Preventive Pet Health Care in Texas: Tips for Keeping Your Pet Healthy and Happy

Welcome to the Texas Coalition for Animal Protection (TCAP), where we offer a range of low-cost preventive pet health care services to help keep your pets healthy and happy. In this article, we’ll discuss the importance of preventive care and how our services can benefit your furry friends.

Why is preventive care important for pets?

Preventive care is essential for maintaining your pet’s overall health and well-being. Regular check-ups at your full service clinic, annual vaccinations, and preventative treatments can help detect and prevent health problems before they become more serious, expensive, or even life-threatening. By investing in preventive care, you can save money in the long run and ensure that your pet lives a long, healthy, and happy life.

What preventive services does TCAP offer?

At TCAP, we offer a range of low-cost preventive pet health care services to keep your pets healthy and happy. Our services include:

1. Spaying and Neutering: Spays and neuters save lives. By preventing unwanted litters, you can significantly reduce your household’s impact on pet overpopulation in DFW. Spaying female dogs and cats helps prevent uterine infections and breast cancer, which are fatal in about 50 percent of dogs and 90 percent of cats. Neutering male pets eliminates their chances of getting testicular cancer and lowers chance of prostate cancer as well.
2. Low-Cost Vaccinations: Vaccines are essential for preventing infectious diseases in pets. We offer a range of vaccines for dogs and cats, including rabies, distemper, parvo, and more.
3. Heartworm Testing and Prevention: Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition that can affect dogs and cats. We offer heartworm testing and preventative treatments to help keep your pets safe from this disease.
4. Flea and Tick Prevention: Fleas and ticks can cause a range of health problems in pets, including skin irritation, infections, and even disease transmission. We offer a range of flea and tick prevention products to keep your pets protected.
5. Fecal Testing and Deworming: Parasites such as worms can cause a range of health problems in pets, including diarrhea, weight loss, and anemia. We offer fast fecal testing and deworming treatments to detect the presence of intestinal parasites early on and help keep your pets healthy.
6. High-Quality Dental Cleanings: Dental health is essential for overall health in pets. Proper dental care can add three to five years to your pet’s life. TCAP offers high-quality dental cleanings for dogs and cats to help prevent dental disease and keep your pet’s teeth and gums healthy.

How can I keep my pet healthy and happy with preventive care?

Here are some tips to help you keep your pet healthy and happy with preventive care:

1. Schedule Regular Check-Ups: Regular check-ups can help detect and prevent health problems before they become more serious.
2. Stay Up-To-Date on Vaccinations: Vaccines can help protect your pet from infectious diseases.
3. Use Preventative Treatments: Preventative treatments such as heartworm prevention, flea and tick prevention, and deworming can help keep your pets healthy and happy.
4. Feed Your Pet a Healthy Diet: A healthy diet is essential for overall health in pets. Be sure to feed your pet a balanced and nutritious diet.
5. Provide Plenty of Exercise and Mental Stimulation: Exercise and mental stimulation are essential for your pet’s physical and mental health. Make sure your pet gets plenty of both.

At TCAP, we are committed to providing low-cost preventive pet health care services to help keep your pet’s healthy and happy. Call (940) 566-5551 today to schedule an appointment for a spay/neuter or dental cleaning or visit TCAP During TCAP’s walk-in vaccine hours for vaccines, testing, or preventative medications.

Holistic Pet Care in Texas: Natural Ways to Improve Your Pet’s Health and Well-Being

As pet owners, we want the best for our furry friends. We want them to be healthy, happy, and free from pain. Holistic pet care is an alternative approach to traditional veterinary medicine that focuses on treating the whole pet – body, mind, and spirit – using natural remedies and therapies. In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of holistic pet care in Texas and provide you with some tips for improving your pet’s health and well-being.

What is Holistic Pet Care?

Holistic pet care is an approach to animal health that looks at the entire pet, including their physical, emotional, and mental health. Rather than treating individual symptoms or illnesses, holistic pet care practitioners aim to improve the overall health and well-being of the pet by addressing the root causes of any health issues. This approach can include natural remedies such as herbs, supplements, and essential oils, as well as non-invasive therapies like acupuncture, chiropractic, and massage.

Benefits of Holistic Pet Care

Holistic pet care can provide numerous benefits for your pet. By focusing on the whole pet, rather than just treating individual symptoms or illnesses, holistic pet care can help improve your pet’s overall health and well-being. Some benefits of holistic pet care include:

Reduced risk of side effects: Holistic remedies and therapies are often gentler and have fewer side effects than traditional veterinary treatments.
Improved quality of life: By treating the whole pet, holistic pet care can help improve your pet’s energy levels, mood, and overall quality of life.
Better long-term health outcomes: Holistic pet care aims to address the root causes of any health issues, rather than just treating symptoms. This can help prevent future health problems and improve your pet’s long-term health outcomes.

Natural Ways to Improve Your Pet's Health and Well-Being

There are many natural ways to improve your pet’s health and well-being. Here are some tips for holistic pet care in Texas:

Provide a healthy diet: A healthy diet is the foundation of good health. Feed your pet a balanced diet of high-quality, whole foods, and avoid processed foods and artificial ingredients.
Use natural remedies: There are many natural remedies that can help improve your pet’s health, such as herbs, supplements, and essential oils. Consult with a holistic pet care practitioner to find the best remedies for your pet’s specific needs.
Consider non-invasive therapies: Non-invasive therapies like acupuncture, chiropractic, and massage can help improve your pet’s overall health and well-being.
Keep your pet active: Regular exercise is essential for your pet’s health. Make sure your pet gets plenty of opportunities to exercise and play.
Reduce stress: Stress can have a negative impact on your pet’s health. Use natural remedies like aromatherapy and massage to help reduce your pet’s stress levels.

Holistic pet care is an alternative approach to traditional veterinary medicine that focuses on treating the whole pet – body, mind, and spirit – using natural remedies and therapies. By focusing on the root causes of any health issues, rather than just treating individual symptoms or illnesses, holistic pet care can help improve your pet’s overall health and well-being. Consider incorporating natural remedies and therapies into your pet’s healthcare routine to help improve their quality of life.

Remember that holistic pet care involves taking a comprehensive approach to your pet’s health and well-being, considering all aspects of their life including their diet, environment, and behavior. Preventative care measures, such as regular check-ups and vaccinations, help to prevent illnesses and maintain a pet’s overall health. By focusing on prevention and promoting natural healing, holistic pet care can improve a pet’s quality of life and reduce their risk of developing chronic health conditions.

One way to take care of your pets is to make sure they are on top of their vaccinations. Take a moment to download our vaccination guide so you can stay up to date on your pet’s health care.

The Importance of Pet Dental Care in Texas: Tips for Keeping Your Pet’s Teeth Clean and Healthy

As pet owners, we all want our furry friends to live long, happy, and healthy lives. One important aspect of pet health that often gets overlooked is dental care. Just like humans, pets need regular dental cleanings and checkups to maintain healthy teeth and gums. In fact, proper dental care can add three to five years to your pet’s life.

In Texas, dental disease is one of the most common health issues in pets. It can cause bad breath, tooth loss, gum inflammation, and even lead to serious health problems such as heart disease and kidney failure. By age three, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of dental disease. Luckily, there are many things you can do at home to keep your pet’s teeth clean and healthy.

1. Brush Your Pet’s Teeth Regularly

Brushing your pet’s teeth is one of the most effective ways to prevent dental disease. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and pet-friendly toothpaste to gently scrub your pet’s teeth and gums. Start slowly and gradually increase the amount of time you spend brushing. Aim to brush your pet’s teeth at least once a week, but ideally, you should brush their teeth every day.

2. Provide Your Pet with Dental Chews and Toys

Chewing on dental chews and toys can help keep your pet’s teeth clean and healthy. Look for products that are specifically designed to remove plaque and tartar buildup. Avoid giving your pet hard treats, bones, or toys that can cause tooth fractures.

3. Feed Your Pet a Healthy Diet

A balanced and nutritious diet is essential for your pet’s overall health, including their dental health. Feed your pet high-quality food that contains essential vitamins and minerals. Avoid giving your pet sugary or starchy treats that can promote plaque buildup. Also avoid providing your pet too many soft foods or table scraps.

4. Low Cost Dental Cleanings at TCAP

In addition to these at-home dental care techniques, TCAP also offers high-quality dental cleanings for dogs and cats at our veterinary clinics for $165-$450 (price varies based on the individual needs of each patient). Our dental cleanings are performed under anesthesia and include a thorough cleaning of your pet’s teeth and gums. This service can help prevent dental disease and keep your pet’s teeth and gums healthy for years to come.

Don’t wait until your pet’s dental issues become severe. Contact us at one of our Texas locations today at (940) 566-5551 to schedule a dental cleaning for your dog or cat. With our help and your at-home dental care techniques, you can ensure your pet has a healthy and happy smile for life.

Affordable Pet Vaccinations in Texas: A Guide to Keeping Your Pet Healthy on a Budget

At TCAP, we understand the importance of keeping your furry friend healthy and happy. One of the most essential ways to ensure their wellbeing is through regular vaccinations. Vaccinating your pet not only protects them from diseases but also helps prevent the spread of diseases to other animals and even humans. Vaccinations are vital for pets of all ages, as they help build immunity against potentially life-threatening diseases. In this article, we’ll provide a guide to affordable pet vaccinations in Texas, so you can keep your pet healthy on a budget.

Why Should You Vaccinate Your Pet?

Vaccination is a preventive measure and not a cure. Administering vaccines to your pet greatly improves their immune system by stimulating it to form disease fighting cells and proteins (known as antibodies) to protect against the disease.

Which Vaccines does my Pet Need?

Some vaccines are considered core vaccines and should be administered to your pet every year, while other vaccines may or may not be necessary depending on your pet’s lifestyle. Our vaccine packages are designed to make it easy to purchase the core vaccination and wellness services your pet needs.

Dog Vaccine Guide:

Puppies (3 rounds of puppy vaccines)
6-8 Weeks: DAPPv Vaccines and General Dewormer ($15)
9-11 Weeks: DAPPv Booster, Bordetella Vaccine, and General Dewormer ($25)
12-15 Weeks: Rabies Vaccine, DAPPv Booster, Bordetella Booster, and General Dewormer ($30)

Adult Dogs (boosted annually)
6 Months of Age (or older): Rabies Vaccine, DAPPv Vaccine, and Bordetella Vaccine ($25)

Cat Vaccine Guide

Kittens (2 rounds of kitten vaccines)
9-11 Weeks: FeLV Vaccine, FHCPCh Vaccine, and General Dewormer ($25)
12-15 Weeks: Rabies Vaccine, FeLV Booster, FHCPCh Booster, and General Dewormer ($30)

Adult Cats (boosted annually)
6 Months of Age (or older): Rabies Vaccine, FeLV Vaccine, and FHCPCh Vaccine ($25)

Getting Started

As pet owners, it’s our responsibility to keep our furry friends healthy and safe. Vaccinations are one of the most critical ways to do that, but the cost of pet vaccinations can quickly add up. Luckily, TCAP makes vaccinating pets easy and affordable during our walk-in vaccine hours. During TCAP’s walk-in clinics, patients are served on a first-come first served basis.

By taking advantage of these resources and keeping up with your pet’s vaccinations, you can protect them from potentially life-threatening diseases and ensure they live long, healthy lives. With a little bit of effort and planning, you can keep your pet healthy and happy without breaking the bank.

Ways to Support TCAP

The Texas Coalition for Animal Protection is a nonprofit organization that provides compassionate solutions to pet
overpopulation and community animal welfare. TCAP accomplishes this goal by making affordable, high-quality preventative
services available to Texas pet owners.

As a nonprofit, there are several ways you can support TCAP! Whether you are able to give financially or want to share
our organization with your family and friends, every bit of support matters. Check out just a few of the ways you can join us on

our mission below!

Facebook Birthday Fundraiser

Facebook allows users to setup a birthday fundraiser to benefit a nonprofit of their choice! This is a great way to spread the word about TCAP to your friends and family while also collecting donations in our honor.

Learn More

Kroger Community Rewards

Kroger will make a donation on your behalf if you link your Kroger card to your favorite non-profit! Every time you use your Kroger plus card, Kroger will make a small donation to TCAP without affecting the price of your groceries!

Learn More

Amazon Wish List Donations

As a high-volume clinic, we go through a lot of supplies! One way to assure our clinics continue to run smoothly is by purchasing an item on our Amazon wish list. This list consists of cleaning supplies, office supplies, and other items that are necessary to our daily operations.

Shop Wish List

Follow & Share Our Organization

Keeping up with TCAP on our social medias is a great way to stay connected to what we're doing in our community. You can also share our information with your family & friends!

Direct Monetary Donations

As a nonprofit, funds raised from our supporters help us continue on our mission to end animal overpopulation and euthanasia. Donations help underwrite our low-cost spay/neuter and vaccine services, as well as fund our monthly specials. Become a TCAP Hero today!

Donate

How to Link Your Kroger Community Rewards to TCAP

The Kroger Community Rewards program is an ideal way to support your favorite non-profit or charity organization. The program allocates funds to participating organizations based on the purchases that registered members, family and friends of the organization have made at Kroger using their Kroger Plus card. Each individual should enroll their Kroger Plus Cards online at the Kroger secure website and then choose the organization they wish to support. Enroll now!

To use the Kroger Community Rewards Program:

Be sure to have your Kroger Plus card handy (you will need the number)
If you do not yet have a Kroger Plus card, they are available at the customer service desk at
any Kroger.
Click on Sign In/Register
Click on SIGN UP TODAY in the ‘New Customer?’ box (unless you have previously
registered online).
Sign up for a Kroger Rewards Account by entering zip code, clicking on favorite store,
entering your email address and creating a password, agreeing to the terms and conditions.
You will then get a message to check your email inbox and click on the link within the
body of the email to finalize card registration.
Click on My Account and use your email address and password to proceed to the next step.

Link your card with Texas Coalition for Animal Protection (TCAP) | NPO #ED360

Log into your account at krogercommunityrewards.com
Click on Edit Kroger Community Rewards information and input your Kroger Plus card
number.
Update or confirm your information.
Enter the TCAP NPO number (ED360) or name of organization, select organization from
list and click on confirm.
To verify you are enrolled correctly, you will see your organization’s name on the right side
of your information page.

Tips:

REMEMBER, purchases will not count for Texas Coalition for Animal Protection (TCAP) until after you have registered your card and linked it to “Texas Coalition for Animal Protection” (ED360)
If you use your phone number (alternate ID) at the register instead of swiping your
card, call 800-576-4377 and select option 4 to get your Kroger Plus card number.
You must swipe your registered Kroger Plus card (or use the alternate ID that is associated
with your registered Kroger Plus card) when shopping for each purchase to count.

Canine Distemper

Canine Distemper is a highly contagious and often deadly disease that affects dogs and other members of the Canidae family, such as wolves, foxes, and coyotes. This season, many local animal shelters are seeing a rise in Canine Distemper cases. Some shelters are even limiting dog intakes to prevent the spread of the disease to healthy dogs. This is a stark reminder of the importance of pre-emptive care for our furry friends.

Understanding Canine Distemper

Canine Distemper Virus (CIV) is a viral disease that targets the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems of infected animals. The virus is most commonly seen in young puppies and unvaccinated adult dogs. However, it can also affect older dogs who have not been properly vaccinated.

CIV spreads through the air and can also be transmitted through contact with bodily fluids, such as saliva, blood, and mucus. It can survive for long periods of time in the environment, making it easy for the disease to spread from one animal to another.

Symptoms of Canine Distemper

Symptoms of Canine Distemper include fever, coughing, sneezing, discharge from the eyes and nose, diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and lethargy. In severe cases, the virus can cause neurological symptoms such as tremors, seizures, and paralysis. If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, it is important to contact your veterinarian right away.

Treatment of Canine Distemper

The disease can be difficult to treat, and early intervention is key to improving the chances of recovery. Treatment may include supportive care such as fluids, nutrition, and medications to manage symptoms, as well as antiviral medications to help fight the virus. It is important to note that there is no specific cure for Canine Distemper, and treatment is focused on alleviating symptoms and preventing secondary infections.

Prevention of Canine Distemper

As with most medical concerns, prevention is the best method when dealing with Canine Distemper. One of the most effective ways to prevent the disease is by getting puppies vaccinated at an early age and keeping their vaccinations up to date with annual boosters. This helps to protect your dog from infection and prevents the spread of the disease to other dogs. It is also important to practice good hygiene by regularly cleaning your dog’s environment and avoiding contact with dogs that may be infected.

Take Action

At TCAP, we offer Canine Distemper vaccines (DAPPv) for $10 per vaccine. These vaccines are available on a walk-in basis during TCAP’s Walk-in Vaccine Hours. Protecting your pet from Canine Distemper is important for their health and well-being, and getting vaccinated is the first step in preventing the disease.

Canine Distemper is a serious and potentially deadly disease, but it can be prevented through early vaccination and good hygiene practices. If you suspect that your dog may have Canine Distemper, it is important to contact your veterinarian right away to begin treatment. Remember, prevention is the best method when it comes to protecting your furry friend’s health.

We hope to serve you and your pet soon!

Why You Should Spay & Neuter Your Pets

There are few joys quite like pet ownership. Our pets make amazing companions, so much so that they are best described as family members. We often refer to our pets as “fur babies” and with how cute they are and how much they rely on us for food, shelter, attention, and medical care it is hard to see why not. Prominent among these responsibilities as a pet owner is to spay and neuter your pet, but why is that the case?

Health Benefits of Spay and Neuter

Spaying and neutering your pets is an essential step in promoting their health and well-being. By preventing unwanted litters, spaying and neutering can have a significant impact on the pet overpopulation problem. At TCAP, we believe that prevention is the key to ensuring that pets stay healthy and happy for a lifetime.

Female pets that are spayed have a reduced risk of developing fatal uterine infections and breast cancer, which can be fatal in a significant number of cases. Additionally, if you spay your pet before her first heat cycle, the likelihood of these diseases decreases further. Neutering male pets eliminates their chances of developing testicular cancer and lowers the risk of prostate cancer. Our experienced veterinary team at TCAP can provide spays and neuters for pets as young as 10 weeks old and weighing at least 2 lbs.

Social Benefits

Amazingly, kittens and puppies are able to reproduce as soon as they reach their first heat cycle. This often occurs as early as 4 months of age for kittens and at around 6 months of age for puppies. Beating this first heat cycle is crucial to ensuring there is no chance that your pet will contribute to the homeless pet problem. There is already a major shortage of loving homes for pets staying in our animal shelters and there are only so many friends and relatives that can be cajoled into taking unexpected litter mates into their homes.

It’s not just females we need to care about – it takes two to tango! Removing a dog or cats testes reduces the breeding instinct, making them less inclined to roam and more content to stay at home.

It is also important to note that pets have no qualms about reproducing with members of their own litter. If you are raising an unaltered litter of puppies or kittens, you will quickly have another pregnant pet on your hands if you do not intervene. A single litter of puppies or kittens can easily become several litters if action is not taken to stop the reproductive cycle

The Solution

Our team at TCAP strives to make essential pet care affordable and accessible to clients that may not be able to afford the same care at a traditional full service vet. On average, TCAP’s prices are 70% less than what a full service hospital charges. Spays and neuters range in cost from $35-$65 and are often discounted with TCAP’s monthly specials. Visit our online booking page to get started with booking your pet’s appointment.

Cost of Spaying or Neutering My Cat

TCAP is a 501C3 nonprofit with the mission to end euthanasia by making high quality spays and neuters accessible to clients that may not be able to afford these same procedures at a full service veterinary office. Owners that do not sterilize their pets often quote cost as the leading factor preventing them from getting these procedures done. However, TCAP has taken many steps to remove cost as a barrier for our clients so that all of our patients can have access to the necessary preventative care that we provide.

What is the TCAP Difference?

The average cost at a full service facility for a cat spay/ neuter ranges from $300-$500 depending on a variety of factors (patient sex, age, pre-existing health conditions, individual hospital pricing models, etc).

At TCAP, our team of licensed veterinarians are able to provide the same procedures for only $35 for males and $45 for females. We are able to offer this cost due to a combination of our non-profit status and underwriting from our wellness program and donations from pet lovers like you. Occasionally, TCAP will even be able to discount our already low prices during our monthly specials.

Take Action

Spaying or neutering your cat not only helps prevent unwanted litters of kittens, but it can also have health benefits for your feline friend. In addition to reducing the risk of certain cancers, spaying female cats can prevent potentially fatal uterine infections, while neutering male cats can prevent testicular cancer and reduce the risk of prostate problems. It’s important to remember that the cost of spaying or neutering your cat is a small price to pay compared to the cost of caring for a litter of kittens or treating a serious medical condition. By taking this preventative step, you can give your cat a happier, healthier life while also doing your part to reduce pet overpopulation.

Would you like to learn more about perusing a spay or neuter procedure for your feline friend? Visit our Cat Spay and Neuter page.

Would you like to support TCAP to help us continue to make spays and neuters for cats as affordable as possible? Please consider donating today.

Sign up for TCAP’s Monthly Newsletter to learn about upcoming monthly spay/neuter specials.

Canine Flu

We don’t hear about it often, but our dogs can get the flu too. Luckily, we cannot catch the flu from them or vise-versa. Canine flu is quite as unpleasant for our canine friends as it is for us and, at the moment, cases are increasing across the DFW area.

Canine Flu on the Rise

Canine Flu is a highly contagious disease between dogs that is spread via respiratory droplets (usually by sneezing, licking, or sniffing dogs or other objects). Because of increased exposure to other pets at boarding facilities and groomers during the holidays, it is easy to see how this disease can quickly spread.

Across North Texas, many pet shelters and clinics have reported outbreaks of dog flu in their facilities, some of which briefly suspended adoptions earlier this fall. It is a common misconception that Canine Flu is a seasonal virus. However, the Canine Flu is not seasonal. Infections can occur any time during the year, but we do tend to see more dogs congregating in places like doggy daycare centers or boarding facilities during the holidays, so cases rise around this time of year.

Symptoms and Treatment

Dogs that catch the flu appear lethargic and uninterested in socialization. Other symptoms include coughing, sneezing, and achiness.

Symptoms can last between 1-3 weeks, but it usually takes 7-10 days for the illness to run its course. It takes about 2 days for symptoms to develop in dogs, and owners may not know their dog is contagious until it’s too late.

Since there is no cure for the canine flu, full service veterinarians are likely to treat symptoms by recommending antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medications or increasing fluid intake. But ultimately, the best treatment is prevention.

How to Protect your Pet

The best way to protect your dog from the flu is by getting the Canine Flu vaccine, which is an initial two-shot series that requires an annual booster. The Canine Flu vaccine is hard to find this season as there is a shortage in the vaccine supply, however, TCAP has a full stock of Canine Flu vaccines and a caring team of veterinary professionals ready to help you protect your pet this holiday season.

Canine Flu vaccines are $20 per vaccine and are available on a walk-in basis during TCAP’s walk-in vaccine events!

We hope to serve you and your pet soon!