MSD Animal Health/Merck Animal Health has announced the publication of a new study in the journal Vaccine. It demonstrates that universal canine vaccination is an effective public health policy for eliminating human rabies exposure. The study reviewed examples of a successful One Health collaborative strategy that focused on elimination of canine rabies as the most expedient … [Read more...]
Euthanasia, a vet’s perspective
Dr. Eric Barchas shares that euthanasia is the hardest and most emotionally challenging part of his job. And, he says, it has not gotten any easier as the years go on. He explains his approach and reasoning when it is time for a cat’s life to end. Source: Catster, March 14, 2017. Behavioral problems are a leading cause of euthanasia in cats. And by behavioral problems I … [Read more...]
New chart helps find the right dental treats
The treat market gets more crowded every day. Differentiating one dental treat from the next is challenging. Not all canine dental treats are created equal. The chart in this article will help dog owners find the best chews for their pets. Source: Firstline, March 16, 2017. Eleven canine dental treats have been awarded the Veterinary Oral Health Council’s (VOHC) Seal of … [Read more...]
Remind outdoor enthusiasts about disease risk for them and their companion animals
The AVMA provides a reference guide about diseases that outdoor enthusiasts such as, campers, canoers, kayakers, backpackers and hikers and their companion animals may encounter. It is the time of year when pets and their owners take to the field. Source: AVMA, March 17, 2017. This document is by no means intended to discourage people from enjoying outdoor activities; … [Read more...]
Trichomonosis cat-roversy brewing
Tritrichomonas foetus has been recognized as a cause of chronic colitis in cats in the last 20 years. The protozoan is now considered a common infectious causes of large bowel diarrhea. Dr. Jody Gookin and colleagues at the College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, explain that one of the more pressing challenges is that feline trichomonosis is resistant … [Read more...]
Cats are trainable
Sarah Ellis, PhD, says cats can be trained. She is a feline behavior specialist at International Cat Care, an England-based international charity that provides education and training for veterinarians, breeders, cat boarders, rescue workers and cat owners. Training may take a few hours, a day or a few weeks depending on how often owners practice and an individual cat’s … [Read more...]
Cats have to play
Behaviorist Marilyn Krieger reminds us that playing is a lifelong activity for cats. She says playing is intrinsically rewarding. If it wasn’t, cats wouldn’t play. Source: Catster, February 24, 2017. Cats of all ages should be encouraged to play — but always within their limits. Playing is a lifelong activity that teaches skills, promotes health, fights boredom and is fun. … [Read more...]
Cat-friendly practices tops 1,000
The American Association of Feline Practitioners indicated last year there are 1,050 cat-friendly practices and another 500 in the process of earning the designation. Understanding cat behavior, feline-friendly handling, and reducing stress associated with the visit are core components of the CFP program. The program encompasses the entire well-being of cats, cat caregivers and … [Read more...]
Management tree helps determine Macrocyclic lactone-resistant heartworm disease resistance
Animal health pros dealing with heartworm or heartworm products will appreciate the management tree for successful resolution to determine if resistance to macrocyclic lactone preventives is a factor in canine heartworm patients. Source: Plumb’s Therapeutics Brief, November 2015. Resistance to macrocyclic lactone preventatives in canine heartworm cases has been proven, … [Read more...]
Feline gastritis common, needs treating
Gastritis is so prevalent in cats that the disorder ranks as the number 2 reason people seek veterinary care for their cats. Mary Labato, DVM at Tufts University, says a few bites of spoiled food or a mild infection can cause stomach distress for our finicky feline friends. Source: Tufts Catnip, February 20, 2017. There are two types of gastritis: acute and chronic. Acute … [Read more...]
End of Life Care Guidelines web conference closes February 26
This webinar will feature the goals of hospice care and ways to provide optimal compassionate care during this delicate, yet enriching time. The VetFolio conference is presented by Dr. Brenda Stevens and Dr. Kathleen Cooney. Source: VetFolio, February 18, 2017. After this Web conference, the participant should: Become familiar with the scope of end-of-life care … [Read more...]
DIY marketing for parasite-free pets
Remember "stop, look and listen?" They were potentially life-saving actions drilled into us by our parents and teachers when we are about to cross the road. Our AHD team urges you to stop, look and listen to the advice Jane Harrell offers regarding marketing parasite prevention yourself. Research shows that clients view the education you give them about their pet’s health as a … [Read more...]
“Lexus” pet dentistry
The title made me a bit uncomfortable but as the metaphor played out it was clear the authors had a strong point to make. As with shopping for a car, clients want to compare the Lexus style with that of the Kia. However, actual dental services represent a wide continuum of services depending, at least, on the age, size, and breed of the pet. To the client, however, it often … [Read more...]
Kids prefer pets to siblings
While many families have pets, there hasn’t been much research done on the importance of child-pet relationships. Researchers with the University of Cambridge wanted to shed more light on these relationships by developing a system to test them. The study was published online in the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology and will appear in the March 2017 print … [Read more...]
Editorial – Consumers getting dental messages
February is National Pet Dental month, but dental care for pets is a daily routine we rarely get established as animal health pros. Even veterinarians admit they don’t brush their own pets’ teeth daily. Still, the amount of media attention to this topic in February is admirable. In this consumer article Sarah Young summarizes the importance of dental care, a daily routine, … [Read more...]
Look at the ears
Ear infections and ear troubles almost always top the list of common pet ailments. Louis Norman Gotthelf, DVM, offers a photo tour of ear examinations and discussion of managing for healthy ears. Consider using this article for discussion during a veterinary team meeting. Source: Clinician’s Brief, December 2016. Dr. Gotthelf says a thorough physical examination of the ear … [Read more...]
Top 5 genetic diseases of cats
The most frequent conditions are complexly inherited and involve combinations of multiple genes and environmental factors. Jerold S. Bell, DVM, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, discusses: Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) Diabetes mellitus Lymphocytic or plasmacytic inflammatory disease Polycystic kidney disease Hypertrophic … [Read more...]
Plaque, tartar, gingivitis – oh my!
Pets need dentistry least three times in their lives. February is National Pet Dental Month Teeth scaling is a big part of the in-clinic dental cleaning. Jan Bellows, DVM, DAVDC and DABVP, offers tips for veterinary teams. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, January/February 2017. 5 guiding points can help ensure that every patient’s teeth are cleaned with similar expertise. … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – AAHA Resources for dental month
Improve dentistry at your practice and help clients understand the value of proper dental care with a variety of resources from AAHA Press. It is easy to let the month of February go by without acknowledging Nation Pet Dental Health Month. Fortunately, animal health pros understand the importance of promoting dental care for our animals. The resources available help enable … [Read more...]
Biter or catnip-er
Cat owners will appreciate the perspective in this excerpt about biting in cats. A cat may be a mild biter during play or may mean business when she chomps down, inflicting pain and drawing blood. In either case, biting behavior must be corrected. Source: Tuft’s Catnip, January 30, 2017. Biting may have become a very effective means of communication for a cat. She may … [Read more...]
11 pet food trends forecast for 2017
Experts believe pet owners will increasingly demand the same qualities in pet food they want in their own meals, such as familiar ingredients, sustainability and nutrition. Our AHD team believes some of these trends will greatly affect veterinary teams and retail associates. Review this list and consider how you may address these trends as they appear in your … [Read more...]
Addison Biological Laboratory commits to sponsorship
Our team at Animal Health Digest appreciates Addison Biological Laboratory continuing as a Supporting Sponsor in 2017. This commitment is especially relevant as our industry prepares for National Pet Dental Health Month in February. Addison’s sponsorship will be visible using the Maxi/Guard® product line logo during this time. Karlin Yaeger, global sales manager, has created … [Read more...]
NYC cat-astrophe – 100’s of cats quarantined
A rare strain of bird flu has flown through New York City’s animal shelters. So far, 500 cats have been quarantined and 386 of the them have tested positive for the H7N2 virus — the first time the disease has even been found in cats, officials said. Source: New York Post, January 12, 2017. Collecting cats from shelters in all corners of the city, city officials have locked … [Read more...]
Monthly preventives are not 100-percent effective on worms
Richard Gerhold, veterinary parasitologist, sets the record straight about monthly preventive medications and the possibility of pets still picking up parasites. He discusses a case where a dog picked up hookworms, even though the client was believed to be compliant on a monthly preventive regimen. Source: DVM360, January 3, 2017. The preventive effectiveness and the … [Read more...]
Catster promotes vet visits
Consumer media sources don’t often tell pet owners the importance of veterinary visits. Not so with this Get-your-cat-to-the-vet for a checkup article. Source: Catster, January 4, 2017. Cats are experts at hiding pain and illness. Just because your cat doesn’t seem sick doesn’t mean she isn’t. She could have dental disease — by three years of age, most cats have signs of … [Read more...]
10 most popular pet food industry news stories of 2016
In 2016, news about pet food contamination, top dog and cat food companies and market trends topped the list of most popular stories published by Petfood Industry. The rankings were determined by the number of page views recorded by Google Analytics. Source: Petfood Industry, December 27, 2016. These 10 stories received the most attention on Petfood Industry’s … [Read more...]
New flow chart helps teams deal with nasal discharge in cats
Respiratory conditions rank in the top issues feline patients face. Douglas Palma, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), has created an impressive flow chart to help veterinary teams deal with both acute and chronic signs of nasal discharge. Consider using it in staff meetings as a training tool. Source: Clinician’s Brief, December 2016. … [Read more...]
Look into the ears
Ear problems rank in the top five of reasons a pet owner seeks treatment for their dog or cat. This ear cleaning image gallery will make for a good discussion about the importance of ear health. Consider using the video in a staff meeting to discuss various ear health approaches. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, October 2016. (full access requires sign-on) Ear cleaning … [Read more...]
Pet photobombs will make you chuckle
Just for fun! Cat and dog lovers will laugh at these pet photobombs from Purina. Source: Purina Petcentric, December 2016. Now that dogs and cats have caught on to the trend, photobombing is funnier – and cuter – than ever. (See more) … [Read more...]
Keep pets safe from winter hazards
Sheila Fitzpatrick, DVM, submitted good guidance to her local newspaper readers. In Vail, Colorado, winter comes early, so her warnings are timely as the arctic front blankets the northern U.S. Consider submitting a similar story to your own local media with appropriate reminders for your area. Source: Vail Daily, December 2, 2016. There are many cold weather dangers to be … [Read more...]