Million Dollar Pet Pix

Pet hospice care helps pet owners cope with death...
 
When Alysa Brennan of Hermosa Beach, Calif., discovered one of her Great Danes had cancer, she was faced with a difficult decision, but she felt fortunate that her veterinarian, Dr. Alice Villalobos, was familiar with veterinary hospice care and introduced her to the concept.

"I knew Blake, my dog, was old enough that I didn't want to go through any heroic measures to try to keep him alive. I wasn't going to consider chemotherapy. Dr. Villalobos explained that we could keep him as pain free as possible until the end," Brennan explains.

Tips to protect your pet from summer heat!
 
(ARA) - With summer upon us, warmer weather beckons everyone outdoors to enjoy the sunshine. When family and friends gather for backyard barbecues and outings in the park, it is natural to want to include the pets. It is wise, though, to consider the health and safety of pets before taking them out into the heat for prolonged periods. Pets cannot tolerate heat the same way as people. 

Don’t forget your pets in a disaster!
 
(ARA) - When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, Richard Colar’s neighborhood was flooded with 13 feet of water. He lost his home and lived in a FEMA trailer for over three years following the storm.

Even more devastating for Colar was that he was forced to flee without his beloved pet, a Siberian husky named Princess.

Miraculously, veterinarians located his lost dog weeks after the storm. The dog had been evacuated to Delaware. Due to the work of many volunteers, Colar and his family were among the lucky Katrina survivors who had their pets returned to them.

Protect Your Pet from Spring Dangers
 
Planting a garden, spring cleaning, fertilizing the lawn -- we all have lots of work to do with the coming of spring.

But pets also have health and safety needs this time of year that their owners should know about.

Custom Pet Portrait – A Loving Gift Idea To Last A Lifetime

A custom pet portrait will hold a special place in the heart of the person who receives it. It is a loving gift that will create memories to last a lifetime.

Whether it is of a current pet or of one who has passed away, a custom pet portrait can be given as a unique gift to commemorate any occasion.

Tips for Road Trips With Pets
 
Bringing the family pet along on a road trip may seem like a good idea – you don’t have to ask friends or family to look after your pet and you can avoid the costs and concerns that go with boarding and kennels. But traveling with pets in the car also brings special challenges that, fortunately, can be met with a bit of forethought and careful preparation of both the vehicle and pet. 

Seven Things Your Veterinarian Should Tell You

Your veterinarian can be your closest ally when it comes to keeping your dog healthy and safe. But just as some doctors are more knowledgeable or skilled than others, so are some vets.

The best vets are partners in your dog’s care, not demigods to be obeyed. And the best vets will be the first to tell you that:   

Finding a Way To Cope

Losing a cherished pet can be devastating. What makes this kind of loss especially difficult is that it does not have the same social status as losing a human.

For so many of us, summer arrives not a moment too soon. After a long, dreary winter, we have looked forward to the rewards and relaxation associated with the warm summer months. Perhaps we have planned a vacation near a lake, river or the ocean. Perhaps we are planning on swimming, hiking, boating and bicycling or perhaps just sprucing up the backyard or catching up on our reading under a shady tree. More than likely, we are planning a lot of outdoor activities and entertaining. We may also be planning to engage in activities involving our animal companions. After all, summer is a wonderful time to spend increased quality playtime and exercise time with our pets. However, it is also a time when we need to be aware of some unique potential hazards to our pet's safety and well-being.

Foresight and Planning Protects Pets in a Hurricane 

The 2008 Hurricane Season started on June 1st and will continue until November 30th. Forecasters predict that 13-16 named storms will develop this season with as many as 9 of those storms reaching hurricane strength.

The likelihood of a major hurricane making landfall along the U.S. coastline is 69 percent!