Vet content hub
Health, nutrition and training — in one place
Every Petarium article on keeping your pet well, fed and confident. Browse by topic, search, or ask the assistant a specific question.
Health
Preventive care, symptoms, conditions and when to call your vet.
Preventive carePet Vaccinations Explained
What core and non-core vaccines protect against, how schedules work, and why protocols differ between countries.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
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.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-19
Dental healthDental Disease in Dogs and Cats
The most common disease in adult pets, why it is genuinely painful, and what actually prevents it.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-19
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.
Petarium Editorial · 4 min read · Updated 2026-10-19
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.
Petarium Editorial · 4 min read · Updated 2026-11-08
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.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Digestive problemsVomiting and Diarrhoea: When to Worry
Distinguishing a self-limiting upset from something that needs urgent veterinary attention.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-19
Chronic conditionsChronic Kidney Disease in Cats
One of the most common conditions of older cats, and one where early detection genuinely changes outcomes.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-19
MobilityArthritis and Mobility Problems
Osteoarthritis is common, under-diagnosed and very treatable — and animals rarely limp until it is advanced.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
AquaticsAquarium Water Chemistry and the Nitrogen Cycle
Most fish illness is a water quality problem. Understanding cycling is the core skill of fishkeeping.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-19
Reptile healthMetabolic Bone Disease in Reptiles
The most common husbandry-related illness in captive reptiles, and how correct lighting and diet prevent it.
Petarium Editorial · 4 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Chronic diseaseChronic Kidney Disease in Cats: What the Stages Actually Mean
Why chronic kidney disease is so common in older cats, how the IRIS staging system guides treatment, and what owners can realistically do to support quality of life.
Petarium Editorial · 4 min read · Updated 2026-10-21
Chronic diseaseOsteoarthritis in Dogs: Spotting the Slow Slide Owners Often Miss
Osteoarthritis can cause lameness, stiffness or changes in activity and behaviour. These signs need veterinary assessment rather than being dismissed as ageing.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-19
Symptoms and diagnosisRecognising Pain in Cats: A Species That Hides It Well
Cats evolved as both predator and prey, and that history has left them with a strong instinct to mask pain — here is what to watch for instead of waiting for an obvious cry.
Petarium Editorial · 4 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
EmergenciesBloat (GDV) in Dogs: A True Emergency Every Owner Should Recognise
Gastric dilatation-volvulus can kill a previously healthy dog within hours — knowing the signs and acting immediately genuinely saves lives.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-15
DentistryDental Disease: The Most Under-Treated Problem in Pets
Why the majority of adult dogs and cats have painful dental disease, what actually prevents it, and why anaesthesia-free cleaning is not a substitute.
Petarium Editorial · 4 min read · Updated 2026-10-15
Emergency careBuilding a Pet First Aid Kit That Is Actually Useful
What belongs in a home and car kit, what to leave out, and how to use the first fifteen minutes well while you arrange veterinary care.
Petarium Editorial · 4 min read · Updated 2026-10-19
Chronic conditionsHyperthyroidism in Older Cats: Signs, Tests and Treatment Choices
Why a hungry, thinning older cat needs a blood test, and how medication, diet, radioiodine and surgery compare.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Emergency careUrinary Blockage in Male Cats: Why Straining Is an Emergency
A male cat straining in the litter tray with little or no urine may be blocked. Here is why it can be fatal within a day or two and what prevention looks like.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Small mammalsRabbit Dental Disease: Why Hay Keeps Teeth Healthy
Rabbit teeth grow throughout life. Learn how diet causes most dental problems, the early signs, and why regular checks matter.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Senior petsCaring for a Senior Dog: Comfort, Checks and Quality of Life
What changes as dogs age, which checks catch problems early, and how to judge quality of life honestly.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Emergency careHeatstroke in Dogs: Recognise It, Treat It, Prevent It
Heatstroke can kill a dog in under an hour. Learn the early signs, the first aid that actually helps, and the situations that put dogs at risk.
Petarium Editorial · 4 min read · Updated 2026-10-19
Common conditionsAnal Gland Problems in Dogs: Signs, Causes and Care
Scooting, licking, odour and painful swelling can have several causes. Learn what to record, when to call the vet and why routine home expression is not the answer.
Petarium Editorial · 4 min read · Updated 2026-10-21
Common conditionsHairballs in Cats: What Is Normal and When to Worry
The occasional hairball is normal for a grooming cat. Frequent vomiting, gagging with nothing produced, or a cat off its food is not.
Petarium Editorial · 4 min read · Updated 2026-11-08
SurgerySpaying and Neutering: What to Expect Before and After Surgery
What actually happens on the day, how to prepare, and how to nurse your pet through a smooth recovery.
Petarium Editorial · 4 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
ParasitesTicks and Tick-Borne Disease: Checking, Removing, Preventing
How to find and safely remove ticks, which diseases they carry, and how to choose prevention with your vet.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Home checksHow to Count Your Pet's Resting Breathing Rate
A simple home check that helps vets monitor heart disease and spot trouble early.
Petarium Editorial · 4 min read · Updated 2026-11-08
Veterinary careUnderstanding Your Pet's Blood Tests
What common blood tests show, and why a single result slightly outside the range isn't always a worry.
Petarium Editorial · 4 min read · Updated 2026-10-21
Home careHow to Give Your Cat a Tablet
Calm, step-by-step ways to give cats tablets, plus alternatives if your cat refuses.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Veterinary careCaring for Your Pet After Surgery
Practical recovery care after surgery: written discharge instructions, wound protection, medicine records, safe rest and signs needing veterinary help.
Petarium Editorial · 4 min read · Updated 2026-10-21
Digestive healthHairballs in Cats: When to Worry
Occasional hairballs can happen, but frequent vomiting is not normal and deserves a vet check.
Petarium Editorial · 4 min read · Updated 2026-10-21
EmergenciesHeatstroke in Dogs: Prevention and First Aid
How dogs overheat, which dogs are most at risk, the warning signs and what to do on the way to the vet.
Petarium Editorial · 4 min read · Updated 2026-11-08
Dental careDental Disease in Cats: Signs, Treatment and Home Care
Gum disease and tooth resorption are very common in cats. Learn the subtle signs and what home care can help.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
EmergenciesGut Stasis in Rabbits: An Emergency Guide
When a rabbit stops eating or producing droppings, it is an emergency. Here is what to look for and how to prevent it.
Petarium Editorial · 4 min read · Updated 2026-11-08
Veterinary careChoosing a Vet for Reptiles and Other Exotic Pets
Find a practice with genuine exotic-species experience, ask the right questions and prepare for a reptile's first visit.
Petarium Editorial · 4 min read · Updated 2026-11-08
Nutrition
Species-appropriate feeding, life stages and weight management.
Species nutritionCat Nutrition Fundamentals
Why obligate carnivores have non-negotiable nutrient needs, and how to feed a cat well in practice.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Species nutritionDog Nutrition Fundamentals
Life-stage feeding, portion control, reading labels and evaluating the diet trends you will encounter.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-19
Species nutritionRabbit and Guinea Pig Nutrition
Hay first, everything else second — why fibre drives both dental and digestive health in small herbivores.
Petarium Editorial · 4 min read · Updated 2026-10-19
Feeding practiceHow to Read a Pet Food Label
Decoding ingredient lists, guaranteed analysis and marketing claims so you can compare foods fairly.
Petarium Editorial · 5 min read · Updated 2026-10-19
Practical feedingFeeding Dogs and Cats in the Same Household
Different species, different life stages and different medical needs under one roof — how to keep everyone eating what they should.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Diet and healthFood Allergies vs Food Intolerances in Pets
The two are often confused, are diagnosed differently, and true food allergy is far rarer than marketing around 'hypoallergenic' diets suggests.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Practical feedingTreats, Chews and the Daily Calorie Budget
How treats quietly undo a carefully measured diet, and how to keep training rewards and enrichment chews without the weight gain.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Buying and feedingHow to Actually Read a Pet Food Label
Ingredient lists and marketing claims on pet food packaging are governed by rules that most owners never learn — knowing them changes how you shop.
Petarium Editorial · 4 min read · Updated 2026-10-15
Ingredient scienceHow to Read a Pet Food Label Without Being Sold To
Guaranteed analysis, ingredient splitting, the nutritional adequacy statement and what 'grain free', 'human grade' and 'natural' legally mean — which is often very little.
Petarium Editorial · 4 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
HydrationWater Intake: The Most Overlooked Part of Pet Nutrition
How much animals should drink, why cats are chronically under-hydrated, and which changes in drinking are a reason to book a veterinary appointment.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Weight managementHelping an Overweight Cat Lose Weight Safely
Crash diets are dangerous for cats. A safe feline weight-loss plan is slow, measured and built with your vet — here is how to do it properly.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
DietsRaw Feeding: What the Evidence Actually Says
Raw diets are popular and passionately defended — but the veterinary evidence raises real concerns about bacteria, nutrition and risk to the household.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Life stagesFeeding a Growing Puppy: Portions, Meals and Common Mistakes
What puppies need to grow at a healthy pace, how many meals to give, and why large breeds need special care.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Life stagesFeeding an Older Cat: Weight, Kidneys and Appetite
Older cats' needs change: many lose weight, some develop kidney disease, and appetite can fade. How to adapt.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-21
Pet nutrition ethicsVegan Diets for Dogs and Cats: What Owners Need to Know
Why human ethics cannot simply be transferred to pet bowls, with separate guidance for obligate-carnivore cats and omnivorous dogs.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Food safetyPet Food Storage: Freshness, Hygiene and Recall Safety
Keep dry and wet pet food safer with original packaging, clean containers, sensible portions and a reliable recall record.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Training
Humane, reward-based training and cooperative care.
MethodPositive Reinforcement Training: How and Why It Works
The evidence behind reward-based training, and why aversive methods carry documented welfare and safety risks.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Dog trainingTeaching a Reliable Recall
Recall is the most valuable behaviour you will ever teach, and the one most commonly poisoned by accident.
Petarium Editorial · 5 min read · Updated 2026-10-19
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.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-19
Foundation skillsTeaching Loose-Lead Walking Without a Tug-of-War
Why pulling is self-rewarding by default, and the step-by-step approach that makes a loose lead the easiest option for the dog.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Puppy trainingHouse-Training a Puppy: A Realistic Timeline
What actually predicts success — a schedule, supervision and generous reinforcement — rather than any single product or trick.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Cooperative careMuzzle Training: Removing the Stigma and Doing It Kindly
A muzzle is a safety tool, not a verdict on a dog's character — and how to introduce one so the dog is comfortable wearing it.
Petarium Editorial · 4 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Foundation skillsImpulse Control Games That Make Everyday Life Easier
Simple, short games that teach a dog to offer calm behaviour instead of grabbing, jumping or barging — without any corrections.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Foundation skillsTeaching a Recall That Works When It Matters
A step-by-step reward-based plan for building a recall that holds up against squirrels, other dogs and open fields — and the habits that quietly destroy one.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-21
Handling and careLow-Stress Vet Visits: Preparing Dogs and Cats for the Clinic
Carrier training, practice handling and small choices on the day make vet visits safer and less frightening for pets and people.
Petarium Editorial · 4 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
CatsLitter Training Kittens and Solving Common Problems
Most kittens use a tray instinctively — but the setup decides whether they keep using it. How to get it right from the start and fix lapses.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Behaviour problemsLead Reactivity: Helping a Dog Who Barks and Lunges on Walks
Why some dogs react to other dogs or people on the lead, and a calm, reward-based plan to improve it.
Petarium Editorial · 4 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
HandlingCarrier Training for Cats: Making Vet Trips Easier
Teach your cat to walk into the carrier calmly with a slow, reward-based plan.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Everyday mannersLoose-Lead Walking: The Basics
Reward-based steps to stop pulling on the lead, without harsh equipment.
Petarium Editorial · 4 min read · Updated 2026-10-15
FoundationsClicker Training Basics for Any Pet
How marker training works, how to charge a clicker and teach your first behaviours with dogs, cats, rabbits and parrots.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Household safetyMulti-Species Homes: Safe Boundaries Before Training
Design separate spaces, manage predator–prey risks and reward calm behaviour without forcing pets to become friends.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Senior enrichmentSenior Pet Brain Games: Gentle, Accessible Training
Adapt familiar games for older dogs and cats while recognising when sleep, memory or behaviour changes need veterinary care.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07
Foundation skillsCrate Training a Puppy: A Gradual, Reward-Based Plan
Build positive crate associations in small steps so the crate becomes a safe den rather than a place of confinement or punishment.
Petarium Editorial · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-07