Orchid Springs Animal Hospital

Living in tropical Florida means we may be exposed to many wild life encounters. The other day I found a baby alligator in my driveway! I gently scooped him in a bucket and released him back into our lake, hoping not to see mama gator around!

Recently we have been blessed to have two of our team members give birth to healthy babies. Both moms have several pets at home and took the steps necessary to have them healthy and free of intestinal parasites prior to their babies' arrival. This got me thinking about pregnant women and their risks to zoonotic diseases.....

Summer storms are in full swing and they bring a rise in storm related phobias for pets. I have seen a myriad of dog injuries from fearful panicked dogs attempting to hide away from the noise....

Although some pets are conditioned to cold weather, veterinary experts agree that you should bring outdoor pets indoors if the temperature drops below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Of course in our sunny state extreme cold weather is rare. The cold fronts we've experienced lately have been devastating for some wildlife and have required our pets to be inside.

I recently attended the Orlando NAVC, one of the biggest veterinary conferences in the world. One of the most startling things I learned was that veterinarians are considered the third most trusted profession, after pharmacist and nurses. I believe this trust stems from the fact that veterinarians (in general) are more willing to express their emotions than other professionals (like physicians).

As a reward for being our constant companions, in sickness and heath, many pets are now included in their owner's wills. Celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Betty White, along with millions of other pet owners, plan to leave money for their pets. But, without proper planning, the courts could take that money away!