Michael Burrows is a contributor and editor at Dogs and Cats HQ. He specializes in researching pet behavior, training, health, and nutrition topics. His articles are based on veterinary sources, animal welfare organizations, and practical pet ownership experience shared by the Dogs and Cats HQ editorial team.
One of my cats went from relatively quiet to meowing constantly over the course of about two weeks. No obvious changes in routine, no new pets, nothing I could point to. Turned out to be hyperthyroidism — a condition I wouldn’t have connected to vocalization without a vet’s input. Blood test, medication, and within a…
My dog Biscuit has been staring at me for the better part of fifteen years. Not occasionally — constantly. He follows me from room to room, settles within eyeline, and watches me with an intensity that would be unsettling if it came from a human. After years of living with this, I’ve learned to read…
The first time I visited a friend who had just gotten an Australian Shepherd, I noticed the lint roller sitting on the kitchen counter, next to the couch, and on the stairs. Three lint rollers. Strategically positioned. I asked about it. He just gestured around the room without saying anything. Three months with his Aussie…
I’ve seen food aggression in dogs that came from the best homes imaginable — patient owners, good food, plenty of attention. One friend’s Labrador, raised in a loving family from eight weeks old, started growling over his bowl at around five months. My friend’s first instinct was to dominate the situation — take the bowl…
If you’ve been asking yourself “why is my cat pooping outside the litter box,” you’re not alone — and the answer is almost always fixable. I’ve had cats my whole life, and few things test a cat owner’s patience like finding an unexpected deposit somewhere it absolutely shouldn’t be. The first time one of my…
I’ve been around dogs my whole life, and I’ll say this plainly: “low maintenance” is one of the most misused phrases in the dog breed world. Every breed guide hedges it so carefully that the answer becomes useless. So let me give you the honest breakdown that most sites won’t. The short answer on ACDs:…
8 min read | A cat sneezing so much all of a sudden is one of those things that can mean almost nothing or genuinely something — and the only way to tell the difference is to look at the pattern, not just the sneeze itself. One stray sneeze after a dusty cardboard box gets…
I’ve been around dogs my whole life, and I’ll be honest — the first time a friend of mine brought home an Australian Cattle Dog, I underestimated the breed entirely. Within two weeks, the dog had dismantled a couch cushion, figured out how to open the pantry door, and started “herding” the family’s seven-year-old across…
9 min read | Cancer in dogs is more common than most owners realise until they are sitting in a vet’s consulting room with a diagnosis. The National Canine Cancer Foundation puts the statistic plainly: one in three dogs will develop cancer in their lifetime. For dogs over ten years old, cancer is the leading…
9 min read | Heart disease in dogs is more common than most owners realise, and more manageable than most people fear. PetMD defines it as any condition that affects the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively — valve disease, heart muscle disorders, arrhythmias, or heartworm infection. Early signs may be subtle, the condition can…
8 min read | Diabetes in dogs is a diagnosis that many owners find initially overwhelming. Lifelong insulin injections twice a day, dietary changes, regular blood monitoring, and careful routine management. It is a significant commitment. It is also, with good management, entirely compatible with a dog living a comfortable, active, good-quality life for years…
8 min read | Diabetes in cats is one of the most significant differences between feline and canine medicine — and one that gives cat owners genuine grounds for optimism that dog owners do not have. VCA Animal Hospitals states it plainly: with careful treatment, your cat’s diabetes may well go into remission. Approximately 50%…