It has become ever more difficult for many people to care for their pets properly in the current economy. For patients with serious health problems, veterinary bills can be astronomical. Nevertheless, there are some strategies that may make veterinary healthcare costs more manageable.

by Dr. Jody Kaufman

She had been with us since the ice storm. A good Samaritan found her wandering on North Road in Brentwood, thought she'd been hit by a car, and brought her to the clinic. It was a reasonable assumption — she was blind and had hemorrhage inside one eye. She was clearly not a stray: elderly, sweet, arthritic; there was no way she could have been living out on her own.

We made numerous phone calls — to the animal shelter, to all the surrounding veterinary clinics, to people who lived on North Road, and to the town offices, to see if anyone was missing a petite tortoiseshell cat; all to no avail. We treated her high blood pressure and her eyes, waiting for her people to show up. They never did. Brandy and Lindsay named her Camille.

by Dr. Jody Kaufman

Time seems to pass so quickly that it can take us by surprise when our pets show signs of aging. Under even the best circumstances, animals age at an accelerated rate compared to humans. The "seven years for one of ours" rule is a reasonable simplified estimate, but the rate of aging in dogs is based roughly on their size. A seven year-old Great Dane is geriatric, while a little poodle of the same age is only middle aged.