The reason a dog has so many friends
is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.
-Anonymous

Quick Dog Pool Tips

Jumping into the water is a great way for your dog to cool off, especially on hot, steamy days. Swimming can also be a great everyday activity, since it's easy on the joints, but never force it on your pup if he isn't a fan of the water.

If he is a fan, always be cautious of water quality, and don't let him drink from the pool, lake, stream, or ocean. Swallowing too much salt water or chlorine can very quickly make your dog sick.

Keep a close eye on him while he's paddling around, and help him steer clear of deep waters and strong currents.

Acupuncture for Pets

Acupuncture is becoming increasingly popular among the savviest of pet owners as a great option for controlling pets’ pain and treating a variety of ailments. Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist Bridget Halligan, DVM, treats dogs and cats with acupuncture at West Chelsea Veterinary in Manhattan.

"More and more of our clients request acupuncture as a first resort treatment," says Dr. Halligan, DVM, CVA, of West Chelsea Veterinary. "New Yorkers not only want the best for their pets, but have the know-how to seek out every medical option available." Dr. Halligan says more people are specifically seeking acupuncture, and she’s glad she’s providing one more treatment option for her four-legged patients and their owners.

In acupuncture therapy, tiny needles are inserted into certain points of a pet’s body to cause the release of endogenous opioids such as beta endorphins, the body’s natural pain-killers, and smaller amounts of cortisol, an anti-inflammatory steroid. The needles are so small they cause only minimal discomfort. Veterinary acupuncturists most commonly treat cats, dogs, cows and horses, but can also treat exotic pets like birds, ferrets and rabbits.

While acupuncture’s popularity is ever-increasing for companion animals, it isn’t new to veterinary medicine at all. In fact, acupuncture has been used to treat both people and animals for thousands of years. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the earliest known writings about alternative medicines, such as acupuncture, date back to 2800 B.C., and the first uses of acupuncture for animals can be traced from 136 to 265 A.D. in China. The earliest versions of animal acupuncture were practiced on large working animals and involved the application of pressure from sharp stones to specific points on the animal’s body.

Today, Dr. Halligan says her patients are initially treated once weekly for four weeks. “If a pet responds positively, the results are usually noticed within those first four treatments, and sometimes earlier depending upon the condition. Veterinary acupuncture provides an important treatment option for patients with orthopedic, neurological and geriatric issues.”

Media Opportunities: Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist Dr. Bridget Halligan, DVM, of West Chelsea Veterinary is available for interview. Media inquiries and booking requests, please contact: Julie Robbins (646) 981-3342 / Julie@FetchingCommunications.com

Top 10 Dog Names

What are the top 10 dog names? My dogs (Rocco, Kelso) didn't make the list. But perhaps your dog made it?

Top 10 Male Pet Names

1. MAX
2. BUDDY
3. JAKE
4. ROCKY
5. BAILEY
6. BUSTER
7. CODY
8. CHARLIE
9. BEAR
10. JACK

Top 10 Female Pet Names

1. MOLLY
2. MAGGIE
3. DAISY
4. LUCY
5. SADIE
6. GINGER
7. CHLOE
8. BAILEY
9. SOPHIE
10. ZOE

Top 10 Cat Names

What are the most popular pet names? For the second year in a row the name "Max" has taken top honors as the nation's most popular pet name according to research by Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI).

A survey of VPI's 300,000-plus policyholders showed that Bailey, Buddy, Molly, Maggie, Lucy, Jake, Daisy, Rocky and Sadie rounded out the top ten pet names rankings.


Top 10 Male Pet Names

1. MAX
2. BUDDY
3. JAKE
4. ROCKY
5. BAILEY
6. BUSTER
7. CODY
8. CHARLIE
9. BEAR
10. JACK

Top 10 Female Pet Names

1. MOLLY
2. MAGGIE
3. DAISY
4. LUCY
5. SADIE
6. GINGER
7. CHLOE
8. BAILEY
9. SOPHIE
10.ZOE

Open Letter To Our Pets

I've printed this before, but it's still funny and right-on!

Dear Dogs and Cats,

The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food.

Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack.

Beating me to the bottom is not the object.

Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort.

Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, and try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years -- canine or feline attendance is not required.

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt.

I cannot stress this enough!

Growth of Healthy Food Industry

As everyone has noticed, the health and wellness craze is the hottest segment of the food industry and has been for several years. The pet food industry has also taken notice. Natural pet food, once a small and unnoticed category, is now the mainstream focus of every pet food company on the market.

What has been the niche of entrepreneurs has now caught on with the pet food marketing giants. Each now has its own version of natural pet food.

It is now up to the consumer to filter through the many products, which estimates put at more then 120 brand offerings and more then 5,000 natural, holistic, and organic pet food items.

My choice of foods, especially since the tainted pet food issues, has been to focus on the smaller, though well-known, makers of natural foods. I have stayed away from the larger, commercial –type companies who are making what they call natural foods. The problem is that the larger companies have a bigger marketing budget which may overshadow their ingredients in the minds of consumers.