It’s an all too common scene: you arrive home from work, tired, but happy to relax and unwind with your favorite furry friend. But what greets you instead is a couch chewed to smithereens, or a fresh urine spot on the carpet. Welcome home!

When it’s in the middle of the night, it may be tough to know how to respond to the third time the dog has vomited or sudden lameness in the cat’s hind leg. In a lot of cases, pet parents will do one of two things, jump online to consult Dr. Google or opt to wait it out until morning.

There are few things that can derail a holiday celebration faster than having to rush your pet to the emergency veterinary hospital. Sadly, thanks to easy access to tons of delicious foods, fascinating holiday decor, and the comings and goings of friends and family members, this is not an uncommon event during this time of year.

This week marks World Rabies Day – but how does that affect you?

If you’ve got children, World Rabies Day is a great opportunity to teach them how to protect themselves from being bitten or scratched by an animal; how to never touch a sleeping dog; how to never approach a sick looking animal; the importance of telling an adult if they ever do get bitten or scratched. It’s a week in which you and your family can learn more about dog body language.