March « 2010 « Pet News and Views

Would You Give Your Pets Generics?

Dude, a black cat from an east New York City shelter was the inspiration for starting Putney, Inc., a pharmaceutical company focused on the development of generic drugs for pets. It was just 10 years ago, when Dude was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, a condition thatâ€™s common in older cats. The good news is that itâ€™s treatable with a single pill given daily. [...]

Stem Cell and Platelet Therapies for Pets

Can the body heal itself? Many people who use alternative therapies believe it is possible. Veterinarians are using stem cells and platelets to heal dogs, cats, and horses. What makes these treatments even more attractive than traditional medicine is that they are less invasive and cost less. [...]

Cost of Pet Care Part III

Pet Health Insurance
When I first heard about pet health insurance, I was leery. If it is anything like health insurance for people, then we and our pets are in big trouble. Iâ€™ve spent countless hours on the phone fighting with health insurance companies over payments for my childâ€™s coverage. I always win. I have the support of wonderful doctors. Itâ€™s just the insurance company always tries to deny coverageâ€”even when my son is entitled to it. [...]

Cost of Pet Care Part II

Veterinarians Speak Out on Fees
What do pet parents do when they canâ€™t afford veterinary bills? On Monday, I posted e-mails from readers who shared stories about their petsâ€™ health care bills. For many of us, this is a highly emotional issue. [...]

Cost of Pet Care

A good number of you have sent e-mails about the high costs of veterinary bills. It’s upsetting that so many people will have to forgo treatments for their pets because they simply canâ€™t afford the care. [...]

From Service Dog to Surfing Dog

Judy Fridono sees the positive side in many situations. Diagnosed with a degenerative disease, Judy doesnâ€™t focus on her constant pain; instead, she turns her energies toward training service dogs. Ricochet, her 2-year old Golden Retriever, was slated to become a service dog, but didnâ€™t make the cut. Ricochet now works as a surfice dog. [...]

Cat Behaviors

Every once in a while Earl Gray, my cat, makes mad dashes around the house. It usually happens at night. We have three floors in our house, and he practically flies up and down the steps. I should just give him a cape, and call him Super Kitty. If you ever wondered why cats get the night crazes, why they rub up against you, and why they exhibit other somewhat strange behaviors, read on. [...]

Cruelty-Free Fashions

For Jaclyn Sharp, the logo came before the product. When she created Imposter, a line of faux fur fashions, she wanted to make sure that everyone was aware that the fur she sported and designed was not real. So, each garment comes with a visible decorative IM embroidered on it.

â€œThe fur looks so real, that a furrier asked me what type of fur it was,â€ she explains. â€œI wanted something beautiful and soft to the touch. And I wanted everyone to know that no animals were harmed in the making of these products. Imposter gives people a viable alternative. There are no excuses for wearing fur.â€ [...]

Endangered Elephants

Editorâ€™s note: I know this is called Pet News and Views. I, however, like to think of all animals as petsâ€”not that we own them, but as creatures we are responsible for. That is why todayâ€™s post is about African elephants..

By Angela Terry, guest blogger with the nonprofit group Blood Ivory

Itâ€™s easy to assume that something that lives in a foreign country thousands of miles away will always be here for us. And that one day when weâ€™ve made enough money, collected enough air miles, and put in enough hours, weâ€™ll be able to hop on a plane to see these magnificent creatures in the flesh. [...]

5 Tips for Bringing a New Puppy Home

By Jonathan Klein, Guest Blogger and Dog Trainer at I Said Sit

The unconditional love of a puppy is one of lifeâ€™s great pleasures. Their curiosity, innocence, and joy for life are inspirational and bring out the best in us. If youâ€™re considering bringing a puppy in to your home, itâ€™s important to give careful consideration to such factors as breed traits, how big the dog will be as an adult, access to exercise, your personal schedule, and the long-term cost of caring for your pet. [...]

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