Pet insurance companies can now add another notch to their tally of marginally useful things achieved in the animal health arena. Their actuarial databases have uncovered the most entertaining top ten list since Letterman stopped being funny (OK, that was mean).

To the delight of vets everywhere, Veterinary Pet Insurance ranks the most oft-consumed, surgically retrieved non-comestibles pets...

Here's another Miami Herald column for you. I'm travelling in New York (yes, lucky me, I'm in Manhattan for the weekend)  but I'll be keeping up my posts--I promise.

Q. My cat Smushball has a hairball problem. For the last couple of months, she’s been throwing up hairballs at least three times a week (usually in the least desirable places). I know cats do this but three times a week? Is that...