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Hanie Elfenbein, DVM

I often get asked what, how much, and when to feed dogs and cats. I don’t have a standard answer, because it depends on the specific animal. Some animals can be free-fed and will stop eating when they are full, while others will gain weight with just the occasional table scrap. Similar to people, some of this is genetic and some is environmental. When to Feed Your Dog or CatAs for “when” to...

PetMD Editorial

Social media has become an important tool in how the world communicates these days, and a general way of life for most. It creates a smaller world, where people you know from a distance are part of your everyday life. This network brings people together, and allows us to help one another in ways that weren't so easy before. It also creates a bond between people over common interests and is a...

Jennifer Coates, DVM

At some level, animals seem to understand the concept of death. From elephants who grieve for the loss of a herd member to whales who won’t leave their dead babies behind, many species react to death in much the same way that people do. But are animals able to understand that they are going to die themselves? That is a different, more existential question. In my work as a house call...

PetMD Editorial

As a licensed veterinary technician, I have seen the side effects of declawing cats—and they’re not pretty. Declawing, or onychectomy, is a severe surgical procedure in which the last bone of each toe (the third phalanx) is amputated. Many cats who have been declawed refuse to use the litter box over time, because the process is extremely painful. Following surgery, cats are often deterred...

PetMD Editorial

Are you a pet owner, or do you see yourself as a pet parent? For me, I emotionally see myself as a “mom” to my fur babies. I have two dogs, a cat, and three birds, and they are my world. My life revolves around my four-legged and winged children. I provide their food, shelter, safety, education, and entertainment—not to mention love. I spend most of my free time with my pets. We travel...

Ken Lambrecht, DVM

Traveling with your cat at some point is inevitable. Whether it is a trip to the vet, a move, or even a vacation, all of these will require safely transporting your cat in some sort of cat carrier. It is best to start that process when your cat is young and work with his natural instincts and tendencies to make the experience as easy as possible. As a practicing veterinarian for over 30 years and...

Hanie Elfenbein, DVM

Recently I read a story about a young woman who snuck a dog into the hospital to visit her sick grandmother. My first thought was, "that is so sweet!" But my second thought was, “I hope this doesn’t become a trend.” I love the idea that people can have their whole support system in the hospital, but I also believe that breaking the rules to do so is selfish. It puts other people at risk and...