Got a hedgehog? Kristen Zorbini-Bongard does. She loves Harriet so much she pays $80 a year to Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) to protect her from the possibility of a financial “stop-treatment” decision (AKA, economic euthanasia). This information courtesy of Public Radio International’s This American Life, where one of last weekend’s segments treated the topic in surprising depth.

Though...

I promised I would keep you updated on the reproductive antics of my goats and I don’t intend to disappoint. With this post, I offer you yet another voyeuristic glimpse into the sex life of our common agriculture species.

But this time it’s not all about speculums, pipettes, cold storage tanks and frozen sperm. Nope. This time, ladies and gentlemen, it’s about the birds and the bees and the...

I’m at the feed store once every week or so. Standing in line behind the same counter at which I bought my first pair of riding boots and my first leather halter, I should be feeling contentedly nostalgic. Instead I spend my time explaining...

...why a rottweiler should not receive the same dose of Ivomec as a Maltese (and that no, a quarter teaspoon measure is not good enough).

...that...

Here’s an issue for you: Ever been to the veterinary hospital to pick up some heartworm medication and been told it’s time for a test before they can sell it to you or script it out? Been denied by the online pharmacy based on your veterinarian’s unwillingness to offer a prescription until she sees you again?

It happens all the time. Owners want a prescription product so they can responsibly...

In this week’s post on my Slumdog’s recent need for sedation, the tranquilizer known as acepromazine was addressed in response to a round of questions. As in––Why wouldn’t you use this tried and true veterinary drug on your own dog?

When I offered my answer, I received a comment urging me to be more clear about “ace” so that pet owners wouldn’t get a one-sided view of this popular drug. In...

Dr. Bruce Silverman was one year behind me in vet school at the University of Pennsylvania. He was a loudmouth back then and he's a loudmouth now (and I say that in the nicest of ways). You can say whatever you want about opinions, but when they're thoughtful and well written, I'll take 'em.

Here's his take on one veterinary business microcosm: Chicago's. His observations represent the sign...

Ever wonder what it takes to keep a pet safe after surgery? In some cases it’s simple, as when a calm animal can be easily left in a comfy crate for long stretches at a time. No, it’s not ideal but it’s fair. After all, pets need a chance to heal and most won’t comply without physical restrictions on their often injurious behavior. 

Other times it’s much tougher. Crazy bouncy Labs, loudmouth...

You may not be one to scour online reviews in search of your next great veterinarian. Indeed, it’s not how I would recommend anyone find the best provider for any kind of service they might seek. Still, we all know people who use these as a starting place, or perhaps to confirm that a friend’s referral stands up to the internet test.

Veterinarians know this too. That’s why plenty of us detest...

Every animal hospital in the world is a target for this kind of problem. Owners cite behavior issues, severe pain or seizure activity that’s only in evidence in the home environment. They often exit the hospital with a paper script or a bottle of pills for their pets' troubles.

All hospitals keep track of these drugs. Smart hospitals may even let the pharmacist do it for them (at our hospital...

Ever wonder what it is that goes on behind closed doors on your pet’s big day? After your pet is whisked away by the veterinary staff for hospitalization, surgery or a dentistry, what happens to her? If you’re the curious type, I’ll bet you’ve pondered this and more––as in, “Why can’t I stay with her? Why can’t I watch?”

Most veterinary hospitals have a policy about owners in “the back.”...