Since Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan began back in 2001, thousands of troops have been deployed overseas. While amidst the chaos and wreckage of war, some soldiers have found friends in the form of stray dogs. Recently, a compelling story was brought to the attention of Guardians of Rescue, who is now doing everything possible to transport “Sheba” and her pups to the United States on September 4th, 2013.

While deployed in Afghanistan, a team of soldiers came across a stray dog. Before long, the team had adopted the dog, naming it “Sheba,” who came to protect the soldiers from other wild dogs in the area. After Sheba gave birth to seven puppies in March, the team donated their limited free time to feeding and caring for the puppies. The soldiers reached out to Guardians of Rescue with a plea to transport Sheba and her puppies safely to the United States.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, common reasons for pet owners to visit a veterinarian include an injured pet, routine vaccination, to be spayed or neutered, and flea or tick medications. In 2012, the Banfield Pet Health report stated that cat obesity has risen over 90 percent since 2007 and people are beginning to look at their pet food as the source of health problems.

“The number of overweight cats has risen exponentially over the last couple of years, but what people don’t realize is that the cat food they are feeding their pet can play a major role in your pet’s health problems,” affirms Will Post, founder and CEO of Hound & Gatos Pet Food. “Cat’s bodies don’t know how to process fillers and by products, which leads to health problems down the road.”

Here are five of the most common cat health problems:

As most of the millions of pet owners can attest to, a sick pet can end up costing a lot of money. Whether the pet has a short term illness or a chronic one, it can mean multiple trips to the veterinarian. The good news is that there are things that people can do in order to help their pets live a healthier, happier life. A great place to start is by taking a look at their diet, which can have a tremendous impact on their pet’s health.

“People often don’t realize just how important the quality of food is that they feed their pets,” explains Will Post, president of Hound & Gatos Pet Food Corporation. “Yet it is something that is done every day and helps in nearly every aspect of the pet’s well being. The pet’s diet is so important and should not be overlooked.”