Pet Care Articles from PETCO

General - Health

Evaluating Your Pet's New Vet
Finding the right veterinarian and clinic is critical to your pet's long life and overall health.

Bleeding Gums
If you see blood on your pet's gums, gently examine the inside of her mouth to find the source of the bleeding. The cause could be harmless or serious. Here's what you need to know if you notice you pet's gums are bleeding. Causes Bleeding gums can ...

Head Shaking or Ear Scratching
Your pet can't tell you that his ear is itchy, but he'll let you know by shaking his head or scratching at his ears. Then it's up to you and your veterinarian to figure out the cause and what to do about it. Causes What's behind that annoying tickle in ...

Appetite Increase
If your pet's overdoing it at dinnertime, read on for info about keeping her kibble consumption in check.

Vaccines Save Pets Lives
There are many serious and often life-threatening diseases that your pet can be protected from by simply vaccinating, deworming and giving heartworm preventative. The following information will help you choose an yearly immunization program to keep your ...

Vaccination Services: Minimum Age Requirements
Potential Side Effects From Vaccination Include: Depression may occur for the first 24 hours following vaccination. If this persists after 24 hours, call your local veterinarian. Vomiting and/or Diarrhea may occur following vaccines but should not ...

Quality of Life
When our pets are young and brand new to us, it's easy to remember to visit the vet on a regular basis. However, as time passes, many pet owners don't realize or remember the importance of regular veterinary care. Without regular visits, your pet's ...

Facts About Mosquitoes
Appearance Mosquitoes are small, about 1/8" to 1/4" long, insects with a brown or dark brown body striped down center. They are usually round and suck the blood of animals and humans. Life Cycle Mosquitoes go through four life stages: egg, larvae, nymph ...

Facts About Ticks
AppearanceSmall (1/8 - 1/2" long) dark brown, round, blood-sucking parasite. Adult ticks have eight legs, larvae or seed ticks have six. Life Cycle4 stages: egg larva nymph adultWarning SignsTicks may appear as a small dark speck on your pet's ...

Facts About Fleas
Appearance Small (1/12 - 1/16" long) dark, reddish-brown, wingless, blood-sucking insects. Hard, flattened bodies covered with short spines and long legs adapted for jumping. Life Cycle 4 stages: egg larva pupa biting adult ...