TODAY! Financial Survey Results webinar, 12:00 p.m. MDT. Registration Link. Also consider: Member Webinar: Introducing Preventive Vet, Tuesday, May 26th, 1:00 p.m CDT. Link. Remember to submit your IBBY Nominations. Link. Source: IBPSA, May 18, 2026. Link. Also see: Animal Health Digest Bulletin, May 14th. Link. Pet brands using AI, employee sabbaticals, … [Read more...]
Is your pet business ready for summer?
Beginning with freezer and cooling maintenance, Pets+ staff writers offer a readiness schedule for store locations to run through the first summer months. We would add checking air conditioning units, servicing any air filtration units and pressure washing entry sidewalks to the schedule. Source: Pets+, May 18, 2026. Link. Image: Link. … [Read more...]
Why Reddit is quietly becoming one of the most powerful forces in pet marketing
Ronn Torossia extends his AI marketing theme we posted last week <Link> and explores Reddit’s ability to generate community validation at scale. He says the implications for marketers are profound as brands consumers naturally discuss become the brands AI systems naturally retrieve. Source: Pets+, May 17, 2026. Link. As AI increasingly intermediates consumer … [Read more...]
Application and use of a continuous glucose monitor in cats and dogs
In the article linked here, Thomas Schermerhorn, VMD, DACVIM, and Jose Estrada, DVM, MS, share the pros and cons of using CGM systems, how to attach them and the importance of educating clients about results. The article includes instructional photos that will help explain CGM use with clients. Source: Clinician’s Brief, June 2025. Link. The CGM most commonly used in … [Read more...]
Study finds more than 84 percent of dogs show signs of fear, anxiety
A study published in Veterinary Research Communications examined behavioral responses in more than 43,000 animals, creating one of the most comprehensive datasets to date on canine fear and anxiety. The findings from owner-observed behaviors reflect how dogs behave in real-world environments rather than controlled settings. Researcher Bonnie Beaver, DVM, MS, DSc, DPNAP, … [Read more...]
Frailty: An important emerging concept in veterinary medicine
Health span, the period of life an animal spends in good health and free of chronic disease and disabilities related to aging, should be prioritized over simply extending lifespan. Frailty, well-defined in human health, is increasingly important to recognize and assess in pets, as it negatively affects both health span and quality of life. Frailty is not synonymous with … [Read more...]
How research is helping solve equine pregnancy mysteries
With support from the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, researchers are reshaping the understanding of equine pregnancy loss. They are shifting the focus beyond the mare alone to include the biology of the embryo and placenta. While genetic abnormalities play a critical role early in gestation, placentitis remains one of the leading causes of later-term pregnancy … [Read more...]
Chicken droppings reveal a lot about flock health
From bloody droppings linked to coccidiosis to green diarrhoea associated with Newcastle disease or septicemia, regular observation of chicken droppings is a simple but powerful tool in poultry health management. Florence E. Jerono’s chart is a good resource to share with poultry raisers. Source: Jessica Fitzgibbon, LinkedIn, May 19, 2026. Link. … [Read more...]
Petland Charities advancing animal welfare, breeder education initiatives
Petland Charities is reporting strong progress in advancing its renewed focus on animal welfare, breeder education and strengthening the human-animal bond. A key milestone to this advancement includes the launch of an enhanced website, petlandcharities.org, which shows real-world examples of breeder practices and animal care. Source: Petland Charities, May 19, 2026. … [Read more...]
More potent bird flu strain emerging
H9N2 avian influenza demonstrates significantly greater ability to replicate, spread and infect chickens, with more spillover potential. Source: Feedstuffs, May 15, 2026. Link. The study underscores the need for continued surveillance of avian influenza viruses, stronger biosecurity measures in poultry production and ongoing monitoring of viral evolution and gene exchange. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 21, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, May 14, 2026. Link. Most read posts from May 14, 2026 AHD Bulletin – Words + Action = Trust. Link. 1 common skin bacteria, 2 outcomes. Link. These pet brands dominate ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Perplexity. Link. Turn feline visits into lasting relationships. Link. Vesicular stomatitis … [Read more...]
Vesicular stomatitis outbreak confirmed in Colorado
A new VSV-positive equine premises has been identified in Montezuma County, Colorado. VSV circulates annually between livestock and insect vectors in southern Mexico and only occasionally results in incursion into the U.S. The contagious virus is transmitted by biting midges and therefore is seasonal. Source: The Horse, May 11, 2026. Link. There is no specific treatment for … [Read more...]
1 common skin bacteria, 2 outcomes
Commercial content A researcher at the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, is studying S. pseudintermedius with a different lens. Rather than looking only at dogs with active infection, Felix N. Toka, DVM, PhD, Dsc, DAVM, is including dogs that naturally carry the bacteria and remain healthy. He examined bacterial strains in both healthy and affected dogs and … [Read more...]
These pet brands are dominating ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Perplexity
One core objective of Animal Health Digest’s curation service is to provide animal health pros a look at what consumers are seeing and reading in a B2C context. 5W’s Pet Industry AI Visibility Index 2026 provides visibility to what consumers are accessing on popular AI tools. This new research report analyzes which pet brands appear most frequently across AI-generated … [Read more...]
Instead of boondoggles, give your employees a sabbatical
Research shows sabbaticals boost retention and creativity, writes Jackie Dunham. Among companies that have introduced sabbaticals, the results are consistently positive: lower turnover, higher engagement and employees who return with renewed energy and fresh ideas. Kira Schabram describes them as “extended time off with a purpose other than your regular job.” One of the most … [Read more...]
Words + Action = Trust
There was a time when keeping your word was considered a given. If you said you would follow up, deliver by Friday, or call someone next week, it was expected that you would do exactly that. Source: LinkedIn, April 13, 2026. Link. Follow-through reduces friction. It creates clarity. And it enhances performance across the board. When you consistently do what you say you’re … [Read more...]
Blocking mobile internet can give you 2.5 more hours each day
Important well-being read Daniel Pink summarizes the results of a study published in PNAS Nexus that examined the effects of blocking mobile internet on smartphones, making them dumb phones. The results were closer to "new medication" than "digital detox," he says, noting the attention gains were roughly equivalent to reversing 10 years of age-related cognitive … [Read more...]
The ability to say “I know that I don’t know” could be considered a sign of wisdom
Tommy Blanchard, PhD, presents fuel for thought applicable to client-veterinarian interactions in this article. His perspective on metaknowledge is worth your attention, particularly as it relates to the blind spots we all carry. Most people don’t know what they don’t know, but think they do. Coming to understand and correct your metaknowledge can make you a better teacher … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – May 12, 2026
2026 Industry Benchmarking Report survey results webinar, Thursday, May 21st at 12 pm Mountain Time. Register here. Link. The webinar presentation will break down: The 4 distinct performance tiers shaping the industry The biggest gaps between top and underperforming operators The 5 operational disciplines that drive scalable growth Actionable insights you can … [Read more...]
Addressing hantavirus concerns
Dogs and cats are not thought to be susceptible to hantavirus infection and are not thought to play a role in spreading the disease to people, writes Ann E. Hohenhaus, DVM, DACVIM, emphasizing the need for rodent control. Consider her article for newsletters or social media posts to reduce pet owner concerns. Source: Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, May 13, 2026. Link. The … [Read more...]
Turn feline visits into lasting relationships
Recent research by the Catalyst Council has led to a deeper understanding of the feline veterinary business and opportunities as cat visits now account for nearly one-fourth of veterinary traffic. Catalyst Council leaders share actionable opportunities in this edition of Feline Findings from the CATalyst 2026 State of the Cat 60,000-household survey report. Change the … [Read more...]
Considerations when choosing an SGLT2 inhibitor for a newly diagnosed diabetic cat
Diabetes management in cats requires a different approach than in dogs. Section 6 of the 2026 AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Cats provides primary care providers with ways to better serve their feline patients, including SGLT2 inhibitors. Two SGLT2 inhibitors are now licensed for use in newly diagnosed, otherwise healthy feline diabetics not previously treated with … [Read more...]
Free-range, indoor-outdoor cats can carry similar disease risk as feral cats
Owned cats allowed to roam outside unsupervised may carry infectious diseases at rates comparable to feral cats, even when they receive veterinary care, regular meals and shelter. Study results* show that how people manage their pets plays a major role in shaping disease transmission between wildlife, domestic animals and humans. Researchers highlight that strategies … [Read more...]
Postbiotics may calm dogs via the gut-brain axis
Research centered on postbiotics suggests they may support stress management indirectly through gut health modulation rather than direct behavioral changes in dogs. The gut-brain axis links intestinal health to neurological responses, according to Erik Eckhardt, PhD, who emphasized, “it is a direct line, literally, between intestine and the brain.” Source: PETFOOD Industry, … [Read more...]
How to protect pets from the New World screwworm
There’s no need for owners to panic about NWS, but they need to develop habits to protect their animals from this emerging insect threat. Cochliomyia hominivorax are parasitic flies whose larvae infest wounds and can result in significant tissue damage if left untreated. Obligate parasites, the larvae consume the living flesh of warm-blooded hosts. When maggots are removed, … [Read more...]
EHV-1 resources seek to educate the horse community
Equine herpesvirus‑1 is a common respiratory virus that spreads through nasal droplets and contact between horses. Understanding how the virus spreads and which horses are most vulnerable is key to reducing transmission and improving outcomes. In the first link below, Lutz Goehring, DVM, MS, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, shares how risk increases with travel and the potential transfer … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 14, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, May 7, 2026. Link. Most read posts from May 7, 2026 AHD Bulletin – Gartner: Managers face increased workloads and demands. Link. The pet economy is splitting in two. Link. Air filtration is critical to reduce disease, protect herd productivity. Link. Hill’s first World of the Kitten Report. Link. … [Read more...]
16-year study proves air filtration is critical tool to reduce disease risk, protect herd productivity
A University of Minnesota Department of Veterinary Population Medicine study shows that farms with commercial air filtration systems experience a significantly lower risk of PRRS outbreaks compared to unfiltered operations. The study results provide evidence not only for pigs and PRRS risks but support the investment sophisticated air filtration requires. Source: PORK, April … [Read more...]
The pet economy is splitting in two
The middle of the pet marketplace is fading away, says Marshall Morris, explaining we are in a K-shaped economy. He offers perspectives for brands that choose to play in premium segments versus store brands. Morris notes the category showing the most resilient growth now isn’t food. It is "preventive" wellness: supplements, OTC treatments and functional ingredients. These … [Read more...]
Gartner: Managers face increased workloads and demands
Managers are working harder today and 66 percent of them say that their primary responsibility is managing the people on their teams rather than driving progress toward organizational goals and priorities, according to Tony Guadagni. This amounts to as much as one-quarter of their time engaging with employees on personal and emotional issues. The authors discusses the need … [Read more...]