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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)
-
How to Report Problems with Flea and Tick Products
(Food and Drug Administration)
- 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
- Safe Use of Flea and Tick Products in Pets (Food and Drug Administration)
- 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
Related Issues
- COVID-19: Guidance for Handlers of Service and Therapy Animals (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
- Disaster Preparedness for Your Pet (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
- Disease Precautions for Dog Walkers (American Veterinary Medical Association)
- Dog Bite Prevention (American Veterinary Medical Association) - PDF Also in Spanish
- How to Stay Healthy around Pets (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
-
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
- Birds Kept as Pets (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Canine Distemper (American Veterinary Medical Association) - PDF
- Canine Parvovirus (American Veterinary Medical Association) - PDF
- COVID-19 and Your Pets (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
- Dipylidium (Dog and Cat Flea Tapeworm) FAQs (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Helpful Questions and Answers about Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Your Pets (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish
- Horses (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Horses: How to Stay Healthy Around 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
- Medication Errors Happen to Pets, Too (Food and Drug Administration)
- What to Do if Your Pet Tests Positive for the Virus that Causes COVID-19 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
- Xylitol and Your Dog: Danger, Paws Off (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Find an Expert
- AAHA-Accredited Hospital Locator (American Animal Hospital Association) - Locate a veterinary hospital in the United States or Canada
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Also in Spanish