Thursday, October 12, 2006

Top 10 Reasons Why Dogs Go to the Vet

Veterinary Pet Insurance released its annual top 10 list of reasons why dog owners take their dogs to the veterinarian.

The list was compiled from actual claims filed with America's largest pet insurer:

1. Skin allergies (2)
2. Ear infections (1)
3. Stomach upsets (3)
4. Bladder infections (5)
5. Benign tumors (4)
6. Osteoarthritis
7. Sprains (7)
8. Eye infections (8)
9. Enteritis
10. Hypothyroidism

(parentheses) denotes last year's ranking.

Osteoarthritis, enteritis (diarrhea), and hypothyroidism were more common in dogs than they were the previous year. The company explains that America's aging dog population is to explain for the rise in such conditions.

First Ice Cream Sandwiches for Dogs

First Ice Cream Sandwiches for Dogs

Breyers announced today they released the "first real ice cream sandwich formulated especially for dogs".It's made by Breyers, but with the Pedigree logo on the box.Recognizing that some dogs are lactose-intolerant, the company says their new ice cream sandwiches are 99 percent lactose free, but still has a creamy texture that four-legged ice-cream eaters have enjoyed for generations. They also have added protein, but no added sugar. The sandwiches are perforated so that they can broken up into smaller pieces.Breyers goes on to describe a consumer test with this new product and found that consumers preferred the ice cream sandwich over cups of ice cream because it's easier to feed to their dogs and is less messy. PEDIGREE Ice Cream Sandwich Treats for Dogs are just now making their way into supermarket freezer sections, in packages of six (6) 3 oz. sandwiches, for a total of 24 bite-sized perforated pieces, and have a suggested retail price of $3.99.