Did you know that 54% of all dogs and cats in the U.S. are considered to be overweight or obese? How many extra pounds does your pet need to put on before being at higher risk for potentially serious medical conditions? Not as much as...
Interested in finding out what makes your cat special? The Feline Genetics Laboratory at the University of Missouri wants to know too. Their 99 Lives Cat Genome Sequencing Initiative is about half-way through an ambitious project that will eventually sequence the full genomes of 99...
With so many dog and cat food options to choose from, all promising that they are the best choice for your pet, how can you really know if you are buying a high quality pet food? Pet food labels are strictly regulated by the Association...
The list of plants that can be harmful to cats is a long one. The effects of plant toxins in cats can range from moderate gastrointestinal upset to life-threatening cardiovascular and nervous system poisoning. Prevention is the best way to avoid accidental plant poisoning in cats....
Do you have a first aid kit prepared for your dog or cat? Of course, it’s important to take your pet to the vet for any serious illnesses or injuries. But for minor health issues or to provide emergency care at home before you can...
Animal hospice care shares the same philosophy as hospice care for people…to provide palliative care for pets who are in the last stages of a terminal disease, or at the natural end of life. The goal of hospice care for pets is to provide comfort...
Summer is a great time for having fun with your pets, but it’s important to keep a few simple things in mind to make sure your pets don’t overheat, both outdoors and indoors, in the summertime. The core body temperature of cats and dogs is warmer...
Thinking about adding a new puppy to your family? No matter where he comes from (shelter, rescue group, breeder, friend…or a posting on the Starbuck’s bulletin board) there are a few basic indicators of good health to look for in a puppy. Think carefully if...
When you spay and neuter your pets you are doing your part in helping to decrease the huge number of unwanted puppies and kittens that end up in animal shelters each year. Fixing your pet also has many health and behavior benefits for male and...
A bill that would ban cat declawing was recently introduced into the New York State Senate. Republican State Senator Joseph Griffo introduced the bill into the Republican-controlled Senate, increasing the likelihood of its passage. A declawing measure was first introduced by Democratic Manhattan Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal,...
Join FACE in acknowledging the importance of pet cancer awareness! Did you know that 6 million dogs and cats will be diagnosed with cancer in 2015? Cancer is the #1 disease-related cause of death in our pets. Make sure you bring your pet for regular veterinary...
The American Animal Hospital Association’s excellent PetsMatter blog recently posted an article by veterinarian Dr. Anna Coffin about the dangers of common household items to pets. Take a look at this list of the different kinds of pet toxins to see if you need to...
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a safety alert warning pet owners of the dangers of topical pain medications containing the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) flurbiprofen. Several cats have recently been sickened, and some have died, from exposure to topical pain medications. In all of the...
Does your cat look like she has some dirt on her chin? It could be feline acne, a common skin condition in cats. What looks like a dirty chin could be a mild to moderate case of cat acne. Those black specks are actually blackheads,...
An unusual canine influenza outbreak is currently sickening dogs in the Chicago area. More than 1,000 cases of infected dogs, including 5 deaths, have been reported so far. What is canine influenza and how can you keep your dog safe? Here are a few facts...
We already knew that having a pet improves our lives in so many ways, but now a new survey of family physicians shows that your doctor believes it too! The Human Animal Bond Research Initiative (HABRI) surveyed 1,000 general practitioners on their beliefs about the human...
Pledgeling is an online giving platform that makes it easy to donate to your favorite charities like the FACE Foundation. Pledgeling allows you to centralize your giving to multiple non-profits all in one place, and makes it easy for you to track all of your...
A recent article published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery summarizes the results of a large scale feline health and longevity study in the UK. Data from 90 veterinary practices on over 118,000 cats was examined for feline health trends, including longevity and...
According to the American Pet Products Association, Americans spent a total of $58.51 billion on their pets last year. This is an all-time high, up from $55.72 billion in 2013. In fact, spending on pets in the U.S. has steadily increased over the years, hitting...
Now that winter is coming to an end and March is finally here, many homeowners’ thoughts are turning to spring and gardening! If you’re a dog owner as well, you may be wondering how to make your yard safer and more welcoming for your furry...
Did you know that cats can spend between 30% and 50% of the day grooming? Cats are famously fastidious about keeping their fur clean, and it’s normal to see a cat routinely grooming herself. But how do you know if your cat is licking her...