Fredericksburg Veterinary Center Neal Eckert, DVM

07/04/2026

🇺🇸 Happy 4th of July from all of us at Fredericksburg Veterinary Center! ❤️🤍💙

We hope everyone has a fun, safe holiday with family, friends, and your four-legged family members!

As you celebrate, remember the F.I.R.E.W.O.R.K.S. safety tips below to help keep your pets safe. The Fourth of July is one of the busiest days of the year for lost pets, and a few simple precautions can make all the difference.

F – Fireworks, charcoal, and sparklers should be kept away from curious pets.
I – Information and ID tags should be up to date.
R – Reduce noise by keeping pets indoors and turning on the TV or soft music.
E – Environment should be prepared so your pet feels safe. If they’re crate trained, this is a great time to use it.
W – Walk or exercise your pet earlier in the day before festivities begin.
O – Occupy your pet with a special treat or enrichment toy, like a frozen Kong.
R – Reassure your pet by staying calm and helping them feel secure.
K – Keep your pet indoors or on a leash at all times.
S – Secure all windows, doors, and gates to help prevent escapes.

We’ve included the infographic below as a quick reference to these important reminders.

From our FVC family to yours, have a safe, fun, and Happy 4th of July! 🇺🇸🐾❤️

07/01/2026

🇺🇸 Fourth of July Holiday Reminder 🇺🇸

Our clinic will be closed on Friday, July 3, in observance of the Independence Day holiday.

If your pet experiences anxiety during fireworks, we encourage you to contact our office before the holiday to discuss anxiety medications, such as trazodone. These medications are most effective when prescribed and started before fireworks begin, so please plan ahead and request refills early if needed.

As you celebrate this weekend, please remember these important pet safety tips:
• Keep pets indoors during fireworks and other loud festivities.
• Ensure your pet is wearing a properly fitted collar with current identification tags or has a registered microchip.
• Provide a quiet, secure area where your pet can feel safe and comfortable.
• Never leave pets unattended outdoors during fireworks.

If your pet needs medication refills, prescription diets, or other supplies, please stop by before we close for the holiday.

We wish you and your pets a safe and happy Fourth of July

06/22/2026

🐾 Meet Our Newest Veterinarian, Dr. Megan Blevins! 🐾

Please join us in giving a warm Fredericksburg Veterinary Center welcome to Dr. Megan Blevins!

Dr. Blevins recently graduated from the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and brings a passion for both animals and science to our team. Throughout veterinary school, she gained experience in both small and large animal medicine, helping shape her approach to patient care and strengthening her love for the profession.

What Dr. Blevins enjoys most about being a veterinarian is building relationships with clients while helping their pets live healthier, happier lives. She loves the problem-solving aspect of medicine and finds it incredibly rewarding to be part of everything from preventive care and recovery journeys to celebrating healthy milestones with families and their pets.

As she begins her career, Dr. Blevins is especially interested in internal medicine, preventive care, and client education. She enjoys helping pet owners better understand their pets’ health so they can make informed decisions about their care. She is also excited to continue developing her surgical and diagnostic skills throughout her veterinary journey.

When she’s not at the clinic, Dr. Blevins enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, staying active, and visiting South Padre Island. She also has a pit bull mix named Gertie, who loves accompanying her on adventures whenever possible.

A message from Dr. Blevins:

“I genuinely care about every pet and family I have the privilege of working with. My goal is to provide compassionate, high-quality medicine while building trust and open communication with every client I meet. I’m excited to become part of this community, get to know our clients and patients, and support them through every stage of their pets’ lives.”

We are thrilled to have Dr. Blevins join our team and can’t wait for our clients and patients to get to know her. Be sure to say hello when you see her around the clinic! ❤️🐶🐱

06/10/2026

🚨 NEW WORLD SCREWWORM UPDATE – GILLESPIE COUNTY AREA 🚨

The Texas Animal Health Commission has established Infested Zone 03 following a confirmed New World Screwworm case in a goat near Harper. This zone includes portions of Kimble and Kerr Counties.

⚠️ Important for livestock owners, ranchers, and anyone transporting warm-blooded animals:

• Animals located within the yellow Infested Zone 03 may not be moved outside the zone without prior authorization from the Texas Animal Health Commission.

• Before leaving the infested zone, animals must be inspected, treated if necessary, and issued a permit or certificate by a Commission representative.

• Hides, carcasses, and animal parts capable of hosting New World Screwworm must also be inspected and approved before being removed from the infested zone.

🐄🐐🐎🐕 What is New World Screwworm?

New World Screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae infest living tissue, causing severe wounds and potentially life-threatening infections in livestock, wildlife, pets, and occasionally humans.

🔍 What should you watch for?

• Wounds that won’t heal
• Excessive drainage or bleeding
• Foul odor from a wound
• Visible maggots in a wound
• Irritation, pain, or animals repeatedly licking, biting, or scratching at an area

If you notice any suspicious wounds or concerns in your animals, contact your veterinarian immediately.

🗺️ Interactive TAHC Screwworm Map:
https://tahc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/nearby/index.html?appid=8455917e956b474f995cc3b94d3ef54b&sliderDistance=1

Please note: The movement restrictions described above apply only to animals located within the yellow Infested Zone (Zone 03) shown on the map. Animals located within the surrounding blue surveillance area are not currently subject to movement restrictions and may travel normally.

If you are located within the blue surveillance area, we encourage you to monitor the map regularly, inspect animals carefully for wounds, and stay informed of updates, as zone boundaries may change if additional cases are identified.

Fredericksburg Veterinary Center is monitoring this situation closely and encourages all animal owners to remain vigilant. Early detection and reporting are critical to preventing the spread of New World Screwworm and protecting the health of livestock, pets, and wildlife in our community.

If you have questions about New World Screwworm, animal movement requirements, or concerns about your animals, please contact us.

According to the Executive Director Order issued on June 3, 2026, all warm-blooded animals in this zone may not move out of the zone without prior authorization from the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC).

06/08/2026

🚨 With the recent detection of New World screwworm in a 3-week-old bovine in Zavala County, TX, USDA urges residents to contact your veterinarian right away if you see any suspicious wounds, maggots, or infestations in your animals or herd.

If you see signs of maggot infestations in live or very recently dead wild animals, especially in areas near the U.S./Mexico border, please call 866-4USDA-WS (866-487-3297) to report it to your local USDA Wildlife Services office.

For more information, visit WWW.SCREWWORM.GOV.

01/30/2026

Stonewall Volunteer Fire Department

Fredericksburg Veterinary Center Neal Eckert, DVM