Pet parents often want to avoid putting their furry friends through surgery as long as possible. However, in some cases, the threat to the pet’s life is so severe that surgery is unavoidable. This is often the case with male cats requiring a perineal urethrostomy surgery.

Cats are susceptible to a variety of viral infections, ranging from mild colds to serious cases that require hospitalization. Such viruses often crop up in shelters, kennels and boarding facilities, where many pets are kept in close quarters.

Dogs can bring immeasurable joy into a child’s life. They help children develop social skills and responsibility and give them a lifelong companion—not to mention pups make wonderful cuddle buddies! However, kids must remember that earning a dog’s trust and affection takes time and patience. When they learn the right way to interact with a new dog, all their diligence and hard work will be worth it in the end.

One frustrating aspect of cat care is that felines tend to develop urinary problems seemingly out of nowhere. One minute, your cat is doing their business in the litter box, and the next, they’re peeing on your expensive area rug. Owners struggle to understand this confusing behavior—the cat should know by now that potty breaks belong in litter boxes, not everywhere else. What’s gotten into them?

Almost everyone has thought about adopting a pet at some point in their life. If you’ve considering bringing home a furry friend, what’s holding you back? Perhaps you think they’re too expensive, or the constant shedding doesn’t sound all that appealing. Rest assured, there’s a pet for every budget, level of maintenance and lifestyle. No matter which animal you adopt, they all provide the same things—unconditional love and companionship.

Parasitic worms live in every part of the world and are all too easy for pets to contract. However, it’s just as easy to prevent the spread from one animal to the next. A little bit of preventative care is all it takes to keep your pup worm-free and limit community spread.

You’ve just signed the last bit of paperwork, and now it’s official—you’re the proud owner of a new rescue cat! But the work doesn’t stop there. Rescue pet parents have to make sure everything is in place before their kitty can step their paws over the threshold and into your home.

Pet parents will do everything in their power to keep their pups safe and healthy. Unfortunately, despite the annual checkups, vaccines, balanced diet and regular exercise, some dogs inevitably fall ill with an autoimmune disease. These diseases lead your pup’s body to damage itself, and they can have devastating consequences if they aren’t treated.

Adoption is forever—at least, that’s the way it should be. Many of the animals in shelters and rescue agencies have bounced from one owner to the next, partly because those owners didn’t take the time to make sure they were a good match for the rescue dog. It’s important to go into a rescue adoption with a firm understanding of your own lifestyle and capabilities and how those match with your potential furry companion.