A dog who suddenly limps on a back leg has very often torn the cranial cruciate ligament, the knee stabilizer that is the canine equivalent of the human ACL and one of the most common orthopedic injuries we see. It is not the only cause of a hind-leg limp, which is exactly why a sudden [...]

A veterinary practice that handles both routine wellness care and emergencies sees pets across the full span of their lives, and it becomes clear quickly that what brings a 2-year-old dog into the clinic is very different from what brings in a 12-year-old. Puppies and kittens come in for vaccines, parasite control, growth monitoring, and [...]

From Humble Beginnings to 24/7 Care: The Evolution of Mission Veterinary Clinic In June of 1998, Mission Veterinary Clinic opened its doors as a small, single-doctor practice founded by the O’Leary family. Built on a foundation of compassion, commitment, and community trust, the clinic quickly became a reliable source of care for pets and the [...]

Brushing, Wipes, and Gels: Finding the Home Dental Routine That Sticks Walking down the dental aisle of any pet store can be its own kind of overwhelming. Brushes, gels, chews, treats, water additives, and special diets all promise healthier teeth, fresher breath, and a happier pet. The truth is that consistent home care really does [...]

Fear is one of the most common reasons dogs and cats end up in emergency care. A panicked dog bolts through a door during a thunderstorm and gets hit by a car. A terrified cat hides for days, stops eating, and arrives with liver problems. A reactive dog escalates a scuffle at the park into [...]

Finding a lump on your pet is one of the most alarming moments of pet ownership. When that lump is a lymph node, major questions can arise- and for good reason. Will this go away on its own? Is it cancerous? How much should you worry? Enlarged lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy) on their own are not [...]

A new puppy or kitten arriving with a pot-bellied appearance, diarrhea, and poor energy is a scenario we know well at Mission Veterinary Clinic in Granada Hills. Intestinal parasites in young animals are extremely common and can escalate quickly when deworming has been delayed or skipped, because the parasite burden in a small body with [...]

The most dangerous pet products rarely have a warning label. A retractable leash seems like a small convenience until the thin cord wraps around a child's hand or a dog's leg at full extension. A choke chain looks like standard training equipment until a dog lunges and sustains a tracheal injury. A squeaky toy seems [...]

What Does It Mean When the Immune System Turns on Itself? It's always worrying when your dog or cat suddenly loses their energy or doesn't want to play the way they usually do. Maybe you notice their gums look unusually pale, or you spot a strange bruise while giving them a belly rub. These changes [...]

There's something wonderful about the sound of your cat padding around the apartment investigating your counters, batting around toys, and claiming sunny spots. But when you live in a smaller space, you might find yourself constantly rearranging furniture to fit that massive cat tree, or playing the daily game of "where did they hide the [...]