Useful Links

In addition to the Pet Health Care Library, we have provided the following links to websites that provide some great information on a variety of topics related to veterinary medicine and pet health care. 

We will update this page frequently, and would love to hear your ideas on links that you would like to see us add to this page to share with other pet owners. Feel free to send us your favorites. If we like them, we will add them to our list!

Area Animal Shelters

Coastal Humane Society - Brunswick, Maine

Lincoln County Animal Shelter - Edgecomb, Maine

Greater Androscoggin Humane Society - Auburn, Maine

Kennebec Valley Humane Society - Augusta, Maine

Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland - Westbrook, Maine

A Paw in the Door - Bath, Maine (cats only)

H.A.R.T. Homeless Animal Rescue Team of Maine - Cumberland, Maine (cats only)

AnimalShelter.org A comprehensive list of all animal rescue organizations in Maine.

Diabetes Mellitus

Canine Diabetes Formerly petdiabetes.org - advice for owners of diabetic dogs.

Feline Diabetes Advice for owners of diabetic cats.

Disaster Planning

Saving the Whole Family  Disaster preparedness advice from the American Veterinary Medical Association.

American Red Cross  Advice from the Red Cross on how to develop a disaster plan for your pets.

Emergency

National Animal Poison Control Center This is the website of the National Animal Poison Control Center. It includes a library, links to other sites, and phone numbers for the poison control center.

Animal Emergency Clinic of Mid-Maine - Lewiston, Maine (207) 777-1110

Animal Emergency Clinic - Portland, Maine (207) 878-3121

Maine Veterinary Referral Center - Scarborough, Maine (207) 885-1290

Emerging Diseases

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service The USDA maintains this website with information on a variety of animal health related topics, including the latest news on such things as Mad Cow Diseases, foot and mouth disease, and many other things.

West Nile Virus This site is maintained by the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, and has the latest information on the spread of West Nile Virus in the US, as well as information on disease transmission, symptoms, etc.

University of Maine Cooperative Extension Maine's tick population has been steadily increasing since the late 1980s and the rapid emergence of tick-borne diseases makes an effective identification program critical. An informative website has been created to provide information on the biology and management of the state’s 14 different tick species. The site also includes tick submission instructions, tick removal guidelines, a vivid gallery of tick photos, and links to information on the numerous tick-borne diseases that are found in Maine.

Miscellaneous

The Maine Veterinary Medical Association

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)

Permitted Dog/Cat Rescue Organizations  The State of Maine's list of approved animal rescue organizations.

The Ultimate Guide to Homeowners Insurance for Dog Owners  Basic, need-to-know facts about dog ownership for every homeowner, from US Insurance Agents.

Heartworm Society    Everything you ever wanted to know about heartworm disease can be found here!

Choosing a new puppy  This is a nice starter guide of things that you should consider when you are thinking about getting a puppy. 

Get Ready For Your New Puppy Another good website from All About Pets with a helpful checklist for when you bring home your new family member. 

Behavior problems  Founded by Brian Kilcommons and Sharon Wilson, best-selling authors and recognized experts on animal training and behavior, this site is a terrific resource for advice on a variety of behavioral problems. If you want to learn more about feline housesoiling, barking dogs, aggression, or any other behavioral problem, check this one out!  

Multidrug Sensitivity in Herding Breeds: MDR1 Gene Mutation  For the owners of herding breeds (Collies, Shelties, Austrailian Sheepdogs, English Sheepdogs, Border Collies, etc), the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine offers a home test kit to see whether your pet has the MDR1 gene mutation, which can make your dog sensitive to medications such as ivermectin.

Celebrate Your Pet's Birthday  How Old in Dog Years? How old do you think your pet truly is? This website helps answer that question, and has great tips for managing senior pets.

Everything You Wanted to Know About Cats A comprehensive guide, organized by chapters.

From Food to Grooming - A Guide to Keeping Your Cat Healthy  Tips from Blue Buffalo

Pet Loss Support

Rainbow Bridge Anyone who has ever lost a pet should visit this wonderful site. It is a terrific tribute to our lost family members.

Pet Loss Support Page Suggestions for coping with the loss of a pet.

Pet Loss Support Hotline - Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University  "Our goal is to support people as they work through the pain and griefthat is often associated with pet loss. We know the special bonds people have with their pets, and owners appreciate being able to talk withindividuals who share their compassion for animals and understand theimpact of their loss."

Pet Loss Support Hotline - Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine   The Cornell hotline is staffed by veterinary student volunteers who have undergone extensive training with professional grief counselors.

Seniors and Pets

Caring.com - "Assisted Living for Seniors with Pets" is a comprehensive look at the pros and cons of having your pets with you in assisted living facilities. A must-read for anyone with pets considering a move to assisted living senior housing.

Training

Mr. Dog Training - In West Bath, ME, Sara Sokol offers positive training techniques to help your dog reach their full potential. Voted best dog trainer in Maine by Downeast Dog News!

Traveling with Your Pet

PetTravel.com: Worldwide Travel Guide for Pet Owners  Everything you need to know about traveling with your pet, including a comprehensive list of pet-friendly hotels.

USDA Travel Website This page provides basic information on domestic and international travel of common pets and other animals.

"Dogs come when they're called; cats take a message and get back to you."
-Mary Bly