Welcome Dr. Maggie Placer
We'd like to welcome to our practice Lafayette native, Dr. Maggie Placer! While attending St. Thomas More Catholic High School she worked with a local veterinarian where she acquired her passion for helping people and their pets.

As an undergraduate, Dr Placer attended Louisiana State University and then went on to earn her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Purdue University in 2014.

She is currently pursuing board certification in Feline Practice, however, she enjoys working with dogs too!

Dr. Placer is a published author and hopes to further contribute to veterinary research. She's a sports enthusiast who loves all things south Louisiana. She completed the 2012 Chicago marathon and is looking forward to her next race. She shares her home with her cat, Jimmay Graham, and is so happy to be back home in Acadiana!
Our February Employee of the Month was Lily of our Pet Care Specialist team. She's a fantastic trainer who helps many pets and their owners and is loved by all of our Doggie Daycare pups. Congratulations, Lily, we're so lucky to have you!!!
Don't miss out on this year's Family Adventure Day to support the Healing House; Hope for Grieving Children. Share a fun day together with your family visiting Acadiana hotspots on March 15 -16. To register click here !
Heartworms Aren't Just a Dog Problem

Heartworm is a parasite infection that occurs when a mosquito carrying microscopic heartworm larvae bites your cat or dog. The larvae enter through the bite wound and then into blood vessels where they are carried to arteries in the lungs causing inflammation. As adult worms die, the inflammation can be severe enough to cause death. Symptoms of heartworms in cats and dogs include coughing, difficulty breathing, lethargy, decreased appetite, vomiting, blindness, and sudden collapse.

It’s important to know that wherever dogs are considered to be at risk for heartworms, cats are at risk as well. This is why it is so important for cats to receive heartworm prevention year-round as well. We recommend prevention with a product called Revolution. It’s a topical application that also prevents fleas and some prevalent intestinal parasites. It’s easy to apply and very affordable from our front desk or our online pharmacy. Download our app to receive reminders to apply Revolution to your cat every 30 days.
Don't forget your pet's flea and heartworm prevention!
Hairballs Are NOT Normal

We’ll say it again: Hairballs are not normal! In general, cats are excellent at grooming themselves. The normal result is that hair passes through into the feces. However, when hair builds up and doesn’t pass through it will remain in the digestive tract causing issues.

Potential Causes of Hairballs are:
·          Excessive grooming (due to anxiety, skin disease or discomfort, parasites)
·          An abdominal blockage contributing to the hair build up in the digestive tract.
·          Poor diet or insufficient exercise

If your cat frequently vomits hairballs (more than once in a month), please know there is an underlying problem and your cat needs medical attention from our veterinarians. In general, brushing and feeding a premium diet is our top recommendation and may also help to reduce the risk of hairballs in otherwise healthy cats. 
Understanding what potential harmful poisons exist in your home and yard is the first step to keeping your pet safe. Some of them are very obvious and others might be new to you.
Based on the Pet Poison Helpline call volume and extensive database, here are the top 10 most common toxins that Pet Poison Helpline gets called about.

Dog Poisons:
  1. Chocolate
  2. Mouse and Rat Poisons (rodenticides)
  3. Vitamins and Minerals (e.g., Vitamin D3, iron, etc.)
  4. NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.)
  5. Cardiac Medications (e.g., calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers, etc.)
  6. Cold and Allergy Medications (e.g., pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, etc.)
  7. Antidepressants (e.g., selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)
  8. Xylitol (common in toothpaste and chewing gum – read your labels to ensure your pet is safe!)
  9. Acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol)
  10. Caffeine Pills

Cat Poisons:
  1. Topical spot-on insecticides
  2. Household Cleaners
  3. Antidepressants
  4. Lilies
  5. Insoluble Oxalate Plants (e.g., Dieffenbachia, Philodendron, etc.)
  6. Human and Veterinary NSAIDs
  7. Cold and Flu Medication (e.g., Tylenol)
  8. Glow Sticks
  9. ADD/ADHD Medications/Amphetamines
  10. Mouse and Rat Poison

In addition to the above list, a recent survey on common pet insurance claims proved walnut poisoning to be the most common among the top 10 claims submitted. Certain types of nuts can cause poisoning, an upset stomach, or an obstruction in a dog’s gastrointestinal tract which can lead to life-saving surgery and unexpected veterinary expenses. Bottom line, don’t feed nuts to dogs. However, peanut butter that does not contain xylitol is safe as an occasional treat. 

Pet owners should take special care to keep these toxins out of their pet’s reach. If you suspect that your pet has ingested any of these items or any other questionable substance, call us for assistance. Accurate and timely identification of the suspected substance is very important. Having the container, package, or label in hand will save valuable time and may save the life of your pet.
L afayette Veterinary Care Center
337-984-7611
info@LafayetteVets.com