No, giving a bath is not the best way to treat fleas. Bathing just removes a small part of the problem. Photo: oritslama If you have a dog or cat, you’re probably wondering what’s the single best way to treat fleas. The truth is, anyone can get a flea problem. No matter how advanced and

Does your cat sleep too much? Probably not — all cats sleep two-thirds of the day. Photo: rberteig My wellness exams usually start out much the same: “Great to see you! How’s Muffin doing?” The edgy cat people often respond: “How should I know? My cat sleeps too much.” The upbeat, happy cat people say

How Much to Tip a Veterinarian or Vet Tech Veterinarians and veterinary technicians and other staff members work in an office environment and handle the medical needs of your pets, from routine vaccinations to emergency services. They are on hand to answer questions about medications, treat minor and major injuries and illnesses, and perform wellness exams. The true depth

How much to pay your pet sitter? The short answer is, it depends. Photo: Dora Zett Many people with pets prefer the convenience of a pet sitter as opposed to boarding their pets. Some pets have anxiety issues that preclude boarding, while others have health problems. And then some pets just prefer — and do

Disclosure: This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Varo. The opinions and text are all mine. This Labradoodle named Skipper is one of my clients as a pet sitter. Photos: Melissa Smith/Petful One of the worst feelings in the world is when you’re sitting helplessly in front of a veterinarian, knowing

Consider quality of life when your pet can no longer do things that bring them joy. Photo: Wallula When is it time to consider euthanizing your pet? How do you know when your pet’s quality of life has gone way down? Any pet’s basic needs include being able to:  Breathe Walk Eat Drink Defecate Urinate Groom Sleep

Jackson Galaxy’s Cat Camp was co-founded by the Animal Planet star. Photos: Cat Camp NYC I’m so excited to be attending Jackson Galaxy’s Cat Camp soon — and I hope I’ll see you there, too! Cat Camp, held June 1–2, 2019, at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood, is an immersive experience

Sneezing is one of the most common health complaints veterinarians hear from people with young kittens. Photo: Natalia Kostrykina “My kitten is sneezing!” That is one of the most common complaints of people with new kittens. Whether the little muffin has been adopted from a shelter, purchased from a breeder, or found and rescued as

The #1 way cats communicate with each other is through scent communication. Photo: sarahakabmg Emrys and Lady, my Abyssinians, stand together on the bureau. Back to back, they look like bookends. But their tails are entwined in such a way that they almost seem to form a heart. The entwining — and not the vague

Treating arthritis in cats can be more challenging than treating dogs. Photo: rszeszko0 Could your cat have arthritis and be suffering in silence? George may still be curious, but if his aging joints are keeping him from poking around the house, he may be suffering from arthritis. You may see your older dog start to show signs

Weight loss is one of the most common signs of cat aging. Photo: fjhony Our cats are living longer and longer. Veterinary medicine, educated pet parents and nutritional advances have greatly increased the lifespan of our beloved furry felines. We get to enjoy our cats for a longer time, and many of our cats experience

Wondering how to give a cat a bath? Pro tip: The kitchen sink may work better than your bath tub. Photo: Brian Costelloe “Cats are such nice, clean animals,” an older man remarks in passing to me. Which is absolutely true. But that doesn’t mean your cat is a 100% self-cleaning unit or that you

Has your pet food brand ever been recalled? Photo: chalabala If it seems like every time you turn around, there’s another pet food recall — well, you’re not too far off the mark. We researched the most popular dog food and cat food brands in the United States and were shocked to see just how many

This Thogersen Family Farm recall involves packages of pet food that were already sold/consumed or were never sold, according to the company. Photo: Facebook Maker: Thogersen Family Farm (Stanwood, Washington)Cause: Potential for listeria contaminationAnnouncement: FDA announcement dated April 4, 2019 (archived here)What was recalled: 2-pound packages of the following raw frozen pet food, with no lot numbers, batch

When it comes to trimming a cat’s nails, first get your cat used to having their paws handled by you. Photo: alexyo1968 Trimming a cat’s nails? It can be a do-it-yourself affair — but not always. Cats’ personalities vary widely, and some cats will never easily submit to their claws being touched, manipulated and clipped

Maker: Nestlé Purina PetCare CompanyCause: May contain rubber piecesAnnouncement: FDA announcement dated March 29, 2019 (archived here)What was recalled: 3 oz. cans of Muse cat food — only Natural Chicken Recipe in Gravy cans with “best by” date of April 2020 and Production Code #80941162 According to the recall announcement, “The product could contain rubber pieces that are

Learn how kids can help animals in shelters. Photo: donnieray Most kids we’ve met want to hug and pet every fuzzy 4-legged critter they can wrap their arms around. Children love animals. And that’s precisely why it’s a great idea to get kids involved with helping animal shelters when they’re young. It’s not always simple

Domestic abusers may use family pets to threaten their victims. Photo: Rob MacKay A while back, a friend contacted me about her daughter’s Siamese, who had suddenly taken ill. In the course of our conversation, it came out that the young woman was in an abusive relationship in another state. The cat — the daughter’s

Consult with a veterinary nutritionist or veterinary food therapist to ensure complete and balanced nutrition in your home-prepared pet food. Photo: Katrina_S The largest recall in pet food history occurred in 2008, when melamine was found to be a contaminant that caused illness and death in thousands of dogs and cats. Since then, there have

Pet insurance can give you peace of mind. Photo: Melinda Nagy Should you get pet insurance? The simple answer is yes — but what kind of coverage and from which company? The correct policy for your needs from a reputable pet insurance provider should: Help you with your veterinary bills Provide better medical care for

Woody’s Pet Food Deli recall Maker: Woody’s Pet Food DeliCause: Potential for salmonellaAnnouncement: Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) announcement dated Jan. 28, 2019 (archived here) and expanded/corrected on the company’s Facebook page (archived here)What was recalled: 15 oz., 2 lb. and 5 lb. packages/tubs, as well as bulk orders over 25 lbs., of Woody’s Pet Food Deli

A combination of behavior modification and meds may help calm a dog during thunderstorms or distant firework displays. Photo: Chris Favero Is your dog scared of storms? Cat unsettled by fireworks in the distance? Your pet is not alone. According to a 2005 survey by the RSPCA, 49% of dogs showed signs of fear around loud noises.

Want to remove mats from a long-haired cat? Read this article first, and put away those scissors. Photo: izik/Flickr We received this question from a reader, who wanted to know how to remove mats from a long-haired cat: “I was wondering if you have any advice on removing my long-haired cat’s mats on her back. They

The sun can’t help cats create Vitamin D in their bodies because of their fur. By: marchnwe In May 2015, the University of Edinburgh vet school announced the results of a study showing that seriously ill cats with high levels of Vitamin D in their blood were more likely to be alive 1 month later than cats

Pet holidays remind us of how much our pets mean to us. Photo: Stewart Black Some holidays are easy to remember. Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas, for example, are holidays that we have no trouble remembering. But there’s a whole slew of holidays that pass quietly every year, save a social media post or two. These

Barn cat programs can keep feral and stray cats in good health while they live outside on an adopter’s property. Photo: TiBine When I was growing up, my grandparents’ farm was a prime dumping ground for unwanted cats. Cats and kittens were always showing up at random, and some of them made it back to

A little kitten had purr-haps one of the most exhilarating rides of her life after she took an 18-mile trip from Brooklyn to Harlem, New York, in the undercarriage of a Volkswagen SUV. Officers from the New York City Police Department rescued the tiny tuxedo kitty who was trapped underneath the vehicle on Tuesday, according

Owning a pet comes with all kinds of health perks, and a recent study out of Sweden just found another. The study, published on Dec. 19 in the journal PLOS ONE, set out to see what effect having multiple pets had on the development of allergies in children, after several other studies “indicated that early pet

After a long life and a triumphant fight involving a $19,000 kidney transplant, Stanley the cat has used up all of his nine lives. The Maryland kitty, belonging to Betsy Boyd, was sadly put to sleep on Friday a year after his surgery due to internal complications, The Baltimore Sun reports. He was 18. Get push

Two cats found themselves alone and trapped this holiday season. According to Gothamist, New York City’s Animal Haven shelter is caring for the two cats, each found in a plastic bucket and dumped on the sidewalk of the city in the past month. Get push notifications with news, features and more. + Follow Following You’ll