Ever wondered why Dolittler’s logo sports a Great Dane with a generous ear crop? The answer: Because it’s by far the best logo my design guy presented.

When I first saw it, I knew it was a masterful design—visually, that is—but I had trouble with the purebred dog thing (why a Great Dane?)…and the ear crop, of course.

After another few logo attempts using different dog and cat images it became...

2008’s Kentucky Derby disgusted us all. Its Preakness flew by like a blur. Finally, against the prevailing “wisdom” of racing’s spinners, this year’s Belmont gave proof to the sport’s lack of soundness. The "cripple crown" played itself out, culminating in the whimper its detractors uncomfortably anticipated.

With over-hyped one-liners promising glory as hasn’t been seen since a star lit up...

It seems some New York RNs don’t want veterinary technicians calling themselves “nurses.” A complaint to the New York State Veterinary Board was advanced to ensure naming rights to the term and to limit its proper usage to the human nursing profession.

NY’s vet board has apparently caved and is letting its licensees know they should refrain from using the term “nurse” when alluding to their...

OK, you know I’m going to send this guy to you-know-where on this issue. I really don’t think I’ve ever heard an opinion uttered by a high-ranking veterinary official which relied less on science than on good old-fashioned fear-mongering.

Dr. Fred Landeg thinks we humans shouldn’t bed down with pets or let them in the kitchen(!)—just in case they carry diseases. He cites the Hendra virus from...

With discussions on Big Brown’s doping and his trainer’s freewheeling use of the still-legal muscle-bulkers still in the press, I thought it would be appropriate to delve a little deeper into this topic. After all, it applies to pets, too—and I have one current case that might raise your eyebrows a centimeter or two.

So you know, there are two kinds of steroids we veterinarians can use in our...

I know there are individuals far more exemplary of thoroughbred racing’s dark side…but none (that I know of) are vets. And since Dolittler is a pet health blog authored by a veterinarian, Dr. Bramlage’s role in racing’s recent round of media prominence will be the subject of this post.

On-call veterinarian, veterinary surgeon and representative of the American Association of Equine...

The dust is still swirling around the circumstances of Eight Belle’s untimely demise at the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago today. The sandstorm kicked up in the wake of the heavily televised tragedy will have at least two immediate repercussions, and maybe three (if we’re lucky).

1-More viewers gritting their teeth in fear of another catastrophic breakdown.

2-Overall, fewer animal-adoring viewers....

I know Dolittler's a pet health blog but occasionally (OK, more than just occasionally) I have to have my say on the farm animal thing.

Partly that’s because in a better world, I believe farm animals might make ideal “pets,” as they once did. No, maybe never like dogs and cats—but in a respectful, reasonably companionable sort of way, as “livestock” (like my goats).

It’s because of my lifelong...

Were you one of the recipients of PETA’s email missive on the subject of Eight Belles? Here’s my receipt from the “PETA Action Center:”

Dear Patty:

As I am sure you have heard, after crossing the finish line in last Saturday's Kentucky Derby, a young filly named Eight Belles collapsed when both her front ankles snapped. She was euthanized in the dirt where she lay, the latest victim of the dirty...

Last week I posted on the cost of spays and neuters in veterinary practice. In the comments below the post, it became clear that concern for the risks the procedures entail, particularly for the intra-abdominal spay, run high among you.

No matter what we veterinarians may say to calm your fears it’s true. Every surgical procedure has its risks. And while a spay is a surgery we may perform...