Pets can add fun, companionship and a feeling of safety to your life. Before getting a pet, think carefully about which animal is best for your family. What is each family member looking for in a pet? Who will take care of it? Does anyone have pet allergies? What type of animal suits your lifestyle and budget?
Once you own a pet, keep it healthy. Know the signs of medical problems. Take your pet to the veterinarian if you notice:
- Loss of appetite
- Drinking a lot of water
- Gaining or losing a lot of weight quickly
- Strange behavior
- Being sluggish and tired
- Trouble getting up or down
- Strange lumps
- General Illnesses and Diseases(American Veterinary Medical Association) - http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/animatedjourneys/pethealth/pethealth.asp
- Selecting Safe Pets(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/home/pets.html
- Pet and Animal Diseases: Where Can I Find Information about My Pet?(National Library of Medicine) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/services/animal.html
- Practical Advice and Considerations(American Veterinary Medical Association) - http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/animatedjourneys/petselection/consider.asp
- Animal Drug Safety FAQs(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/cvm/AnimalDrugSafetyFAQ.htm
- Pain Drugs for Dogs: Be an Informed Pet Owner(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2006/506_nsaid.html
- Daily Care(American Veterinary Medical Association) - http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/animatedjourneys/livingwithpets/care.asp
- Heartworm Prevention in Your Pet(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/heartworm061908.html
- Preventive Care(American Veterinary Medical Association) - http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/animatedjourneys/readytoadopt/prevcare.asp
- Read the Label First! Protect Your Pet(Environmental Protection Agency) - Links to PDF - http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/regulating/labels/pdf/pets.pdf
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What You Should Know about Household Hazards to Pets(American Veterinary Medical Association) - http://www.avma.org/animal_health/brochures/hazards/household_brochure.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.avma.org/animal_health/brochures/hazards/household_brochure_spanish.asp
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What You Should Know about Vaccinations(American Veterinary Medical Association) - http://www.avma.org/animal_health/brochures/vaccination/vaccination_brochure.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.avma.org/animal_health/brochures/vaccination/vaccination_brochure_spanish.asp
- Caution in Feeding Dogs Chicken Jerky(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/jerky092807.html
- Pet Food Recall(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html
- Pet Foods(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/cvm/petfoods.htm
- Safe Handling Tips for Pet Foods and Treats(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/petfoodtips080307.html
- Arthritis in Dogs: Spotting Arthritis in Spot(Arthritis Foundation) - http://www.arthritis.org/arthritis-dogs.php
- Campylobacter Infection and Animals(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/diseases/campylobacteriosis.htm
- Cat Articles(American Animal Hospital Association) - http://www.healthypet.com/library_list.aspx?ID=2
- Diabetes Insipidus in Our Best Friends(Diabetes Insipidus Foundation) - http://www.diabetesinsipidus.org/pets_di_in_bestfriends.htm
- Dipylidium Infection (Dog and Cat Flea Tapeworm)(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/dipylidium/factsht_dipylidium.htm
- Dog Articles(American Animal Hospital Association) - http://www.healthypet.com/library_list.aspx?ID=1
- Exotic Articles(American Animal Hospital Association) - http://www.healthypet.com/library_list.aspx?ID=3
- General Questions & Answers about Rabies(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/qanda/general.html
- Is Your Pet Itching for Relief?(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2004/404_pets.html
- Leishmania Infection (Leishmaniasis) and Animals(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/diseases/leishmania.htm
- Leptospirosis and Your Pet(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/leptospirosis_g_pet.htm
- Spaying and Neutering Frequently Asked Questions(American Veterinary Medical Association) - http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/animatedjourneys/readytoadopt/spay.asp
- Taking the Bite Out of Fleas and Ticks(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2001/401_flea.html
- Toxoplasmosis: An Important Message for Cat Owners(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - Links to PDF - http://www.cdc.gov/toxoplasmosis/pdfs/ToxoCatOwners_8.2004.pdf
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West Nile Virus and Dogs and Cats(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/wnv_dogs_cats.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/spanish/wnv_dogs_cats_spanish.htm
- What Every Pet Owner Should Know about Roundworms and Hookworms(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - Links to PDF - http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/Merial_CDCBroch_rsgWEB.pdf
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What You Should Know about Cancer in Animals(American Veterinary Medical Association) - http://www.avma.org/animal_health/brochures/cancer/cancer_brochure.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.avma.org/animal_health/brochures/cancer/cancer_brochure_spanish.asp
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What You Should Know about Canine Distemper(American Veterinary Medical Association) - http://www.avma.org/animal_health/brochures/canine_distemper/distemper_brochure.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.avma.org/animal_health/brochures/canine_distemper/distemper_brochure_spanish.asp
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What You Should Know about Canine Parvovirus(American Veterinary Medical Association) - http://www.avma.org/animal_health/brochures/canine_parvo/parvo_brochure.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.avma.org/animal_health/brochures/canine_parvo/parvo_brochure_spanish.asp
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What You Should Know about Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease(American Veterinary Medical Association) - http://www.avma.org/animal_health/brochures/flutd/flutd_brochure.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.avma.org/animal_health/brochures/flutd/flutd_brochure_spanish.asp
- Counterfeit Pesticide Products for Dogs and Cats(Environmental Protection Agency) - http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/petproduct.htm
- Disaster Preparedness: Saving the Whole Family(American Veterinary Medical Association) - http://www.avma.org/disaster/saving_family.asp
- FDA 101: How to Use the Consumer Complaint System and MedWatch(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/reporting061008.html
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How Do I Know It Is Time? Pet Euthanasia(American Veterinary Medical Association) - http://www.avma.org/animal_health/brochures/euthanasia/pet/pet_euth_brochure.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.avma.org/animal_health/brochures/euthanasia/pet/pet_euth_brochure_spanish.asp
- Pet Food Labels(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/cvm/labelint.htm
- Purchasing Pet Drugs Online: Buyer Beware(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/petdrugsonline121407.html
- Senior Pet Care(American Animal Hospital Association) - http://www.healthypet.com/library_view.aspx?ID=141&sid=1
- Traveling with Your Pet(American Veterinary Medical Association) - http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/animatedjourneys/livingwithpets/traveling.asp
- Understanding Your Feelings of Loss When Your Animal Dies(American Veterinary Medical Association) - http://www.avma.org/animal_health/brochures/pet_loss/pet_loss_brochure.asp
- What Is a Veterinarian?(American Veterinary Medical Association) - http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/animatedjourneys/aboutvets/aboutvets.asp
- What You Should Know about Choosing a Veterinarian for Your Pet(American Veterinary Medical Association) - http://www.avma.org/animal_health/brochures/choosing_vet/choosing_vet_brochure.asp
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What You Should Know about Dog Bite Prevention(American Veterinary Medical Association) - http://www.avma.org/animal_health/brochures/dog_bite/dog_bite_brochure.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.avma.org/animal_health/brochures/dog_bite/dog_bite_brochure_spanish.asp
- When a Pet Dies(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=When+A+Pet+Dies§ion=Facts+for+Families
- Your Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/reporting_guide061008.html
- Animated Journeys(American Veterinary Medical Association) - http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/animatedjourneys/animatedfl.asp
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Role of attachment in response to pet loss. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19368063&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Nonfatal fall-related injuries associated with dogs and cats--United States, 2001-2006. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19325528&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Agricultural origins and the isotopic identity of domestication in northern... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19307567&tool=MedlinePlus
- Pet Health -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=animals,domestic[majr]+AND+(pet[tw]+OR+pets[tw]+OR+dogs[mh]+OR+cats[mh]+OR+bonding,human+pet[mh])+AND+english[la]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Pet therapy -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(animals,domestic[mh]+OR+pet[tw]+OR+pets[tw]+OR+cats[mh]+OR+dogs[mh]+OR+horses[mh]+OR+birds[mh])+AND+bonding,human+pet[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+NOT+(animal+welfare[mh]+OR+animal+husbandry[mh]+OR+veterinary[tw])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Glossary (Healthy Pets Healthy People)(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/glossary.htm
- Find a (Veterinary) Hospital(American Animal Hospital Association) - Locate a veterinary hospital in the United States or Canada - http://healthypet.aahanet.org/eweb/startpage.aspx?site=HealthyPet
- State and Local VMA's (Veterinary Medical Associations)(American Veterinary Medical Association) - http://www.avma.org/statevma/default.asp
- American Veterinary Medical Association - http://www.avma.org/
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - http://www.cdc.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.cdc.gov/spanish/
- Pet Travel(Dept. of Agriculture) - http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/pet_travel/pet_travel.shtml
- Pets and Wildlife: Licensing and Health Requirements(Customs & Border Protection) - Links to PDF - http://www.cbp.gov/ImageCache/cgov/content/publications/pets_2epdf/v1/pets.pdf
- Cat Care(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/kids/html/cat_care.htm
- Infants and Young Children: Animal Safety Tips(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/child.htm
- Kids Corner(American Veterinary Medical Association) - http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/kidscorner/default.asp
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My Pet Died - How Can I Feel Better?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/thought/pet_death.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/kid/en_espanol/sentimientos/pet_death_esp.html
- Reptile Rage(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/kids/html/reptiles.htm
- My Pet Died. How Can I Feel Better?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/problems/pet_death.html
- Animal Diseases and Your Health - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/animaldiseasesandyourhealth.html
- Monkeypox Virus Infections - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/monkeypoxvirusinfections.html
- Rabies - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/rabies.html
- Wellness and Lifestyle - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/wellnessandlifestyle.html