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To all my veterinary colleagues working in emergency medicine; to doctors, nurses, and other human medical workers; to police officers firefighters, EMTs, and other first responders; to people working in animal shelters and staffing adoption events; to every restaurant or retail worker, every flight attendant and pilot; to our armed forces; and to everyone who […]

How do veterinarians and veterinary nurses get blood from zoo animals? They train them using positive reinforcement to offer a limb for the blood draw. You can reach your pet the exact same thing! Here’s how I explained it to a reader: Q: My dog hates having blood drawn, but he has a health condition that […]

Today, an estimated 13,000 sheltering organizations care for an estimated 6-7 million homeless animals annually—mostly cats and dogs. Organizations vary in size from those that are very large, handling tens of thousands of animals per year, to those that are very small, including grassroots groups and private individuals. For some animals, the amount of time […]

You’ve probably seen television doctors talking about a patient’s “vitals.” That’s something we measure in veterinary medicine, too. Here’s how I explained it to a reader. Q: What are vital signs in dogs, and what do I need to know about them? A: Vital signs are just what they sound like: indicators of life and […]

A reader has the DIY bug and a cat. Here are some tips for building a great scratching post! Q: I want to build a scratching post for my cat. Do you have any tips? A: That’s a great idea. Building it yourself ensures that it suits your cat’s scratching style and size. Here’s what […]