Blog Posts by Webvet

By WebVet.com
Dog helping the familyThe benefits of owning a dog are seemingly never-ending. They provide companionship, encourage physical fitness, brighten moods, introduce lovers -- even save you money. Oh, and they can also save your life. The Daily Mail identified six conditions for which canines can drastically improve the quality of a sufferer's existence. As if you needed any more proof that dogs are amazing.

DIABETES

Diabetes alert dogs are being used to alert type 1 diabetics that their blood sugar is too low and they are at risk of a dangerous "hypo." This can happen through not eating enough or from accidentally taking too much insulin, but some diabetics might not notice the warning signs, such as going pale and feeling shaky. A diabetes alert dog can detect a change in body odor that can indicate low blood sugar, says Dr Claire Guest, of the charity Medical Detection Dogs. "We train our dogs to lick, nudge and stare at someone having a hypo, to make sure the person knows they should fetch

By WebVet.com
Cat with foodDiamond Pet Foods has expanded its recall yet again after two cats died shortly after eating their product.

The Calgary Herald reported that two cats at a Montreal shelter passed away and a third is sick after consuming Diamond products thought to be contaminated with salmonella. One person is also believed to have become ill after handling the food.

However, Diamond did not call special attention to the expansion of the recall to cat food aside from amending a statement on the company's recall site which says, "Diamond Pet Foods has voluntarily recalled some brands of dry dog and cat food that it manufactured in its Gaston, S.C. facility between December 9, 2011 and April 7, 2012 due to potential Salmonella contamination."

Affected brands manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods include:

• Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul
• Country Value
• Diamond
• Diamond Naturals
• Premium Edge
• Professional
• 4 Health
• Taste of the Wild
• Apex
• Kirkland

By WebVet.com
Lovable petsFostering animals is a common practice of rescues and shelters. People temporarily open their lives and houses to pets in need until those animals find their forever homes. It's a wonderful process, with many benefits, including:

1. It saves adoptable animals from possible death at an overcrowded shelter.
2. It gives the animals a happy home, as opposed to a crowded shelter environment, while they await to be adopted.
3. It gives the foster parent the experience of having a pet without the long-term commitment.
4. It allows the foster family to learn the animal's personality so they can better match them with a forever family.

Abandoned pets need your help - Webvet

However, it's also a difficult process, as a foster parent often becomes attached to the pet in their care, making it hard to part ways when the time comes. In fact, sometimes they can't. Dancing With the Stars judge and animal advocate Carrie Ann Inaba admits that she is a "failed foster."

What is that?

By WebVet.com
Aggressive dogDog bites are dangerous -- and expensive -- business. State Farm Insurance revealed that injuries stemming from approximately 3,800 canine chomp claims cost them $109 million last year. This is up from 2010, when the company paid $90 for about 3,5000 claims.

The state in which most incidents occurred was California, unsurprising as it's also home to more dogs than any other. State Farm spokesperson Eddie Martinez said that 527 claims were filed in California in 2011 and the victims were paid $20.3 million -- 31 percent from 2010.

WebVet: When To Tell Your Dog 'No'

More Dog Bite Stats:

• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs each year and more than half of the victims are children.
• Approximately 800,000 people seek medical attention for the bites and less than half of those people require treatment.
• The agency said that about 16 a year die.
• After children ages 5 to 9 years old, the agency said

By Hope Schultz for WebVet.com
Dog in human bedNo matter where you go in the world today, the trend seems relatively consistent. For those of us who love our dogs - and we are many - we unquestionably treat them more like people than pets. And, as we should!

A recent study published by David Blouin of Indiana University indicates that while this behavior tends to be somewhat of a global phenomenon, those of us who live in urban areas are more likely than those in rural environments to treat our pets as if they are our children. So while a precious Poodle in New York City might spend more than her share on the latest fashions, it's highly unlikely that Bessie the Cow is looking for the latest hoof wear styles on TopShop. But then you never know.

Related: What Is Your Cat's IQ?
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And then there are those lovely Europeans who revere their pets to the extent that they take them almost everywhere with them! They travel with their pets, shop with them and, in some cases, even dine with them. Take Paris

By WebVet.com

A dog -- and a whole lot of cash -- are caught in the middle of a messy breakup between a New York man and his ex-girlfriend, who now lives in California with the puggle named Knuckles. Craig Dershowitz, 34, has spent over $60,000 trying to win custody of Knuckles from Sarah Brega, claiming she "kidnapped" the pooch after their split.

Brega claims that Dershowitz gifted her Knuckles as a puppy, but he counters that they agreed she would only retain custody until he found a place to live following the split. Both hired lawyers and filed court papers back in February.

WebVet: What Is Your Cat's IQ?

Faced with the massive legal bill, Dershowitz is looking for financial help online via "Rescue Knux." The site offers a variety of compensation for donations, ranging from "a virtual smooch" from the dog, for $10, to a customized mural done by "legends of graffiti," for $10,000. The goal is to raise $20,000 by June 16.

WebVet: Tim Tebow Changes Dog's Name From Bronco To

By WebVet.com
Ashleigh and Pudsey were overcome with emotion. Well, Ashleigh was, Pudsey was looking for beef on the floor
Photo credit: ITV

2012 really is turning out to be the year of the dog. First Uggie is the toast of the Oscars and now Pudsey -- a six-year-old Border Collie/Bichon Frise/Chinese Crested mix -- beat out 60,000 people in the UK to be crowned the winner of Britain's Got Talent (with some help some his owner Ashleigh Butler).

After a season of competition, Simon Cowell hailed Ashleigh and Pudsey's synchronized dance routines as one of his "favorite ever acts." "I adore both of you," Cowell said. "You have got better and better as the competition has progressed and to do what you did in such a short time is a miracle."

The duo received half a million pounds -- or $803,625 -- over finalists that included a pop-opera duo, synchronized swimmers and a Welsh boys' choir.

First Susan Boyle, now Pudsey. Wonder what is in store on the new America's Got Talent?? Besides Howard Stern of course.

Check out a video of Ashleigh and Pudsey

More from WebVet!

• Adorable Animal Mothers

By Barbara Sharnak
CarrieAnnInabaWe often see pictures of celebs out strolling with the dogs, but it's rare to get a peek inside their homes, where we know most cat-loving takes place. Even though we might not get to watch the stars cuddle with their purring furballs, rest assured there is a large cat-loving population in Hollywood.

Here are just a few of them:

Russell Brand: His ex-wife Katy Perry might have taken her cat - named Kitty Purry - when they split, but Brand has felines of his own. He once told Rachel Ray, "One of them, Morrissey - the oldest - he's on Valium, cat Valium. I didn't think I'd ever have a cat psychiatrist in my house, let alone a man waving a crystal over my cat's head."

Related: Tim Tebow Changes Dog's Name From Bronco To Bronx

Jenna Fischer: Good thing she's not married to Dwight in real life. (Does anyone remember when he "took care" of Angela's cat?) The Office star once described a night of relaxation with her cat Andy, saying in an interview "I love to sit by the