Photo by Nelson Chenault, USA Today

For some, it is very difficult to cope with the loss of a pet. You miss seeing your favorite fur-pal wandering around your home every day. But what if you could keep your pet, looking just as cute and happy as ever, even after he passes?

Taxidermy is typically a freeze-drying process that preserves the animal, keeping it in a life-like position so that it can be put on display. As more pet owners choose taxidermy as an option to commemorate their late pets, Animal Planet has been inspired to come out with their new reality TV show, American Stuffers.

How much does it cost? At Xtreme Taxidermy in Romance, Arkansas, the shop featured in Animal Planet’s new show, the basic price starts at $725 for any pet up to 10 pounds and an additional $49 for each extra pound. The process can take up to six months.

So what do you think, would you preserve your pet with taxidermy?

Read the full article on USA Today.

Now that they have been recognized by the American Kennel Club, the upcoming dog show will now include the following breeds:

American English Coonhound

American English Coonhound – This hunting companion, originally used to hunt fox and raccoons, will be added to the Hound group. These dogs are confident, sociable with humans and dogs, pleasant, and alert.

Cesky Terrier

Cesky Terrier - This little hunting terrier has a long and silky coat. They are very keen and alert and loyal to their owners.

Entlebucher Mountain Dog

Entlebucher Mountain Dog - This breed, added to the Herding group, is a native of Switzerland. This breed is not for the casual dog owner as it is a very active and energetic dog and requires thorough socialization.

Finnish Lapphund

Finnish Lapphund - This reindeer herding dog, also added to the Herding group, originates from northern Scandanavia. These friendly, intelligent dogs are very devoted to their family, making them a wonderful family pet.

Norwegian Lundehund

Norwegian Lundehund - This “Puffin Dog” originated as a hunting dog in arctic Norway that retrieved puffins which were an important meat source to local farmers. This unique dog, added to the Non-Sporting group typically has at least six toes on each paw for stability. While puffin hunting no longer occurs, this dog is now suited to be a cheerful, alert and somewhat mischievous pet.

Xoloitzcuintli

Xoloitzcuintli - This hard-to-pronounce dog breed, previously known as the Mexican Hairless, is the national dog of Mexico and is added to the Non-Sporting group. These intelligent dogs are easy to train and make a unique and enjoyable pet.

Photos and information courtesy of the Westminster Kennel Club website.

1. Calculate calories. The very starting point for feeding your pet is determining how many calories he needs on a daily basis. Every animal is different depending on his activity level, age, etc. so you might need to do a little trial and error. Dr. Ward provides a good formula on how to calculate the number of calories your pet needs:
   

   Divide your pet’s weight by 2.2. Multiply this figure times 30. Add 70 and you’ve got a good idea of how many calories you should be feeding a typical inactive, indoor spayed or neutered pet. Of course, each pet’s metabolism is different, so be sure to consult your veterinarian before starting a diet.

2. Measure meals. Rather than making a general guess, invest in a measuring cup for your pet’s food so that you can be sure that you’re feeding the proper amount at each meal.
3. Make wise treat choices. Purchase healthy, low-sugar, low-calorie treats for your pet and be sure to watch how many treats are being handed out each day. One way to give your pet the same amount of treats for fewer calories is to break the treats up into tiny bits which are still just as tasty and rewarding to your pet.
4. Consider veggies. Rather than processed pet treats, consider rewarding with healthy vegetables! Dr. Ward suggests baby carrots, broccoli, cucumbers, green beans, and celery. You can also add apples, bananas and ice cubes into the mix! For cats, he suggests a flake of salmon or tuna.
5. Daily exercise. We all know that good health is a result of diet and exercise which is what our pets need as well. Take your dog on a 2o-30 minute walk or get your cat to chase toys around the house for 5-15 minutes each day to improve cardiovascular health.
6. Supplements. Dr. Ward recommends supplements for cats and dogs, stating that a daily omega-3 fatty acid supplement will provide antioxidants that help prevent numerous diseases, ease joint pain, and encourage weight loss. Be sure to consult your veterinarian before starting any new supplements.
7. Low carbs. Check your pet food labels and try to cut back on the carbs. Look for low-grain or no-grain foods whose first listed ingredient is a protein source.

Read the entire article with more in-depth explanations on ABC News.

New cancer studies are using dogs as test subjects since they experience similar forms of cancer as humans, but typically run the course much quicker which would be helpful to determining whether the therapy works. Not only will these studies benefit humans, but also dogs and cats!

Rather than housing dogs as test subjects, the veterinary oncologists in Texas are hoping they can change the ways of research by providing a registry of dogs and cats that are diagnosed with cancer.

The registry identified its first patient in November, an 8-year-old Great Pyrenees with bone cancer. Instead of the standard treatment, amputation, Rowdy got an experimental procedure: radiation injected into 22 tiny holes drilled directly into the bone cancer. Two months later, Rowdy’s owner reports he is running around symptom-free, though Fossum stresses the six-month check-up will be the big test.

Now, dog can be man’s best friend in another role: helping find cures and treatments for cancer. What do you think about this? Would sign your pet into the registry if he/she were diagnosed with cancer?

Read the full article on msnbc.com.

Suzette Ackermann is one instructor spotlighted in the video, who started teaching dog-and-owner yoga after spending years teaching human yoga and parent-and-baby yoga. She knew pet owners felt much the same way about their pets that parents felt about their children, so wanted to give those pet owners the same opportunities as she was giving parents.

Traditional yoga poses like the Cobra, Tree, and Dancer are adapted to include dogs during the yoga session. One pet parent was interviewed, stating that she felt more bonded with her dog after a doga session and feels her dog listens to her better because they are involved in doga.

Susette also points out that because pet owners in Hong Kong are not allowed to take their pets into parks, many dogs don’t get a chance to socialize with other dogs. Doga allows them to do so.

Have you ever tried doga?

Watch the video on this story on Yahoo News World Videos.

Photo by msnbc.com

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are not too different from you or me because they, too, have welcomed a loving furball into their family!

Rumors had spread that their young puppy was a Chocolate Labrador Retriever, but the palace recently dispelled these rumors, letting TODAY.com know that the puppy is actually a Cocker Spaniel.

Photo by msnbc.com

The pup’s name has not yet been revealed but according to Express.co.uk, Cockers are a Middleton family favorite.

The royal family is no stranger to four-legged friends as Prince Charles and wife Camilla have a Jack Russell Terrier and Queen Elizabeth is known for her love of Corgis.

What do you think of their breed choice?

See the original post on TODAY.

Baxter, prior to his fall. (Courtesy: Seattle PI)

In late December, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer ran a story about a local cat named Baxter who fell out a window and dropped eleven stories… and lived to tell the tale. This story could be evidence that cats really do have nine lives.

Baxter and his family had just moved into the downtown Seattle high-rise, so perhaps the cat didn’t realize what he was getting himself into when he slipped out the window and stepped on the ledge. Baxter’s owner, Diana McDougle, watched the whole thing happen but it happened too quickly for her to respond in time. When she looked out the window she saw her beloved cat lying on the concrete 11 stories below. She thought he had died.

But Baxter had survived. And by the time she ran down to where his body should have been, he was gone. A quick glance under a nearby car revealed the cat, who McDougle immediately rushed to the veterinarian. He was treated for a broken collarbone, dislocated sternum and swelling around the heart and lungs.

Luckily, Baxter was protected with pet insurance. And two months later is fully recovered from his injuries.

Amazing, no?

Read the full story here.

TLC introduces new show “I Cloned My Pet,” about people who were willing to pay big bucks to preserve the essence of their beloved furball.

A fisherman kayaking in the Gulf of Mexico finds a stray dog paddling in the water and rescues him. The injured dog, Barney, was brought to a veterinarian where he was nursed back to health and reunited with his deceased owner’s family.

Lucy the 2.5 pound Yorkshire Terrier was named the Guinness Book of World Record’s smallest working dog.

Jazzi the Lhasa Apso ran away from home on New Year’s Eve due to a firework scare and spent the night on railroad tracks. Several trains went over her but she came out unscathed.

Scientists explain why dogs’ paws can withstand extremely cold temperatures.

A 33,000-year-old domestic dog skull was found in Siberia, suggesting that the history of domesticated dogs is much more complicated than previously thought.

These high veterinary bills are not uncommon today as veterinarians are charging more for advanced treatments that give pets the best chance at total recovery with the least amount of pain. It’s so much easier now to find treatment options that are less invasive and more effective than the options available five years ago.

Because of these higher costs, more people are investing in pet insurance to help protect them when the unexpected occurs. Pet insurance can help pet owners make the decision to move forward with these costly treatments by ensuring that the full cost will not be out of pocket. For example, if Buttercup was insured with Trupanion, her owner would have been reimbursed $900, or 90% of the veterinary bill.

The article quotes a poll by the American Pet Products Association, that releases pet statistics every year:

Dr. Nicholas can be found at www.thepreventivevet.com.

View the video clip on the MORE Good Day Oregon website and tell us what you think!