Osborne Animal Clinic

What's your pet's favorite fall activity, Decatur?

🍂 Crunching through leaves like it's the most exciting thing that's ever happened
😴 Curling up for extra naps as it cools down
🪟 Staring intently out the window at the changing weather, judging it silently

Tell us in the comments!

📞 Call (256) 353-4339 or visit osborneanimalclinic.com to schedule.

🐾 Cats and dogs are generally considered 'senior' starting around age 7 — earlier for large breeds, sometimes a bit later for small breeds and cats. This is when we typically recommend twice-yearly wellness checks instead of once a year, because health changes tend to happen faster and more quietly in senior pets than younger ones.

Arthritis, kidney function changes, and thyroid issues are all things a twice-yearly exam catches earlier — often before you'd notice symptoms at home.

If your pet is in their senior years, let's talk about a care plan that fits them. Consult your vet.

🍂 Fall travel season is right around the corner, and ourboarding stays busy this time of year as families squeeze in trips before the holiday season locks up the calendar entirely. Climate-controlled , three daily walks, and a team that treats every pet like their own — it's genuine peace of mind while you're away.

If you've got a trip coming up, call ahead to reserve your pet's spot.

📞 Call (256) 353-4339 or visit osborneanimalclinic.com to schedule.

🐾 Alabama’s Beau’s Law takes effect today

If your dog spends time outside, there are some new rules you need to know.

Starting October 1, Alabama law sets standards for outdoor dog tethering, shelter, food and water. Dogs can no longer simply be tied to a tree, post or other stationary object. When tethering is used, the law requires an approved setup, including a trolley system, along with a properly fitted collar or harness and safeguards to help prevent tangling and injury.

Dogs kept outdoors must also have continuous access to appropriate shelter, food and water. Shelter must protect the dog from the elements and provide enough room to stand, turn around, lie down and stretch out. It must also be kept clean and free of waste, standing water and debris. (https://www.wtvm.com)

There are exceptions in the law, including certain situations involving hunting dogs, farm dogs and dogs being walked on a leash. Violations can result in misdemeanor charges. (https://www.wtvm.com)

The goal is simple: dogs kept outdoors still need proper care, protection and humane living conditions.

If you have questions about your pet’s health or care, Osborne Animal Clinic is here to help. We’re accepting new patients and walk-ins.

📞 256-353-4339
🌐 osborneanimalclinic.com

This post is for general educational purposes and is not legal advice.

🐾 October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month! If you've been considering adding a rescue pet to your family, this is genuinely a great time — shelters nationwide run adoption promotions throughout the month, and shelter dogs tend to be underrated: often already house-trained, past the destructive puppy phase, and grateful in a way that's hard to describe until you've lived it.

We'd love to be part of their story from day one, starting with a full wellness exam to catch anything the shelter's intake process might have missed.

Just adopted or thinking about it? 📞 Call (256) 353-4339 or visit osborneanimalclinic.com to schedule.

🎉 That's a wrap on September!

This month we covered the real reasons behind rabies vaccination requirements, the actual science of dental disease progression, grooming and combining services, and a whole lot of pet facts and community stories along the way.

Thank you for following along, commenting, and trusting us with your pets every single day.

What would you like to see us cover in October? Tell us below!

🍂 As temperatures start easing (slowly — this is still Alabama), pets tend to get a burst of extra energy and spend more time outdoors on trails and in yards. That's genuinely great for them, but it's also a good moment to double-check that vaccinations and parasite prevention are actually current before exposure to other animals and wildlife picks up.

A quick wellness visit now can catch small issues — a slightly-off gait, early dental tartar, a weight change — before they become bigger ones. Consult your vet.

🌍 Today is World Rabies Day. It's a global reminder of how far rabies vaccination has come — once a widespread and legitimate fear for pet parents, it's now almost entirely preventable through routine vaccination. In Alabama, that vaccination is required by law, not just recommended, precisely because rabies protects your pet, your family, and everyone your pet comes into contact with.

If you're not sure your pet's rabies vaccine is current, give us a call and we'll check. Consult your vet.

Moulton and Lawrence County families — we know the drive to Decatur is genuinely longer for you, and we don't take that for granted. Full-service care, from wellness exams and surgery to dentistry and boarding, is worth the trip for a lot of the families we're proud to call regulars.

If you're weighing whether we're worth the drive, we'd say yes.

📞 Call (256) 353-4339 or visit osborneanimalclinic.com to schedule.

🐾 We say it often because it's true every time: the best part of our job is watching pets grow up in this community. Puppies we saw for their first wobbly wellness exam are now confident regulars greeting us at the door, tail already wagging before the leash comes off.

What's a moment with your pet's care team that's genuinely stuck with you over the years?

📞 Call (256) 353-4339 or visit osborneanimalclinic.com to schedule.