Vet-reviewed

General Wellness

386 articles

Featured in General Wellness

A white-and-lemon Clumber Spaniel dozes on a shaded stone patio beside an empty ceramic bowl and potted herbs.

Easily Digestible Dog Food: What Makes a Meal Gentle on Your Dog's Gut

A vet explains easily digestible dog food in plain terms: how cooking method, protein source, fat level, fiber, and ingredient count make a meal gentle on the gut, and where gently cooked fresh food fits.

Dr. Pippa Elliott

November 3, 2026

All General Wellness articles

A lean tan-and-white rescue dog with a slight waist eats a bowl of fresh food with vegetables in a tiled kitchen.

General Wellness

Fresh Dog Food for Underweight Dogs: Safe Weight Gain, Step by Step

A vet explains how to use fresh dog food for underweight dogs: check body condition, rule out illness first, then add calories in 10 percent weekly steps with weigh-ins for safe, steady weight gain.

Dr. Pippa Elliott

Nov 3, 2026

A glossy black Flat-Coated Retriever licks the last of its meal from a steel bowl in a sunlit mudroom.

General Wellness

How to Tell if a Dog Food Is Right for Your Dog: 8 Signs Vets Check

A vet explains how to tell if a dog food is right for your dog, with an 8-sign checklist covering stool, appetite, coat, skin, energy, and body condition, plus the red flags that mean calling your vet.

Dr. Pippa Elliott

Nov 3, 2026

An owner spoons thawed fresh dog food into a bowl on a kitchen scale on a butcher-block island while a red-and-cream Akita looks up.

General Wellness

Get Real Feeding Guide: How Much to Feed as a Full Meal or Topper

This Get Real feeding guide shows how to check your dog's portion with the published kcal per pack and daily calories, as a full meal or topper, plus how to split meals, thaw packs, and switch foods.

Webvet Editorial Team

Nov 3, 2026

An owner spoons fresh food with carrots and peas into two bowls as a large Leonberger and a small black Toy Poodle wait on a tile floor.

General Wellness

How Much Does Get Real Dog Food Cost? Price per Day by Dog Size

Get Real dog food cost depends on your dog's size and whether you feed it as a full meal or topper. See packs-per-day math from the published kcal per pack, then check current pricing in the Chewy cart.

Webvet Editorial Team

Nov 3, 2026

A frozen block of fresh dog food with peas and carrots thaws in a glass dish on a white plate in an empty refrigerator as a brindle Boxer puppy looks up.

General Wellness

How to Thaw Frozen Dog Food Safely: Fridge, Cold Water, and What to Avoid

Learn how to thaw frozen dog food safely in the fridge or in cold water, how long each pack size takes, how long thawed food keeps, when you can refreeze, and which shortcuts to skip.

Dr. Pippa Elliott

Nov 3, 2026

A Dalmatian walks on a leash along a misty park path beside its owner, who carries a green roll of waste bags.

General Wellness

What Dog Poop Should Look Like on Fresh Food (and Which Changes Are Normal)

A vet explains what dog poop should look like on fresh food: firm, chocolate brown, and often smaller. Learn which color and texture changes are normal during a switch and which mean calling the vet.

Dr. Pippa Elliott

Nov 3, 2026

A brindle Greyhound sleeps curled on a gray fleece bed beside a small bowl of plain chicken and white rice.

General Wellness

What to Give a Dog With an Upset Stomach: Bland Diets, Fresh Food, and When to Call the Vet

A vet explains what to give a dog with an upset stomach: water, small bland meals of chicken and rice for 2 to 3 days, a day-by-day plan back to normal food, and the signs that mean calling the vet.

Dr. Pippa Elliott

Nov 3, 2026

A black Labrador Retriever stands on a painted porch beside a bowl holding a measured portion of fresh food.

General Wellness

Fresh Dog Food for Weight Loss: How a Vet Builds a Calorie-Controlled Plan

Fresh dog food for weight loss works when portions match a vet-set calorie target. See a worked example, the calories per Get Real pack, and how to track your dog's progress safely.

Dr. Pippa Elliott

Nov 3, 2026

A spoonful of fresh dog food with carrots and peas held above a stainless steel bowl of kibble against a blue backdrop.

General Wellness

How Much Topper to Add to Dog Food Without Unbalancing the Meal

How much topper to add to dog food: keep non-complete toppers under 10 percent of daily calories, let a complete and balanced topper take a larger share, and cut kibble by the same calories.

Dr. Pippa Elliott

Nov 3, 2026

A woman in glasses studies a plain kraft-paper dog food bag on an entryway bench as a gray-muzzled brindle dog leans on her knee.

General Wellness

How to Read a Dog Food Label: Ingredients, Guaranteed Analysis, and AAFCO Statements

A vet's line-by-line guide to the dog food label: naming rules, ingredient order, guaranteed analysis with dry matter math, the AAFCO statement, and a real fresh food example.

Dr. Pippa Elliott

Nov 3, 2026

A spotted puppy, an adult Springer Spaniel, and a gray-muzzled senior dog eat side by side on a brick patio.

General Wellness

All Life Stages Dog Food: What the AAFCO Label Means for Puppies, Adults, and Seniors

All life stages dog food meets AAFCO's growth and adult maintenance profiles. Learn the exact label wording, the large-breed puppy check, and how to adjust portions for seniors.

Dr. Pippa Elliott

Nov 3, 2026

A fawn Boxer lies on a sunny lawn behind a red enamel bowl of plain shredded cooked chicken.

General Wellness

Is Chicken Good for Dogs? Benefits, Risks, and When to Choose It

Is chicken good for dogs? Plain cooked chicken is a lean, digestible protein for most dogs. A vet explains when to choose chicken, how long a chicken and rice bland diet should last, and what to feed with a chicken allergy.

Dr. Pippa Elliott

Nov 3, 2026

A Jack Russell Terrier eyes a wooden bowl of plain sliced cooked turkey breast on a picnic table with autumn leaves.

General Wellness

Can Dogs Eat Turkey? Safe Portions, Preparation, and Benefits

Can dogs eat turkey? Plain cooked turkey is safe for most dogs. A vet's part-by-part guide to bones, skin, giblets, deli meat, and raw turkey, with portions by size and how turkey works as an everyday protein.

Dr. Pippa Elliott

Nov 3, 2026

A man crouches on a lawn with a hand on the back of an older brindle dog

General Wellness

Perineal Hernia in Dogs: Signs, Surgery, and Recovery

A perineal hernia is a weak spot in the muscles beside a dog's anus that lets tissue, and sometimes the bladder, bulge out. Learn the signs, which dogs get it, when it is an emergency, and how surgery and recovery work.

Webvet Editorial Team

Oct 30, 2026

An older cocker spaniel rests in a cushioned dog bed beside a sunny glass door

General Wellness

Perianal Adenoma in Dogs: Signs, Surgery, and Outlook

A perianal adenoma is a slow-growing, usually benign lump in the hormone-sensitive glands around a dog's anus, most often in older intact males. This guide covers the signs, the vet workup, neutering and surgery, recovery, and the outlook.

Webvet Editorial Team

Oct 30, 2026

A German shepherd lies on a slate floor looking up at a hand reaching from above

General Wellness

Perianal Fistula in Dogs: Symptoms, Treatment, and Long-Term Outlook

Perianal fistulas are painful draining tracts in the skin around a dog's anus, seen most in German Shepherds. This guide covers the symptoms, how vets diagnose and treat the disease, what home care involves, and the long-term outlook.

Webvet Editorial Team

Oct 30, 2026

A woman kneels behind a corgi mix sitting on a hardwood floor looking back at her

General Wellness

Anal Gland Abscess in Dogs: Signs, Rupture, Treatment, and Recovery

A hot, painful swelling beside your dog's anus is usually an infected anal sac that has become an abscess, and it needs a vet today. Learn what rupture means, how vets treat it, and how to help your dog heal at home.

Webvet Editorial Team

Oct 30, 2026

A spaniel sits on a wooden floor looking back over its shoulder as a woman kneels behind it

General Wellness

Why Does My Dog Keep Licking His Butt? Anal Glands, Worms, Allergies, and When to Worry

A dog that keeps licking his butt usually has full or irritated anal glands, itchy skin from fleas or allergies, or worms. This guide explains each cause, the warning signs that need a vet today, and what helps at home.

Webvet Editorial Team

Oct 30, 2026

A woman holds a golden retriever as a vet in green scrubs crouches to greet it in a clinic

General Wellness

Why Does My Dog Keep Licking Their Private Area? Normal Grooming vs Infection

Brief licking after peeing is normal grooming, but a dog licking their private area constantly may have a urinary tract infection, skin infection, or irritation. This guide covers causes in male and female dogs and signs that need a vet.

Webvet Editorial Team

Oct 30, 2026

A Siberian husky standing in fresh snow wearing black winter dog boots

General Wellness

Ruffwear Polar Trex Review: Winter Dog Boots for Snow, Ice, and Salt

Our expert-analysis review of the Ruffwear Polar Trex: what the winter sole and gaiter do in snow and salt, how to fit it so the gaiter seals without squeezing, and when a cheaper rubber bootie or the Grip Trex is enough.

Webvet Editorial Team

Oct 25, 2026

A French bulldog walking away down a sunny city sidewalk wearing black soled dog boots

General Wellness

Canada Pooch Dog Boots Review: Soft Shield, Hot Pavement, and Suspender Fit

Our expert-analysis review of Canada Pooch dog boots: what the Soft Shield and Suspender designs handle, how to size them from the paw, where fit goes wrong, and when another boot fits better.

Webvet Editorial Team

Oct 25, 2026

A Boston terrier standing on a snowy, salted city sidewalk wearing thin black rubber boots

General Wellness

Pawz Dog Boots Review: Rubber Balloon Boots for Salt, Heat, and Hardwood

Our expert-analysis review of Pawz dog boots: what the thin rubber protects against, how they stay on without squeezing, how to get them on a wriggling dog, and when a soled boot is the better choice.

Webvet Editorial Team

Oct 25, 2026

An Australian shepherd walking a rocky mountain trail wearing black boots on all four paws

General Wellness

Ruffwear Grip Trex Review: Trail Boots Sized, Fitted, and Compared

Our expert-analysis review of the Ruffwear Grip Trex: what the sole and closure do on a trail, how to size it so it does not twist or rub, and when the Summit Trex, Polar Trex, or a rubber bootie is the better buy.

Webvet Editorial Team

Oct 25, 2026

A grey cat looking out from the opening of a round grey felt cave bed on a wooden floor

General Wellness

Best Cat Cave Bed and Window Perch Picks: Covered and Perch-Style Beds Cats Actually Use

Vet-reviewed guide to cat cave beds and window perches: why hiders and watchers want different beds, how felt, wool, and plush differ, how to size a cave for a big cat, and which perch mounts hold.

Webvet Editorial Team

Oct 23, 2026

A ginger tabby curled in a fluffy cream donut bed on a rug by a glass door

General Wellness

Best Cat Beds: Vet-Reviewed Picks for Every Sleeping Style

Vet-reviewed guide to the best cat beds: which shapes suit curlers, sprawlers, and hiders, where to put the bed so the cat uses it, covered and elevated options, and the beds cats actually sleep in.

Webvet Editorial Team

Oct 23, 2026

A tan and white pit bull type dog lying on a tan elevated cot bed on a wooden porch

General Wellness

Best Chew Proof Dog Bed Picks: Vet-Reviewed Beds That Survive Heavy Chewers

Vet-reviewed guide to chew proof dog beds: why dogs shred bedding, how elevated frames compare with ripstop covers, what is safe to leave in a crate, and the beds that survive heavy chewers.

Webvet Editorial Team

Oct 23, 2026

A golden retriever curled up on a grey quilted cover draped over a beige sofa in a bright living room

General Wellness

Best Couch Cover for Dogs: Waterproof, Washable Picks That Stay Put

A couch cover for dogs earns its place only if it stays put, washes easily, and stops the thing you fear, whether that is hair, mud, or a leaky senior. Here is how to match cover type to the problem, and the six Chewy covers we would buy.

Webvet Editorial Team

Oct 21, 2026

Healthy dog on a leash beside its owner at a wooded park entrance.

General Wellness

Rabies in Dogs: Signs, Exposure Steps, and Prevention

Learn possible rabies signs in dogs and what to do after exposure. Understand the separate rules for a healthy biting dog and a pet exposed to rabies.

Webvet Editorial Team

Oct 19, 2026

Owner checking a closed screened window while a healthy tabby cat sits indoors.

General Wellness

Rabies in Cats: Signs, Exposure Steps, and Prevention

Recognize possible rabies signs and act promptly after exposure. Learn why healthy biting cats and cats exposed to rabies follow different public-health plans.

Webvet Editorial Team

Oct 19, 2026

An orange-and-white cat rests with a small tongue tip visible.

General Wellness

Why Do Cats Stick Their Tongue Out? Blep or Warning Sign?

A brief tongue-tip blep can be harmless, but breathing difficulty, drooling, mouth pain, or a persistent change needs a different response. Learn what to observe and when to contact a veterinarian.

Dr. Pippa Elliott

Oct 19, 2026

A veterinary staff member prepares a cat on a table beneath X-ray equipment.

General Wellness

Cat X Ray Cost: Views, Sedation, and Visit Fees

A cat's X-ray bill can include more than the images. Compare views, body areas, sedation, interpretation, and visit fees so you can understand a complete written estimate.

Dr. Pippa Elliott

Oct 19, 2026

A veterinary clinician holds an ultrasound probe against a gray tabby cat’s abdomen.

General Wellness

Cat Ultrasound Cost: Scan Types and What Quotes Include

Cat ultrasound prices depend on the scan and the services around it. Learn how to compare written estimates, understand possible extras, and prepare for your cat's appointment.

Dr. Pippa Elliott

Oct 19, 2026

A cat rests in a cardboard nesting box lined with a soft towel.

General Wellness

How Long Are Cats Pregnant? Stages and Week-by-Week Care

Most cats are pregnant for roughly nine weeks. Understand the limits of due-date estimates, plan appropriate care through pregnancy, and recognize when the mother or kittens need veterinary help.

Dr. Pippa Elliott

Oct 19, 2026

A black-and-white kitten stands on a blue mat as two people sit nearby.

General Wellness

Kitten Age Chart: How to Tell How Old a Kitten Is

Estimate a kitten's age by comparing eyes, ears, teeth, movement, and feeding skills. Learn why weight alone can mislead and how to turn a developmental estimate into useful care decisions.

Dr. Pippa Elliott

Oct 19, 2026

A long-haired tuxedo cat beside an open litter box filled with pale corn-based clumping litter

General Wellness

World's Best Cat Litter Review: Clumping, Tracking, Flushing, and Which Cats It Suits

World's Best Cat Litter is the corn-based clumping litter that most owners try first when they leave clay. Here is how it performs on clumping, tracking, dust, and odor, what the flushing claim actually means, and which cats and homes it suits.

Webvet Editorial Team

Oct 18, 2026

A gray litter disposal pail standing beside a hooded litter box in a tidy bathroom corner

General Wellness

Litter Genie Review: Does It Really Work, What Refills Cost, and the Best Alternatives

The Litter Genie is a sealed pail that holds scooped litter so you empty the trash once a week instead of every day. Here is how well it contains odor, what the refills really cost, which model to buy, and when a simpler bin works just as well.

Webvet Editorial Team

Oct 18, 2026

An orange tabby cat stepping out of a wooden cabinet-style litter box enclosure in a bright living room

General Wellness

Best Litter Box Enclosures and Litter Furniture: What Vets Say About Enclosed Boxes

A litter box enclosure hides the box and contains scatter, but a badly sized or unventilated one is why some cats stop using it. Here is what vets look for in enclosed boxes, how to size one, and the litter furniture we would buy.

Webvet Editorial Team

Oct 18, 2026

A gray tabby cat with its front paws on the rim of a large stainless steel litter box with the lid raised, in a bright laundry room

General Wellness

Best Stainless Steel Litter Boxes: Vet-Reviewed Picks and Why They Beat Plastic

A stainless steel litter box has a nonporous surface that does not soak up urine and wipes clean more easily than scratched plastic. Here is how to choose size, side height, and lids, plus five Chewy picks matched to different cats.

Webvet Editorial Team

Oct 18, 2026

A gray cat wearing a soft blue fabric recovery cone lying on a sofa cushion

General Wellness

Cat Cones: Sizing, Soft vs. Rigid, Eating and Sleeping With One, and Alternatives

Most cats hate a cone, and most need one for a week or two after surgery anyway. Here is how to size a cat cone so it shields the wound without getting in the way at meals, when a soft collar is enough, and which alternatives vets accept.

Webvet Editorial Team

Oct 18, 2026

A yellow Labrador wearing a clear rigid plastic recovery cone sitting on a living room rug

General Wellness

Dog Cones: Sizing, Soft vs. Rigid, How Long to Wear One, and the Best Picks

A dog cone exists to keep teeth away from a wound until it heals. Here is how to measure for the right size, when a soft, inflatable, or rigid cone is the better choice, how long it stays on after common surgeries, and the cones we would buy.

Webvet Editorial Team

Oct 18, 2026

Small dog scooting its bottom across a living room rug, a classic sign of impacted anal glands

General Wellness

Impacted Anal Glands in Dogs: Signs, Treatment, Cost

Impacted anal glands make dogs scoot, lick, and smell fishy. Learn how impaction progresses to infection or abscess, what vets do at each stage, realistic US cost ranges, and how to prevent repeat episodes.

Webvet Editorial Team

Jul 12, 2026

Veterinarian examining the rear of a small dog on an exam table for anal gland problems

General Wellness

Dog Anal Glands: Problems, Signs, and Prevention

Dog anal glands are two small scent sacs that can clog, become infected, or abscess. Learn the warning signs, what treatment looks like, and how fiber and weight control prevent repeat problems.

Webvet Editorial Team

Jul 12, 2026

Golden retriever standing on a lawn with several round brown patches, a house behind

General Wellness

Dog Urine Killing Grass: Why It Happens and How to Fix It

Dog urine kills grass because it delivers a concentrated dose of nitrogen from urea, which burns the lawn in round brown spots. Here is why it happens, how to fix the spots, how to prevent new ones, and which grasses hold up best.

Webvet Editorial Team

Oct 17, 2026

Person pressing a folded towel onto a light carpet while a beagle sits nearby

General Wellness

How to Get Dog Pee Out of Carpet, Floors, and Couches

Getting dog pee out of carpet means blotting it fast, soaking the spot with an enzymatic cleaner, and reaching the padding when the stain is old, because soap and heat leave the smell behind. Here are the steps for carpet, hardwood, and couches.

Webvet Editorial Team

Oct 17, 2026

Man kneeling on a carpet blotting a spot with paper towels while a cat watches from the couch

General Wellness

How to Get Rid of Cat Pee Smell: What Actually Works

Getting rid of cat pee smell means finding every spot and neutralizing the odor with an enzymatic cleaner, because deodorizers can mask it. Here is how to find it, clean carpet, couches, and mattresses, what to avoid, and how to stop repeats.

Webvet Editorial Team

Oct 17, 2026

Veterinarian using an otoscope to examine the inflamed, red ear of a floppy-eared Cocker Spaniel on an exam table

General Wellness

Dog Ear Infection: Causes, Treatment and Prevention

Learn how a dog ear infection develops, what the veterinary examination checks, why episodes return, and how treatment, cleaning and a practical prevention record fit together.

Webvet Editorial Team

Jul 9, 2026

Fluffy cream-colored cat curled on a gray sofa with one eye squinted shut

General Wellness

Feline Herpesvirus (FHV-1): Symptoms, Treatment, and Flare-Ups

Feline herpesvirus (FHV-1) is a lifelong infection that causes sneezing, conjunctivitis, and corneal ulcers, with flare-ups during stress. Here are the symptoms, how vets treat it, what the lysine evidence says, and how to prevent flare-ups.

Webvet Editorial Team

Oct 16, 2026

Gray cat crouched on a textured blanket with eyes half closed, mid-sneeze, in a bright living room

General Wellness

Upper Respiratory Infection in Cats: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

An upper respiratory infection in cats is the feline version of a cold, most often caused by herpesvirus or calicivirus. Here are the symptoms, how vets treat it, what helps at home, how long it lasts, and the signs a cat needs a vet the same day.

Webvet Editorial Team

Oct 16, 2026

Lean adult tabby cat sitting on a wooden porch step beside potted plants in morning light

General Wellness

FIV in Cats: Symptoms, Transmission, Testing, and Life Expectancy

FIV in cats is feline immunodeficiency virus, a slow-moving infection spread mainly through deep bite wounds. Here are the symptoms by stage, how vets test for it, how long FIV-positive cats live, and whether they can share a home with other cats.

Webvet Editorial Team

Oct 16, 2026

Most popular in General Wellness

Fresh Dog Food for Underweight Dogs: Safe Weight Gain, Step by Step

November 3, 2026

How to Tell if a Dog Food Is Right for Your Dog: 8 Signs Vets Check

November 3, 2026

Get Real Feeding Guide: How Much to Feed as a Full Meal or Topper

November 3, 2026

How Much Does Get Real Dog Food Cost? Price per Day by Dog Size

November 3, 2026