Pet care
Health
Vaccination, dental care, toxic substances, parasite control and body condition. Entries cite named veterinary organisations.
Body conditionBody condition describes how much fat a cat or dog carries. Vets assess it with a body condition score (BCS) chart.Dental careDental care means looking after a cat's or dog's teeth and gums. Veterinary guidelines describe oral and dental disease as very common in pets.Parasite controlParasite control means protecting a cat or dog from parasites such as worms, fleas, ticks and heartworm. The US and European veterinary bodies below put the emphasis differently.Toxic substancesSome everyday foods and plants can be poisonous to cats and dogs. This entry lists what a US poison control service says about a few common examples.VaccinationVaccination protects a cat or dog against specific infectious diseases. Veterinary guidelines group vaccines into "core" vaccines and "non-core" vaccines that depend on a pet's lifestyle and risk.