Feeling overwhelmed and drowning in the sea of pet-owner info and resources available on the internet? Well, read on because I’m here to ease that stress and save you valuable hours! Because, hey, can’t we all use a little more quality time to spend with our furry family members?
These sites are produced by leaders of the veterinary field. And they’re often the go-to resources vets use when we need to research the latest recommendations for our patients.
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA): Animal Poison Control
The ASPCA has long been a trusted non-profit organization geared toward improving the lives of animals. So, it’s no surprise that their Animal Poison Control website and 24/7/365 hotline are go-to references for veterinarians and their clients. The ASPCA website contains an extensive and continually updated database of poisonous plants, foods and even household chemicals that can harm our four-legged best friends. “Is gum going to make Fido sick? What is xylitol, anyway?” “Are the flowers in my new bouquet toxic to Chewy?” Look it up!
If you feel like you’re facing a pet poison emergency, or you need to be able to give your veterinarian every bit of information about the product your inquisitive housemate got into, call the Animal Poison Control hotline: (888) 426–4435. You’ll pay a small fee to speak to a veterinarian who specializes in toxicology — they’ll advise you about what your pet needs and will even be available to review the case with your vet if necessary.
American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)
Is your favorite veterinary clinic AAHA accredited? How do you find out if they are? Do all vet clinics have to be AAHA accredited? The American Animal Hospital Association’s website can help you answer these questions and much, much more. Even if your beloved vet isn’t AAHA accredited, I bet they still follow many of their guidelines for patient care. If you want to be a well-informed advocate for your pet’s health, this website is the bomb.org (see what I did there?) for helping you to stay in the know about the latest standards of care that veterinarians are striving to meet every day with every pet.
AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines
We all know that taking your dog into the vet every year for her check-up is important, and sometimes this visit includes routine vaccinations. But what vaccines does my dog need, you ask? That’s a great question, and one that I hear from worried pet owners multiple times a day. So why not go into Bandit’s next vet appointment armed with the information that vets themselves look to for thorough and well-researched vaccine protocols? Confused about core vs. non-core vaccines? Curious about why your veterinarian asks about your dog’s lifestyle and various exposures? Then this is the website for you!
American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP): Feline Vaccination Guidelines
You didn’t think I was going to leave out our feline friends, did you? Cats have special risks and requirements when it comes to vaccinations as well. Is Cleo a house panther or does she patrol the neighborhood? Maybe you’re caring for a barn cat — he keeps the mice out of your hay, so why not do everything you can to keep him healthy? Each of these kitties have different vaccine needs to keep them as safe and protected from disease as we can. The AAFP has become the authority for veterinarians and cat parents who want to do just that.
American Heartworm Society
Ok, stay with me here…. I know that heartworms are not the most exciting discussion topic. However, learning about them and how to prevent them are SUPER important to your pet’s health — it could even save his life. Not only has heartworm disease been diagnosed in all 50 states, but the ever-increasing popularity of travelling with our pets has made this mosquito-transmitted disease all the more buzz-worthy. And let’s be honest, unless Lucky has been living under a cloud of citronella his whole life, you and I both know that he’s crossed paths with a mosquito a time or two. Check out the American Heartworm Society here.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Healthy Pets, Healthy People
Pets are our family, and we all know that a family shares many things… including germs… (Ugh, the mom in me just cringed a little, thinking of all the coughs and sneezes that a new school year brings). But seriously, if there’s a disease outbreak, who ya gonna call?…I mean, where ya gonna look to for the latest information? The CDC, of course! Now, not every tummy bug or upper respiratory virus is zoonotic (meaning transferred from animals to people or vice versa), but some are. This website is a helpful resource for concerned parents (of the two- or four-legged variety) who want to understand all the risks and extraordinary benefits of owning pets.
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA): Dog Bite Prevention
Ok you guys… here’s where I briefly step up onto my mom/vet soapbox and eloquently say: We as pet-owners, parents, and advocates for the human-animal bond, need to be doing more to prevent dog bites. The CDC (yep, those guys again) report that over 4.5 million people in the U.S. are bitten by dogs each year, and sadly, children are the most severely affected. What can you do about this? How about heading on over to the AVMA’s Dog Bite Prevention page!
And speaking of the AVMA, read on…
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA): Public Resources
The AVMA is the organization for all veterinary medical professionals, but their website isn’t just for vets. It’s packed with great resources for you too. If you’re looking for a reliable read about caring for your pet, how to handle an emergency, or even wondering how to become a veterinary medical professional yourself, head this way…
Fear Free Happy Homes
As a Fear Free Certified Professional, this website is near and dear to my heart. Now, let me add here that I am not obligated or compensated to recommend this organization (or any other group listed in this article), but simply do so because I believe, whole-heartedly, in the work they are doing to promote the behavioral and emotional well-being of our pets. The folks at Fear Free Happy Homes offer a wealth of handy info for new and seasoned pet-owners: from training (hint, old dogs can learn new tricks!) to tips on making your scaredy cat’s visit to the vet a little less traumatizing — for you and for her. They even offer membership and educational programs for pet-owners, groomers, trainers and veterinary medical professionals who want to improve their ability to eliminate fear, anxiety and stress in our four-legged family members. The free Basic membership provides more than enough to get you started…so what are you waiting for?! Check it out here!
Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC)
Have you ever found yourself standing in the dental care aisle of your favorite pet store and wondering, “Is this biscuit really going to make Fluffy’s breath smell better?” or “How is this food going to keep Bella’s teeth clean?” Just me?… I didn’t think so… There are SO. MANY. pet “dental” products out there nowadays, you might watch one of Whisker’s nine lives fly by before you find one that actually works. So, let me make it easy for you: visit the VOHC website and check out their lists of approved products for our canine and feline companions. This group of board-certified veterinary dentists and dental scientists have put together a well-researched and comprehensive list of dental diets, rinses, water additives, chews/treats, and toothbrushes and toothpastes that have passed their strict requirements for keeping our pets’ mouths healthy. And for you skeptics out there — all members of the Council must sign conflict-of-interest agreements, so you can trust that products don’t find their way onto the list without valid reason.
I could add so many more wonderful websites to this list. The internet truly is a valuable resource for expanding our knowledge about the topics and animals we love….when we know where to look. What other websites do you and your veterinarian trust for the most up-to-date information on pet health and well-being?
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