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.
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.
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.
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.
Coccidia in Cats
Coccidia may not be visible to the naked eye but that doesn't mean it can't cause problems in your cat. This microscopic parasite infects the intestinal tract of cats and other species and causes coccidiosis, a condition of the intestinal mucosa . It can exist undetected in your cat so it's important to know how to see if your cat is infected and how to treat it.
Flukes in Fish
Flukes are microscopic parasites that infect fish skin and gills, causing symptoms like red spots and difficulty breathing.
Ulcers in Freshwater Fish
Ulcers in freshwater fish often result from weakened immune defenses caused by stressors like parasites or poor water quality.
Brooklynella in Fish
Brooklynella is a fatal and highly contagious parasitic disease primarily affecting clownfish and other aquarium fish.
Lice in Freshwater Fish
Fish lice are macroscopic parasites that cause lethargy, abnormal swimming, and itchy skin, and they can carry secondary infections.
Roundworms in Puppies and Dogs
Roundworms, particularly Toxocara canis , are common intestinal parasites in dogs, especially puppies, and can cause serious health issues.
Whipworms in Puppies
Whipworms are parasitic worms that cause diarrhea, vomiting, anemia, and weight loss, especially in puppies.
Can I Catch Heartworms From My Dog?
Heartworms are internal parasites transmitted by mosquitoes that primarily affect dogs but can also infect other animals.
Black Spot or Tang Disease in Fish
Black Spot Disease is a parasitic infestation caused by Turbellaria flatworms, typically Paravortex, that appear as tiny black spots on the fish.
Heartworms in Cats: Rare, Deadly, and Easier to Prevent Than You Think
Heartworm disease in cats, though less common than in dogs, can be fatal and often presents with subtle or sudden, severe symptoms.
Exploring Lentigo: Understanding Black Spots on Orange Cats
Lentigo is a benign, genetic condition in orange cats causing black or brown spots and is not associated with cancer.
How to Solve Aggression Between Household Cats
Aggression between cats is influenced by social history, medical issues, and the introduction of new cats.
Effective Cat Flea Control: Treatment and Prevention Strategies
Fleas are common parasites that affect both cats and humans.
How to Tell How Old a Cat Is: Decoding Your Feline's Age
*Teeth:* A cat's age can be estimated by examining the condition of its teeth, considering factors like the presence of baby teeth, permanent teeth, and any evidence of wear or tartar.
Tabby Cat: Breed Profile, Characteristics & Care
Contrary to popular belief, the tabby cat isn't a specific cat breed but rather a cat coat pattern. Tabby cats are characterized by their unique markings and can come in brown, gray, orange, or black, with markings like stripes, spots, whorls, and bands. They usually feature an 'M'-shaped mark on their foreheads.
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Is Cat TV Safe? Learn How Much Feline Screen Time is Too Much
Cat TV can be a great source of mental stimulation and enrichment, especially for indoor cats.
Are Hydrangeas Poisonous to Cats?
Hydrangeas contain cyanogenic glycosides, which release cyanide when ingested and can be toxic to cats.
Bladder Cancer in Cats: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Care Options
Bladder cancer is rare in cats, with transitional cell carcinoma being the most common type, affecting fewer than 2 in 1,000 cats.
Dog Paw Burns
Paw burns can cause injury to the bottom of your pup’s feet, known as the paw pads, and these injuries can range from mild to severe. These pads serve a very important role in protecting your pup’s feet and supporting them in all activities from walking to running to jumping. Injuries like burns can occur in many different ways, including walking on hot surfaces or encountering chemicals.
Gastritis in Dogs
Gastritis in dogs, characterized by vomiting and abdominal discomfort, can be acute (sudden) or chronic (persistent).
4 Simple Ways to Protect Your Pet From Ticks This Spring—and Beyond
Year-round protection is key, but once spring has sprung, it's a good idea for pet owners to increase their vigilance when it comes to tick prevention. Warmer weather encourages these tiny parasites to emerge, which puts our companion animals at risk. Luckily, there are a handful of simple steps pet owners can take to make sure dogs and cats don't play host to ticks this spring.
I 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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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 articles
I 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 articlesDana 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.