Links

The Veterinary Partner website provides pet owners with information about general pet health and care, nutrition, behavior, first aid and emergency preparedness, medications and various medical conditions. Whatever you're looking for, if it's information that will make your pet happier and healthier, you'll find it here! Try browsing around in the Pet Connection with nationally syndicated pet expert and author Gina Spadafori. You can even submit your question to be answered by a veterinary professional.

Founded in 1884, the AKC® and its affiliated organizations advocate for the purebred dog as a family companion, support the advancement of canine health and wellbeing and work to protect the rights of all dog owners as well as promote responsible dog ownership. The American Kennel Club website provides a wealth of information and resources for owners, future owners and breeders as well as detailed information about each designated breed.

Comprehensive online resource to assist in dealing with the emotions involved with losing a pet. You will find grief support and testimonials from other users as well as memorials and ideas on ways to remember the life of a beloved animal companion.

Trupanion wants to make pet insurance simple and easy to understand. Their comprehensive pet insurance policy covers surgeries, diagnostic tests, medications, treatments and hospital stays if your pet gets sick or injured. They also reimburse from your actual veterinary bill so you don’t have to worry about a predetermined benefit schedule. Learn more about Trupanion and request a free quote by visiting their website.

American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) seeks to enhance the abilities of veterinarians to provide quality medical care to companion animals, to enable veterinarians to successfully conduct their practices and maintain their facilities with high standards of excellence, and to meet the public's needs as they relate to the delivery of small animal veterinary medicine. The AAHA website contains information about membership, accreditation, a store and a comprehensive library of resources.

A wealth of resources from the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), including pet care resources, information on breed, behavior, disease, animal bond, nutrition, pet care tips, preventive care info, adoption, relocation and travel tips, as well as a section dedicated to children, which contains a variety of fun animal-related games and activities.

VPI Pet Insurance has earned a reputation as the most trusted pet insurance company in the nation with every pet they’ve insured—one million and counting. Their mission is to empower pet owners to work with their veterinarian in making optimal healthcare decisions for their pets. They offer flexible options to fit every budget. Visit the VPI website to view plans and coverage, compare rates, read customer reviews and get a free quote.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa (ARL) is Iowa's largest nonprofit animal shelter, caring for many thousands of pets each year. The ARL serves people and pets from across the state of Iowa through its programs, which include pet adoption, humane education, pet behavior training, spay/neuter, animal cruelty intervention and much more. Visit the ARL website to learn more about the good work this organization is doing and to find out how you can help.

The Canine Craze Performance Center is Iowa’s premier training facility for people and their dogs, offering classes, workshops, seminars, private lessons, semi-private lessons, and more. The organization’s training philosophy includes a unique combination of principles from well-respected trainers, scientists, and behaviorists. Learn more about the various training options and how to sign your own pet up for classes by visiting the website.

Puppy Jake Foundation is dedicated to helping military veterans through the assistance of well bred, socialized and professionally-trained service dogs. They select, train and place their service dogs with deserving wounded warriors. Puppy Jake Foundation also provides resources for the advocacy, awareness, and acceptability in public for those that require the assistance of a service dog. Visit the link to learn more.

The Des Moines Obedience Training Club (DMOTC) was created for the purpose of encouraging obedience training for all dogs. The DMOTC facility consists of three fully-matted training rings totaling over 7,000 square feet. The large training space is air conditioned and heated, has free parking, and is wheelchair accessible. The DMOTC training staff is composed of many qualified obedience training instructors. Proven training methods using positive reinforcements are used in all classes. Visit the DMOTC website to learn more.

The mission of CAPC is to foster animal and human health, while preserving the human-animal bond, through recommendations for the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control of parasitic infections. Visit the CAPC website to learn everything you need to know about parasites that can affect our animal companions and prevention tips for keeping your pet parasite-free.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is a nonprofit association representing more than 82,500 veterinarians working in private and corporate practice, government, industry, academia, and uniformed services. The AVMA acts as a collective voice for its membership and for the profession.

The IGRR is an organization that is dedicated to providing shelter for unwanted, neglected, abused, homeless and displaced Golden Retrievers. They also assist in the rehabilitation of dogs with problems, locate permanent adoptive homes, and educate the public on issues relating to responsible dog ownership. The IGRR website features a wealth of information and resources, including available dogs for adoption.

The goal of Iowa Veterinary Specialties is to guide our clients through the medical management and care of their pets. They are a 24/7 emergency vet care facility which also features a number of veterinary specialists for referral purposes. Visit their website to learn more about the services they offer and how they can help you and your pet in the event that emergency or specialty care is required.

The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) exists to recognize products that meet pre-set standards of plaque and calculus (tartar) retardation in dogs and cats. Products are awarded the VOHC Seal of Acceptance following review of data from trials conducted according to VOHC protocols. Regular use of products carrying the VOHC Seal will reduce the severity of periodontal disease in pets. Learn more about this important cause by visiting the website.

The mission of PennHIP is to develop and apply evidence-based technology to direct appropriate breeding strategies aimed at reducing in frequency and severity the osteoarthritis of canine hip dysplasia. PennHIP incorporates a new method for evaluating the integrity of the canine hip. It is accurate in puppies as young as 16 weeks of age. When used early in a dog’s life, it greatly enhances the potential for early intervention to help prevent or lessen CHD in at risk dogs. Visit the site to learn more.

The Indoor Pet Initiative wants to help make every day your pet’s best day. Their goal is to enhance the health and welfare of companion animals world-wide so that all pets and their caregivers can experience optimal well-being. This website contains all of the information and tools caregivers need to recognize thriving in their pets, and to create an environment that helps them to thrive across their lifespan.

Do you have a plan in place should your pet become lost? Microchipping is a simple, minimally invasive way to permanently identify your pet so that if he or she ever wanders off and is delivered to a nearby shelter or humane society, you can be reunited again. Learn more about this innovative identification method at the Home Again website.

The mission of the American Heartworm Society (AHS) is to lead the veterinary profession and the public in the understanding of heartworm disease. Their objectives are to further scientific progress in the study of heartworm disease, inform the membership of new developments, and encourage and help promote effective procedures for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of heartworm disease. The AHS website contains information about the society and its work, as well as a number of helpful resources for veterinary professionals and pet owners.

The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) aims to improve the health and welfare of cats by supporting high standards of practice, continuing education, and scientific investigation. The AAFP website features a variety of helpful resources, including a comprehensive list of cat health topics to assist pet owners.

Animal Lifeline of Iowa is a special needs, no-kill shelter that houses animals in need and facilitates their adoptions into safe, loving families. ALI does not kill animals simply because they have not been adopted within a certain length of time. Animals are kept until homes are found for them. All animals in ALI's shelter receive complete veterinary care. Visit the ALI website to view the types of animals they accept, see a list of available pets for adoption and learn ways that you can help support this great cause.

The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement is a group of compassionate volunteers who are professionally trained in pet bereavement counseling. The APLB is unique, and its services are free and available to anyone grieving a beloved pet. The website incorporates the collective wisdom and experience of all of the members of the online community. It offers a wealth of information and resources meant to assist in dealing with the grief of losing a pet.

Pet Poison Helpline is a 24-hour animal poison control service available throughout the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean for pet owners and veterinary professionals who require assistance with treating a potentially poisoned pet. They have the resources and ability to help every poisoned pet, with all types of poisonings, 24 hours a day. Their knowledge and expertise of pet poisons will put your mind at ease when dealing with a potential emergency, and help you manage the situation to provide the best chance at a positive outcome.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) aims to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. The ASPCA works to rescue animals from abuse, pass humane laws, and share resources with shelters nationwide. The ASPCA website contains a wealth of information on pet adoption and pet care, including articles, links and more.

The ability to perform procedures in a minimally invasive way improves the patient comfort substantially because it creates less pain and improves the recovery process. Recent studies have shown that patients spayed laparoscopically have less surgical stress and experience up to 65% less postoperative pain. Visit the Lap spay website to learn more about this innovative surgical technique and how it can benefit your pet.

The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFFA) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the health and welfare of companion animals through a reduction in the incidence of genetic disease. They accomplish this by spreading awareness, encouraging and organizing financial research in orthopedic and genetic disease in animals and establishing programs to effectively to carry out these objectives. Pet owners can visit the OFFA website and conduct detailed research on their specific breed of animal, including which genetic tests are most important. They can then use this information to work collaboratively with their veterinary provider to manage their companion’s health and take the appropriate preventative measures as needed.