July 2026
Hello Catawba Heights Animal Hospital Family! 🐾
Summer is in full swing! With hot North Carolina temperatures, hurricane season underway, and plenty of outdoor activities, we wanted to share a few important reminders to help keep your pets safe this summer—along with some exciting updates from our hospital.
📱 HELP US STAY CONNECTED WITH YOU
Good communication is an important part of your pet’s care. We use cell phone numbers and email addresses to communicate appointment reminders, lab results, medical updates, prescription information, follow-up care, and important hospital updates.
Please make sure we have all current cell phone numbers and email addresses for your household—especially for anyone who may need to communicate with us regarding your pet’s care.
If you have changed your phone number or email address, or you are not sure we have everyone’s current information, please let our team know so we can update your account.
☎️ MEET KATE—OUR NEW AI-ASSISTED PHONE ANSWERING SERVICE!
Over the next few weeks, we will be rolling out Kate, our new AI-assisted phone answering service.
We know how important it is to be able to reach us when you need us. Our team handles a high volume of phone calls each day while also assisting clients and caring for patients. Kate will help us field incoming calls, gather basic information, and direct your call to the appropriate member of our team, allowing us to answer calls in a more timely and efficient manner.
You will still be able to speak with a member of our staff! Kate is not replacing our team. She is simply an additional tool to help us answer calls more efficiently, reduce missed calls, and make sure you are connected with the right person to assist you.
As with any new technology, there may be a few bumps in the road as we roll out the system and fine-tune Kate to best fit the needs of our hospital and our clients. Please bear with us during this transition!
We also want to hear from you. Whether your experience with Kate is positive or negative, your feedback is important to us. Please let us know about your experience so we can continue to make adjustments and improve the system.
Our goal is simple: to make it easier to reach us while maintaining the personal care and communication you expect from Catawba Heights Animal Hospital.
🌡️ BEAT THE HEAT—KNOW THE SIGNS OF HEATSTROKE
North Carolina summers can become dangerously hot and humid very quickly. Dogs do not cool themselves as efficiently as people do, and brachycephalic—or flat-faced—breeds are at especially high risk.
This includes English Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston Terriers, Boxers, Shih Tzus, and other short-nosed breeds. Because of the structure of their airways, even a short period of activity outdoors in hot, humid weather can become dangerous.
Help keep your pet safe:
• Limit outdoor activity during the hottest parts of the day.
• Exercise pets early in the morning or later in the evening.
• Always provide access to fresh water and shade.
• Never leave a pet in a parked vehicle—even for a few minutes.
• Be especially cautious with flat-faced breeds, senior pets, overweight pets, and pets with heart or respiratory disease.
• Remember that hot pavement can burn paw pads.
🚨 Signs of overheating may include excessive or frantic panting, heavy drooling, difficulty breathing, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, confusion, or collapse.
Heatstroke is a life-threatening emergency. If you are concerned that your pet may be overheating, move them to a cooler area and seek veterinary care immediately.
🌀 PREPARE YOUR PETS FOR HURRICANE SEASON
Preparing before a storm is approaching can make an emergency or evacuation much less stressful.
Your pet’s emergency kit should include:
• Several days of food and water
• Necessary medications
• A secure carrier or crate
• Leashes and harnesses
• Copies of medical and vaccination records
• Current identification tags
• A recent photo of each pet
• Bowls, litter, waste bags, and other basic supplies
Make sure your pet’s microchip information is current and that we have your correct phone numbers and email addresses on file.
If your pet takes daily or long-term medication, please do not wait until a storm is approaching to request a refill. Severe weather can affect deliveries, pharmacy availability, power, and travel.
It is also a good idea to know ahead of time where you would go if you needed to evacuate with your pets. Not all hotels and emergency shelters accept animals, so plan ahead.
If you evacuate, take your pets with you. If conditions are unsafe for you, they are unsafe for them too.
🦟 FLEAS AND TICKS DON’T TAKE THE SUMMER OFF!
Here in North Carolina, fleas and ticks can be a concern year-round.
Fleas can cause severe itching, skin infections, flea allergy dermatitis, tapeworms, and even anemia in severe infestations. Once fleas become established in your home, they can also be difficult to eliminate.
Ticks can transmit serious diseases to both pets and people. Even pets that spend most of their time indoors can still be exposed.
The best protection is consistent, year-round flea and tick prevention without gaps between doses. Missing or delaying doses can leave your pet unprotected.
Not all flea and tick products provide the same protection, and not every product is appropriate for every pet. If you are unsure whether your pet is protected or which preventive is best for their lifestyle, please ask us. We are happy to help!
🐶🐱 Thank you for trusting Catawba Heights Animal Hospital with your pets. We are always looking for ways to improve your experience while continuing to provide the personalized care you expect from our team.
Stay cool, stay prepared, and have a safe and happy July! ☀️🐾
The Team at
Catawba Heights Animal Hospital