Published pre-pandemic, this article indicates the issues of work, life and pet balance have always been with us. Various media have covered the challenges of returning to work and leaving a pet behind as we transitioned through the challenges of 2020 and 2021. Alex Haslam shared sound tips to help owners and pets make smooth transitions to new schedules. Taking care of a … [Read more...]
What cats want from furniture
There are countless pieces of cat furniture on the market today with all kinds of features and in every decorating style to create an enriching, stress-free environment for our cats. There are a few key considerations. We captured these three: Safety should be a priority Allow for climbing, hiding, lounging, scratching, and playing while being space conscious … [Read more...]
Taking your cat to the vet: Cat Talk video series
Several veterinarians are featured in this educational video from Cat Friendly Homes. It shares worthwhile tips for crating and traveling with cats. Videos like this are welcomed by pet owners, most of whom need continual best practices reinforcement. Consider these videos for newsletters and social media posts. Source: Cat Friendly Homes. Link. Cat Friendly Homes is powered … [Read more...]
Educating pet owners on correcting nuisance behaviors (video)
It’s not rocket science, but redirecting pets is not a normal reaction. Chris Pachel, DVM, DACVB, CABC, advocates pet owners redirect problem behaviors in their companion animals rather than responding with punishment. Have we provided the pet an appropriate outlet for nuisance behaviors? What do we want the animal to do?” - Chris Pachel, DVM, DACVB, CABC Source: DVM 360, … [Read more...]
IPBSA Fast Bites – January 24, 2022
Pet care commerce gaining importance, hamsters emerge as pets of choice, small business tax options, China hotel built with dogs in mind and more . . . Source: IPBSA Fast Bites, January 24, 2022. Link. INSIGHTS: IBPSA offers business resources, staff education, and legislative support. IBPSA Members include the owners and employees of pet boarding and daycare facilities, … [Read more...]
Gonadectomy resources for veterinarians
Elective and often controversial, pet sterilization is an important part of pet owner decision making. As the risks and benefits of gonadectomy are re-examined, a renewed conversation about if and when to sterilize a pet is emerging. The AVMA stays on top of this topic and provides resources for veterinarians and pet owners as spay and neuter decisions are considered. As we … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – January 20, 2022
Last week’s most read post Lyme-carrying ticks live longer. What? Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, Jan 13, 2022. Link. =========================== The world’s largest wildlife crossing could have a spring groundbreaking Source: LAist, January 13, 2022. Link. The Liberty Wildlife Crossing has been impressive since its … [Read more...]
Pets can be an important part of your business plan
More than 70 percent of U.S. households include a pet and 88 percent of them think of it as part of the family. Plus, according to an ASPCA survey, 23 million American households added a new pet since the beginning of the pandemic. Modern pet parents want housing, workplaces, products and experiences to recognize and integrate their animals. Put another way — if your … [Read more...]
The case against retractable leashes
Retractable leashes have no place in dog training, says Nancy Kerns. The biggest problem with countless situations is when a dog is more than a couple of feet from the owner. There is nothing that can be done to get him back to your side. Retractable products can retract only when there is no tension on the line.” – Nancy Kerns Source: Whole Dog Journal, March 21, 2019. Link. … [Read more...]
AAHA NEWStat’s top 5 posts of 2021
Grape toxicity, xylitol poisoning, man’s best friend could be a woman and more populate the Top 5 list from 2021 shared by Tony McReynolds. Source: AAHA NEWStat, January 4, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
5 scary consequences of neglecting pets’ oral care
Sponsored Commercial Content Every month and every visit to the veterinarian should include an oral care discussion about dogs and cats. The animal health industry parallels the dental months in human medicine with our own National Pet Dental Health Month in February supported by the AVMA. PetMD’s Dr. Hanie Elfenbein, DVM, PhD, reminds dog owners that poor oral hygiene … [Read more...]
Chatfields talk about CBD and pets — Episode 20
Complimentary Commercial Content So many questions. So much information. A lot of room for misunderstanding. The Chatfields visit with Cornell’s Joseph J. Wakshlag, DVM, PhD, to dig into what’s what. CBD? THC? Terpenes? WHAT?! Are all these the same? What are they? Did you know there are even different kinds of cannabidiol? Like CBDA? How much is safe for dogs? Cats? … [Read more...]
Rabies, lest we forget it’s importance
We often hear rabies is eliminated. It is true for canine rabies. It is NOT true for wildlife, especially bats. Scott Weese, DVM, recaps the 2021 rabies scene in the U.S. He shares details on the five human deaths due to rabies reported in 2021. This is the highest annual case count in the last decade. There’s limited penetration of rabies awareness education for the general … [Read more...]
New vision for animal services focuses on community wellness, professional certifications
Thank you to guest contributor, Brent Toellner, senior director of national programs, Best Friends Animal Society Tawny Hammond, national no kill leadership advancement director with Best Friends Animal Society, believes how we treat companion animals is a direct reflection of our communities’ overall well-being. She cites studies that support consistent, compassionate, … [Read more...]
Tips for getting your cat clean with less drama
Occasionally, cats get dirty enough to need a bath. The author shares tips for making bath time less stressful on the cat and owner. Consider these resources for social media and newsletters to help cat owners clean up a dirty cat . Source: Tuft’s Catnip, November 22, 2021. Link. Also see: How to [safely] bathe a cat, ASPCA® Pet Insurance. Link. … [Read more...]
Millions of dog owners facing quandary over dog care as they return to work
More than 23 million American households adopted a pet during the pandemic – so far, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. And, boy how they pampered those pets. Americans spent $21.4 billion on nonmedical pet products through November and $28.4 billion on dog food, according to Euromonitor International. Rover, the dog sitting and boarding … [Read more...]
Puppy meets a live wire (podcast)
Jennifer Good, DVM, DACVECC, discusses in this podcast what happens when a puppy that snacked on an electrical cord was presented to her in cardiovascular shock. Good retraces her steps, highlighting all the turning points and big decisions these cases entail. Source: Clinician’s Brief Podcast. Link. 34 minutes. … [Read more...]
Reminder: February is Pet Dental Month
Opinion National Pet Dental Health Month is celebrated in February to reinforce the importance of pet dental health and as a reminder for pet owners to practice routine oral care on their pets. It is sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Call it dental care or oral care, it is a critical component of healthy pet management at home, in veterinary … [Read more...]
10 of the most-read articles on PetProductNews.com in 2021
We noted interesting survey information showing dogs are not getting bathed enough. Plus, supply chain issues, hiring decisions and the ongoing pet food ingredient debate. Source: Pet Product News, December 29, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
The best de-shedding brushes
Pet owners often ask which tool is best to help capture and control shedding hair. Nine de-shedding tools are reviewed in this article. Most pets grow accustomed to frequent brushing. Owners find this to be an excellent time to bond and look over their pets. Source: Puppies and Pooches, August 12, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Pet owners are searching Amazon for these pet food attributes
Keyword searches indicate pet owners know what type of pet food they want, yet major gaps remain, according to NielsenIQ officials. Opportunities exist in more inclusive labeling, as well as ingredient development. Source: Pet Product News, October 12, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Cat obesity up more than 100 percent in 10 years
Citing Banfield Pet Hospitals’ electronic veterinary health records, Jackie Brown shares some disturbing findings: 114 percent increase in cats diagnosed as overweight in the last 10 years Dog obesity also rose 108 percent in the same period A survey of 1,000 owners of overweight or obese pets discovered: 93 percent said they faced hurdles in maintaining a … [Read more...]
Cleaning up after feline messes
While cats are often considered fastidious, they can be untidy creatures. They leave a unique assortment of stains and messes around homes that require constant cleaning. Kate Benjamin shares how to keep things nice and neat when living with cats. New and seasoned cat owners will appreciate Benjamin’s tips. Share them on social media and in newsletters. Source: Catster, … [Read more...]
Land area twice the size of the UK needed to feed the world’s pets
With increasing demand for pets comes increasing demand for pet food. In fact, an area twice the size of the UK is used to produce dry cat and dog food each year, according to a recent study published in the journal Global Environmental Change. Researchers analyzed data on primary ingredients in more than 280 types of dry food in the U.S. and Europe, which account for two … [Read more...]
Considerations before switching a pet’s food
Questions about pet food are among the most frequent queries made by pet owners. One size fits all doesn’t work when it comes to pet food, says Anthony Bennie. He shares signs that could signal the need for a food source change and factors that could influence pets’ acceptance of their pet food. Source: Animal Wellness Report, December 2021. Link. While changes in your dog … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – January 3, 2022
Dog and cat facial expressions, why pet therapy works, small business trends, insurance and planning, longest living dog breeds and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, January 3, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Drs Chatfield share their top 5 animal stories
There’s always a laugh, something to learn and some sibling banter when Dr. Jen the Vet and twin brother, Jason Chatfield, DVM, get together for an episode of Chat’s with the Chatfields. The latest episode covers their top 5 animal stories and more. Source: Chat’s with the Chatfields, YouTube, December 16, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
2021’s top 10 VIP episodes
Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak have produced 84 podcasts in the last two years providing animal health pros a unique opportunity to learn about innovations in our marketplace. VIP provided a list of the most-listened to podcasts for us to share with you. Seven new podcasts are already planned for 2022. Source: Veterinary Innovation Podcast, December 24, 2021. … [Read more...]
Most read Animal Health Digest posts of 2021
As 2021 ends, our team celebrates six years of curating, selecting and then supplying actionable content for animal health professionals. To date, about 6,500 posts are stored in our AHD website. What you read helps determine where we seek content that can be applied to how you work and interact with customers and stakeholders. We’ve assembled the most read posts of 2021 in … [Read more...]
5 ways to keep cats happy
Simple things that can make a cat feel good. The authors shares five of them, including using a drinking fountain instead of a stationary bowl. Consider this article for social media and newsletters. Source: Tufts Catnip, June 2021. Link. … [Read more...]