It’s over. Another zero-defined, multi-year chunk has come and gone as of midnight last night. And I, for one, say “good riddance!” Out with the old, clean slates and all that. 

Somehow this kind of pithy thinking appeals after a decade rife with intense personal stress and could’ve-done-better decision making all around. All of which leads me to believe I’m in no position to make...

Got a kissy pet? I love those best. But they’re not likely to act that way at the vet’s. The stress of a trip out into the real world tends to put a damper on the PDA. And the animal hospital is stress location offender #1, as I’m sure you’re all aware. So what’s a vet to do?

In my case, I go out of my way to kiss my patients, instead. Somehow, it just comes naturally. I by no means kiss them...

Last year I followed up the Christmas holiday with a post on belated gifts––books, to be exact. This year I’ll do the same, with another round of crowd-pleasing (or not) mostly animal-themed reads for the new year. To mix things up I’ll include some of my favorite DVDs too.

As always, it’s your job to share your personal favorites in the comments below. And don’t worry if they’re a repeat of...

Today started late. That was my fault. From there, things devolved in ways that evoked Hieronymus Bosch’s version of Hell more than they did a pre-New Year’s Eve weekday. Not so much my fault. But that’s debatable. 

Picture me wearing my veterinary dentist’s hat. This was around 9 AM. First patient of the day. The anesthetics went well. My older patient was doing great. The results of full...

I live in Miami and only rarely venture into colder climes with my pets in tow. Consequently, I have little first-hand knowledge of cold weather issues. Yet I’m constantly asked about them with respect to travel. As in, how cold is too cold? How long can my dog or cat withstand low temps in cargo? At what point is it inhumane to allow a pet to fly?

This issue came up for me (again) a couple...

Merry Christmas from my fam to yours... (scroll down for pic)

I was thinking of all of you yesterday when a new kitten arrived. Fresh off the plane from her “breeder” in the midwest, this little ragdoll was sneezy and sniffly and slightly miserable-looking. Nothing new, this version of animal abuse. Nothing we haven’t already talked about a zillion times before. ‘Tis the season and all that.

This time, however, I was thinking of the comment one of you...

Both conventional wisdom and common sense conspire to prove I’ve got a “naughty” dog. He’s not housebroken.

Until now, my thinking has gone like this: “He’s not housebroken YET...but he will be.” At that point, my other dog, dominant SOB that he is, will cease and desist with his incessant, “you-peed-there-so-I’ll-have-to-mark-it-too” behavior.

Wishful thinking? I wouldn’t blame you if you...

I’ve got this fabulous dog staying at my house for the holidays. Ginger is an English bulldog yearling whose owner needed a safe place for a sweet dog whose extensive dermatologic requirements necessitate allergy vaccines, antibiotics, antihistamines, frequent bathing and the like.

Sure, I could have kept her at work but I couldn’t resist taking her home for the extra cuddling. Plus, she...

As our House and Senate debate the merits and pitfalls of bringing affordable healthcare to the American masses, the parallels between human and animal medicine are unmistakable. One area in which this is more the case than most revolves around the unbelievably big savings that can come from going generic with your pet drugs...and the unfortunate downside of doing so for some.

Just as your...