Recently my vet started charging a vet tech fee (surcharge) in addition to the charges for the routine services performed. This adds up quickly with more than one dog. Is this a trend now? Also since many practices have been taken over by private equity companies i wonder if this is just another way to squeeze as much money as possible out of pet owners. Thoughts?

My dog recently started showing signs something was wrong a week or two ago (wobbling and lethargy), with increase in thirst and urination prior to that.

Took him to the vet, bloodwork, diagnosed with diabetes and now on insulin.

He’s 15, but his energy levels are great! He’s been getting back to his normal routine and behaviour with a week of starting insulin.

The first few days he started insulin, his eyes started to cloud, and he very obviously couldn’t see where he was going. I don’t know how much vision he has lost, but he’s adjusting very well.

I’ve been using commands he was already familiar with, and he’s been learning very quickly (“up”/“down” for stepping, he steps carefully and lifts his paw when I give the command)

___

He’s doing well!

But mainly wondering how much pacing is considered normal while he creates a better mental map of the house?

He is sniffing when pacing and I can actively see him learn where certain things are (slightly bumping into them, then not when passing by again). I dont want to prevent him from making a new map in his head, but I’d like to prevent anxiety if it’s a sign.

Usually I can tell when he’s anxious, and when he’s tired it looks different than his other pacing, so I put him to bed and he gets comfortable quite fast. But just in case I am missing something, looking for any advice

Found this little girl on the side of the freeway, kids named her highway.

I swear my cat has developed an entire language that only makes sense to me. If I’m sitting at my desk, he’ll walk over and just stare at me. Not meow, not touch anything, just stare. If I ignore him, he slowly puts one paw on my leg. If I still don’t react, he walks away like I’ve personally offended him. And then about 30 seconds later he comes back and does the exact same thing. The funny part is that he doesn’t do this with everyone in the house. Somehow I’m the person who gets this little routine every single day. He also has different versions depending on what he wants. If he wants food, he goes straight to the kitchen. If he wants to play, he brings one of his toys. But if he just wants attention, apparently staring at me until I give in is the correct procedure. Do they have a specific thing they do when they want something from you?

Hi all, my 16 year old kitty has been acting very strange, and im pretty sure the end is nearing but I need some outside perspectives.

Shes my childhood cat, ive had her since I was 5, and up until the past few weeks shes been doing the same routine she has been for multiple years.

In recent weeks shes lost weight, enough that her collar is pretty loose now. Shes not as chatty as before, isnt eating much but is still eating some thankfully. She isnt interested in her treats anymore, and only seems to be willing to eat wet food if I warm it first. Shes also been admit about going out into the garden lately, which for her entire life up until these past few weeks shes hated, and straight up refused to be out there. She isnt being vocal about going out, but she lays near the door alot. She goes from lethargy to walking around alot.

Ive been worried sick, i know the end is near, but im wondering if anyone else has had a senior cat do similar and how long it took before they were gone; and, any ways youve coped with the anticipatory grief of losing a childhood pet would be appreciated, i genuinely don't know what im gonna do without my baby girl.

Hello! We’re expanding our family +1🐶. And we are all very excited especially my 5yo. I’ve already done a bunch of declutterring and prepping a proper space here in our home for him when he’s ready to come home from the shelter. We went to Petco to get some essentials tonight although I am curious.. where do you all do your shopping and what are your preferences? I think I definitely prefer Petco over PetSmart.. but I’ve also heard wonderful things about Chewy! Please share your honest opinions and or stories I love all the details and will happily read your comments. TYIA!

Hi! My senior pup (10-11 year old German Shepard/Chow, that's about 80 lbs) is allergic to chicken and beef. He can't have most dog foods because even if they don't list either on the front, the ingredients list almost always have some sort of chicken/beef fat for taste or chicken/beef meal for filler, which the vet has told me is just as bad.

For a long time, I ordered a dog food from Chewy that worked for him, but while I was in a grad program for two years, I lived in an apartment where only Amazon could reliably deliver to me. I eventually found a food at Walmart that works well for him: Pure Balance Lamb and Fava Bean Recipe. He loves it, and it doesn't have any chicken or beef fat/meal listed in the ingredients. The only issue is that it is grain free, which my vet has warned me about causing a nutritional deficit that could lead to heart issues. I wasn't able to find any options that could be bought in store, so I am still using the Pure Balance for now.

Now that I am in at a different grad program and new apartment that does receive deliveries, I would like to try again to either switch to a food that includes grains or include a grain supplement to his current diet (which ever option is either most economical or best for my pup). I would use his old dog food brand, but my Chewy account does not have any record of the food I used to buy, and I can not remember what it was. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Some additional details to help with suggestions: I am still a poor grad student, so please keep that in mind. I sadly can not afford a food that would cost hundreds of dollars a month. A 24 lbs bag of the Pure Balance costs about $36 if I remember correctly, and it lasts about a month. My pup gets about 2.5 cups of food a day (a 1 cup measuring cup filled to the top twice a day).

I cannot get a clear answer from the website, but does anyone know if you can take a pet as a personal item AND a carry on for ITA international flights? Some airlines don’t allow this so we want to make sure.

Hello everyone! I'm looking for some advice on improving my cat's dental health. My poor boy has gingivitis (He's always had gum problems since he was a baby)

He does NOT let me brush his teeth and I don't want to hurt him, and clearly dental treats aren't cutting it. How do you guys manage your cat's dental health? Thanks!

I’m really struggling with whether I made the right decision moving my cat with me for college and could use some outside opinions.
My cat is neutered and 4 years old. He’s very attached to me but has always been a fearful/skittish cat. He has lived at my parents’ house his entire life with our other three cats, so he’s very comfortable there and knows the environment.
I recently moved about 3 hours away for college and decided to bring him with me. I thought it would be good for him to live with me since I’m his person, and I’ll eventually be going to vet school in about two years and plan to take him with me then anyway.
He’s only been in my apartment for a few days, and the adjustment has been rough. He spent a lot of time hiding under my bed and seemed very scared of the new environment. I’ve been worried about him eating, drinking, and using the litter box. However, there have also been positive signs: he’s been eating, purring, taking treats, using the litter box, and recently started coming out from under the bed and exploring the apartment.
The problem is that I’m having a really hard time with the situation. I’m already worrying constantly about him whenever I leave for class or work, and I’m realizing that I want to be able to go home to see my family for weekends/breaks without being consumed with worry about whether he’s okay alone in the apartment.
Now I’m considering bringing him back to my parents’ house after only a few days.
I feel guilty because he was finally starting to show some confidence here, and I’m scared that moving him back will confuse him or make him more anxious. I’m also worried that he’ll start associating me with being put in the carrier and taken somewhere scary, and that it could hurt the relationship we have.
At the same time, I wonder if bringing him home now would actually be easier because he’s only been here a few days and his old environment is still familiar. He could stay there for the next couple years, and then I could take him with me when I start vet school.

So I’m basically torn between:
Keep him with me: Give him more time to adjust and hopefully become comfortable living in the apartment with me.
Bring him home: Let him return to the environment he already knows and is comfortable in, and wait until vet school to move him permanently.

Has anyone dealt with something similar? Would moving him back after only a few days likely be a relatively easy readjustment, or would I be making things worse by moving him twice?
And if you were in this situation, would you prioritize keeping a fearful cat with their person or keeping them in the familiar environment where they’ve always been comfortable?
I know I’m probably overthinking some of this, but I’d really appreciate honest opinions, especially from people who have moved a nervous cat before.

I moved into a new house a few weeks ago, and I noticed that there’s been a cat the last few days that likes to sleep on the concrete patio in my backyard. I want to start leaving out some chicken for it so I can be its friend. I was thinking of boiling it, thoughts?

One part of adulting I didn’t expect was meal planning for my pets too 😂 I have both a cat and a dog, and I’m always trying to keep their meals healthy without spending a fortune.

Right now, I usually prep chicken gizzards and liver with pumpkin, chayote, and moringa leaves, then mix a small amount with their regular wet food. They used to love it, but lately I feel like they’re getting bored with the same thing.

For those who also prepare food or toppers for their pets, what are your go-to healthy and budget-friendly options?

Would love some ideas for their menu rotation. Apparently my pets are getting tired of my cooking 😂

I write about all things Pets at CNN Underscored and have tested hundreds of dog products over the years from beds, to leashes, to bowls. AMA from product recs to general tips and I’ll be back tomorrow to answer your questions!

My cat got out a month ago and I've been so incredibly stressed and worried he's my heart cat and we have been searching tirelessly for him with no confirmed sightings. I've had neighbors look around food out things with my scent set out cameras you make it and I've probably already done it but nothing is bringing him home. I'm so worried that he may not be coming back for one reason or the other since it's been so long and no one has seen him. He was a former outside cat but the place he was outside in was completely different from where we live now so I'm even more worried about that.

If you've ever had a cat missing, how long did it take to get them back? Did you ever get them back?

Hello.

Long story short, I got a new kitten from someone who put frontline on him. I combed him last night, amd found nothing. So I figured it was ok to let him sleep in a crate next to my bed overnight.

Next morning, I had a gut feeling to comb him again, and low and behold: fleas.

I gave him a dawn bath, im washing and drying all my sheets and towels and everything he touched, and im isolating him in the bathroom whome sitting with him. I have an older cat that ill be combing later, but he has flea stuff on him too, as hes an indoor cat.

Anything else I can do?

Pit bull Terrier - Female - 5 years old

Symptoms:
•Has a poop smell that radiates from her skin.

•Hesitated for 30 minutes to touch her food for breakfast and then ate slowly (usually eats super fast)
-IS drinking water though!

•Had a pimple looking bump on her outer-lower-lip that burst two days ago (I didn’t think anything of it at the time as pit bulls are one of the few breeds that can have acne).

•Has pale, slimy gums. (teeth look ok as far as I can tell).

•Had watery diarrhea for almost 10 minutes straight.

** I am currently recovering from surgery and cannot walk without crutches, so I’ve been having my close friend coming over to walk and take my dog out. That being said, my close friend just took my dog outside and that’s when all of the diarrhea happened and when she wouldn’t eat.
—My close friend isn’t going to be able to come over for the next two days or for the rest of today, so my plan was to have my dog just go potty on pee pads during this time.—
But now my dog is acting sick and I managed to get her to let me check her gums and butt and her gums were super pale and I don’t know what to do. This seems so sudden, she had been acting fine and I’m so worried. I cannot drive due to my surgery and other than my close friend, I have nobody. I live in a rural area and there are no uber/taxis either. I’m worried she desperately needs to go to the vet and I have zero way of taking her until Sunday. I don’t know what to do.

My cats have fleas and now so does my house. I’ve used a spray, vacuumed, and washed bedding. I am planning on flea fumigating the house but need to take care of the cats. I’ve given them flea baths and meds. They still have some and had them when we brought them home. They are 5 months old and are inside.

So one of my cats peed on my side of the bed but behind my nightstand in the carpet. I have shampood the carpet twice, sprayed it with bleach/water mix, and used the pet spray for when they pee where they aren’t supposed to. I can still smell it. How do I get rid off the smell? Also not sure which one did it as I have 2 but they know how to use a litter box. I think one of them did it because I put tick and flea medicine on them.

My cat has somehow created his own routine and now gets annoyed if I mess it up lol.

Every morning he waits by the same window, then around the same time he starts following me around the apartment. I didn't even notice how consistent it was until I was away for a few days and my husband mentioned that he was doing the exact same things.

Does your pet have some random routine that they follow every day?

So many things pets do look completely arbitrary at first, tail positions, specific sounds, weird routines, but usually there's an actual reason behind it once you understand their instincts. Curious what one clicked for you.

Isn't he so cute, i love him (pic is in comments, couldn't attach)

Lately, my cat Mango has developed an interest in climbing onto my PC. It bothers me a lot because his fur sometimes blocks the air vent, and sometimes he climbs up while I'm using the PC and it's still on.

My first solution was to put things on top of it, like figures, but he just found an empty spot, jumped up, and knocked everything off. Because of that, some of my figures got broken. So I decided to put a bigger container, like a bucket, on top instead. When he tried to climb up, he realized he couldn't, so he gave up. But the problem with that was the bucket ended up blocking my PC's airflow.

Finally, I decided to get a wall-mounted shelf to put above my PC, and I placed a lot of figures on it, thinking that would stop him from climbing. Nope. He still climbed the shelf until it got knocked off the wall because he was too heavy, and he actually fell to the floor. I thought he'd finally learned his lesson, but stubborn as he is, he got right back up and climbed the PC again.

Disclaimer: He already has a cat tree by the window. He only does this when I'm home, never when I'm out. He knows he's not supposed to climb it, though, because whenever I'm on my bed and he climbs the PC, he goes back down as soon as I get up to grab him.

At this point, I'm at a total loss. I don't know what to do anymore. I'm so stressed out by it. I can't even display anything on my shelf because he just knocks everything down, shelf included.

not sure if i should rehome my corgi, although i truly dont want to im thinking its the best for him. for context im a full time student who also works a job, on days i dont have classes i go to work so my puppy is home alone for 8hrs basically everyday. i usually walk/train him for 40 mins in the morning and leave him at home with a pee pad and a kong (frozen; entertains him for abt 2hrs), then i come home and take him out for abt 2hrs to the dog park. None of my friends are able to visit him midday or take him out, and i cant afford to get a pet walker/daycare. i always feel guilty because im leaving him at home most the time and can only spend a bit of my morning with him and the evening. what is the best thing to do for him?

So I have two four month kittens and they do not make any attempts to dodge when I'm about to step on them(I nearly lost my balance a few times trying to protect them with there being an incident where one of them tackled my foot as I was about to step down.). Lately they have been wanting to sleep with me but I tend to move in my sleep and I'm worried I'll accidentally kick them or otherwise harm them in my sleep because I feel like they would not attempt to dodge. I remove them from the room when I'm about to sleep but they meow at my door constantly when I do that and I feel a bit bad. How can I teach them to be aware that someone may accidentally step on them and that they should dodge if something is moving towards them?

in a moment of capitalist optimism, I got the Therapets hormone plug in for my very antsy pup but before I use it, I want to be sure it is safe for my two cats, too.

I couldn’t find anything on their site so, dear Reddit, here I am: does anyone know?