Veterinary Editor
Dr Elena Marsh, BVSc MRCVS
Small animal veterinarian in general practice for fourteen years, with a particular interest in preventive medicine, feline chronic disease and client communication. Reviews all health and nutrition content on Petarium.
Written by Dr Elena Marsh
Caring for a Senior Pet
Ageing is not a disease, but it changes what good care looks like. Practical adjustments for older dogs, cats and small animals.
Dr Elena Marsh · 10 min read · Updated 2026-09-01
Seasonal careHot Weather Safety for Pets
Heatstroke kills quickly and is entirely preventable. Recognising the early signs and acting fast.
Dr Elena Marsh · 6 min read · Updated 2026-08-08
Preventive carePet Vaccinations Explained
What core and non-core vaccines protect against, how schedules work, and why protocols differ between countries.
Dr Elena Marsh · 9 min read · Updated 2026-08-12
ParasitesFleas, Ticks and Worms: A Practical Prevention Guide
How common parasites actually spread, how to treat them properly, and why treating the animal alone often fails.
Dr Elena Marsh · 10 min read · Updated 2026-07-25
Dental healthDental Disease in Dogs and Cats
The most common disease in adult pets, why it is genuinely painful, and what actually prevents it.
Dr Elena Marsh · 8 min read · Updated 2026-08-20
EmergenciesHow to Recognise a Veterinary Emergency
The signs that mean go now, the signs that mean call today, and how to prepare before it happens.
Dr Elena Marsh · 7 min read · Updated 2026-09-04
MobilityArthritis and Mobility Problems
Osteoarthritis is common, under-diagnosed and very treatable — and animals rarely limp until it is advanced.
Dr Elena Marsh · 8 min read · Updated 2026-08-06
Reviewed by Dr Elena Marsh
How to Choose the Right Pet for Your Life
A structured way to match an animal to your household, budget, schedule and housing — before emotion makes the decision for you.
Marcus Cole · 9 min read · Updated 2026-08-04
Bringing a pet homeThe First 24 Hours With a New Pet
Calm, quiet and predictable beats exciting. What to do — and what to resist doing — on day one.
Priya Raman · 6 min read · Updated 2026-06-11
Bringing a pet homeIntroducing a New Cat to a Resident Cat
A staged, scent-first introduction over two to four weeks prevents most long-term multi-cat conflict.
Priya Raman · 8 min read · Updated 2026-08-22
End-of-life careQuality of Life, Hospice Care and Saying Goodbye
Compassionate, practical guidance on assessing quality of life, palliative options, euthanasia decisions and grief.
Marcus Cole · 11 min read · Updated 2026-08-29
Coat careCat Grooming: Matting, Shedding and Claw Care
Why grooming a cat is mostly about prevention, and how to handle a cat that hates being brushed.
Marcus Cole · 7 min read · Updated 2026-08-15
TravelTravelling With Pets: Car, Train and Plane
Planning, paperwork and welfare for journeys from a short drive to an international move.
Marcus Cole · 10 min read · Updated 2026-09-05
Seasonal careFireworks, Thunderstorms and Noise Fear
What actually helps a frightened animal during loud events, and what to plan weeks in advance.
Priya Raman · 7 min read · Updated 2026-08-25
New pet guidesThe Complete New Puppy Guide
Everything the first sixteen weeks demand: toilet training, sleep, socialisation, vaccination and biting.
Tom Brennan · 14 min read · Updated 2026-09-02
New pet guidesThe Complete New Kitten Guide
Litter training, play biting, indoor safety, vaccination and how to raise a confident adult cat.
Priya Raman · 12 min read · Updated 2026-08-19
EmergenciesEmergency and Disaster Preparedness for Pets
Building a pet emergency kit, an evacuation plan and a care plan if you are suddenly unavailable.
Marcus Cole · 8 min read · Updated 2026-08-31
Chronic conditionsPet Obesity: The Most Common Preventable Disease
Why excess weight shortens life, how to assess body condition honestly, and how to manage safe weight loss.
Dr Hana Lindqvist · 9 min read · Updated 2026-09-03
Skin and allergiesItchy Skin and Allergies in Dogs and Cats
Why itching is a symptom rather than a diagnosis, and how vets work through the common causes.
Dr Samuel Okoye · 9 min read · Updated 2026-08-17
Digestive problemsVomiting and Diarrhoea: When to Worry
Distinguishing a self-limiting upset from something that needs urgent veterinary attention.
Dr Samuel Okoye · 8 min read · Updated 2026-07-28
Chronic conditionsChronic Kidney Disease in Cats
One of the most common conditions of older cats, and one where early detection genuinely changes outcomes.
Dr Samuel Okoye · 10 min read · Updated 2026-08-27
Species nutritionCat Nutrition Fundamentals
Why obligate carnivores have non-negotiable nutrient needs, and how to feed a cat well in practice.
Dr Hana Lindqvist · 10 min read · Updated 2026-08-10
Species nutritionDog Nutrition Fundamentals
Life-stage feeding, portion control, reading labels and evaluating the diet trends you will encounter.
Dr Hana Lindqvist · 11 min read · Updated 2026-08-14
Species nutritionRabbit and Guinea Pig Nutrition
Hay first, everything else second — why fibre drives both dental and digestive health in small herbivores.
Dr Hana Lindqvist · 8 min read · Updated 2026-07-21
Reptile healthMetabolic Bone Disease in Reptiles
The most common husbandry-related illness in captive reptiles, and how correct lighting and diet prevent it.
Aisha Nkemdirim · 8 min read · Updated 2026-08-23
AnxietySeparation-Related Behaviour in Dogs
Why dogs panic when left alone, how to diagnose it properly, and the gradual protocol that actually resolves it.
Priya Raman · 11 min read · Updated 2026-08-26
HandlingCooperative Care: Making Vet Visits and Grooming Easier
Teaching animals to participate willingly in their own care reduces stress, injury and the need for sedation.
Tom Brennan · 8 min read · Updated 2026-08-21
EthicsResponsible Breeding, Puppy Mills and How to Tell the Difference
Practical, evidence-based guidance for anyone buying from a breeder, and the welfare case behind it.
Marcus Cole · 10 min read · Updated 2026-08-28
Exotic petsExotic Pet Welfare and the Wildlife Trade
How to keep unusual species responsibly, and how to avoid supporting wild capture and illegal trade.
Aisha Nkemdirim · 9 min read · Updated 2026-08-30
TravelFlying With a Pet: Cabin, Hold and When Not to Go
What airlines actually require, why brachycephalic breeds are increasingly refused, and how to weigh whether flying is fair on the animal at all.
Marcus Cole · 8 min read · Updated 2026-08-01
InterviewsInterview: A Conservation Biologist on the Exotic Pet Trade
A conversation about wild-caught reptiles, captive breeding fraud and what a responsible exotic pet buyer can realistically check.
Lucy Fernandes · 9 min read · Updated 2026-08-30
AdoptionAdopting a Senior Dog: What to Expect
Older dogs are consistently the hardest to rehome and often the easiest to live with. What changes, medically and practically, when you adopt one.
Marcus Cole · 7 min read · Updated 2026-07-22
Coat careNail Trimming Without a Fight: A Cooperative Approach
Why nail trims go wrong, how to find the quick, and how to teach an animal to offer a paw voluntarily instead of being restrained.
Tom Brennan · 6 min read · Updated 2026-08-11
WelfareThe Welfare Cost of Extreme Flat-Faced Breeding
Why brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome is common rather than rare in bulldogs, pugs and similar breeds, and what is changing.
Marcus Cole · 8 min read · Updated 2026-08-24
Behaviour researchDoes Your Dog Actually Feel Guilty? What the Studies Show
The 'guilty look' is one of the most studied — and most misread — expressions in dog behaviour research. Here is what the evidence actually supports.
Priya Raman · 7 min read · Updated 2026-08-16