, curiosity, or gluttony can get them into a lot of trouble—which can be life-threatening. While thinking about pet emergencies is not pleasant, it’s important to know that many [...]

When you’re at home with your pet, the last thing you think about is putting them in harm’s way. Unfortunately, because many household items are toxic to pets, your dog or cat may be having close encounters with poisonous products every day. To eliminate these potentially harmful or deadly exposures, here’s an easy-to-follow guide from [...]

Watching your four-legged friend slip out your unattended front door, and dash down the street, can be one of the most heartbreaking experiences of pet ownership, especially if your furry pal has no identification. We want to share a fictional story about one such pet who bolted for unexplored territory, but—spoiler alert—was happily and safely [...]

When you were a youngster, family vacations were all about fun. Now that you’re in charge, you probably realize that “adulting” is harder than you thought, and those amazing trips you took as a kid required behind-the-scenes planning you never knew about. These days, there’s an additional factor in planning the perfect vacation—pets. According to [...]

There are endless ways to enjoy the long, hot, dog days of summer with your four-legged friends. From hiking to swimming to just lounging around, nothing compares to summer fun with your pooch. But, our pets, like people, are susceptible to heat-related afflictions—in fact, our pets are more vulnerable to the heat, so pet owners [...]

Bring on the barbecues, parades, and, of course, the fireworks. Independence Day is filled with fun, sun, and celebrations for people, but it is filled with hazards for our four-legged family members. Read on for some important Fourth of July facts and how you can minimize the risks to your pet. Fact #1: More pets [...]

Stressful situations clearly benefit from a practiced, organized plan. Hospitals practice codes for declining patients, schools practice fire drills, and families practice evacuation routes in case of a disaster. Your pet relies on you to keep her safe and secure, so be sure to include your furry companion in your emergency plan. Check off these [...]