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Options for Grieving Pet Owners... The end of our pets' lives can be a traumatic event for many people. The bond that we share with our pets means we aren't just losing an animal; we are losing a family member. Pet burials, memorials services and even complete funerals are becoming commonplace across the nation. There are even many pet loss support lines. Many pet owners are now finding that these "after-life" options help them to gain closure. Watch this video to learn more.

Vaccine for Serious Canine Cancer Nears Reality Cancer is a scary word for anyone, even when it involves our pets. Recent research at a large veterinary hospital and a human cancer center may pave the way for a new type of vaccine to help stop a common cancer of humans and dogs. A leading veterinary pharmaceutical company has recently released a conditionally licensed vaccine to help treat dogs with melanoma. Watch this video to learn more.

Unexpected Pet Bills Lead to New Ways to Pay Serious illnesses and traumatic injuries can take their toll on your pet's health as well as your pocketbook. Unexpected healthcare costs can also lead to heart-wrenching decisions. For more than two decades, pet insurance has been an option for some pet owners, but pet savings plans and even credit for pets are now more common. Which idea will work best for you? Watch this video to learn more.

Allergic Pets and People The constant chewing and licking is enough to drive someone crazy! From spring until fall, pets, just like their owners, can suffer from the ravages of allergies. But, pet allergies are not limited to just this time of year. Food allergies can happen at any time and even those pesky parasites, fleas, can show up year round. Allergies can be frustrating for owners and are a chief cause of veterinary visits across the nation. Watch this video to learn more.

Special Pets Might Need Special Veterinarians Seeing your pet sick is hard enough, but what happens if your veterinarian seems to be stumped as well? Increasingly, veterinarians and pet owners are turning to the skills and special talents of the veterinary specialist. More than 25 different specialties are available, helping pets with everything from cancer to broken legs. In fact, there are more than 8,000 veterinary specialists across the US providing rare treatment and diagnostic abilities. Watch this video to learn more.

High Tech Lost and Found For more than 15 years, pet owners have heard about the security and peace of mind that microchip identification can bring. But with new and confusing additions to the market, plus several competing database sites, just how safe is your pet? Is it possible that your microchipped pet might not make it home? This high tech identification for pets is a great idea, but may not be ready for prime time. Watch this video to learn more.

Traveling with Pets Doesn't Have to Drive You Crazy By plane or car, more pet owners than ever are taking their dogs and cats on vacation with them. A few minutes of preparation and homework can help you to avoid common pitfalls and even serious accidents and injury to your pet. Whether it's picking up vaccine records from your family veterinarian or calling ahead to find pet friendly hotels, your "vacation homework" could just be a lifesaver. Watch this video to learn more.

The Cutting Edge... Laser Surgery for Pets! Whether it's used for correcting vision or removing unwanted tattoos, people are very familiar with the use of lasers in human medicine. Few people, however, may know that lasers also have a place in helping keep our pets comfortable and safe during surgical procedures. Veterinarians across the country are finding out the benefits of providing this innovative service and pet owners are learning how much faster their pet recovers. Watch this video to learn more.

How Pet Food Is Made Recent events have many people questioning what goes into their pets' diets and what kind of safeguards the pet food manufacturers have in place. With more than 15,000 brands of pet foods available, owners are often confused about which diet might be best for their dog or cat. With the help of your veterinarian, choosing the ideal food doesn't have to be so complex. Because of these massive recalls, the pet food industry will be forever changed. Much more scrutiny and care will be given to supply chains, testing and quality control - even in an industry that for the most part has done an amazing job at all this for decades. For now, be vigilant now and watch the news. We predict pet foods will improve even further and the companies that make them will work hard to re-gain your trust and re-build their image. Watch this video to learn more.

Warming Weather May Bring Pesky Parasites Most pet owners know that the return of springtime temperatures will also hasten the return of itching and scratching due to fleas. What many owners don't know is that besides the irritation, fleas can also spread numerous serious diseases and parasites such as tapeworms. Although fleas seem to hold an upper hand, your veterinarian can help you win the battle against these pests. Watch this video to learn more.

April is Lyme Prevention Month...For Pets! As if ticks were not bad enough, these blood suckers can also transmit a serious disease to our pets. Lyme disease is fairly well known in humans, but not everyone is aware of how it can affect our dogs. April has been designated National Prevent Lyme in Dogs month by the Lyme Disease Foundation. Help your best friend by learning about tick prevention and how vaccines can help stop Lyme disease. Watch this video to learn more.

Global Warming May Affect Your Dog's Health Most people can believe that global warming affects sea levels and cause weird variations in weather patterns, but how many would believe that the warmer weather is contributing to a deadly disease of our pets? The rising temperatures across the globe may be helping mosquitoes to survive, which, in turn, are transmitting heartworms to our dogs. Despite this dire news, protection for our friends can be found in a simple monthly tablet. Watch this video to learn more.

Pet Pain Relievers Are Dramatically Improved The introduction of pain relieving medications for dogs has improved the lives of millions of dogs in the United States and across the globe. Some pet owners are concerned about Internet rumors of severe side effects and have chosen not to give these medications to their pets. Are these drugs safe or are we putting our dogs at risk? New research and experience trials are giving us the answers. Watch this video to learn more.

Advances in Pet Vaccine Technology Canine Distemper? Parvovirus? Lyme Disease? Which vaccines are truly needed by our pets and which ones can they do without? As pet owners increasingly use the Internet and other resources to learn more about the health of their pets, it is easy to get lost and confused by myths and misconceptions about vaccinating our pet friends. Veterinary scientists are helping to clear the confusion with new technology that can protect our pets without exposing them to potential adverse side effects. Watch this video to learn more.

Advances in Pet Dentistry One of the most common diseases of our pets can also be one that causes some of the most severe long lasting effects. Most pet owners are not aware of just how advanced their pet's dental disease might be and how that dental disease can affect other organs, such as the heart or kidneys. New advances in pet dentistry, such as OraVet Barrier Sealant, are helping to protect our pets. Watch this video to learn more.

The X-ray Shows All...Strange Things in Pets' Stomachs As improbable as it seems, a puppy can swallow an 11" steak knife and survive without any apparent lasting effects. Veterinarians from across the country have submitted x-rays in a contest to find the most unusual objects found in a pet's stomachs. Will the winner be the snake who ate the light bulbs or the dog who ate nine batteries of various sizes? Watch this video to learn more.

Internet Sites You Can Trust From pet psychics to dog whisperers, the Internet is alive with "animal experts" who all want you to believe that they have the best information about the health and behavior of your pet. Unfortunately, many of these sites will provide information that may be less than accurate. As with any Internet site, information from pet expert websites should be viewed with caution. Who can you trust to provide you with accurate medical advice specific for your pet? Watch this video to learn more.

Pet Therapy in Hospitals Everyone knows how beneficial pets can be in our lives. But now, recent scientific evidence has actually proven what pet owners already knew. Heart failure patients who spent 12 minutes with a dog or cat had lower stress hormone levels, lower blood pressure levels, and a general brighter outlook about their recovery. Therapy dogs, and cats, have now started their rounds, under "doctor's orders". Watch this video to learn more.

Puppies and Kittens as Holiday Gifts? Many people probably have a fond holiday memory of finding a new puppy or kitten under the Christmas tree. What we forget is all the effort that then went into the training of the new pet in order to make him a part of the family. Despite TV ads and movie trailers, pets do not make the perfect holiday gift for many reasons. And, that impulse decision could lead to a tragic ending. Watch this video to learn more.

Snakes and Lizards and Hedgehogs... Oh My! With more than 11 million reptiles and 18 million small mammals in our homes, these pets have gained in popularity in recent years. Their small size, uniqueness, and easy maintenance have made them very trendy. There are, however, a few things to be aware of before bringing one of these exotics into your home. Watch this video to learn more.

Xylitol Toxicity in Dogs Before you share that sugar free dessert treat with your dog, pay attention! A recent clinical report from the ASPCA Poison Control Center has shown that dogs appear to develop severe liver failure and sudden decreases in blood sugar levels after ingesting foods containing the sweetener, Xylitol. Since Xylitol can be found in many sugar free foods, pet owners are urged to monitor the "people food" that might be given to their dog. Watch this video to learn more.

High Blood Pressure in Dogs Without such terrible vices as smoking and fast food, we might think that our pets won't get high blood pressure. But, dogs and cats often have high blood pressure and we, as owners, may be completely unaware of it. Experts recommend any pet over 10 years of age have their blood pressure measured during their next visit to the veterinarian. Watch this video to learn more.

Avoiding Dog Bites Every year about 5 million people are bitten by dogs and almost 1 million of those people require medical attention. Medical bills are estimated in excess of $250 million annually and the emotional damage, especially to children, is incalculable. How can "man's best friend" be responsible for so much damage? Can we learn to avoid dog bites? Watch this video to learn more.

Pet Proofing Your Home Every pet owner has been shocked to come home and see the damage their pet has done to the house. But our pets can be in greater danger from our medications, other chemicals, and even holiday decorations. Are there ways to help keep your pet safe inside the home? Watch this video to learn more.

Industry Helps Pets in Disasters With a goal of providing $1 million in donations and a speedier response to disasters, the veterinary industry has just announced a new proactive program. The Paws to Save Pets campaign will generate proceeds to help fund both the PetFinder.com Foundation and the American Veterinary Medical Foundation. It is hoped that this new initiative will help to provide some measure of comfort to pet owners worried about disasters. Pet owners can also learn how to make their own preparations to insure the safety of their family members. Watch this video to learn more.

Hot Hybrid Breeds From the well trained, low shedding Labradoodle to the perfect for the apartment Puggle, new hybrid dog breeds are appearing everywhere. Becoming popular with celebrities and anyone wanting to be part of the latest trend, these new cross breeds are winning their way into people's hearts and their pocketbooks as well. Is this just a fad or do these hybrids have a chance to be part of the purebred world? Watch this video to learn more.

Veterinary Chiropractic People either swear by them or swear at them... Chiropractors. Pet owners who love their chiropractor are looking for veterinarians who can provide the same sort of relief to their pets. But, where does the line get drawn? Is a veterinarian qualified to practice chiropractic medicine and is a chiropractor qualified to practice on our pets?? Watch this video to learn more.

Breed Bans... Do they work? Breed specific legislation has been enacted in more than 37 states and is garnering world wide attention. Created as a means to help control dangerous dogs, BSLs have created a firestorm of debate between proponents and opponents of specific dog breeds. With the need for public safety on one hand and the right to choose a canine companion of your choice on the other, BSLs will make headlines, just as the dog attacks that spawned their creation continue to do. Watch this video to learn more.

Avian Flu... A risk to our pets? Since 2003, the world has watched with increasing concern as the avian flu virus, H5N1, has destroyed millions of birds in Asia and has taken the lives of more than 100 people. The appearance of this virus in European domestic cats now has officials and pet owners in this country on high alert. Is it possible for our cats to bring this deadly disease into our homes? Watch this video to learn more.

Controlling Ticks Most people would be happy to live out their lives never having to see a tick. These eight legged parasites invoke almost as strong of a negative reaction as spiders do. However, dog owners especially need to be aware of the potential for their pet to acquire ticks and the possibility of their dog contracting a serious tick-borne disease. As vectors of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, tularemia, and Lyme Disease, ticks can be found in every state and have even been known to survive longer than a year. Due to the small size, many ticks will go unnoticed by pet owners. Fortunately, veterinary science has several options available to protect our pets. Watch this video to learn more.

Heartworm Disease Spreading In 2004, more than a quarter of a million pets were affected by a disease that is completely preventable. Heartworm disease, spread by mosquitoes, is often un-noticed by the pet owner because of the lack of apparent symptoms. Untreated, this parasite can cause exercise intolerance, coughing, damage to the main blood vessels of the heart, liver failure and even death. Pet owners can prevent this potentially fatal disease by the use of economical monthly medications. The continued high incidence of this problem has experts looking at many biological factors and even at the shift of our population to different areas of the country. Watch this video to learn more.

Saving Money on Pet Care In today's economy, saving money wherever you can is a smart thing to do. There are many opportunities for pet owners to not only save a few dollars, but also provide the best care for their pets. Routine vaccinations for infectious diseases, proper heartworm prevention, routine dental care and healthy diets are just few of the things that can end up saving pet owners big bucks. Watch this video to learn more.

Pain Management in Pets Arthritis and chronic pain are not purely human conditions. Dogs and cats feel pain too and arthritis causes long term pain that can affect your dog's behavior and activity level. Often a pet owner overlooks this pain as simply normal aging. Some veterinarians believe that over half of all dogs with painful arthritis are going untreated. Veterinarians also have new generation non-steroid medications that can help. As pets may have serious side effects to aspirin and ibuprofen, pain medications should only be prescribed by your veterinarian. Watch this video to learn more.

Hi Tech Veterinary Medicine We all know medicine is advancing in almost every area. Well you may be surprised to know your veterinarian is going hi-tech also. Advances such as ultrasound, echocardiography, laser surgery, radio waves and even MRI's are becoming more common in veterinary medicine. In fact, one of the challenges that face today's veterinarian is how to best use these technologies, and still make them affordable. Veterinarians can never let advanced technologies take the place of a good physical exam and a good relationship with the pet owner. At the same time, these advances can be life saving. Watch this video to learn more.

Dental Care For Pets Eighty percent of all dogs have some form of dental disease and gum disease can be very severe. Dental disease affects much more than fresh breath. It frequently leads to more serious health problems such as liver, kidney and heart disease. One new development is the prevention of plaque using a barrier sealant gel. This is applied by the veterinarian and then continued at home. Watch this video to learn more.

Senior Pets For years, many pet owners just accepted the fact that their four-legged friends were just going to live a relatively short life, get old, and pass on. But modern veterinary medicine can help pets live longer with less painful or debilitating problems. Watch for changes in thirst, appetite, bad breath, lumps and changes in behavior. See your veterinarian more often and work out a senior wellness plan to help your pet live happy senior years. Watch this video to learn more.

Cloning Pets To most pet lovers, that cherished "once-in-a-lifetime" dog or cat should remain just that. But new technology and creative business opportunities are giving some pet owners new options. Genetic Savings & Clone, a gene banking and cloning service for "exceptional pets", is currently offering to store a treasured pet's genetic material in the hopes that the owner will take advantage of cloning that pet in the future. Cloning opponents contend that an exact replica of a pet is impossible, as training, experience, and environment are keys to an individual's behavior and personality. So while the technology exists, does this make sense practically, ethically or financially? Watch this video and decide.

Veterinary Acupuncture As interest and application of acupuncture grows in veterinary medicine, practitioners are using the modality for much more than pain control. In fact, acupuncture can be used to help treat allergies, seizures, reproductive problems, and liver and kidney disease. Acupuncture involves the insertion of small gauge needles to various points on the body in order to cause physiological responses in the body. Acupuncture works by stimulating nerve endings near acupuncture points. These nerve fibers then conduct impulses to the brain and spinal cord, causing changes in the body that speed healing. Animal owners are showing a growing interest in this field in an effort to find the best care for their pets, especially when conventional medicine and surgery options may not have been successful. Learn more by watching this interesting video.

Foolproof Pet ID A microchip is a tiny computer chip which has an identification number programmed into it. The chip is the size of a grain of rice, and it is easily and safely implanted into the skin of an animal with a hypodermic needle. Once the animal is "chipped" he can be identified throughout his life by this unique number. Microchips are read by a scanning device which recognizes a unique identification number. Through registration of the animal with a national database, the owner can be contacted and this is an important step many pet owners forget. The bad news is that this technology is not foolproof. Watch this quick video and learn more about what you can do to make sure your pet is properly identified using a new free service.

Dog Flu Virus Spreading Avian flu is in the news, but dogs also have a new flu virus and it is spreading. If your dog is coughing and sneezing you don't want to shrug it off as "just" kennel cough. Canine Influenza was first seen a little over a year ago and is spreading across the country and it has already killed dogs in several states. The chances of your dog getting Canine Influenza are remote, but an ounce of prevention is worth many dollars in vet bills. Watch this video to learn more.

Disaster Preparedness for Pets In a natural or man-made disaster, you could be told to leave your home on very short notice - and that includes your pets. You should plan in advance for what to take along when you leave, what steps to take when an evacuation order is made and what do to when you return home. Good planning even includes preparation for disasters that occur when you are away from home. Watch this great video and learn more about including your pets in your disaster preparedness. Watch this helpful video.

Music Heartbeat Therapy When Terry Woodford first conceived of the 'Baby-Go-To-Sleep' Heartbeat Music Therapy CD in 1985, he had no intention of comforting and calming any baby other than human preemies and fussy toddlers. But as this successful music industry executive discovered, babies, either human or canine, respond to his simple, repetitive classic lullabies in which the sound of a human heart beat is superimposed. And the response is striking. They relax and fall asleep within a few minutes of listening to the special mix. Watch this interesting video.

Rehab For Pets The next time you visit your veterinarian, don't be surprised if your pet gets a prescription for some form of physical therapy! Physical therapy and rehabilitation is a rapidly growing area of expertise in veterinary medicine- and it is gaining world-wide acceptance and support. Physical therapy is common in human medicine, and veterinary practitioners of animal therapy say that the benefits for their patients are remarkable - so much so that a prescription for physical therapy may be the newest standard of care for pets. Watch this interesting video.

Worms We Share Worms - not a terribly popular topic, but one that could cause you and your pet a stay in the hospital. Veterinarians see the problems every day, but most dog and cat owners are unaware of the problems and risks. A recent survey found that nearly half of dog owners do not know that hookworms and roundworms can transmit harmful diseases to family and friends. Watch this great video and learn more about preventing potentially dangerous worms in your pet and family members. NEWS FLASH Thousands of pets displaced from the South to other regions of the country because of the hurricanes may contribute to the spread of these intestinal worms. Learn how to prevent them. Press Play Video Now!

Lyme Disease - Serious Disease, Easy Control If you've ever seen a tick - especially if it is on you or your pet friend - you'll never forget it. Ticks can cause people and pets endless hours of suffering and potentially life-threatening disease. The tick is a little disease carrying expert and there are many different kinds of ticks. Some are so small they are hard to see, others are visible from across the room. They emerge in the spring, remain pretty active during the summer months and then go through a burst of activity in the fall. While ticks are responsible for transmitting many diseases, there is one disease in particular that we veterinarians are most concerned with - Lyme disease. Watch this great video and learn more about preventing Lyme disease.

Vaccinating Pets - Controversial and Important Both people and pets are helped tremendously by the medical procedure known as immunization. Immunizing a pet is both smart and very inexpensive protection against a variety of deadly diseases. For many pet owners vaccinating their pets is a simple procedure. While the process is simple, deciding which vaccines to give and when has become more complicated. Several new vaccines for emerging diseases need to be given at different intervals and not all pets need every vaccination available to veterinary practitioners. Using the science of DNA, advances in vaccine technology include a series of vaccinations called "recombinant vaccines" that are highly effective and very safe. Here is what you should know and what action you should take.

Record Flea Season - How To Get Control Heavy rainfall in some parts of the country have caused the ground to be saturated with moisture, and that means the perfect conditions for a record infestation of fleas. Even more serious is the transmission of diseases fleas carry. Pet owners nationwide are visiting their veterinary clinics asking for help to control the fleas that are making their pets lives miserable. Once a flea infestation gets established in your environment, it's tough to bring under control because the adult fleas produce thousands of offspring. The adult fleas you see on your pet are only 5% of the total flea problem. And in some parts of the country we are seeing fleas even on dogs and cats treated with proper preventive compounds. Watch this video to be sure you are doing all you can do this year.

Rabies - A Threat To Pets and People Rabies is a disease we usually think of as having well under control with vaccinations. But the deadly disease seems to emerge each spring and summer as a problem. Rabies is a scary disease because it is fatal to both people and pets and every year we should look at keeping ourselves and our pets (both dogs and cats) safe. Rabies is also a highly regulated disease and all pet owners must follow the vaccination requirements to help keep this killer at bay. Vaccination rules vary according to where you live, so advice from your veterinarian is essential. Watch this video to learn more.

Leptospirosis - Threat To Man And Beast Leptospirosis is an old bacterial disease that is getting a lot of new attention recently. It is rarely fatal, but can seriously damage the liver, kidneys, and eyes. Additional strains of this old disease are causing an increased number of cases in both people and animals. Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease - a disease that can be transmitted between people and animals. Learn what can be causing this increase of Leptospirosis - who is at risk, and what can be done to protect people and pets. NEWS FLASH LEPTOSPIROSIS THREAT IN HURRICANE AREAS.... According to Dr. Kenneth Harkin, an expert on leptospirosis, leptospirosis could be a threat in flooded areas in the Gulf Coast that were not contaminated by sewage and chemicals. While the greater part of New Orleans will most likely not experience the threat of leptospirosis, some areas in Mississippi and Louisiana could be affected. Areas that received a large amount of rain, even without substantial flooding, would be at a higher risk. Harkin's research has found that, in Thailand, leptospirosis ranked just behind Dengue fever in one disease outbreak following flooding. In Puerto Rico in 1996, the prevalence of leptospirosis jumped four-fold in Dengue-negative patients following a Hurricane. Press Play Video Now.