Dr. Rannals established this hospital in 1979, after graduating with his degree as Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) from Texas A&M University in 1977 and practicing in Tyler for 2 years.
Cassie is our “right hand man,” handling most of our lab work, keeping the surgery maintained, and overseeing the ward. She has varied interests, including reading, hiking, running, fishing, and photography.
Office Manager
Sammi was raised in Tyler, and is (obviously) married to Dr. Rannals for over 40 years now. A mom and grandmom, she has devoted her life and passion to God and her family. When not spending time serving the family, she enjoys swimming, landscaping and any kind of yard work that involves exercise.
June 14, 2022
You’ve been working in the yard outside. Your dog, Fido, has been out with you in the 95 degree heat, frolicking in the yard. Suddenly you notice he’s weak, panting at a very rapid rate, and can hardly walk. Heat stroke in dogs is a life threatening emergency that must be treated quickly to save […]
April 13, 2021
Contrary to common belief, corn is a quality ingredient in pet food that contains several essential nutrients. Myth or Fact? Corn is a poor ingredient in pet foods and is a “filler” that causes allergies. It’s a myth. You may hear that a plant-based ingredient such as corn is a “filler” that shouldn’t be […]
January 28, 2021
It’s American Heart Month! And that includes your furry pet. If you suspect your pet has heart disease, your veterinarian can help diagnose what kind and suggest the proper treatment. (Copied with permission from TVMF Paws Post) If you or your veterinarian suspect heart disease in your four-legged companion, it is important to know what […]
December 23, 2020
Weight-Loss Diet Plans for Pets At least 25 percent of dogs and cats in the U.S. are considered overweight or obese,1,2 making obesity the most common form of malnutrition in American pets. Obesity can contribute to multiple adverse health effects in pets, including diabetes, skin conditions, respiratoryt problems and orthopedic problems issues. Weight loss is […]
November 2, 2020
Thanksgiving Tips When we’re sharing a meal with friends and family, sometimes we are tempted to include the pet in on the deliciousness. However, this can often do more harm than good. In order to prevent visitors from inadvertently making your pet sick, pet owners should be vigilant in informing guests what’s okay and what’s not okay to […]
September 23, 2020
It’s fall. Do you know where your cat is? We ask because this is the season that we start seeing more and more feline trauma cases here at the Rannals Small Animal Hospital. If your cat is like mine, it loves warm summer weather. It’s great for lazing around the house or back yard. But […]
June 29, 2020
Hookworms in Dogs and Cats Are Hookworms in Dogs and Cats a Big Deal? Hookworms in dogs and cats can be a nuisance that’s easily fixed, but can also become a life threatening, even fatal problem. It is a fairly common intestinal parasite that is so small, pet owners will never see them. In […]
April 7, 2020
Can My Pet Get COVID-19? “Dr. Rannals, can my pet get COVID-19, that new virus? My daughter was worried her dog was going to make her sick.” New Questions: emerging answers We’ve had a few questions about whether pets can get or spread the new Coronavirus, called COVID-19. The following are current key points regarding […]
March 4, 2020
Toxic Foods for Cats and Dogs Although a food may be safe and even healthy for you, the same is not always true for your pets and may even be toxic to them. Many foods we eat daily pose the risk for serious illness and even death in dogs and cats. Some foods we enjoy […]
December 4, 2019
Holiday Pet Safety: Health Hazards With the arrival of the winter months and holiday season, there are some health hazards that are of concern for pets, some of which are potentially fatal. To keep the holiday season safe, protect animals from contact with or ingestion of the following holiday health hazards: Chocolate and Xylitol Chocolate […]
October 22, 2019
Demodectic Mange in Dogs One of the more common skin diseases we see here at the clinic is demodectic mange in dogs. Unlike what my dear old dad told me when I was a kid, it is NOT caused by eating too much starch. And unlike what many clients used to tell me when our […]
October 8, 2019
Heartworm treatment in dogs has come a long way in the past decade. So your dog has tested positive for heartworms. What next? We’ve learned much about treating dogs successfully for heartworms. But not everything you read online can be relied upon. Every dog in the 48 states should be tested yearly for heartworms. It […]
August 6, 2019
There are many dog food myths, some of which are about raw food diets. It’s a myth: Many pet owners think feeding their dogs and cats foods that mimic the raw diet of wild animals is the right thing to do. Nothing could be further than the truth. The facts: Raw diets may contain bacteria. […]
June 24, 2019
ACL injuries in Dogs “Dr. Rannals, Fido has been limping on his back leg for over two weeks now. It happened all at once. We thought it was going to get better on it’s own, but it hasn’t.” This is a typical scenario for ACL injuries in dogs. We frequently hear words very similar […]
May 15, 2019
Dog Food Myths The pet food industry is worth big bucks these days. Everyone is reaching for their angle to sell dog and cat food. Let’s look at a couple of dog food myths that are currently taken as “gospel”. Grain Free Diets are Healthier That’s really not right. Contrary to what is going around […]
April 10, 2019
Heartworm update in Dogs and Cats We’ve known about heartworms in dogs for years, how pervasive the incidence is, especially in the South, and how deadly it is if left untreated. Today, there are numerous, very effective products used in dogs that will prevent heartworm infection. Dog owners have more choices than ever before to […]
March 6, 2019
“Dr. Rannals, I used a flea topical a couple of months ago, but my dog’s fleas are just as bad. This stuff doesn’t work.” Here in East Texas and all of the South, breaking the flea life cycle isn’t like cooking popcorn in a microwave. It’s a process that takes some time and diligence The […]
January 30, 2019
Dogs in Cold Weather Thank goodness that in East Texas we don’t experience sub zero temperatures in the winter. Still, we need to take precautions for our dogs in cold weather. If your dog is a Siberian husky or other breed built for northern climates, he may love winter days in the 20’s and 30’s. […]
December 18, 2018
A New Pup for Christmas? There’s nothing more heartwarming than to see the excitement, smiles, and even tears when the family first lays eyes on the new pup that Santa brought them for Christmas. That cute bundle of fuzzy joy will bring years of joy for you and your family. But… they aren’t just stuffed […]
November 8, 2018
Home dental care in dogs “Fido, it’s time for bed. Now go to the bathroom and brush your teeth.” Wouldn’t it be nice if that was all we had to say about home dental care in dogs? But unless you have the smartest dog in the universe (and we know you have), chances are that […]
October 3, 2018
“Dr. Rannals, my dog came up today with a fat, swollen ear. It happened all of a sudden.” Ear hematomas in dogs are somewhat common. We see them several times yearly here at the Rannals Small Animal Hospital. Fortunately, they can be repaired. What Happens An aural hematoma is a condition where a small blood […]
August 23, 2018
There are a handful of viral infections in cats that are particularly dangerous because they usually cause near 100% mortality. Most of these viral infections can be prevented simply by keeping your pet indoors. In fact, indoor cats have nearly twice the life expectancy of outdoor cats. In part, that is because they are not […]
July 24, 2018
You’ve got that lazy house cat that has gained more and more weight over the years. She’s the perfect lap cat. But lately, you’ve noticed she’s started losing weight. And you cannot keep her water bowl filled. And that litter box! It’s always soaked! Diabetes in cats is an all too common problem now, especially […]
July 11, 2018
Snake Bites in Dogs and Cats So you come home from work to find your dog’s face is swollen twice it’s size and he’s been in your back yard all afternoon. Bad news..,. It means you’ve got a snake in your yard. More bad news… your dog found it and got bit. Snake bites in […]
July 11, 2018
So, your dog seems to be slowing down as he gets older. Aging in dogs is a big topic in veterinary medicine today because dogs are living longer than in years past. In fact, average life expectancy in dogs is almost double what it was decades ago. Thanks to better wellness care, vaccinations, heartworm preventions, […]
May 9, 2018
Snake Bites in Dogs and Cats So you come home from work to find your dog’s face is swollen twice it’s size and he’s been in your back yard all afternoon. Bad news..,. It means you’ve got a snake in your yard. More bad news… your dog found it and got bit. Snake bites in […]
April 25, 2018
Believe it or now, dogs can get urinary bladder stones. In fact, it’s fairly common. Owners often bring their pet in for frequent urination, accidents in the house, or they are seeing obvious blood in the urine. While these symptoms often just indicate an inflamed or infected urinary bladder, they can also be signs of […]
March 21, 2018
Since the appearance of parvo virus disease in 1980, many questions have risen in the minds of concerned pet owners. Let’s attempt to answer some of these questions. Canine Viral Enteritis is the actual medical description of the disease we call “parvo”. It is caused by a virus of the parvo family which is closely […]
February 28, 2018
Just like athletes can injure their knees and tear their ACL’s requiring surgery, so can your canine family member tear their ACL’s in their knees. In fact, ACL injuries in dogs is one of the more common musculoskeletal injuries we see in vet medicine. ACL stands for Anterior Cruciate Ligament. (A newer term is actually […]
January 24, 2018
Common Eye Problems in Dogs When it comes to eye problems in your dog, we don’t like to mess around. Extra eyes don’t exactly grow on trees. So when your pet is having eye discharge or apparent pain in the eye, at the Rannals Small Animal Hospital in Whitehouse, we take it seriously. Three of […]
December 13, 2017
Texas officials have issued a health alert warning regarding an increase in flea-borne typhus across the state of Texas. While flea-borne typhus has primarily been seen in the South Texas, Gulf Coast areas, this year there has been an increase in Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston areas. There are 400 cases expected to have occurred in […]
October 11, 2017
Here in Whitehouse and all of East Texas, ticks on dogs and cats can be a problem for pet owners. While ticks are not nearly as common as fleas around here, they are a health threat to your pet. Unlike fleas, ticks actually attach themselves to your pet with their mouthparts and hang on by […]
September 27, 2017
“Dr. Rannals, I think my pet’s joints hurt. He can’t jump up on the bed like he used to, and he struggles getting up after his nap.” Arthritis in pets is being seen more and more as we see our pets living longer thanks to good care. We see arthritis (or more accurately, osteoarthritis) in […]
August 3, 2017
New Outbreak Canine Influenza Outbreak The summer of 2017 has seen a canine influenza outbreak in parts of the South, including Texas. Canine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by 2 known strains of an actual influenza virus that is specific to dogs. Dog flu was first reported in 2003 in an outbreak […]
July 20, 2017
“Dr. Rannals, I used a flea topical a couple of months ago, but my dog’s fleas are just as bad. This stuff doesn’t work.” Here in East Texas and all of the South, breaking the flea life cycle isn’t like cooking popcorn in a microwave. It’s a process that takes some time and diligence The […]
June 21, 2017
Believe it or not, dogs can actually get the flu. Yes, canine influenza is a thing. And it has been showing up in the South the past few weeks including several cases in Texas. Just like in people it can be very contagious. What it is Canine influenza is a flu style virus that infects […]
May 1, 2017
Dog allergies are extremely common, especially in East Texas. They can be allergic to the same type things as humans. But rather than showing the common respiratory symptoms that people have, like sneezing, sinus problems and eyes watering, dogs show allergy symptoms in their skin. They itch and scratch and chew. Hair may come out […]
February 24, 2017
Urinary disease in cats is very common. It is sometimes called Feline Urological Syndrome (F.U.S.). It is primarily a disease of the urinary system, the urinary bladder in particular. Cats of all ages and both sexes may be affected. It is especially dangerous in the male cat. Symptoms of F.U.S. include frequent trips to the litter […]
January 18, 2017
So far, winter in East Texas in 2017 has been very odd. Low 20’s one night, almost 80 a couple of days later. As a result, we’re still having fleas even in the winter. This isn’t a cool exciting post, but please remember to continue using our flea prevention products on your pets even this […]
December 5, 2016
Trimming Your Dog’s Toenails People often come to us at the Rannals Small Animal Hospital simply to have us trim their dog’s toenails. Often it’s because the pet just will not let them do it at home. But often it’s because they do not know how to do it or they have made the nails […]
September 2, 2016
Oh how things have changed since the 70’s! Telephones in our pockets (and on our wrists). Televisions that hang on our walls. And there have been many advances in veterinary medicine. Vet medicine has changed so much since we opened the Rannals Small Animal Hospital 37 years ago. We now have these things called computers […]
August 20, 2016
“Dr. Rannals, Fido just won’t stop this awful scratching! He’s even keeping us awake at night chewing and scratching all over. Can anything be done to help?” You would not believe how often we hear that complaint. There are several diseases that can cause scratching in dogs and cats (sarcoptic mange, ringworm fungus, and fleas […]
July 22, 2016
Back when I was a kid, our choices for my Lady girl’s supper was Gravy Train, StrongHeart canned food, or table scraps (of which she got plenty). Fortunately, dietary research for dogs and cats has come such a long way in the last 20 years. So much has been learned regarding what dogs and cats […]
June 9, 2016
Prevention through Diagnostic Lab Work in Pets “Dr. Rannals, Fido has been losing weight the past few months. Up until this, he’s been doing well. That’s why we haven’t been to see you in 3 years.” Just as in people, so many diseases in pets can be prevented or intercepted before they become life threatening. […]
May 11, 2016
Tick borne diseases in dogs in Texas is very prevalent. Be sure to be on the lookout this spring and summer for the occasional tick that may find your dog or cat. Ticks can be just a nuisance, but can also cause serious, life threatening disease. Heavy infestations can cause blood loss anemia, which can […]
April 4, 2016
As spring comes along each year, we see a rash of cat fight abscesses. When a client brings their family cat to me, I usually hear something like: “Dr. Rannals, my cat got into a fight last week, now he won’t eat and he has a swelling near his tail.” Intact male “Tom” cats (sometimes […]
February 26, 2016
“Dr. Rannals, my dog has been going to the bathroom every few minutes and this morning she urinated on the floor and it had blood in it. Does she have bladder problems?” Animals can often get the same conditions as humans. And just as humans are susceptible to urinary infections and stones, so are your […]
January 29, 2016
It’s always sad when we see pets come in with diseases that are easily prevented by proper wellness programs. Veterinary medical advances in recent years have made it possible for your beloved dogs and cats to live much longer and healthier lives. Vaccines in dogs and cats have contributed in large part for the […]
January 7, 2016
Hip Dysplasia in Dogs “Dr. Rannals, Rover has been having all kinds of trouble getting up in the morning. He doesn’t seem to get into the back of the pickup or up the steps of the front porch as easily as he used to. It takes him forever to get up, but once he does, […]
October 9, 2015
Your Puppy’s teeth, just like children’s, will come out over a period of time, roughly 6 months for our furry little friends. So even though your puppy is going to lose those tiny “weapons” there is no better time than the present to train him for his future dental care. Teaching him early to let […]
August 30, 2015
Perhaps the most nagging, aggravating digestive disorder we see in dogs and cats here in Whitehouse and East Texas is a problem called pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is an inflammatory condition of a special organ that is located next to the small intestine. Along with producing insulin, the pancreas creates and secretes digestive enzymes that aid in […]
July 31, 2015
Your favorite dog in the whole world is getting older. As he does, the aging process starts to “catch up” to his internal organs. They often just don’t work as well as they once did. One vital organ that can be especially affected is the heart. Indeed, heart disease in older dogs is very common, […]
July 18, 2015
Spaying your dog or cat is still by far the best way to prevent the frustrations and inconvenience of unwanted heat cycles, and help control the explosion of stray or unwanted pets. At the Rannals Small Animal Hospital, we like to wait to spay or neuter your pet until they are six months old. Contrary […]
July 11, 2015
There are five common intestinal parasites in dogs and cats. These include hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, whipworms and coccidia. Only two of these, rounds and tapes, may be visible. Although these five parasites are ubiquitous in all the United States, we who live in East Texas are “blessed” with higher numbers of these worms than other […]
June 20, 2015
Recent studies have shed new light on the question of whether or not cats can get heartworms. In the past , we have said that cats rarely contract this mosquito-borne parasite. We now know that it is more common than previously thought. Incidence of heartworms in cats is as high as 8% in Texas. Heartworm […]
June 3, 2015
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection is one of the leading causes of death in pet cats and kittens. Within the past 20 years veterinary researchers have discovered that this virus is associated with numerous diseases. Persistent FeLV infection is virtually always fatal, and cats infected rarely live more than three years. Fortunately, a vaccine is […]
June 3, 2015
You’ve just been told that your dog has heartworms. Many things probably went through your mind while Dr. Rannals explained the disease and its treatment. The things he told you “in a nutshell” took him years to learn, so we don’t expect you to remember everything you were told. Here is a recap of the […]
May 11, 2015
BAD BREATH! Remember when your pup was young and would lovingly give you a kiss on the nose? Now, though, as the pup has matured into middle age, that has become a show of affection you want to avoid at all costs! Rover’s breath has gotten so bad that it could wilt a carnation at […]
May 11, 2015
Otitis Externa (a.k.a ear infection) “Dr. Rannals, my dog keeps scratching at his ears and rubbing them to the ground. They smell awful and are red and moist.” Common words, these describe some of the symptoms of otitis externa. This is an infection of the external ear canal in dogs (and sometimes cats) that is very irritating to […]
