Blog Posts by vetstreet.com

From sour-faced kitties to dogs who backflipped their way to Vegas, amazing pets dominated our TV screens, bookshelves and Internet memes. We caught up with the year's most buzzed-about pets to get the inside scoop on how they're wrapping up the year - and what 2013 may have in store for them.

More on Vetstreet:

* Britney Spears, Jimmy Fallon & Taylor Swift's Pets Among the 10 Top Celeb Pets of 2012

* Top 10 Kitten Names of the Year

* Why Does My Dog... Roll Over On Her Back When Scared?

* Do Any Dogs Need Sweaters or Coats? Only 3 Types Do

Whether they were rescued, found themselves in the lap of luxury or walked the bride down the aisle in a headline-grabbing wedding, all of these star-studded pets were winners this year. Check out our gallery to see why these celebrity pets made news in 2012.

See More on vetstreet.com:
* Top 10 Puppy Names and Top 10 Kitten Names of the Year
* Photos: Comfort Dogs Bring Comfort to a Grieving Connecticut Town
* 5 Once-Popular Dog Breeds Sadly Losing Popularity

Although our feline friends have plenty of fur to keep them warm in the winter, it's hard to resist dressing them up in cozy sweaters, especially around the holidays. Here are seven cats who would probably rather get a lion cut, visit the vet or have their claws clipped than squeeze into a humiliating and itchy wool sweater.

See More on vetstreet.com:
* Top 10 Kitten Names of the Year
* 7 Foods to NEVER Feed Your Cat
* Cat Oversees School Crosswalk

By Caroline Golon

Bringing Bugsy home was worth the risk of a big fight.When Ronni and Bruce Keller's 15-year-old dog, Jaden, passed away, they were devastated. So was their other dog, Harris. After weeks of seeing Harris become more and more depressed, Ronni decided to get another dog to keep him company, much to her husband's chagrin.

Ronni says of Bruce, "He was either going to kill me or divorce me."

The Kellers, who live in Las Vegas, hadn't expected Harris to be so blue when Jaden died. "We tried everything. New toys, extra fun exercise, begging … pleading," Ronni says. But nothing seemed to make a difference in Harris' mood.

See Also: Would You Date a Man Who Didn't Like Pets?

After two months of watching Harris mope around the house, Ronni finally broke down and went looking for a new dog, unbeknownst to Bruce. She found a Lhasa Apso who was in desperate need of a family and brought him home … while her husband was at work.

While Harris was

By Susan Wagner
Feeling a little overwhelmed by well-meant holiday cheer? It might be time to bust out the ugly Christmas sweaters - for you and Fido. This year, deck the halls with just a little bit of irony with one of these fun and festive (and not-so-serious) dog sweaters.

See More on vetstreet.com:

* 5 Once-Popular Dog Breeds That Are Sadly Losing Popularity
* Why Does My Dog... Stare at Me?
* 14 Dog Breeds You've Never Heard of (But Soon Will)

By Shayna Meliker | December 18, 2012

In the days since the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the small Connecticut town of Newtown has seen a continuous outpouring of compassion - and not just from humans.

See More on vetstreet.com:

* 5 Once-Popular Dog Breeds That Are Sadly Losing Popularity
* Why Does My Dog... Stare at Me?
* 14 Dog Breeds You've Never Heard of (But Soon Will)

Comfort dogs visit children in Newtown, Conn.A team of 10 Golden Retrievers who are trained to provide comfort to those in need, and their handlers, traveled from the Chicago area this weekend to Newtown, Conn., where a gunman tragically killed 20 children and seven adults on Friday. The dogs are bred and trained by Lutheran Church Charities. They're placed in schools and churches and visit hospitals and nursing homes - and are often deployed to disaster scenes. "Dogs are nonjudgmental. They are loving. They are accepting of anyone," said Tim Hetzner, the organization's president. "It creates the atmosphere for people to share." CNN's Don Lemon interviewed Hetzner on Sunday night at a makeshift memorial in Newtown. "I haven't really seen anyone smiling out here and these dogs showed up and the kids started smiling," Lemon said. - Read it at AP via the Boston Herald and watch it on CNN via YouTube

More on Vetstreet.com:
* A Day in the Life of Gracie the Comfort Dog
* 13 Largest Dog Breeds That Are Towering and Commanding
* 5

By Dr. Marty Becker

A rescue kitty named Thriller helps her owner decorate for the holidays.Q. Help! My cat won't leave the Christmas tree alone. How do I keep him out of the tree?

A. It's generally best to set up the tree so your cat can't get to it at all. With dogs, you can usually block off a tree with a fold-up children's play yard or a canine exercise pen, but a normal cat will laugh at so feeble an attempt to contain him. Instead, set up the tree in a room with doors you can close, choosing, say, a formal living room over a more open family room, so it's easy to deny access to the tree when you're not around. You could also try making a "moat" of foil around the tree - cats hate walking on the stuff - but that may understandably not appeal to you as part of your holiday decor.

See Also: How to Keep Cats Off Kitchen Counters

Work to burn off your cat's excess energy away from the tree, such as in interactive play with a cat "fishing" toy or a laser pointer. Even young cats spend most of their lives asleep, and if you can occupy some of