Medical disclaimer
Our Pet Health provides general educational information about pet health and pet-care products. It is not a substitute for veterinary examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a qualified veterinarian for medical concerns, especially emergencies or persistent symptoms.
In an emergency, stop reading and call a vet
If your pet is struggling to breathe, collapsed, seizing, bleeding heavily, straining to urinate without producing anything, or you suspect poisoning, contact an emergency veterinarian now. Do not wait, and do not buy a product first. In the US the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is available 24/7 on (888) 426-4435.
US: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, 24/7, (888) 426-4435. A consultation fee may apply.
What Our Pet Health is not
- Not a veterinary practice. We cannot examine your animal, and an examination is what most decisions actually depend on.
- Not a pharmacy. We do not sell, dispense or ship medication of any kind.
- Not a prescriber. We do not tell you what to give your pet, calculate dosage, or advise starting, stopping or changing any medication.
- Not a diagnosis. Our tools narrow down urgency and explain what things commonly mean — they do not identify what is wrong with your animal.
About prescription medication
Prescription medication may require veterinary authorization. Speak with a veterinarian before using prescription medication for your pet. Our Pet Health does not prescribe medication, does not provide dosage instructions, and cannot tell you whether a prescription product is appropriate for your animal.
Prescription requirements are a safety mechanism, not an inconvenience. Heartworm preventives require a negative test first because giving one to an infected dog can cause a serious reaction. Many medications are dosed by weight and need monitoring for side effects. We explain what categories of medication are for; we do not link you to buy them, and we do not advise on their use.
About the products we list
We publish a product's species suitability, ingredients and warnings only once they have been checked against the manufacturer's own current information, and we show the date we checked. Anything unverified is shown as "Not verified" rather than filled in.
We do not reproduce manufacturer marketing claims as medical facts. A product being sold for a purpose is not evidence that it achieves it, and we try to be clear about which is which.
Species suitability is not transferable. A product formulated for dogs may be dangerous for cats — permethrin-based flea products are a well-known example — and small mammals, birds and reptiles differ again. Use only what is labelled for your species.
About our tools
The health checker, food calculator and vaccination scheduler are deterministic rule engines using published veterinary formulas. They show their working so you can check it or take it to your vet. They are decision aids, not diagnoses, and they cannot account for your animal's history.
Disclosure: Our Pet Health may earn a commission when you purchase through certain links on this page. This does not affect the price you pay. How we make money