Veterinarians Inspire New Dog Foods
At least 7.3 million dogs in the United States are 11 years of age or older, according to researchers at University of California, Davis. Since North American and European dogs have an average life span of 12.8 years, the numbers suggest that more canines than ever are reaching their senior years, likely pushing the life span limits ever upward. That's a testament to how well we are caring for our pets, including the quality of the food we offer them each day. Health concerns are paramount in making such food choices. Just as these concerns now affect what we buy for ourselves, they influence what we purchase for our dogs, especially as they grow older, and health issues start to surface.

Veterinarians Who Visit You
Cathy Bryan, an accountant in Marina Del Rey, Calif., first discovered mobile, or house-call, veterinarians when she was planning a family trip. She almost had to cancel her vacation because she couldn't show a boarding facility proof of her cats' vaccinations. "I only realized a day before our trip that my cats were overdue for their vaccinations. I was up to my eyeballs trying to wrap everything up at work.... There was no physical way for me to get them to the vet before our trip." Desperate, she found a veterinarian who would come to her home to vaccinate her cats -- and she was hooked.

How Minor Cat Health Issues Become Major
It might sound like a page out of a spy novel, but your cat is a master of disguise. Unfortunately, this skill isn't always in your cat's best interest. That's because felines are adept at hiding health issues until illnesses can escalate into serious problems.

A Puppy Health Primer
The day you bring home a little puppy for the first time is a memorable one. It's exciting to add a new four-legged member to the family. And in these first days, it is critical to begin laying the groundwork for how you will care for your precious puppy's health and medial needs. Here are a few of the basic essentials to get you started.