Breed Information:

Dalmation information for those thinking of getting one.

Thinking of getting a Saint Bernard? Temperaments vary greatly in this particular breed, so arm yourself with knowledge about Saint Bernard temperament before you get one.

An aside: Some really cool reading on Great St. Bernard Pass. The hospice founded there in 1049 is still operating. First you may want the basic background information. Don't forget the picture links at the bottom of the page-while the bright web logo prominently placed on the beautiful pictures seems to defeat the purpose, it's still nice, and there is another link with pictures unaltered. But this 1957 article from National Geographic appealed to my sense of adventure.

Want to know more about your dog's breed standards? AKC breed standards are here for the reading.

Resources for pet loss: It's hard saying goodbye when a pet dies. Animals are members of the family. If you've lost a pet, we have a link with support hotline numbers for you, a couple of which are toll-free, and the hotlines are staffed by university veterinary students. You may also join us at our forum and find support from others who have been in the same shoes. Get phone numbers for pet loss hotlines here. Also, a comforting page that answers some questions we have when a pet dies is useful as well.

Health Information:

Read Kosmar's parvovirus articles in the blogs at Aidan's Positive Petzine.

Please read this excellent article with important considerations about vaccinations before vaccinating your pet.

This article about coccidia is important reading. The symptoms can be similar to parvo, and it can be terminal for your dog or cat. (Shameless plug: we carry Kocci-Free if your animal has this ailment-and yes-the ingredients are designed to effectively help your pet fight off the parasite.)

All kinds of important information about pet products, the latest news in pet food (not only recalls but dangerous trends in manufacturing), and a wealth of need-to-know consumer information about pet products is available for your use. You can also put your animal's breed in the search engine.

Eastgate's Make Your Pet A Star contest is up and running. Click for a chance to enter; there are a couple of other contests for those who are interested. Update: Eastgate is now inviting investors, members, and screenwriters to get on board. Check out the opportunities at their website.


Technical papers you'll want to read:

Sick animal? You'll want to read this paper to vets about disinfection. This offers a few things to consider about the importance of disinfecting your home as well, and will raise your awareness about risks and management. Get your copy of this PDF file about infection risks and management.

All kinds of PDF files from Iowa State University explains how a pet's eating animal feces can lead to blindness. Humans can also be infected. Get the scoop on how dogs eating feces can go blind.

Information galore on canine, feline, and porcupine parvovirus for you. (Note: human parvovirus (B19) has nothing to do with canine or feline; some believe the main harmful effects appear to be in those with sickle cell anemia and occasionally the fetus of pregnant women. Usually it causes a rash in children. More information including when to seek medical attention is in this nontechnical CNN article on human parvovirus. Be that as it may, there are other immunity issues linked with human parvovirus. Certainly worth a read.

Would you like heartworm information? Here's the place to get it.