Understanding Feline Acne: What Cat Parents Need to Know
If you’ve noticed small, black spots on your cat’s chin that look like tiny blackheads, your feline friend might have feline acne. While this condition might sound concerning, it’s actually quite common and usually manageable with proper care. What Is Feline Acne? Feline acne is a skin condition that affects cats of all ages and breeds. It appears as small, dark spots or bumps, usually on the chin and sometimes around the lips. These spots look similar to blackheads that humans get. The medical term for these spots is...
How Field Officers are addressing pet transport barriers directly in the community
Access to pet care isn’t always as simple as scheduling an appointment. For many families, transportation is one of the biggest barriers standing between their pets and the care they need. If you haven’t already done so, we recommend watching the webcast recording, “How Field Officers are addressing transport barriers directly in the community.” In this webcast, animal well-being specialists shared how animal control officers are integrating pet transport into their work to keep pets with their families. Speakers...
Antimicrobial resistance in dogs and cats
Antimicrobial resistance is a growing threat to dogs and cats. Understand the risks, how it develops, and practical steps to protect your animal’s health Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in dogs and cats is an urgent and growing concern. It threatens the effectiveness of treatments for common infections. AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites resist drugs designed to kill them, making illnesses harder to treat and increasing the risk of complications. Our dogs and cats can be affected just as humans are, especially...
9 Ways Dog Parents Confuse Their Dogs
As loving dog parents, we sometimes do things that confuse our furry friends without even knowing it. Effective dog communication depends on clarity and consistency. When we send mixed signals, it can stress them out and make training harder. Here are nine common ways dog parents accidentally confuse their dogs. 1. Being Inconsistent with Rules One day you let your dog on the couch, the next day you don’t. This flip-flopping confuses dogs who need clear, steady rules. Pick your house rules and stick to them every day. 2. Using Too Many...
Maddie’s Weekly Roundup: Using social media for foster placements, anxiety medications for shelter pets and more!
Happy Monday! Below is a brief roundup of resources added over the past week. Shelter practices & barriers in the use of anxiety medications and alternativesJoin us on Thursday, October 9, 2025 at 12PM ET/3PM ET for the next installment of “Maddie’s® Insights: Shelter Practices & Barriers in the Use of Anxiety Medications & Alternatives,” presented by Bailey Eagan, PhD, MSc., Director of Research with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Fear, anxiety and stress… Learn...
Can cats suffer from separation anxiety?
Like dogs, some cats develop separation anxiety — especially those deeply bonded with their humans. Learn the signs, causes, and how to help your cat feel calm and secure when left alone. We most often associate separation anxiety with dogs. But can cats suffer from separation anxiety too? The answer is yes, and it’s especially true for kitties who have a very strong bond with their humans. Separation anxiety can also occur in cats who have never spent time alone for long periods. If you recognize the signs of separation...
A Fur Parent’s Guide to the Ultimate Adventure—Space Travel? Yes!
Space travel is getting a bit common. Well, not for the commoners yet. But while space travel with our furry friends might sound like science fiction, let’s imagine what it would take to keep our Fantastic Furs safe on the ultimate journey around Earth or to the Moon! Pre-Flight Health Checks Before any space adventure, your furry friends would need extensive health screenings. Just like human astronauts, dogs and cats would require perfect health to handle the stress of space travel. Your veterinarian would need to conduct thorough...
Nighttime dog walking safety tips
Stay safe during after-dark dog walks this fall with practical tips on visibility, gear, route planning, and avoiding nighttime hazards. If you’re like a lot of people, you often end up walking your dog early in the morning or late in the evening, when it’s dark or dusky. This is especially the case now that fall is here and the days are getting shorter. When visibility is low, you have to take your dog’s safety, and your own, into a little more consideration. Here are some nighttime dog walking safety tips to ensure...
Dogs and Cats and Daylight Saving
Twice a year, we adjust our clocks for daylight saving time. While we humans might feel a bit groggy for a few days, you might wonder if this time change affects your furry family members too. The answer is yes – dogs and cats can be impacted by daylight saving time changes. How Dogs and Cats Experience Time Changes Unlike humans who rely heavily on clocks, dogs and cats are guided by natural light patterns and established routines. Your furry companions have internal body clocks, called circadian rhythms, just like we do. These...
Shelter practices & barriers in the use of anxiety medications and alternatives
Join us on Thursday, October 9, 2025 at 12PM ET/3PM ET for the next installment of “Maddie’s® Insights: Shelter Practices & Barriers in the Use of Anxiety Medications & Alternatives,” presented by Bailey Eagan, PhD, MSc., Director of Research with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Fear, anxiety and stress are common challenges for cats and dogs in shelter environments, yet little is known about how shelters use psychoactive medications and non-medication alternatives to...
