The increasing number of overweight and obese pets is far more complex than people offering too much table food and the effects on life quality, longevity and health. Ernie Ward, president of The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, and Steve Dale, program host, discuss treating obesity as a disease, spay/neuter timing and the efforts addressing body conditioning. The … [Read more...]
New pet products earn top honors at Global Pet Expo
Global Pet Expo’s Best in Show awards were awarded across 13 product categories, including aquatic, bird, boutique, cat, dog, dog food/treats, natural, reptile, small animal, pet sustainability, pet tech innovation, point of purchase and the modern pet. Source: Pet Product News, March 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Emerging cicadas shouldn’t be a problem for most pets
Billions of cicadas from two broods will emerge from the ground weeks after the April total solar eclipse across large swaths of the U.S. Chances are good pets will run into the bugs. It will be the first time in 221 years that both broods are above ground simultaneously. The AVMA’s Rena Carlson, DVM, addressed potential pet concerns with the likely cicada … [Read more...]
Practicing with care for the emotional well-being of animals
Slick floors, padding for exam tables and seeing posters from an animal’s perspective were among topics when Temple Grandin, PhD, MS and Fear Free’s Marty Becker, DVM addressed Fetch dvm360 conference attendees recently. Not everyone gets to attend these events, so we’re sharing an overview from Kristen Coppock, MA. Source: DVM 360, March 17, 2024. Link. “Creating and … [Read more...]
5 key pet industry trends to watch from 2024 to 2028
Sharing takeaways from an in-depth Packaged Facts webinar titled, “US Pet Market Outlook 2024: Opportunities in a Mixed Growth Landscape, Sarah Schmidt offers a summary of key trends: Impact of inflation on pet owner spending Economic challenges facing younger pet owners Shift to lower-cost products and services Decline in the dog population Continued pet … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – March 25, 2024
Small business debt, retail employment segment, purpose-driven company culture, growing costs of owning pets, pet allergies and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, March 25, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Urban greening boosts rodent population and zoonotic disease risk
Commentary We have shared posts about the intersection of wildlife and our domestic animals <Link>. The risks are worth more attention and specifically, pet owner education. Margaret Davis shares the zoonotic drawbacks created by urban greening initiatives that beautify cities, support biodiversity and purify air by creating habitats for diverse flora and … [Read more...]
Annual leptospirosis vaccination NOW recommended by ACVIM
Leptospirosis sp. is a zoonotic risk in humans and other mammals. Leptospirosis is most frequently recognized in cattle, swine, dogs, horses and wildlife. Cats are also being considered as more investigation takes place. Modern canine vaccines offer four serovars of lepto to help protect dogs and the infection risks are not restricted to large-breed dogs, male dogs, or dogs … [Read more...]
AAFP updates position statements on the responsible breeding and indoor/outdoor lifestyle of cats
Seeking to provide evidence-based guidance to veterinary professionals and cat caregivers to ensure the highest standards of care for feline companions, the AAFP issued statements to more realistically address challenges with feline husbandry. Included in the statements were: The AAFP does not condone the breeding of cats with inherent malformations, and any breed with … [Read more...]
Kitten season is out of control. Are warmer winters to blame?
For more than a decade, animal shelters across the country have noted kitten season starting earlier and lasting longer. Scientists, conservationists and cat advocates all agree unchecked outdoor cat populations are a problem, but they remain deeply divided on solutions. Whether longer periods of warmer weather or an increase in food sources, a large number of feral cats around … [Read more...]
FDA warns cat owners certain topicals can be toxic if licked
Social grooming, also called allogrooming, is a sign of social bonding and is associated with security, trust and love when cats lick their humans. However, topical medicines can cause harm to cats who like to lick their people. The FDA recently warned people about the possibility of fluorouracil poisoning in pets <Link>. Catnip’s eStaff shares information about … [Read more...]
The rights and wrongs of dog treats
Commentary Recent statistics classify the majority of pets in the United States; about 56 percent of dogs and 60 percent of cats, as overweight or obese <Link>. Our team has been outspoken about how treats are positioned, kcals in treats and addressing pet owner feeding and treating behavior <Link>. As we see new treats introduced, we routinely check on the kcals … [Read more...]
Cat’s behavior out of control? Seek help.
Your first response to this article might be, “Cats being cats . . . how would you know?” Seek help sooner rather than later, writes Zazie Todd, PhD, as most problems will take action to resolve. Common behavior issues in cats include toileting in unapproved places, scratching where it’s not wanted, not getting on with other pets and aggressive behavior. Todd references … [Read more...]
Purina’s $30 million investment in people, pets
Purina's charitable giving in 2023 focused on key areas that included connecting pets with youth to support mental health, and funding programs designed to keep people and pets together in times of crisis. Source: Pet Business, February 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Spring cleaning? Beware the toxic risks.
With warmer temperatures and increased daylight, homeowners get busy cleaning windows, washing decks, treating yards . . . generally freshening up their homes and yards. Those with pets need to be reminded many cleaning products contain chemicals that, in large enough amounts, can be toxic to humans and animals. Veterinary toxicologists share what and how much can be … [Read more...]
How cats see the world. Let’s review.
Paul Miller, DVM, DACVO, explains how cat vision works, from the way they see the world to how it shapes their behavior. Like dogs, cats are red-green color blind. Their night vision is about 5.5 to 7 times better than humans in dim light but humans are more than 10 times better at detecting motion in daylight. Miller shares some signs of eye problems in cats owners may notice … [Read more...]
A look inside Fear Free practices
International in scope, Fear Free methods are being adopted by veterinarians, veterinary technicians, groomers and trainers. One might say, Fear Free is a behavior modification program where people adjust to what makes animals comfortable in facilities retrofitted to reduce pets’ triggers and inherent fears. As such, Fear Free is a verb, denoting focused actions. As a noun, … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – March 11, 2024
Pet business is resetting post Covid, Petco Love promoting vaccination during National Pet Vaccination Month, Global Pet Expo, guide to safe online transactions and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, March 11, 2024. Link. Record number of speaker applications for IBPSA FLOW Business Conference planned for September 24, 2024 - September 26, 2024 in Tucson, Arizona … [Read more...]
Mella Pet Care secures investment from Shark Tank’s Mark Cuban
Congratulations to the Mella Pet Care team for the success on ABC’s Shark Tank, televised on March 1st. Source: Mella Pet Care, March 4, 2024. Link. Watch a clip from the episode here <Link>. … [Read more...]
8 reasons to try grass seed cat litter
One type of litter showing up on retail shelves recently is grass seed cat litter. Grass seed litter sells between $1.00 and $10.00 per pound which is aligned with other litter types. Various online reviews we searched were positive with tendencies for tracking and potential allergies as concerns. We noted warnings to be sure pet owners did not purchase lawn grass seed … [Read more...]
Pet owner handout emphasizes the importance of pet oral health
Reinforcing the importance of home care and oral exams by veterinarians, this handout is built as a take-home to reinforce discussions in the veterinary hospital or for use in newsletters or social media. Source: Clinician’s Brief, February 2024. Link. The handout refers to different types of oral care products for at-home use and refers to the VOHC lists of approved … [Read more...]
AAFP announces new chronic pain educational toolkit
Developed by individuals at the forefront of treating pain in domestic cats, the AAFP Chronic Pain Educational Toolkit provides veterinary professionals with an easy-to-access and easy-to-use resource for understanding, diagnosing and managing chronic pain in cats. It adds to existing resources and provides guidance on improving the quality of life for cats with chronic … [Read more...]
13 things dogs hate that humans do (video)
Inconsistencies, forcing dogs into uncomfortable situations, changing food too quickly and ignoring dogs’ health needs are included in the items in this informative video. Use video content like this to engage pet owners on social media or in newsletters. Add assertive comments or pet care reminders from your own hospital or pet services business. For example: “Puppy classes … [Read more...]
Environments cats find friendly
A cat’s behavioral responses are directly related to its emotions. A cat-friendly environment minimizes the cat’s protective emotions and improves the experience for the cat, the caregiver, and the team, writes Kelly St. Denis MSc, DVM, DABVP, who focuses on the veterinary hospital in this article. The information is also applicable to boarding, daycare and pet services … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – March 4, 2024
Petflation outpacing national inflation rate, Door Dash to deliver pet supplies, nurturing vendor relationships for growth, little things that count, AI in small business and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, March 4, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
9 pet companies listed as fastest-growing U.S. private companies by region
Inc. magazine’s 2024 Regionals list honors the fastest-growing privately held U.S. companies by region over a two-year period which includes emerging veterinary hospitals, pet franchises, pet insurance and other product manufacturers. Source: Pet Product News, March 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
2023’s top 25 pet retailers
Rising competition from online and non-specialty retailers companies on the 2023 list added more than 200 stores to top retail competitors. Store conversions and acquisitions along with organic growth helped them avoid contraction and optimize economies of scale. NOTE: Consider reading the comments from four top growth companies who share their experiences in managing for … [Read more...]
Fire doesn’t discriminate. Neither do these vets.
Dr. Deb Zoran, a veterinarian and leader of Texas A&M’s Veterinary Emergency Team, faces long days and short nights as the Texas wildfires rage on. Originally on a narrow mission to aid the search dog sent with A&M’s search and rescue team, Shelton and other volunteers heeded officials’ pleas for help from more veterinarians. They’re still there. The veterinarians … [Read more...]
Home delivery, autoship important offerings for veterinary clients
ICYMI. Ordering online is rapidly becoming an expectation. Already, convenience is table stakes. Malinda Larkin shares takeaways from survey results presented by Brakke Consulting. The survey looked at consumer preferences and behaviors in pet medicine purchasing, customer satisfaction with different channels and service expectations, and the competitive landscape versus major … [Read more...]
Are veterinarians obligated to discuss pet insurance? (podcast)
Alyssa Watson, DVM, and Beth Molleson, DVM, debate the role of the veterinary team when it comes to pet owner education and discuss if pet insurance is an obligation. Their consensus: Pet insurance is not an obligation. Educating pet owners on the lifetime costs of veterinary pet care is important. Source: Veterinary Breakroom, Clinician’s Brief. February 2024. … [Read more...]