Imagine this scenario: A friend comes over to visit with her 3-year-old daughter. The child plays for a few minutes then gets up, says goodbye, and walks out the front door by herself. It is not hard to relate to…

In human medicine, physical therapy has been a long-standing practice for a variety of disorders with proven results. Today, those same principles of rehabilitation have become integrated into veterinary medicine.The goals are the same and include improving mobility, decreasing pain,…

A friend of mine is afraid of dogs and always imagines scenarios that might unfold when someone approaches with a dog that does not appear to be under control. In Richmond and the surrounding counties, there are leash laws that…

With all of the recent news and public discussion about affordable healthcare and mandatory insurance coverage for people, have you thought about your furry family members? Over the past several decades our pets have moved from roaming outside on the…

My mom is in her seventies, lives alone in an apartment, and recently mentioned she would love to have a companion dog. In determining what breed, size, exercise, and grooming requirements would be best for her in a dog, we…

They hide and wait until you’re about to doze off and then pounce on your feet, snug under a blanket. They stalk the rubber band that just fell to the floor, or the dust bunny that's hardly visible under the…

If your dog stares at you incessantly, barks at you, or paws and nudges you, he is demanding attention. But more notably, your dog may be bored. The importance of mental stimulation is significant and cannot be understated. Interaction with…

As parents, we are sometimes frustrated with the behavior of our children, and sometimes exasperated by our dogs. However, when the interaction between them is the issue, it becomes all the more difficult to correct. Often we need to change…