Paw in Hand Veterinary Care

09/26/2026

I took this picture a few weeks ago and have been meaning to post it ever since. Aren’t Rebzie and her sister Snickerdoodle such perfect ladies?!?

Share a photo of your dog or cat “sitting pretty!”

07/23/2026

Annie’s back was really bothering her, resulting in unwillingness to move or go up and downstairs. In addition to oral anti-inflammatory and nerve pain medications, Annie is being treated with laser therapy and is feeling much better! And doesn’t she look cute in her doggles?!

Laser therapy can be helped all adjunctive treatment for many conditions from skin problems, wounds, orthopedic pain, and even diarrhea. Our new Companion Laser offers easy to customize treatments for each individual patient.

07/10/2026

Let’s talk new world screwworm! We have received a few queries from pet owners concerned about reports of these flesh-eating maggots, which were previously confined to Central and South America but have recently been found in Texas and one case in one county in New Mexico (Lea County in the far southeastern corner of the state).

Here are some facts we hope will help:

1) Screwworms (the maggots of a specific fly) feed on living flesh and typically enter through wounds (sometimes mucous membranes). Typical hosts are livestock but dogs, cats, and humans can be affected.
2) This species was previously eradicated in the 1960s through the efforts of veterinary entomologists but has recently started creeping north. Re-eradication efforts are already underway and we expect them to be effective within months to years.
3) These maggots can be killed with standard anti-parasitic medications as long as the infestation is recognized early.

What can you do to protect your pet:

1) Keep pets indoors if they have a wound. Monitor any wounds for maggots and consult us if you are concerned.
2) Bravecto (which we recommend for flea and tick prevention) as well as several other insecticides will prevent new world screwworm infections!
3) Check your game cams if you have them to look for signs of large wounds in wildlife. State veterinary staff are monitoring for cases and suspected screwworm cases can be reported.

Let us know if you would like your pet to be on a product like Bravecto preventatively and don’t panic. Flesh eating maggots sound terrifying - and they are - but they can be treated effectively.

07/02/2026

Thursday 7/2/26 is the deadline to ensure medication refill requests are processed prior to closure on Friday afternoon. If your pet has noise phobia related to fireworks, NOW is the time to request an anxiety medication. Call or text 575-434-4343 or email [email protected] (response will be during business hours).

If your pet has been seen in the past year, they are eligible for medication requests. If we have not seen your pet or it has been over a year, unfortunately state veterinary board standards preclude us being able to supply prescription medications. 

05/09/2026

Some dogs rarely need their nails trimmed, and others need regular trims to ensure nails don’t grow out to uncomfortable lengths. When nails overgrow, it alters the weight-bearing surfaces and can cause secondary issues like hyperkeratosis of the digital pads (seen here in the second photo).

Many dogs, like the one pictured here, hate having their nails trimmed, and it can be very difficult or impossible to do at home. (Please, no shade toward the owner of this dog! She was brought in for help today and that’s what counts.) The left foot (on the right of the photo) is before trimming, and the right foot (on the left of the image) nails have been trimmed to a more comfortable and healthy length.

If your dog hates nail trims, sometimes we can do it safely and effectively at the clinic because of our expert animal handling staff and quick and efficient clipping. Other times, a dog can benefit from an oral anxiety medication prior to the nail trim to reduce their fear. In other cases, it works best to have injectable sedation on board for dogs that really truly will not tolerate having their feet touched.

Contact us for help if you are worried your dog’s nails are too long but they are “difficult” about trims!

05/06/2026

04/30/2026

We recently received word from the state public health veterinarian that a 10 month old puppy was confirmed to have rabies in eastern New Mexico this week. Uncharacteristic aggression and neurologic abnormalities were noticed after a tussle with a skunk two weeks prior.

Rabies vaccination remains incredibly important as a way to protect both our pets and the public health. Rabies is not treatable but is 100% preventable!

04/24/2026

Guess what? It’s flea season! Ewwwww. Many people are under the mistaken impression that we don’t have fleas in the desert. While it is certainly true that fleas tend to proliferate faster in humid environments, anywhere there is a host, fleas can and will reproduce!

Here at the clinic, we have seen patients infested with both “stick tight” fleas (Echidnophaga gallinacea) and jumping fleas (Ctenocephalides felis or canis). The former tend to be associated with poultry, but are happy to snack on your dog’s or cat’s blood. They are stuck to the skin, as the name implies, and are usually found in lightly haired areas, such as at the margins of the ears, around the eyes, and on the bridge of the nose. The latter are your classic jumping flea, which disappears as soon as you see it because of their powerful back legs and ability to jump several feet. These fleas can complete their entire life cycle indoors, which means that if one adult flea jumps on your pet while they are outside in the yard, pretty soon there will be flea eggs, larva, and puke throughout cracks and crevices in your house.

While some animals are allergic to fleas and have severe itching in response to flea bites, many other pets have only minor itching so it can take quite a while to realize an investigation has occurred.

At least monthly we hear from pet owners who have been battling flea problems by bathing animals, flea bombing their home, throwing out furniture, etc. We want to make sure all our clients know that it can be much simpler than this! Treating all dogs and cats in the home with a product that kills live fleas and stays active in the system for at least two months will ultimately eradicate all stages of the lifecycle.

Ask us about flea prevention options today. We have certain sizes and types on sale through May only.

03/20/2026

Our client and wonderful trainer Nathaniel of Pawsitively Transformational is offering this canine behavior discussion centered on resource guarding tomorrow morning. It is free.

1200 Indiana Ave 9:30-10:30am.

02/16/2026

We are excited to welcome several new staff members to Paw in Hand. Jennie Jennings, practice manager, comes from a long career in veterinary medicine, including experience in emergency medicine, exotic pets, and higher education. Zach Bates, veterinary assistant, recently moved to Alamogordo from a busy clinic in Texas. Ian Smith, front desk client services, brings the experience of a career in the Navy to the team. Owen Gardner, veterinary assistant, is starting his working career by exploring his interest in animals.

They join Destiny Mote, kennel assistant, Samantha Anderson, veterinary assistant, and Nadia Gallegos, front desk client services. Carina and Nyssa have recently moved on to new endeavors. Please help us welcome our new team members!