Dog & Cat Articles with Advice from Our Experts

Every dog has a unique personality, and yours is no different. Most are full of fun and curiosity, but nearly all dogs have some fears too. And while it’s only natural for dogs to be afraid of things, some dogs are more predisposed to fear than their four-legged counterparts. Your dog may suffer from anxiety about a number of things, situations or places. Knowing what causes dog anxiety and how to calm dog anxiety can be helpful to caring pet parents looking to support their pets and combat unwanted behaviour.

The combination of cats and water is seldom a match made in heaven. Cats pretty much hate the stuff, as you might have noticed if you’ve viewed any of the hilarious viral vids circulating online. But why do our feline friends have this loathsome, never-ending hatred for water?

If your dog is like most, he may bark or twitch while sleeping, leading you to ponder, “Do dogs dream?” Although there’s no way to definitively know for sure whether our canine companions dream in the same way that we do, science has determined with a fair amount of certainty that dogs probably dream.

Has your cat’s hacking and coughing left you asking, “What are cat hairballs?” If so, read on for some answers to your most common cat hairball questions. Cat hairballs are not a mystery, and they are just what you might imagine: a collection of cat hair that your cat has swallowed, largely by licking her body during the natural act of grooming. In addition to dead hair, hairballs also contain digestive juices from your cat’s stomach.

Cat scratch fever, sometimes referred to as cat scratch disease, is one of a handful of illnesses known as zoonotic diseases that can (although rarely do) spread from animals to humans. Around 40% of all cats carry the cat scratch fever bacteria — Bartonella henselae — at some point in their lives, usually during kittenhood, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

For first-time cat owners, the vomiting might be a bit of a surprise. But don’t worry: It’s often perfectly normal. Cats throwing up is just another part of the deal for most cat lovers, and most of them would agree the benefits of owning a cat are worth the occasional clean-up. But if the cleaning isn’t so occasional for you or you just want to keep close tabs on your furry friend's health, you’re probably wondering, "Why is my cat throwing up and what should I do about it?" Find out more below. 

Some owners may think ear scratching is just a normal part of dog behaviour. And while many dogs will scratch their ears casually, itchy ears can mean something’s wrong with your dog's ears. Ear infections aren’t too rare in dogs, so it’s a good idea to learn the symptoms and how to properly maintain your dog's ear health. Find out why your dog has itchy ears and what to do about it.

With their generally cute and playful attitude, it can be easy to forget that cats are miniature versions of apex predators and are perfectly designed night hunters. Anyone who's been awakened by their cat in a frenzied sprint around the house at the crack of dawn knows cats love to hunt when it’s dark.

About 1 in 111 dogs will experience some form of epilepsy. But even more can have a seizure at some point. During a seizure, dogs lose all self-control, which can be very unsettling for their owners. Seizures in dogs are like electrical explosions in the brain, setting off many neurons and creating huge brain wave spikes. Learning more about seizures in dogs can help you care for a dog with epilepsy or prepare yourself for an unexpected seizure.

Diarrhea is never a pleasant condition, but when your puppy is dealing with it, it's not a fun situation for anyone. If you're working on training your pup to go outside, diarrhea can also be a challenge to your house-training, as your furry friend may not be able to physically make it outdoors before he goes. Find out more about puppy diarrhea below, including what might cause it and when it's a serious situation to speak to your vet about.

The first few months of puppy training is definitely enough for owners to start questioning why the phrase is ‘"herding cats" instead of puppies. But with persistence and the right tools, leash training your new best friend can be fun, rewarding and stress-free. Learn how to leash train a puppy below.

If you have a cat with worms or suspect your cat is experiencing the symptoms of worms, you’re probably frustrated and perhaps a little scared for your feline. After all, these pesky parasites are detrimental to your cat’s well-being and health when they make themselves at home in your pet’s digestive system. Rest assured, today’s worm treatments for cats are quite effective, and your little furry friend will be back to feeling good in no time flat.