IBPSA MBA Program postponed, growth in businesses that cater to high-end pet services, app seeks to build dog owner communities, subscription services, Tractor Supply’s pet pharmacy, bunnies promote proper pet care, petflation slowing, pet insurance growth stabilizing and more . . . Source: IBPSA, April 28, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
Consider a pet insurance specialist as part of the veterinary team
Studies show that clients with insurance are more likely to pursue treatment plans and get advanced care for their pets. Liz Devitt, DVM, shares how dedicating a team member as a pet insurance specialist could be a win-win-win for clients, their pets and a veterinary practice. In this capacity, the specialist would be a resource, not a salesperson, to help pet owners select a … [Read more...]
AVMA updates report on veterinary use of cannabidiol
The AVMA’s newly updated report, Cannabis in Veterinary Medicine captures the latest evidence-based context, clinical developments and legal considerations as research and regulations continue to evolve. These include: Safety data and pharmacokinetics of CBD in dogs and cats Clinical trials exploring CBD-rich hemp products in dogs, cats, and horses Regulatory updates … [Read more...]
Tractor Supply launches service to streamline pet prescriptions
Tractor Supply launched Tractor Supply Rx in a bid to enhance convenience for customers ordering pet and animal medications. Its features include automatic delivery through the Autoship program, access to expert pharmacy advice and a price match guarantee. The objective is to provide an easy, one-stop shopping destination for the 38 million Neighbor’s Club members, of whom 75 … [Read more...]
Livestock producers, veterinarians urged to consider and manage Q fever zoonotic risk
Q fever is a highly contagious zoonotic disease caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii, which infects cattle, goats, and sheep. It is found in an infected animal’s bodily fluids and excretions, such as placental tissues, amniotic fluid, urine, feces and milk. The main signs of infection in animals include abortion, infertility, fever, lethargy and loss of appetite. C. … [Read more...]
Ticks are a concern in cats, too
Commentary After a jaunt in my suburban backyard I noted a deer tick on my sock. While checking for additional ticks on me and the dog, a neighborhood free-range cat jumped the fence in search of a field mouse, mole or songbird before Lil Buddy gave chase. The backyard incident was a stark reminder of the importance of year-round preventatives and my clothes as a … [Read more...]
90 percent of animal owners trust, appreciate veterinary teams; underestimate the demands of the profession
Boehringer Ingelheim’s Going Beyond campaign seeks to spotlight aspects of veterinary work that often remain unseen and underrecognized. Compiled ahead of World Veterinary Day, the most recent global survey results reveal animal owners’ perceptions of the essential role that veterinarians play in animal health and community well-being and compare their perceptions to previous … [Read more...]
New guide to choosing a pet boarding facility
Choosing a pet boarding facility can be difficult. Social media reviews help identify potential problem locations, but having a strategic approach to choices is beneficial. Jenifer Chatfield, DVM, Dipl. ACZM, Dipl. ACVPM, has created a guide to choosing a pet boarding facility. The information in the Guide arms pet lovers with questions to ask and red flags and green flags … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – April 21, 2025
Tariffs, taxes and grants for small businesses, pet food recall map, marketing in niche communities, legislative updates and more . . . Source: IBPSA, April 21, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
Selling the emotion
Pet owners don’t see their animals as “just pets.” They’re family. They worry about their dog’s arthritis, their cat’s weight gain, and whether their rabbit is secretly plotting world domination. Source: Veterinary Advantage, March 2025. Link. When you tie the product to real-world outcomes, you help your customer see the immediate impact.” INSIGHTS: Speak your customer’s … [Read more...]
H5N1 in North America: implications for small animal veterinarians
The spillover of H5N1 from wild birds and poultry to dairy cattle, cats and more raises new questions about virus evolution and its implications for veterinary medicine. J. Scott Weese, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM, FCAHS, shares an overview of the disease, cross-species infection potential, viral mutation, risk mitigation and symptoms. Staying informed, practicing good biosecurity, and … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 17, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, April 10, 2024. Link. Most read posts from April 10, 2025 AHD Bulletin – Don’t assume, check to be sure. Link. ‘Treat Me Like a Dog’ campaign seeks to close the cat treat gap. Link. Factors affecting early pregnancy loss in cattle. Link. Mismatched background music affects employees. Link. … [Read more...]
Loyal’s STAY study enrolls 1,000 dogs, expands to 1,300
The STAY study is the clinical trial for LOY-002, a senior dog program that recently earned its preliminary efficacy acknowledgment from the FDA. It’s the first FDA-concurred trial for a longevity drug, and at 1,000 dogs, is the largest clinical trial in the history of veterinary medicine. With solid interest from DVMs and dog owners, Loyal is enrolling an additional 300 dogs … [Read more...]
Review: Working, Assistance, and Therapy Dog Guidelines and certification
Working, therapy, and assistance dogs have unique needs requiring specialized care. The AAHA Working, Assistance, and Therapy Dog Guidelines Certificate program equips veterinary professionals with mission-specific knowledge to provide targeted care for each type of working dog. Source: AAHA. Link. 4.0 CE credits are available in this course divided into two main parts: … [Read more...]
Fake service dogs hurt real service animals’ credibility
Thousands of grocers and shop owners now prohibit any animals, including legitimate service dogs, from entering their stores, writes Marc Ramirez. Fake service dogs are poorly trained or untrained and falsely passed off by individuals trying to access restricted places or benefits. These animals reduce real service dogs’ credibility and increase the negative challenges people … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – April 14, 2025
Tariffs, small business tax strategies, how venture tech is shaping pet food, growth in holistic nutrition, recent pet player awards, future pet health product market projections, small business owners share advice and more. . . Source: IBPSA, April 14, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
Your part in heartworm prevention
You can use the same strategy with your clients that distribution reps use with your clinic to increase heartworm prevention. Ticks, along with mosquitoes, are the principal transmitters of both human and pet vector-borne pathogens. Heartworm is a life-threatening parasite that is 100 percent preventable. Source: Veterinary Advantage, June 2024. Link. Even with so many … [Read more...]
Hardships today’s pet owners and veterinarians face: State of Online Veterinary Care Report
Complimentary Commercial Content One hundred twenty-nine million Americans live in vet care deserts, according to the inaugural State of Online Veterinary Care Report from Dutch <Link to infographic>. The report identifies the top 5 states with veterinary deserts, rising costs of in-person veterinary care, telemedicine as a lower-cost option and asserts the company’s … [Read more...]
New study finds more than half of U.S. pet owners skip or decline needed veterinary care
The new PetSmart Charities-Gallup State of Pet Care Study found 71 percent of pet parents skipped or declined care report financial considerations as the reason Sixty-two percent of U.S. homes have at least one pet. This study is rooted in the pet parent perspective and paints a picture of an urgent pet healthcare crisis, including: Vet care continues to be out of reach … [Read more...]
Free, 30-day pet parasite forecasts boost local value of CAPC’s forecasting service
Commentary Veterinary teams and pet owners can now be alerted to local parasite disease threats at no charge using CAPC’s monthly pet parasite forecast maps <Link>. These alerts provide excellent reasons to communicate timely parasite prevalence and associated risks with clients and local media. The Companion Animal Parasite Council just released its 2025 Pet … [Read more...]
Virbac introduces URSOLYX™ Soft Chews
URSOLYX™ Soft Chews represent a major advancement in canine muscle health and recovery. The once-daily chews focus specifically on muscle health and feature ursolic acid, a natural compound derived from sage shown to enhance muscle function and strength in aging, active or recovering dogs. Source: Virbac U.S., January 10, 2025. Link. Virbac collaborated with Emmyon, Inc., to … [Read more...]
‘Treat Me Like A Dog’ campaign seeks to close the cat treat gap
Commentary In this time period where our industry is trying to differentiate cats from small dogs and deal with obesity in cats and dogs . . . Temptations® launched a campaign to urge cat owners to treat their cats more often like they give treats to dogs. Apparently, dogs are 32 percent more likely to get treats daily than cats. Source: Design Rush, March 27, 2025. … [Read more...]
Beneficial ingredients in functional treats are enhancing pet health
Solution-based treats feature an ingredient list comprised of complementary elements that serve a purpose to promote optimum pet health, writes Glenn Polyn. He reviews different commercial brands, reiterating each one’s positioning as a solution. The ingredients offer functional benefits to provide the right balance of antioxidants, proteins, fatty acids, balanced fiber as well … [Read more...]
Rendering important in today’s pet food supply chain
The research arm of North American Renderers Association, in partnership with IFEEDER, AFIA and the Pet Food Institute, released new research highlighting the essential use rendered ingredients have in pet food. In 2024, the U.S. pet food industry reached $51.7 billion in sales and produced 9.8 million tons of pet food. More than 600 safe, nutritious ingredients included over 4 … [Read more...]
More than 99 percent of U.S. dogs have a behavior problem
A study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior by Bonnie V. Beaver, DVM, MS, DACVB, included behavioral data from more than 40,000 dogs enrolled in the Dog Aging Project. Her research highlights how even minor behavioral issues can impact pet owners and should be addressed early. She urges veterinarians to be more assertive in querying clients about their pets’ … [Read more...]
The subscription revolution: Why veterinary practices should embrace wellness plans
This article provides a thoughtful presentation of wellness plan benefits and shares operational considerations when designing or improving a wellness plan for an individual clinic or clinic group. Kelly Cooper, DVM, shares feedback from Debbie Boone, CVPM, and Peter Weinstein, DVM, MBA. They offer important considerations about involving the practice team, administering … [Read more...]
National Pet Day is April 11th
Founded in 2006, National Pet Day is one of many designated days to celebrate the human-animal bond. The website’s content shares a plethora of pet statistics animal health pros will find interesting including: 22 percent of Americans are attracted to people whose pet is treated like family 94 percent of families with an autistic child benefit from having a pet 44 … [Read more...]
Cancer Dx is available from IDEXX
Cancer Dx, a first-of-its-kind test to provide early detection of lymphoma in dogs launched in January <Link> and is now available for veterinary practices in the U.S. and Canada. Developed by IDEXX Cancer Dx is an accessible blood test with 99 percent specificity and 79 percent sensitivity that can be added to panels for sick pets. It can also be integrated into annual … [Read more...]
CSU avian influenza expert discusses how H5N1 affects wild and domestic animals
Understanding how the current H5N1 virus is affecting wild and domestic animals is a mission of the Colorado State University’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. The VDL runs as many as 600 samples on a busy day, including a growing number from cats. The VDL has detected outbreaks in commercial poultry and backyard poultry flocks, dairy cattle, domestic pet cats, wild birds and … [Read more...]
Association for Pet Obesity Prevention releases new communication guidelines
APOP has released its Guidelines for Pet Obesity Communication: Promoting Respectful Communication about Animal Obesity. These new guidelines seek to reshape how the community talks about pet obesity by emphasizing pet-first language and promoting the term “clinical obesity.” Saying “a dog with clinical obesity” reframes obesity as a modifiable health condition and encourages … [Read more...]