Pets & Animals Editorial Team

Pets & Animals Editorial Team is the collective byline for our editorial team and contributor network. Articles published under this byline or an editorial pen name are researched, written, and reviewed according to our editorial standards for clarity, consistency, and independence before publication.

Annual Vet Visits: What Actually Happens and Why They Matter

Annual Vet Visits: What Actually Happens and Why They Matter

Before You Call the Vet: Pet Symptoms That Are Emergencies vs. Those That Can Wait

Before You Call the Vet: Pet Symptoms That Are Emergencies vs. Those That Can Wait

Bringing a New Pet Home: A Health and Safety Checklist for the First 30 Days

Bringing a New Pet Home: A Health and Safety Checklist for the First 30 Days

Keeping a Healthy Weight: What the Numbers on the Scale Mean for Pets

Keeping a Healthy Weight: What the Numbers on the Scale Mean for Pets

Mental Stimulation and Exercise: The Health Case for an Active Pet

Mental Stimulation and Exercise: The Health Case for an Active Pet

Parasite Prevention Throughout the Year: Fleas, Ticks, and Heartworm

Parasite Prevention Throughout the Year: Fleas, Ticks, and Heartworm

Pet Insurance vs. a Dedicated Savings Fund: How to Think Through the Choice

Pet Insurance vs. a Dedicated Savings Fund: How to Think Through the Choice

Reading the Signs: How Pets Communicate Pain and Discomfort

Reading the Signs: How Pets Communicate Pain and Discomfort

Senior Pet Care: How Health Needs Shift as Animals Age

Senior Pet Care: How Health Needs Shift as Animals Age

Spaying and Neutering: Separating the Evidence from the Myths

Spaying and Neutering: Separating the Evidence from the Myths

The Vaccination Schedule Every Dog and Cat Owner Should Understand

The Vaccination Schedule Every Dog and Cat Owner Should Understand

Wet Food vs. Dry Food: What the Nutritional Differences Actually Mean

Wet Food vs. Dry Food: What the Nutritional Differences Actually Mean

When Good Intentions Go Wrong: Household Items That Are Toxic to Pets

When Good Intentions Go Wrong: Household Items That Are Toxic to Pets

Why Dental Health Is the Most Overlooked Part of Pet Care

Why Dental Health Is the Most Overlooked Part of Pet Care

Your Pet's First Year: A Health Roadmap for New Owners

Your Pet's First Year: A Health Roadmap for New Owners

Before You Adopt: A Readiness Checklist for New Pet Owners

Before You Adopt: A Readiness Checklist for New Pet Owners

Bringing a Second Dog Home: How to Set Both Animals Up for Success

Bringing a Second Dog Home: How to Set Both Animals Up for Success

Building a Daily Routine Your Dog Can Actually Rely On

Building a Daily Routine Your Dog Can Actually Rely On

Cat Body Language: A Field Guide to What Your Pet Is Actually Telling You

Cat Body Language: A Field Guide to What Your Pet Is Actually Telling You

Crate Training a Puppy Without the Crying

Crate Training a Puppy Without the Crying

Everything First-Time Dog Owners Get Wrong in Month One

Everything First-Time Dog Owners Get Wrong in Month One

Indoor Cat vs. Outdoor Cat: What the Research Says About Health and Lifespan

Indoor Cat vs. Outdoor Cat: What the Research Says About Health and Lifespan

Mental Enrichment for Pets: Why Boredom Is a Bigger Problem Than Most Owners Realize

Mental Enrichment for Pets: Why Boredom Is a Bigger Problem Than Most Owners Realize

Positive Reinforcement vs. Correction-Based Training: What the Evidence Actually Shows

Positive Reinforcement vs. Correction-Based Training: What the Evidence Actually Shows

Separation Anxiety in Dogs: What It Is and Isn't

Separation Anxiety in Dogs: What It Is and Isn't

Small Pets, Big Needs: What Life With a Rabbit, Guinea Pig, or Hamster Really Involves

Small Pets, Big Needs: What Life With a Rabbit, Guinea Pig, or Hamster Really Involves

Teaching a Dog to Come When Called — Even With Distractions

Teaching a Dog to Come When Called — Even With Distractions

The Real Reasons Cats Scratch Furniture — and How to Redirect the Habit

The Real Reasons Cats Scratch Furniture — and How to Redirect the Habit

The Trade-Offs of Raw Feeding for Dogs and Cats

The Trade-Offs of Raw Feeding for Dogs and Cats

Why Dogs Pull on the Leash — and What's Actually Happening in Their Heads

Why Dogs Pull on the Leash — and What's Actually Happening in Their Heads

Common Myths About Pet Nutrition That Vets Frequently Correct

Common Myths About Pet Nutrition That Vets Frequently Correct

Feeding a Puppy: Nutritional Needs from Weaning Through the First Year

Feeding a Puppy: Nutritional Needs from Weaning Through the First Year

Feeding an Overweight Dog Back to a Healthy Weight

Feeding an Overweight Dog Back to a Healthy Weight

Grain-Free vs. Grain-Inclusive Dog Food: Sorting Out the Science

Grain-Free vs. Grain-Inclusive Dog Food: Sorting Out the Science

Homemade Pet Food: What Nutritional Balance Really Requires

Homemade Pet Food: What Nutritional Balance Really Requires

People Foods That Are Genuinely Dangerous for Pets

People Foods That Are Genuinely Dangerous for Pets

Pet Nutrition Labels: A-to-Z Glossary of Terms

Pet Nutrition Labels: A-to-Z Glossary of Terms

Raw Diets for Dogs: A Balanced Look at the Claimed Benefits and Real Risks

Raw Diets for Dogs: A Balanced Look at the Claimed Benefits and Real Risks

Reading a Dog Food Bag: From Ingredient List to Feeding Chart

Reading a Dog Food Bag: From Ingredient List to Feeding Chart

Senior Pet Nutrition: How Dietary Needs Shift as Pets Age

Senior Pet Nutrition: How Dietary Needs Shift as Pets Age

Switching Your Pet's Food Without Upsetting Their Stomach

Switching Your Pet's Food Without Upsetting Their Stomach

The Core Nutrients Every Cat Needs to Thrive

The Core Nutrients Every Cat Needs to Thrive

Wet Food vs. Dry Food for Cats

Wet Food vs. Dry Food for Cats

What Pet Food Labels Are Actually Telling You

What Pet Food Labels Are Actually Telling You

Why Your Cat Is Leaving Food in the Bowl

Why Your Cat Is Leaving Food in the Bowl