One day, you might be petting your beloved pup or brushing its hair when you notice a lump or bump on the skin that wasn’t there before. Finding bumps can alarming. They can be a sign of a health issue and, if they are under the skin, aren’t always easy to identify.

If you’ve been considering adopting a cat, one of the most common pieces of advice you may have heard is “Adopt two! It’s so much better!” While there is logic behind adopting two cats simultaneously—especially ones from the same litter—there aren’t only benefits, leading some to question whether two is really better than one.

Exercising your dog’s brain is a crucial component of everyday care throughout your dog’s life. Mental stimulation helps puppies learn commands, tricks and more about their environment, and it helps adult dogs stay alert and stave off boredom, which can lead to anxiety and destruction.

Cancer is devastating. It can affect almost any part of the body and have dire consequences. Unfortunately, cancer does not only affect humans. Our pets can also develop this terrible disease—particularly cats, six million of which are diagnosed with cancer every year.

With warmer temperatures comes more frequent trips outdoors, from the park to hiking trails to the wilderness. If you’re the type of dog owner who loves bringing Fido along for every outdoor excursion, you should know about the health risks that await.

Cats are soft little furballs (except for when they’re hairless). For the most part, cats take care of their fur on their own—they use their tongues to cleanse themselves of dirt, remove dead hair and keep everything tidy. Sometimes, though, they aren’t able to fix all the problems with their coats.

Allergies are one of the top causes of veterinary visits for dogs. Between environmental allergies, food allergies and allergies from flea bites, dogs are at risk of developing an uncomfortable group of symptoms that can be difficult to pinpoint.

Most domesticated cats can live to be around 15 years old, and sometimes even longer, depending on their health. But a lot can change in your cat from the time it is a kitten, enters adulthood and becomes a senior cat.

Summer temperatures are starting to appear, and for humans, that means more outdoor activities, pool or beach days and sunbathing. But for our furry friends, summer can be potentially dangerous, especially if they’re left in a situation in which the heat becomes too much for them.