Commentary with references to sponsored content Oral health is one example of where groomers can have a significant positive impact, writes Kara Burns, MS, MEd, LVT VTS. We agree. In addition to groomers, boarding and daycare personnel have increased access to pets and pet owners to educate and reinforce the importance of regular oral care. Many progressive pet care pros now … [Read more...]
Collars remain crucial for dogs and cats
Carly Fox, DVM, offers good advice on the importance of collars and collar identification. Pet parents might believe that with the prevalence of microchips, their animals don’t need a collar but animals that wear them are typically perceived as being owned. Information on the collar makes contacting the owner easier than finding someone to read a chip. Source: Inverse, via … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – December 4, 2023
Rover purchased by Blackstone, pet brain surgery may be an area of development, mind mapping, Veterinarians without Borders expands brand to include North America, actress Linda Blair’s efforts to save dogs, customer lifecycle automation, separation anxiety in pets and people, Purina’s grants for more human-animal bond research and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, … [Read more...]
Lapsing client numbers increasing
ICYMI. Lapsing patients, defined as patients who haven’t been to a veterinary practice in 14 to 18 months, increased significantly per practice between January 2020 and July 2023. Rising overall prices, housing costs and interest rates have resulted in lower consumer confidence which may be reasons pet owners are delaying veterinary health care. Findings from the forthcoming … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – November 30, 2023
Recent posts from AHD’s weekly Bulletins – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, November 2023 archives. Link. Animal Health Digest Bulletin, October 2023 archives. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy Vets. Link. ============================================ Merriam-Webster's word of the year . . . Authentic Source: BBC, November 27, … [Read more...]
What scents are dangerous to cats and dogs?
Includes Commercial Content Many pet owners are not aware that some scents are toxic to animals until after a disturbing trip to the vet with an ill pet. Pets can become sick from essential oils due to compounds called phenols that are easily absorbed through the skin, nose and mouth. Toxic scents and essential oils to avoid include tea tree, clove, citrus, cinnamon, … [Read more...]
Dogs can tell if you’re bad or good (video)
An investigation by Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews found dogs can separate a decent individual from a not-very-great person. This includes dogs avoiding another person who treats its owner poorly. The study illustrated that dogs do not always act only in their self-interest.” Source: The Irfo, May 31, 2019. Link. INSIGHTS: Consider this video for social media or … [Read more...]
An overview of cannabis for pets
Includes Commercial Content* Ruth Fisher, PhD, covers topics that include the history of cannabis use in veterinary medicine, current laws on cannabis for pets, market size and segment, reported experiences from pet owners and veterinarians, and pet toxicology. The biggest threat cannabis poses for pets appears to be the same as that for children: unwitting consumption of … [Read more...]
Mystery canine respiratory virus has growing footprint
Eleven states have now reported a mystery respiratory illness in dogs <Link>. The mysterious illness was described as an atypical canine infectious respiratory disease that presents similar to kennel cough, but doesn’t respond to normal medication. Plus, the cough lasts longer than the normal seven to 10 days. Source: CNN, November 28, 2023. Link. At least two-hundred … [Read more...]
Holiday gift ideas for pets and professionals
Julia Burke shares ideas and favored items in the pet industry to add to your holiday shopping list from several categories, including health and wellness items. Source: DVM 360, November 24, 2023. Link. Also see: Choosing safe dog toys, AHD, December 21, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
A deep dive into holiday spending trends
While millennials lead in pet ownership, they allocate less money to their pets compared to their counterparts in Generation X and baby boomers, according to BLS data. On average, pet owners plan to allocate $122 for their pets during the 2023 holiday season. The intricacies of the millennial trends, particularly in the context of holiday spending, unveil a nuanced narrative … [Read more...]
Study: More Americans seeking preventive care. Can animal health capitalize on the trend?
Commentary Animal health pros are familiar with the transitions from treatment to prevention that occurred in dentistry <Link>. Driven in part by advancements in technology, a modern general practice dentist is heavily focused on healthy oral care and preventing dental decay. A Health Affairs study indicates human patients are seeking similar care from their primary … [Read more...]
Looking back: most read posts from the November 2022 AHD Bulletins
Most read posts give us a sense of the priorities, problems and pain points animal health pros are experiencing when serving animal owners, their animals and each other. Despite what seems like a heightened sense of urgency, the most read posts from a year ago are grounding and remind us little changes. Animal health remains a repetitive business which benefits from educating … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – November 16, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, November 9, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from the November 9th AHD Bulletin – Age-specific products for senior companion animals. Link. Better cat visits. Carriers and caregivers are the key. Link. The value of teamwork. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy … [Read more...]
How to register a dog as an emotional support animal
An emotional support animal is any critter that provides comfort, companionship and relief for a person who has an emotional or mental condition. Emotional support animals are not registered in any database, no specific training is required and are not the same as service dogs. Emotional support dog certification must come from a human licensed mental health … [Read more...]
AAHA publishes guidelines for the management of allergic skin diseases in dogs and cats
Managing allergic skin diseases in dogs and cats can be challenging. It requires a multimodal therapeutic approach and frequent, ongoing communication with the pet’s family members and caregivers. AAHA’s first-of-a-kind guidelines offer detailed diagnosis and treatment plans to help guide veterinary teams creating better patient outcomes and client satisfaction. Treating the … [Read more...]
Holiday food safety guide for pets
Its time again for the annual reminders about holiday treats and cuisine that simply should not be fed to pets. Also with all the hustle and confusion of guests and gatherings, being mindful of table or counter surfing is also important. From a DVM’s perspective, almost everything on the holiday menu can be irresistible and sometimes dangerous to our <pets>” - Rebecca … [Read more...]
NAVC’s Clinic Champion of 2023, Tammy Wynn, Angel’s Paws founder (video)
As a licensed independent social worker and therapist by trade, Wynn launched Angel’s Paws with the belief that end-of-life care should not only include medical support for the animal, but emotional support for the owners. Following a transformative experience dealing with the loss of her own pet, Wynn went back to school to become a registered veterinary technician before … [Read more...]
35 dog, cat foods now in Mid America recall; 7 infections
ICYMI. Mid America Pet Food of Mount Pleasant, Texas, expanded its October 30 voluntary recall to include additional pet food products with Best By Dates before 10/31/24, made at its Mount Pleasant facility, due to the products’ potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. We noted some Member’s Mark products marketed by … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – November 13, 2023
Fast Bites is the weekly communication tool dedicated to the members and supporters of the International Boarding and Pet Services Association. Approximately 7,000 businesses are members and represent the pet care professionals who support dog and cat owners when they are not able to do so at home. These animal health pros often see pets four or more times each week. Source: … [Read more...]
Rottweiller gives birth to huge litter. Surprise!
Jessie, a two-year-old Rottweiler, surprised her owners who expected her to have five or six puppies at best. She ended up giving birth to a litter three times bigger. Although not a litter-size record, Jessie delivered 15 healthy puppies on her own. Source: PUPvine, November 4, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Age-specific products for senior companion animals
Commercial Content included Animal health pros will want to understand what is being presented to pet owners and retailers to evaluate and address aging pets. Glenn Polyn shares an analysis of the most common health issues facing elderly pets and an overview of products. . . . it is not unusual for a pet retailer to take on the responsibility of offering guidance to pet … [Read more...]
Heartworm Society: a million pets infected annually, many go undiagnosed (infographic)
Heartworm preventative compliance remains a significant issue as we shared last week <Link>. An informative infographic from the American Heartworm Society shares alarming metrics and depicts the failures of pet owners to protect their dogs and cats. Source: American Heartworm Society, X (Twitter), November 3, 2023. Link. INSIGHTS: At this writing, there are ONLY … [Read more...]
Dogs versus cats: Which is most loved?
Even with striking differences between countries, scientists found that people appeared to care more about their dogs than their cats in all countries across all measures. The study appeared in Frontiers in Veterinary Science. Source: Vet Candy, October 31, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Pet brands that matter, according to Fast Company
The pet business, whether retail or veterinary, is full of brands that provide solutions, revenue and services. Fast Company’s Brands that Matter listing includes several animal health industry companies this year. Each brand is judged on relevancy, cultural impact, ingenuity and business impact to be included in the listing. Petco, Mars, Chewy and Maev are among 165 … [Read more...]
A new type of skin hypersensitivity in dogs
A recent retrospective study looked at dogs with skin lesions in high grass contact areas to establish if they have a version of a pruritic condition found in humans. Contact dermatitis is a type IV hypersensitivity reaction that occurs when chemicals known as haptens come into contact with skin. Dogs that develop reactions to contact with grass may experience a similar … [Read more...]
Ever persistent canine parvovirus. DVM 360 panel discussion.
Complimentary Commercial Content A panel of experts discusses the ongoing challenges when treating canine parvovirus including sharing how prevalent the disease remains and the emotional toil on staff members. The panel digs into parvo treatment options across the spectrum of veterinary medicine as well as their limitations. The discussion continues to introduce an … [Read more...]
10 common dog behavior problems and solutions
Thoroughly understanding the most common dog behavior problems is the first step to solving and preventing them. A solid foundation of obedience training will help dog owners prevent or better control many of these issues, writes Jenna Stregowski. Source: The Spruce Pets, February 22, 2022. Link. INSIGHTS: Articles like this help pet owners identify and address behavior … [Read more...]
The importance of intake protocols
Complimentary Content It takes a community of advocates to ensure individual pets and pet populations are given the best protection options. A unified message of prevention, risk identification and consistent questioning during intakes is essential for managing risk. Jenifer Chatfield, DVM, DACZM, DACVPM, shares the importance of intake protocols focusing on opportunities … [Read more...]
Heartworm prevention nonadherence prevalent in the U.S., study finds
Commentary Some articles are painful to read. Despite at least 40 years of pushing compliance, myriad options for heartworm prevention, educational TV, online and print advertising and efforts by veterinary clinics, these compliance metrics represented are distressing. Maybe it is time to quit mincing words or images and portray heartworm infection realistically with … [Read more...]