By Sally Writes 74% of individuals reported improvements in their mental health because of owning a pet.  This only shows how pets can heal the mind and soul of their owners.  In the lives of elderly individuals, having a pet might bring new meaning in their day-to-day lives.  For instance, seniors have something to look forward to everyday when they own a dog. Here are some ways a...

Anyone who has lost a beloved animal, even for a day or two, knows the heartbreak of wondering if they’ll ever find their friend again. Anyone who has had their dog stolen goes through despair, hoping that their dog will be returned to them. We have a group of volunteers in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada to thank for this day, set aside to remember that...

by CriticalCareDVM Working in an emergency room for almost two decades, I’ve definitely seen my fair share of patients who’ve ingested some weird things – rocks, plastic, feminine hygiene products, hair ties, etc. Sure, dogs and cats love to chew on things, but actually ingesting them is problematic. This unusual habit of consuming objects is called pica. This week I’ve dedicated some time to...

By Vidya Rajan, Columnist, The Times The immune system is the mechanism that protects and defends the body. Although its main purpose is defense against attack, the immune system is also a barrier, border patrol, soldier, police, doctor, parent, and amazingly, a fortune-teller, all in one package. Not only that, it exists in every living organism from bacteria to plants to animals to protect...

Plus, how to spot if they have been sunburnt Advice on how to spot the signs of sunburn in dogs and how to protect them from skin cancer. Dogs love to head outside during the hot summer months. From beach trips to running around the park and heading on dog-friendly staycations, there are plenty of ways for them to soak up the sun. But...

For devoted pet parents, the death of a pet is devastating, and we grieve the loss of our furry family member in much the same way that we would mourn for a human. And why shouldn’t we? Our pets are an important part of our lives. They share our joys and comfort us when we’re sad, and when we lose them they leave a...

For those interested in a more scientific and thorough study of different cancers and treatments in dogs, the USDA publishes abstracts, the articles from which can be accessed on line. These articles are from the journal: Veterinary and comparative oncology, publication year 2019. A complication probability study for a definitive‐intent, moderately hypofractionated image‐guided intensity‐modulated radiotherapy protocol for anal sac adenocarcinoma in dogs Author: Meier,...

“To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring – it was peace.” Milan Kundera We love our dogs or we wouldn’t be here. We survive puppy-hood, the teenage tear-up-everything stage, those few years of relative calm, and the declining years. We weather illnesses, seldom as well as our...

From: The Conversation By Kendra Coulter Many people have seen dramatizations of forensics on shows likes Bones and CSI. Forensics is the application of scientific principles and methods to criminal investigations at crimes scenes and in labs. In real life, forensic science is being applied to different victims: animals. Front-line officers undertake the trying, risky and under-valued work of initiating investigations into suspected animal...