The holidays are behind us and, if you’re like a good portion of our country or even the world, you may very well have brought a new puppy or dog home. You’ve got their dog bed in the perfect spot, you’ve hopefully found a nutritious brand of dog food they like, you’ve set up your veterinary appointment and gotten them on a vaccination schedule, and you’ve surely had your share of top-to-bottom face kisses.

If you’re like most people, you’ve probably heard a bit about pet insurance in the past, but it seemed as though those choosing to go that route were more the exception than the rule. It’s becoming much more common, and for good reason—pet insurance makes solid financial sense and offers peace of mind when it comes to our beloved fur babies. As veterinarians, we are huge proponents of pet insurance, which is why we’ve taken the time to answer some frequently asked questions about it below.

As we reflect on 2020 and what has happened during this tumultuous year, it's time to take stock of what we learned regarding pet care. Many of us had to change our routines that we’ve happily been doing (or not!) for years—wake up, make coffee, take the dog for a walk, shower, and commute to work. On the way home, we stop at the store for a quick few ingredients for dinner, grab the kids from school, ask about homework, and settle in for the night. Our pets love routine and having us home, so this was a banner year for our fur babies.

Adopting or buying a puppy is no fly-by-night decision. You hopefully spent a lot of time deciding on the best dog breed for your family, settled on your veterinary and/or pet insurance budget, and of course, agonized over the most magnificent moniker for your precious pup.

Let’s face it—the idea of dogs being in pain is something that none of us like to think about. The vast majority of dog owners are conscientious people who want nothing but the best for their precious pooches. The unfortunate reality, however, is that many of our dogs can experience pain without us even realizing it, which is why it’s something we need to educate ourselves on in order to keep our hounds as healthy as possible.

November is National Diabetes Month and, although this originally began as an awareness day for humans who are stricken with this endocrine disease, it has evolved into National Pet Diabetes Month as well. As veterinarians, we’re all for more awareness about this disease, as many people don’t realize how prevalent it is. In fact, 1 in every 200 cats will get it in their lifetime!

The sun is starting to set earlier and earlier and the temperature is getting cooler. Some parts of the U.S. have begun to see blankets of snow that seemingly showed up overnight. Our minds have turned to thoughts of fireplaces and mugs of hot cocoa. We see our sleeping pets curled up and content on their bed when, all a sudden, their head pops up and they start to chew on their hip. “It can’t be a flea!” you think, noting the time of year and the chill in the air.

Ever wonder why there are so many older dogs found in shelters? Most people assume they were left there due to the dog misbehaving, are aggressive, or untrainable. Contrary to popular belief, most of the time, these notions are false.