One of the best reasons to spay or neuter your pet is to avoid adding to the problem of pet overpopulation. Every day in the United States, thousands more puppies and kittens are born than are human babies. The result is that there are not enough homes for all these pets. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) estimates that between 6 and 8 million pets enter animal shelters each year. Of these pets, the HSUS believes that at least half — 3 to 4 million — are euthanized. Many of these animals are young and healthy.

Planning a trip to the mountains or considering relocating to the high country?

If you are a dog owner, don’t forget to keep your pet’s health concerns in mind, just as you would the other members of your family.

More than likely you visit the doctor and/or dentist at least once a year. Are you doing the same for your pet? Because cats and dogs age quicker than us, taking them to the veterinary hospital once a year is like you going once in five to seven years!

October is National Pet Wellness Month (NPWM); celebrate by committing to your furry friends’ health with annual wellness exams.

Unlike most human influenzas, canine flu is not seasonal — it can occur at any time of the year. Canine influenza virus (CIV) was first detected in 2004 in racing greyhounds in Florida. Investigators learned that this new canine influenza developed when an equine influenza virus adapted to infect dogs. This was the first time that an equine influenza virus had been found to “jump” from horses to dogs.

An extensive retrospective study by the University of Georgia analyzes causes of death for dozens of dog breeds.

The scientists looked at data from nearly 75,000 dogs whose deaths were recorded in the Veterinary Medical Database (VMDB) between 1984 and 2004. They categorized the deaths by organ system and pathophysiologic process, and hypothesized that these could be segregated by age, breed and body mass.

Are you certain that your dog is protected from heartworm this season?

Although heartworm prevention techniques, including mosquito avoidance and drugs that kill heartworm larvae, have been recommended for years, the number of dogs diagnosed with heartworm continues to increase. One factor that contributes to the persistence of this preventable disease is “prophylactic failure,” which means that animals develop the disease even though they received a prophylactic drug to prevent heartworm for at least 1 year or season.

My chow chow, Nani, is covered in long, orange fur. I’m not. Children often stop Nani and me on the street to remark on how fluffy she is. No one has ever commented on my fur.

Now, abundant body hair on a human is normally a bad thing, but on below-zero days, I find myself staring enviously at Nani. A quick glance at her thick coat is also a reminder that my canine companion is ready and willing to brave the elements, even if I’m not.

So, on cold winter days, how do I give Nani the exercise she needs without making myself miserable?

True or false?

Diabetes affects more cats than dogs.
Drinking a lot of water is a sign of diabetes.
Diabetes cannot be treated or cured.
A blood test can detect diabetes.

Find the answers.

When it comes to your pet’s food, you spend a lot of time and energy making sure that your pet has a healthy diet. You consider all of the brands, compare labels, debate moist-versus-dry, and consult your veterinarian.

But pets do not live by food alone. An ever-present bowl of clean water may be the most important part of your pet’s diet.

Palliative care focuses on managing the pain, lack of appetite, fatigue, nausea or other symptoms your pet may be experiencing from a chronic disease or its treatment. Hospice care, too, looks first to the comfort of the pet—those with a terminal diagnosis and for whom a cure is no longer possible.

Pain management, in particular, is a science that is rapidly evolving. Sometimes just a few small changes in medication can return a pet to being more like its old self. It is still an animal with a fatal disease—but that extra time can be very meaningful.

Parvovirus, a potentially devastating illness that affects dogs, has been widespread since the early 1980s. Dogs that contract the virus and are not properly treated will usually die. Even those that do receive treatment, may not survive. Find out how parvovirus is spread, which dogs are most at risk, and how to keep your pet safe.

More than 85% of dogs over 4 years of age have evidence of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is a progressive inflammation of the supporting structures surrounding the teeth and is the main cause of early tooth loss.

Toy breeds are at higher risk for periodontal disease because of tooth crowding in the mouth.

Is your cat grooming half of her hair off, or is your dog licking his paws raw? It may well be that your pet is experiencing allergies, one of the most common health problems for pets. Just like people, animals have allergic reactions because their immune system — the system that protects the body from foreign and potentially infectious substances — overreacts to some material. Almost anything — pollen, dust, an ingredient in pet food, a household chemical, an insect bite — can set off an alarm in the immune system, causing it to pump out large amounts of white blood cells, hormones and other material called histamines into the bloodstream.

Imagine making your living training some of the world’s most stubborn and unruly dogs. Peering over your shoulder each week are millions of viewers in 40 countries wondering if you or the misbehaving pup will win the battle of wits. Victoria Stilwell, star of Animal Planet’s popular television series, “It’s Me or the Dog,” says the challenge isn’t as difficult as it may seem.

Beware: Though a flea is puny, its effects on pets and people can be mighty. Learn more about their bad habits and health consequences--and why you should talk to your veterinarian about keeping your pet flea-free all year long.

You have finally mustered the nerve to carry out the task you’ve been dreading all week. Nail clippers in hand, you hunt for Fido throughout the house. “I got him. He’s over here,” shouts your spouse. The two of you conspire to hold the struggling Cocker Spaniel down to give him a toenail trim, but after just seconds, you both give up.

How many times can a flea jump without stopping?

1. 30,000
2. 1,000,000
3. Fleas jump?

How many times can a flea bite in one day?

1. 125 times
2. 40 times
3. 1 time, but really hard

What is the best way to get rid of fleas on my pet?

1. Use a veterinary-grade product to kill adult fleas
2. Use a growth inhibitor to prevent fleas from maturing
3. Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum

Pets need professional dental exams and cleanings in order to avoid painful tooth decay and other, related health problems such as heart, lung, and kidney disease. Brushing your pet’s teeth is essential, but it isn’t enough. Although a basic oral examination can be done on patients that are awake, an anesthetic is required in order to provide a thorough dental cleaning.

Von Willebrand disease is the most common inherited bleeding disorder in dogs. The disease rarely occurs in cats.

Dogs with this disease cannot clot blood normally, which results in bleeding, especially after surgery or trauma. While this disease has occurred in more than 50 different dog breeds, the breeds most commonly affected include Doberman pinschers, German shepherds, golden retrievers, poodles, Shetland sheepdogs, Pembroke Welsh Corgis and the German Shorthaired Pointer.

Resolving to lose weight? Exercise with your dog!

Humane societies and animal shelters play an important role in our communities. AAHA believes that all pets deserve the best care, and so do many humane societies and animal shelters throughout the United States. In fact, 12 veterinary hospitals associated with humane societies and animal shelters in the United States are now AAHA-accredited.

Animals can’t tell us where it hurts or how much or in what way, and early signs of discomfort are often subtle and difficult for pet owners to detect. That is why veterinary professionals at AAHA-accredited animal hospitals take an “every patient, every day” approach to pain assessment.

Benjamin Hart, DVM, PhD, who has studied animal behavior for almost 50 years, says that one of the questions he hears most frequently from pet owners is: “Why does my dog eat grass?”

Thinking about giving your pet an aspirin to ease its pain? Think again! Human painkillers including ibuprofen, aspirin and acetaminophen can be dangerous and even deadly to animals. Though acetaminophen can ease a human tension headache, one tablet of 500 mg extra strength acetaminophen can kill a 7-pound cat. Human medications are not designed for the animal body, and can have deadly effects when given to pets. Veterinarians can help prescribe the right dose and type of medication for your pet when it is in pain. Visit HealthyPet.com to find an accredited veterinarian near you.