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That moment was a turning point in my life. Since then I have been looking for ways to make the veterinary visit more fun and less scary for the pets under my care and have been attempting to influence other veterinarians to do the same.,Can you imagine a veterinary practice where virtually all pets LIKE to come in the door? I can now. After years of staff training, and implementing numerous protocols, my wife Susan and I gradually transformed our practice into something I was really proud of. Our basic strategy was to imagine what it was like to visit the hospital from the pet’s point of view. We had one Husky mix who repeatedly ran away from home to come to the hospital. I later attributed our high practice growth rate largely to managing the pet’s perception of the visit. If I were to own another practice, I would review every staff veterinarian’s performance partially on how much pets liked them.,This article is courtesy of The Hannah Society.

Svelte and speedy, the Greyhound is an iconic dog breed. But are you as familiar with the slightly smaller Whippet or the petite Italian Greyhound?  Minus their obvious size discrepancy, the three sight hounds look a lot alike. But there are meaningful differences between the breeds. Here’s what to know about Greyhounds, Whippets, and Italian Greyhounds.

Just like losing a human family member, losing a pet can be a traumatic experience. Pets quickly become a part of your family, and you build a bond on mutual love and trust. Pets love you unconditionally and are by your side during good and bad times. They share your life with you in intimate ways that even your friends and family members may not, perhaps comforting you when you’re sad or sharing your bed. “Their constant presence truly becomes a steady source of support that you can count on,” says Farage-Smith. Pets also become a big part of your daily routine. You may feed them as soon as you wake up, take them for an after-dinner walk, and play with them in the park on weekends. The change in routine brought on by their death can feel profound, and it’s a void that’s hard to fill.,Jump to section Why Does Losing a Pet Hurt So Much? 6 Ways to Cope With the Loss of a Pet FAQs About How To Cope With the Loss of a Pet

6. Cat Litter Litter is tricky. The most common type of litter is made from clay, says Dr. Hofve. Clay is extracted from the ground in an environmentally unfriendly mining process,and it creates a lot of dust (even in the “dustless” types). Since your cat’s nose is just a few inches away from her digging paws, clay dust can get down into her lungs, where it can cause inflammation, and even asthma in susceptible cats. There is also a risk (though very small) of intestinal impaction of clay in the digestive tract of very young kittens, very elderly cats or cats with extremely furry paws; they are more likely to walk through wet litter, and ingest it when they lick their paws clean. It’s preferable to use natural, sustainable resources, such as corn, walnut hulls, wheat or sawdust. However, they too have benefits and drawbacks. Some are quite dusty themselves, and many have scents (whether artificial fragrance or natural pine oils) that are aversive and even potentially toxic to sensitive kitties. Pine oils in particular can cause an allergic reaction. Newsprint is sort of renewable, but the inks used on newspaper may be toxic. Most cats prefer the softer surface of fine-textured clumping litters over pellets, pearls and large clay pieces. But the most important thing is to use a litter that the cat likes, and is also easy to keep clean so you’ll do it! A dirty box is the No. 1 reason for failure of the cat to use it. Image: wvita / via Shutterstock,Natural Remedies for Dogs and Cats By Cheryl Lock If you’re interested in helping your pet lead a healthier life, going the natural route is a big step in the right direction. We spoke with Jean Hofve, DVM, staff veterinarian for Only Natural Pet, for some expert tips on how to get started down the all natural path. 1. Natural Pet Food Food is the biggest investment you make in your pet’s health – so make it count! Unfortunately, some pet food companies have caught on to consumers’ desires for wholesome, natural food for their pets, so they have created friendly-looking packaging, brand advertising, and new claims on their products—but in some cases, without improving the ingredients inside, says Dr. Hofve. Here are a few of the vet’s general guidelines to help you choose the best natural pet food: Unless a corn ingredient is labeled organic, it’s going to be genetically modified.  At least two named meats or meat meals should be among the top ingredients in a dry food, and a named meat should be the first ingredient in any other form (canned, raw, dehydrated, frozen). Avoid synthetic chemical preservatives like ethyoxyquin, BHT, BHA, propyl gallate and propylene glycol. Choose a food that is complete and balanced for all life stages rather than tweaked for a certain lifestage. Foods with more of an emphasis on natural, are ususally all life stage.  For cats in particular, a high-protein, high-moisture diet is crucial to maintain a lifetime of optimal kidney and bladder health, as well as to prevent obesity and the diseases that go with it, like diabetes, heart disease and arthritis. Try canned, homemade or raw for cats. (But always make a slow and gradual transition to minimize tummy problems.) Often, it’s the specialty manufacturers who are doing the best job of finding good quality ingredients and making a healthy natural food for a reasonable price. Choose brands that have put their efforts into making the best food possible. Dry and canned pet food are heavily processed. Consider raw, frozen or dehydrated diets to get the most natural nutrition.