During the holidays many of us are swept up in a whirlwind of activities including trimming trees, opening presents and spending time with friends and loved ones. Once the twinkly lights are extinguished, the gifts are distributed and the kids go to sleep with full bellies and warm hearts, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the year that’s passed and make resolutions for the upcoming year.

Gathering your family together for a delicious, festive feast is a holiday tradition. And, while you don’t have to completely exclude your pets from the celebration, you do need to watch out for the seemingly harmless holiday fixtures that could wreak havoc on their health. In this month’s informative episode of Pet Talk, our staff veterinarian Dr. Sarah sheds light on the things pet parents shouldn’t put under the Christmas tree. From errant table scraps, to cookies left out for Santa, to the delightful treats made for friends and family, if your dog or cat eats any of these, you could land on your vet's “naughty list”. The last thing you want to do this holiday season is forego eggnog and caroling in favor of urgent medical care for an ailing animal companion. So, watch this special yuletide message and enjoy the spirit of the season, responsibly! From all of us at Life's Abundance, we wish you a merry - and safe - holiday season!

Sometimes just meeting the basic necessities can be the greatest gift of all.

For most of us, the meal of the year is quickly fading from memory. While families, friends and neighbors gathered together last Thursday for Thanksgiving, others were slowly picking up the pieces of their lives after Hurricane Sandy, the largest Atlantic storm on record. Pummeling the East Coast beginning on October 29th, the death toll of the 1,000-mile-wide superstorm is estimated to be 113 human lives. Not tallied, and possibly unknowable, are the numbers of companion animals lost in the wake of this devastating weather event.

The inclusion of animals in medical settings is nothing new – in fact, dogs and other animals have been visiting hospitals and other medical care facilities for over 150 years. The benefits of using therapy dogs in facilities where comfort and affection may be in short supply have become strikingly evident in recent years – and the need for these canine volunteers has grown exponentially. In fact, many people have asked me what character traits make for a good therapy dog. Since it’s a wonderful way to help someone in need, I’m glad to use this forum to discuss what makes a good therapy dog and give you an introduction to getting your dog started in this most noble of vocations.

“Oh the weather outside is frightful” … so be careful out there! Winter will soon wrap her cold, sleety arms around much of the country. We want to remind everybody to take special precautions to keep their fur kids safe and healthy. In this episode of Pet Talk, staff veterinarian Dr. Sarah devotes time to the crucial topic of cold-weather safety. And that goes double for those of you with a puppy romping around in that wintry mix.

In this thrilling episode of Pet Talk, Dr. Sarah peers into her crystal ball and treats pet parents to some special tricks to help fur-kids have a happy and healthy Halloween. Our staff veterinarian offers some timely tips on keeping your pets’ paws off potentially hazardous candies. Further, Dr. Sarah conjures up the perfect spell to keep your furry friends from unexpectedly venturing out among the other creatures of the night! And, since tasty treats are central to All Hallow’s Eve, Dr. Sarah reveals some healthier options made especially with your four-footers’ nutritional needs and well-being in mind. In the brief video, you’ll learn all sorts of helpful tricks for taking the fear out of your Halloween celebration!

One of the most amazing things about canines is the astounding range of sizes and shapes they come in. From Saint Bernards to Chihuahuas - and everything in between – there’s a dizzying array of physical variations. This explosion of varieties has happened extraordinarily quickly in terms of evolutionary timescales due to relentless selective breeding by humans and, as a result of our genetic meddling, the dog is now the physically most diverse land animal on the planet.

On behalf of the Dr. Jane’s HealthyPetNet Foundation, it is our privilege to announce the gift of yet another financial award. This month’s featured group is Animal Friends Humane Society, a non-profit based in Boerne, TX. Saving canine lives since 2000, this impressive little group was established with the goal of serving a small part of the greater San Antonio area where over 50,000 dogs and cats are euthanized annually. During the last 12 years, they’ve continued to grow and foster their own place in the community.