Dr. Athena Gaffud

Why Is My Cat Eating Litter?

Cats eat litter for reasons ranging from kitten curiosity to pica, anemia, or kidney disease. A vet explains the causes, warning signs, and safer alternatives.

Gut Health for Dogs: Soft Stools, Skipped Meals, and Sensitive Stomachs

Spot signs of poor gut health in dogs, understand what causes soft stool, and learn how diet and digestibility support stronger digestive balance.

Inflammation in Dogs: How Chronic Low-Grade Inflammation Affects Dogs Over Time

Inflammation in dogs is a normal immune defense, but chronic low-grade inflammation can affect joints, metabolism, and aging. See causes, signs, and diet support.

Dog Training Schedule: Why Comfort and Predictability Matter More Than Perfection

A dog training schedule built on comfort and predictability outperforms perfection. See how to set up routine training that actually sticks.

How to Comfort a Dog: How Physical Comfort Affects Your Dog's Behavior and Focus

Learning how to comfort a dog combines stable routines, calm environments, and gentle interaction. See stress signs, calming techniques, and what helps most.

Dog Weight Loss or Gain: Understanding Unexplained Weight Changes in Dogs

Dog weight loss or gain often reflects calorie balance, activity, aging, or underlying disease. See how to spot changes early and when to call your vet.

Dog Energy Levels by Age: What to Look For

Dog energy levels shift through life stages, from puppy bursts to adult stability to senior decline. See how breed, nutrition, and digestibility shape stamina at every age.

Boost Dog Immune System: Can Diet Influence Your Dog's Immune Health?

Can diet boost a dog's immune system? Yes, with key nutrients (protein, omega-3s, vitamins A C D E, zinc) plus healthy weight, exercise, and routine vet care.

Transitioning Dog Food: Why Sudden Food Changes Can Upset Your Dog's System

Transitioning dog food too quickly can upset digestion. Use a 7 to 10 day schedule, watch for trouble signs, and learn how to switch to fresh food safely.

Dog Feeding Schedule: Why Meal Timing and Consistency Matter for Canine Health

A consistent dog feeding schedule supports digestion, weight management, and behavior. See how often to feed by age, portion control basics, and routine tips.

Canine Cognition: Can Nutrition Support Brain Health in Dogs?

Canine cognition covers learning, memory, and behavior. See how nutrition, enrichment, and routine support dog brain health across the lifespan.

Dog Eating Less: When Do Dogs Eat Less and What It Means

A dog eating less can reflect seasonal shifts, aging, stress, or routine disruption. See what's normal, what isn't, and how to gently restore appetite.

Protein for Dogs: Is Your Dog Getting Enough?

Protein for dogs supports muscle, organ function, skin, and immunity. See how much dogs need, the best protein sources, and how to spot dietary gaps.

How to Train an Older Dog: A Positive, Senior-Friendly Plan

Older dogs can learn new routines and useful skills. This guide explains positive, age-adjusted training for house habits, crate comfort, leash work, time alone, and common setbacks.

Mobility Aids for Dogs: Harnesses, Ramps, and More

A veterinarian's guide to mobility aids for dogs: lift harnesses, ramps, wheelchairs, braces, toe grips, and orthopedic beds, plus a decision framework for matching the right aid to your dog's condition and stage.

Dog With Arthritis: Does Size Matter? What To Know

Does a dog's size change arthritis risk? A vet explains how large and small breeds differ, the early signs, named treatments, supplements, home changes, and prognosis.

Senior Dog Joint Pain: How to Help Them Feel More Comfortable

Senior dog joint pain is manageable. A vet explains the early signs, prescription options like carprofen and monthly Librela injections, joint supplements, and the home changes that keep older dogs comfortable and moving.

What Is Osteoarthritis in Dogs? Signs Your Dog Might Be in Pain

Osteoarthritis in dogs starts earlier and hides better than most owners expect. A DVM explains the early and advanced signs of joint pain, how vets diagnose it, and the treatments that actually help.

Why Is My Dog Limping? Causes and When To See A Vet

Wondering why your dog is limping? A vet explains 12 common causes, from paw injuries to arthritis and torn ligaments, how to tell if it is serious, safe home care, and the red flags that mean it is time to call your veterinarian.

Hookworms and Roundworms in Cats: What to Know

Roundworms and hookworms rank among the most common intestinal parasites affecting kittens and adult cats. These roundworms in cats and hookworms in cats interfere with digestion, hinder healthy growth, and disrupt overall wellness.

Cat Ear Mites or Fleas: What’s Bugging Your Cat?

Ear mites and fleas both make cats miserable, but they live in different places and need different treatments. Here is how to tell which parasite is bugging your cat, what vets prescribe, and how to keep both from coming back.

Fleas on Cats: How to Spot Them and What to Do Next

Fleas on cats cause more than itching. Learn to spot flea dirt, run a simple at-home test, understand the diseases fleas spread, and clear them from your cat, home, and yard for good.

Can Indoor Cats Get Fleas or Worms? The Surprising Answer

Can indoor cats get fleas and worms? Yes, and it happens more than owners expect. A vet explains how parasites get inside, how to check your cat, and how to treat and prevent both.

Common Parasites in Cats and How to Prevent Them

Parasites in cats, from roundworms and tapeworms to fleas, ear mites, and heartworm, are common even indoors. Learn the signs, how vets diagnose and treat each one, the zoonotic risks, and year-round prevention that keeps your cat safe.

What Are Roundworms in Dogs? Signs and Treatment Tips

Roundworms rank among the most common intestinal parasites in dogs, especially puppies, and understanding them matters for every household. These long, spaghetti-like worms grow several inches and live inside the intestinal tract, where they steal nutrients and create a heavy burden that disrupts digestion.

Tick-Borne Diseases in Dogs: What Every Pet Parent Needs to Know

Tick-borne diseases in dogs are spreading, and their early signs are easy to miss. Here is a vet-reviewed guide to Lyme, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and the rest: the symptoms to watch for, how they are tested and treated, and the layered prevention that keeps your dog safe.

Hookworms in Dogs: Symptoms, Dangers, and How to Protect Your Pup

Hookworms are among the most common intestinal parasites affecting dogs, and hookworms in puppies pose the greatest concern. These tiny worms attach to the lining of the small intestine and feed on blood, leading to significant health problems.

Fleas on Dogs: What They Look Like and How to Stop Them

Fleas on dogs cause relentless itching and can hide in plain sight. Learn what fleas and flea dirt look like, the early warning signs, the lookalikes that fool owners, and vet-approved ways to stop them for good.

Heartworm in Dogs: How to Prevent This Silent Killer

Heartworm in dogs is deadly but almost entirely preventable. A veterinarian explains how mosquitoes spread it, the early signs, testing, treatment costs, and the year-round prevention that keeps dogs safe.

Pyrantel Pamoate for Dogs and Cats

Animax Ointment For Dogs