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For decades, American vets gave the same advice to almost every dog owner: fix your pet at six months. New research covering 41 breeds says that for many dogs, that window is wrong — and the consequences can last a lifetime.

Twenty years ago, a veterinarian in Fort Collins, Colorado didn't bother testing dogs for heartworm — the disease simply wasn't there. Now she does. And she's far from alone.

Your dog's puppy eyes have been working overtime, and science finally has the receipts. The kindest thing you do every day might be slowly shortening your dog's life.

The kids are gone, the house is quiet, and Generation X just made the most predictable decision in pet industry history. What no one predicted was how fast — or how much it would reshape the entire market.

Your dog isn't dramatic — the numbers say something real is happening behind that scratched door and those chewed cushions. What owners have been feeling for years, researchers are finally catching up to.

Hot spots spread within hours once a dog starts licking, creating raw, oozing lesions. Despite the name, they're caused by your dog's behavior, not moisture. Spring 2025 guidelines recommend topical treatment, not oral antibiotics, but first you must find what triggered the licking—fleas, allergies, or ear infections.