Pet care guides
Plain answers to the questions new and experienced owners ask, with the sources vets use.
New puppy or kitten
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Dogs · 4 min read How much do puppies sleep?
Puppies sleep around 18 to 20 hours a day. See how sleep changes with age, a sample puppy day schedule, tips for settled nights, and when sleepiness is a worry.
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Dogs · 5 min read How to crate train a puppy
How to crate train a puppy step by step, how long a puppy can stay in a crate at each age, what to do about night whining, and why a crate is never a punishment.
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Cats · 5 min read How to litter train a kitten
How to litter train a kitten: how many trays (one per cat plus one), which litter, where to put the tray, how often to clean it, and how to fix accidents.
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Dogs · 6 min read How to potty train a puppy
How to potty train a puppy step by step: how long puppies can hold it by age, a daily toilet schedule, using a crate, handling accidents, and how long it takes.
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Cats · 6 min read New kitten checklist
Everything to get before a kitten comes home, how to kitten-proof your house, and a day-by-day plan for the first week, from litter trays to the first vet trip.
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Dogs · 6 min read New puppy checklist
A printable new puppy checklist: what to buy before your puppy comes home, how to puppy-proof, and what to do on day one and through the first week.
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Dogs · 4 min read Puppy teething
When puppies teethe, from baby teeth at 3 weeks to all 42 adult teeth by about 7 months. Signs of teething, safe chews, what to avoid, and retained baby teeth.
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Dogs and cats · 5 min read When to spay or neuter your dog or cat
When to spay or neuter: current vet guidance for cats (by 5 months), small dogs (about 6 months) and large dogs (often 9 to 15 months), with the pros and cons.
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Dogs · 5 min read Your puppy’s first vet visit
What happens at a puppy’s first vet visit, when to book it, what to bring (including a stool sample), the questions worth asking, and what is normal afterwards.
Health and symptoms
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Cats · 5 min read Cat drinking a lot of water?
Cat drinking a lot of water? How much is normal for your cat’s weight, how to measure it, common causes like kidney disease and diabetes, and when to see a vet.
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Cats · 4 min read Cat hairballs
Why cats get hairballs, how often is too often, how to prevent them with brushing and diet, and the signs of a hairball blockage that mean see a vet now.
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Cats · 5 min read Cat peeing outside the litter box
Why your cat is peeing outside the litter box: medical causes first (cystitis, blockage), then litter box setup, stress and spraying, and how to clean up.
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Cats · 5 min read Cat throwing up
Why your cat is throwing up, vomiting vs hairballs vs regurgitation, the signs that mean see a vet today, and why regular vomiting is not normal.
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Dogs · 5 min read Dog diarrhoea – what to do
What to do when your dog has diarrhea: common causes, the signs that mean call the vet, what to feed while they recover, and how to describe it to your vet.
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Dogs · 5 min read Dog itching and scratching
Why your dog keeps itching and scratching: fleas, environmental and food allergies, mites and skin infections, when to see the vet, and what to tell them.
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Dogs · 6 min read Dog vomiting – when to worry
Is your dog throwing up? How to tell vomiting from regurgitation, the signs that mean call the vet now, what is safe to do at home, and what to tell your vet.
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Cats · 4 min read How much do cats sleep?
How many hours a day do cats sleep? Typical sleep for kittens, adults and senior cats, why they nap so much, and the sleep changes worth a call to your vet.
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Dogs · 4 min read How much should a dog sleep?
How many hours a day dogs sleep at every age: puppies, adults and seniors, what changes it, and which changes in your dog’s sleep are worth a call to the vet.
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Cats · 6 min read How to give a cat a pill
How to give a cat a pill safely: hiding it in food, the towel wrap, the hands-on method and pill givers, and why every pill needs a little water after it.
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Dogs · 5 min read How to give a dog a pill
How to give a dog a pill without a struggle: hiding it in food, pill pockets, the three-treat trick, the hands-on method step by step, and when not to crush it.
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Dogs · 4 min read Signs of an ear infection in dogs
The signs of an ear infection in dogs, what causes them, which breeds are prone, why not to put anything in the ear at home, and what happens at the vet.
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Cats · 5 min read Signs of pain in cats
Cats hide pain well. Learn the subtle signs, from the Feline Grimace Scale to changes in grooming, litter habits and jumping, and when your cat needs a vet now.
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Dogs · 4 min read Why does my dog eat grass?
Why dogs eat grass, whether it means they feel sick, when grazing is a reason to see the vet, and how to keep a grazing dog safe from sprays and toxic plants.
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Dogs · 5 min read Why is my dog limping?
Dog limping suddenly or on and off? The common causes, what you can safely check at home, when a limp is an emergency, and what to tell your vet.
Vaccines and prevention
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Cats · 5 min read Adult cat vaccination schedule
How often adult cats need vaccines: FVRCP every 1 to 3 years by lifestyle, rabies every 1 or 3 years, and when FeLV boosters make sense. A clear booster plan.
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Dogs · 5 min read Adult dog vaccination schedule
How often adult dogs need vaccines: DHPP every 3 years, rabies every 1 or 3 years, leptospirosis yearly, plus kennel cough, Lyme and flu. A clear booster plan.
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Dogs and cats · 5 min read Deworming schedule for puppies and kittens
When to deworm puppies and kittens: every 2 weeks from 2 to 3 weeks old, then monthly. A schedule by age, signs of worms, and why it matters for people too.
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Cats · 4 min read Do indoor cats need vaccines?
Yes, indoor cats need their core vaccines. Why panleukopenia and rabies still reach indoor cats, which vaccines they can skip, and how often boosters are due.
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Dogs · 5 min read Flea and tick prevention for dogs
How often to give your dog flea and tick prevention, why vets advise it all year, the main types (spot-ons, chews, collars), and the safety rules that matter.
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Dogs · 5 min read Heartworm prevention for dogs
How heartworm spreads, why vets advise prevention 12 months a year, how often to test your dog, the types of preventive, and what to do after a missed dose.
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Cats · 2 min read Kitten vaccination schedule
A clear kitten vaccination schedule by age: FVRCP, rabies and feline leukaemia (FeLV), with boosters for the first year and beyond, for indoor and outdoor cats.
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Dogs · 3 min read Puppy vaccination schedule
A clear puppy vaccination schedule by age: core vaccines (DHPP, rabies, leptospirosis), lifestyle ones like kennel cough, and boosters for the first year and beyond.
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Dogs · 5 min read Rabies vaccine for dogs
How often dogs need a rabies shot, the difference between 1-year and 3-year vaccines, what the law requires, travel rules, and which side effects need a vet.
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Dogs · 5 min read What to do if your dog missed a vaccine booster
Your dog is overdue for a booster. What it means for DHPP, leptospirosis and rabies, when a vaccine series has to restart, and how to catch up safely.
Food and weight
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Cats · 5 min read Foods toxic to cats
The foods toxic to cats, plus lilies, which are deadly to them: why each is dangerous, what to do if your cat eats one, and what is safe to share.
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Dogs · 5 min read Foods toxic to dogs
The full list of foods toxic to dogs, from grapes, xylitol and chocolate to onions: why each is dangerous, how serious it is and what to do now.
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Cats · 5 min read How many calories does a cat need?
How many calories a cat needs a day: the vet formula, factors for neutered, intact, kitten and weight-loss cats, and a chart by weight.
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Dogs · 2 min read How many calories does my dog need?
How to work out how many calories your dog needs a day, how age, activity and neutering change it, how to turn calories into a portion, and how to tell if it’s right.
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Dogs · 4 min read How many treats can a dog have?
How many treats a dog can have a day: the 10% rule vets use, the allowance by dog size, calories in common treats and low-calorie ideas.
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Cats · 5 min read How much to feed a cat
How much to feed a cat a day, with a chart by weight, how to split wet and dry food, how many meals a day for kittens and adults, and how to tell if it’s right.
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Dogs · 6 min read How much to feed a puppy
How much to feed a puppy by weight and age, with a calorie chart, how many meals a day at each age, and when to switch to adult food for small and large breeds.
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Cats · 5 min read How to help your cat lose weight
How to help an overweight cat lose weight safely: why slow matters, calories to feed, wet food, puzzle feeders, play and fatty liver warning signs.
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Dogs · 5 min read How to help your dog lose weight
A safe weight-loss plan for dogs: how fast to aim for, calories for the target weight, treats, exercise, weigh-ins and what to do if it stalls.
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Dogs · 5 min read Is my dog overweight?
How to tell if your dog is overweight: the 1–9 body condition score vets use, the rib, waist and tummy-tuck checks, and what to do next.
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Dogs · 5 min read What fruits can dogs eat?
Which fruits dogs can eat and which they can’t: a safe and unsafe fruit table, how to prepare each one, how much to give, and why grapes are never safe.
Training and behaviour
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Cats · 5 min read How to get a cat into a carrier
How to get your cat into a carrier without a fight: step-by-step carrier training, plus a calm method for when the vet visit is today and there is no time.
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Cats · 5 min read How to stop a cat scratching furniture
Scratching is normal, so redirect it: the right scratching post and where to put it, deterrents that work, nail trims and caps, and why vets oppose declawing.
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Dogs · 5 min read How to stop a dog pulling on the lead
How to stop your dog pulling on the lead or leash: loose-lead walking step by step, the best harness, which tools to avoid, and how to stay consistent.
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Dogs · 5 min read How to stop a puppy biting
How to stop a puppy biting and nipping: teach bite inhibition, redirect to toys, use short timeouts, avoid punishment, and know when puppy biting eases.
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Dogs · 6 min read How to teach a dog recall
How to teach your dog to come when called, step by step: one cue, starting indoors, adding distance and distractions, using a long line, and mistakes to avoid.
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Dogs · 5 min read Separation anxiety in dogs
How to tell if your dog has separation anxiety, what else it could be, how to teach a dog to be alone step by step, and when to see your vet or a behaviourist.
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Cats · 4 min read Why do cats knead?
Why cats knead you and your blankets: the kitten instinct behind it, what it says about how your cat feels, the claws, and when kneading is a sign of stress.
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Dogs · 5 min read Why do dogs eat poop?
Why dogs eat poop (coprophagia), why puppies do it, the medical causes your vet will rule out, and practical ways to stop it that actually help.
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Cats · 5 min read Why does my cat bite me?
Why cats bite: play biting, petting-induced "love bites", fear and pain. How to read the warning signs, what to do in the moment, and how to stop it for good.
Everyday care
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Dogs · 5 min read How much exercise does a dog need?
How much exercise your dog needs a day by breed type and age: puppies, adults and seniors, the truth about the five-minute rule, and signs of too much.
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Dogs · 5 min read How often to bathe a dog
How often to bathe your dog by coat type and lifestyle, how to bathe a dog step by step, which shampoo to use, and how to avoid drying out their skin.
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Cats · 6 min read How often to clean a litter box
How often to clean a litter box: scoop daily, change clumping litter weekly, how many boxes you need, safe cleaners and signs your cat dislikes the box.
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Dogs · 5 min read How to brush a dog’s teeth
How to brush your dog’s teeth: how often, which toothpaste is safe, a gentle step-by-step introduction, and the signs of dental disease that need a vet.
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Cats · 6 min read How to introduce a new cat
How to introduce a new cat to your resident cat, step by step: the separate room, scent swapping, seeing each other, supervised meetings and signs to slow down.
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Dogs · 4 min read How to remove a tick from a dog
How to remove a tick from your dog safely with fine tweezers or a tick tool, what never to do, what to do if the head is left in, and when to call the vet.
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Cats · 5 min read How to trim cat nails
How to trim your cat’s nails safely: what you need, finding the quick, how much to cut, how often, what to do if it bleeds, and calming a nervous cat.
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Dogs · 5 min read How to trim dog nails
How to trim your dog’s nails at home: how often, finding the quick on light and dark nails, clipping step by step, nervous dogs, and what to do if it bleeds.
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Dogs and cats · 5 min read Pet medical records to keep
Which pet medical records to keep: vaccines, rabies certificate, microchip, medicines, allergies, lab results and insurance, plus what to bring to a new vet.
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Dogs and cats · 6 min read Pet sitter checklist
A complete pet sitter checklist: routine, food amounts, medicines, vet and emergency contacts, consent for treatment and house info, with a table to fill in.
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Dogs and cats · 6 min read Sharing pet care with family
How to share pet care with family or housemates: a simple chore chart, who feeds, walks and gives medicine, avoiding double doses, and kids’ jobs by age.
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Dogs and cats · 6 min read Travelling with a pet: the documents you need
The documents you need to travel with a dog or cat: microchip, rabies vaccine, health certificates, EU pet travel rules, airline basics and where to check.
Senior pets
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Cats · 4 min read Cat years to human years
How to convert cat years to human years: a full cat age chart from kitten to 25, the simple 15-24-plus-4 rule, and what each life stage means for care.
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Dogs · 5 min read Dog years to human years
How to convert dog years to human years: why the 7-year rule is wrong, a dog age chart by size from 1 to 16 years, and the DNA-based formula scientists use.
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Dogs · 6 min read How to tell a dog’s age
How to tell how old a dog is: the puppy teeth timeline, what adult teeth, eyes, coat and muscle tone reveal, how vets estimate age, and how accurate it can be.
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Cats · 7 min read Senior cat care
Senior cat care from age 10: twice-yearly vet checks, kidney and thyroid disease signs, weight loss, arthritis, litter box access, diet and changes at home.
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Dogs · 7 min read Senior dog care
Senior dog care made simple: when your dog is senior by size, twice-yearly vet checks, diet, exercise, joint care, signs of dementia and changes at home.
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