VPI Hambone Award

A Dog’s Mystery Illness is Solved

VPI policyholder Amber Vogel from Pennsylvania feared the worst when she woke up and saw her dog Rocco, a 6-year old German shepherd and Labrador retriever mix. Overnight his face had become frozen and drooping. Rocco was also unable to blink and barely able to walk. Amber took Rocco to the veterinarian for a physical exam, but the veterinarian could find nothing wrong. Rocco was given steroids, antibiotics, and a referral to a neurological specialist in case his symptoms didn’t improve in a week. They didn’t.

Dog vs. Stingray

Judging by the volume of e-mail we receive here, it seems that pet owners who don’t have a story about an unusual pet mishap should consider themselves lucky. One of our latest reader-submitted stories highlights the fact that unexpected pet accidents aren’t limited to the home, or even the back yard. Sometimes, pet mishaps span land, sea and air.

Standard Poodle Has a Close Shave After Eating Razor

Nobody who has owned a dog is surprised when they hear about a dog eating a sock, shoe, stick, bone, rock, etc. I’ve seen my own dog eat dirt clods, puzzle pieces, and BBQ wood chips, so there isn’t much out there that surprises me when it comes to things dogs will eat. One thing that did catch my eye was a recent claim we received for a dog that ate a razor blade.

Labrador Retrievers – the Tiger Sharks of the Land?

 I’ve heard many comments about how Labradors, like tiger sharks, will eat anything. When we get an unusual “ingestion” claim, you’ll hear “I bet it was a Lab”. So do Labs deserve this reputation as an indiscriminate eater of anything and everything?

On the Road Again

He’s been to New York City. He’s been to Vancouver, Canada. He’s been to Orlando, Fla. He’s been to Vegas. He’s Alfonso, the most travelin’ foam terrier mascot on the Internet today!