The Daily Vet

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The Daily Vet is a blog featuring veterinarians from all walks of life. Every week they will tackle entertaining, interesting, and sometimes difficult topics in the world of animal medicine – all in the hopes that their unique insights and personal experiences will help you to understand your pets.

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Vet:

Memorial for Nike, the Beach Loving German Shepherd Dog

Transitioning from one year to the next always prompts me to reflect on my current place in life, especially regarding the relationship I have with my canine companion, Cardiff. We had a sad end to 2011 when we lost our friend and neighbor, Nike, the German Shepherd Dog. READ MORE

Jan 31, 2012 / (8) comments

Do You Need Pet Insurance?

A lot of my veterinary clients ask me about pet insurance. They want to know whether they should purchase it for their pet, which policy is best, if having insurance is worth the cost. These are all great questions. READ MORE

Jan 30, 2012 / (3) comments

Corporate Veterinary Medicine: Yea or Nay?

I’m currently in Las Vegas, lecturing at one of the largest corporate veterinary meetings: the Banfield symposium. For those of you not familiar with Banfield, part of the Mars family of businesses, they own almost 800 veterinary clinics throughout the United States. Some of these clinics are associated... READ MORE

Jan 25, 2012 / (51) comments

How My Personal Journey from Fat to Fit Applies to You and Your Pets

Now that the New Year’s Eve dust has settled, it’s time to officially set the tone for a positive 2012 by incorporating more exercise into your and your pet’s daily regimen (see Make 2012 Your Pet’s Best Ever, With Three Reasonable New Year’s Resolutions). READ MORE

Jan 24, 2012 / (13) comments

Keeping Your Cat Fit with Toys

Exercise is important for all cats. It helps keep them fit and lean, avoiding the very common problem of obesity. And toys are probably one of the best ways to encourage your cat to exercise. READ MORE

Jan 23, 2012 / (4) comments

How to Find a Good Veterinarian: Why Our Profession Rocks

I don’t mean to rub it in, but I’m currently writing this blog from sunny Orlando, Florida (where it’s about 60° warmer than my Minneapolis abode). I’m scheduled to lecture at the North American Veterinary Conference (NAVC), the largest veterinary conference in the world. READ MORE

Jan 18, 2012 / (4) comments

Freezing Temperatures, Heat Sources and Exposure to Toxins Pose Dangers to Pets During the Wintry Months

In keeping with my New Year’s resolution to include more spontaneous activity with my dog (see Make 2012 Your Pet’s Best Ever, With Three Reasonable New Year’s Resolutions), a recent hike on a sunny and warm January day made me greatly appreciate the fact that Cardiff and I no longer... READ MORE

Jan 17, 2012 / (2) comments

Protecting Cats from the Cold

In many parts of the country, winter is in full swing and temperatures are dipping. So far, here in Rhode Island where I live, we’ve been pretty lucky. We’ve had no snow to speak of and reasonably mild temperatures on many days, particularly for this time of the year. READ MORE

Jan 16, 2012 / (5) comments

What Breed of Dog is Best for Me? Part 2

Last week, we talked about certain dogs by group, including the sporting, hound, and working breeds. This week: the terrier, toy, non-sporting, herding, and "miscellaneous" categories. READ MORE

Jan 11, 2012 / (5) comments

How Proper Planning, Veterinary Exams, and Fecal Testing Facilitate Successful Canine Adoption

Upon hearing a family or individual discuss a plan to give the gift of canine life as a holiday present, I experience an unusual psychic shift: I am transported out of my body into a dreamscape reminiscent of a scene from Inception; I get stuck running in place while trying to get to a veterinary school... READ MORE