A walk in the local park is enough to see how many people have welcomed a new puppy into their lives during lockdown. It’s no surprise that we crave the loving companionship of a dog during these tough times. Research shows pets can benefit our mental health and can help us combat loneliness – both increasing challenges during the pandemic.

Discussing weight loss can be one of the most difficult conversations veterinarians have with owners of overweight cats and dogs. But with pet obesity on the rise throughout the pandemic, it has become an increasingly necessary one. 

Love is always on our minds when February comes around and Love Your Pet Day is no exception. 

A key part of loving our pets is making sure they’re well-taken care of in all aspects of their life. Our researchers are working together with other research teams across Mars Petcare to advance pets’ wellness, health and nutrition, in part through genetic testing. 

Keeping our pets’ teeth healthy is key to our furry friends’ health and wellbeing. Making sure that pets get used to good oral hygiene from an early age - ideally, as soon as they get their adult teeth - can help prevent dental disease and other serious health issues associated with it, such as heart disease.

Pets have offered many of us much needed companionship and comfort over the past year, as we have had to grapple with the new reality of the coronavirus pandemic. Many pet owners have been spending more time at home with their (new) furry family members than usual, and while that can have a positive impact on our mental health, we need to be mindful of our pets’ wellbeing as well.

Digital technology has been transforming the veterinary profession over the past decade, and the coronavirus pandemic has only accelerated this transformation over the past year. But how many changes that AI, big data, and virtual reality have brought us are here to stay?

Even though we’re well into November, the lessons of October’s Pet Obesity Awareness Month are relevant year-round. But as pets and people are spending more time indoors due to the colder weather and new COVID-19 lockdowns, it’s important that pet owners keep a closer eye on their pets’ weight and take proactive steps to reduce the risk of pet obesity.