Q&A

It's not advised to give a dewormer while the dog has a cold — a cold means lowered resistance and a fragile state, and deworming should wait until the dog is fully healthy to minimize harm. Treat the cold first (a vet-recommended canine cold medicine) and boost nutrition during recovery, then deworm on schedule afterward.

First check the stool for worms or blood; if none, diet is the likely cause—most often a food change or something indigestible, such as certain cat cans. Withholding food for a day or giving an anti-diarrheal usually resolves it.

A cat that loses interest in food may just be bored with its current kibble or still full from the last meal. Try switching foods or offering an active probiotic to settle the stomach and restore appetite; vitamin C can help too.

Black specks on a cat's tail are often flea dirt. Drop one in water—if it turns reddish, it is flea feces made from digested blood. Treat with a topical flea product and also disinfect the cat's environment to stop re-infestation.

Dogs can vomit white foam, yellow fluid, or green liquid, and each type points to different causes—from mild dietary upset to gastroenteritis, parasites, or serious viral infections. Watch for food debris in the vomit and act accordingly; see a vet if a puppy is involved.