Vet Bills Force Families to Euthanize Pets

Experimental procedure mimics deer antlers

(NEWSER) - A British cat is up and walking after a first-of-its-kind experimental surgery that could have implications for human medicine, too. Oscar, who lost his back paws in a farm accident, has two prosthetics fitted directly into holes drilled into his bones at the amputation sites. The pegs were coated with a chemical that will encourage bone to grow around them. The effect is designed to mimic the way deer antlers grow through the skin. More»

With the numbers rising, all kinds of options are available

(NEWSER) - Health insurance for pets is getting just as tricky as insurance for humans. With the cost of pet medical care rising, along with the number of insured pets, a dizzying range of options is suddenly available—complete with choices on deductibles and depth of coverage. Some policies cover hereditary conditions and alternative treatments like acupuncture, while more traditional ones focus on accidents, checkups, and shots, reports the Wall Street Journal . More»

A study has found that 1% of emergency room trips are due to falls linked to pets

(NEWSER) - America's dogs and cats are responsible for 86,000 serious falls a year, the Washington Post reports. A federal study found that 1% of all emergency room visits for fall-related injuries were the result of owners tripping over pets or being pulled off balance during walks. Dogs were blamed for 88% of falls, compared with 12% for cats. More»

'Hoovervilles' return as recession forces thousands from homes

(NEWSER) - Cities across the country are struggling to deal with mushrooming shantytowns, reports the New York Times. In a chilling echo of the Great Depression, tent cities are springing up on vacant lots in smaller cities, while homeless encampments in larger cities are burgeoning as more and more people lose their jobs and homes. More»

(NEWSER) - With unemployment rising, more women are moving on up by stripping down, the AP reports. The adult entertainment industry, is receiving a barrage of applications from women seeking good pay and job security in fields ranging from porno to exotic dancing. "You're seeing a lot more beautiful women who are eligible to do so many other things," a stripclub manager says. More»