We don’t like to think of it, but health problems can pop up unexpectedly. Often our pet’s health will decline as they age, yet we have not thought of them getting older and needing more care.

Difficult situations can be less difficult if you have planned ahead financially. Few of us can suddenly cough up thousands of dollars suddenly when a pet is hit by a car, tears its ACL, is attacked by another animal, obstructs its bowel after eating something he or she shouldn’t have, develops pancreatitis, diabetes or some other disease that requires extensive testing, surgery, medication, etc. Planning in advance can help keep these situations from being devastating both financially and emotionally.

One suggestion is to start a savings account for your puppy or kitten so that when they are older and need more veterinary care, there is money set aside.

Another effective and beneficial approach is to obtain pet insurance for your pet immediately. Just like with some human medical insurance plans, pre-existing conditions may be excluded, so get the insurance ASAP so that when a problem is found (and problems can be identified very early in life!), it will be covered.

There are many pet insurance companies, some better than others, so do your homework. Ask friends, or even people at the dog park, which companies they have used and are happy with. A valuable website to start with is petinsurancereview.com.

Remember: costs associated with having a pet as part of the family are more than just food and recommended vaccines! Plan for you furry bundle of joy accordingly.

Here are a few tips that can help find your pet:

  • Start your search as soon as your animal is missing. The sooner you start, the better the chances are that your pet will be found.
  • Immediately place a large piece of your clothing, bedding outside where they can smell the scent.
  • Search nearby for any areas where your pet may have become trapped- garages, basements, drainage areas, etc.
    • Search during the day AND at night as some pets, especially cats, may hide during the day
    • Bring canned food and/or treats to entice your pet to come when called
  • Spread the word! – Notify your neighbors, area veterinary clinics, pet supply stores and other area businesses that your pet is missing.
    • Use neighborhood social media pages to quickly reach a large group of people
    • Post “Lost Pet” signs around the neighborhood and in local businesses- offering a reward may increase the chance of having your pet returned, include a picture and description of your pet and your contact information
  • Call AND visit local shelters and animal control facilities every day to check for your pet. Many shelters are very busy and it may take time for them to process found pets. Visiting may increase the chance of finding your pet sooner.
  • Pets who are microchipped and/or wearing ID tags have a much greater chance of returning home.
  • If someone posts a sign that they have found your pet, be prepared to claim them by having a photo of you with your pet. Always have a current photo of your pet on your phone for this reason. We often have many photos of our pets, but few with the owner. This could be the only confirmation that you are their owner on a weekend or late at night.

Because dogs and cats can’t tell us when they’re in pain, it’s up to us to notice those subtle signs that indicate they’re not feeling quite right. It’s also our responsibility to be proactive about their wellness and take steps to keep them healthy.

Below are 10 things every pet parent should know about animal safety and protection.

1. Stay up to date with vaccines and yearly vet check-ups.
Properly caring for your pet’s health begins with yearly visits to your veterinarian. Vets can use their trained eye to examine your furry family member from ears to tail, and spot signs of trouble. These visits will also ensure your pet is up to date on their immunizations.

2. Know the signs of an allergic reaction.
Just like humans, animals of all types and sizes can suffer from allergic reactions. Signs of an allergic reaction include redness, itching, obsessive licking, swelling around the eyes or face, vomiting, and difficulty breathing. If you suspect an allergic reaction, you should bring your pet in for a vet check-up right away.

3. Keep your dog away from fatal human foods.
Many dog owners know that chocolate is bad for their pups. But did you know it can actually cause severe symptoms like seizures, abnormal heart rhythms, and even death? Salty foods, onions, grapes, raisins, nuts, and yeast dough are all among the worst foods for dogs.

4. Don’t let your cat play with string.
There are few sights more adorable than a playful kitten attacking a ball of yarn. But cats have been known to ingest yarn and string, which can result in a medical emergency. Ribbons, twine, Christmas tree tinsel, and shoelaces should all be kept out of reach as well.

5. Keep pets away from household chemicals.
Animals are often curious about all sorts of objects and substances around the house – and that can include dangerous household chemicals like detergents, bleach, fertilizers, glues and other cleaners. These substances can cause harm not only if inhaled or swallowed, but also upon contact with your pet’s skin or fur. Keep your animals away from the area you’re using the chemicals in, and store all chemicals safely out of reach when you’re finished.

6. Include your pet in your disaster preparedness plan.
When disaster strikes – whether it’s an earthquake, fire, hurricane or blizzard – you never know what could happen. It’s important to plan ahead to ensure everyone in your family will have access to food, water, shelter and medications, even if your power and water is cut. Stash several day’s worth of food, water and supplies for your pet in your emergency kit.

7. Don’t keep toxic plants around the house.
Your new houseplant may be beautiful, but did you know it could also be fatal to your dog or cat? Lilies, sago palms, tulips, pothos, aloe vera, areca palms, elephant ears, money plants and spider plants are all on the list of houseplants that can be toxic and fatal to pets.

8. Know the signs of dehydration.
Pets can become dehydrated for a number of reasons, and this is a situation where it’s important to act quickly. Signs of dehydration in dogs and cats may include loss of skin elasticity, dry mouth, sunken eyes, and exhaustion. See your vet as soon as possible if you notice these signs so they can perform a full assessment.

9. Microchip your pets.
If your furry family member gets lost, a microchip could make the difference in whether they find their way home or not. Collars and tags are not foolproof, as they can break or fall off. If your pet gets lost and ends up in a shelter, a microchip will enable someone to access your contact information and reunite you with your pup or kitty. If you move or change your phone number, be sure to update your contact information accordingly.

10. Spay and neuter your pets.
Spaying and neutering your pets is a responsible choice for many reasons, including the fact that it offers health benefits to your pet. Cats and dogs that have been neutered or spayed have a lower risk of various types of cancers, and are less prone to problematic behaviors like aggression and roaming.

Every loving pet parent wants the best for their animals, but it can be difficult to know which steps you should take your keep your pets safe and healthy. We hope these quick tips make it easier to care for your pet and keep them protected every month of the year.

In today’s economy, CityVet’s model of business stands out with practice ownership rising above the industry’s stale corporate culture and consolidation trends. Dr. Cannon’s goal is to give vets much-needed room to do what they do best: take care of pets and their people.

It All Started With a Burning Building
“The easiest way to explain how we came to be is just giving a little bit of history,” Dr. Cannon said. “When I got out of school, I knew that success for me as a practitioner would have to be where I focused on taking care of people and their pets. I couldn’t [just] do what all of us want to do as veterinarians, which is taking great care of pets – I knew the key to it was also taking great care of people, too.”

After working for a vet who was unwilling to sell his practice, Dr. Cannon aimed his sights on the Flower Mound area to launch his own operation. He met with and studied under developers to learn the building process in exchange for finding the site of his new practice.

Dr. Cannon soon had to halt development after a fellow vet joined a practice across the street from the potential site. A day later, the developmental plans fell through on his plot because of zoning concerns.

Despite the setbacks, Dr. Cannon maintained hope that his dream would one day be fulfilled. Leaning on his faith and trusting that the right moment to finally put his plan into action would arrive, Cannon turned to working as a mobile vet.

As it turned out, the right moment was even closer than he anticipated.

While waiting for new opportunities to arise, Dr. Cannon regularly attended a Bible study located off Oak Lawn and Lemmon Avenues in the urban sprawl of Dallas. Each time he commuted in for the study, he marveled at the lack of veterinarians in the downtown area. “My wife’s working at UT Southwestern around the corner too, and she realizes there’s a whole lot of people down in this urban area of Dallas,” explained Dr. Cannon. “I said, ‘That’s funny you mention that, because I’ve been going to this Bible study and the traffic is incredible, but every time I’m stuck in traffic I see people walking dogs.’”

The final push to Cannon’s dream took place when he witnessed his proverbial burning bush. On the way into Oak Lawn, traffic diverted due to an arson fire. The building had previously been occupied by a family of fortune tellers that were firebombed out by a rivalling group. But in the midst of the carnage, Dr. Cannon saw opportunity – at last, he knew it was time for his hard work and fortitude to pay off.

Contacting the landlord across the street, Cannon got the lease and made the move into the renovated building, which is now the site of the CityVet Oak Lawn Ruffit location. Finally – after a failed practice development, months of searching and networking, and more months of working as a mobile vet – Dr. Cannon had fulfilled his dream of practice ownership.

Today, Cannon attributes much of his success to his faith, his determination, and his unwillingness to give up on his vision. “I had no plans to come to downtown Dallas, but I’m so glad I did.”

Bigger Than a Vet Practice
“We were in an area that was – at that time – devoid of Petsmart or Banfield or a boarding facility,” Dr. Cannon said. “They didn’t know how to come to the city because it’s hard to park, hard to be smaller. We had figured that out.”

What started out as a vet practice began to grow into a boarding facility, and then a pet supply store. Dr. Cannon’s goal was to tailor retail offerings based the supplies that vets used on their own pets. For the Oak Lawn area, he pushed the idea that vets should be the primary resource for animal information – more so than Dr. Google or pet supply store clerks.

Dr. Cannon wanted to arm owners with the information to make good decisions for their pets without judgement or bias. At the same time, he aimed to enable vets to fulfill their goals in veterinary medicine while aiding them with business management support.

“You take care of the person, and you’re going to help them take the best care of their pet,” Dr. Cannon said. “We had people at the level of poverty and we were able to help them. Then you had the people on the other side of the street living in mansions on Turtle Creek, and we met their needs, too.”

20 Years Later, CityVet’s Future is Bright
CityVet has grown a little since its founding in 1999, now with a staff of more than 300 team members who have served more than 50,000 clients and their pets over the past 20 years. It’s performed 16,000 neuter and spay operations, given 75,000 vaccines, and has even survived a hurricane.

“We’ve become a client-centric business model with a DVM ownership equity model that’s focused on being in urban areas where the need is high,” Dr. Cannon said. “It has become an identity that not only I’m thankful for and proud of, but that every veterinarian that has joined our team can relate to.”

From its humble beginnings to today’s family of 14 clinics and four boarding facilities, CityVet has Dr. Cannon as excited as ever for the days ahead.