Spring Health Challenges Your Feline Friend May Face
As the weather warms and flowers begin to bloom, springtime brings unique health concerns for your beloved cat. Understanding these seasonal challenges can help you keep your feline companion safe and healthy during this vibrant time of year. Seasonal Allergies Just like humans, cats can develop allergies when pollen counts rise. Your feline may experience itchy skin, excessive grooming, watery eyes, or sneezing. Watch for signs of discomfort like scratching more than usual or developing small scabs on their skin. If you notice these...
Therapy dog training and certification
Find out if your dog is a good candidate for therapy work, and learn the steps for training, evaluation, and certification for this rewarding role. Therapy dogs hold a special place in our communities. From visiting hospitals and schools to comforting people after a crisis, they bring people calm, connection, and joy. But not every dog is suited for therapy work. How can you tell if your own canine is a good candidate? What steps help you both prepare for therapy dog training and certification? Let’s explore what therapy dogs do, and...
Keeping Dogs Safe in Group Settings
Understanding Your Dog’s Temperament Before entering any group setting, it’s important to honestly assess your dog’s behavior and comfort level. Not every dog enjoys being around other dogs or unfamiliar people, and that’s perfectly normal. Dogs with reactive behavior—those who overreact to common situations by lunging, barking, or becoming overly aroused—may find group settings extremely stressful. These experiences can actually make their behavior worse over time if they’re not ready for such...
Maddie’s Weekly Roundup: Animal Care Expo, dog behavior courses and more!
Happy Monday. Below is a brief roundup of resources added over the past week. Please note: we’ll be at Animal Care Expo this week, so we’ll be taking a break from the blog the rest of this week. Be sure to come say hi at our booth if you’re at Expo! Two new dog behavior courses are now available on Maddie’s UniversityWe’re excited to share that Assessing Dog Behavior Through Everyday Interactions and Building Trust with Dogs Who Aren’t Ready to Come Out of the Kennel are now available for free on...
5 Zoonotic Diseases in Cats Every Cat Parent Should Know
As a cat parent, you want to keep your feline companion healthy while protecting your family’s health too. Zoonotic diseases are infections that can spread from cats to humans. Let’s explore the five most common zoonotic diseases you should know about. 1. Toxoplasmosis Toxoplasmosis is caused by a tiny parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. Cats are the only animals that can shed the infectious form in their feces. Most infected cats don’t show any symptoms, but the disease can be serious for pregnant women and people with...
Your Dog’s Nose Print is One-of-a-Kind: Nature’s ID System
Have you ever taken a close look at your dog’s nose? Beyond being adorably boopable, that wet, textured surface holds a fascinating secret. Just like your fingerprints make you uniquely identifiable, your furry companion’s nose print is completely one-of-a-kind. No two dogs in the entire world share the same nose print pattern! What Makes a Nose Print Unique? If you gently examine your dog’s nose, you’ll notice an intricate pattern of ridges, lines, and bumps on the surface. These patterns are formed before birth and...
Two new dog behavior courses are now available on Maddie’s University
We’re excited to share that Assessing Dog Behavior Through Everyday Interactions and Building Trust with Dogs Who Aren’t Ready to Come Out of the Kennel are now available for free on Maddie’s® University. These two self-paced courses were authored by Kristen Brown, CPDT-KA, VSA-CDT, with assistance by Dr. Sheila Segurson DVM, DACVB, Board-Certified Veterinary Behaviorist, Director of Shelter Solutions at Maddie’s® Fund. They are designed to be completed within 30 minutes, with lots of short...
Cat anxiety and stress: integrative treatments and signs to watch for
Cats experience stress too – here’s how to recognize anxiety, address triggers, and naturally support calm, confident feline behavior. Cats may not pace the floor worrying about bills or doomscroll at midnight — but they absolutely experience anxiety and stress. These emotional states can affect your kitty’s behavior, health, and quality of life. As a holistic veterinarian, I often see cats quietly suffer from mental health issues that masquerade as physical illness or “bad behavior.” The good news?...
Do dogs and cats have a dominant paw?
Find out if dogs and cats show left- or right-paw preferences, what it means, and simple ways to identify your best friend’s dominant paw. Do dogs and cats have a dominant paw? Just as we are right-handed or left-handed, dogs and cats can show preferences for using one paw over the other. Researchers call this fascinating behavior “laterality.” It’s more common in our four-legged friends than many realize. Paw preferences in dogs Research shows many dogs favor one paw over the other when performing certain tasks....
Understanding Selective IgA Deficiency in Dogs
If you’re caring for a dog, you’ve probably heard about common health issues like ear infections or allergies. But have you heard of Selective IgA Deficiency? This lesser-known immune system condition affects how your dog’s body fights off infections, and it’s important to understand what it means for your furry companion. What Is Selective IgA Deficiency? Selective IgA Deficiency is a condition where a dog’s immune system doesn’t make enough of a special protein called Immunoglobulin A, or IgA for short....
High Blood Pressure in Cats
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a serious health condition that affects many cats, especially as they grow older. Unfortunately, most people who care for cats don’t know this condition exists or how dangerous it can be. Learning about feline hypertension can help you protect your furry companion from its potentially devastating effects. What Is Feline Hypertension? Just like in humans, high blood pressure in cats means the force of blood pushing against artery walls is too strong. This puts extra strain on vital organs...
Creating a foster-centric medical clinic at your animal shelter
Ready to switch your animal shelter from a kennel-centric medical model to a foster-centric clinic that effectively supports animals living in foster homes? Don’t miss April’s Maddie’s Monthly Foster Connection, Creating a Foster-Centric Medical Clinic! The discussion takes place on Thursday, April 2 at 12PMPT/3PM ET. As more shelters place 50% or more of animals in foster care, clinics must adapt their infrastructure, staffing, communication and workflows to serve both people and pets. The discussion emphasizes guiding...
When Veterinarians Can’t Diagnose Your Dog or Cat’s Medical Condition
Having a sick dog or cat is stressful. When veterinarians can’t figure out what’s wrong, it can feel overwhelming and scary. You’re not alone in this situation, and there are steps you can take to help find answers for your furry family member. Don’t Give Up Hope First, take a deep breath. Some medical conditions are difficult to diagnose, even for experienced veterinarians. This doesn’t mean your companion animal can’t be helped. Medical mysteries happen, and sometimes it takes time, additional testing, or...
Maddie’s Weekly Roundup: Maddie’s Insights, continuing education credits and more!
Happy Monday. Below is a brief roundup of resources added over the past week. Fur-ever starts now: Supporting dogs and adopters’ post-adoptionMaddie’s® Insights is our ongoing webcast series with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people. Join us on April 16 at 12PMPT/3PM ET for Fur-ever starts now. Supporting dogs and adopters’ post-adoption. This is a program that looks at common health and behavior concerns in dogs after their adoption in the… Learn More Content approved for continuing...
Understanding Dog Bite Force and How to Handle a Bite
When it comes to bite force, dogs vary quite a bit depending on their size, breed, and jaw structure. Scientists measure bite force in pounds per square inch (PSI), which tells us how much pressure a dog’s jaw can apply. Larger breeds with broad heads and strong jaw muscles typically have more powerful bites. For example, breeds like German Shepherds can bite with around 238 PSI, while Rottweilers may reach up to 328 PSI. Pit Bulls measure around 235 PSI, and Mastiffs can exceed 500 PSI. On the other end, smaller breeds like Chihuahuas...
Natural Calming Treats for Cats
Does your feline friend seem stressed, anxious, or overly energetic? Many cats experience anxiety from various situations like vet visits, thunderstorms, moving to a new home, or changes in their daily routine. Fortunately, natural calming treats can help support your cat’s emotional wellbeing in a gentle, safe way. What Are Natural Calming Treats? Natural calming treats are specially formulated snacks that contain ingredients known to promote relaxation in cats. These treats work by supporting your cat’s natural ability to stay...
Fur-ever starts now: Supporting dogs and adopters’ post-adoption
Maddie’s® Insights is our ongoing webcast series with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people. Join us on April 16 at 12PMPT/3PM ET for Fur-ever starts now. Supporting dogs and adopters’ post-adoption. This is a program that looks at common health and behavior concerns in dogs after their adoption in the United Kingdom. Our speakers are Drs. Eleanor Jordan and Lauren Samet, both of Dogs Trust, a British animal well-being charity and humane society which specializes in the well-being of dogs. It is the...
Immune-boosting whole foods for dogs and cats
Support your dog or cat’s immune system with whole foods like mushrooms, oats, turmeric, and coconut — plus healthy, easy recipes to try. Whole foods help our dogs and cats live longer and healthier lives. They’re rich in essential nutrients, many of which, such as antioxidants, strengthen or support the immune system and help prevent disease. This article focuses on immune-boosting whole foods for dogs and cats, along with a selection of nutritious recipes to help you incorporate them into your best friend’s...
75% Fewer Cats Are Dying in Shelters, Here’s How Austin Is Part of Livesaving
Mar 25, 2026 New national data from Best Friends Animal Society confirms something the animal welfare community has been working toward for a long time: the number of cats killed in shelters has dropped by nearly 75% over the past decade. Best Friends attributes this progress to three key drivers: the expansion of community cat programs, a 20% rise in cat adoptions, and the growth of kitten foster programs across the country. Austin Pets Alive! has been in the middle of all three, helping improve lifesaving in Texas and across the country....
How Dogs Smell Time?
Have you ever noticed how your furry companion seems to know exactly when you’re about to walk through the door? Or how they start waiting by the window at the same time each day? It’s not just coincidence—your dog might actually be “smelling time.” The Science of Scent and Time Recent research has revealed something truly remarkable about our canine companions: they may use their powerful sense of smell to understand the passage of time. Throughout the day, scents in your home gradually change and fade. While we...
