The American Heartworm Society is calling on veterinarians nationwide to participate in the 2025 AHS Heartworm Incidence Survey, now open and accepting submissions. The survey provides critical data used to track heartworm disease trends across the United States and support effective client education and prevention strategies. Source: AAHA, January 5, 2025. … [Read more...]
Review: Trazodone for dogs and cats
As Rx drugs are more frequently prescribed, it is important to review articles like this. Trazodone can reliably and safely induce sedation and anxiolysis in dogs and cats for treatment of acute fear, stress and anxiety. More research has been conducted in dogs and it is most often administered for situational use during exposure to acute stressors or to achieve … [Read more...]
CATalyst Council appoints Gina Fortunato as Executive Director
The CATalyst Council announces the appointment of Gina Fortunato as executive director. Fortunato succeeds Dr. Jane Brunt, a key partner in the origin of the organization and who will continue as a senior advisor to ensure a seamless transition. The organization is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to improving the lives of cats and their caregivers. Dr. Brunt will remain … [Read more...]
Music as medicine
Scientists are learning how music can do more than lift our mood — from easing anxiety to helping experimental drugs reach the brain. Source: AXIOS, December 8, 2025. Link. Music has the power to stimulate our body’s reward system, like the way that warmth, food, and social connection do. Music may relieve stress for your patients, customers, and animal healthcare … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – December 15, 2025
AAFCO launches new fast-track review process for animal food ingredients, Fromm Family Foods recall, Reading the Room webinar, vendor spotlight on Brownrice Webcams and curated content in the December 11th Animal Health Digest Bulletin. Source: IBPSA, December 15, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
Holiday stress, a potential medical and behavioral inflection point for pets
Holiday stress reveals behavior concerns in pets that often go unnoticed during normal activities. Family gatherings, schedule changes, fireworks and travel create environments where fear, aggression and separation-related behaviors surface or worsen. Proactive veterinary teams can elevate care during holidays by engaging clients to plan for disruptions and track their pets’ … [Read more...]
Growth in kitten adoption continues: changing lifestyles reshaping demand for feline veterinary care
Kitten adoptions remain above pre-COVID levels and provide positive opportunities for veterinary practices, according to Volume IV of the CATalyst Council 2025 Feline Market Insights Report <Link>. New kittens also mean many first-time cat owners who may not understand the importance of regular visits or how veterinary teams can help make those visits as low-stress and … [Read more...]
A vet’s guide to navigating winter holiday hazards for pets
Supplementing the AAHA advice from the second post in the Animal care services and community section above are recommendations from Veronica Villanueva, DVM, medical director at VEG ER for Pets in Woodland Hills, California. She provides straightforward guidance on hazardous holiday plants and decorations. She also recommends quiet spaces for pets and paying attention to doors … [Read more...]
Feline Dental Care brochure is new among FVMA resources for cat caregiver
We noticed FVMA’s announcement of their new Feline Dental Care brochure on LinkedIn <Link>. The new brochure comes on the heels of the newly updated Feline Veterinary Medical Association feline oral health and dental guidelines <Link>which provide clarity on early detection, radiography, and pain management. Click the link here to discover an abundance of … [Read more...]
Understanding the gut-organ axes in companion animals [White Paper]
Sponsored Content Diet-driven modulation of the gut microbiome supports improved pet health and longevity. However, the science is often confusing to pet owners and many animal health pros alike. In the white paper linked below, Jess Jarett, PhD, R&D principal pet scientist at Cargill, explains how specific macronutrient compositions of diets, as well as moisture … [Read more...]
FDA approves Dechra’s Emeprev™ (maropitant citrate) Injectable Solution
Emeprev™ (maropitant citrate) Injectable Solution is the first FDA-approved bioequivalent injectable solution to the most widely used antiemetic for dogs and cats. Emeprev™ will deliver the same trusted antiemetic effectiveness as the pioneer but with a differentiated preservative for comfort. The product requires no refrigeration, according to the company. Source: Dechra, … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – December 17, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, December 11, 2025. Link. Most read posts from December 11th AHD Bulletin – Don’t get caught at TSA! NEW carry-on rules for 2026. Link. “We” mode in the practice. Link. Pet playbook: Four pillars redefining the future of pet. Link. Leading when employees are concerned about job security. Link. 10 … [Read more...]
Pet playbook: Four pillars redefining the future of pet
The future of pet care, as seen at Pet Connect 2025, is about connection over competition, shares Jeff Mard. Sharing insights from the 8th annual Pet Connect conference, he says industry leaders crystallized the massive shifts underway in animal health and commerce. The prevailing consensus is that the era of fragmented, reactive care is ending, replaced by an ecosystem built … [Read more...]
Great teams are the foundation of success
Chewy Health* President Mita Malhotra shares the attributes she believes are essential for leaders as they seek to build teams that drive growth and create experiences that keep customers coming back. Her key assertions include: Build trust daily by encouraging thoughtful questions, offering autonomy, supporting growth and allowing room for mistakes. Front desk staff … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – December 8, 2025
"Reading the room" webinar planned featuring Certified Canine Behavior Consultant Lisa Large, Tiny Paws Booking keeping member benefit, Carmen’s book recommendations, legislative updates, latest from Animal Health Digest and more . . . Stronger bonds, changing expectations and new technologies, Today’s Veterinary Business, December 1, 2025. Link. EU lawmakers approve … [Read more...]
ACVB seeks collaboration with AVMA after shock collar comments stir controversy
American College of Veterinary Behaviorists’ president Lisa Radosta DVM, DACVB, posted a response to recent statements made by American Veterinary Medical Association leadership regarding the use of shock collars to train dogs. She says the peer-reviewed literature is clear; shock collars increase fear, stress and aggression—and they are no more effective than reward-based … [Read more...]
How to support pet food pantries; it is increasingly important
Jen Reeder shares a situational overview of the need for increased support for pet food pantries, rewarding ways to help and a resource to share with clients and local media contacts, PetHelpFinder.org. Source: AAHA Trends, December 8, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
Dog Guide spotlights latest and greatest dog essentials
The annual Pet Age Dog Guide includes columns on functional chews, digestive health and stress relief. The essential products section features beds, bowls, safety equipment and toys along with digestible products. Use the guide to see what dog owners are being presented before getting blindsided with a question. Source: Pet Age, November/December 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
AVMA Board updates telemedicine, guardianship policies
The AVMA Board of Directors updated policies addressing a range of issues during a meeting at association headquarters in Schaumburg, Illinois. They include: Telehealth including telemedicine Ownership not guardianship Policy on "Pet Health Insurance" Revisions to the zoonotic infectious diseases policy defining effective surveillance Participation in the … [Read more...]
Pet Age 2025 Power 50 List
The Pet Age Power 50 list features companies that have overcome recent marketplace obstacles to remain high-performing players in the pet industry. The publication positions them as positively impacting the pet care community and utilizing their social and financial capital to improve the well-being of companion animals. Source: Pet Age, November/December 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – December 1, 2025
Holiday readiness, finding stability during hard seasons, HBR podcast featuring Nicholas A . Pearce, PhD, and the latest from Animal Health Digest. Source: IBPSA, December 1, 2025. Link. The best companies are ones that not only have a purpose for themselves but also attract and hire people whose individual senses of purpose align with the company’s purpose.” - Nicholas … [Read more...]
How cold is too cold?
With snow and dropping temperatures arriving, it is a good time to remind pet owners when to limit outdoor play and keep their pets inside. This infographic is easy to share on social media or in newsletters. Source: EmerAid, Facebook, November 11, 2025. Link. As temperatures drop, remember: every dog feels the cold differently.” … [Read more...]
The Feline OA Checklist key to early recognition of pain, osteoarthritis
My Vet Candy shares a recent study published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, which highlights a practical approach for identifying OA in feline patients using the Feline Osteoarthritis Checklist. In the study, when the Feline OA Checklist was applied prospectively, 39 percent of cats exhibited at least one behavior indicative of OA compared to only one percent of … [Read more...]
Can weight loss drugs turn fat cats into skinny ones?
Okava, a biopharmaceutical company, announced this week that it began a pilot study of a GLP-1 drug for cats with obesity. Instead of receiving weekly injections of the medicine as humans do, the cats will get small, injectable implants that will release the drug for up to six months. Initial results are expected next summer. Competing companies are starting research, as … [Read more...]
Feline studies shed light on domestication timeline
Commentary Meghan Bartels shares domestication information from two recently published studies that offer new insights into how wild cats settled into life alongside humans. Both findings suggest truly domesticated cats arose far later than previously believed; perhaps as late as 2,000 years ago. A quote from Claudio Ottoni, PhD, describes early cats as a complex and … [Read more...]
Volume IV of CATalyst Council Feline Veterinary Market Insights released
Newly released data from the CATalyst Council shows cats now represent a record high 23 percent of all clinical visits, a strategic weight for the entire veterinary industry. Commenting on the sustained momentum, Kristin Wuhrman, CATalyst Council vice chair, predicts practices that lean into understanding cats more deeply than before will lead future industry growth. The … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – November 17, 2025
Industry News and Quick Reads The Cat Market - By the Numbers Leaders, Get Out of Your Comfort Zone Preparing for Emergencies; a Resource from the Government of Canada Member Benefits SPOTLIGHT: BusyPaws IBPSA Members receive a 10 percent discount on annual or monthly plans for the initial 6 months. BusyPaws serves thousands of pet parents every day to … [Read more...]
Pet safety tips: Avoid troubles from counters, treats and holiday distractions
Sponsor Content The holidays can spell trouble for pets as decorations, holiday treats and those wondrous new smells fill the home. Add in the distractions from guests and gatherings and it’s easy for curious cats and dogs to get into trouble. AHD Sponsor, ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Program, has effective pet safety reminders available to share with pet owners. They are … [Read more...]
Cat hydration: Water, a key nutrient to lifelong health in felines
Cats are uniquely challenged in meeting their daily water needs, writes Katy Miller DVM, CVFT, CVNAN, CPFFCP, CPCQI, PAS. In this article she shares helpful facts worth including in pet owner communications. Pet hydration is a good topic for veterinary technicians to prioritize with clients. Talking about pets and water is also a good topic to include when making school … [Read more...]
Promising research in feline regenerative medicine
Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University have successfully generated feline embryonic stem cells using lab-grown blastocysts. Their innovative approach resulted in the creation of pluripotent embryonic stem cells that can remain undifferentiated or differentiate into the three germ layers: endoderm, ectoderm and mesoderm. The cells can transform into a wide variety of cell … [Read more...]