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conditions & treatments

The medical stuff is stressful. Get expertise on common (and not-so-common) health issues, from causes and symptoms to the latest treatments for pets.

Pet parent holding cat in their arms.
Funny cat sitting on the carpet at home.
Woman holding her cat and looking concerned.

And how you can prevent it.

Ask a Vet

Pet health question that’s not an emergency? Our vet team will answer over email within 48 hours. So, go ahead, ask us about weird poop, bad breath, and everything in between.

Siberian cat licking her paw outdoors.

The evidence is unmistakably gross when your cat gets an infection. But the (very) good news is that the treatment is pretty effective.

Woman holding her striped cat in her arms outside.

You love them, but oooh, boy, that is unpleasant.

Woman holding cute fluffy white cat.

Here are some signs to look for.

Brown Gray Cat Lounging on Red Arm Chair Near Green Plant

Everything you need to know about the common disease.

Woman snuggling her orange cat at home.

You won’t like the answer, but it’ll be OK.

Cute striped cat licking its paw at home.

That doesn’t seem like a good time...

Woman holding her cat in her arms at home.

Three veterinary experts weigh in.

Cat walking outside on the grass

Dogs are the natural target for these worms, but that doesn’t mean your cat isn’t at risk.

Cute striped cat pawing it's eye on the bed.

Here’s how to know the difference between when it’s not a big deal, and when this warrants a vet visit.

Siamese cat coughing

You thought it was a hairball, but nothing’s coming up…

brown cat in grass

How to help your kitty when they hawk one up.

Two more Oregon cats die from bird flu virus in raw food.

A recall has been issued for the contaminated product.

Cat napping on a yellow couch against a yellow background

That's right—your cat can get acne. Here’s how to spot it and treat it.

Woman holding her cat, looking concerned.

Anytime you see blood, it’s concerning. But the good news is that it isn’t always as scary as it seems.

Woman snuggling her orange striped cat at home in bed.

What to look out for.

Woman looking at her guilty cat.

Things are getting pretty stinky. What should you do?

Man petting his gray cat at home.

Most of the time, it’s completely normal.

Gray longhair Chantilly Tiffany cat sitting on a cat tree at home.

As shelters overflow with animals, it’s worth asking.

Woman plugging her nose while her cat stinks.

Smelly cat, smelly cat, why are you so gassy?

Woman petting her fluffy cat at home.

And what to do about it.

Pet owner feeding their cat some wet food at home.

And when should you offer them another option?

Woman snuggling her senior cat on the couch at home.

And what can you do about it?

Woman snuggling her cat at home.

And at what age is it safe?

Brown cat sitting outside in the grass.

How to detect and treat worms to keep your cat healthy.

Funny fat cat sitting on the floor at home.

That’s an interesting move...

Woman holding her cat and looking concerned.

And what do you do about it?

Man wiping cat's eyes with a cotton pad.
Funny orange cat grooming itself on a chair.

Seems like an emergency. Is it?

Woman with a large cat on her lap, sleeping.

Ummm, ew.

Cat sleeping on woman's lap at home.

It’s more common than you’d think. Here’s how you can help your kitty.

Woman watching cat on her bed.

It’s a clear sign something isn’t right.

Cat sitting on the floor outside of litter box.

It's frustrating, but it's also fixable.

Woman comforting her kitten in her lap.

If your cat sounds congested, they probably are. Here’s how you can help them.

Woman Holding Her Black Cat.

Ick. It won’t be fun, but here’s how to get the job done.

Cute kitten sneezing at home.

Because it’s cute when they sneeze… until it’s concerning.

Orange cat stretched out and sleeping in bed.

It’s normal, except when it’s loud.

Cat leaving it's litter box at home.

Cat pee already has an unpleasant odor. But if it gets worse, you’re going to need to do something about it.

Small kitten getting checked out at the vet.

Gross, but necessary: Our expert explains all things deworming.

Woman holding her orange cat in her arms in bed.

It’s not only gross — it’s probably a sign that something is not quite right in your kitty's kingdom.

Cat laying next to it's litter box in the living room.

Our experts reveal why this might be happening.

Man looking at his orange cat while it turns it's back to him.

No, it’s not normal. Here’s what it means, and what you should do.

Woman applying flea medicine to her Corgi dog at home.

Because no one wants those little devils to stick around any longer than they already have.

Veterinarian checking large dog's skin and fur.

Learn what is best for your pet.

Cat licking it's behind in bed.

We cover everything you need to know.

Woman snuggling her kitten on her lap.

Gross? Yes. Important to discuss? Also, yes.

Woman giving dog a massage.

Follow these tips to get treatments covered by your plan.

Cat sitting next to his food and water bowl at home.

That doesn’t seem normal...

Orange cat scratching itself in bed.

Your miserable kitty would like to know, too.

Orange cat scratching himself.

And how to treat them.

Woman holding two kittens at the vet.

Learn the benefits of doing so ASAP.

Veterinarian holding small kitten.

Learn why vets recommend spaying as early as possible.

Woman looking closely at her cat's skin.

And how to help them heal.

A persons hands petting a coughing Dachschund dog

Luckily, RSV isn’t transmittable between humans and pets. But there are some particularly nasty viral respiratory infections to look out for.

Cat eating kibble from a bowl.

And learn what factors are at play when it comes to your kitty’s cardiac health.

Woman petting her Siamese cat on her lap.

They’re pretty great for people, too.

Cat's Veterinary Check-up.

Pet insurance is ideal, but there are some other options if you're stuck.

Red cat with squinted eyes laying in a basket closeup

Here are all the way your kitty is trying to tell you they’re hurting.

Cat sleeping at home in the sun.

Nearly 40 domestic cats have been infected with bird flu—two of which have never been outside.

Woman giving her cat a pill.

And learn what alternatives might be better.

Woman holding cat at home.

And how to know if they have one.


Man holding his cat.

Because they’re probably not going to tell you why they just scratched the heck out of the couch.

Woman and dog sitting outside.

August and September are the most active months for rabid bats. Here’s how to keep your pet safe.

Unrecognizable woman petting an ill cat

Learn how to spot the early signs to how to treat them.

Cat sitting by its litter box

Here’s how to deal with cat constipation.

Sick woman with her pet cat on the couch.

What about the other way around?

a woman feeding her dog food in a bowl

And the signs to look out for if you’re concerned.

Woman petting her cat at home on the floor.
Woman cleaning cat's ear at home.

Uh, ew. But also: Here‘s what you should look out for.

Woman petting her cat with her pet dog nearby.

The answer isn’t fun, but you can prevent this.

Ginger adult cat sits in flowering summer garden on pavement.

It’s not always as simple as removing the stinger. Find out everything you need to know.

Cat outside in a field of grass.

Adventure cats, beware: This plant can be seriously dangerous.

Man holding his large gray cat.

It only makes them cuter, but you may need to address the cause for this condition.

Person with short hair putting water bowl on floor for cat

Their desert-dwelling roots might resist hydration, but these tricks can help.

Man holds small kitten in his hands.

Because the early bird isn’t the only one who gets the worm(s).

Phineas the cat, who has cerebellar hypoplasia, sitting on a chair at home.

The pet parents of Phineas, a beloved social media star, tell us all about living with a cat with cerebellar hypoplasia.

Funny white cat plays on cat tree inside.

A question you may be asking after you observe any number of their behaviors...

Friends play with dog in the park.

From ticks-borne disease to nasty parasites, these areas have seen the most dog and cat illnesses. 

Woman playing with her orange cat.

Oof, that is bad.

Dog walking her owner down by the river.

Pet parents underestimate the risk of this serious condition, new survey reveals.

Cat sticking its tongue out in motion

Dogs rule, cats drool. Like, that’s normal, right?

Calf looking up at a cat on a farm.

Unpasteurized milk can transmit avian influenza from cows to mammals.

Woman scooping kitty litter at home.

Let’s try to, erm, firm up the details.

Small orange cat walking on dumbbells in gym.

The Oscar winner says his cat was prescribed life-saving steroids and is now “like Arnold Schwarzenegger.” Could that be true?

White brown black scotish cat in woman hug, is about to sleep, Asian woman holding cute cat in herarm beside the window and curtain with relaxing emotion.

If you notice some of these things, talk to your vet.

Black and white cat scratching with its paw.

Well, it’s not a fun thing to deal with, for starters.

Man and cat looking at each other with affection.

Here are the signs to look out for.

grey and white cat with tongue sticking out

Here’s when you should worry.

Woman petting her long haired cat on the sofa.

Ever heard of “walking dandruff?” Yep, that’s what we said.

Cute Grey Cat Chilling At Home.

Just some things to keep an...eye on.

Man holding cat in his arms.

Learn about “feline parvovirus” and the symptoms you should watch for.

Cleaning Persian Cat's eyes with cotton pad.

The answer isn’t cute, but here’s how to help your kitty.

Black cat crying.

They aren’t exactly going to weep over a rom-com marathon with you, but here are the reasons your kitty could shed a tear.

A closeup shot of a soft cute cat scratching itself.

The short answer: Yes. Here’s how you deal with it.

Ginger cat outdoors.

Here is everything pet parents need to know.

Girl stroking petting old Devon Rex cat from animal shelter sitting on couch at home.

Or are they just being a cat? Here are some signs to look for.

a cat licking a hot spot

Hot spots are so not hot—your cat agrees.

vet smiling at dog

As a vet working in emergency practice, I often see cases where these bills could be reduced or avoided altogether

Cat looks at their butt

It’s not a pretty problem to have, but it’s important to know how to treat this condition.

A gray cat sneezes from red poppies in a field.

They’re not exactly blowing their noses and rubbing Vicks on their chests, but here’s what you need to know.

Mom cat and her kittens.

These are the signs of pregnancy in cats.

Cute tabby cat playing with roll of toilet paper.

There may be a reason your cat can’t stop putting your hair ties in their mouth.

Red Cat On Threshold Looks At The Camera And Meows.

This can happen over time or very suddenly. Either way, it’s important to learn more about this symptom.

Close Up Portrait Of A Moody Maine Coon Cat

Or, is it a genius marketing ploy to get you to buy fancy “whisker friendly” cat bowls? We asked a vet...

Profile view of a man giving a cat food to eat

A veterinary nutritionist explains why your cat isn’t eating and how to increase their appetite.

A woman walking in a golden field during sunset with her dog.

Integrative veterinarian Dr. Lindsey Wendt shares advice on a sometimes controversial, always changing topic.

Owner pets senior ginger cat.

How to spot and how to treat them.

A woman brushes a cat's hair.

Fleas sound like villains of a horror movie, and that’s honestly not that far off.

Siamese cat in the middle of sneeze

Kitty sneezes can be alarming, but they’re not always cause for concern.

Woman gardener with cat in garden.

Scoop cat poop early and often—and keep it away from your garden.

Orange cat relaxes in the garden.

Itchy and definitely not fun — here’s what to look out for.

Beautiful playful tabby cat lying on the living room floor, playing with a ball of string.

If you see a string sticking out from, uh, behind, never, ever, ever pull on it.

Smiling Woman And Cat Looking Each Other In The Bedroom.

Cats’ eyes are strikingly beautiful, but goopy, irritated eyes are not.

Young person veterinarian in their veterinary clinic performing a medical examination on a pet.

There is one way to make sure your cat stays safe: vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate.

Person trains with a standard schnauzer puppy on a dog training field.

Dermatologist and star of Pop Goes the Vet Dr. Joya Griffin on the season’s often misunderstood phenomenon.

A cat lazing about at home resting on a cushion.

Nasal discharge doesn’t sound cute, but you need to know what to look out for.

A cat lazing about at home resting on a cushion.

Nasal discharge doesn’t sound cute, but you need to know what to look out for.

Tabby cat leaning into a porcelain sink, tail curled in the air, as it sticks its tongue out to drink water from the faucet.

No, not like that. They’re literally drinking a lot of water. Here’s when you should be worried.

Dog on ground looking at geese

Several cats and one dog in North America have died of the virus. Here’s how to keep them safe.

cat eating sensitive stomach food for cats

Dr. Bruce Kornreich explains why going this route isn’t always the answer.

White Persian cat on a blue background

Here’s how to help them get relief.

A woman holding up a ball for her jumping Great Dane dog at the beach

Gallant CEO Dr. Linda Black on how you can affordably give your dog a long and happy life, thanks to science.

Cat playing and jumping with a rubber band

The most common questions about feline immunodeficiency virus, answered. Good news: most cats live long, happy lives.

Woman sitting at the kitchen table eating breakfast with her cat eating next to her

A new report finds that one in three dogs and one in seven cats have unhealthy levels of E. coli present in their gut microbiome.

Dark-haired woman holding her ragdoll cat

Especially while shelters are overcrowded, consider adopting a cat.

Sad tan and white puppy laying on the floor in the living room

A key number to remember here: 21.

A fat cat lounging on a shelf.

A study found that smart feeders and digital scales are successful tools in cat weight-loss programs.

An orange cat coughing on a bed.

Everything you need to know about feline asthma, from someone who’s been there.

A woman petting her cat on the couch

They’re not what you’d think, according to veterinary behaviorist Dr. Margaret Gruen.

A cute calico cat laying on the floor with eyes wide open.

The common causes of cataracts, how to treat them, and why surgery may be your best option.

cat sitting in a litter box

Dr. Audrey K. Cook’s tips to getting to the bottom of a sh*tty situation.

kitten lying on the floor breathing through his mouth

“Cats don’t pant to cool off like dogs do.” Unless your pet is catching their breath after doing the zoomies, Dr. Gary Weitzman says it could be cause for concern.

Dog lying down on a red blanket while being pet

Is it all in their heads?

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