The anti-vaxxers simply won’t let science get in the way of senseless fearmongering. In fact, the fear they spread prompted the British Veterinary Association to issue a statement last week: Dogs cannot develop autism. Their message is that dog owners should keep vaccinating their pets against diseases because fear that animal would develop autism is unfounded. The theory … [Read more...]
Bad dog breath; Szabo’s home remedies
Julia Szabo is a frequent contributor of content to Dogster. Bad dog breath is a sign of an unhealthy mouth, she states and offers eight home remedies for it. We’re sharing her list and explanations for consideration by animal health pros when discussing dog halitosis with pet owners. Because this list includes some spices, we added spices and neem oil references. Source: … [Read more...]
Make routine dentals digestible
Making dental care easier to swallow for pet owners requires some modeling choices. Karen Felstad, DVM360 conference educator, speaks to bundling, economical basic pricing and more. For practice managers and clinic owners, his information presented is a worthwhile topic for discussion at a management meeting. Source: Veterinary Economics, April 18, 2018. Link. “A lot of … [Read more...]
Help pets stay calm during storms
Spring thunderstorms are daily reality right now and they strike fear in some pets. This fear can manifest as hiding, whining, scratching, slobbering or tearing down door frames in a state of panic, according to animal behaviorist Patricia McConnell. It can worsen with age. This brief item article offers some useful tips to help keep pets calm and understand their … [Read more...]
Animal welfare tops list of American causes
Americans say they care more about animal welfare than children’s education and hunger. That’s according to the findings of the “Causes Americans Care About,” a new study that gathered responses from 1,000 adults: 41% chose animal welfare number one. Children’s education ranked second with 38% of respondents. Hunger, chosen by 33% of respondents ranked number … [Read more...]
This animal kills more people in a day than sharks in a century (videos)
Bill Gates, Microsoft founder, has come to fear mosquitos. He discusses the global consequences of mosquito-borne disease in humans, fears and shares a clever video that reinforces mosquitos as a vector. The video’s mosquito character says, “I don’t want to kill, it’s just something inside me.” For animal health professionals, mosquitos are most notably vectors for dog … [Read more...]
AAHA offers parasite counselor program
The American Animal Hospital Association now offers the Parasite Counselor Program for veterinarians and veterinary staff. The online modules are designed for all staff of companion animal veterinary practices and can be accessed at VetFolio. Source: Vetfolio, April 27, 2017. Link. The specially tailored courses in this program will provide training on fleas, ticks, … [Read more...]
Ways to reduce fear, stress and anxiety in pets
When Steve Dale talks, people listen. In a recent newsletter he discusses: Destress Your Pet Month from Ceva Animal Health and the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. From Fearful to Fear Free: A Positive Program to Free Your Dog from Anxiety, Fears and Phobias, Dr. Marty Becker, Dr. Lisa Radosta, Dr. Wailani Sung, Mikkel Becker, edited by Kim Campbell … [Read more...]
Reconcile® joins Animal Health Digest as Sponsor
AHD welcomes Reconcile® (fluoxetine hydrochloride) as our newest Supporting Sponsor. Manufactured by PRN PharmacalTM, a PBI-Gordon company, Reconcile provides veterinarians with a clinically tested, FDA-approved, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) labeled for dogs. When combined with the BONDTM Behavior ModificationTraining Program, Reconcile® has been shown to … [Read more...]
What dogs eat matters
The folks at Reader’s Digest talked to a few veterinarians to come up with eight recommendations veterinarians are apt to tell clients about what they feed their dogs. This quick read will affirm what clinic teams recommend daily. Source: Reader’s Digest, April 2018, Link. More important than the ‘natural’ claim is whether or not the food is nutritionally completed and … [Read more...]
Research for biomarkers and slow-kill protocol for heartworm disease summarized
Animal health pros frequently challenge the status quo. In the face of a heartworm infection, melarsomine has received the American Heartworm Society recommendations along with steroid and antithrombotic agents, as needed. But melarsomine sometimes has limited availability or is unavailable in many countries. Thus, many slow-kill protocols have been circulated as possible … [Read more...]
Annual screening for dogs’ exposure to infected ticks is vital
Melissa Beall, DVM, PhD, reinforces that dogs don’t always show clinical signs of tick exposure. Therefore, annual screening is critical to discovery of tick-borne diseases. Pet-side test kits and research reinforce her assertions. Source: Veterinary Practice News, April 18, 2018, Link. The study, found at idexx.com/tickrisk, showed two key findings: dogs with Ehrlichia … [Read more...]
Puppies and kittens with diarrhea can be biohazards
Puppies and kittens can be fuzzy little biohazards, writes Maureen Anderson, DVM. It’s a paradoxical picture. She outlines different roles and responsibilities, sharing what each team member should and should not do to help control the spread of infection when handling diarrhea cases. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, April 2018, Link. Veterinary practices should have an … [Read more...]
Labs still atop U.S. dog breeds
Labrador Retrievers have captured American’s hearts for 27 years and continue to reign in the latest breed rankings from the American Kennel Club. Source: Quartz, April 24, 2018, Link. There are 196 dog breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club in total. For a full list of how they all stack up click here. … [Read more...]
Look for AHD friends in the media
There is ongoing news about AHD supporters and friends in various animal health media outlets this month. Be sure to look for details about AHD Founder’s Circle member, Innovetive Pet Care, and its spring leadership summit. Also, be on the lookout for the lowdown on UTid+™, a new companion animal in-clinic culture system to help diagnose common bacteria and fungi associated … [Read more...]
April is De-Stress Your Pet Month
Hiding, scratching, crying or chewing on chairs by pets are likely signs of stress. And, they’re natural reactions to stress. Most pet owners don’t know it. This is one reason why AHD sponsor Ceva Animal Health and the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists have teamed up to create De-Stress Your Pet Month in April. Look for this news in industry media, local newspapers … [Read more...]
Trim dogs’ toenails in a stress-free way
Searching “dog nail trimming” on Google reveals a plethora of information. Most of it focuses on our reluctance to routinely trim nails because of unruly animals or the fear of cutting into the quick. Dr. Karen Gellman reminds us that long toenails have consequences on the pet: Long toenails cause painful feet Overgrown nails often create an abnormal compensatory … [Read more...]
Structured and unstructured exercise important for puppy energy
Sporting dog puppies can be challenging. We want the drive and the energy once they are trained. However, to get through the puppy stages, exercise must be designed to tire-out puppies and include early obedience and life lessons. Source: Gun Dog, April 10, 2018. (Link) Sporting dog pups are chock-full of potential and obviously provide plenty of furry awesomeness. … [Read more...]
Stop pets’ progression to aggression
Mikkel Becker discusses the challenges of avoiding scratches, bites and wrestling with animals needing veterinary care. She references the Fear Free approaches that use multimodal practices. They address fear, anxiety and stress in ways that reduce distress while keeping pets and veterinary teams safer. Source: Firstline, April 10, 2018. (Link) When you use tools to offer … [Read more...]
Dogs that don’t shed – much – are all different
It’s a biological fact that there are NO non-shedding dog breeds, writes Melvin Pe͂na. Short hair doesn’t necessarily indicate no-shed dogs, and long or thick hair doesn’t mean a dog is prone to shedding. Low shedding is not necessarily hypo-allergenic, either Source: Dogster, April 12, 2018. (Link) Pe͂na provides lists of non-shedding dog breeds, or dogs who don’t shed … [Read more...]
Dogs’ fur flakes for multiple reasons
Canine skin allergies and skin infections are two of the top 10 issues that veterinarians see. Sandra Seargent, DVM, reviews primary and secondary keratinization disorders. Whether the coat is dry or greasy may not be particularly helpful, as the conditions can be caused by a large number of underlying diseases. Source: Clinician’s Brief, April 20-19. (Link) When treating … [Read more...]
Latest Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
The April 15, 2018 issue of JAVMA has three papers that caught our eyes. We’ve linked to the abstracts below: Rabies surveillance in the United States during 2016 Outcomes of and risk factors for presumed canine H3N2 influenza virus infection in a metropolitan outbreak Case-control study to determine herd-level risk factors for bovine respiratory disease in nursing … [Read more...]
Is technology driving pets insane?
Brian Cooley suggests that advances in technology could be causing undue stimulation and stress for pets. Their senses are tuned differently than our own. They may detect a cacophony of noise and strobe effects that we don't, particularly as we fill homes with technology. Source: CNet, April 4, 2018. Unless you're planning to move off the grid, you aren't going to banish … [Read more...]
Weird things dogs do and why
Dog owners often ask some bizarre questions about their dogs’ behaviors. Tail chasing, butt dragging and leg humping are just some of the common behaviors that perplex owners. The good news is most of these behaviors that seem unusual or even gross to us are quite benign, says Ernie Ward, DVM. Source: Dog-Eared, March 15, 2018. Dr. Ward offers some perspectives to decode … [Read more...]
Organic rat control, K-9s on duty (includes video)
Some dog owners seek to return breeds to their roots. Rat terriers are no exception. Historians say that Rat Terriers came about by crossing the Smooth Fox Terrier and the black and tan Manchester Terrier in the early 1800s. They were bred to create an efficient ratter for farms, as well as a competent hunting companion for the farmer. Fast forward to California where Jordan … [Read more...]
Best freeze-dried raw dog foods of 2018
Many people who feed home-prepared or commercial raw diets to their dogs replace this diet with a freeze-dried raw food when they travel, or when the dog is left with a sitter who doesn’t want to deal with a fresh or frozen raw diet. This article includes a review of various brands that will be valuable when discussing raw dog foods with dog owners. Source: Whole Dog … [Read more...]
Noise sensitivity and pain in dogs
A recent study about noise sensitivities in dogs gives us new information that could improve their quality of life and well-being. Two recent articles reviewing the research findings are offered for your consideration. The research suggests that pain can be a cause of new noise sensitivities, especially in older dogs. The recommendations based on the work are: older dogs … [Read more...]
IDEXX research links tick-borne disease exposure, kidney problems in veterinary patients
Protecting pets from ticks and Lyme disease seems not to be enough. IDEXX Laboratories has released internal research connecting exposure to the pathogens causing Lyme disease and ehrlichiosis to kidney problems later in life, even in animals that seemed asymptomatic at the time of the screening. Dogs with antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme pathogen, were found to … [Read more...]
Brush up on first aid for pets
As the weather warms, animal owners and their pets will return to parks, go camping and enjoy other outdoor activities. It is common for pets to get injured in the first months of spring and summer. Emergency treatment and first aid for them should never be used as a substitute for veterinary care. But, it may save a pet's life before the owner can get the pet to a … [Read more...]
Emotional support animals probably don’t do anything for anxiety
People have been traveling with emotional support animals for years, claiming they serve a mental health purpose. But the scientific case for comfort animals is very weak, according to this Prevention article. “These animals provide the sole purpose of emotional support,” says Molly Crossman, a doctoral student in clinical study at Yale University who authored a study about how … [Read more...]