Journal

The PawSolids Journal

Evidence-based writing about pet nutrition, allergies, and learning to read your dog. Co-written with practicing veterinarians.

LatestCats

Bald patches on your cat: over-grooming, and what's driving it

Cats groom in private, so the first thing most owners see is the hair loss. Here's how to tell over-grooming from hair that's falling out, why 'stress' is usually the last answer rather than the first, and what to track.

Maya Reinhardt

August 11, 2026 · 5 min read

Latest articles

NutritionAugust 3, 2026

How to switch your pet's food without wrecking their stomach

The seven-day transition is standard advice for a reason — but it fails for cats, for sensitive dogs, and whenever there's a reason to rush. Here's the schedule, the exceptions, and how to tell an adjustment from a reaction.

Maya Reinhardt4 min read

CatsJuly 21, 2026

Your senior cat is losing weight. It's not just age.

Weight loss in an older cat is a symptom, not a stage of life — and the four conditions behind most cases are all detectable early. Here's how to catch a 5% loss before it becomes 20%.

Maya Reinhardt5 min read

CatsJuly 9, 2026

Your cat is peeing outside the litter box. Start here.

It is almost never spite, and it is medical until proven otherwise. Here's how to separate a bladder problem from a box problem, the emergency you must not miss, and the litter box maths most homes get wrong.

Maya Reinhardt5 min read

CatsJune 29, 2026

How often is too often? The truth about cat vomiting

"Cats just throw up" is one of the most expensive myths in pet care. Here's the frequency that's actually normal, how to tell vomiting from regurgitation, and the counting method that gets a real answer.

Maya Reinhardt5 min read

Vet visitsJune 16, 2026

The ten minutes of prep that change a vet appointment

Most consultations lose a third of their time to reconstructing history from memory. Here's what to prepare, what your vet is actually trying to establish, and how to answer the six questions you'll definitely be asked.

Maya Reinhardt5 min read

DogsJune 2, 2026

Your dog won't eat but is drinking water. How long can you wait?

A skipped meal is normal. Two skipped days is not. Here's the timeline vets use, the difference between 'won't eat' and 'can't eat', and what to check before you call.

Maya Reinhardt5 min read

NutritionMay 19, 2026

The elimination diet, done properly: an 8-week protocol for dogs

Most food trials fail for the same three reasons, and none of them are the diet. Here's the protocol vets use, week by week, including the rechallenge step almost everyone skips.

Maya Reinhardt5 min read

DogsMay 6, 2026

A dog poop chart that's actually useful

Vets score stool on a 1–7 scale, and the number tells you more than the colour does. Here's how to score your dog's stool at home, what each grade means, and when a change is worth a phone call.

Maya Reinhardt5 min read

DogsApril 24, 2026

Your dog is itching and there are no fleas. Now what?

Itching without fleas has four common causes, and they look almost identical from the outside. Here's how to tell them apart at home — and the two weeks of notes that will get you a real answer.

Maya Reinhardt5 min read

NutritionApril 12, 2026

How to spot a food allergy in your dog before the vet does

Food sensitivities in dogs are often missed for months. Here's the framework PawSolids uses — and the four signs you can track at home starting today.

Maya Reinhardt3 min read

CatsMarch 28, 2026

Why your cat probably isn't drinking enough water (and what to do)

Cats evolved from desert animals — and it shows. Here's how to know if your cat is hydrated, and the three changes that actually move the needle.

Maya Reinhardt2 min read

11 articles