awesome-animal-care

List of curated, practical information resources to care for dogs, cats, fishes, horses, parrots and others.

Awesome Animal Care

Curated information resources to care for dogs, cats, fishes, horses, parrots and others.

Goal of this project is simply to gather verified animal care content written by experts and genuinely passionate people. I’ve created this from my animal care resources compilation drawn from curiosity and several years of interactions with pets and street animals. Hope this list proves useful to all animal lovers!

Disclaimer: PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE PROCEEDING

The information, links and resources provided here are for educational and informational purposes only, and not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Always seek the advice of your veterinarian or other qualified animal health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or the health of your animal.
Never disregard professional veterinary advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this material.
If you think your animal has a medical emergency, call or visit your veterinarian or local animal hospital immediately.
Do not self-medicate your animal, always consult a veterinarian for medical advice and treatment.

Common Resources for all animals
Cats
Dogs
Fishes
Horses
Parrots

Common Resources for all animals

Books

Care & Treatment

General Pet Care - American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) - Health and behaviour information to help pet parents provide the best possible care for their furry friends.
Management of Specific Wounds in Small Animals - MSD (Merck) Vet Manual - Useful information to treat wounds in small animals like cats, dogs, rabbits, mice, ferrets, etc.
Pet Health Checker - British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BCSPCA) - Symtom checker for dogs and cats.
Resource Center - American Heartworm Society (AHS) - Comprehensive resource center for Heartworm-related information (diagnosis, treatment & care).
Resources for pet owners - American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) - Collection of resources for pet owners on proper pet care, first aid, and pet health concerns.
- Emergency Care - Immediate first aid and emergency care, strictly as a bridge until your animal can be seen by a veterinarian.
- (Choosing & knowing) Your Veterinarian - Guide about choosing a good vet and co-ordinating with them to ensure the best treatment for your animal.
Standard Veterinary Treatment Guidelines for Livestock and Poultry - DAHD India - Treatment guidebook for diseases in cattle, sheep, goats, camels and other animals.
Stray Animal Care - FOUR PAWS International - Collection of stray animal care resources including topics like Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (CNVR), community engagement, monitoring, evaluation & impact, responsible pet wwnership, shelter adoption programme and animal assisted interventions.
Symptom Checker for Cats and Dogs - PetMD - Useful tool by Chewy’s vet team to quickly find out what might be going on and what to do next. Intended only for non-emergency animal health queries.
Symptom Checker for Cats and Dogs - Sydney Animal Hospitals - Symptom checker to guide on next steps of treatment. Intended only for non-emergency animal health queries.
The Problem of Self-Medication in Pets - SAVA Healthcare - Article explains why self-medication your pet is a problem and what you should do instead.

Diet & Nutrition

Creating a Nutrition Plan - Pet Nutrition Alliance - Includes establishing nutrient goals, providing a complete and balanced diet for patients, selecting an appropriate food, and determining how much to feed.

News

Daily Paws - Solid info on the everyday stuff (health issues, behavior, questions, challenges) for pet parents.
Latest News & Blogs - World Animal Protection - News and blogs from WAP, an animal protection and welfare organization.
National Geographic - Some of nature’s most incredible species through recent discoveries and groundbreaking studies on animal habitats, behaviors, and unique adaptations.
The Dodo - News for Animal People.
World Animal News - Covers news on everything from wild and domestic animals to threatened and endangered species.

RSS Feeds

Animal Health Smartbrief - American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) - RSS feed link for AVMA’s daily newsletter providing news of importance to animal health professionals. This includes: veterinary medicine updates, animal welfare and pet product news, best business practices, and regulatory updates.
The Dog Pod - Rebecca Tompkins - RSS feed link for The Dog Pod podcast which publishes curated, canine-related content.

Veterinary Reference

MSD (Merck) Veterinary Manual - One of the most widely used non-commercial medical resources for professionals and pet owners.
Veterinary Partner by VIN - Pet care information by veterinarians for pet owners, provided by Veterinary Information Network (VIN).

Welfare Organizations

Food Hazards & Poison Control

Note: If your animal ingests any of the known toxic substances, contact your vet immediately.

Food Hazards - MSD (Merck) Vet Manual - Most common foods that can cause illness in animals.
Pet Poison Helpline - Searchable list of common substances, poisonous to animals.
Poison Control - American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) - Valuable information to help owners recognize and protect their pets from poisonous substances including plants, human foods, human medications, etc.
Toxicoses From Household Cleaners and Personal Care Products in Animals - MSD (Merck) Vet Manual
US FDA - Potentially Dangerous Items for Your Pet - Guide to edible and non-edible substances potentially dangerous to animals.

Cats

Cat Books

Cat Care & Treatment

Cats.com - In-depth cat product reviews to veterinarian-written guides on cat health issues, medications, and more.
Cat Advice - International Cat Care - Searchable collection of in-depth cat advice articles on a huge range of feline health and wellbeing topics.
Cat Care - American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) - Tips, solutions and answers to some of your most frequently asked feline questions.
- Common Cat Diseases - Information about diseases and other medical inflictions that frequently impact cats.
Cat Health Center - FETCH by WebMD - Collection of information resources related to cat health.
Catster - Information about cat health, behaviour, and products. A popular cat blog called “Conscious Cat” is now part of Catster.

Cat Behaviour & Training

How to Train a Cat: The Ultimate Cat Training Guide - CatSchool - Detailed article covering topics like obedience skills, problem behaviours, tricks and general cat training tips and FAQs.
Patience for Cats blog - Patience Fisher - Cat behaviour and training blog by Patience Fisher, a certified cat behaviour consultant.

Cat Diet & Nutrition

Feeding Kittens 101 - Hannah Hart, DVM on PetMD - Article covers when, what, how much and how often to feed kittens and transitioning them to adult cat food.
Feeding Your Cat - Cornell Feline Health Center - Things to consider when selecting an appropriate diet for your cat.
Feeding Your Cat: Know the Basics of Feline Nutrition - Lisa A. Pierson, DVM, CatInfo.org - Website covers the Basics of Feline Nutrition. Shortened version of website available here.
Is Grain-Free Cat Food Better? - Matthew Everett Miller, DVM on PetMD - Article about things you need to know about grain-free cat food.
Nutrition for Your Cat - Jaqueline Brister, DVM, Veterinary Partner by VIN - Article discussing cat nutrition constituents like proteins & carbohydrates, water intake, raw diets and medical management through food.
Proper Nutrition for Cats - MSD (Merck) Vet Manual - Discusses what, when, where and how much to feed your kitten or cat, feline nutrition standards and the need for a water bowl.

Dogs

Dog Books

Dog Care & Treatment

Calculate Your Dog’s Age: How Old Is Your Dog? - Alyson Powell Key, Annie Stuart on WebMD FETCH - Provides a dog age chart to calculate your dog’s age the right way.
Canine Heartworm Guidelines - American Heartworm Society - Includes guidelines for prevention, diagnosis and management of heartworm infections.
Checklist for Puppy Proofing Your Home - Cathy Madson on Preventive Vet - Provides a simple checklist of things to do when getting your new puppy or dog home.
Dog Care - American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) - Wide range of dog health and behaviour tips that will help you provide the best possible care for your canine companion.
- Common Dog Diseases - Information about diseases and other medical inflictions that frequently impact dogs.
Dog Health Center - FETCH by WebMD - Collection of information resources related to dog health.
Gastric Dilation-Volvulus (Bloat) - Veterinary Medical Center of Central New York - Discusses bloat in dogs, a deadly but preventable condition with its causes, signs, treatment, prognosis, prevention and care.
Heartworm Disease in Dogs: Testing - VCA Animal Hospitals - Information about the heartworm disease in dogs.
Parvo in Dogs and Puppies - Ellen Malmanger, DVM on PetMD - Exhaustive guide on Canine parvovirus (CPV) causes, symptoms, treatment and recovery.
Routine Health Care of Dogs, Pet Owner Version - MSD (Merck) Vet Manual - General dog care information for pet owners. If you have a puppy, see Puppy Care.
The Dog Symptom Checker - PetCareRX - List of most common dog symptoms and which illnesses they may be linked to. Intended only for non-emergency animal health queries.

Dog Behaviour & Training

Dunbar Academy’s Dog Star Daily Blog - Dr. Ian Dunbar - Blogs and articles about dog behavior and things to know about training your puppy or dog.
Puppyhood Made Easy blog - The Puppy Academy - Blog posts about puppy training with topics ranging from potty training, safety to good manners.
Puppy Training - Americal Kennel Club - Collection of articles related to puppy training with topics like socializing, barn hunt, safe chewing and common puppy training challenges.
Peach on a Leash dog training blog - Blog covering dog training topics like teaching commands (like “drop it”), puppy biting, training with dog treats, identifying if your dog is a candidate for service dog work.
Susan Garrett’s Dog Training Blog - Dog training blog posts on topics ranging from dog brain games, stress management to positive dog training, agility transformation and recall training.

Dog Diet & Nutrition

Dog Nutrition: A Guide to Dog Nutrients - Tiffany Tupler, DVM, CBCC-KA on PetMD - Article with things to know about dog nutrition, including what to look for in a dog food.
Feeding your growing puppy - Royal Kennel Club - Guide with a host of tips and hints to help decide the right diet for your dog.
My Pet Nutritionist blog - Nutrition blog for dogs and cats on topics like allergies, dietary needs, disease management, gut health and general health.
Nutrition 101: Choosing the right diet for your dog - Chimacum Valley Veterinary Hospital - Quick tips to help in choosing the right diet for your dog.
Nutrition Guide - Pooch & Mutt - Searchable nutrition guide from dog experts.
What should I feed my puppy? - Blue Cross UK - Comprehensive article covering when, how often and where to feed the puppy, (mind) activity feeding and dog weight assessment.
What can I feed my dog when I’ve run out of dog food? - Animal Friends UK - Article provides some safe alternatives to dog food that you might find in your fridge or cupboards, to fall back on in case dog food at home is over.
Your dog’s diet - The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) - Article covers what and how much to feed your dog along with changing dog food and selecting healthy treats for your dog.

Fishes

Fish Books

Fish Care & Treatment

AqAdvisor - Intelligent Freshwater Aquarium Stocking Calculator to help setup correct stocks and filters for your aquariums and tropical fish.
Aquarium Care and Maintenance: Nutrition and Feeding - FDACS - Comprehensive information guide about fish care, maintenance, aquarium components and water quality.
Caring for Fish & Aquariums - The Spruce Pets - Comprehensive collection of vet-reviewed articles on fishes and aquariums.
Keeping Fish at Home: Fish Nutrition - UK Pet Food - Concise and illustrative article on fish nutrition and how to choose the right diet for your fish.
FishLore - Provides aquarium fish information for both freshwater and saltwater hobbyists.
Fishkeeper Databank - Searchable database of information about fishes, fish food, filters etc.
Education Center - LiveAquaria - Aquarium care related information for various fish species.
Seriously Fish - Searchable database of fish species information, also includes a fish care blog.
What is the best fish food for my fish? - Aquatic Veterinary Services - Talks about pellets vs. flakes, the 6 Month Rule and how to choose food for your fish based on nutritional labels on food’s packaging.

Fish Behaviour & Training

Enrichment and Training for Aquarium Fish - IAABC Foundation Journal
Fish Feeding Guides - Fishkeeper - Guides with details of what to feed and the amounts to feed/feeding frequency.
Fish Training (White Sturgeon) Podcast & Video - Johnny May - Target training a white sturgeon, with emphasis on application of positive reinforcement.
How to Train a Fish (with Videos) - Aquatic Veterinary Services - Target training of fishes with sounds & lights.
Target Training a Betta Fish - Finley B. Fish blog - A concise blog post about target training a Betta fish.
Training Fish and Aquatic Invertebrates for Husbandry and Medical Behaviors - Allison L. Corwin - Comprehensive guide on fish caretaking and training, available as a free PDF.

Fish Diet & Nutrition

Understanding Aquarium Fish Nutrition - LiveAquaria - Information about dietary needs, concerns, balanced diet and different foods for complete nutrition.

Horses

Horse Books

Horse Care & Treatment

Basic Horse Care Guide for Beginners - Daily Checklist - Covers most aspects of horse care from diet and veterinary care, to shelter access daily oversight. Also has an option to download the content as a free PDF.
Horse care: health tips from foals to senior years - Boehringer Ingelheim - Comprehensive collection of articles, stories and insights on all aspects of horse health.
Horse Care - American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) - Quick list of horse care tips including nutritional needs, vaccination, deworming, etc.
Horse health, care and management - British Horse Society - Collection of articles and blog posts related to horse-health on aspects like health & fitness, routine health care, stabling & pasture information and care of elderly horses.

Horse Behaviour & Training

Bright Horse (Horse Behaviour) blog - Barbara J. Hardman - Insights, practical tips, and real-life success stories about horse behaviour and training, ranging from managing anxiety to improving obedience.
Good Horsemanship blog - Ross Jacobs - Searchable (i.e. has a search bar) blog with posts on horse behaviour and training, with a peculiar perspective - “Assume Everything You Are Told Is Wrong Until You Are Satisfied It Isn’t”.
Horse Behaviour blog - Kayna Prescott, Brighter Equines - Collection of blog posts on horse behaviour with tips on topics like enrichment, fear resolution and LIMA principles.
Understanding Horse Body Language, A Beginner’s Guide - Horseware Ireland - Collections of horse health and behaviour blog posts ranging from sunburn prevention, horse body language to injury prevention and saving your horse from boredom.

Horse Diet & Nutrition

Horse Nutrition Essentials - World Horse Welfare - WHF’s essential top 10 nutrition considerations to keep your horse happy and healthy.
No Grass? How to Supplement Your Horse’s Diet Safely - NAF Equine UK - Comprehensive blog post on horse nutrition beyond grazing.
Wholesome Equine Nutrition blog - Exhaustive collection of detailed blog posts on horse care and nutrition with topics like nutrition red flags, antioxidants, common types of horse grasses and preventing ulcers.

Parrots

Parrot Books

Parrot Care & Treatment

Beyond Bird Basics (BBB) - The Gabriel Foundation (TGF) - Series of educational presentations and quizzes, free to the public. Covers health and anatomy, enrichment, food and nutrition, and behaviour and training.
- Bird Health & Anatomy Part 1 - Covers topics like bird poop, bathing your bird, laying eggs, bird dust and dangar, feather plucking and sleep time.
- Bird Health & Anatomy Part 2 - Covers topics like bird respiratory system, boogers, nosebleeds, food digestion, regurgitation and vomiting, beak health and some common illnesses in birds.
- Parrot Enrichment - Covers various types of bird enrichment activities.
Parrot Care - World Parrot Trust - Parrot care resources, including easy enrichment ideas, important dietary tips and videos.

Parrot Behaviour & Training

Teaching and Training Parrots - The Gabriel Foundation (TGF) - Part of BBB series from The Gabriel Foundation, it covers various training techniques ranging from luring, shaping, prompts, cues and target training to stethoscope training.
The Essentials of Parrot Behavior - The Gabriel Foundation (TGF) - Part of BB series from The Gabriel Foundation, it covers parrot behaviour assessment methods with topics like defining trust, understanding body language, positive reinforcement, etc.
Trained Parrot blog - Blog about how to train tricks to all parrots and parakeets, includes instructional videos.

Parrot Diet & Nutrition

5 Parrot Diet Nutrition Essentials That You CAN’T Neglect - Orange Pet Nutrition - Article explains how to design a balanced diet for your parrot.
Parrot Diet & Nutrition - The Gabriel Foundation (TGF) - Provides useful tips about a parrot’s diet. Part of TGF’s Beyond Bird Basics series.

Contributing

Your contributions are always welcome! To contribute, make your changes to readme.md as explained in this guide and create a pull request. Make sure to follow the contribution guidelines.

If you find this list helpful, please consider starring this repo to help others find it, and share it with your fellow animal lovers!

Footnotes

Since we cannot afford to rely on unverified AI-generated content when it comes to animal health, let’s try and abide by the Not By AI 90% Rule for this project.