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Summary
Pets can add fun, companionship and a feeling of safety to your life. Before getting a pet, think carefully about which animal is best for your family. What is each family member looking for in a pet? Who will take care of it? Does anyone have pet allergies? What type of animal suits your lifestyle and budget?
Once you own a pet, keep it healthy. Know the signs of medical problems. Take your pet to the veterinarian if you notice:
- Loss of appetite
- Drinking a lot of water
- Gaining or losing a lot of weight quickly
- Strange behavior
- Being sluggish and tired
- Trouble getting up or down
- Strange lumps
Prevention and Risk Factors
- 10 "Poison Pills" for Pets (American Veterinary Medical Association)
- Household Hazards to Pets (American Veterinary Medical Association) - PDF Also in Spanish
- How Can You Prevent Rabies in Animals? (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- No Bones (or Bone Treats) About It: Reasons Not to Give Your Dog Bones (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish
- Potentially Dangerous Items for Your Pet (Food and Drug Administration)
- Prevent Heartworms in Pets Year-Round (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish
- Preventing Ticks on Your Pets (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
- Read the Label First! Protect Your Pets (Environmental Protection Agency) - PDF
- Vaccinations (American Veterinary Medical Association) - PDF Also in Spanish
Treatments and Therapies
- Animal Product Safety Information (Food and Drug Administration)
- Pain Medicines for Pets: Know the Risks (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish
- Treating Cushing's Disease in Dogs (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish
- Your Pet's Medications (American Veterinary Medical Association)
Related Issues
- Disaster Preparedness for Your Pet (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
- Dog Bite Prevention (American Veterinary Medical Association) - PDF Also in Spanish
- Pet Disaster Preparedness (American Red Cross)
- Pet Euthanasia: How Do I Know It Is Time? (American Veterinary Medical Association) - PDF Also in Spanish
- Plan, Prepare and Protect Your Pet Before, During and After an Emergency (Food and Drug Administration)
-
Power of Pets: Health Benefits of Human-Animal Interactions
(National Institutes of Health)
Also in Spanish
- Salmonella: Dry Pet Foods and Pet Treats (FAQ) (American Veterinary Medical Association)
- What Is the Rabies Risk for My Pet? (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Specifics
- 13 Animal Emergencies That Should Receive Immediate Veterinary Consultation and/or Care (American Veterinary Medical Association)
- Birds Kept as Pets (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Cancer in Animals (American Veterinary Medical Association) Also in Spanish
- Canine Distemper (American Veterinary Medical Association) - PDF
- Canine Parvovirus (American Veterinary Medical Association) - PDF
- Circovirus in Dogs FAQ (American Veterinary Medical Association)
- Cold Weather Pet Safety (American Veterinary Medical Association)
- Diabetic Pets (American Veterinary Medical Association) - PDF
- Dipylidium (Dog and Cat Flea Tapeworm) FAQs (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (American Veterinary Medical Association) Also in Spanish
- Got a Sick Fish? (American Veterinary Medical Association)
- Horses (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Keep the Worms Out of Your Pet's Heart! The Facts About Heartworm Disease (Food and Drug Administration)
- Key Facts about Canine Influenza (Dog Flu) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
- Leptospirosis and Pets (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Questions and Answers about Ebola, Pets, and Other Animals (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Senior Pets (American Veterinary Medical Association)
- Spaying and Neutering (American Veterinary Medical Association) - PDF
- Xylitol and Your Dog: Danger, Paws Off (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish