Pets
Pets mirror the stress of their owners
Studies of dogs and their humans found matching long-term cortisol levels in hair samples. A calmer household really does make a calmer animal.
More in Pets
Microchips only work if the details are current
Most chipped pets that are never reunited have an out-of-date phone number in the registry. Check yours once a year.
Obesity is the most common pet illness
Extra weight shortens a dog's life by up to two years. Measuring meals with a scale rather than a scoop is the single most effective fix.
Adopted animals need three days, three weeks, three months
Three days to decompress, three weeks to learn the routine, three months to feel at home. Judging a new pet's personality in week one is unfair to both of you.
Daily tooth brushing adds years
Dental disease affects most pets by age three and drives infections into the heart and kidneys. Thirty seconds a day with pet toothpaste is genuinely preventive medicine.