Understanding why some pet owners do not seek veterinary care can provide useful insight into where opportunities exist to reinforce the value of preventive care and regular checkups. It can also reveal how they view the role of the veterinarian. Data from the 2025 AVMA Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook demonstrates a large percentage of pet owners’ animals did not … [Read more...]
New Resource for Vet Practices from CATalyst Council marks Happy, Healthy Cat Month
Sponsor Content The CATalyst Council created Happy, Healthy Cat Month to counter a persistent myth: that cats are self-reliant, aloof and need less medical care than dogs. Happy, Healthy Cat Month exists to help close that gap, one cat and one caregiver, at a time. Adding to a website replete with resources, Kristin Wuhrman, CCBC, and Gina Fortunato, MBA, drew on … [Read more...]
Antimicrobials for veterinary dentistry: yes or no?
Data on how best to use antimicrobials before, during and after dental procedures are sparse, writes J. Scott Weese, DVM. Summarizing research to establish evidence for their use, Weese says using antimicrobials for dental procedures may have some effect, but nothing suggests they do. Source: Worms and Germs, June 8, 2026. Link. For the routine veterinary dental procedures, … [Read more...]
Feline owner education ready to share
Commentary Our industry has been outspoken about the need to educate pet owners and the opportunity cats represent to the health of veterinary practices. Provided by the Feline Veterinary Medical Association, resources like this monthly newsletter are ready-made to share with feline clients and prospects. Beyond advocating cat owners subscribe, forwarding each month’s … [Read more...]
New diabetes guidelines reflect major advances in insulin therapy and monitoring for dogs
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) recently released the 2026 AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Dogs, a comprehensive update offering veterinary professionals step-by-step guidance for diagnosing, treating, and monitoring diabetes mellitus (DM) in canine patients. We are thrilled to provide this highly requested update for the Diabetes Guidelines. We are … [Read more...]
Gen Z is rewiring the pet health experience through technology
“Gen Z is raising the bar for pet healthcare,” says Mita Malhotra, president of Chewy Healthcare, in her latest article for Forbes Business Council. Noting that this generation is shifting how they navigate pet ownership, she says their use of digital resources is driven by wanting to feel better prepared to make informed health decisions on behalf of their pets. Gen Zs are … [Read more...]
SuperZoo 2026: Words most heard at this year’s show
Lisa Cleaver shares a few buzzwords and phrases from SuperZoo 2026, along with a few examples of new commercial products supporting them. Longevity Proactive not reactive Active adventure pets Lickables Functional Will these become commonplace in animal health pro vocabularies? Source: Petfood Industry, August 19, 2026. Link. … [Read more...]
IBPSA Pet Care Pro – August 2026
IBPSA’s former quarterly digital magazine relaunched this week as Pet Care Pro Monthly. The shorter, more frequent read is built for the way pet services pros check email throughout their busy days, says Carmen Rustenbeck, IBPSA founder and CEO. Highlights in this edition: Pet Care Business Excellence Award finalists CANIS Conference reminder OraStrip dental … [Read more...]
September is Happy Cat Month. Are you ready?
Happy Cat Month was started by the CATalyst Council* to help spread awareness and education in support of the health, welfare and the important value of felines. Their work shows that cats are incredibly social animals and they require the same level of care and attention that we give our dogs. Tamkeen Kiani’s article offers links and tips for social media, the likelihood of … [Read more...]
Demonstration in the exam room can improve adherence
In this short video, Jan Bellows, DVM, DAVDC, DABVP, demonstrates using MAXI/GUARD® Oral Cleansing Wipes on a patient’s teeth. Incorporating everyday oral care tools into practice reinforces the importance of preventive dental health with every patient’s owner.” Source: Addison Biological Laboratory Inc., Instagram, May 28, 2026. Link. [25 seconds] Also see: Demonstration … [Read more...]
Veterinarians hesitant to recommend CBD for pets
CBD use in dogs continues to grow. A 2025 survey found 7.3 percent of 47,000 dog owners had given their pets CBD, mainly for arthritis, seizures or dementia. In fact, Dr. Jennifer Quammen, AVMA president, says she gets asked about it every day. Research remains limited, short-term and sometimes company-funded. Despite these conditions, sales of CBD pet products are expected to … [Read more...]
Webinar: Review the new AAHA Diabetes Management in Cats Guidelines
Join Patty Lathan, VMD, MS, DACVIM (SAIM), for practical updates on insulin therapy, glucose monitoring, dietary management, diabetic remission, and client communication from the 2026 AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Cats. There are still seats available: September 1, 2026, 5:00 p.m. MDT. Registration <Link> Source: AAHA, LinkedIn, August 26, 2026. … [Read more...]
U.S. home to all top 10 North American pet food companies by 2025 revenue
All of the top 10 North American pet food companies in Petfood Industry’s Top Companies database are headquartered in the United States. Measured by 2025 revenue, the U.S. dominance reflects more than the size of the U.S. pet market, writes Tim Wall. U.S. manufacturers operate within an economy that combines large supplies of grains and animal proteins with extensive … [Read more...]
Sound therapy for dogs and cats: how healing frequencies support health
Sound therapy uses the concept of resonate frequencies to restructure dis-ease and dis-harmony in the body. It creates harmony and coherence within the system to facilitate healing using the power of frequencies to support physical, emotional and spiritual well-being in humans and animals. Barrie Sands, DVM, CVA, HMCT, EMP, explains how vibroacoustic and psychoacoustic sound … [Read more...]
Scientists claim you SHOULD let your cat roam outside; it makes them less destructive
Commentary This article references a paper, published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science <Link>. It describes how researchers discovered that cats that were allowed unsupervised time outside had lower levels of disruptive behavior. Considering how controversial this topic is and the likelihood that cat owners will not read the whole article or study, animal health … [Read more...]
Cat fleas contributing to flea-borne murine typhus incidence
A study from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences detected DNA from Rickettsia typhi, the bacterium that causes flea-borne murine typhus, in cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) collected from domestic cats in the Rio Grande Valley, the southernmost point of Texas. This region consistently records some of the highest human murine typhus case … [Read more...]
Spectrum of care in veterinary medicine; the role of the veterinary nurse
Commentary Every week we see articles on various barriers to veterinary care. Cost consistently tops the list. Empowering veterinary professionals and clients to consider a wide range of treatment strategies, from technologically advanced and expensive to more traditional and less expensive, can potentially improve access to medical care all pets need, writes Julie Ann … [Read more...]
7 ways veterinary practices can boost their revenue
Commentary Smart systems, better communication and expanded services can all make a meaningful difference, say the authors of this article. Of the seven strategies listed, staff training, empowerment and client education are known to provide value for clients at points of service. Patient no-shows take on a different meaning in the current vet visit environment. Industry … [Read more...]
Review: What’s new in canine and feline vaccination guidelines
Commercial references Kaitlyn Krebs, DVM, MBA, and Kirsten White, DVM, break down the latest vaccine changes for canine and feline patients in this interview summary. Whether working in a clinic, grooming salon, shelter or boarding/daycare business, knowing vaccination guidelines can help keep narratives on the same page. Source: dvm360, August 3, 2026. Link. Updated … [Read more...]
Separation-related distress during back-to-school season
Back-to-school season can escalate separation-related distress for cats and dogs. As household routines shift this fall, veterinary teams are well-positioned to help clients recognize separation-related distress early and build a plan that supports both patient welfare and the human-animal bond. Taking pet owners through a thoughtful assessment can reveal opportunities to … [Read more...]
The biology behind why dogs and cats palatability preferences differ
Cats and dogs taste things differently. As pet food aisles expand, understanding these differences can help explain why pets prefer certain foods and treats. This helps manufacturers develop alternative proteins, therapeutic formulations and sustainable ingredients pets want. Tim Wall shares the biology of taste differences and what it means for the pet food industry and animal … [Read more...]
Antibiotic resistance threatens vision in pets and horses
Sight-threatening antibiotic-resistant eye infections are becoming a significant threat to vision in dogs, cats and horses, according to a review published in Veterinary Ophthalmology. Researchers examined global trends in antimicrobial resistance in animal eye infections and warn that multidrug-resistant bacteria are becoming more common in referral veterinary … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – August 3, 2026
In this week’s FastBites: Legislative updates: New York, Massachusetts, Colorado OraStrip coming soon Crisis care reminders PLUS book offer: Hairy Situations by IBPSA member Sonya Wilson; one of the first books on crisis management and disaster planning specifically written for the pet care industry <Link>. New Communications Schedule Fast Bites … [Read more...]
30 studies show vegan dog and cat food generally well digested
A comprehensive scientific review has found that nutritionally complete vegan and vegetarian pet diets are generally well digested by both dogs and cats and perform similarly to conventional meat-based diets. The findings support the use of carefully formulated vegan and vegetarian diets and challenge the notion that such diets are less digestible than conventional meat-based … [Read more...]
Friend or foe? Fragrances from a dog’s perspective
Reminding us to put the pets first, Jennifer Bishop Jenkins reviews the importance of fragrance control around pets. Fragrances, she says, are added to products for human customers’ experience, not for dogs. As animal health pros, we likely do not reinforce smell safety frequently enough. Artificial and natural smells are important considerations when dealing with pets’ … [Read more...]
Casozepine may reduce stress in dogs during veterinary visits
When pet owners seek nonsedative alternatives to previsit medications like gabapentin, pregabalin, and trazodone, Casozepine may be considered as a short-term intervention when patients are prone to stress during veterinary visits, writes Christine D. Calder, DVM, DACVB. Administration for two days before an appointment can lower stress levels, she says. Source: Clinician’s … [Read more...]
Purdue Veterinary Medicine launches pet care app for Apple platforms
The new Purdue Vet Med Pro Tips app offers tutorials for care tasks like trimming nails, cleaning ears, bandaging wounds and administering medications. The app, created by Purdue veterinary professionals and designed for pet owners, is available for Apple Vision Pro, iPad and iPhone and offers step-by-step tutorials for providing at-home care to cats, dogs, horses and … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – July 26, 2026
In this week’s FastBites: July 30th webinar: Staffing Systems to Protect Your Business <Link> OraStrip to be available for purchase by IBPSA members in the coming weeks United States New World Screwworm update Source: IBPSA, July 26, 2026. Link. Also see: Animal Health Digest Bulletin, July 22nd. Link. Pets are important relationships, the power of … [Read more...]
Keep coyotes, raccoons and other predators away
This slideshow is a reminder that habits to entice wildlife near homes increase risks to domestic pets. Consider sending it to pet owners via social media or in newsletters. Coyotes and foxes are dangerous to free-range cats, backyard chickens and small dogs. Source: Fix it Homestead, July 15, 2026. Link. Slide show Link. Related: 8 things that bring skunks too close in … [Read more...]
Signs most owners miss when a cat is sick, per veterinarians
Educating cat owners is a high priority as our industry works to medicalize more of the feline pet population. Articles like this provide cat owners with what to watch for. When it comes to assessing feline health, educated cat owners are the first to notice when something is different. Consider this article for social media, newsletters or as an outline for 4-H or school … [Read more...]