Podcast: Play in new window | Download It can begin with seeing a flash of light, or maybe a tingling sensation coupled with unusual tiredness. Then the pounding begins. Migraines can be profound and debilitating, and adults are not alone in suffering these most excruciating headaches. Up to one-fifth of kids in their early childhood [...]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download Whether you ride for transportation, ride for sport, or even just ride for fun, for kids and adults alike, the power of pedaling is a great way to maintain good health and stay fit. But you don’t have to ride hundreds of miles to reap the health benefits [...]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download Dog parks are popular gathering spots for pooch lovers and their canine companions. The exercise and socialization are fun for all, but infectious organisms can be lurking to spoil the party. Dogs can shed parasites, like giardia (gē-ARE-dē –ah) and cryptosporidium (cryp-tō-spore-ID-ē-um), in feces. Most combo heartworm preventive [...]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download What is it about catnip that makes our feline friends go bonkers? Catnip is actually a relative of the mint family. Thirty to 90 percent of cats react to catnip with responses ranging from mild interest to wild excitement. All cats, even large ones, with the exception of [...]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download If your pet becomes blind, of course you’ll worry how her quality of life will be affected. Truth is, most blind cats and dogs barely skip a beat. Animals adjust more seamlessly if they lose sight over time instead of overnight. But even sighted dogs and cats rely [...]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download Puppy cuteness is tough to resist, so it’s no surprise that shelter pups are often quickly adopted. But what about senior shelter dogs? They are often passed by, yet they have so much to offer. Older dogs are open books where size, grooming needs and behavior are concerned. [...]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download Thanks to a slew of TV programs about crime scene investigation, more and more people are becoming aware of forensic science. Now C-S-I has moved into the veterinary arena. Initiatives such as the veterinary forensic program at the University of Florida have joined the American Association for the [...]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download If your cat is nearing middle or old age, keep an eye out for signs of hyperthyroidism, a common disease of older cats. Thyroid glands in the neck normally produce hormones to drive the body’s engine, or metabolism. But enlarged glands produce too much of a good thing. [...]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download Each year a sobering number of human medications top the list of common pet poisons. And a number of them are found in every household. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like ibuprofen, are number one. Even small doses can cause stomach ulcers and severe kidney damage in pets. Antidepressants and [...]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download The list of seemingly innocuous household items that can harm pet birds is startling. Fumes from heated nonstick coatings on pans or in ovens are often fatal to birds. And virtually all aerosols should be considered dangerous as should bleach vapors and scented oils in candles, incense and [...]