Pica

By Dr. Shannon Leggieri, DVM, MS of Claremont Veterinary Hospital, Oakland. “Your dog ate what?!” This sentence is uttered in disbelief by veterinarians and veterinary staff every day. Pica is a medical term referring to the act of seeking out and eating non-food items. It is a serious, common and sometimes life-threatening condition often faced by dog owners and their veterinarians. Read more.

Sunny Tri-Valley wineries welcome dogs

The Tri-Valley region, an hour east of San Francisco, is nothing if not full of surprises, especially when it comes to wine. Production is centered in the rolling Livermore Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area), where the first grapes were planted in the 1840s. More than 50 wineries, two dozen of them proudly dog-friendly, have since sprung from the rich soil, and they’re all close enough for a day trip or overnight trip from the Bay Area or Sacramento. So leash up your pup, crack a window and take off into the so-close-but-so-far-away countryside. Read more.

Embrace pet insurance

Husky dog lying on vet table with doctor

Veterinary medicine has made leaps and bounds over the past few years, especially in diagnosing and treating difficult cases. Along with this knowledge and treatments comes a price. Read more.

What and where is Tri-Valley?

Dog on patio at winery in the Tri-Valley

Three valleys and four cities make up the Tri-Valley region, which away from urban areas is characterized by rolling hills studded with gnarly oaks and sprawling vineyards. It’s less than an hour from San Francisco or Sacramento, straddling the line between Alameda and Contra Costa counties on the “sunny side” of the bay. Dog-friendly hotels, restaurants, wineries and craft breweries abound as you explore the three valleys—Livermore, Amador and San Ramon—from which the region takes its name. Read more.

East Bay Regional Park District

Golden retriever overlooks aerial view of Sunol Regional Wilderness.

Sunol Regional Wilderness. Photo by Kevin Noble.

The Bay Area wouldn’t be what it is without its tawny, oak-studded hills, and we have the East Bay Regional Parks District to thank for keeping many of them accessible to the public. Read more.