Unfortunately, there’s a cost to everything, and I’ve been disheartened to hear clients say “If I knew it was going to be so expensive, I would have just shot him at home!” The price to euthanize Fido depends on each veterinarian’s fees, which can range from $45 to $250, so call around if you are concerned. In general, your family veterinarian or farm veterinarian will be less expensive than going to a veterinary school, although autopsies may be offered at a lower cost there. Regardless, please don’t try anything at home. At the same time, some people expect Fluffy to “die peacefully at home,” when realistically, that rarely happens. Don’t wait for Fluffy to slowly suffer when you could potentially alleviate any suffering or pain. There are house call veterinarians who can come to your home so you have more privacy and peace. But either way, you’re going to be reaching or the wallet. Just consider it your last gift to your poor, loyal canine. And in those last few days, make sure to give him all the filet mignon and ice cream he wants!

Material from It's a Dog's Life... but It's Your Carpet, available at Amazon.com. Copyright © 2008 Justine Lee Veterinary Consulting, LLC.

Experts Explain Reasons Behind Pet Behavior
Posted on: Thursday, 18 September 2008, 15:42 CDT

Puzzled about why Fido acts the way he does? Although some pet behaviors may seem a bit odd, there is usually a sound reason for all of them. As Cesar Millan, host of the National Geographic Channel’s Dog Whisperer, says “pay attention….you can break the code.” For example, many pets spontaneously start running through the house as though they are on fire, appearing almost crazy to their unsuspecting owners. Millan attributes this behavior to simple boredom. “Satisfied, fulfilled dogs do not do this,” he told Woman’s Day magazine. “If you’re away most of the day, or don’t play with him enough, his energy has nowhere to go. It just builds up inside him until it explodes. This could be triggered by a scent, the sight of another dog on TV, or just his own frustration.”

As a veterinarian, I love animals (obviously!) but also the environment that we provide for them. While we humans may think that our two-legged impact to the earth is minimal, I'm afraid it probably isn't... especially with a few billion people and all those extra carbon footprints. If everyone just made one or two small, extra steps, we just might be able to make a difference (especially for our four-legged friends!) after all.

1. Recycle. Thankfully, most of us do this already, but let's take it to the next level. When I travel to veterinary conferences, I'm depressed about how much advertising crap that I receive. Find out if your hotel recycles, and ask them to if they don't. Write a letter to your business hotel and demand that they provide recycling in the rooms. Next, look around your house. When you're throwing away that extra plastic bag (like a bread bag or that bag in your cereal box), think of all the poop you can pick up with it instead! When I'm scooping the backyard, I use a regular plastic bag to scoop into an empty cereal bag... and then just dump it all in the trash. Remember, when your dog poops once or twice a day, that's a lot of plastic bags. Try to conserve what you can! When you go to the grocery store, try to minimize the plastic bags that you take to bag up your veggies... after all, you have a ton at home if you just look for them.

2. Go online. When it comes to paying bills, don't bother doing it via snail mail. After all, you are dramatically reducing your carbon footprint by not asking someone to walk to your house to pick up your mail (your under-appreciated postal worker), driving it to the post office, utilizing energy to sort it, and delivering it again... and you can save yourself a stamp in the process. Nowadays, pay for everything online to help reduce inefficiency. Reduce paper production by asking that you receive your bills electronically - no need for paper copies nowadays! That goes for those of you receiving newspapers. While it's relaxing to read the newspaper over your coffee, it's a lot of energy for that daily paper. Splurge and save the earth and just get the weekend newspaper instead.