If you are about to get your first pet, you have to start preparing for pet emergencies. Accidents and illnesses can strike pets at any time, and no matter how careful you swear you'll be, there's always the chance that your cat could steal pizza that has garlic on it (garlic is bad for cats), or your dog could ingest who-knows-what on a walk. While one hopes that any alarming pet behavior turns out to be nothing, you really do need to be prepared.

When an animal joins your family, you want to do everything in your power to keep him or her safe. Unfortunately, accidents and illnesses still happen even in the safest environments. Seizures, fractures, and burns are not uncommon in pets. First-aid skills can help prevent an emergency from becoming much worse. If your pet would benefit from first-aid, these are some steps you should take in three important situations. What to Do During a Seizure

High blood pressure is a health problem for many people, but most pet parents likely haven't considered the possibility of their pets developing it. However, this is entirely possible for cats to develop within their lifetimes. If you've learned recently that your cat has high blood pressure, there are some steps that your vet is going to want you to go through to ensure that they're as healthy and safe as possible.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that can affect most mammals. It's relatively common in wildlife, and since it can be spread in the urine of those wild animals, dogs can pick it up if they happen to drink from a contaminated stream or puddle. If your dog contracts leptospirosis and becomes ill, there's a good chance they will need to be hospitalized — at least for a few days while they're at their worst.

Cats are tough, independent animals, so they may not show any signs of being ill until it's too late. They also don't have overt signals of mood change like dogs do. It makes it difficult to know when the time has come for a veterinarian visit. However, cats will get ill from time to time, sometimes with life-threatening conditions. What signs can tell you it is time to rush your favorite feline to the vet?

Dogs can be amazingly graceful, except when they're not. It's quite easy for a dog to take a tumble and hit the ground hard. In many instances, they simply pick themselves up, with no harm done. However, sometimes injuries from a fall result in a delayed reaction, with the extent of the damage only being apparent hours later. This is especially relevant with a particularly hard fall, such as if your dog took a tumble down the stairs.

Whether the litter was planned or happened by accident, your new litter of puppies deserves the best care, and that includes veterinary care. While puppies don't need their first round of shots until six weeks or so after birth, taking the entire litter to the vet as newborns could have several advantages. Here are some of the reasons why you should take your newborn puppies to the veterinarian early on.

Becoming a veterinarian is not easy. Read on to learn a few things you probably never knew about your local veterinarian.  Competition The competition to get into veterinarian school is fierce because there are very few available spots to fill each year. Not only do applicants need a high grade point average, but they also need multiple letters of recommendation, experience working with animals, and high scores on entrance exams, like the GRE (graduate record examination).

When you have a cat in your house, more than likely they have become like a member of the family. Because of this, you probably do what you can to ensure that they stay healthy and happy, including taking them to the vet for regular checkups. However, there are times when your furry family member may need immediate assistance. Below are a couple of symptoms that you should never ignore that prompt taking your cat to see a veterinarian right away.

All animals need hydration, so when your pet doesn't want to drink water, there's a problem. If you suddenly see a dramatic change in how much your pet drinks, then you may need to see an ER veterinarian. Here are some reasons why your pet may stop drinking water and signs your pet is severely dehydrated. Reasons Why Your Pet Isn't Drinking Water In some cases, a slight and gradual decline in water consumption is not abnormal.