Pet Health Library

Guides to pet symptoms and conditions, cited to the veterinary literature — what's normal, what's not, and when to see a vet.

Browse by pet

🐕Dogs(242)🐈Cats(211)🐰Rabbits(109)🐹Guinea Pigs(71)🐹Hamsters(58)🐀Rats(17)🐭Gerbils(13)🐁Mice(13)🐭Degus(14)🦜Birds(107)🦎Reptiles(92)🐾Ferrets(41)🐭Chinchillas(18)🦔Hedgehogs(17)🐿️Sugar Gliders(16)🐟Fish(36)🐸Amphibians(14)

All topics 🚨Emergency(104)🤮Digestive(114)💨Respiratory(87)🚽Urinary(30)🐛Parasites(63)🌿Skin & Coat(126)🦴Mobility(67)🍽️Eating & Drinking(51)👁️Eyes & Ears(91)🦷Dental(45)🩺Chronic & Systemic(157)🐾Behavior & Training(59)🛡️Wellness & Prevention(42)🐣New Pet & Care(19)

Showing 1–24 of 63 articles found

🐟Fish HealthAug 28, 2026

🐛Parasites

Aquarium Fish Flashing and Rubbing: Causes and What to Do

Flashing is the sudden rubbing or flicking of a fish against objects. It can reflect skin or gill irritation, but behavior alone cannot tell you whether the cause is a parasite, water problem, or another disorder.

🐟Fish HealthAug 26, 2026

🐛Parasites

Epistylis in Aquarium Fish: White Patches, Red Sores, and What to Do

Epistylis can form white-to-gray patches on freshwater fish, but appearance alone cannot confirm it. Learn which signs need prompt attention, why a wet mount matters, and how water quality fits into the plan.

🐟Fish HealthAug 21, 2026

🐛Parasites

Koi Fish Lice (Argulus): How to Spot Them and What to Do

Fish lice are small crustacean parasites that may appear as moving, flattened oval spots on koi. Learn how to recognize suspicious signs, protect the pond, and get the infestation properly identified before treatment.

🐟Fish HealthAug 19, 2026

🐛Parasites

Aquarium Fish Anchor Worm: Signs, Look-Alikes, and Safe Next Steps

A pale thread protruding from a fish may be an anchor worm, but plant fibers, fungus, and damaged tissue can look similar. Learn what to document, why the whole system matters, and when fish need urgent veterinary help.

🦎Reptile HealthAug 18, 2026

🐛Parasites

Snake Mites: Signs, Quarantine, and Safe Next Steps

Tiny moving specks around a snake's eyes, chin, scales, or water bowl may be snake mites, but harmless enclosure arthropods can look similar. Learn how to document the problem, isolate safely, and avoid pesticide mistakes while arranging reptile-veterinary care.

🦜Bird HealthAug 18, 2026

🐛Parasites

Canary Scaly Leg Mites: Crusts, Tassel Foot, and Care

Raised scales and crusts on a canary's legs may be caused by Knemidocoptes mites, but aging, pressure sores, injury, infection, and a tight leg band can look similar. Learn what to photograph, what not to scrape, and when avian care is urgent.

🦜Bird HealthAug 13, 2026

🐛Parasites

Cockatiel Giardia: Signs, Testing, and What to Do

Giardia can cause abnormal droppings in cockatiels, but healthy-looking adults may also carry it. Learn which signs matter, why one fecal test may miss it, and when your bird needs prompt avian-veterinary care.

🐟Fish HealthAug 11, 2026

🐛Parasites

Betta Ich (White Spot): Why the Spots Vanishing Doesn't Mean It's Over

Salt-grain white spots on a betta usually mean ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis). Only the free-swimming stage can be killed by medication, so treatment runs on a schedule — daily at 75°F–79°F, a minimum of 3 to 5 treatments — not until the spots vanish. Here is how to tell ich from velvet and columnaris, and what to do tonight.

🐟Fish HealthAug 6, 2026

🐛Parasites

Goldfish Flukes: Signs, Causes, and How They Are Diagnosed

Gill and skin flukes are microscopic worms that often appear after a new goldfish arrives. Learn what monogenean flukes are, why Dactylogyrus and Gyrodactylus behave differently, the signs owners notice, and why a scrape under a microscope is the only way to be sure.

🐀Rat HealthAug 4, 2026

🐛Parasites

Rat Mites: Signs, Treatment, and Whether You Can Catch Them

Intense scratching and scabs over your rat's shoulders usually mean mites. How the three rat mites differ, how a vet confirms it, what treatment involves, and an honest answer on whether you can catch them.

🐁Mouse HealthJul 31, 2026

🐛Parasites

Skin Mites (Mange) in Pet Mice: Signs, Treatment & Care

Skin mites, often called mange, are a common cause of itchy, scabby fur loss in pet mice. Learn the signs, how a vet diagnoses and treats fur mites with prescription ivermectin or selamectin, and how mites differ from harmless barbering.

🐟Fish HealthJul 16, 2026

🐛Parasites

Goldfish Ich (White Spot Disease): How to Spot It and Treat It Safely

Ich, or white spot disease, is a common goldfish parasite that looks like grains of salt. Here's how to recognize it, why the life cycle dictates treatment, how to clear the whole tank, and when gill involvement becomes an emergency.

🦔Hedgehog HealthJul 15, 2026

🐛Parasites

Hedgehog Mites: Signs, Vet-Directed Treatment, and How to Protect Your Hedgehog

Mites are the most common skin problem in pet hedgehogs. Learn how to spot the signs, why over-the-counter mite products are risky, and how a vet safely diagnoses, treats, and helps you prevent them.

🐰Rabbit HealthJul 5, 2026

🐛Parasites

Rabbit Ear Mites (Psoroptes cuniculi): Crusty Ears, Head Shaking, and Scratching Signs

Thick brown crusts, head shaking, and ear scratching in rabbits point to ear mites (ear canker). Learn the signs, treatment, and when it's urgent.

🐰Rabbit HealthJun 29, 2026

🐛Parasites

Rabbit Fly Strike: Maggot Signs and Emergency Treatment

Rabbit fly strike is a life-threatening emergency: blowfly larvae burrow into skin within hours. Know the signs — fly eggs, maggots, lethargy, perineal wou

🐰Rabbit HealthJun 26, 2026

🐛Parasites

Rabbit E. cuniculi: Head Tilt, Kidney, and Eye Signs

E. cuniculi is the top cause of head tilt and kidney disease in pet rabbits. Learn signs, treatment with fenbendazole, and when to call the vet.

🐰Rabbit HealthJun 26, 2026

🐛Parasites

Rabbit Hepatic Coccidiosis: Liver Signs and Weight Loss

Eimeria stiedae causes liver disease in rabbits with jaundice, pot belly, and weight loss. Learn signs, treatment with sulfa drugs, and prevention.

🐈Cat HealthJun 26, 2026

🐛Parasites

Cat Toxoplasmosis: Signs, Zoonotic Risk, and Treatment

Most cats with Toxoplasma show no signs. Learn when it's dangerous, how humans get it, and litter hygiene rules to keep everyone safe.

🐰Rabbit HealthJun 25, 2026

🐛Parasites

Rabbit Coccidiosis: Liver and Intestinal Signs to Watch

Rabbit coccidiosis causes diarrhea, weight loss, and liver enlargement in young and immunocompromised rabbits. Learn the signs and when to call a vet.

🦎Reptile HealthJun 25, 2026

🐛Parasites

Bearded Dragon Coccidiosis: Diarrhea and Weight-Loss Signs

Coccidiosis in bearded dragons causes diarrhea, weight loss, and lethargy — especially dangerous in juveniles. Learn the signs and treatment options.

🐹Guinea Pig HealthJun 25, 2026

🐛Parasites

Guinea Pig Mange (Trixacarus): Itching and Skin Signs

Trixacarus mange causes intense itching, hair loss, and skin crusting in guinea pigs — sometimes triggering seizure-like episodes. Learn the signs.

🐈Cat HealthJun 25, 2026

🐛Parasites

Cat Cuterebra (Warble): Skin and Neurologic Signs to Watch

Cuterebra bot fly larvae cause skin warbles in cats — but brain migration can produce sudden blindness, seizures, and disorientation. Know both sets of sig

🦜Bird HealthJun 24, 2026

🐛Parasites

Budgie Trichomoniasis (Canker): Signs and Treatment

Budgie canker (Trichomonas) causes cheesy yellow-white masses in the throat, regurgitation, and weight loss. Learn to recognize signs and what treatment in

🦎Reptile HealthJun 24, 2026

🐛Parasites

Leopard Gecko Crypto: Weight Loss and Stick-Tail Signs

Leopard gecko cryptosporidiosis causes progressive weight loss, regurgitation, and stick tail — a sign of severe malnutrition from this incurable GI parasi