Southern Oaks Veterinary Clinic

06/21/2026

HAPPY FATHERS DAY from your Southern Oaks Family!

06/16/2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HALLIE!!! 🎊🎊🎊

Today we’re celebrating our veterinary technician, Hallie!

Hallie is our resident cat enthusiast, and if there’s a feline patient in the building, chances are she’s already won them over. It takes a special skill set to work with cats. Reading their body language, recognizing the smallest changes in behavior, and handling them in a way that minimizes stress! This often requires patience, experience, and a deep understanding of feline medicine! Hallie has this down and we are always in awe of her in this area!

Hallie’s compassion for animals and genuine love for what she does shine through every single day! Hallie, your Southern Oaks family is SO thankful for you!

Please join us in wishing Hallie a very Happy Birthday! We hope your day is filled with all the things you love… especially plenty of cats!!! 💕

06/11/2026

🐾 Case of the Week: Skeeter’s Congenital Megaesophagus Diagnosis 🐾

Meet Skeeter, the sweetest 4 month old Golden Retriever puppy that presented to us for consistent hacking/coughing, regurgitation episodes despite being a happy and playful puppy! Diagnostic imaging revealed a diagnosis of congenital megaesophagus, a developmental disorder affecting his esophageal motility.

What is congenital megaesophagus?

The esophagus is a muscular tube responsible for transporting food and water from the mouth to the stomach through coordinated muscular contractions called peristalsis. In dogs with megaesophagus, these contractions are absent or severely impaired, resulting in dilation of the esophagus and ineffective transport of ingested material.

As food and water accumulate within the enlarged esophagus, they are often passively expelled through regurgitation rather than true vomiting!

Why does it occur?

Congenital megaesophagus is present at birth and is believed to result from abnormalities in the neuromuscular function of the esophagus. While the exact cause remains unclear in many patients, a hereditary component is suspected in several breeds!

Clinical signs may include:
• Regurgitation shortly after eating or drinking
• Failure to thrive or poor growth despite a normal appetite
• Weight loss or inability to gain weight
• Excessive salivation
• Nasal discharge or coughing
• Recurrent aspiration pneumonia

The greatest concern: Aspiration Pneumonia

One of the most serious complications of megaesophagus occurs when food, water, or saliva is inadvertently inhaled into the lungs. This can result in aspiration pneumonia, a potentially life-threatening condition requiring immediate veterinary intervention.

Management strategies

Although there is no definitive cure for most congenital cases, successful long-term management IS POSSIBLE!! Treatment focuses on utilizing gravity to assist food passage into the stomach and minimizing the risk of aspiration.

Management often includes:

✅ Feeding in an upright position (such as a Bailey chair)
✅ Maintaining an upright posture for 15–30 minutes after meals
✅ Determining the optimal food consistency for the individual patient
✅ Frequent monitoring for signs of aspiration pneumonia
✅ Regular weight and nutritional

While all cases are different, with dedicated owners like Skeeters and careful monitoring, many dogs with congenital megaesophagus can enjoy a good quality of life!!

We look forward to following Skeeter’s progress and supporting his family every step of the way. ❤️

06/08/2026

YES we are still accepting applications at this time! 🎉

🐾 We’re Growing at Southern Oaks Veterinary Clinic! 🐾

Well y’all… it’s happening again!!! Southern Oaks Veterinary Clinic is expanding our team and we’re looking for a dedicated VETERINARY TECHNICIAN to join our family!!

This isn’t just a job opening, It’s an opportunity to be part of a clinic that believes exceptional medicine and genuine hospitality go hand in hand!! As we continue to grow, we’re searching for someone who brings skill, initiative, compassion, and a true love for veterinary medicine to the table.

✨ Why Southern Oaks?

• A team that feels like family: supportive, encouraging, and hardworking

• Leadership that listens and invests in your professional growth

• A beautiful, welcoming clinic environment

• A fast-growing practice where your work truly makes a difference

• A culture built on integrity, teamwork, and excellence

If you’re ready to work alongside a team that values high standards, strong teamwork, and a little laughter along the way, we would love to hear from you.

Send your resume to [email protected] and come grow with us!

06/03/2026

Look at Dunkin, our clinic’s favorite ultrasound instructor!

Today, Dunkin helped Carrie, a second-year veterinary student, gain hands-on experience with ultrasound techniques. While Carrie focused on learning, Dunkin demonstrated his expertise in staying perfectly relaxed on the exam table… stuffed toy included!

One of the best things about veterinary medicine is that learning never stops. From students to experienced veterinarians and technicians, we’re always expanding our knowledge to provide the best care possible for our patients.

Mentorship is a big part of that journey. By sharing knowledge and creating hands-on learning opportunities, we help prepare the next generation of veterinary professionals while continuing to learn from one another every day.

Thank you, Carrie, for your dedication to learning, and thank you, Dunkin, for being such a patient teacher!

05/28/2026

Reviews like this mean the absolute WORLD to our entire team! Caring for your pets and being apart of your families is a true passion for us here at Southern Oaks! We are incredibly thankful for our AMAZING clients and your trust in us each day!

05/25/2026

Just a reminder, our office will be closed in observance of the Memorial Day holiday today! Thank you to all who have served our country, and especially to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. Freedom is never free, and we are in debt to those who have paid it all.

🇺🇸♥️💯

05/22/2026

C-section Days are the HAPPIEST days!! Happy birthday to 6 little potatos!!! 🩷🩷🩷

05/18/2026

Hey Y’ALL! It’s Meet the Team Monday!!! 🐾

Everyone say hello to Maggie!!!

Maggie will be with us for the summer here at Southern Oaks Veterinary Clinic, and we couldn’t be more thrilled She recently completed her first year of college at Auburn University and is majoring in Animal Sciences! She will be applying to veterinary school in a few short years! We love being apart of her journey to her goals!

Maggie is incredibly kind and she is also always willing to lend a helping hand wherever needed. She brings such a warm and uplifting energy to the clinic everyday! We know she has an incredibly bright future ahead as a veterinarian!

When asked what she loves most about veterinary medicine, Maggie shared: “Getting to know the different pets and clients that come into the clinic!”

When she’s not here at the clinic, Maggie enjoys hanging out with her chihuahuas Rosie and going camping!

We are so happy to have Maggie with us!! If you see her around the clinic, be sure to say hi and give her a warm Southern Oaks welcome!!

05/13/2026

Thinkin bout CHEEEEESSSEEEE!! 🤣🤣

Here At Southern Oaks, your pet’s comfort is more than just a priority, it’s an important part of the care we provide every single day.

We know the vet clinic can feel overwhelming for some pets, which is why we focus on positive reinforcement, patience, and creating a calm, welcoming environment where they can feel safe and supported. We truly believe small moments of comfort can make a big difference… and sometimes that includes CHEESE bribery 🤣🙌

When pets feel relaxed and secure, it helps build trust, reduces stress and fear, allows us to provide a better experience for both pets and their parents, and ultimately be able to administer the BEST veterinary care!