Do pets dream?  If you are a dog or cat owner, chances are you have wondered if your pets dream. If you've watched your pet sleep, you've seen him quiver, twitch, run in place, swat at phantoms, or even growl or snap during nightmares.  You probably already guessed it; the answer is yes. Like us, our companion animals dream while sleeping.      How Do We Know This? There are two main types of sleep: rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and slow-wave sleep (SWS). Both slow-wave sleep and REM sleep are very similar in pets and humans. During this time, the brain processes information learned during the day. The REM or rapid eye movement stage of sleep refers to the...

You may be wondering what companion animals are and trying to figure out of they are right for you. Humans and animals have been providing companionship to each other for thousands of years. Only in recent decades have we begun distinguishing a companion animal from a service animal, or a house pet. Learning about these great animals, and what they can do for you, is the first step in determining if it makes sense for you to get one. Companion Animal vs Service Animal vs House Pets Defining terms is important whenever learning about a subject. Here we will be looking closely at companion animals, so it is good to know how these animals differ from service animals and house...

By Brooke van Dyk What kind of veterinarians are there? How can you tell which vet is the right choice for your animal companions? Can you take your house pets to the same veterinarian as your horses and farm animals? What about reptile companions? Don’t worry -- Dr. Jeff Werber is here to answer all of your questions!  What Kind of Veterinarians Are There? There are five main types of veterinarians, and all play different but important roles in pet health and safety. Whether you have a house pet, a domesticated farm animal, or are using animal subjects in a laboratory, the kind of vet that you choose can make an impact on your pet's health and happiness. But how...