​If you have to evacuate, take your pet with you, and make plans ahead of time.
If you stay in a shelter make sure that pets are welcome there.
Make sure your pets are up-to-date on their shots and their tags.
Make sure your pet is micro-chipped along with medical information. 
Bring medical documents, vaccination records, and pet a photo. 
Bring two weeks of any medication and heartworm flea/tick preventatives that your pet is on and put it in a sealed airtight plastic container.
Bring a pet first aid kit in the event your dog or cat is injured.
Bring medical adhesive, tape, gauze, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, an oral syringe, disposable gloves, scissors, and a muzzle.
Collars with your pet name.
Bring pee pads with you.
Bring a carrier or cage with labeled pet's name, breed, sex, age, and current address with phone number.
Have more than one slip leash. These leashes are helpful if you have to move your pet quickly.
Have two weeks of pet food in a sealed container, water bottles, and bowls. 
Bring a can opener for can food.
Bring pet bedding, treats, and toys all of these things will reduce their stress.

​Pet owners need to make sure that curious cats and dogs are safe from potential dangers with plants and flowers in the home and gardens. Some plans can be deadly if ingested.
Cats are prone to chewing on indoor or outdoor plants, puppies love to chew on anything they come across. Make sure indoor plants are placed in safe, unreachable areas to prevent potential poisonings.
Some of the plants and flowers are amaryllis, calla lilies, lilies, carnations, azaleas, daffodils, elephant's ear, hibiscus, morning glory, tulips, sago palm, and especially oleander and angel trumpet. The most common side effects that result from ingesting plants or flowers are vomiting, or diarrhea. If you believe that your animal is ill or may have ingested a poisonous substance call the veterinarian or the APCC 24 – hour 7 days a week, emergency poison hot-line at 1-888-426-4435
Owners, some plants, and flowers are sprayed with pesticides that can cause serious adverse reactions. Some pets have allergies to pollens from plants and flowers. Pets get itchy, inflamed skin. Symptoms include scratching excessively at the skin or ears, as well as constant licking and chewing on the skin. Make an appointment with your veterinarian to help your pet.

Keep the home smoke-free.
Keep an eye on your pet's weight obesity is a risk for cancer. Feeding poor-quality foods or an imbalanced diet may also increase the cancer risk.
There are certain breeds of dogs and cats that are prone to cancer. Learn about different diseases before you purchase your pet. Regular visits to the vet will help identify abnormalities.
Exposure to sunlight can increase the risk of some cancers. Be sure your dog or cat can get out of the sun.
Adding vegetables to your dog's diet may help decrease cancer risk.
Each month look in your pet's mouth and ears and run your hands on your pet's body to see if you feel any lumps. Early detection is the best way to treat diseases.
Regular exercise will keep your pet mentally stimulated and physically in shape this will help lower the chance of health problems.
Put your pet in another room when using paints and solvents.
Your dog or cat's behavior changes are often a signal that they are not feeling well. Learn your pet's sleeping and eating habits. If you see a demeanor shift could be an early sign of disease.

​Some owners don't know how the cat is going to behave once they leave their home. We need to keep in mind that these are indoor cats, they love routine and predictability. Cats are sensitive to changes when you bring in a friend, relative, or pet sitter they can become aggressive towards them some cats feel out of control and even frightened, simply because their routine has been disrupted and they aren't sure what to expect. If the cat won't let the caregiver have access to the food or litter box try to distract the cat with a wand toy, laser pointer, or tossing a treat away from the caregiver. The caregiver should shield themselves with a blanket and lure the cat into another room with a treat or toy and close the door behind them. Now the caregiver has the chance to feed the cat and scoop the litter box.
Owner before you leave give the cat anxiety medication,  like Feliway – cat treats with chamomile to naturally soothe your cat's anxiety and promote relaxation. Soft classical music and cat TV also help the cat relax.

​How to prepare your dog or cat for teeth cleaning. Get the pets accustomed to your fingers in their mouth so that you can brush their teeth, remove obstructions, and check the gums should be healthy and pink, except for pets with dark pigment. No odor should be coming from the mouth unpleasant scent could be gum disease, tooth decay, or gastrointestinal problem, check with your vet.
Also, make sure your pet is not dehydrated and feels the moistness in the gums. Wet is good dry or sticky means encourage your pet to drink water. You can also add a small bit of tuna juice maybe it will encourage your pet to drink it. Another thing you can do is administer it with a syringe or eyedropper.

Cleaning of the ears gently strokes the head, sniff the ears and remove dirt and wax debris with a soft cloth moistened or a Q-tip with purified water or room temperature chamomile tea which calms inflammation and has both anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. Stay away from alcohol which not only dries the ear canal but can sting the pet if it has a scratch. If the ear is red, smells bad or if you see coffee ground-like dirt, it could be ear mites. You may cause your pet pain if you try to clean it call the vet.

Excessively tear eyes, if they have a thick discharge or if the pet is rubbing them, clean with purified water, flushing from the outer corner gently pull up on the upper eyelid allowing fluid and debris to run down the snout. If that does not work call the vet.

​Be very careful with common spring toxins, like cleaning products. Keep the cleaning products out of the pet's reach. Put the pets in another room when using cleaning products. There is also product outdoors that are very dangerous. It is essential that you know what outdoor plants are poisonous to your pets. You always want to supervise your pets when outdoors in case the pets encounter something hazardous you can take immediate action.
Some items are not pet friendly they are hidden under chairs, sofas, and other places. Be sure you look for household medications they are usually found when cleaning. The pets tend to get into them. 
If you suspect your pet has ingested a toxin stay calm and call your vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435

The health status of the senior cat can change quickly, with few or no obvious external signs. “Cats are masters at hiding their pain.” Cats are solitary survivors. Cats hunt alone and rely only on themselves for safety and protection. Expression of pain like limping, or moaning would alert predators that the cat is vulnerable and decreases the cat's survival.
The senior cat should have a vet visit every 6 months. The cat will have a better quality of life if detected early of diseases. The vet can assess the cat if it is in pain then the vet can source of pain and provide treatment for pain.
Help your cat by making their life easier with a low-sided, large litter box, add multiple water low-sided, wide-based water bowls near the resting area. Low-sided, wide-based food bowls near the resting area. 
Elevate food and water bowls to help cats with the degenerative joint disease be more comfortable while eating and drinking.

Keeping your dog active is very important. Some dogs have the urge to stay busy, which can make them restless. They're also curious and energetic by nurture. Dogs get bored when they don't have anything to occupy themselves for long periods of time. Boredom can lead to trouble, like getting into your garbage can or chewing on things. And it can also lead to anxiety and obsessive behaviors, like excessive barking, pacing, digging, and fur pulling. Schedule playtime with your dog, give your dog puzzle toys, and squeaky toys, dogs like to chew on them be sure the toy is safe for your dog. Put the toys in the dishwasher to clean them. You can leave the radio on classical music or Tv on your dog's favorite program. A two-way video is good if your dog misses you when you are at work you can talk to your dog with your phone app. Your dog can also alert you when it's barking and you can check to see what's going on.  

Mix a batch of electrolytes                                                                                                    4 cups water
1 Tablespoon sugar or honey
1 teaspoon salt
Store in the refrigerator but serve at room temperature, making fresh batches daily.
Throughout the day, dose:
3 Tablespoons for puppies/kittens
5 tablespoons for pets up to 5 lbs.
¾ cups for pets up to 10 lbs.
¼ cup per 5 lbs. of body weight for pets 15 lbs. and more.
Keep on hand, and freeze into ice cubes to drop in water as needed.

Ginger snap cookies are only 2 cookies for a medium-size dog, due to the sugar content.
If your pet can drink peel fresh ginger root, slice 5-8 ¼ thick slices and boil in ¼ cup water.
When cool, let the pet drink it. This can also prevent motion sickness when given 20-30 minutes
before a road trip.

White Rice with one spoonful of pumpkin. Boil 1 cup of white rice and 3 cups of water, then turn it down to a very low simmer until all the water is absorbed. Cool before serving and refrigerate leftovers for up 24 hrs.

​Pumpkin puree Feed one (1) tablespoon for cats and small dogs and up to three (3) tablespoons for a large dog. Pumpkin puree is a natural remedy for diarrhea since fiber helps firm up loose stools.

weigh yourself on a human scale, then weigh yourself while holding your cat and subtracting the difference. By checking your kitty's weight once a month and keeping a written record of it, you can track any changes over time and catch potential issues before they become serious problems. Avoid obesity by keeping track of your cat's weight packing on too many pounds has major health consequences, including diabetes, arthritis, and joint problems, heart and respiratory conditions, gastrointestinal and digestive issues, compromised immunity, and increased risk for problems during anesthesia and surgery.
Keeping track of any gradual but steady weight gain can help your vet to come up with a plan to prevent obesity and associated health problems.

Weighing your cat once a month can catch early health problems.                      Your cat's wellness exam may not be enough to catch changes in your cat's health. Weight loss is an indicator of disease the average cat weighs ten pounds. A weight of 6% is considered a clinical sign. Gastrointestinal issues, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, and cancer all cause weight loss, a slow and gradual pace by the time the pet owner notices it may be in its advanced stages. By weighing your cat every month you will pick up on this trend long before your cat may show any other symptoms. If there is no diet change be sure you have your cat checked by your veterinarian promptly. When there is a diagnosis of an illness from the veterinarian continue to check your cat's weight and report the weight changes to your vet between appointments it allows your vet to adjust medications if needed.

Decreased or no urination in the litterbox. This is very important and requires immediate attention. If you can find no sign of urine in the litterbox or elsewhere, let your veterinarian know immediately. The cat may have a urinary blockage, which can be fatal (particularly in male cats) within hours.  
Decreased or increased urination. This is a potential sign of medical issues (such as kidney function or diabetes) Take your cat to the veterinarian.
Urination outside of the litterbox. If this is a new behavior, the cat may have a urinary or bladder infection, urinary crystals, or may have pain elsewhere. This can also signal stress, insecurity, or simply not liking something about the litterbox, but medical reasons need to be ruled out first.
Defecation outside of the litterbox. There’s usually a medical component to this behavior, whether it’s just a touch of constipation or diarrhea; there are also other, more serious causes. See your Vet.
Decreased or increased thirst. This can be an indicator of changes in kidney function, diabetes, or other medical issues and should be looked at by your vet.
Aggression. Aggression can be the result of many things: fear, stress, or pain. A cat who is normally even-tempered who exhibits aggression (or aggressive body language) towards you or another animal in the home should be evaluated by a vet.  
Avoidance or sensitivity to being petted or handled. This could indicate pain in a particular part of the body or generally not feeling well. As a note, most cats develop arthritis and joint pain as they get older, but they don’t need to suffer—relief can come in the form of medication or other treatments.
Restlessness, inability to settle. A cat in pain may have trouble lying down, sitting, or getting comfortable. They may relax for a few minutes then get up and pace or shift to a different position.  
Change in gait, limping, or difficulty jumping. This can be indicative of injury to soft tissue or bone, arthritis, or other medical issues.  
Purring or excessive vocalizations. Cats who are in severe distress will often purr; the vibrational frequency of purring has been shown to be beneficial for healing tissue and bone, but it may also be an attempt at self-soothing. Further, vocalizations can be a sign of pain, cognitive decline, or the need for medical attention. Many medical conditions, if caught early, can be treated or reversed.

Remove all the old litter and fill the litter box with very hot water and a little dish soap add the litter scoop. For deeper cleaning, you can add ½ cup of white vinegar per gallon of hot water and let it soak for 10 minutes. Rinse out thoroughly and let it dry. After it's dry add the fresh litter.  

A weekly routine of cleaning pet's bowls. If the plastic bowls have too many scratches consider replacing them bacteria hides out in scratches and it is tough to get rid of. Deep cleaning, a good soak, and scrub in very hot water and soap. You can also soak the bowls in one part water to one part white distilled vinegar DO NOT mix bleach and vinegar. Rinse very well.

Replace any toys that are too gross to get clean, or beaten up too much. You can soak them in one gallon of water to no more than ½ cup bleach soak for 10 minutes. Rinse out thoroughly and let them dry before you let your pet play with them. Some soft toys can be washed check the label from the manufacturer's instructions. If you don't want to use bleach use one part distilled white vinegar to one part water. Rinse out thoroughly and let them dry before you let your pet play with them.

Vacuum the bottom of the crate and wipe the bars with a hot soapy water rinse and wipe dry. If you want deeper sanitizing soak for 10 minutes in a mixture of ½ cup bleach to one gallon of water rinse out thoroughly.

Take a look at your pet's bed if you see a lot of soiling, chewing, and roughhousing. If you throw it in the wash and it doesn't come clean or it's been torn beyond repair, it may be time to replace it. You don't want your pets to be chewing off any pieces it could choke them. Use a waterproof, washable cover. Before you wash their bedding make sure you remove the pet fur and dirt and pretreat any stains or urine with a quality enzymatic cleaner before you put it in the washer. It's always good to wash in a cold gentle cycle to remove stains. Use sensitive skin detergent best to avoid respiratory and skin irritation you can also use sanitizer. Be sure to let it dry thoroughly before you allow your pets to use it. Pet beds should be cleaned every couple of weeks.

The dog is not focusing on a behavior you want them to perform. The reason they are not listening is that it doesn't have your full attention. Sometimes they are tired, thirsty, hungry, need to go potty, needs to burn energy, don't feel well, nervous or anxious. The most important thing is to be present for your dog and not be on a phone, texting, or thinking about something else. When training your dog or giving the dog a command. You can also use a clicker to let the dog know a specific behavior. When the dog performs the behavior rewarded with a treat each time. The treat should be kept tiny. Keep the training between 2-5 minutes (6 -10 times per day).

​It takes just one bite from a mosquito that’s infected with heart-worms larvae to jeopardize your pet’s health and welfare. And if your pet becomes infected, the heart-worm disease is often debilitating and can be fatal if it’s not treated. The majority of dogs who go untreated will not survive. Cats and ferrets are vulnerable to heartworm. It is best to keep them all on year-round heart-worm preventative. It's more common for heartworms in cats to die before they reach full maturity. The best way to keep the cats healthy is to keep them on heart-worm medication because there are no drugs or treatments for heart-worm. House cats are also at risk of heart-worms if not treated in case a mosquito comes in with disease-carrying.
It only takes one bite from an infected mosquito to infect a pet. Mosquitos are highly adaptable and will find other places to breed even during drought.
Areas with standing water, including ponds, lakes, and swimming pools, can provide breeding conditions for mosquitos.
Natural remedies are not recommended as alternatives not effective.
It's less expensive to prevent canine heartworm than it is to treat it.

The sugar substitute xylitol, which can be found in everything from peanut butter to CBD edibles, and highly toxic for dogs. According to Pet Poison Helpline, calls about xylitol poisoning rose 108 percent between 2015 and 2020, including a 47.2 percent jump in 2019. Xylitol is also being used in candy and other sweets, like peanut butter, nasal sprays, sleep aids, shampoo, deodorant, multivitamins, prescription sedatives and medications, antacids, stool softeners, make-up remover, smoking cessation gums and much, much more. Always have your local emergency veterinary number and 24/7 Animal Poison Control 800-213-6680 number programmed into your phone so you can call them immediately if you suspect that your pet may have consumed something toxic.