veterinarian.

MelvinSchlubman, Flickr Just like the demise of the sole family medical doctor, small veterinary practices are disappearing. Vets are expanding their practices with new facilities, state-of-the-art technology, additional vets, and larger staffs. But despite the many improvements, a human touch may be lost in shuffle. Bigger is not always better. If you notice that your vet's level of service isn't the same as it used to be, it might be time to change vets. Here are some warning signs to consider if you and your pet find yourselves in this situation: - Is there a long wait and/or increased fee to see your vet? - Does the staff lack a personal touch? Do they treat your concerns properly by ...

powazny, Flickr By Dr. Patty Khuly, via Vetstreet Each year, I write about the new stuff I learned throughout the course of the year. This annual post is usually aimed at the geek in you--and all my interesting findings from 2011 happen to be science-based and fall well within the sphere of veterinary medicine. (Although some of my favorites trend toward the more personal.) SEE ALSO: Secret Lives of Cats: 9 Things Your Cat Won't Tell You So here, in no particular order, are the top seven veterinary things that inspired me in 2011. 1. Tuna With Lemon Works Best to Tempt Finicky Cats For some reason, the new tinned tuna "with a hint of lemon" has improved my trapping efficacy. One of my ...

Mr. Wright, Flickr The 7 Things Pet Owners Do That Drive Veterinarians Crazy by Dr. Patty Khuly, via Vetstreet It's a tough subject to tackle. After all, veterinarians do plenty of annoying things, too. But this particular post is all about you - well, not you, but the annoying yous among you. Not that most of you deserve this, but some of you just might! So without any further hedging, let me launch into the most annoying things pet owners do. 1. Answer Their Cells Need I say more? Is there anything more annoying and disrespectful than answering a phone call while your vet is delivering her state-of-your-pet's-health address? OK, it might be worse if you dug out your phone to initiate a ...

Pet surgery. clstal, Flickr Every veterinarian offers basic care such as vaccinations, neuter surgery, and parasite control. But today, just as in human medicine, veterinary specialties offer modern techniques that go "beyond the basics." Here are just a few "wow" techniques now available to our cats and dogs. Most are available only in university settings or specialty practices. Ask your veterinarian if these or other procedures might have special benefit for your fur kids. Back Injury Treatment An innovative preventive procedure pioneered at Oklahoma State University called laser disk ablations treats dogs with a history of back pain. Instead of surgically removing damaged disks (as in ...

Anna Westhoff Each week, Ben Westhoff shares the ups and downs of owning Pippi, the Dalmatian mix he and his wife, Anna, adopted as a puppy in late 2009. Many readers expressed concern about our post from a couple weeks ago, in which we noted that, despite Pippi's traumatizing experience at the kennel earlier this year -- she got frighteningly sick and lost a bunch of weight -- we decided to bring her there again during a recent vacation. "Please reconsider," pleaded one Doggie Diaries reader. "I don't understand why you would put Pippi back in the same situation that made her so miserable before," said another. Trust us, we would prefer to board her with a friend or have someone come ...

Getty Images Amy D. Shojai is a certified animal behavior consultant and the award-winning author of 23 pet care books, including "Complete Kitten Care" and "Pet Care in the New Century: Cutting-Edge Medicine for Dogs & Cats." Cats get the short end of the health care stick. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, cats visit the vet much less frequently than dogs. It's not that felines are healthier (although cats do hide illness better) but many cats hate the vet so much their owners find it easier to just skip it. But even healthy cats need well exams once or twice a year. Cats are adept at protecting themselves from stranger danger. What's familiar is safe, while ...