Big Country Veterinary Clinic

10/27/2026

🎃 Halloween Pet Safety Tips 🐾

Halloween can be a fun and exciting time, but it can also bring a few extra risks for our furry family members! Here are a few ways to help keep your pets safe this Halloween:

🐾 Keep candy out of reach. Chocolate, sugar-free candy containing xylitol, and other Halloween treats can be dangerous for pets.

🐾 Be mindful of costumes. If your pet dresses up, make sure the costume fits comfortably and doesn’t restrict movement, breathing, or vision.

🐾 Watch the door. Frequent trick-or-treaters can mean more opportunities for pets to slip outside. Keep pets in a secure room if they become stressed by the activity.

🐾 Create a quiet space. Costumes, strangers, and unfamiliar noises can be overwhelming. Give your pet a comfortable place to relax away from the festivities.

🐾 Be careful with decorations. Keep candles, glow sticks, and small decorations out of reach.

🐾 Make sure ID tags, microchip, and your veterinarian contact information are current. Even the most well-behaved pets can get spooked and run off.

From all of us at the clinic, we hope you and your pets have a fun, safe, and happy Halloween! 🧡🐶🐱

If your pet gets into Halloween candy or something potentially harmful, contact your veterinarian or the Emergency Veterinary Clinic right away. Don't wait for symptoms to appear!

10/22/2026

🐾 A Gentle Reminder From Your Veterinary Team 🐾

We often see posts on lost and found pet pages where a dog has been found in less-than-ideal condition. While we absolutely love seeing people concerned about an animal’s well-being, we also want to offer a little perspective from a veterinary standpoint.

A pet’s condition when found doesn’t always reflect the care they received at home.

A dog that has been missing for several days, or even longer, can go through some pretty drastic changes.

🐾 Weight loss: A dog without consistent access to food and water can lose weight, become dehydrated, and begin to look thin and unhealthy surprisingly quickly.

🐾 Matted fur: A well-groomed dog can develop significant tangles and matting while wandering through brush, mud, rain, and other outdoor conditions. This can happen much faster than many people realize, especially in long-haired breeds.

🐾 Overall appearance: A dog that was clean, healthy, and loved when it left home may be dirty, exhausted, injured, frightened, and nearly unrecognizable by the time someone finds it.

We frequently see comments suggesting that a dog shouldn’t be returned to its owners simply because of how it looks when found.

But sometimes, the dog you’re looking at isn’t a neglected dog. It’s a LOST dog.

A dog with a loving family who may have spent days or weeks desperately searching, worrying, and hoping their pet is still alive.

Of course, neglect is real, and legitimate concerns should never be ignored. But there is a difference between recognizing signs that warrant investigation and automatically assuming the worst about an owner we know nothing about.

Before passing judgment, remember that we may only be seeing the aftermath of an animal’s time spent lost, not the life it had before.

Let’s continue looking out for animals, helping reunite lost pets with their families, and giving people the benefit of the doubt until we know the full story.

❤️ Compassion should extend to both ends of the leash. 🐾

10/19/2026

🐾❤️ Happy Vet Tech Week! 🩺

To the incredible vet techs who give so much of themselves every day—your compassion, dedication, and love for your patients never go unnoticed. Thank you for all that you do and for the difference you make in so many lives! ❤️🐾

10/15/2026

Prosciutto a.k.a. Shooty b***y, is turning three tomorrow! He had a pawty in play care with all his friends ❤️

10/13/2026

As the weather starts to cool down, we see more people out walking with their pets. A peaceful walk with your dog can turn dangerous in seconds when an unfamiliar, off-leash dog approaches. Even the friendliest pets can react unpredictably.

Here are a few precautions that may help protect you and your pet:

🐕 Stay alert! Watch for loose dogs, open gates, and unfenced yards.

🐕 Use a secure leash. A standard 4–6 foot leash provides better control than a retractable leash.

🐕 Keep your distance. If you see a loose dog, calmly change direction or put a barrier between the dogs.

🐕 Stay calm. Avoid running, screaming, or making sudden movements that could escalate the situation.

🐕 Carry a deterrent. Consider a pet-safe citronella spray or another nonlethal deterrent.

🚨 If an attack occurs: Never put your hands between fighting dogs. Seek veterinary care immediately afterward, even if injuries appear minor. Bite wounds can cause serious damage beneath the skin.

❤️ A REMINDER TO ALL PET OWNERS:

Keeping your dog properly contained is YOUR responsibility. Your decision to let your dog roam freely could cost another family their beloved pet.

09/17/2026

Snake aversion training can be especially valuable for dogs that hike, hunt, live on acreage, or simply spend time outdoors here in West Texas.

09/02/2026

Monday, September 7, we will be closed.

08/31/2026

🐍 RATTLESNAKES ARE ON THE MOVE! 🐍

🚨 PET PARENTS — PLEASE BE ALERT! 🚨

We have already seen 8 snake bite cases TODAY at our clinic. That is a serious reminder that rattlesnakes are active and our pets are encountering them.

As temperatures and conditions change, snakes may be moving around more than usual — and curious dogs are often the first to investigate. 🐶

Please take extra precautions:
🐍 Keep dogs on leash when walking, especially in grassy or brushy areas.
🐍 Avoid tall grass, brush piles, rock piles, and areas where snakes may be hiding.
🐍 Keep your yard clear of debris and overgrown vegetation.
🐍 Don't let pets explore holes, cracks, or spaces under sheds and structures.
🐍 Be especially cautious at dawn, dusk, and during evening walks.

⚠️ If you suspect your pet has been bitten, seek veterinary care IMMEDIATELY. Do not wait to see if swelling or other symptoms develop. Snake bites can be life-threatening, and early treatment is important.

And please DO NOT attempt to suck out the venom, make a tourniquet, cut the wound, or give medications unless specifically instructed by a veterinarian.

8 bites in ONE DAY is a lot. Please keep those noses and paws safe! ❤️🐾

Share this post with your fellow pet parents — a little extra awareness could save a life. 🐍🐶🐱

08/24/2026

☀️⚠️ As if it hasn't been HOT all weekend (and the past several weeks).

08/21/2026

If your dog is constantly scratching, licking their paws, rubbing their ears, or dealing with recurring skin irritation, it may be more than a simple itch.
Our clinic is currently looking for dogs who may qualify for a clinical study evaluating a new treatment option for chronic itch and skin irritation.
Learn more about the study: clinicalstudiesforpets.com/skinzen
📞 Contact our team today to see if your dog may qualify.

Dogs with atopic dermatitis can't tell us what's wrong, but their behavior often provides important clues. If your dog is showing any of the following signs, it may be a sign of allergic skin disease: