As a pet owner, it’s important to keep an eye out for warning signs that your furry friend might be sick. Not only can early detection help with a quicker recovery, but it can also save you money on vet bills in the long run. While pet insurance can help alleviate some of the financial burden, there are other ways to save on vet bills such as keeping up with flea and tick medications and recognizing common signs of illness in your dog or cat. From excessive barking to vomiting, itching, and allergies, here are some common warning signs to look out for and what they might mean for your pet’s health: 1. Excessive barking If your dog is barking more than usual, it could be a sign of discomfort or pain. They may be trying to tell you that something is wrong, so it’s important to take note of any changes in behavior. 2. Vomiting While occasional vomiting may not be a cause for concern, persistent vomiting could be a sign of a more serious issue such as an obstruction in the digestive tract or an infection. If your pet is vomiting frequently, it’s best to take them to the vet.

Cats are a lot of work, and the cost of having one can add up with pet insurance, flea medications and treatments, collars, cat litter, cat treats, online veterinarians, and more. However tasking and costly they are, it is worth it to have a furry friend that loves you. Everyone wants to keep their pets healthy and safe and it’s important to watch their behavior to know if they’re feeling off. So, whether your cat has been acting strange lately, or you just got a new kitten and want to educate yourself, here are 6 signs your cat isn’t feeling well: 1. Hiding Cats often hide as a part of their nature to find a safe place to doze off or when they’re feeling playful and want to sneak up on a toy. If you find your cat hiding more than usual, it may be a sign that they’re stressed, anxious, or not feeling well—it’s best to take them to a vet to rule out any illnesses and get to the bottom of the issue. 2. Appetite If your cat is not eating or drinking as much as they used to, not at all, or a lot more than they used to, it’s a big sign that something is off.

Pet owners love their fur babies so much, it can be hard to say no when they want a bite of our human food. It’s important to resist the big puppy eyes! Also best to stick to diet dog food, canned food, pup food and any other pet food your veterinarian may have recommended. Let house guests know that they cannot feed your pet without your permission, because certain human foods can be detrimental to your pet’s health. Here is a list of foods that are toxic for your pets: 1. Chocolate and caffeine Though these foods are a human favorite, they are poisonous to our pets. Toxicity levels are dependent on how much chocolate is ingested and the weight and size of your pet. Chocolate actually contains caffeine and theobromine which increases blood pressure and cardiac arrhythmias in pets. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is. 2. Onions and garlic If your dog or cat eats any form of onion, garlic, leeks or chives, (cooked, raw, powdered, fresh) it can damage their red blood cells and cause life-threatening anemia. Because these foods are part of the Allium species, they have sulfur-containing oxidants which are toxic for pets.