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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…

1. Cat bite abscesses. When a cat starts to limp, most owners tend to think about strains and sprains as a result of all that feline athleticism. What most cat owners don’t realize is that cats rarely injure themselves in this way. Cars, dogs, coyotes and other cats, being this the most typical among the others, tend to be more common sources of serious injuries. These cases often call for the area to be clipped and cleaned so the abscess can be drained, if needed. Some cats may also need antibiotics and pain medications. 2. Ingrown toenails. Older indoor-only cats…