Blog Posts by vetstreet.com

By Laura Cross

We just can't get enough of this French Bulldog who dresses up in such cute and creative costumes that we don't know how she could possibly outdo herself for Halloween. When the Frenchie isn't mugging for the camera with a lei around her neck or a flower on her head, she's snuggling up with her favorite human, Olive, the super adorable baby, or clowning around with her canine bestie, Ruby. And, don't worry - the fashionable Frenchie seems to adore dressing up.

More on Vetstreet.com:

* 5 Popular Dog Breeds This Veterinarian Wouldn't Mind Seeing Less Of

* USA Just Became a Safe Place for Pets

* Is It OK to Kiss Your Pet?

By Lisa Granshaw

JustRosie.comImagine spending the first two years of your life in a house with 40 other dogs, hiding under a piece of furniture to avoid being trampled and never going outside to play in the sun. These horrible conditions are how Rosie, a 2-year-old Chihuahua, lived until being rescued from a backyard breeder in June 2012.

"She looked like a rat or an anteater. It was hard to figure out. So when you see that at first, it's hard to comprehend that that's a dog," says Cinnamon Muhlbauer, Rosie's rescuer. "I knew I had to get her and see what could be done."

The breeder and animal hoarder Rosie lived with was brought to Muhlbauer's attention by a friend who noticed a sign in her neighbor's front yard advertising free puppies. When the friend went into the neighbor's house, she discovered Chihuahuas who had been inbreeding for years, resulting in a number of puppies with deformities like Rosie's. When Muhlbauer arrived, she took Rosie and two other pups and went

By Kristen Seymour

For every name that moves up a mark on the list of the top 100 most popular cat names, another name has to slide. And some names have fallen more than their fair share over the past decade, with a few dropping off the list completely.

Do any of these names ring a bell? They might be losing ground now, but they were certainly popular once upon a time!

See More on vetstreet.com:

* 10 Trendiest and 10 Least-Trendy Dog Names
* Most Common Health Conditions in Cats
* 10 People Foods Pets Can and (Can't Eat)

By Dr. Marty Becker

Smooches With KittyThere's a controversy in veterinary medicine that divides the profession, and it's over something that many pet owners never give a second thought: kissing your pets. As you might imagine, I have some thoughts on this topic. Because, yes, I kiss my pets, and yes, I know I probably shouldn't.

To Kiss or Not to Kiss

Not long ago, Dr. Christina Winn came out in favor of pet kissing in a Veterinary Economics cover piece. Dr. Winn was looking at ways to develop better communications with pet owners so pets will be more likely to get the care they need. The antikissing contingent blew her a raspberry soon after, with a letter signed by a handful of veterinarians, including my good friend Dr. Tony Johnson, a clinical assistant professor of critical care at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. Their point: It is indeed possible to catch something from such close contact with a pet.

See Also: 5 Dog Breeds that Put the "D" in Drool

I've taken

Break out your pink T-shirts and curly tails, fellow swine enthusiasts: March 1 is National Pig Day. According to the Los Angeles Times, the holiday was started in 1972 by sisters Ellen Stanley and Mary Lynne Rave to celebrate "one of man's most intellectual and domesticated animals." To celebrate this special holiday, we rounded up some of the most famous hogs of all time.

See More on vetstreet.com:

* Why Teacup Pigs Make Veterinarians Cringe
* VIDEO: Mini Pig vs. Big Dog: Who Wins the Battle?

* 5 Popular Dog Breeds That Are Worrisome

By Amy Sinatra Ayres

Dog FoodIn the last two weeks, more than 45,000 pets have been signed up to receive Pet Food Stamps. The new program is donation-based, and its non-profit status is pending. Anyone in the U.S. can apply, and the program evaluates each claim by need and income. "It aims to prevent people from having to choose from feeding themselves or their pets or having to surrender their pet to a high-kill shelter,'' executive director Marc Okon told KRQE News. While many local pet food banks across the country offer food on an emergency basis, this program aims to offer longer-term help.

Pet Food Stamps isn't focusing on a city or state. Its goal is to help any approved person who is a U.S. citizen. Response to the program has crashed its web site. The group's Facebook page acknowledges the problem and says the group it trying to fix it. The program is 100% free and available pet food is listed at http://www.petfooddirect.com. The food is mostly geared for dogs and cats, but

By Shayna Meliker

This hilarious parody of T-Swift's "I Knew You Were Trouble" is tearing through the Interwebs right now, and we're sure you can appreciate why.

Every pet deserves a little pampering now and then - and we saw plenty of products at the 2013 Global Pet Expo that are sure to make your cat, dog or chicken feel like a million bucks.

More on Vetstreet.com:
* 5 Popular Dog Breeds That Are Worrisome
* Watermelon-Shaped Beds, MeowTini's and 8 Other Quirky Pet Products
* Meet America's New Top Dog