Texas Litter Control

We get asked pretty often why we don’t run mobile clinics to reach more of the community. The short answer is simple: pet safety always comes first.

Houston doesn’t give us many truly “nice” days. Most of the year it’s hot, humid, and relentless. Parking-lot vaccines mean pets sitting in cars or standing on asphalt while temperatures climb. Heatstroke is a real risk, and so is a scared dog or cat slipping a leash and bolting into traffic. No family should have to gamble with their pet’s well-being just to afford basic care.

There’s another critical safety issue that’s easy to overlook: the vaccines themselves. Most veterinary vaccines must be stored between 35°F and 46°F (2°C–8°C) to stay effective. Even short exposure to the kind of heat we routinely see in Houston parking lots can reduce their potency—meaning your pet might not get the full protection you’re counting on. Maintaining that strict “cold chain” is nearly impossible in an outdoor mobile setting.

That’s why we’ve chosen a different path. We operate four easily accessible, fully air-conditioned clinics across the Harris and Montgomery counties. Inside those doors our vaccines stay properly refrigerated, and your pets stay cool and secure. You still get the same low-cost vaccinations, heartworm testing, annual check-ups, and preventative care—without the heat, the stress, or the risk of compromised vaccines.

According to an article from Topdogtips.com, many dogs exhibit fear or anxiety when they visit the vet. In fact, data shows that approximately 78.5% of dogs show some sort of fearful behavior when on the examination table. Dogs that were properly socialized were significantly less fearful during vet exams than dogs that were not exposed to these situations, making a visit to the vet easier for the owner, the Veterinarian and the dog.

Our Wellness Veterinarian, Kellye Thompson, explained, “Home will always be a pet’s safe place. They know all the smells and sounds associated with the place that they spend the majority of their time. We get a lot of clients that acknowledge that their pet is completely different at home than in new environments. If you socialize your pet often, you won’t have to worry about them biting in fear, running away and becoming overwhelmed due to all of the new things coming at them.”

Great ways to socialize your pet with other dogs and other people would be doggie daycare, local pet festivals, events, dog training sessions and dog parks. Try this with your pet on a leash and make note of different social behaviors and be on the lookout for growling, aggressive behavior or even the lack of wanting to share toys or to play. These are behaviors that you should take into consideration when allowing your pet to interact with others for the first time and questions that doggie daycares and boarding facilities will potentially ask you before admitting your pup.