The Luxurious Lifestyles of Celebrity Pets

by Dr. Patrick Mahaney

Do celebrity pets lead lifestyles that are more extraordinary than their non-celebrity counterparts? One might think so, but there are many quality of life components that make for good quality of life, and being a celebrity pet doesn’t necessarily equal a day to day existence of “pawdicures” (pet pedicures), Kim Basinger-esque Evian shampoos, and stretch limo rides to the veterinary hospital.

The average American (i.e., non-celebrity) often thinks that just because a person is well known as a media fixture, their lives must be perfect. While being a celebrity does have its perks (red carpet events, swag bags, designers wanting you to “wear them,” etc.), notoriety does not always equate with personal or professional happiness.

Similarly, a celebrity pet doesn’t inherently have a better life than a non-celebrity pet. We can hope that a celebrity pet is brought into a loving home to be a faithful companion to human and other animal family members. The media has documented circumstances where celebrity pets are adopted or purchased and then merely carried along as an accessory (certain heiresses come to mind), left in a confined space (cage, apartment, hotel, etc.), or even suffer neglect or abuse (let’s never forget Michael Vick’s penchant for dog fighting).

A celeb’s financial capacity to care for an animal companion may exceed that of a normal person. If celebrity Fidos (dogs) and Fluffys (cats) are well cared for by their owners, then their quality-of-life could be better than a non-celebrity pet. A successful celebrity likely has extra money to afford their pet’s day care, food, or veterinary medical treatments. Yet, just because a pet has a celebrity owner does not automatically equate to having a better quality of life. Not all owners have the time or inclination to devote to their pets’ health.

A pet’s health is truly a collaborative effort between a concerned owner (celebrity or otherwise) and the veterinarian who provides oversight of the pets health care. More disposable income may allow for a celebrity’s pet to have access to specialized care, such as cancer treatment, dentistry, dermatology, internal medicine, ophthalmology, and surgery.

Additionally, a celebrity’s pet may have an advantage over a non-celebrity pet regarding the location in which their healthcare is provided. As many celebrities want to maintain their anonymity and can afford a house call, their pets benefit from receiving veterinary care within the paparazzi-free and comfortable confines of their own home.

Transportation to a veterinary hospital can create a variety of health concerns for any pet. Stress is one of the main components that negatively impacts a pet’s overall health. Vehicular transport jostles a pet around the car’s cabin and puts physical stress on muscles, joints, and the spinal cord. Once inside the hospital, pets may be exposed to illness or trauma they otherwise would not have, had the vet come to them. This is why I provide house call veterinary services for my Los Angeles-based clients (some of whom are celebrities) and patients.

Besides health care, celebrity pooches may be adorned with high end accessories, including jewelry. The most luxurious and expensive specialty offerings available for the pampered pooch is the i Love Dogs collection of custom, jeweled dog collars: La Collection de Bijoux. Pet owners don’t have to worry about Fido sporting a collar made with “blood diamonds,” as the precious gems used in La Collection de Bijoux are responsibly gathered from ethical mines.

What happens when a pet belonging to a celebrity gains notoriety? A prominent example is Bravo TV’s The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Lisa Vanderpump’s Pomeranian, Gigolo,  regularly appears on the RHOBH, has his own contract with Creative Arts Agency (CAA), is followed by over 50,000 Twitter fans, and is ubiquitously seen in Vanderpump’s various business and media projects.

What do some celebrity pets do with their free time? Lounge by the pool, hang out with their pooch BFFs, and other leisurely activities come to mind. Many celebrity pets have the fortunate opportunity to travel with their owners. I was once called upon to treat a corneal ulcer on a sweet (now deceased) elderly pooch who was owned by a very A-list female celebrity (who revolutionized the hair of women wanting to be one of her Friends). The circumstance was non-remarkable from a clinical perspective, but the owner’s assistant asked me if the lucky dog would be healthy enough to later board a private plane to accompany his mistress at her (then) boyfriend’s concert a few states over. Fortunately, for all parties involved, this celebrity dog was able to join his human companions for the flight.

So, a celebrity pet may have some opportunities that are seemingly unavailable to non-celebrity pets, but providing the best quality of life possible isn’t exclusive to the cats, dogs, and other species of animals owned by the famous and potentially rich.

This article originally appeared on partner site Pet360.com