Southlake Animal Hospital

Southlake Animal Hospital High-quality companion animal holistic medicine and surgery located in Merrillville, IN.

🍂🐶 Is Your Dog a Leaf Jumper? The first leaves hit the ground and suddenly every dog develops a very specific autumn pe...
09/18/2026

🍂🐶 Is Your Dog a Leaf Jumper?

The first leaves hit the ground and suddenly every dog develops a very specific autumn personality. 😂

🍂 The Full Sender — Sees a leaf pile. Launches immediately. Zero hesitation.

👃 The Inspector — Must sniff. Every. Single. Leaf.

😋 The Taste Tester — “Interesting…perhaps I should eat this?”

😐 The Unimpressed One — Leaves? On the ground? Groundbreaking.

Whatever your pup’s autumn personality, keep an eye on what’s hiding in those tempting piles. Sticks, sharp objects, mushrooms, mouldy leaves, and other debris can turn a fun fall adventure into an unexpected vet visit.

So go ahead and enjoy the crunch, the zoomies, and the glorious leaf-pile chaos—just give the pile a quick safety check first. 🍁🐾

✨ September is Pet Pain Awareness Month ✨ Our pets can’t tell us when something hurts—and many are surprisingly good at...
09/16/2026

✨ September is Pet Pain Awareness Month ✨

Our pets can’t tell us when something hurts—and many are surprisingly good at hiding discomfort.

🐾 Pain from arthritis, dental disease, injuries, chronic conditions, or age-related changes can sometimes show up in subtle ways. This month, pay a little extra attention to what your pet may be telling you.

💜 👀 Watch for signs like:

🐾 Slowing down or limping
🐾 Hesitating to jump or use stairs
🐾 Sleeping or hiding more than usual
🐾 Changes in appetite or behavior
🐾 Losing interest in walks, play, or favorite activities

You can also support your pet’s comfort by keeping activity gentle and appropriate, maintaining a healthy weight, providing supportive bedding and nonslip surfaces, and keeping a simple journal of changes you notice at home.

Most importantly, don’t ignore subtle changes. Because pets often hide pain, even small differences in their behavior or mobility can be worth discussing with your veterinary team.

🩺 Pain management isn’t one-size-fits-all. A veterinary exam can help identify what’s causing your pet’s discomfort and determine the best plan to support their comfort, mobility, and quality of life.

💜 Your pet’s behavior speaks volumes. If something seems different, schedule an exam with your veterinarian.

We’re proud to be locally owned and operated! 🏡🐾At Southlake Animal Hospital, being an independent veterinary practice m...
09/15/2026

We’re proud to be locally owned and operated! 🏡🐾

At Southlake Animal Hospital, being an independent veterinary practice means we can stay focused on what matters most—providing personalized, compassionate care for the pets and families in our community. ❤️🐶🐱

Thank you for choosing local and trusting our team with your pets’ care! 🐾💙

Learn more about locally owned veterinary practices:
https://www.vetlocal.us/

🏈🐾 Game Day Safety: What’s on Your Pet’s Banned List? The game is on. The snacks are out. And your pet has suddenly bec...
09/14/2026

🏈🐾 Game Day Safety: What’s on Your Pet’s Banned List?

The game is on.
The snacks are out.
And your pet has suddenly become VERY interested in football. 👀

Spoiler: it’s probably the food.

Before you share from your game-day spread, keep these common favourites away from curious paws:

❌ Wings — Cooked bones can splinter and cause choking, injuries, or intestinal blockages. Fatty sauces and seasonings can also cause problems.
❌ Onions — Onions and other members of the allium family can damage red blood cells and are toxic to dogs and cats.
❌ Alcohol — Even small amounts can be dangerous for pets. Keep drinks and alcohol-containing foods well out of reach.
❌ Corn cobs — The corn itself may seem harmless, but the cob can become a serious intestinal blockage if swallowed.

And remember: halftime is prime time for unattended plates. 😂 Keep snacks, drinks, trash, and leftovers somewhere your four-legged defensive line can’t reach.

🏈 The safest game-day treat? Stick with something made specifically for your pet.

Which snack does your pet try hardest to steal? 🐾

09/11/2026

🧠🐾 Can Pets Get Forgetful?

They walked into the room and seem to have forgotten why they’re there. Relatable, right? 😅

But as dogs and cats get older, changes that look like simple “forgetfulness” can sometimes be signs of something more. Senior pets can experience cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS)—an age-related decline in brain function sometimes compared to dementia in people.

Signs can be surprisingly subtle:
🧱 Getting stuck in corners or behind furniture
🌙 Sleeping more during the day and wandering at night
❓ Seeming confused in familiar places
🚪 Forgetting familiar routines or where to go outside
❤️ Interacting differently with family members
🐾 Pacing or wandering without an obvious purpose

It can be tempting to chalk these behaviours up to “they’re just getting old,” but changes in behaviour are worth mentioning to your veterinarian. Other medical conditions can cause similar signs, and identifying what’s happening can help us find ways to support your pet’s comfort and quality of life.

Growing older may change how our pets experience the world—but they still deserve plenty of patience, love, and support along the way. 💛

💭🐾 Do Pets Dream? The twitching paws. The tiny woofs. The whiskers moving. The sudden attempt to run a marathon…while c...
09/09/2026

💭🐾 Do Pets Dream?

The twitching paws.
The tiny woofs.
The whiskers moving.
The sudden attempt to run a marathon…while completely asleep. 😂

So, what’s actually happening?

Yes, evidence suggests that pets do dream!

Dogs and cats experience REM sleep—the stage of sleep most closely associated with vivid dreaming in humans.

During this stage, you might notice:
🐶 Paws twitching or legs “running”
🐱 Whiskers moving or little sleep chatters
👀 Eyes moving beneath closed eyelids
🐾 Tiny movements of the ears or face
💬 The occasional muffled bark, whimper, or meow

What are they dreaming about? We can’t ask them, but researchers believe animals may replay parts of their everyday experiences during sleep. Which raises a VERY important question… Is your dog dreaming about that morning walk? Is your cat finally catching the bird outside the window? Or are they both dreaming about the sound of the treat bag opening? 🤔😂

Whatever adventure they’re on, it might be best to let sleeping pets lie. ❤️💤

Who needs an air purifier when you can have a pretty plant?!
09/09/2026

Who needs an air purifier when you can have a pretty plant?!

Product spotlightBernies Charming Chompers dental chews available at the clinic
09/07/2026

Product spotlight
Bernies Charming Chompers dental chews available at the clinic

Happy Labor Day! 🇺🇸Today, we celebrate the hard work and dedication of all our amazing team members and the wonderful pe...
09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day! 🇺🇸

Today, we celebrate the hard work and dedication of all our amazing team members and the wonderful pet parents we serve. 🐾 Thank you for trusting us with the care of your furry family members!

Wishing everyone a safe and relaxing holiday! Enjoy the day off with your loved ones—both two-legged and four-legged! ❤️

09/04/2026

👀 Why Does Your Dog Stare At You?

You know the look.
You’re eating dinner.
Stare.
You’re getting ready for bed.
Stare.
You’re simply existing.
STARE. 👁️👁️
Not creepy at all. (Usually.) 😂

Dogs use eye contact as a way to communicate with us. That intense gaze might mean:
🐾 “I need something.”
❤️ “I like being close to you.”
🥓 “Are you going to finish that?”
🧠 “You seem different today.”

Dogs are incredibly observant and can learn to read our routines, body language, and even emotional cues.

Eye contact can also be an important part of the bond they share with their favorite humans.

Fun fact: Studies have found that mutual gazing between dogs and their owners can increase oxytocin—the same hormone associated with bonding between parents and babies. 🥹❤️ So sometimes that stare really does mean “I love you.”

What do you think your dog is trying to tell you? 👇

Address

3570 E Lincoln Highway
Merrillville, IN
46410

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 6pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 6pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+12199420909

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Southlake Animal Hospital posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Southlake Animal Hospital:

Shortcuts

Share

Category