Pet parents can tell something’s wrong when they hear the incessant jingling of a collar. Their furry companion won’t stop scratching, but they have no idea why. Itchy skin is often accompanied by vomiting, leaky eyes and infections—symptoms that point to any number of health problems.

It’s not always clear when a pet develops a health problem. They can’t use words to communicate with their owners, which is why many ailments go untreated for a long time. To complicate matters even more, pets are masters at keeping their pain a secret. This survival instinct leads many pets to suffer in silence.

Pets make it very clear that they hate the vet. Dogs shy away from getting in the car, and cats shiver at the back of their carriers. Anyone with an anxious pet knows how difficult it is to get through an appointment when their four-legged companion fights the vet the whole time.

When it gets hot outside, humans reach for an ice-cold glass of water. Unfortunately for our furry companions, their access to water entirely depends on the care from pet parents. Pets need to hydrate just as much as we do, especially when the temperature starts to rise. Proper hydration keeps pets happy and reduces the risk of a life-threatening medical condition.

Summers are hot enough as is, and a heat wave can make venturing outside almost unbearable. When temperatures begin to climb, pets turn to you for a way to keep cool. Heat waves make it more difficult to exercise and stay hydrated, ultimately increasing the risk of hyperthermia and heat exhaustion in dogs and cats.

It’s no secret that cats love to eat meat. They’re carnivores by nature, with pointy teeth designed to tear into unsuspecting prey. Domesticated cats have retained the meat-eating tendencies of their ancestors, leading pet parents to believe all these fur babies want is a heaping pile of protein-rich wet food.

Pet parents work to avoid health problems that are readily apparent—injuries, weight gain and allergy symptoms, to name a few. However, not all shortcomings in your pet’s health are easy to spot. Brain health often falls to the wayside, but neglecting this aspect can make your pet gradually develop cognitive challenges over the years.

If your fur baby eats nothing but kibble, you may be looking to switch up their diet. Cats and dogs are big meat eaters, which is why their food bowls are filled with beef, pork and chicken. Many pet parents wonder if their furry friends can eat other parts of these animals besides muscle meat. The answer is yes!

Animal lovers often fear that money is the only way they can help a pet rescue agency. This can discourage individuals who want to make a difference, especially if financial instability makes it difficult to chip in. People fall under the impression that money is the most important resource because rescues need it to stay afloat.