Microbiome researchers have learned that microbiome health likely plays a key role in the overall health of pets. Veterinarians and pet owners can choose a probiotic, prebiotic, synbiotic or postbiotic, but knowing which bug or brand is a good choice is difficult. The GI microbiome is a complex ecosystem, writes Martha Cline, DVM, DACVIM, in this article. She shares some of … [Read more...]
Top dog and cat names of 2024
The AKC and JustAnswer share top names of dogs and cats, respectively, in the articles shared here. Luna is the most popular cat name and female dog name in the U.S., while Milo beat out 2023’s Max for male dogs. Sources: AKC top dog names 2024, Pet Business, October 2024. Link. JustAnswer, America’s most popular cat names 2024, Pet Business, October 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – November 4, 2024
Gen Z driving pet care market, groomer shares how he gets animals to relax, records of California’s underground puppy market to be saved, stunning growth projected in grooming market, cat welcomes owner home after being alone 3 days and more . . . Source: IBPSA, November 4, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Laser therapy’s many uses in small animal practice
As year-end approaches, some practices consider making capital expenditures on equipment. Lasers may be a good choice. Two recent articles, which include photos, share when, where and how to use lasers in various veterinary practice settings. Jason B. Pieper DVM, MS, DACVD, shares how CO2 lasers are used in veterinary dermatology. Michael C. Petty, DVM, asserts the benefits … [Read more...]
Insights into the reasons pet owners surrender their pets to shelters
Updates to the AAHA website make the newly published 2024 AAHA Community Care Guidelines for Small Animal Practice more accessible to veterinarians and animal health pros. A community approach can begin to improve healthcare access by mobilizing all available resources within it. Emily Singler shares efforts to quantify why pet owners surrender pets to shelters and the … [Read more...]
Organ meat in dog diets. It’s not as offal as it sounds.
There is growing interest in the health benefits of organ meats, even labeling them as superfoods for both humans and pets. Organs are frequently the first choice of wild canids that attack and kill livestock. The authors share facts about offal use in diets, including raw diets, in this article. They note liver, kidney and heart as the most common organ meats in … [Read more...]
Managing the shift as the growth of grain-free diets continues
Grain-free dog diets are a hot topic veterinary teams face routinely, shared Danielle Conway, DVM, CVA, VSMT, CCRP, during a session at the Fetch dvm360 Conference in Atlantic City. Austin Littrell summarizes her session here, including: Dietary carbohydrate requirements noting grains are carbohydrates, but not all carbohydrates are grains Gluten ≠ grains: gluten itself … [Read more...]
It may be fall, but mosquitoes are still buzzing
While fall tends to reduce mosquito populations, days above 50oF will prompt activity by those genera that hibernate. Emily Singler, VMD, says the uptick of heartworm-positive cases in unusual locations makes educating and encouraging clients about year-round heartworm prevention more important than ever. Source: AAHA NEWStat, April 9, 2024. Link. Related: 10 cases of … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – October 28, 2024
Recognizing K9 Resorts, dog walker dies in UK from mauling by pack of dogs she was walking, leaders determine culture, FDA advises caution on Darwin’s Pet Food, state of pet food, treats in 2024 and more . . . Source: IBPSA, October 25, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
The alliance between human and cat was probably the cat’s idea
As cat popularity grows, understanding the history of the house cat is interesting if you’ve never considered it. It’s believed they evolved from wild cats roughly 12,000 years ago when humans moved to an agricultural lifestyle. Researchers suspect that all domestic cats descended from a subspecies of the Eurasian and African wildcat Felis silvestris, as well as Silvestris … [Read more...]
The science of species-specific music (video)
Ann Hohenhaus, DVM, DACVIM, shares some of the science and benefits of music for dogs. Researchers have found that dogs spend significantly more time lying and significantly less time standing when music was played, regardless of genre. Soft rock and reggae genres seem to help dogs relax most. Source: Schwarzman AMC, October 16, 2024. Link. Photo credit: RCA … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – October 21, 2024
October pet trends, marketing triggers for the new years ahead, optimizing retailer relationships with distributors, unconventional support animal use in complementary therapy for humans, euthanasia decisions, spring water for dogs and more . . . Source: IBPSA, October 21, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Pet industry adapts to economic challenges, new trends
The pet industry has become accustomed to steady, consistent growth at high levels throughout the range of products and services offered. Richard Kestenbaum says that's over. There will still be growth, but it will be more choppy and more selective. Certain product classes will grow. Others will shrink. Certain marketing channels will be an opportunity. Others not. Consumers … [Read more...]
Russian scientists claim world’s first anti-aging pet food
Russian researchers have developed a pet food said to support longevity and combat age-related issues in pets. “The pet food is comprised of a combination of geroprotective substances such as epigallocatechin gallate, silymarin, curcumin, resveratrol and naringenin. Geroprotectors act by regulating some signaling pathways and molecular markers associated with aging and life … [Read more...]
Vet Techs play critical role in pet healthcare
Commentary Celebrating veterinary technicians during National Veterinary Technician Week is important for individual and team morale. Handshakes, pizza lunches and bagels aside, animal-owning clients need help understanding the roles these experienced and educated animal healthcare professionals provide in a clinic or telehealth setting. Consider sharing the ASPCA® Pet … [Read more...]
The rise of the small animal pet market
Commentary The popularity of small pets continues to grow. In pet retail, this growth opens up many opportunities to cater to these feathered, furred and scaled animals, writes Lindsay Beaton. However, for veterinary and pet services businesses, specialty pets may prove challenging. Regardless, the metrics are worthy of review. They may generate some questions about … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – October 14, 2024
Supporting pets affected by Helene, rapid growth projected in pet sitting market, company culture, timing difficult conversations, pet owner spending and more . . . Source: IBPSA, October 14, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Explaining why cats chatter
Victoria Atkinson shares possible reasons to explain the quiet chattering noise cats sometimes make. There are no current studies investigating this behavior, however, cat owners and researchers have some possible explanations for the chattering behaviors. Cats can be seen and heard chattering in the You Tube video shown above <Link>. [6:29] Source: LiveScience, … [Read more...]
Oak mites join chiggers, mosquitos, other insects as big annoyance for pets, humans
According to cicada expert Dr. Gene Kritsky, a particular mite known as the "oak leaf itch mite" can be seen in large amounts following a cicada emergence. The articles shared here offer information on these little critters known as Pyemotes herfsi. Oak leaf itch mites are nearly invisible to the naked eye (0.2 mm in length), but they are responsible for mite bite outbreaks in … [Read more...]
Walmart is expanding pet care services
Walmart is opening five more pet services centers after testing the first location near Atlanta. The centers offer vet visits and grooming. The pet services centers will have their own dedicated entrance next to a store under the Walmart name and staffed by employees of vet care and pet product company PetIQ. Source: CNBC, October 8, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Pet Product News top dog product picks of 2024
It is always a good idea for animal health pros to scan through new products. Treats, chew toys, a clear pet gate, a board game to play with a dog, car seat, functional supplements, special collars and more are featured here as winners of PPN's Editors' Choice Awards. Source: Pet Product News, October 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Pedigreed cat sales now outpace moggie cats
Cats Protection is the UK's leading cat charity. The charity’s 2024 report on cats and their stats indicates 45 percent of all cats acquired between March 2023 and March 2024 were pedigreed or purebred cats, compared to 43 percent moggies. The remainder was made up of cross-breeds. These data represent a significant shift in trends leading the organization to share concerns … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – October 7, 2024
Poopcopter is the world’s first aerial bound self-guided dog poop removal system, Fire Prevention Week, improving employee performance, dogs traveling, pet spending continues, the evolution of pet food processing and more . . . Note: The APPA is seeking speakers for The Pet Summit to take place from March 24th-26th, 2025, in Orlando, Florida alongside the Global Pet … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – October 3, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, September 26, 2024. Link. Most read posts from the September 26th AHD Bulletin – The story no one talks about: the cost to produce food. Link. Changing weather patterns call for a change in deworming habits. Link. Conservation advocacy soars in ‘24 Bird Photographer competition. Link. USDA network … [Read more...]
Charity Halloween pet costume contest to benefit the Veterinary Hope Foundation
This charitable event hosted by The Bridge Club aims to build excitement for the "Give is the Word" benefit in March 2025 during the WVC Annual Conference, while raising awareness for the Veterinary Hope Foundation. Veterinarians, veterinary technicians, practice managers, and anyone connected to the veterinary profession are invited to dress their pets in one of the … [Read more...]
Cat gut microbiome may help treat feline diseases
Sponsored Content Felines possess several unique gastrointestinal traits distinct from other companion animals, writes Hill’s Renea Creech, MS. She explores the role of some of the different bacterial species of the cat GI microbiome and their role in feline health and disease. Understanding the GI microbiome and its diverse microbial populations holds significant promise … [Read more...]
Probiotics, prebiotics for feline digestive health
Gut dysbiosis describes a microbiome imbalance. In a cat’s gut, the bacteria microbiome has a direct effect on overall health, influencing digestion, immune system function and nutritional metabolism, as well as moods and mental health. Scott Gavaletz, DVM, recommends the use of probiotics under two circumstances: a) as a first line in treating diarrhea, and b) to replace … [Read more...]
Nonmedical pet services: A tangled web of competition
The high cost of pet food and of veterinary services top the list of significant challenges that pet owners currently face, writes David Sprinkle, referencing Packaged Facts’ February 2024 data. The high cost of nonmedical pet services such as grooming, boarding, daycare and training weigh in at a lower level, but these services remain part of the picture for a robust pet … [Read more...]
Success with supplements
Health and wellness trends are driving a pet supplement market positioned to surpass $2.7 billion <Link>. Many veterinarians are concerned about quality, writes Graham Garrison, who shares the opportunity to help practices realize revenue benefits that accompany selling supplements. Packed Facts’ survey <Link> indicates online purchases outpace in-store sales giving … [Read more...]
Holiday hazards for pets
Fall’s arrival welcomes gatherings for sports events and holidays. Many holiday hazards can harm pets. Determining what will harm pets makes it confusing. Pet owners are advised to prepare in advance. Source: Great Pet Care, September 20, 2024. Link. Photo by K E on Unsplash … [Read more...]