But have a plan in place first. Be sure everyone at home is invested in adding a cat to your clan. Then choose a cat with a personality that jibes with your family’s style. If your home isn’t cat-crowded, you may even consider adopting two cats instead of one.

Having supplies like kitty litter and toys in place by the time your cat arrives will let you hit the ground running. Kitty-proof your home by moving wires and string, chemicals, pesticides, and small objects out of harm’s way. Choose a cat-friendly veterinarian and schedule a new-pet visit for a few days after the homecoming.

Then take time introducing your cat to the new people and places that will become part of his or her routine.

Mocha was brought to the hospital with complete muscle rigidity and a 110-degree fever. She couldn’t stand or open her mouth to eat. Mocha was diagnosed with tetanus, a disease caused by a bacterial neurotoxin. Tetanus is so rare in dogs and cats that pets aren’t vaccinated against it.

After nearly 14 days of intensive treatment, Mocha’s muscles began to relax. Weeks of intensive physical therapy then helped reset her muscle function. Mocha was discharged after 1 month in the hospital.

Thanks to the care provided by the UF Small Animal Hospital’s veterinary team, Mocha triumphed over tetanus and hasn’t looked back. Watching her play today, you can’t see a trace of her harrowing ordeal.

But when it counts, do you have trouble remembering the questions you wanted to ask? The following queries are a good place to start.

Which vaccinations are necessary for your pet? Along the same lines, what parasite preventives should you use and when? Is a specific diet recommended? And how much should you feed? If you have a paunchy pooch or a chubby cat, is a weight-loss plan in order? What about training tips for your young or manners-challenged pet? And what should you be doing for your special senior?

Knowing the questions to ask can help take the worry out of pet parenting.

Smelly diarrhea is the primary clinical sign, but some cats also strain and have inflamed bottoms. Parasites passed in the stool infect other cats that lick their paws or fur after contacting contaminated surfaces. Kittens are most vulnerable, but cats of any age can be infected. Some adult cats carry and shed the parasite without showing clinical signs for years or at all, while others suffer chronically from diarrhea.

If your kitty has long-term digestive woes, your veterinarian can help with diagnosis and treatment. You can work on blocking the infectious cycle by frequently cleaning and disinfecting litter boxes as well as vetting and quarantining new cats.

Like other reptiles, turtles carry Salmonella as part of their normal bacterial population. Salmonella is not dangerous to a natural host, but it can cause serious infections in people who touch reptiles or contaminated surfaces. Those most at risk are children under 5 years of age, the elderly, and anyone with a decreased ability to fight disease.

So are turtles taboo as pets? If your home includes a young child, elderly person, or immunocompromised individual, the answer is probably yes. If you’re good to go, wash your hands and contaminated surfaces after handling, and don’t let your turtle contact food or food-prep areas. Bathing your turtle in the kitchen sink or bathtub is another no-no.

Don’t gamble on a shell game. Be sure a turtle is right for you before bringing one home.

Food scraps can become spoiled or even toxic. Along with these leftovers, animals eat packaging that obstructs the digestive tract. A critter reaching into a container to nibble might be unable to remove its head and can suffocate, starve or overheat. And plastic six-pack rings can get caught around a muzzle or neck and prevent an animal from eating, drinking or defending itself.

But there are ways to help. Rinse containers and replace lids before discarding. If lids are gone, crush or cut up containers. Likewise, cut apart six-pack holders. Opt for products with minimal packaging, and return plastic bags to stores.

Talk trash to your family and friends too, and bring them onboard.

Normally, the ACL stabilizes the knee by connecting the back of the thigh bone to the front of the shin bone. With an ACL injury, signs can range from subtle to profound lameness.

Labrador retrievers, poodles, bichon frises [bē-SHAWN frē-ZAY], German shepherds, Rottweilers and golden retrievers are most prone to ACL injury. Paunchy pooches and erratic exercisers are also at increased risk.

Physical exam and X-ray findings help your veterinarian diagnose a torn ACL. With small dogs, rest and anti-inflammatory medications may provide sufficient treatment, but large dogs usually need surgical repair. With any dog, surgical stabilization is the best bet to prevent further joint problems.

So don’t take a knee. Be proactive with lameness.

All goats carry barber pole worms. The challenge is preventing the worms from tipping the scales. Drug resistance is rampant, and no new drugs are on the horizon. So these days, parasite control depends as much on environmental measures as pharmaceutical ones.

Infected goats pass barber pole worm larvae in manure. Since these young worms can’t climb well, passage to other goats can be stymied by allowing animals to browse on tall plants instead of graze on pasture. Reducing the number of goats per acre can also help as can feeding a nutritious supplemental diet to boost immunity.

Your veterinarian can offer other strategies to keep up with these wily worms.

Tent caterpillars hatch from egg masses on wild cherry, crabapple and related trees then build webbed nests in trunk forks before eventually falling to the ground. Pregnant mares that inadvertently eat caterpillars while grazing are likely to abort their foals. This Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome was identified only after Kentucky lost one-third of its spring foals to these callous crawlers in 2002.

Brown egg masses can sometimes be found on tree branches before caterpillars hatch and swarm in the early spring in Florida and late spring to early summer in northern states. Safe pesticides can be used to kill eggs before caterpillars have a chance to wreak havoc.

Resistance isn’t a problem with the newest flea products. Instead, the number one reason for stubborn flea infestations is incorrect use of products by pet parents.

Many over-the-counter products were developed decades ago and knock out only a small portion of your pet’s fleas. Newer products kill almost all fleas on your pet within one day and get rid of both adult fleas and eggs. All furry pets in your household should be treated with a pet-safe product. Even if you can’t see fleas, routinely treat your pets as directed by your veterinarian. And remember that any flea control program includes treating your house and yard too.

A little scratching beneath the surface can boost the fight against fleas.

All parts of the Sago palm, found inside houses and out in yards, are toxic, particularly the seeds. In fact, eating just a seed or two can cause seizures, vomiting, diarrhea and liver failure. Ingested yew also packs a powerful wallop, causing disastrous neurologic and cardiac symptoms. Another strong toxin, produced by the castor bean plant, produces neurologic and gastrointestinal problems. An animal munching on either pothos [pō-thäs] or schefflera [she-flƏ-rƏ], both common houseplants, can suffer from oral irritation and swelling along with digestive tract woes. Even nibbling on English ivy can result in drooling, abdominal discomfort, vomiting and diarrhea.

So take stock, and keep your pet clear of these toxic traps.

Since 2003, the Department of Homeland Security has used the island as a secure location to investigate bioterrorism. To replace this aging facility and meet rigorous demands for defense of American agriculture and food, a new site called the National Bio and Agro-Defense facility will be located in Manhattan, Kansas.

Construction on the 500,000-square-foot complex is expected to begin this year, with an estimated operational date of 2018. Approximately 50,000 square feet of the new site will be devoted to laboratories designated biosafety level four, the highest level of protective containment.

A goal? To keep the nation’s food, and the people who eat it, safe.

Minis tend to have problems with obesity, because some owners feed them like a larger horse and exercise them like a house pet. Dental problems are also common due to crowding of teeth in a petite head. Mini mares can have difficulty giving birth as foals try to pass through the small pelvic canal. Another difference between regular horses and smaller steeds is hyperlipemia [hy‐per‐li‐pe‐mi‐a]. If a Mini doesn’t eat much for just 24 hours, fat starts to break down and move to the liver for energy production. The result can be fat-saturated blood and life-threatening liver damage.

Minis are small but mighty, with gentle hearts. Just be sure you’re aware of their special health concerns before bringing one home.

Veterinarians with very specific training perform animal acupuncture. They carefully insert needles at acupuncture points, where nerves and blood vessels converge. That stimulates both circulation and the nervous system, leading to the release of chemicals that reduce inflammation and pain. Muscles become relaxed at the acupuncture points and in other areas of the body.

Veterinary acupuncture can be especially helpful for animals experiencing pain and inflammation from conditions such as cancer, arthritis, trauma and degenerative joint disease. Bonus: It won’t interfere with medications or supplements and doesn’t cause any nasty side effects.

For suffering animals, acupuncture gets straight to the point: relief!

Lungworms are parasites that infect cats and cause labored breathing and coughing. They are different than heartworms, which also infect cats’ lungs. Without treatment, a lungworm infection can lead to weight loss, pneumonia and other respiratory problems.

A cat becomes infected by eating prey or drinking water that contains young lungworms, or larvae [LAR-vay]. From the digestive tract, the larvae travel to the lungs where they mature and lay eggs. As the eggs are coughed up, the infection spreads to other cats.

Lungworm infections can be treated, and the prognosis is surprisingly good if there are no secondary infections. But the best strategy is still to prevent infection by keeping your free-wheelin’ feline inside.

Take lionfish, for example: not a problem in their native Pacific Ocean. Once they began appearing off the Florida coast, likely after release from aquariums, lionfish became nuisances. They compete for food with species depleted by commercial fishing and dine on fish that keep reef-destroying algae in check. Parasites leave them alone, and their spikes keep predators away. Consequently, the population of lionfish has exploded in the Caribbean, up the east coast of the United States and into South American waters.

Don’t make an ecological error. Look for another hobbyist or an aquarium shop to take your fishy friends.

He may be suffering from a puzzling condition called neuropathic pain. It results from damage to the nerves or spinal cord due to injury or disease.

One example is phantom pain some pets experience after an amputation. They “feel” pain from a leg that’s gone. For others, spinal cord damage may cause pain in parts of the body that are not actually harmed.

Because pets can’t describe it, neuropathic pain is tough to diagnose. Affected animals may yelp when a spot is touched, limp, chew at a specific area or have skin spasms. If your pet shows any of these signs, it’s time to ask your veterinarian to help find the source and provide relief.

Even a small nail can lead to big problems. Call your veterinarian right away, then fight your instinct to remove the nail. If the nail has penetrated a bone, joint or tendon sheath, your horse needs aggressive care and probably surgery. The nail will appear on an x-ray image, showing how the extent of the damage. While awaiting the veterinarian, try to prevent your horse from walking on the injured foot. If the nail is long, cut it flush to the hoof. Then, wrap your horse’s foot with a bandage until the veterinarian arrives. And always make sure your horse is up to date on tetanus vaccinations.

Keeping these things in mind will help you nail this emergency.

Lilies are kryptonite to cats, and ingesting even tiny amounts can cause fatal kidney damage. Munching on any part of an azalea, rhododendron, amaryllis or chrysanthemum can cause animals to drool, vomit, have diarrhea and experience neurologic problems. In severe cases, toxins from those plants can be fatal. Similarly, consuming oleander or kalanchoe [kal-lan-KOE-ee] can cause digestive system irritation and life-threatening heart problems. With tulips or narcissus, only the bulbs are poisonous, but they can damage the digestive, cardiac and neurologic systems.

Time is of the essence if you think your pet has nibbled a toxic plant. Call the veterinary clinic right away to ask what you can do, then take your pet in as soon as possible.

Mosquitoes carrying immature heartworms, or larvae, can inject them into both cats and dogs through a bite. The larvae make their way to a cat’s lungs, where they cause some nasty inflammation. Affected kitties often gag, cough, pant and work hard to breathe. But in other cats, the only signs of heartworm disease may be lethargy, anorexia, weight loss or vomiting.

Heartworm disease is less common in cats than in dogs, so it is often misdiagnosed as a more common cat problem, such as asthma or allergic bronchitis. The disease in cats can be tough to treat, so prevention is key. And since both outdoor and indoor kitties are at risk of infection, ask your vet about heartworm prevention for your cat.

The University of Florida is one of only a few veterinary schools in the United States that provide the highest quality veterinary care for nontraditional pets, wildlife and zoo animals. That includes mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, amphibians and even invertebrates, such as spiders and scorpions.

One of the greatest challenges for the specialists, residents and students on the service is the sheer number of species they treat. Considering mammals alone, a patient may be a hamster or ferret one day or a large carnivore or primate the next.

So if you have what some would call a peculiar pet, the UF Zoo Med Service may be your stop for veterinary care.

A new dog or cat requires time, attention and training, for both the pet and the child. If children aren’t yet up to the task, it may be best to wait a bit or consider a smaller pet that is easier to care for, like a hamster.

Before you decide, read up on pet care needs, using reliable websites and reference books … and talk to your vet.

It may be tough to resist the cute furball napping near the checkout. But remember that all pets require a commitment of time, love and respect. Being better prepared will mean a happier family, both human and animal.

Siamensis [sigh-uh-men-zis] in a local horse. And since then at least one other horse in Florida has been confirmed to have the same disease. While other varieties of this organism have been found in people and dogs in the U.S., this particular organism had previously been seen in only Thailand and Europe. The disease is transmitted by sandflies, which live in the U.S. However, nobody knows where these horses might have picked up the Leishmania organism.

Fortunately, horses with leishmaniasis [leash-mah-NĪ-a-sis] only develop skin lesions. But people and dogs can get forms of the disease that attack the whole body including the liver, spleen, and bone marrow. In fact, only malaria tops leishmaniasis as the leading parasitic cause of human deaths worldwide.

Global travel and climate change allow foreign pathogens to spread, so we all need to be vigilant in this brave new world.

Hospice for pets is takes after the same type of care used for people. The goal is comfort, both physical and emotional. Because owners provide most of their pet’s care, they need to team with a veterinarian who is comfortable teaching them how to do just that. Important keysare knowing how to identify and manage pain and when it’s time to say goodbye. Most veterinarians will be able to perform euthanasia at home, too.

Hospice isn’t for all pet owners, but it’s comforting to know this loving option exists.

If the food meets the standards of the Association of American Feed Control Officials, that means it offers complete and balanced nutrition. Make sure the diet is right for your pet’s life stage – for example, growth foods for puppies and kittens, maintenance diets for adults, foods for pregnant or nursing animals and diets for seniors. And keep in mind there is no set definition for “organic,” while “natural” only implies that no artificial ingredients were added.

Diets that don’t agree with your pet can result in large stools, diarrhea or problems with skin, ears or joints. If you switch foods, do it gradually over the course of a week. Then give the new food at least a six- to eight-week trial.

Periodontal disease starts when oral bacteria form plaque that creeps under the gum line. The result is gum inflammation and destruction of soft tissue and bone supporting the teeth. Teeth can break down and bones become infected. Bacteria can even enter the bloodstream and spread elsewhere.

If your dog or cat is three years old, periodontal disease may have already started. Your veterinarian can perform an exam, scale and polish your pet’s teeth and use dental x-rays to look for hidden problems. Getting to the root of the problem will take the bite out of dental disease.

Rabies vaccinations are especially important for cats. In 2009, reports of rabid cats outnumbered those of rabid dogs by three to one. Even indoor cats can be exposed to rabies if rabid animals, such as bats, get into the house. And some kitties escape outdoors where the risk of rabies exposure is much higher.

If your cat is overdue on rabies vaccination and bites a person, a 10-day quarantine is required. But if your unvaccinated cat comes in contact with a rabid animal, a six-month quarantine or much worse, euthanasia, will be ordered.

So do your part to keep your couch kitty safe by ensuring her vaccinations are current.

Siamensis [sigh-uh-men-zis] in a local horse. And since then at least one other horse in Florida has been confirmed to have the same disease. While other varieties of this organism have been found in people and dogs in the U.S., this particular organism had previously been seen in only Thailand and Europe. The disease is transmitted by sandflies, which live in the U.S. However, nobody knows where these horses might have picked up the Leishmania organism.

Fortunately, horses with leishmaniasis [leash-mah-NĪ-a-sis] only develop skin lesions. But people and dogs can get forms of the disease that attack the whole body including the liver, spleen, and bone marrow. In fact, only malaria tops leishmaniasis as the leading parasitic cause of human deaths worldwide.

Global travel and climate change allow foreign pathogens to spread, so we all need to be vigilant in this brave new world.

If you can do just one thing to keep your horse’s hooves in tip-top shape, it should be to frequently clean out his feet… also known as picking out. This lets you remove dirt, manure and small stones and get a close look at the frog, the triangular rubbery underside of the hoof.

While you’re at it, keep an eye out for abnormalities. A bad odor and discharge from the frog could be signs of a bacterial infection called thrush. Puncture wounds and hoof cracks are common and can be associated with painful abscesses. And warm hooves with strong pulses can signal serious problems.

If something is amiss, call your veterinarian or farrier before small problems become big ones. Remember, your horse is only as strong as his hooves.

To offer top care to foals, board-certified veterinary internal medicine specialists work around the clock at the University of Florida’s Equine Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, or ENICU [ee-NICK-you]. Divided stalls let foals undergo treatment with mom close by. On any given day, a septic foal may receive plasma or antibiotics intravenously, while another that fails to nurse may have a stomach tube placed for nutrition delivery. Yet another with pneumonia may breathe easier on oxygen flowing through a nasal tube.

In short, the ENICU widens a foal’s window of opportunity for survival.

If your buddy has arthritis, as 20 percent of adult dogs and 45 percent of cats do, you may want to try anything to help the hurt. But steer clear of human drugs, some of which can be toxic to your pet. Instead, let your veterinarian prescribe a safe pain reliever and help you set up a home regimen to comfort your cat or pamper your pooch.

First and foremost, help your four-legged buddy lose any extra pounds. Low-intensity activities, such as walking or swimming, are best for exercise. Instead of allowing your pet to jump into the car or run up and down the stairs, consider providing handicap ramps. And keep your pet off slippery, hard surfaces, while providing soft bedding for naps. Finally, certain forms of physical therapy that use stretches and cold packs can help soothe those aching joints.

They may be down in the back, but hounds without working hind limbs are often face-lickin’ happy up front. In fact, owners can learn to give the specialized care paraplegic pups needfor a good quality of life.

Many paraplegic dogs get around well with a mobility cart or harness for the back end, and there are lots of choices available. These dogs usually can’t empty their bladders, so owners must express urine several times daily. Keeping the dog and his soft bedding clean are top priorities, because a partly lame dog can’t groom himself fully. Sores can form at pressure points, so owners should look out for lesions. Finally, light physical therapy and massage work wonders to soothe stiff muscles.

Paraplegic dogs may be down, but don’t count them out.

Deafness is diagnosed by analyzing brain wave patterns created when a sound enters your pet’s ear. There’s no cure for hereditary deafness. But listen up for ways you can help your hearing-challenged hound or kitty.

Safety comes first, so leash or pen your deaf pet when outside. Your buddy may bite if startled, so go slowly, alert strangers and keep young children away. Some deaf pets can be trained to respond to hand signals, while others are alerted by lights or remote-controlled vibrating collars.

Take it from your deaf pet and learn to adapt.

True lilies, such as Tiger, Day and Easter lilies, are incredibly poisonous to cats. The identity of the specific toxin remains a mystery. But if a cat eats just a small amount of any part of a lily, including the pollen, death is likely within days. Vomiting, lethargy, tremors or seizures can start within six to 12 hours after ingestion. Next come signs of kidney failure, including excessive drinking and urinating, dehydration and lastly, the inability to produce urine.

Most cats will die if they don’t receive immediate treatment after lily ingestion. So if you think your cat has been exposed to a lily, contact your veterinarian right away. Better yet, if you’re a kitty family, plan to admire lilies from afar.

Although they don’t face the same risk as their outdoor counterparts, indoor kitties can still get infected with diseases that can be prevented by routine vaccination.

Panleukopenia [pan-loo-koh-PEE-nee-uh], also known as feline distemper, is a highly infectious and long-lived virus that can get tracked inside on shoes and survive on indoor surfaces for more than a year. This deadly disease causes severe vomiting and diarrhea, as well as loss of immune function. Panleukopenia vaccine is usually given along with two others that protect against respiratory viruses.

Rabies shots are also a must, because the consequences of skipping this vaccine can be dire to any pet, as well as to anyone that they bite.

So be sure to have your cats vaccinated, even if they don’t go outside. It’s routine maintenance to keep their engines purring.

Some NSAIDs are available for veterinary use, and they can help dogs with chronic pain. However, they should be used only under your vet’s supervision. Only limited, select products are acceptable to cats.

If your pet has a loss of appetite, vomits or anything else unusual shows up while giving NSAIDs, stop treating and call your vet.

And try other ways to manage pain without drugs, if possible. For example, if your pet is a little chunky, adjusting his diet for weight loss and going for brisk walks can go a long way toward turning that painful pup into a playful one.

Your veterinarian can listen for a heart murmur or fluid in the lungs, and evaluate the heart on an X-ray. The pro-BNP blood test, now being used in people to diagnose heart disease and gauge the amount of damage, may also yield similar information in pets.

This test measures a hormone that is released into the blood when cardiac muscle is stretched. Levels above normal point to heart disease, with the size of the increase a good measure of disease progression.

There is no cure for heart failure, but prompt treatment can mean several extra years of quality life for your dog. So have a heart, and take your best friend for an annual checkup.

Both dogs and people are susceptible to this tickborne disease, suggesting that rates of canine infection may mirror human risk. Using blood tests from dogs in 46 states, scientists discovered that if 1 percent or less of canine tests were positive in an area, then human risk was low. If 5 percent or more of canine tests were positive, then human risk was high.

Such information can be used to direct prevention efforts to areas they’re most needed. Of course, it’s always a good idea to use repellent and to check for ticks after walking through potentially infested grasslands. And if you see ticks on Fido, make sure to check everyone in your household for unwanted stragglers on their skin, not just your furry friends.

Selection becomes simpler when you remember that marketing efforts are actually focused on you and not on your pet. After all, your dog doesn’t really care if meal time looks like stew or is shaped like chicken legs.

What matters is the dietary quality, which takes into account not only nutritional content, but the origin of the ingredients and how they are formulated. Other important factors in choosing a diet include your pet’s activity level and stage of life, with youngsters and seniors having special nutritional requirements.

So your best bet is to discuss various pet food choices with your vet. He or she will steer you toward what’s good for your furry friend, not the marketer’s bottom line.

But thanks to noise pollution, avian Bing Crosbys are having a hard time being heard above the din. New research from the Netherlands shows that in response to urban noise, some birds now sing at less appealing, higher frequencies, just so their songs can be heard at all. These birds have been able to alter their song burst in response to noise … but more rigid singers, like doves and cuckoos, may not be able to adapt.

These findings add to the long list of manmade threats to birds, which run the gamut from habitat destruction to hunting, wind turbines and windowpanes. Let’s keep it down so that the birds can hear themselves sing, and we can enjoy their beautiful melodies, too.

Even in the mid-twentieth century, there were only about one- to two-hundred female veterinarians in the United States. Today, the nearly 50,000 female veterinarians outnumber their male counterparts, and nearly four out of five veterinary students are women.

Why the change? Many influences have likely played a part. Women now make up well over half of all college enrollments in the United States. Other factors include the trend toward decreased gender discrimination and an increasing number of female role models. Some attribute the draw of women to the caring image of veterinarians portrayed in books and on television.

Although large-animal practitioners are still mostly men, women have made significant inroads into providing veterinary care for horses, cattle and other farm animals.

To avoid accidents, children and their parents need to learn canine body language, and how human body language can be misinterpreted. For example, your first impulse when pursued by a menacing mutt might be to run, but in canine speak this says “chase after the prey.” Rather than taking to your heels, it’s better to stand still and look at your feet. This helps you avoid eye contact, which dogs find threatening.

Appropriate training — without harming the animal — is essential, so the dog understands its place in the pack under human leadership. So although we can’t talk to dogs like we do other people, we can communicate with them. And that’s the best way to turn predator pups into good canine citizens.

Droughts in the Midwest, West and Southwest have destroyed crops used to produce animal feed. Remaining crops have sold at much higher prices, thus driving up the cost of feed. While feed expenses were once 50 percent of a dairy farmer’s gross revenue, that portion has now risen to almost 90 percent.

It’s no wonder some dairy farmers have made the tough decision to sell their herds for beef. This, in turn, has decreased milk production and driven up milk prices.

This is yet another example of how environmental change is affecting people and animals. Now maybe that’s something to cry over.

Only dogs and people develop bone tumors with any frequency, and the two forms of cancer are very similar. New research has found a genetic pattern that distinguishes aggressive bone cancer in dogs from milder forms of the disease. This gene pattern is also seen in people, suggesting that it might be possible to separate aggressive and tamer forms of human cancer.

This could lead to predictive tests that allow both human and veterinary oncologists to reserve high-risk treatment for those with the aggressive form, while treating other bone tumors with more conservative therapy that has fewer side effects. This is a win-win for all patients … and yet another way that dogs make our lives better.

In a recent study, researchers fitted 18 pet cats and 24 feral ones with transmitter collars. Even though the household tabbies tended to sleep much of the time, they roamed over five acres. Even more amazing is that the more active feral cats covered up to 500 acres.

A chilling aspect of the study was that seven of the cats were killed during the 16 months when the study was taking place. This highlights that letting cats roam outdoors is a dangerous practice.

The obvious danger is being hit by a car or other vehicle. Other hazards for outdoor cats include transmission of diseases, including rabies. Plus, their instinct to hunt can kill off prey animals that are important food sources for wildlife.

So let’s keep wandering cats indoors and keep everyone safer.

Obesity is the biggest risk factor for debilitating and often expensive-to-treat conditions such as arthritis, skin problems and diabetes. So keep your friend fit and trim with proper diet and exercise.

Don’t skip routine veterinary visits. When problems are found early, they’re usually more treatable and less costly.

Make dental hygiene a priority, so that gum problems don’t lead to heart or kidney disease. To save on emergency visits, poison-proof your home so your pet cannot get to toxic plants, household chemicals or human medications. And always supervise your pet outdoors to avoid injuries inflicted by other animals or traffic.

Remember, the best way to keep both your pet and pocketbook healthy is to practice preventive medicine.

You can help first by following instructions on prohibiting your pet from eating or drinking pre-anesthesia to help prevent vomiting.

At the clinic, your animal will receive a sedative injection to help decrease the amount of anesthetic he needs. The veterinary team may also give analgesics to help block pain before it starts.

They’ll insert an intravenous catheter in case fluids and medication are necessary. Next, an airway tube will deliver anesthetic and oxygen. Temperature, blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen level are all monitored during anesthesia. Once in recovery, your pet will be observed closely until she’s breathing regularly, swallowing and lifting her head.

Mission accomplished!

X-rays can uncover problems under your kitty’s gum line or inside your pooch’s teeth. They can also guide the way to the best form of treatment. For example, an x-ray showing a root abscess can confirm the need for a tooth extraction. X-rays can also visually explain why some teeth are missing and if others are going to grow in.

Dental x-rays help your veterinarian monitor the progress of disease or treatment. They can show whether a tooth has been extracted completely or document the stages of a root canal. Finally, x-rays provide a record for you to see if your four-legged buddy’s bite is worse than his bark.

Farriers play a critical role in battling this painful problem.

A farrier shoes horses and helps keep their legs and feet healthy. A big part of the job is making shoes that ease lameness. The process is akin to making orthotics for people.

A professor at one school of veterinary medicine employs a pretty high-tech tactic to fight lameness. He temporarily places a plastic film over a horse’s hooves, then attaches it to an electronic sensor. When the horse walks, the device records force applied to the hooves and indicates the areas of greatest pressure.

With this information, the farrier can make a shoe to help relieve the problematic pressures and give the lame horse a boost toward recovery.

Start by making the situation as relaxed for your child as possible. Talk simply and honestly in a familiar setting. To help your child grasp the news, discuss death in age-appropriate ways.

Very young children may think death is temporary, so you might simply explain that their pet is not going to move or wake up again. Children closer to 10 years old typically realize that death is final, and the talk can be different. Being truthful and straightforward can help avoid confusion.

Replacing a pet right away is often not the best idea. For now, answer your child’s questions and respect his or her feelings. You may want to read children’s books together that discuss pet death. And make sure to let your child memorialize the pet as he or she wishes.

Dilute urine can signal a kidney problem, while bloody urine can indicate bladder stones, an infection or a bleeding problem.

A color dipstick shows the levels of various chemical components in urine. A glucose reading can point to diabetes. Several problems could leave bilirubin, a pigment the liver makes, in urine. Liver disease and a blocked bile duct are two of them.

Urine sediment contains still more clues. Inflammation might be a problem if the urine sample contains white blood cells. Bacteria also can signal infection. Some mineral crystals may be normal, but others can go on to form stones.

When it comes to diagnostics, you could say that urine is liquid gold.

Tooth fractures commonly happen when dogs chew on hard objects. These include rocks, nylon bones, animal bones, antlers, hooves and hard rawhide. Fuzzy tennis balls are also no-nos, because their surfaces abrade teeth.

The best chew toys are softer than your dog’s teeth. Good choices are rubber items such as Kongs, balls or bones, as well as soft, flexible rawhide toys. But make sure your dog doesn’t swallow large pieces that can cause gastrointestinal obstructions.

Still other products may promise dental benefits that just don’t stand up. When in doubt, check a product for the sign of approval from the Veterinary Oral Health Council. Then let the chewing begin!

Research on the treatment of prostate cancer in dogs has taken a very different approach. Low doses of tiny radioactive gold bits, called nanoparticles, are injected directly into the tumor, where they target only cancer cells. This small but mighty onco-ammunition has been very effective against tumors in mice and has produced no adverse effects in dogs.

Because dogs are the only mammals other than men to develop aggressive prostate cancer, scientists have high hopes that the treatment will be as golden in humans as in their four-legged friends.

Veterinarians work hard to reduce anesthetic risks, starting with a thorough examination. If your pet has a heart murmur, an echocardiogram might be needed to look at his heart function. Abnormal breathing could warrant a chest x-ray. And routine blood tests may uncover other problems. Sometimes the anesthetic procedure is even postponed until these concerns are addressed.

Some surgeries require special tests. For example, your pet may need to have his blood typed in case he requires a transfusion during surgery.

Stay tuned for ways the veterinary team reduces risks during anesthetic procedures.

A rabbit’s teeth grow continuously and are naturally worn down by chewing on abrasive foods such as hay. When teeth overgrow, they can form points that cause ulcers in the cheeks or tongue. And secondary infections can make things worse.

You may see abnormal incisors, but malformed molars are not obvious. Bunnies with dental disease may be eager to eat but drop food from their mouths. Some rabbits will prefer soft foods instead of hard veggies, pellets or hay. But others are too pained to eat at all. Other signs can include congestion, firm jaw swelling, drooling and bad breath.

If you have concerns, schedule an appointment with a veterinarian who is familiar with rabbits and have your hopper checked out.

Dogs can shed parasites, like giardia (gē-ARE-dē –ah) and cryptosporidium (cryp-tō-spore-ID-ē-um), in feces. Most combo heartworm preventive medicines kill hookworms and roundworms but won’t touch these other bugs. Veterinarians recommend annual fecal exams to check for parasites.

Persistently coughing dogs can be spreading viral canine influenza or the bacteria that causes kennel cough, and infectious parvovirus can be shed in the stool. Even leptospirosis (lep-toe-spy-RO-sis) can be contracted by drinking water contaminated with urine. Vaccinations are available for all these diseases, so make sure your dog is protected.

Finally, use your pooper scooping skills to help keep waste loads down.

Catnip is actually a relative of the mint family. Thirty to 90 percent of cats react to catnip with responses ranging from mild interest to wild excitement. All cats, even large ones, with the exception of tigers and bobcats, are susceptible to catnip’s heady effects.

Nobody is certain why cats go cuckoo for catnip, but the active ingredient appears to have opium-like action. Various responses appear to coincide with specific meanings: chewing and salivating mirror feeding behavior, rolling and rubbing mimic cats in heat while other behaviors just look playful.

Catnip is harmless to cats and is not addictive. Its other benefits can include altering the responses of feuding felines and providing pain relief. No wonder cats love it so much.

Animals adjust more seamlessly if they lose sight over time instead of overnight. But even sighted dogs and cats rely on their highly advanced senses of hearing and smell over their vision. Whiskers as mini antennae are another aid to navigation.

Pets also rely on memory to get around, so keep furniture, litter pans and bowls in place. And be sure your buddy is eating and drinking enough. Take care to close toilet lids, barricade hazardous areas like swimming pools, and cover sharp edges. Talk to your pet before touching her or picking her up so she’s not startled. And be sure to have your blind pet microchipped, since she likely won’t be able to find her way home if she wanders off.

Older dogs are open books where size, grooming needs and behavior are concerned. Housebreaking is usually a done deal, but you really can teach old dogs new tricks. In fact, older dogs can focus better than puppies on what you want. And already knowing what it takes to be part of a pack allows senior canines to settle into new homes quickly. Seniors don’t need constant monitoring, and while they need some exercise, they don’t have the high-energy demands of a puppy.

Maybe most important of all, many senior dogs have learned what it means to be loved by and devoted to humans. In fact, they may have the biggest hearts of all.

Initiatives such as the veterinary forensic program at the University of Florida have joined the American Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in training veterinarians, police officers and animal control agents in the art of gathering evidence. This includes performing necropsies, which is the animal equivalent of an autopsy, and collecting other pieces of evidence needed to prove a case in court.

Stronger anticruelty laws add bite to these efforts, with stiff fines imposed for neglect and jail time for cruelty. The recent high-profile case against NFL quarterback Michael Vick was proved using forensic science.

Chalk one up for McGruff the crime dog.