Exotic Pets You Can Own Without a License: State-by-State Laws
Every state has laws that determine what kind of animals can be kept as pets. These laws can change at any time and over the years, many states have added to their list of prohibited animals. Game and fish commissions, departments of fish and wildlife or conservation, and other state divisions dictate these rules that are found in state statutes and regulations. These documents can be difficult for some to discover and decipher because they are written in complicated legal language.
Tea Tree Oil for Fleas: Evaluating Safety and Effectiveness
Tea tree oil should never be given orally to pets as it is toxic if swallowed.
Deworming Your Dog: How Often Is Necessary for Optimal Health?
Puppies should be dewormed regularly for the first few months of life, typically during scheduled vaccination visits.
Hole-in-the-Head Disease in Saltwater Fish
Hole-in-the-head disease (HITH) causes erosive pits in fish and is primarily an aesthetic issue but can lead to secondary infections.
Tapeworms in Dogs
Tapeworms in dogs are rarely serious but can cause irritation, malnutrition, and weight loss if untreated.
Tapeworms in Cats
Tapeworms are a common parasite in cats that live in the intestines. They can be excreted in the feces and passed along to other animals. Some owners may notice tapeworm symptoms in their cat such as vomiting, diarrhea, a bloated belly, changes in appetite, or segments of the worms in the stool, but many cats can have tapeworms and not show any signs. For this reason, regular prevention and screening is important to keep your cat free from tapeworms and other intestinal parasites.
Ear Mites in Puppies and Dogs
Ear mites are highly contagious parasites that cause itching, inflammation, and discomfort in pets, requiring prompt treatment.
Velvet: Aquarium Fish Disease Identification and Cure
Velvet disease is a serious condition caused by dinoflagellate parasites, requiring immediate attention to prevent fish mortality.
Anchor Worms in Freshwater Fish: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Anchor worms are crustacean copepod parasites common in freshwater fish such as koi and goldfish, and they are visible to the naked eye.
How to Give Fish a Freshwater Dip or Bath
A quick freshwater dip is an effective first step to treat saltwater fish for parasites before quarantine.
Pyoderma in Dogs
Pyoderma is an itchy and uncomfortable skin condition, but it generally looks more serious than it is. Dogs with underlying conditions affecting their skin, endocrine system, or immune system are most vulnerable to this type of infection that arises from naturally occurring bacteria and causes red pustules and crusty lesions . Some mild cases will resolve on their own within a couple of weeks; others may require topical or oral antibiotic therapy to heal.
What is a Zoonotic Disease?
Zoonotic diseases are diseases that are transmissible from living animals to people.
How to Cat-Proof Your Christmas Tree
There's something about Christmas trees that brings out the mischief-maker in cats. With their flickering lights and dangling decorations, they're the perfect temptation for our feline friends.
Is Your Cat Not Eating? Here's Why
Food is an integral aspect of any living thing's life, and going without food for a day or more can lead to consequences. For dogs, it’s usually not too drastic for them not to eat for a day, but when it comes to cats, they can quickly become nauseous from lack of food. This nausea can then cause your cat not to want to eat any of their food, which, if it continues, can lead to them eating less and less, which can have an extreme effect on their health and overall well-being.
How to Manage Seasonal Shedding
Shedding, or moulting, is a natural process where cats and dogs shed their dead hair to make room for new, healthier hair. Shedding season for dogs and cats typically occurs during spring to make way for a pet’s summer coat, and in autumn to make way for their winter coat.
How Often Should You Worm Your Pet?
Ensuring your pet is up to date with their routine healthcare is an essential part of pet ownership, but it can take a lot of work to keep track of flea and worming treatments, especially in multi-pet households. And, what’s more, the frequency with which your pet needs to be treated can vary depending on their lifestyle, who shares your home, and more!
Halloween Pet Safety Tips: Your Guide to a Pet-Safe Halloween
Spooky season is upon us, and while we enjoy the frights of Halloween, the same can’t be said for our pets. Many aspects of Halloween can be stressful for pets, such as multiple visitors coming to the house, loud noises, music, and even costumes.
Bringing Home a New Cat
Whether you’ve decided to rescue, have gone through a breeder, or have found yourself opening your home to a cat for any other reason, there are a lot of things you need to consider when welcoming a new cat into your home. In this article, we’ll take you through the key things you need to remember when the time comes to bring your new bundle of fluff into your family so they can settle in properly and feel at ease in their new home.
Is it Cruel to Keep a Cat Indoors?
One of the choices a new cat owner needs to make is whether or not they’re going to allow their cat to free roam outside of the home. While many people think this is a simple decision, there are actually a few reasons why an owner might keep their cat indoors.
Can Cats Get Arthritis?
Arthritis is a common disease in many pets that affects their joints, making them uncomfortable or even painful to move. In many cases, arthritis occurs naturally as your cat ages and their bodies begin to slow down. This may be surprising as cats can be particularly limber pets, but studies have shown approximately 90% of cats over the age of 12 will show signs of arthritis. It is simply their natural instinct to hide pain from others, including their owners.
Autumn Pet Safety Tips: Keeping Pets Safe in Autumn
The days are getting shorter, the kids are back at school, and there’s an unmistakable chill in the morning air. This can only mean one thing. Autumn is almost here. As we prepare to manage the change in seasons, we also need to consider how this might affect our pets.
What to Do if Your Dog is Stung by a Bee
Summer is here, and it’s time for us to enjoy the longer days and warmer weather. But we’re not the only ones excited to be back outside and enjoying the sunshine. From spring through to autumn, critters are hard at work, and you’ve undoubtedly had one buzz by your ear already. And if you’re particularly unlucky, you may have even been stung. And if not you, then perhaps your pet.
How to Keep Cats Cool in Hot Weather
Summer is here, and you’re undoubtedly getting ready for well-lit nights spent in the garden or sunny Sundays with the family. But with that sunshine comes rising temperatures that even we struggle to deal with as the UK enters some of its longest heatwaves to date. And if you’re struggling to stay cool, how do you think your cat is doing?
How to Get Rid of Fleas in Your House
Did you know that only 5% of the population of a flea infestation are adult fleas? The immature stages of a flea, including eggs and larvae, make up the rest, allowing these pesky little parasites to invade your home and increasing your pet’s chances of re-infestation.
Can I Give Human Painkillers To Pets?
You should never give human painkillers to pets. They are specifically designed and formulated for human use. Using human medicine on an animal can have extreme – and even fatal – side effects.
How Do Flea Treatments Work?
Treating your pet for fleas is one of the crucial aspects of any pet's at-home healthcare routine. But how do you know if you're choosing the right one?
Complete Guide to Breed-Specific Dog Foods
Your dog's breed may play more of a role in its nutritional needs than you think, which is why a few dog food brands have taken a tailored approach to dog nutrition.
The Complete Guide to Mixed Feeding Pet Food
There are benefits and drawbacks of both wet and dry foods, but what about a mix of the two?
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The Complete Buyers Guide to the Best Cat Litter
Any cat owner will tell you that not all cat litters are made equal, and with cats being finicky animals at the best of times, choosing the wrong litter could be the difference between them using the litter tray or ignoring it entirely.
Giardia in Dogs: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
Parasites can be a pain, and while these little critters are small, the damage they do can be disastrous! This blog will look closely at one of the smallest (microscopic, even) parasites that can impact your dog - Giardia.
Can You Take Your Dog Abroad?
Holidays abroad are great fun for all the family, so it’s only natural that people would want their furry friend to join in on the journey. However, there is a common misconception that to take a pet abroad, you’ll need to pay for a number of nasty health treatments and leave your pet in quarantine once they arrive. This is not the case.
Top 5 Picks in Pet Care Technology
New technological breakthroughs happen all the time, and the rollout of new technology and gadgets is never far behind! From AI to trackers, we’re going to explore the very best in new pet care technology and also take a look at what pet owners across the UK are still waiting for.
Essential Oils That Are Toxic to Pets
Just because something is natural doesn’t necessarily make it safe. Essential oils have been used for decades for their lovely smells and are often found in various products and practices, including homeware products, beauty products, aromatherapy, and more. But did you know some of these oils also pose a deadly threat to our four-legged friends?
Dana started her journey in the veterinary field in 2004 at an animal shelter in Corpus Christi, Texas. She immediately fell in love with the profession and nurtured her passion for helping animals that were in desperate need of a second chance. Here, she began implementing improved policies that mitigated disease control, managed a low cost spay/neuter program for the community, and made recommendations to the Board of Directors on best practices for the clinic as well as the shelter as a whole.
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Lara Hew 27 articlesLara is a photography major at UArts in Philly! In her free time, she likes to walk dogs and, of course, take photos. She also loves reading and movies, hiking, kayaking, and just anything that involves being outdoors. She has grown up with animals since she was little and currently has two dogs and a cat of her own.
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Peyton Shine 26 articlesPeyton originally from Michigan, but have lived in Philadelphia for 10 years. She grew up surrounded by animals, both at home and on her grandparent's farm. She now has one dog, a golden retriever-boxer mix named Cooper.
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Tiffany Salmon 47 articlesI focus on empowering my team through collaboration, transparency, and a shared sense of purpose. I believe in leading by example, maintaining a mindset of continuous learning, and encouraging others to think creatively and take calculated risks.
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Dana Minacapelli 47 articles
Dana started her journey in the veterinary field in 2004 at an animal shelter in Corpus Christi, Texas. She immediately fell in love with the profession and nurtured her passion for helping animals that were in desperate need of a second chance. Here, she began implementing improved policies that mitigated disease control, managed a low cost spay/neuter program for the community, and made recommendations to the Board of Directors on best practices for the clinic as well as the shelter as a whole.
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Lizzie Youens 50 articlesLizzie has over ten years of experience as a veterinary surgeon with particular interests in animal behaviour, dermatology, and geriatrics.
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Hannah Clark 25 articlesHannah has worked at Pet Drugs Online for over three years, researching, writing, and publishing all of our blog content. She currently lives in Cardiff with her 5-year-old cat, Margot, and 2-year-old Cavapoo, Merida.