Commentary Research from Banfield’s expansive, granular veterinary visit records has been invaluable as our industry seeks to understand the metrics of our business. Their recent report on oral health issues, while not surprising, quantifies the challenges veterinary teams face in making oral health an integral part of managing a pet's overall health and … [Read more...]
Cost of Care tools drive interest, conversations at VMX and WVC 2024
Veterinarians and technicians kept ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance field representatives busy at their booth during VMX 2024 and WVC 2024. Booth personnel sought to learn about the interactions veterinary staff have with pet owners about pet insurance from attendees. Those discussions exposed the values an informative cost of care tool provides when sharing ways to plan for the … [Read more...]
Creating a Fear Free toothbrushing experience for pets (video)
Fear Free specialists explain how pet owners can make the often stressful task of brushing their pet’s teeth into something Fear Free. The video is good to repost on social media, link in newsletters or use in exam rooms. Source: Fear Free Pets, YouTube. Link. (3:25) Sponsored Content. Dental wipes make oral care easy and convenient. MAXI/GUARD® family of oral care … [Read more...]
CBD in Dr. Marty Beckers’ 2024 five tips for dogs
Marty Becker, DVM, shared five tips to do for dogs in 2024 in his recent newsletter. They include nutrition, parasite control, supplements, CBD and enrichment. Source: DrMartyBecker.com, February 13, 2024. Link. Related content: Long-term CBD for dogs caused few health problems, PETFOOD Industry, February 6, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
If we don’t keep reminding, educating – WHO will?
Commentary The American Heartworm Society routinely provides images like these on X, Instagram and Facebook. The amount of likes and forwards of the posts does not reflect the number of followers, nor how many animal health pros there are. It’s our job to keep the educational efforts of AHS in front of pet owners. The posts are easy to forward and can be copied for all … [Read more...]
Measure pet food by weight, not volume
An estimated six out of 10 cats in the U.S. are overweight or obese, so how pet food is measured is something to consider. With a little coaching, pet owners can learn to measure based on calorie content instead of using a volume measurement. Research has shown that measuring by cup, or volume, often leads to overfeeding or underfeeding.” Source: Catster, September 27, 2022. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – February 8, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, February 1, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the February 1st AHD Bulletin – A plan is not a strategy. Link. Studies: Early social housing helps dairy calves thrive. Link. Using standing equine CT in veterinary diagnostics. Link. Do it NOW! Link. ============================================ … [Read more...]
Paragon’s new digital dog grooming guide
"Notes From the Grooming Table," authored and released by Melissa Verplank nearly 20 years ago is now available as a digital book for the low monthly subscription price of $6.99. Source: Pet Business, September 2023. Link. The digital version allows users to highlight and bookmark important information, freehand draw on the pages with a stylus or a finger, search for key … [Read more...]
Dechra launching monthly dentistry education for veterinary teams
With help from Jan Bellows, DVM, DIPL, AVDC, ABVP, Dechra Academy is launching the 12 Months of Dentistry educational series. Each month a new webinar, podcast episode, case study, or interactive educational tool will be made available to build more dentistry confidence. Because dental care goes beyond one month.” Source: Dechra Veterinary Products, February 7, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
The relationship between foxes and coyotes living in cities (video)
A colleague sent us this video featuring a University of Minnesota researcher documenting the relationship between foxes and coyotes in the Twin Cities seven-county metro area. Informative, it explains the challenges of fox-coyote relationships which push foxes closer to our backyards. The intersection of wildlife and our domestic animals is worth more attention and … [Read more...]
February is National Cat Health Month
Along with the annual focus on oral care and the beginnings of flea, tick and mosquito season, February is dedicated to cat health. The consumer messages remind cat owners of the importance of maintaining regular veterinary appointments. Christian Adams shares tips to ensure cats remain healthy all year long. Source: Catster, January 27, 2024. Link. INSIGHTS: Veterinary … [Read more...]
Silent hazards of the grooming profession
Probably one of the more common and most debilitating issues groomers deal with is Groomer’s Lung, writes Cliff Faver, DVM. It is a combination of breathing in hair slivers, bacteria, fungi, dead skin cells and probably even an occasional parasite. Shampoo is designed to clean, and unless it is specifically designed to kill bacteria/fungus, it does not protect against … [Read more...]
Canine and feline dental home care tips for pet owners
Sponsored Content Even with all the options for pet oral care, animal health pros need to keep the topic front and center year-round. February is National Pet Dental Month which parallels Children’s Dental Health Month and Gum Disease Awareness Month promotions. This article provides content worth sharing with animal owners. Comprehensive oral care for pets starts at home . … [Read more...]
Reminder. Clean it up and dispose properly!
This article offers a good reminder of the importance of removing dog and cat feces from yards, parks and trails to avoid potential infections and to keep updated on preventatives. Dog and cat feces left in neighborhoods, dog parks and forests can spread life-threatening parasites and viruses to other dogs and cats as well as wild animals and people” – Julia Wuerz, … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – February 1, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, January 15, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the January 25th AHD Bulletin – Develop an opportunity mindset. Link. How dogs understand time. Link. An update on multi-drug-resistant parasites in horses. Link. ============================================ 8 Pet supply, service businesses on … [Read more...]
Houseplants: 6 to keep, 6 to keep out of pet spaces
With the holidays over, some pet owner’s homes are getting reset for the rest of winter and early spring. Offices, too, are getting a fresh look. Plants are often a part of these space revitalization activities and in some cases contractors choose and care for the greenery. Houseplants, beyond being decorative, are assets to purify the air and remove toxins but, not all … [Read more...]
Tips for discussing weight management with pet owners (video)
Hill’s Karen Shenoy, DVM, shares advice for veterinary teams when discussing a pet’s weight with clients and addressing a case of obesity with animal owners. Her guidance about working pet owners’ behaviors into proactive feeding plans and considering the inclusion of treats is excellent counsel. We reminded veterinary teams to include food and treat information in pet … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – January 29, 2024
Posting OSHA 300 logs, animal voting rights, M&A in pet food, small business accountants speak, budgeting, money lost and more, including last week’s AHD Bulletin. Source: IBPSA, January 29, 2024. Link. The 2024 IBPSA FLOW Business Conference will be held in Tucson, Arizona September 24th-26th. Use this link if you wish to become a speaker at the conference <Link>. … [Read more...]
Combatting lack of adherence to heartworm preventatives
Animal health pros need to share images like this one over and over. We recently featured disturbing data on noncompliance <Link> and called for more realistic imagery in that post. Kudos to AHS for this image of heartworm. What will you do with it? Source: American Heartworm Society, X, January 18, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – January 25, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, January 18, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the January 18th AHD Bulletin – Cell phone addiction, how it impacts our relationships. Link. Leadership or sales tactics. Link. Practices that push cow-calf profitability. Link. ============================================ Elanco’s multi-year … [Read more...]
Cannibis? Keep aware of pet owner choices
Commentary We’re reposting these resources after learning that a neighbor’s 8-year-old terrier spent nearly four days recovering after ingesting cannabis during a visit from guests. The family thought the dog had ingested an Rx tablet but questions from poison control led them to discover one of the guests had dropped a marijuana bud. “Avoiding CBD discussions won’t stop … [Read more...]
Essential oils smell good to us but may be dangerous for pets
We live in a smell-sensitive society awash with myriad options for improving the aromas of our environs. With more than 60 percent of households with pets, the $2 billion U.S. air freshener market continues to grow <Link>. Aware of the potential health or environmental risks associated with synthetic chemicals, consumer demand is increasing for organic and natural … [Read more...]
CDC issues warning about cat-transmitted sporotrichosis
ICYMI. Cat-transmitted sporotrichosis has emerged in Brazil as a zoonotic epidemic and major public health threat and is a concern for the United States according to the CDC. The most common form of sporotrichosis is skin infections. Infected cats will present with lesions on their face, often around their nose. Source: DVM 360, May 2023. Link. This was the most read DVM 360 … [Read more...]
How cold is too cold?
Depending on a dog's breed, body condition, size, hair coat and whether they have pre-existing conditions, 20°F is when dog owners and caretakers need to provide protection and limit outdoor sessions to under 15 minutes, shares Christopher Brito. Source: CBS News, January 19, 2024. Link. Also see: How cold is too cold for your dog?, PetMD, January 2, 2024. Link. Jennifer … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – January 22, 2024
Forbes trends in pet health care, VMX review, grooming’s pivotal role, choosing a credit card processer, exceptional lobbies, pets as family, lines of credit and more . . . Source: IBPSA, January 22. 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Vets identify 4 barriers to pet food nutrition communication
Commentary Four main barriers may hinder communication about nutrition between pet owners and vets, according to research published in JAVMA <Link>. Time Misinformation and information overload Pet owners’ apprehension toward new information Veterinarians’ confidence in nutrition knowledge and communication skills Collecting diet and treat information … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – January 18, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, January 11, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the January 11th AHD Bulletin – Understanding active listening and distractions. Link. The pros and cons of servant leadership. Link. 22 team-building activities and games for 2024. Link. ============================================ Study: Antibiotics … [Read more...]
6 things to know about pet-safe ice melts
Contains Commercial References All ice melts pose some kind of risk to our pets. Those considered pet-safe contain urea or magnesium chloride are considered slightly safer but may still cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting or diarrhea and may not be as effective in melting ice and snow. Rock salt, sodium chloride, is one of the least pet-friendly ice … [Read more...]
How the No-Kill movement betrays its name
A neighborhood overrun with cats is a spectacle of contradictions, writes Jonathan Franzen. He shares the pros, cons, controversy and politics surrounding feral and outdoor cats. By keeping cats outdoors, trap-neuter-release policies have troubling consequences for city residents, local wildlife—and even the cats themselves.” Source: The New Yorker, December 25, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Brands share feeding fundamentals for puppies and kittens
The puppy and kitten diet market is replete with brands. Glenn A. Polyn shares insights from various brands on the nutritional needs of puppies and kittens in this article. Consistent delivery of nutritional elements that support steady growth and managing feed timing and volume are common to most brand messages. Polyn advocates for retailers to become more knowledgeable about … [Read more...]