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The immune system is the body’s defense against anything that is foreign such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Allergies occur when a dog or cat’s immune system overreacts to a substance that isn’t a health threat. Those substances are called allergens. Atopic dermatitis, also known as atopy, refers to allergies to things in the environment such as dust mites, pollen, mold, trees, grass, fleas, or even another pet. The condition occurs when a pet encounters an allergen either by inhaling it or through direct contact with the skin. Direct contact with the skin explains, in part, why the feet and face can be so itchy — these are the parts of a dog or cat’s body that are most in contact with allergens. Environmental allergies may be either seasonal or year-round depending on if the allergen is seasonal like pollen or present year-round like dust mites. Food allergies are much less common in pets than environmental allergies. When they occur, the dog tends to be allergic to common ingredients in food such as beef, chicken, milk, soy, or eggs. The foods that cats are most often allergic to include fish, beef, chicken, and milk products. Much as they are for humans, allergies in pets are itchy, irritating, frustrating, and sometimes painful. On top of this, the itching, scratching, and licking can lead to infections.

The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention estimates that 60% of cats are overweight or obese. In animals, fat starts to accumulate around internal organs before it’s visible from the outside. That means by the time you notice your cat is gaining weight, her health may already be negatively affected. A 10-pound cat only needs about 200 calories a day. Being overweight or obese doesn’t just affect how your cat looks, it also increases her risk for many health problems including: Cancer Decreased lifespan Heart disease Bladder stones Type 2 Diabetes and insulin resistance Osteoarthritis If your cat does become overweight or obese, talk with your veterinarian about ways to get your cat back to a healthy weight. This could include a change in diet or starting an exercise program. Your veterinarian can help you to find a solution that works for you and your cat.

Arthritis refers to the inflammation of one or more joints. The most common type of arthritis in dogs and cats is osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease (DJD). In pets with osteoarthritis, the cartilage lining at the end of the bone deteriorates and the surrounding fluid thins, causing inflammation, pain, and stiffness where the bones rub together. The bone can wear down, develop bone spurs or even chip as osteoarthritis progresses.

Diarrhea is a common condition in which there is excess water in the stool due to either the colon’s inability to absorb water as it travels through the intestines or due to the excess secretion of water by the large intestine. Diarrhea may be either acute (one or more episodes of diarrhea lasting less than 14 days) or chronic (lasting more than 14 days or intermittent over 3-4 weeks). For dogs, many cases of acute diarrhea can be attributed to a dietary indiscretion, which is less often the case for cats. Cats, in fact, are more likely to have cases of chronic diarrhea. Diarrhea may be a clinical sign of an intestinal problem or a disorder not involving the intestines.

Veterinarians make a distinction between vomiting and regurgitation. Vomiting refers to the forceful expulsion of contents from the stomach. Regurgitation, on the other hand, is the passive return of contents from the esophagus. Food that is regurgitated never makes it to the stomach. Vomiting can be acute (sudden) or chronic (long-term). Acute vomiting lasts less than 3-4 days and has no other signs present. Chronic vomiting refers to vomiting lasting longer than 5-7 days or intermittent vomiting that does not respond to medical treatment. Chronic vomiting can occur more than once or twice a day and be accompanied by other clinical signs, such as blood, abdominal pain or fever.