Black-legged ticks in the southeast U.S. prefer to feed on lizards, particularly skinks. Skinks don’t transmit Lyme as easily as the white-footed mice in the northeast U.S. Jean Tsao, a disease ecologist, and her team found a clear divide in ticks’ preferred hosts and behavior south of Virginia, matching the pattern of both tick infections and Lyme disease. Source: Science, … [Read more...]
Lepto IS a thing! Dr. Jen the Vet
Jenifer Chatfield, DVM, Dipl. ACZM, Dipl. ACVPM, discusses Leptospirosis sp. including history, zoonoses, clinical signs, environmental concerns and modern approaches to prevention. Every dog, EVERY dog is at risk for lepto. Every dog ought to be vaccinated for lepto.” - Dr. Jen the Vet Source: Is this a Thing? Dr. Jen the Vet, February 10, 2021. Abbreviated version. … [Read more...]
Overcoming barriers in cost-of-care conversations
Complimentary Sponsored Content – Part 3 of a February 2021 series In the first two posts <post-1> <post-2>, study results reported by Wendy Hauser, DVM, and team indicate clients and veterinary team members feel better when proactive education about pet health insurance occurs and demonstrated a strong correlation between insured pets and the care these pets … [Read more...]
Justine Lee, DVM, discusses Leptospirosis sp. on Pet Life Radio
Complimentary In a recent episode of ER VET, Dr. Justine Lee, DACVECC, DABT, discussed canine leptospirosis. She says, “If your dog lives in the city and weighs ten pounds or more it is at risk. Tune in to learn about this deadly disease!” Resources like this are great for client education, social media posts and newsletters. Source: Pet Life Radio, ER Vet. Link. The … [Read more...]
Amateur sleuths find kidnapped dogs
Using tactics that would have made Sherlock Holmes proud, employees, friends, friends of friends and strangers all helped save a dozen kidnapped Portland, Oregon, dogs February 2nd. As doggy day care owner Sunni Liston handed a dog to its owner, a thief got in her van and took off with her phone, purse and the dogs in her charge. Thanks to phone tracking, social media and brave … [Read more...]
Proactively educating clients about pet health insurance impacts the CARE pets receive
Complimentary Sponsored Content – Part 2 of a February 2021 series In the first post, a study by Wendy Hauser, DVM, and team, <link> showed clients and veterinary team members felt better about pet health insurance discussions when done proactively. In this second post we review the effects of how proactive pet health insurance client education impacts the care … [Read more...]
Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean YOU have to be cold
Much of the U.S. is experiencing gelid (also known as extremely cold) weather. Stephanie Thurrott shares ways to embrace the cold months learned from people who live in Sweden, Iceland and Canada. Eh?! Source: Today, December 10, 2020. Link. Also see: Brrrrr! How cold is too cold for pets? AHD, January 21, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Vets share what people think they know about pets
BuzzFeed writer Alexa Lisitza shares what a Reddit user found when he asked veterinarians what they wish people knew about their pets. The result is something directly shareable with clients in practices and via social media. Source: BuzzFeed, February 1, 2021. Link. I wish people just even had a BASIC understanding of dog or cat body language. The number of videos posted on … [Read more...]
Supplements dogs may be missing in their diet
Opinion The article below contained a red-flag sentence: “This article brings you all that is worth knowing about dog food nutrients and how to tell if your pet dog lacks them.” No author or references were included. Good intentions aside, information like this concerns me for pets, pet owners and the veterinary teams who find themselves dealing with an owner’s … [Read more...]
Understanding all these dog studies
There’s no question we have learned a lot by studying dogs. Often, there are some discrepancies in outcomes between studies thought to replicate a previous study. There's a lot of good science, but we need to be very careful about sweeping generalizations." - Marc Bekoff PhD Source: The Bark, January 2021. Link. Dogs differ, humans differ, dog-human relationships differ, and … [Read more...]
Proactive pet health insurance education increases satisfaction of veterinary teams and clients
Complimentary Sponsored Content – Part 1 of a February 2021 series Our industry has continually improved health insurance products, treatments, and methods over time that better the lives of animals and owners. Surprisingly, owner acceptance of pet health insurance remains low despite evidence insured pets receive health care more frequently. Moving beyond low … [Read more...]
CAPC urges clinics to reach out assertively
The Companion Animal Parasite Council recommends proactive veterinary client outreach in 2021. Starting now will help adjust for pandemic scheduling delays created last spring and will ensure all pets are tested and protected. Our concern is that the delayed veterinary visits in 2020 may cause difficulties in pets getting access to healthcare in 2021.” – Chris Carpenter, … [Read more...]
Coping with pet grief
A recent Morris Animal Foundation-funded study sought to understand if and how pets grieve following the loss of a companion animal in the home. While many reported changes in behaviors were similar between dogs and cats, there were some key differences. Source: Morris Animal Foundation, September 10, 2020. Link. Researchers captured information in behavior categories that … [Read more...]
Rover’s expensive. Pandemonium pup costs are real.
Nearly half of all dog owners spend about $3,400 a year on their dogs, but dog ownership doesn’t have to be this expensive. Source: Wall Street Journal, January 22, 2021. Link. Here are ways real pet owners save on these items. Food Pet insurance Health care and meds Grooming Boarding … [Read more...]
Dr. Jen addresses behavior problems in pets
Reminding us that behavior issues are the number-1reason pets are relinquished, Jenifer Chatfield, DVM, Dipl. ACZM, Dipl. ACVPM, discusses some common behavior issues in dogs and offers tips to help with them. This episode includes videos from viewers. Dr. Jen’s videos are excellent resources to share with clients on social media or via newsletters. Source: Dr. Jen the Vet, … [Read more...]
5 ways to promote kidney health in dogs or cats
Some foods, herbs and supplements can benefit dogs and cats in need of extra kidney support. Barbara Royal, DVM, CVA, shares five ways to use them: Prioritize hydration and circulation Feed appropriate food Provide anti-inflammatory and antioxidant support Keep micronutrients in balance Don’t forget about the microbiome Source: Animal Wellness, January 15, … [Read more...]
The dentistry gap
Dawn Singleton-Olson reinforces the importance of comprehensive oral healthcare assessment and treatment (COHAT) to address the nearly 70 percent of cats and 80 percent of dogs over the age of 3 have some form of periodontal disease. “Pet owners truly want what is best for their animals, but often don’t understand how critical dental care is to the overall health of their pet … [Read more...]
Face masks cause problems for dogs that eat them
There’s a new problem in town, obstructing dogs’ stomachs and intestines: the face mask” – Jennifer Woolf, DVM, MS Woolf reminds us that dogs can smell the lovely bouquet of odors trapped in the fibers of the mask, and that bouquet smells like food so the dog eats the mask. Once inside, the mask becomes a foreign body, will not act like food and can cause multiple … [Read more...]
Rescue animals, TIME’s 2020 pet of the year
Pets will return to the White House when president-elect Joe Biden takes office. One of them is the rescue dog, Major. Rescues, rehomes and adoptions peaked during the pandemic and it’s a trend likely to continue. TIME shares stories, trends and metrics. Source: TIME, December 9, 2020. Link. … [Read more...]
Can cats and dogs get along?
William, 7, got his dog. Now, sister Violet, 5, wants a cat. Their parents have heard for ages that dogs and cats don't get along. Yet, many homes have cats and dogs living peaceably together. The authors offer tips and a deliberate process for a multi-species household. Source: Puppies & Pooches, December 22, 2020. Link. INSIGHTS: This article is suitable for social … [Read more...]
Burial records reveal most popular pet names
Analysis of 115 years of pet burial records reveals the changing trends in how Americans name and relate to their best friends. Princess is the most popular overall pet name in the U.S. and is in the top-10 most popular dog names since the 1960s, but has never been the number 1 name in any single decade. Tiger is the most popular cat’s name of the last 115 years. Max was the … [Read more...]
Pet retailers adjusting for 2021
Countless pet retailers shifted to online sales during the last year. Three articles from Pet Business contain considerations for veterinary practices, as well. Source: Prepare your pet store for 2021 (and beyond), Pet Business, November 30, 2020. Link. Invest in an eCommerce platform eCommerce platform seamlessly integrated with the point of sale platform and … [Read more...]
Best air purifiers for pet dander and allergies
Potentially 20 percent of people have allergies to pets, writes Joelle Klein. For those who do, air purifiers may provide added support for removing dander, hair and odors. Klein shares products independently selected and reviewed by the Daily Paws editorial team. Source: Daily Paws, December 29, 2020. Link. INSIGHTS: Air purifiers can help owners with allergies avoid … [Read more...]
Nail trimming 101 (includes video)
An industry colleague recently said, “. . . the ability to trim a dog’s nails should be a prerequisite to being allowed to own a dog!” While his point was extreme, basic nail care can be easily managed at home with proper education and training. Teresa Manucy, DVM, shares information about how to trim, equipment and the process. A demonstration video from Katy Nelson, DVM, … [Read more...]
Dr. Jen demystifies vaccinations
Jenifer Chatfield, DVM, Dipl. ACZM, Dipl. ACVPM, tackles myths about pet vaccines in the latest edition of Is This a Thing? My pet got all of its shots Cats don’t need vaccines The internet says lepto vaccine is not needed It’s better to titer first so vets don’t just give vaccines to make money My pet is so old it doesn’t need vaccines any … [Read more...]
4 strategies to overcoming pet obesity
Laurren Zimmerman shares experiences gained as a certified canine athlete specialist and multi-time national finalist and winner across multiple organizations. She shares four important strategies pet owners can use to help their dog safely lose weight: Rule out underlying health conditions with primary veterinarian* Strength training with flexibility work Clean … [Read more...]
NEW app for the puppies!
Complimentary Content from Purina Purina announced a new app for puppies, well, for their owners. 😉 The My Pup app promises to help pet owners train, learn and grow with their puppy, offering week‑to‑week guidance, articles, videos and expert tips. Source: Purina, December 21, 2020. Link. INSIGHTS: We’ve not yet reviewed this app. However, it may help to fill some of … [Read more...]
Nearly 4 months to get into flow with new pet
New research commissioned by Royal Canin® indicates it takes three months and 23 days to finally get the hang of things with a new pet, according to new research. The OnePoll survey found 80 percent asserted the first year of owning a pet is the most important. It also revealed that year isn’t easy as 64 percent believe the first year is the most difficult. Source: 72point. … [Read more...]
Steve Dale’s holiday safety tips
For more than two decades, Steve Dale, certified animal behavior consultant, has been communicating with more pet owners than any other pet journalist in America. He’s not E.F. Hutton, but when Steve speaks, pet owners listen. Organizing his list in holiday fashion, Dale provides 12 Christmas pet safety tips to ensure a safe howliday. Source: Steve Dale’s Pet World, December … [Read more...]
Updating clinic materials yields a new book for pet owners
Complimentary Commercial Content Sometime last spring, Marty Greer, DVM, JD, shared she was working on updating her clinic materials for pet owners while her practice was closed during the early days of the pandemic. She offered the same Bridge Club networking group a welcome surprise in early December. Her materials updating work had expanded into a new book for puppy … [Read more...]