Pet Care Blog
Tips, guides, and expert advice on caring for your pets.
A Fit Dog Is a Happy Dog, How to Keep Your Dog at a Healthy Weight and Know They’re on Track
Why healthy weight matters Extra weight shortens a dog’s lifespan and raises the risk of joint disease, diabetes, breathing issues, heart strain, heat intolerance, and reduced stamina. Overweight dogs move less, tire faster, and often experience pain that limits play and mobility. Because more than half of pet dogs are overweight or obese, weight management is one of the simplest, most effective steps you can take to protect your dog’s long-term health. Maintaining an ideal weight can mean...
Curious Cat, Confident Home
How to Spark Your New Cat’s Interest in Their Surroundings Bringing a new cat home can make them cautious, but curiosity is the bridge to confidence. Encouraging gentle exploration and offering safe, varied enrichment helps your cat learn their environment, reduces stress, and strengthens your bond. The goal is to make discovery rewarding so your cat chooses to investigate rather than hide. Start with a “safe base” and expand slowly Set up a single quiet starter room with food, water, a...
Healthy Treat Options for Cats
Smart snacking to keep your cat lean, happy, and healthy. Why Treat Choices Matter Cats have small calorie needs, many only require 150–250 calories per day , so treats add up fast. Choosing healthier options helps maintain a healthy weight, supports joint and organ health, and reduces the risk of diabetes and obesity. Best Healthy Treat Options 1. High-Protein, Meat-Based Treats Cats are obligate carnivores, so meat-first treats are ideal: Freeze-dried chicken, turkey, salmon, or shrimp...
Healthy Treat Options for Dogs
How to choose smarter snacks, and how Every Wag helps you track them. Why Treats Matter Treats are an important part of training, bonding, and enrichment, but they also add calories quickly. Most dogs only need treats to make up 10% or less of their daily calories , so choosing healthy options helps keep your dog at a good weight and reduces the risk of long-term health issues. Best Healthy Treat Options 1. Fresh, Whole Foods Many dogs love simple, nutritious snacks you may already have at...
Is My Cat at a Healthy Weight? How to Tell, and What Really Matters
Why your cat’s weight matters Carrying extra weight shortens a cat’s lifespan and increases the risk of painful, potentially life-threatening conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, urinary issues, heart disease, and fatty liver disease. Overweight cats also tend to move less, groom poorly, and develop secondary skin or mobility problems. Veterinarians estimate that around half of all pet cats are overweight , making routine weight checks one of the most impactful things you can do for...
Settling In: How to Help Your Cat Feel Safe and Happy in a New Home
Bringing a cat into a new home is a big change for them and for you. With thoughtful planning and gentle patience you can help your cat transition with minimal stress so they feel safe, confident, and ready to bond with you and the household. Prepare a quiet starter room Choose a small, quiet room for your cat’s first days. The room should have a solid door so your cat can feel enclosed and safe while they get used to new smells and sounds. Keep traffic low and avoid bringing visitors into...
Think, Hunt, Eat: Using Puzzle Feeders to Turn Mealtime into Mental Enrichment for Cats
Puzzle feeders are a great way to turn food into a game. They stimulate your cat’s natural hunting instincts, slow down fast eaters, reduce boredom, and help maintain a healthy weight. With the right approach and supervision, most cats can learn to enjoy food puzzles and gain lasting enrichment from short daily sessions. Why use puzzle feeders Cats evolved to work for their food. Puzzle feeders mimic hunting by requiring cats to solve problems or manipulate objects to get food. This lowers...
Welcome, Not Whew: How to Invite Calm Visitors and Let Your Cat Meet People on Their Terms
Having guests over is part of life, but cats can find new people stressful. Setting up the environment, briefing visitors, and letting your cat choose when to interact will keep your kitty calm, confident, and more likely to enjoy company. The goal is to make visits predictable and positive so your cat builds good associations with people instead of hiding or reacting. Prepare a calm arrival space Before anyone arrives, create a quiet “go-to” room where your cat can retreat if they want...
Window Wonders: Create a Safe, Budget-Friendly Bird-Watching Perch Your Cat Will Love
Cats are natural observers and many love spending hours watching birds, squirrels, and neighborhood life from a sunny window. A dedicated perch gives your cat a satisfying, low-effort way to enrich their day, strengthen their confidence, and reduce boredom. With a few simple ideas and attention to safety, you can build or repurpose a comfy viewing spot without spending much. Why a window perch matters Watching birds lets cats use their predatory instincts in a calm way — they can stalk with...
Alone but Comfortable: A Positive, Step-by-Step Plan to Teach Your New Dog to Be Calm When Left Alone
Bringing a new dog home is joyful and a little nerve-wracking, especially when you think about leaving them alone for the first time. Teaching your dog to be comfortable alone is a skill you build gradually with clear structure, predictable routines, and lots of positive reinforcement. This guide covers both crate and non‑crate options, supplies you’ll want, a practical step‑by‑step program, and what’s normal versus when to ask for help. Why go slow and use positive reinforcement Dogs form...
Brush Up on Health: A Practical Guide to Dog Toothbrushing, Why Once a Week Isn’t Enough and What Really Works
Dental care is one of the single biggest things you can do to improve your dog’s quality and length of life. Plaque builds quickly and becomes tartar in a matter of days, and untreated dental disease leads to pain, tooth loss, bad breath, and contributes to problems in the heart, kidneys, and liver. Regular toothbrushing is the gold-standard home prevention, daily is ideal, but if you can’t do daily, aim for every other day or at least three times a week. Brushing less often (once a week)...
Busy Minds, Happy Dogs: Practical Daily Mental Enrichment That Fits Your Life
Mental enrichment is as important as walks and play. Challenging your dog’s brain reduces boredom, lowers stress, and often improves behavior by giving them healthy ways to use energy. You don’t need expensive tools or long sessions. Short, frequent, and varied activities, from a few minutes on a snuffle mat to a five‑minute training game, add up and make life calmer and more rewarding for both of you. Why mental enrichment matters Dogs were bred to think and solve problems. Without mental...
Calm at the Door: Teaching Your Dog Polite Home Greetings, Manners Start at Home
Training polite greetings begins at home, where you control the environment and your dog can learn without pressure. Practicing calm behavior in a predictable setting builds the muscle memory your dog needs to stay relaxed when the doorbell rings or guests arrive. This guide gives practical steps, scripts for visitors, checklists, and a realistic plan you can follow without overwhelming your dog. Why keep training at home first New environments bring extra sights, sounds, and people that...
Carefully Curious: How to Introduce Your New Dog to Places, People, and Play, Without Pushing Too Far
Bringing a new dog into your life means a world of new places, people, and playful experiences. Thoughtful, gradual exposure helps your dog build confidence and curiosity rather than fear. This guide gives practical steps, checklists, and examples for introducing locations and supervised play sessions while keeping things positive and done at your dog’s pace. Why slow, positive introductions matter Dogs learn by association. When a new location or friend consistently predicts good things,...
Health Essentials for New Dogs: How to Talk Weight, Parasite Prevention, and Vaccines with Your Vet
The first vet visit after bringing a new dog home is the best time to set and understand their health goals. Weight control, parasite prevention, and vaccines are foundational to a long, healthy life. Planning these with your veterinarian creates a tailored, realistic plan and helps avoid costly or dangerous problems later. Why weight matters: Goals and tools Carrying extra pounds shortens a dog’s life by up to 2.5 years and increases the risk of medical problems like arthritis, diabetes,...
Let Them Come to You: How to Introduce New People and Pets Slowly — Always on Your Dog’s Terms
Bringing new people or dogs into your dog’s world can be exciting, but it can also be overwhelming if done too fast. Slow, predictable introductions done with positive reinforcement help your dog build confidence, reduce stress, and form better long-term relationships. This guide gives practical steps, clear checklists, and real-world expectations so you can introduce new friends safely and kindly. Prepare first: read the dog and set up the environment Before any meeting, check your dog’s...
More Than a Brush: Why Grooming Is Essential for Every Dog; Short, Long, or Hairless
Grooming is far more than keeping your dog looking good. Regular grooming is basic health care that prevents pain, infections, and mobility issues while giving you a weekly chance to inspect your dog for problems before they become serious. Whether your dog has a long coat, a buzz cut, or nearly no hair at all, a consistent grooming routine keeps them comfortable, healthy, and happier. Why grooming matters for health and comfort Grooming reduces skin infections, prevents painful matting,...
Reading the Room: How to Recognize Stress Signals in Your Dog (and What to Do About Them)
Dogs don’t always bark or growl when they’re uncomfortable. Many show subtle signs long before a bigger reaction, and those signals vary by dog, breed, age, and situation. Learning to read the full spectrum of stress cues, from faint lip‑licking to full‑body cowering, helps you intervene early, keep everyone safe, and teach your dog better ways to cope. What “stress” looks like, a ladder of signals Dogs often show stress on a sliding scale. Early or subtle signals include yawning,...
Teach Good Things Happen Here: A Simple Positive Reinforcement Plan for Dogs in a New Home
Bringing a dog into a new environment is exciting and stressful at the same time. Using positive reinforcement, rewarding what you want rather than repeatedly saying "No", helps your dog learn faster, feel safer, and build happy associations with their new home. This guide walks you through getting started, what to reward, how to stop overusing "No", and how to make the new place feel like a place of good things. Why positive reinforcement works Dogs learn by consequences. When a behavior...
Welcome Home: Setting Up a Calm, Safe Space for Your New Dog (and Introducing Them to Your Resident Dog)
Bringing a new dog into your home is exciting, but a calm, well-prepared environment makes the transition smoother for everyone. Create a clear, comfortable space where your dog can settle, rest, and learn the household rhythm. A little planning reduces stress, speeds house training, and helps your resident dog accept the newcomer, if you have one. Below is a simple plan with checklists and step-by-step guidance for setting up that space, what to have on hand, what to expect in the first...
Tracking Expenses
You can use Every Wag to track and manage your monthly and yearly expenses. Expenses Expenses are managed in the "Docs" area of your pet's profile. From the home page, click "My Pets" in the bottom navigation then select your pet and press on the "Docs" in the pet profile navigation. Adding an expense To add an expense, click the circle icon in the bottom right to add a document. When you add your document, you can add a "cost" to the record. That cost is tracked in your expenses. You do not...
Are Annual Vet Visits Really Necessary?
Even though it might seem practical to skip an annual vet visit for your dog or cat, learn about why they matter more than you might think.
The Right Way to Store Your Pet’s Food to Keep Dog & Cat Food Fresh, Safe, & Nutritious
Photo by Michael G on Unsplash Did you know that how you store your pet’s food can affect its taste, nutrition, and safety? Whether you...
🐾 10 Great Starter Pets for Kids & 5 Pets That Seem Easy... but Aren't
Fun, Low-Maintenance Animals That Teach Responsibility Without Overwhelming the Family Choosing your child’s first pet is an exciting...
Fireworks & Furry Friends: Keeping Your Pet Safe This 4th of July
Independence Day might be fun for humans, but for our pets, it can be one of the most stressful days of the year. Loud fireworks,...
Why Your Goldfish or Betta Fish Doesn't Deserve the Bowl
And What You Should Do Instead It’s a classic image: a goldfish swimming lazily in a round glass bowl, or a vibrant betta perched in a...
Why a Healthy Weight Matters: Add Years to Your Pet’s Life
Did you know an estimated 60% of dogs and cats are considered overweight or obese in the US? While those extra pounds might seem...
Why am I not receiving notifications?
If you are not receiving notifications from the app there are few things we can try to ensure everything is set up properly. Make sure...
Why Even Your Indoor Cat Needs Vaccinations
Most cat owners assume that keeping their feline friends indoors is enough to protect them from disease. While a cozy home certainly...
Why Heartworm and Flea & Tick Prevention Matters for Your Dog
As pet owners, we all want to keep our dogs safe, healthy, and happy. One of the most important, and often overlooked, ways to do that is...
What’s in the Bowl? A Dog Owner’s Guide to Choosing the Right Food
What’s the Most Important Thing to Look for When Trying to Find a Food for Your Dog? Feeding your dog the right food can feel...