Firework fears, fireworks debris, heat, humidity, water, hot pavement, cook-outs and more create risks for pets in the coming days. Animal health pros can’t overcommunicate the need for animal safety and caution as the holiday activities commence. Source: ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance. Link. … [Read more...]
Still time to enter your goofy pet photos in the Comedy Pet photography contest
The annual Animal Friends Comedy Pet photography awards competition is open to entries through July 1. Organizers say photo submissions are running ahead of last year. They share a few of the entries as examples. Source: Treehugger, June 20, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
It is not clear if apple cider vinegar is good for dogs
Sharing published consumer information with animal health pros who may not know it exists remains one of the primary objectives of AHD’s curation efforts.” – Kirk Augustine Owners often attempt to treat dogs’ potential problems with home remedies, ideas from social media groups, websites or consumer publication articles before going to the veterinary clinic. Knowing what … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – June 16, 2022
Last week’s most read posts Chewy behind Amazon, ahead of Walmart in automatic reorders. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, June 9, 2022. Link. =================================== Before chickens were nuggets, they were revered Source: The New York Times, June 7, 2022. Link. The real chicken mystery has nothing to do … [Read more...]
Salmonella and E. coli common in raw pet food
A Portuguese study sought to find out if raw dog food could be a source of Salmonella and/or E. coli, specifically strains that show resistance to critical antibiotics such as colistin. E. coli was detected in all 14 samples produced by two international brands. Furthermore, 71 percent of these samples, primarily those from products containing poultry, contained … [Read more...]
Fearful dog? Teach avoidance.
Victoria Stillwell shares ideas to help fearful dogs. She advocates to give the animal choices and proactively ensure it can avoid things that increase fearful responses. The dog who has the courage to walk away is much easier to handle than the dog who responds aggressively. Practicing avoidance promotes confidence, and repeated experience helps your dog be happier with the … [Read more...]
Make traveling with dogs easy and fun
With careful planning and preparation, traveling with dogs can be fun and less stressful on the pet than being left at a pet sitter. It is not for everyone, however. Here are three resources = to help dog owners enjoy traveling with their dogs. Sources: 8 tips to get your car pet-friendly, Happy Puppy Tips. Link. Ideas to help dogs, especially puppies, feel at ease … [Read more...]
Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group™ marks 25 Years
Congratulations on 25 years’ efforts to protect more pets and helping to strengthen the bond between animal owners and their dogs, cats and horses. As a result of a multi-channel distribution approach consisting of direct-to-consumer, co-branded partnerships and white label brands, C&F Pet has experienced tremendous growth in the past decade. The company also has a … [Read more...]
ElleVet Sciences’ research finds atopic dermatitis benefits from proprietary CBD+CBDA oil
Complimentary Commercial Content A study sought to identify ElleVet Sciences' CBD+CBDA oil as a possible treatment method for atopic dermatitis. The results revealed over 65% of the dogs participating in the study had a substantial improvement in skin itchiness. Source: DVM 360, June 6, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – June 9, 2022
Last week’s most read posts 8 rules for working with your relatives. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, June 2, 2022. Link. =================================== Credit score 101: How is it calculated? Source: Daily Finance, June 3, 2022. Link. There are five categories of credit score: payment history, amounts owed, … [Read more...]
GROSS! Dealing with dogs eating poop
Coprophagia is common in dogs. It is a natural, normal behavior, writes Pat Miller, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA. Dogs may eat all kinds of poop. Deer, horse, bunny, even human poop, but cat feces seem especially delectable. She says stopping poop eating is more a matter of managing your dog than training him out of this disgusting habit. Managing access to feces is important to keep … [Read more...]
Will a super bug keep dogs out of our beds?
A recently reported gene, mcr-1, can make bacteria resistant to colistin, the last-resort antibiotic for some multidrug-resistant infections. The spread of mcr-1 may increase due to the gene being distributed between pets and humans. Dogs can hold mcr-1 in their gut before the gene is transferred through microscopic fecal particles. Source: KFBK, May 25, 2022. Link. Experts … [Read more...]
Most read companion animal posts of 2022
Miss some companion animal content? Catch up now. Here are the most read companion animal posts so far this year. Source: Animal Health Digest Cat obesity up more than 100 percent in 10 years. Link Cleaning up after feline messes. Link Considerations before switching a pet’s food. Link Land area twice the size of the UK needed to feed the world’s pets. Link … [Read more...]
Acute moist dermatitis; it’s that time of year
Acute moist dermatitis, like most dermatologic conditions, is not imminently life-threatening but can result in significant patient discomfort. The authors share diagnosis, treatment and management of AMD. Dogs with heavy and dense undercoats are more susceptible to developing hot spots because of increased environmental temperatures and slow drying of the coat due to lack … [Read more...]
Morris Animal Foundation highlights the top 10 toxins for cats and dogs
Pet owners need to be reminded of possible toxins, including foods that are commonplace in and outside our homes. Summer activities can upend pet schedules, change caretakers and remove oversight of pet activities. Consider this update for social media and newsletters. Source: Morris Animal Foundation, March 17, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 19, 2022
Last week’s THREE most read posts Celebrate graduations. Link. Pandemic lessons for all. Link. 30 is not the new 20. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, May 12, 2022. Link. =================================== CAPC 2022 annual pet parasite forecast Source: Vet Advantage, April 2022, page 50. Link. AHD first … [Read more...]
Reminder: Protect pets from toxic blue-green algae
Toxic blue green algae risks to pets hit the news in 2019. The EPA indicates it is a risk in all 50 states. A recent story from St. Louis NPR exposes the challenges of testing bodies of water to keep the public and pets safe <Link>. Jennifer Coates, DVM, shares what we need to know about harmful algal blooms and how to keep pets safe in this … [Read more...]
The Bridge Club: Handling nutrition objections (videos)
Complimentary Sponsored Content Dr. Jodi Davis, senior manager of university relations for Royal Canin, addresses the emotional nature of nutrition for pets, especially centered around obesity and how to address issues with owners. The virtual event is presented in three YouTube videos. Nutrition questions top the list of veterinary students and are part of everyday … [Read more...]
Tips to make car travel pet friendly
Vacation season is almost here. Traveling with a pet can be enjoyable with preparation and planning. The tips shared here can make the whole experience more enjoyable and hassle-free for the pet and passengers. Source: Happy Puppy Tips. Link. … [Read more...]
Mella Underarm Pet Thermometer approved for Fear Free preferred product program
Complimentary Commercial Content Pets and pet parents agree taking pets' temperature is the worst part of vet visits due to vets taking temperatures rectally, which causes fear and anxiety for the pet. Having a non-invasive thermometer makes it easier to take temperature in a clinical setting and is more comfortable for both pets and pet parents. Mella Pet Care makes two … [Read more...]
Pet retailers asserting their position with pet owners
Opinion There is little doubt marketing efforts represented in the following articles will deflect attention from preventive medicine and potentially reduce some pet owners’ abilities to afford primary veterinary care. It is not my intention to condemn retail offerings. Rather, animal health pros need to consider how we approach and educate pet owners about the essential … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – May 16, 2022
Purina's selections for start-ups accelerator, beginners’ SEO for small business, connecting Black-owned pet businesses, kennel shortages ahead of summer holiday season, the latest in CBD for pets, Mars executive talks consumer-led innovation and much more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, May 16, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Dog behaviors are strongly inherited (1 of 2)
Researchers believe they have found 11 DNA regions associated with dog behavior. Their research is one of the first papers to include impressive dog genomics work using mixed breed dogs. On average, breed accounts for only about 9 percent of the variations in any given dog’s behavior . . . heritability for the behaviors studied was 25 percent . . .” Source: New York Times, … [Read more...]
Dog daycare: What you should look for
Not all dog daycare facilities are created equal, writes Stephanie Colman. She shares ways for dog owners to determine if a dog daycare business is right for their dog. The guidance about group play, arousal, stress, collar use and downtime are notable. The information is also applicable for owners using sitting services like Rover.com. Anyone can open a daycare. Just because … [Read more...]
A dog’s breed tells little about his behavior (2 of 2)
In last week’s “Worth a Glance” section, we featured an article from The Washington Post with the headline, “Looking for a well-behaved dog? Breed may not tell you much.” An observant AHD Bulletin subscriber who works for Best Friends Animal Society pointed out a supportive article in The Atlantic and the worthwhile reading of the original study to put things in greater … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 5, 2022
Top five most read posts in April 2022 Pet owners unaware of vet technicians’ roles during vet visit. Link. Traditional recruiting is broken. 6 ways to reimagine it. Link. Asian longhorned ticks on the move. Link. Your customers buy benefits. Link. The 411 on fetch. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, April 28, … [Read more...]
Therapeutic play helps shy and fearful dogs and owners gain confidence
Complimentary Commercial Content Play is a widespread feature of social animals. Humans play. Dogs play. Amy Cook, PhD, specializes in working with shy and fearful dogs. Drawing from play therapy used with traumatized children, Cook developed Play Way to help dogs overcome their issues and to live happier, less-stressed lives. In my system, the dog leads most of the play. I … [Read more...]
Dog life expectancy, the long and short of it
Research on dogs in the United Kingdom is helping identify breeds that live longest and those that live short lives. Published in the journal Scientific Reports, the average life expectancy across all dogs showed male dogs was 11.1 years, females were about four months longer. Neutered dogs had a life expectancy of close to 12 years for females and 11.5 years for males. Life … [Read more...]
Making yards pet friendly and safe
Making a fresh, plush carpet for pets and people, our yards are places for fun, games and pleasant play. Making them safe and friendly for our animal friends are the focus of these two articles. Sources: How to make your yard pet friendly, The Outdoor Wear, April 29, 2022. Link. How lawn chemicals affect your cats, even indoor cats, Conscious Cat, via AAHA NEWStat, … [Read more...]
Dog and cat kisses can turn deadly
Scientists have begun to describe all the bacterial species living in dogs’ and cats’ mouths and compare them to our own. Their work is revealing a host of potential pathogens lurking in each slobbery kiss or scratchy lick. About 10 to 15 percent of dog bites become infected, as do up to half of cat bites.” Wash those hands, pet lovers! As difficult as it will be, consider … [Read more...]