Blog Posts by vetstreet.com

By Dr. Marty Becker | vetstreet.com

ThinkstockAs a veteran veterinarian with more than three decades of practice under my belt, it has been a long time since I've been anything other than matter-of-fact about any medical procedure. I believe in "sharpening my saw," as Stephen Covey advised in his classic book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, and that means I work to keep myself on the cutting edge of veterinary medicine.

But recently I found myself in a situation with no cutting edge at all. I was in training for a new neutering technique, one that has the potential to revolutionize how we care for our dogs. I had been looking forward to the training for weeks, but I have to admit there was just a split second of hesitation as I slid a needle into the testicles of the dog before me.

Related: Top Questions Answered on Spaying or Neutering Your Pet

My microsecond of manly hesitation was immediately overwhelmed by enthusiasm. I had just "Zeutered" my first pet, and I

By Dr. Tina Wismer | vetstreet.com

iStockPhotoMany of us love the smell of lavender, cinnamon or jasmine, but what about our pets?

Aromatherapy has been touted to reduce anxiety, enhance energy and induce relaxation in people. But there are few scientific studies that have looked at the use of aromatherapy for pets and whether it has the same effects in them. As a result, there are certain rules of thumb that should be followed whenever you use these products around your pets.

Aromatherapy uses essential oils to create all those wonderful scents that we humans love to breathe in deeply and enjoy. It's important to realize, however, that many of these substances that seem relaxing to us are, in fact, volatile compounds, which means they can be potentially toxic to pets at certain concentrations. Animals and people are different in how they react to these substances, and your veterinarian should always be consulted before using these products around your four-footed

Last year, Dr. Patty Khuly wrote an article for Vetstreet on why dogs sleeping belly up? Based on your comments about that story, it sounds like many of your dogs (and cats!) are relaxed, easygoing pets who love snoozing on their backs. Your four-legged friends look so cute with their paws in the air we couldn't resist showing off some of our 10 favorites.

More on Vetstreet.com:

* 10 Surprising Things About How Animals Sleep
* Why Does My Cat... Hate Belly Rubs?
* Why Does My Dog... Walk in a Circle Before Lying Down?

By Mikkel Becker | vetstreet.com

Cat Misconceptions DispelledCats are the most popular pet in the United States; they are intelligent, affectionate and mysterious creatures. Despite this popularity - and perhaps because of their air of mystery - there are many misconceptions about cats that cause both social and physical problems for these animals.

Here are six common-but-false assumptions about felines - and the truth behind them.

False. Separation can be stressful for cats. Specifically, separation anxiety may manifest in behaviors such as urination and defecation outside of the litterbox, vocalization, vomiting, excessive grooming, lack of appetite, anxiety at departure or an exuberant greeting when you return. To keep your cat happy, it essential to limit their time alone and provide them with stimulation and interaction in the form of play, petting, food toys and perches. If you have an extremely stressed cat, it's essential to make an

By Amy Sinatra Ayres | vetstreet.com

Don't keep trying to fight it, pup. Just go off to dreamland.

By Mikkel Becker | vetstreet.com

Don't let a myth harm your relationship with your dog.Although dog training has become more of a science than a craft in recent years, some persistent myths still mislead us when reading canine behavior. Don't let a myth harm your relationship with your pooch. Here, we dispel 7 common myths and look at the facts.

False. Old dogs not only learn new tricks but they thrive when trained. My late Pomeranian, Mr. Teddy, who was adopted at an estimated 10 to 13 years of age, was a training superstar in Vetstreet videos, which were filmed two weeks before he passed away. By the same token, older dogs without housetraining experience as puppies can successfully be housetrained. As long as a dog is mentally and physically capable of learning to perform a behavior and is properly motivated, it's entirely possible to train her. While intense agility training for Teddy was not realistic, teaching basic commands was.

By Gina Spadafori

French Bull DogLike many people in late middle age, I find myself wondering if my next dog will be different. I have long shared my life with retrievers - active, field-bred dogs who throw themselves with joy into every situation (and every puddle of water bigger than a dinner plate). Their boisterousness is infectious: My dogs make me happy. But in 10 years, or 15, or 20, will I be up to the demands of dogs like these?

Or will a nice, quiet little spaniel be the dog I need?

My answer may be different than others, even among people of similar age (55), health (reasonably good) and activity level (decent, could be better). I live in a rural pocket near an urban center, and I can always walk out my back door and engage a bored retriever in a heart-thumping game of fetch in my horse pasture. But I won't always be able to lift a sick or injured 70-pound dog, and that's an unchangeable truth. These types of concerns explain in part the increased popularity of small dogs

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?