The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) is pleased to announce a new publication, developed with the support of an educational grant from IDEXX, Promoting Preventive Care Protocols: Evidence, Enactment, and Economics. Veterinary practices are rapidly shifting from firefighting to attentive monitoring, so disease can be caught and addressed as early as possible. … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Home dental care now in WSAVA Global Dental Guidelines
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association Global Dental Guidelines were updated August 1, 2018. They now include a section on dental home care. The two major types of home plaque control are active and passive. Both types can be effective if performed correctly and consistently. Active homecare is currently the gold standard. Active homecare involves the … [Read more...]
Vetfolio podcast series: Treating bacterial dermatitis
Vetfolio launched an educational podcast series that details treatment strategies for a variety of diagnosis scenarios veterinary teams face daily. The series is sponsored by Dechra and includes: Episode 1: Why Topicals are Important for Your Practice Episode 2: Trouble Shooting Chronic Otic Cases Episode 3: How to Incorporate Supplements in to Your Dermatology … [Read more...]
Top 5 gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary antibiotics
Treatment options include more than metronidazole, writes Craig B. Webb, PhD, DVM, DACVIM. She reviews five antibiotics that address gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary disorders: Enrofloxacin Metronidazole Tylosin Amoxicillin–clavulanic acid Neomycin Source: Clinician’s Brief, March 2018. Link. Webb considers enrofloxacin, metronidazole, and tylosin to be … [Read more...]
Opinion – Chew on this blast from the past
AHD editor, Rick Purnell, found a dental care brochure in a media kit from 2007. See the images of the Hartz® brochure at the link below. While the graphics show how far we’ve come in presenting products in the last 10 plus years, the messages are alarmingly similar. A Google search for the study referenced indicates its results have been referenced by as many as 20 or more … [Read more...]
Infections from a dog lick are a risk but very rare
Jennifer McQuiston is one of the nation’s leading experts on capnocytophaga, the bacteria at the center of recent news stories revealing amputations and deaths from these bacteria. According to the CDC, 74% of dogs have capnocytophaga detected in their mouths The bacteria are often found in dog and cat saliva "and on occasion, you can even find this bug in human saliva." When … [Read more...]
Sponsored content: as seen in AAHA Red
AAHA Red is a blog designed to represent everything AAHA. Red also contains sponsored content from AAHA Strategic Alliance partners. Recent content sponsored by Merck Animal Health is provided below. Source: AAHA Red. The broad-spectrum antibiotic with patented ‘Taste Masking Technology’, Merck Animal Health, August 1, 2018. Link. Are your patients covered when it … [Read more...]
Veterinarian’s life purpose keeps him busy into his 90s
Veterinary surgeon Lincoln Parks invented and patented a cart that allows disable animals to walk in the 1960s. He’s been making them since through his business, K-9 Cart (link). He retired in 1991 after more than 3,000 spine surgeries, but he didn’t stop working. He set up a workshop and has built and sold animal wheelchairs since. Source: Washington Post, August 9, 2018. … [Read more...]
Cats are neither mean nor cruel
Brigitte Osterath discusses cat behavior, their status as loners and how that affects interactions. Her article and photos are worthy of social media posts targeting new cat owners. There is a simple reason for why cats are so different from dogs — and thus also in their relationships to humans: "Cats are originally loners and independent," explains Dennis Turner. They did not … [Read more...]
U.S. federal pot law puts vets into a quandary
California appears ready to pass the nation’s first law giving veterinarians the legal position required to answer questions about using cannabis for pets. At least 30 U.S. states have legalized medical marijuana, but none of them make provisions for ailing animals. As a result, veterinarians are reluctant to even discuss marijuana, which remains illegal under federal law, … [Read more...]
Veterinary clients, hospitals not together on parasitology
It’s no surprise, but variance numbers are just too far apart between veterinary teams' and their clients’ perceptions. Opinions between veterinarians and pet owners differ about what parasite education, treatment and diagnostics are being done in visits, according to new data from Partners for Healthy Pets, AAHA and AVMA. Parallel information from the Veterinary Hospital … [Read more...]
Our pets are fat and getting fatter
Sixty percent of cats and 56 percent of dogs in the U.S. are overweight. In fact, the Association for Pet Obesity estimates that veterinarians now classify more than 100 million dogs and cats as overweight or obese. That is up from 80 million five years ago. Some pet owners fail to recognize the severity of the problem. Source: New York Times, August 2, 2018. (paywall) … [Read more...]
Traveling with pets: AVMA FAQs
August is traditionally a busy family vacation month. These trips include pets more than ever before. The AVMA has a solid resource to answer questions about pet travel. Consider using it to inform pet owners via social media, website links and in vacation readiness newsletters. Many of these FAQs also apply to the dogs and cats that attend state fairs with 4-Hers and FFA … [Read more...]
Focus on feline health: AVMA Special Report
Animal health pros focused on Feline urinary tract health and wellness will want to review this issue of the AVMA Animal Health Smartbrief. It begins with sponsored information from Royal Canin as the first in a series of reports. Cats are known for concealing signs of illness, so often the first sign of something amiss occurs in the litter box, or outside of it, as is … [Read more...]
Cat scratch fever and prevention
Referring to a bacterial infection caused by Bartonella henselae bacteria, not Ted Nugent’s hit song of 1977, Sandy Robins reviews cat scratch fever also known as cat scratch disease. Zoonotic, cat scratch fever is preventable if you understand feline behavior and ensure pets are protected from fleas. The article includes good information about avoiding scratches and dealing … [Read more...]
Help keep dog stress to a minimum
Dogs, like people, get stressed by a variety of experiences in their world, writes Sassafras Lowrey. She discusses stressors and options to address stressed dogs. Common reasons for a stressed dog: Changes in the home, which may include moving or home renovations. Introducing new people, like a roommate or a partner moving in, the addition of children such as the birth … [Read more...]
Experts share what human foods dogs can eat
As making homemade dog food becomes more common, ensuring dogs get balanced diets is important. Jennifer Berg, owner of Tribeca veterinary Wellness clinic and Debra Zoran, veterinary professor at Texas A&M University shared some human foods that are okay for dogs and ones to avoid. Source: Today, July 19, 2018. Link. “Fruits and vegetables can be included in a dog’s … [Read more...]
Comparison chart helps guide pet insurance decision making
There is consensus that pet insurance is good for the animal, the pet owner and for the veterinary care team. But, choosing a provider is confusing and likely a barrier for pet owners interested in buying pet insurance. Using this comparison chart along with individual hospital experiences could make a difference in getting pet insurance commitments from owners. Source: … [Read more...]
Can a lawn service replace flea and tick preventives?
It is well known that 80-plus percent of fleas are not seen. Tick infestations are similar. Lawn care companies heavily advertise their flea- and tick-repelling sprays this time of year. Michael Nappier, DVM, DABVP, asks, “Are your clients buying the hype?” Source: Veterinary Medicine, July 12, 2018. Link. Nappier shares client communication tips to use when clients refuse … [Read more...]
Understanding the cat
Ilona Rodan, DVM, offers animal health pros the opportunity to learn to recognize and prevent feline stressors surrounding veterinary visits. Regardless of practice type, these measures improve patient experiences, client acceptance of veterinary services and reduce injury rates. For some, this may be a review. For veterinary teams, the information is a valuable resource to … [Read more...]
Behaviorist advises against toilet training cats (includes video)
Beyond the obvious convenience of not having to deal with a litter box, Dr. Marci L. Koski is firmly opposed to training a cat to use the human toilet. She gives five reasons why this is not a good idea: Not natural You may miss indicators of changes in your cat’s health Physical stress It only takes ONE time to spook your cat off the toilet forever Your cat … [Read more...]
Let’s talk parasites
A consistent message about parasite prevention is important, and clear information is crucial, writes Kara Burns MS, MEd, LVT, VTS. She reminds us the importance of team skill training and a clear, consistent message on various parasite topics. To communicate effectively, veterinary team members must understand the connection between what they want to say and how they want to … [Read more...]
Petco tests Pet Coach store concept
Petco feels competition from Amazon. In what appears to be an about face from self-service stores, Petco’s new concept stores are service-focused stores that aim to give shoppers something they can't buy online. "What we're doing [in San Marcos] today will look very different a year from now. If it doesn't, then I've failed," Weatherup told CNBC. "This is where people go to be … [Read more...]
How much do you feed a cat?
A 2011 study by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) found that more than 50 percent of cats were obese or overweight. So, what is happening that predisposes our domestic felines to a life of sedentary obesity? The answer is multifactorial but to simplify, just remember this: any individual mammal will gain body weight if it consumes more calories than it burns as … [Read more...]
Natural cat litter alternatives may benefit the environment
JaneA Kelley compiled a list of six natural cat litter alternatives touted to be better for the environment. The argument for litter made from plant material is that it is friendlier to the environment, it generally weighs less than clay litters and cats like it. Here’s the list: Corn Grass Green tea Walnut shells Wheat Wood pellets Source: Catster, July … [Read more...]
Catego® for cats helps raise more than $10,000 for Virginia cat rescue
AHD sponsor Ceva Animal Health, maker of Catego®, helped the Chris Griffey Memorial Feline Foundation raise more than $10,000 through a popular video on Facebook. Catego SpokesCat Benedict, “Benny” Cumbercat, and his owner, Ellen Carozza, a veterinary technician, were featured in video highlighting the Chris Griffey Memorial Feline Foundation that cares for at-risk kittens. It … [Read more...]
9 tips to keep kitties cool
JaneA Kelley shares tips about keeping cats cool and comfortable when the weather gets hot: Cool your cat down with ice Add a home-made air conditioner to the cat’s favorite lounging spot Elevate the cat’s bed Provide a fan for the cat Pet cats with a wet towel Close curtains Avoid cooling gel packs Postpone play time Never, never, never leave a cat … [Read more...]
Dogs get sunburned just like us
Dogs’ coats protect against a lot, except the sun’s UVB and UVA rays. Yes, they can sunburn enough to warrant emergency treatment. Our friends at Nationwide offer tips on sunburn prevention and low- and high-res graphics that help create great reminders for bulletin boards, clinic counters, blogs, websites and take-home material. While these fair-colored and thin-furred dogs … [Read more...]
Hot pavement burns paws (includes video)
Hot pavement can have gruesome and painful consequences for dogs’ paws. Sarah Schweig offers burnt paw information worth sharing with pet owners in social media, blogs and on websites. Source: the dodo, June 11, 2018. Link. Put the back of your hand on the pavement, and if you can't keep it there for five seconds, it's too hot for your pup's feet. Also see: 9 tips on how … [Read more...]
Electroceuticals reduce anxiety, stress in pets (includes video)
"Electroceuticals are, as a prescription medical device, approved for anxiety," says Ava Frick, DVM. Because of how electroceutical microcurrents function throughout the brain, animal stress levels can be reduced. Source: American Veterinarian, July 3, 2018. Link. Microcurrents are introduced to the body through little clips that go on the ears. The low frequency, … [Read more...]