Florence Animal Hospital

10/23/2026

Meet James Thomas

James Thomas is a sweet, 10-year-old neutered male cat who unfortunately knows the staff at Florence Animal Hospital a little too well.

James has a history of bladder stones and has experienced two previous urinary blockages. Recently, his owner noticed that he was making frequent trips to the litter box, straining to urinate, and occasionally urinating outside his box. Despite all his efforts, he was producing only very small amounts of urine.

When James arrived at the hospital, we discovered that he was blocked again. Urinary obstruction is a serious, potentially life-threatening emergency in male cats. Because their urethra is so narrow, inflammation, crystals, stones, or other debris can prevent urine from leaving the bladder. Without prompt treatment, this can quickly become a critical situation.

We placed a urinary catheter to relieve James's obstruction and hospitalized him for treatment and monitoring. Unfortunately, as soon as his catheter was removed, James obstructed again.

After three urinary blockages, it was clear that James needed a more permanent solution.
Dr. Bingham performed a Perineal Urethrostomy (PU), a delicate surgical procedure that creates a wider urinary opening by bypassing the narrowest portion of the urethra. Although this surgery doesn't prevent bladder stones or other urinary tract problems, it greatly reduces the risk of another life-threatening obstruction.

We're happy to report that James did very well with his surgery! He's now recovering while we carefully monitor his surgical site and make sure he's urinating normally.

In veterinary medicine, we sometimes find ourselves celebrating things most people wouldn't give a second thought. For James Thomas, a nice, steady stream of urine is certainly one of them!

A quick reminder to cat owners: If your cat is repeatedly visiting the litter box, straining, crying, or producing only a few drops of urine, please seek veterinary attention immediately. These signs can indicate a urinary obstruction and they are sometimes mistaken for constipation. A blocked cat is a true medical emergency.
We're very proud of this sweet boy and hopeful that his days of being a "blocked cat" are finally behind him.

Get well soon, James Thomas! 🐾❤️

10/16/2026

🎖️ DISPATCHES FROM THE TRENCHES — VET TECH WEEK 🐾

🩺 THE VET TECH/ASSISTANT/NURSE?

The Veterinary technician: How much can a Doctor do without a nurse? (that is right I said NURSE) which is a legal taboo in veterinary medicine in the US, since the LEGAL rendering of the word “NURSE” seems to be reserved for people that work with only humans. How much can a Doctor do with a good nurse? Can a Doctor do without a nurse?

Of course not! Veterinary technicians are everywhere. They are the heartbeat behind every treatment plan, transforming words on a page into lifesaving care. They are beside you every step of the way, anticipating needs before they are spoken, fighting for every patient as if it were their own. They are the sunlight breaking through the clouds after a long, miserable storm, illuminating everything around them. In a profession where death, suffering, and heartbreak are daily companions, these remarkable people somehow manage to bring warmth, humor, compassion, and extraordinary skill into the darkest corners of the hospital. And when everything goes right, when a patient everyone feared was lost finally gets up and walks out the door, they shine brighter than anyone.

When the rest of the world has gone home, the Vet Tech is still there. Recovering puppies from a momma dog that needed an Emergency C-section surgery, kneeling on a cold floor in the middle of the night while treating the Hit-By-Car patient clinging to life and refusing to give up on them when every second matters. They celebrate every first breath, mourn every loss, and carry the weight of both home with them. Then, exhausted beyond words, they finally leave—too tired to even eat dinner, knowing they'll be back before the sun rises to do it all again. Not because it's easy. Not because anyone asked them to. But because that's who they are; professionals who aren’t simply assisting the doctor, but are improving the care, comfort, and emotional welfare of the patient.

Veterinary technicians give their knowledge, their strength, their compassion, and pieces of their own hearts every single day. They comfort frightened animals who cannot understand what's happening. They reassure anxious families and shed precious tears with them when it is time to say goodbye. They steady the hands of their teammates, advocate for their patients, and somehow find the courage to keep showing up, even when the emotional weight feels unbearable.

They are the quiet heroes whose fingerprints are on every life saved, every family reunited, and every miracle that walks out the hospital doors. Their work may not always be seen, but its impact is immeasurable. Veterinary medicine would not simply be different without them—it would be impossible.

⚔️ THE FRONT LINES — THE WAR AGAINST DEATH

These nurses work long hours for all types of veterinarians trying to SAVE LIVES! These are the people who fill the trenches of the veterinary hospital staff and battle LIFE and DEATH day in and day out. These are the soldiers that do battle in the war against DEATH when we are trying to save the Great Dane whose stomach has flipped and will only survive with a complicated GDV surgery that requires a team of people to ensure his survival. These are the employees that bring the critical patients in on stretchers, clip and clean the maggot infested wounds, clean the bleeding eye that is bulging from the socket, feel the broken bones crunch in their fingers as a broken limb is set back in place, Smell the rotting flesh of a soft tissue wound crawling with maggots, and clean the vomit and bloody diarrhea from the Parvo puppies that latter die in their arms.

Yes, these are my people. These are the GOOD people. These are the ones who make it possible for us to CHEAT DEATH, if only for a little while, and to give LIFE BACK.

So call them technicians if you must. I'll always think of them as nurses. Because I've seen what they do when nobody else is watching.

🎪 THE NURSES’ “CIRCUS”

For me, there is nothing in veterinary medicine that brings a bigger smile to my face than watching the organized chaos of the nurses’ “CIRCUS” in action. The barking dogs, ringing phones, emergency patients, and a dozen things happening at once. Yet somehow, amid all the confusion, these people move with the precision of a well-rehearsed orchestra. It's a remarkable thing to watch.

They may never take center stage or wear the ringmaster's hat, but without them the magic would never happen.

Bryan Bingham, DVM
Florence Animal Hospital
Florence, Alabama

🐾❤️

09/13/2026

Shadow’s Story ❤️ 🐾

Shadow came to Florence Animal Hospital for a second opinion after developing a serious complication following a leg amputation. Her surgical site had opened, become infected, and despite previous treatment and wound care, simply would not heal.

Dr. Bingham revised the surgical site and submitted a bacterial culture and sensitivity test to determine exactly what organism was causing the infection—and which antibiotics could still kill it.
The results were about as difficult as we could have received.

Shadow had heavy growth of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Even more concerning, this particular strain was resistant to almost every antibiotic tested. Only one antibiotic was capable of treating the infection systemically but this would have required aggressive dosing causing serious adverse effects, including kidney injury.

That meant our team needed another approach.

Dr. Eckl adapted a local antibiotic-delivery technique he has used in the past to treat exotic species. He formulated absorbable mineral-matrix beads impregnated with the specific antibiotic needed to treat Shadow’s infection. The beads were surgically placed directly into the infected area.
Instead of relying on high doses of medication circulating throughout Shadow’s entire body, the antibiotic-loaded beads allowed us to deliver very high concentrations of antibiotic exactly where they were needed while limiting systemic exposure and eliminating the toxic side effects of the drug.
Shadow responded beautifully.

After struggling with a chronic, resistant infection and a surgical wound that refused to heal, Shadow is finally back home with her family.

Shadow’s case is a great example of something we love about veterinary medicine. Sometimes the solution to a difficult problem comes from looking beyond the way we normally do things—taking a technique developed or commonly used in one area of veterinary medicine and adapting it to help a completely different patient.

We are very happy to see you home, Shadow. ❤️

09/11/2026

Today we remember the ones we lost and the heroes, including the search and rescue dogs. We will never forget 9/11/01.

09/01/2026

08/06/2026

Demi is recovering from surgery and feeling better.

07/08/2026

Sheldon is a 6 year old male Leopard Gecko. His owners made an appointment with Dr. Eckl concerning a decreased appetite. After taking X-rays to rule out a GI obstruction, the source of his discomfort was found to be hemipenal plugs. He came back the following day to have the plugs removed under anesthesia; he feels much better now!

Hemipenal plugs are a very common health issue in male Leopard Geckos. They are caused by a buildup of debris within the reproductive structures of the gecko. Most male geckos naturally clean their hemipenes when they shed their skin, but many experience buildup that must be removed under anesthesia.

07/01/2026

Please note, we will be CLOSED Friday, July 3rd.