When you see your pet every day, you are less likely to notice small, gradual changes that could indicate a medical issue. Pets in the beginning stages of chronic diseases often show few or no outward signs, and you can easily consider them perfectly healthy. But, if you wait until clinical illness signs are visible, [...]
You may think that since you live in Montana you don’t have to worry about heartworms, but the disease is increasingly problematic for pets across the country and can lead to life-threatening consequences for your four-legged friend. Our Billings Animal Family Hospital team wants to protect your pet’s heart and lungs from heartworms, and we [...]
Dental disease is common in pets, affecting approximately 80% of dogs and 70% of cats by the time they are 3 years of age. The causative bacteria can result in significant health complications for your pet, and veterinary dental care is necessary to protect their health, and to help extend their life. Our Billings Animal [...]
With pets living longer than ever, they are experiencing an increased cancer risk in their golden years. Fortunately, the advancements in veterinary medicine that allow pets to live longer come with cancer diagnosis and treatment innovations. Cancer is more common in older dogs and cats, but pets of any age can develop cancer, so monitoring [...]
If you own a dachshund or other long-bodied breed, you likely are familiar with intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), which affects the spinal cord and can cause signs ranging from pain to hind-end paralysis. Read on for our Billings Animal Family Hospital team’s answers to your questions about IVDD. Question: What is the function of intervertebral [...]
Heartworm disease is a serious, progressive disease, and our team at Billings Animal Family Hospital is here with the information you need to keep your pet safe, including: How heartworms are transmitted How to protect your pet from heartworms Treatments available if your pet tests heartworm-positive This dangerous condition is life-threatening, but preventable, and you [...]
Periodontal disease can cause pain, inflammation, infection, and other serious health problems for your pet, significantly decreasing their quality of life. Providing appropriate dental care can counteract these issues, prolonging their life. Our team at Billings Animal Family Hospital wants to explain why a professional veterinary dental cleaning is so important and what is involved [...]
As a pet owner, you have some incredibly crucial decisions to make regarding your pet’s health. From vaccinations, to medication decisions, and everything in between, you are your pet’s advocate for life. Choosing to spay or neuter (i.e., gonadectomy) them is one of the most important decisions you will have to make as a pet [...]
Your pet’s kidneys remove wastes from their blood that are produced by the breakdown of food, worn-out cells, toxins, poisons, and many drugs administered to treat medical issues. Your pet’s kidneys also produce a substance that plays a role in new red blood cell creation, and help regulate your pet’s blood pressure, and calcium and [...]
Almost one in four dogs and one in five cats will develop cancer in their lifetime. Billings Animal Family Hospital has a history of treating cancer, and can provide support for you, and state-of-the-art medical care for your pet. If your pet has been diagnosed with cancer, here are our answers to some questions that [...]