Hickory Small Animal Hospital Independence

11/17/2025

This week we celebrate ! Behind every successful veterinary hospital, there’s a practice leader who goes above and beyond to ensure operations run smoothly and that our team members and clients feel supported. 💙 We can’t think of a better reason or season to share our gratitude for our practice manager today!

11/14/2025

Buddy is living his best life with a relaxing spa day courtesy of Dr. Scott!

11/11/2025

11/10/2025

Benji had a fabulous time soaking up the suds during his bath time! 🐾🚿

11/07/2025

Gizmo spent the day with us and melting every heart that walked by. It's safe to say that we fell for him 😉🐾🩷

11/03/2025

We're hosting a holiday food drive for families and their pets through the end of the year!
Each week, we'll deliver all donated items to local food banks and animal shelters to help those in need.
You can drop off donations at either of our hospital locations.
Please help us spread the word by sharing with your friends and family!

10/31/2025

Halloween is full of treats, but it can also be tricky for our beloved pets. Here are some helpful pet safety tips to keep in mind this spooky season: https://www.thrivepetcare.com/thrive-guide/halloween-pet-safety

10/30/2025

Skimmy's Story: Why Lumps & Bumps Matter

Skimmy came to see us for a bump that had been growing over the past few weeks. Lumps and bumps are super common in pets, but it’s important to check them out early!
To figure out what’s going on, we perform a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA), a quick poke with a tiny needle to collect cells for your vet to examine under a microscope.
Skimmy’s bump turned out to be a mast cell tumor, the most common type of skin cancer in dogs. These can range from low grade (less aggressive) to high grade (more serious and potentially spreading). Mast cells are easy to spot under the microscope thanks to their bright purple granules!
Whenever we find a mast cell tumor, we recommend removing it ASAP. After surgery, the tumor is sent to a lab to determine its grade, which helps guide future care.
💛 Skimmy was an absolute champ through it all, the bestest patient ever!

If you notice a new lump or bump on your pet, don’t wait — give us a call!

10/29/2025

Every cat owner knows that it’s actually their home, we just live in it. Post a picture of your feline landlord this National Cat Day and tag us so we can give them some extra love.

10/14/2025

It’s !
Today, we’re shining the spotlight on one of our amazing veterinary technicians, Stephanie!
She has been a vet tech for 4 years now. She loves seeing our wide variety if patients and the learning opportunities that each one provides. Her dedication, compassion, and expertise make a difference every single day. When she is not at work, she is usually on her farm or riding her endurance horses.
Join us in celebrating Stephanie and wishing her a Happy Vet Tech Week!
💙 Thank you for everything you do, Stephanie!!! We appreciate you more than words can say!

10/13/2025

This , we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our amazing veterinary technicians at Hickory Small Animal Hospital. 💚 We're grateful for all you do to nurture, support, and provide exceptional care to pets and clients.

10/10/2025

Buttercup’s Journey to Healing 🩷

Sweet Buttercup came to us after several days of not eating and being very lethargic—definitely not her usual self. After a thorough physical exam, abdominal ultrasound, and bloodwork, we diagnosed her with hepatic lipidosis, also known as fatty liver disease.

This condition is more common in cats than dogs and often occurs when a cat stops eating for several days. The body begins to break down fat for energy, but the liver becomes overwhelmed, which can lead to liver failure.

Hepatic lipidosis is often secondary to another illness, but once it develops, it must be treated aggressively. The best medicine? Food! Since cats aren’t exactly fans of being forced to eat (iykyk), Buttercup had a feeding tube placed under anesthesia. This esophagostomy tube allows us to give her nutrition and medications directly, buying us time to treat the underlying cause of her illness.
With this lifesaving support, Buttercup is already showing signs of improvement. Her feeding tube can stay in place for weeks until she’s ready to eat on her own again.

We’re so proud of her progress and grateful to be part of her recovery. Keep Buttercup in your thoughts as she continues to heal!