The Viewer Viewpoint - Where Viewers Have Their Say

I recently wrote about taking a few moments to reflect about what our pets teach us. The focus always seems to be on what we should be teaching our pets, but when you think about it, they have lots to teach us too! Here is a follow-up article, with viewer comments about what they have learned over the years from beloved pets large and small.

A viewer of this site asked: "Are Christmas trees poisonous to cats? My cat was chewing on the end of a branch last night and although she appears to be fine, I have had issues in the past with her eating plants and getting very sick." Learn more about Christmas tree hazards and pets in this FAQ.

Homeless people are often a "forgotten" part of society. While agencies provide emergency shelter and food for humans, little is done for pets of the homeless. This article introduces a new program that collects pet food and partners with a food bank, or food pantry, soup kitchen or shelter that already distributes food to the homeless and disadvantaged. Learn how your local veterinary hospital can help this program in your local community, from guest author Genevieve Frederick.

Guest author Liz Fernandez DVM, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (Chi-Institute) has been practicing small animal and emergency veterinary medicine for over 22 years and is certfied in Veterinary Acupuncture, Herbology and Tui-Na. Learn more about these treatment modalities and her work in this Viewer Viewpoint article.

Previous Viewer Viewpoint articles have examined the veterinarian-pet owner relationship. This poll examines pet owner loyalty: do you go to the same vet for all of your veterinary needs, or do you shop around for the best "deal", be it medical workup or price? Cast your votes here!

To be a veterinarian, one must be knowledgeable about many things -- anatomy, physiology, infectious diseases, surgery, and so on. What about just "everyday" behavior? Knowing what is "normal" for a particular species or individual? This Viewer Viewpoint piece examines the topic of animal behavior in the veterinary office setting.

We have heard a few veterinarian "pros and cons" from viewers detailing what they like/don't like about their veterinarian. This week, two veterinarians offer their thoughts on the doctor-pet owner relationship, in the Viewer Viewpoint.

A viewer-submitted piece outlining what the author feels are the pros and cons of her veterinary provider. This series of viewer-submitted thoughts and opinions examines what clients look for and find important when considering their pet's health care. This article series will also feature comments from veterinary professionals in future articles.

What do you like or dislike about your current veterinarian? Have you found the "perfect" vet or are you still searching? This series of viewer-submitted opinions examines these questions and will hopefully help others find a veterinarian that fits their needs and their pet's personality.

Sometimes a difficult situation can open up a new line of communication about your pet's health care. In this Viewer Viewpoint opinion piece, learn about how an apparent vaccine reaction in Nikki the dog changed her health care plan and her lifestyle in this story submitted by her owner.

Wuffy was rescued/adopted 11 years ago. That in itself is a happy story. What's more, Wuffy has worked for over 10 years rescuing abandoned cats! This photo gallery contains images of Wuffy the dog and her various feline rescues and patients.

Stories of animal neglect, abuse, and abandonment are a daily occurrence in the news these days. This article, like most of the Viewer Viewpoint articles, offers a bright side -- animals given a new lease on life thanks to the kindness of those people who have adopted. Read Cicely's story to be reminded of the power of pet adoption.

Read about Wuffy the amazing rescue dog in this Viewer Viewpoint article. This dog was rescued/adopted 11 years ago. That in itself is a happy story. What's more, Wuffy has worked for over 10 years rescuing abandoned cats! Learn about her work with the with Southern California Siamese (cat) Rescue in this success story article.

This is the original index of all Viewer Viewpoint stories, poems, articles, humor and opinion pieces, submitted by viewers. This index also houses a large collection of works by author Jim Willis.

This page is an index of Success Stories. Pet owners have submitted works detailing amazing pet survival stories, "Good Samaritism" stories, and stories explaining just how important pets are in our lives.

Are you an author? Do you have something to say to the viewers of this site? You are invited to submit your work to be considered for inclusion in the Readers Respond section of this site. We have a growing <a href="http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/theviewerviewpoint/tp/ReadersRespond.htm">library of topics</a>.

A common question on this site is if pets can "get" poison ivy. Not in the sense that humans do, with a intensely itchy, blister-filled rash like humans, but dogs and cats can transmit poison ivy, oak and sumac. This happens because the allergenic (toxic) part of these plants is an oil called urushiol and it is easily spread by fur, clothing and other surfaces. Has your pet helped spread poison ivy/oak/sumac to human family members? Please share your story and any poison ivy tips you may have.

The struggling economy and rising costs mean more animals than ever are in need of homes. Learn where to find local adoption resources, online adoption options, and how you can help animals in need -- even if you can't adopt at this time. Read adoption success stories to know what to expect when you add a new pet to your home. This helps ensure...