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Cancer is the No. 1 disease-related cause of death in pets. The good news is that there are three things you can do to help reduce that risk: Keep your pet lean and fit More than half of all pets are overweight or obese, a statistic that — not surprisingly — tracks with human health figures. For pets as well as people, obesity is linked to increased incidence of many serious health problems. Your veterinarian can help you learn how to reduce your pet’s weight through proper nutrition, with healthy food and treats offered in appropriate portions, and adequate exercise,…

1. Trick-or-treat candies ARE NOT for pets. All forms of chocolate—especially baking or dark chocolate—can be dangerous, even lethal, for dogs and cats. Symptoms of chocolate poisoning may include vomiting, diarrhea, rapid breathing, increased heart rate, and seizures. Halloween candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can also be poisonous to dogs. Even small amounts of xylitol can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar and subsequent loss of coordination and seizures. 2. DO NOT leave pets out in the yard on Halloween. Vicious pranksters have been known to tease, injure, steal, and even kill pets on Halloween night. Inexcusable? Yes! But preventable nonetheless. Black cats…

Everyone knows the definition of obesity — at least they think they know it when they see it. But it’s defined a little more narrowly than you might think: It’s when you (or your cat in this case) is storing extra fat. Any evaluation of obesity depends to a large extent on the animal’s individual characteristics. Obesity is usually caused by excessive food intake and insufficient exercise. According to some estimates, more than 50% of cats are overweight and 25% of cats are obese. Obesity is more common in older, less active felines and in spayed female felines whose weight…