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Here are 10 useful iPhone apps that make it a bit easier to take care of your beloved four-legged friend.

Petcentric (free)

This Purina app is nice if you’re an on-the-go type looking for pet-friendly places, such as lodging, parks and restaurants, and service providers like pet sitters, groomers and vets.

MyPetED ($1.99)

Keeping medical records in one easy-to-access spot isn’t just practical for humans; it’s useful for our pets, too. With this app, you can log your animal’s vaccinations, current and past medications, weight and all veterinarian visits. You can also store contact information for your vet or find another one if you’re traveling and something comes up.

Pet First Aid ($3.99)

Pet First Aid helps prepare you for medical emergencies by providing first aid, health information and even what’s “normal” behavior for your animal if you’re unsure. Whether you’re concerned about a bite, accidental ingestion of a dangerous substance, heat- or cold-related complications fractures or sprains, this is a good tool to have on hand in case the unthinkable happens.

Petfinder.com: Adopt Pets (free)

If you’re thinking about adding another animal to your home, check out this app from the popular Petfinder site. You can find adorable pets in your area, check out photos, save favorite animals and more. Aww!

iKibble (99 cents)

Some “people food” isn’t safe for your dog. Before you hand over a leftover bite of your sandwich, check to see if it’s okay for your pup to snarf it down. Perhaps when my best friend’s beloved but seriously dingbatty basset hound inhaled a giant bite of skunk poop, she should have consulted this app first!

Pet Names + (free)
If you agonize over choosing just the right name for your dog/cat/gerbil/python, Pet Names + has your name on it. Browse monikers alphabetically, find out the most popular ones or brainstorm names by pet type (I guess “Snakey,” for example, wouldn’t be a good name for a bichon frise).

iPottyTrain (99 cents)

This isn’t the most romantic of topics, but it’s incredibly important to get right. This app will guide you through housebreaking your new puppy or coming up with a proper walk schedule for an adult dog. iPottyTrain provides reminder alerts and offers a (possibly excessive) comments section, so you can keep track of what happens during your dog’s bathroom breaks.

Cat Training (99 cents)

Much like jumbo shrimp, “cat” and “training” are two words that don’t seem to go together. But apparently, there are ways to get your cat on board with some basic house rules. Cat Training doesn’t offer the most cutting-edge technology, but hey, it’s 99 cents, and if it gets Snookums to stop leaping nails-first onto your face at 4 a.m., it’s worth a try.

HumaneTV (free)

Interested in finding out about what The Humane Society of the United States does? The answer is, lots of good stuff! For details, download this free app so you can keep up to date on the org’s important work on behalf of animals. You can watch videos on pets and wildlife, educate yourself about the issues around animal cruelty and wildlife abuse and more.

CatPaint ($.99)

If you live in a world where there aren’t enough photos of cats, you can use this nifty app to superimpose a photogenic feline on to any photo you choose. It’s all kinds of ridiculous but totally guaranteed to crack you up. If you download this, you’ll join the ranks of other CatPaint fans like Taylor Swift, James Franco, Katy Perry, Paris Hilton, Kat Von D and Emma Stone.