Daylight Saving Time ends at 2:00 a.m., Sunday, November 1. While health effects of the semi-annual time change on humans are well-documented, it can also be troublesome for pets. To help them adjust, start now and slowly adjust feeding, medication and play times in the next two weeks. Sara B. Hansen’s article, while written for dog owners, offers good guidance for cat … [Read more...]
IBPSA FastBites – October 12, 2026
In this member news edition: Learning platform update: Courses temporarily unavailable; new platform delays 2026 Pet Care Business Excellence Award winners. CONGRATULATIONS! Cybersecurity awareness: recent text and QR scams currently circulating IBPSA Education Committee is seeking about 10 members to help choose the topics and speakers for the 2027 Conference … [Read more...]
CATalyst Council Q3 Report: Cat clinical visits grow 2.7 percent; clinical vet visits decline
Feline clinical visits at U.S. veterinary practices grew 2.7 percent year over year in the third quarter of 2026, while canine clinical visits* fell 3.3 percent, according to Vetsource data reported in CATalyst Council Feline Veterinary Market Insights: Volume VII. Feline clinical visits grew in each of the last 12 quarters, and canine clinical visits fell in 11 of … [Read more...]
Reminder: Some foods we eat can kill dogs
The onset of fall conjures thoughts of food and refreshments tied to the holidays. Halloween candy, fall fruits, nuts and spices, Aunt Jean’s meatballs and more can be harmful to pets. Consider this article for social media or newsletters before the goblins hit the neighborhoods. It is a good time to boost xylitol safety guidance <Link>. Source: Happy Puppy Tips. … [Read more...]
A structured, multisensory approach to the preventive care experience for pets, owners
As pets are increasingly recognized as family members, emotional experience has become an essential component of veterinary medicine, writes Larissa Meurer da Cunha Veiga, DVM. She explains what led her to develop the Positive Preventive Veterinary Experience Protocol in this article. PPVEP is an integrated multisensory, low-stress preventive care framework designed to … [Read more...]
2026 Canine Care Report from Tractor Supply
Many pet owners are taking a closer look at their pet’s health and wellness but recent data from Tractor Supply confirms that dog parents don’t always follow vet recommendations for food, dental care and other treatments. Here are some of the notable findings: Dog parents are drawn to ingredient-purity buzzwords far more than vets: “free from artificial additives” appeals … [Read more...]
Diabetes care looks different in cats and dogs
Diabetes management can look very different in cats and dogs. The new 2026 AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines highlight that feline diabetes more closely resembles type 2 diabetes, while canine diabetes is characterized by permanent insulin deficiency. Monitoring also differs, with continuous glucose monitors preferred for cats and glucose curves still appropriate for dogs. … [Read more...]
New research reveals barriers to pet adoption
Pet adoption often comes with challenges that make would-be adopters hesitate. A global survey by Mars identifies reasons most likely to hold people back from adopting a pet. Survey: more than 26,000 people across 14 countries surveyed 58 percent of current pet parents did not adopt their pet 28 percent* might adopt in the future, given the right guidance and … [Read more...]
Vaccination scenarios: 1) Overdue pets, 2) Minimum interval for giving different vaccines
Vaccine label instructions have traditionally described ideal, textbook scenarios, but they are getting much less specific. While it provides room for flexibility and gets away from rigorous, dogmatic approaches, it doesn’t necessarily help someone know what to do instead, writes Scott Weese, DVM, DACIVM. Veterinary vaccination guidelines can be useful and have helped … [Read more...]
No avocado toast for your rabbit, bird, horse, sheep, goat or cow
If avocados are so good for people, are they good for pets? The short answer: it depends very much on the species, and for some animals the answer is a definite no. Ann Hohenhaus, DVM, DACVIM, explains why in this blog post. Source: Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, September 30, 2026. Link. In addition to persin toxicity, the high fat content of avocado can cause … [Read more...]
Dogs use a surprising method to understand human language, new study suggests
Humans have sophisticated language abilities that could be unique to our species — but dogs, it turns out, may have learned some of our tricks. In new research out of Hungary published this week in the journal Science, scientists found that dogs use the same strategy to pick out words in streams of speech that human infants do: They listen for consonants to figure out when one … [Read more...]
Plants toxic to dogs: 19 dangerous plants to avoid
Autumn activities often include cleaning flower beds and planting new perennials to bloom next spring. Many gardeners are surprised to discover how many of their favorites are potentially toxic to dogs. Jennifer Coates, DVM, shares toxicity information and a list of dangerous plants in this article. Source: PetMD, April 2, 2026. Link. INSIGHTS: Share this article with pet … [Read more...]
USDA announces actions marking new era of companion animal welfare
Secretary Brooke L. Rollins, U.S. Department of Agriculture, held a Strikeforce roundtable with federal agency partners on September 21, where she announced actions to usher in a new era of companion animal oversight under the leadership of the current administration. Strikeforce meeting objectives will continue to build and develop policies to protect our nation’s animals, … [Read more...]
IBPSA Pet Care Pro – September 2026
Highlights in this edition: How to weather disruptions in pet care services. Link. Survey request: Essential Oils in Pet Care: Survey deadline is October 5th Resource: Glossary of health care and health insurance terms <Link> Series continues: The Pet Industry Leaderboard: Benchmarks and Actionable Business Strategies. FREE for IBPSA Members, PocketSuite … [Read more...]
Free webinar: The Emotional Side of Behavior
Complimentary Join PACCC on Tuesday, September 29th, for The Emotional Side of Behavior with Jamie Engerdahl, CPACP, FFCP, owner of Kinder Canine Coaching and former PACCC board member. She will explore how understanding a dog's emotions can help pet care professionals respond with care and build trust. Get a practical look at recognizing fear, stress and anxiety, and how we … [Read more...]
Pet loss goes unacknowledged for many owners, survey finds
Includes commercial reference Many pet owners receive little acknowledgment after their animal dies, even though that is the support they most want. A recent survey found that 1,139 U.S. adults who had experienced a pet loss received less support than those who had experienced a loss of a person across every category measured. For veterinary practices, the results expose … [Read more...]
Yes, regular play supports canine cognitive health
Researchers from Hungary found that dogs that engaged in a lifetime sports career or in joint activities with their owners had a lower chance of developing canine cognitive decline than dogs that did not. Most surprising to the team, and most important for dog owners, was that any joint activity between owners and dogs was significantly associated with lower CCD … [Read more...]
Names in the news
IDEXX Laboratories has acquired veterinary AI software company CoVet. Link. Patterson Veterinary launches Atlas AI assistant for practices. Link. Girl Scouts of the USA adds Patch Pals™ for dogs to cookie lineup. Link. The Farmer's Dog® becomes the NFL’s first Official Pet Food Partner. Link. Instinct Science announces Attending, a first-of-its-kind clinical AI … [Read more...]
Calculating daily calorie and feeding needs for a patient
Laura Warcholek, CVT, VTS (nutrition), reviews the standard equation for calculating calorie and feeding needs, and walks through the calculations for an example patient in this informative video. Source: Today’s Veterinary Nurse, LinkedIn, August 27, 2026. Link. [1:37] Also see: Counting calories, treats, client education. Avoid the math. AHD Archives. Link. … [Read more...]
The obedience fallacy
Angie Barber repositions training, behavior and obedience in this blog post to help dog people understand how to work toward a mentally and emotionally stable well-adjusted dog. Her State of Mind Dog Training website includes some freebies worth considering for clients <Link>. She urges dog owners to take a step back, shift from a transactional/obedience-based mindset … [Read more...]
Cardiac library shares the heart beats
Complimentary The Clinician’s Brief Cardiac library features recordings taken with an electronic stethoscope on actual patients. The sound library complements a variety of cardiac resources to help animal health pros remain familiar with common and irregular heart sounds. Source: Clinician’s Brief. Link. INSIGHTS: As pet owners become more engaged in at-home … [Read more...]
Dog rehoming: When is it the right decision?
There are innumerable sad but legitimate reasons for giving up a dog. This article from the archives is as valid today as it was when Pat Miller, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, wrote it. She reviews valid reasons for rehoming or relinquishing a dog. Safety is number one. Consider the article for a team discussion or as content for a pet owner seeking a new situation for their … [Read more...]
Help more pets benefit from checkups
Understanding why some pet owners do not seek veterinary care can provide useful insight into where opportunities exist to reinforce the value of preventive care and regular checkups. It can also reveal how they view the role of the veterinarian. Data from the 2025 AVMA Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook demonstrates a large percentage of pet owners’ animals did not … [Read more...]
Antimicrobials for veterinary dentistry: yes or no?
Data on how best to use antimicrobials before, during and after dental procedures are sparse, writes J. Scott Weese, DVM. Summarizing research to establish evidence for their use, Weese says using antimicrobials for dental procedures may have some effect, but nothing suggests they do. Source: Worms and Germs, June 8, 2026. Link. For the routine veterinary dental procedures, … [Read more...]
New diabetes guidelines reflect major advances in insulin therapy and monitoring for dogs
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) recently released the 2026 AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Dogs, a comprehensive update offering veterinary professionals step-by-step guidance for diagnosing, treating, and monitoring diabetes mellitus (DM) in canine patients. We are thrilled to provide this highly requested update for the Diabetes Guidelines. We are … [Read more...]
Common “Hypos” and “Hypers” in canine health
Terms that sound alike can be confusing for animal owners. One helpful way to know common canine health conditions is by grouping them. The authors break down some of the most important hypos and hypers to know about in this article. Hypos mean too little of something Hypers mean too much of something Source: Animal Wellness, August 31, 2026. Link. INSIGHTS: This … [Read more...]
Gen Z is rewiring the pet health experience through technology
“Gen Z is raising the bar for pet healthcare,” says Mita Malhotra, president of Chewy Healthcare, in her latest article for Forbes Business Council. Noting that this generation is shifting how they navigate pet ownership, she says their use of digital resources is driven by wanting to feel better prepared to make informed health decisions on behalf of their pets. Gen Zs are … [Read more...]
SuperZoo 2026: Words most heard at this year’s show
Lisa Cleaver shares a few buzzwords and phrases from SuperZoo 2026, along with a few examples of new commercial products supporting them. Longevity Proactive not reactive Active adventure pets Lickables Functional Will these become commonplace in animal health pro vocabularies? Source: Petfood Industry, August 19, 2026. Link. … [Read more...]
IBPSA Pet Care Pro – August 2026
IBPSA’s former quarterly digital magazine relaunched this week as Pet Care Pro Monthly. The shorter, more frequent read is built for the way pet services pros check email throughout their busy days, says Carmen Rustenbeck, IBPSA founder and CEO. Highlights in this edition: Pet Care Business Excellence Award finalists CANIS Conference reminder OraStrip dental … [Read more...]
Demonstration in the exam room can improve adherence
In this short video, Jan Bellows, DVM, DAVDC, DABVP, demonstrates using MAXI/GUARD® Oral Cleansing Wipes on a patient’s teeth. Incorporating everyday oral care tools into practice reinforces the importance of preventive dental health with every patient’s owner.” Source: Addison Biological Laboratory Inc., Instagram, May 28, 2026. Link. [25 seconds] Also see: Demonstration … [Read more...]