When a four-footed member of your family is feeling unwell, or doesn't appear to act normally, your first instinct is to call the vet. If certain problems appear minor, or you want information on the best brands of food or accessories for your dog or cat, you'll want to speak with a pet care expert. Top pet supply retailers Care-A-Lot Pet Supply, along with leading Virginia web design firm CINIVA Systems, aspire to help pet owners around Hampton Roads and the country with AskAVeterinarian.org.

"Ask a Vet is an interactive blog, designed to provide updated information on dog and cat care as well as answer questions from concerned pet owners," said Steve Van Leeuwen, president of CINIVA Systems. "As a dog owner myself, if I sense something wrong with my pet but can't get in touch with her doctor, it's nice to know I can find an active database to search and hopefully get the information I need."

The chief animal expert of AskAVeterinarian.org, Dr. Phyllis Giroux, is a graduate of Michigan State University, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Masters Program in Animal Behavior, and a certified Canine Animal Chiropractor. Phyllis specializes in canine reproduction and sports medicine, was a speaker at the 1998 North American Veterinary Conference. She has special interest in integrated canine medicine, including chiropractic, homeopathy, herbal medicine and acupuncture. Active in purebred dog events in breed, obedience, and field since 1974, she has owned numerous breed champions (including exhibiting at the Westminster Kennel Club Show at Madison Square Garden), earned many obedience titles, working certificates, and has owned and campaigned Retriever Field Champions, Master Hunting Retrievers and Master Hunters. Deep Run Canine Health Care and Training Center is the culmination of a lifetime devotion to dogs. Visitors to Ask A Vet may join the sites free online forum and pose questions about general and specific pet care and health for advice. While Care-A-Lot Pet supply offers this as a free service to complement their online web store presence, Van Leeuwen notes that owners who noticed serious injuries and illness among their pets should waste no time in visiting their regular vets.

"We are happy to help Care-A-Lot Pet Supply with this free service, but definitely for time-sensitive issues contact your vet," he said.

About CINIVA Systems

Since 1998, CINIVA Systems has been a leading Internet marketing and Web hosting firm in Virginia Beach, VA. They have designed more than 450 Web sites, specializing in e-commerce, custom programming, search engine optimization and social media for businesses and non-profits across the U.S.

About Care-A-Lot Pets

Originally created in 1988 by Mr. Alfred Clarke to meet the supply needs of his award-winning Airedale Terriers, Care-A-Lot Pet Supply has developed into one of the leading Pet Supply companies in the nation. From its catalog and online store to its two retail stores serving the Newport News and Virginia Beach, VA areas, Care-A-Lot is dedicated to great customer service, speed of delivery, and meeting your every pet supply need.