Owner Education
At TEXAVET, we believe that informed pet owners are the best advocates for their animals’ health. This page brings together the most important topics in preventive pet care in Houston – so you can feel confident, prepared, and empowered at every stage of your pet’s life. Explore each section below to learn more.
Pet Vaccines
Vaccines are one of the most powerful tools we have to keep your pets healthy. They work by preparing your pet’s immune system to recognize and fight specific diseases, many of which can be life-threatening or highly contagious. At TEXAVET, we offer low-cost pet vaccines in Houston following core vaccination guidelines recommended by veterinary experts, with schedules tailored to your pet’s lifestyle, age, and risk factors
Dog Vaccines
Dogs face unique health threats depending on their environment, activity level, and age. Core vaccines for dogs include Rabies, DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza), and Bordetella. Our team can help you determine which additional vaccines, such as Leptospirosis or Canine Influenza, may be right for your dog based on their specific lifestyle.
Cat Vaccines
Whether your cat ventures outdoors or stays safely inside, vaccines play a critical role in their long-term health. Core feline vaccines include Rabies and FVRCP (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia). For cats with outdoor exposure, we may also recommend the FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus) vaccine. We’re here to walk you through what your cat needs and why.
Microchipping
A microchip is a tiny, permanent form of identification – about the size of a grain of rice – implanted just beneath your pet’s skin. Unlike collars and tags that can fall off or become unreadable, a microchip stays with your pet for life. If your pet is ever lost and brought to a shelter or vet clinic in Houston, a simple scan can reunite you with your furry family member.
Key facts about microchipping:
• Quick and virtually painless, similar to a routine vaccination
• Provides permanent identification that cannot be lost or removed
• Works with a universal scanner used by shelters and vet offices nationwide
• Requires registration in a national pet microchip database to be fully effective
Parasite Control
Parasites are more than just a nuisance – they can cause serious health problems for your pets and, in some cases, your family. Texas’s warm climate makes year-round parasite prevention in Houston especially important. TEXAVET offers guidance on protecting your pet from both internal and external parasites through safe, effective prevention and treatment options.
Internal Parasites
Internal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, whipworms, and Giardia live inside your pet’s body, often without obvious symptoms. They can cause weight loss, digestive problems, and serious illness – and some can even be passed to humans. Regular fecal testing and deworming are key to keeping your pet (and your family) protected.
External Parasites
Fleas, ticks, mites, and lice are common external parasites affecting dogs and cats in the Houston area. Beyond the discomfort they cause, these parasites can transmit diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and can cause severe allergic reactions. Year-round flea and tick prevention is the most effective strategy and we’re happy to recommend the right product for your pet.
Heartworm Disease
Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition caused by parasitic worms that live in the heart, lungs, and blood vessels of infected animals. It is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito, and in Houston, where mosquitoes are active for much of the year, the risk is very real. The good news: heartworm disease is entirely preventable with monthly medication.
What every pet owner should know:
• Heartworm affects both dogs and cats, though it presents differently in each
• Dogs can harbor dozens of worms; even a small number can cause serious damage in cats
• Symptoms can be subtle at first – coughing, fatigue, and reduced activity
• Treatment in dogs is possible but costly, lengthy, and hard on your pet – heartworm prevention is far easier and more affordable
• Annual heartworm testing is recommended even for pets already on prevention
Have Questions? We're Here to Help.
Our mobile veterinary team in North Houston is proud to serve pet owners throughout Houston, Spring, Cypress, and New Caney and the surrounding communities. Whether you have a quick question or want to find a walk-in pet vaccine clinic near you, we’d love to hear from you.