Christus St. Michael Health System and Wadley Regional Medical Center, both of Texarkana, announced Wednesday that they had reached an agreement for Christus to acquire Wadley and consolidate the two community health providers into a single system.

As dog and cat owners know, pet-care costs can add up quickly. For example, my affectionate bichon frise, Mojo, is costing an average of $2,000 annually, half of which goes to veterinary care and special-order food.

Fines levied against two area residents earlier this month are helping the local health unit drive home the implications pet owners face for not vaccinating their animals against rabies.

It's a difficult decision that more and more Americans are faced with each day. Many are putting their health on the back burner, and the health care industry is already seeing the effects.

The American Veterinary Medical Association announced today the launch of its first podcast, the Association's latest effort to inform the public about issues related to pet health, public health and veterinary medicine.