Most important is love, but pets do require a few other things to be well cared-for!
 | Acupuncture |
| | Acupuncture involves the insertion of needles into acupoints that are just beneath the body’s surface. There is much debate even among veterinary acupuncturists themselves as to the exact location of many of these different acupoints in animals, as most have been derived from charts in humans. Modern medicine has failed to show scientific proof of the actual existence of these points and their associated meridians. Most of the positive studies done with acupuncture in animals have consisted of clinical trials, not double blind studies. |
| | Aging: What We Can Do About Our Aging Pets |
| | There are several theories on what aging really is. The traditional one is that God gives each man, woman, and animal a limited time on this earth. The most widely held theory is that our bodies are slowly and steadily crippled by the release of free radicals. |
| | Anal Sacs |
| | Is your pet scooting? Smelling a fishy foul odor? Noticing some licking under the tail? Dogs with impacted anal sacs usually scoot their rear on the ground in an attempt to empty the glands. Some dogs will lick their anal area and other dogs will chase their tails. Cats often lick the fur off just under their tails.
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| | Blood Work: CBC and Chemistry Panel |
| | Blood work - presurgical or otherwise - is usually a combination of a complete blood count (CBC) and a blood chemical analysis. Blood work is a basic evaluation tool. Pets, particularly senior ones, should have a CBC at every annual examination. |
| | Cat Neuter Slideshow |
| | Ever wanted to see what happens during a cat's neuter? Photographs and illustrations offer a step-by-step view of the surgical process. |
| | Common Holiday Pet Hazards |
| | It doesn't take much to keep your pet out of trouble this holiday season, if you use just a little common sense. Instead of seeing your veterinarian in person with a sick pet in tow, send a card! |
| | Complementary and Alternative Therapy #1 |
| | Complementary and alternative therapies are becoming more popular in human and veterinary medicine. These therapies are very controversial even among veterinarians. |
| | Complementary and Alternative Therapy #2 |
| | Some of these therapies can appear to be effective when they actually may not be. One of the most common reasons for this is the placebo affect. Even though the placebo affect does not affect the animal, it can most certainly affect the animal owner’s perception. |
| | Complementary and Alternative Therapy #3 |
| | Today we will explore how the concept of natural healing can make it difficult to judge a response to therapy. The natural tendency of an animal is to heal unless the condition is chronic, and many conditions will heal without therapy if given time. Consequently, just because a drug or therapy is used on an animal and the animal gets better does not mean the therapy was responsible. |
| | Complementary and Alternative Therapy #4-Herbal |
| | Many herbal products are promoted by their manufacturers to be natural and therefore safe. They may or may not be safe as clinical trials are usually not done or not reported, but natural has nothing to do with being safe. If all of the natural medicines were safe and effective, pharmaceutical companies wouldn't spend an estimated $500 million to produce each new synthetic product. |
| | Dental Home Care |
| | Imagine how your teeth would look and feel if you didn’t brush them daily. The same applies to your pet’s teeth. Here are some ways you can care for your pet’s teeth at home. |
| | Euthanasia |
| | The decision to euthanize a pet should be one that you always look back upon and know that the best decision was made and that you would make the same decision again in the same situation. So how do you know if it is time? |
| | Feline Spay FAQ |
| | Spaying your pet cat is also very important, not only to keep down pet overpopulation, but for your personal mental health, as well! It’s also good for the cat... Here’s a list of Frequently Asked Questions about this procedure. |
| | How to Give Your Cat a Pill |
| | Don’t forget to check the cat’s mouth before releasing him. Many cats know you are waiting to see the licking motions and will try to fool you. |
| | Hurting Pets for Attention |
| | People with Munchausen syndrome sometimes claim their pets are ill, or purposefully hurt their pets, so that they can get attention. The researchers refer to this activity as Munchausen syndrome by proxy. |
| | Internet Research: Gathering Information Efficiently and Wisely |
| | Anyone can publish a Web site and anyone can say just about anything they like. Here are some hints to retrieve quality information on pet health care while immediately discarding the bad. |
| | Lab Values |
| | The normal range of values from a given test at a given laboratory will usually be listed on the results form, so that you can see immediately what is not in a normal range; often, results considered to be outside of the norm will be in bold text. Your veterinarian will point out to you which values are of concern and why. |
| | Neutering the Male Cat |
| | This is probably the simplest surgical procedure your veterinarian will do. Click here to find out what exactly is done, how it helps, and what to expect about recovery. |
| | Pregnancy Termination |
| | Unwanted pet pregnancy happens and some choices have to be made. Let's review your options: Have the babies, spay during pregnancy, or medical abortion. |
| | Reliable Websites |
| | How can you choose information sources carefully? |
| | SI and U.S. Standard Measurements: Conversion Confusion |
| | SI is the modernized version of the metric system of measurement. It is the language universally used in science and medicine. SI is an abbreviation from the French Système International d’Unités, or International System of Units. |
| | Safe Gardening |
| | The garden shops and catalogs are full of gorgeous garden shrubs and flowers. They tell us how to water and how much sunshine is needed, but rarely do they tell us if the plant is pet safe. |
| | Selecting Your Veterinarian |
| | You and your veterinarian are the mainstay of the team that will take care of your pet's health, so it's best if you find a veterinarian that you can work with. |
| | Veterinary Certifications: The Alphabet Soup of Specialists |
| | A list of the most common certifications and what those initials mean can help you feel more comfortable when you need to see a specialist. |