Sharing current recommendations about warming and cooling in dogs and cats during anesthesia and surgery, Walter L. Brown, RVTg VTS (ECC), provides a review of updated methods from new research and techniques. He shares how to implement them correctly. Source: AAHA Trends, October 6, 2025. Link. Even with techniques and devices considered to be safe and efficient, frequent … [Read more...]
The best dog exercises for canine conditioning
Exercise is an important component to weight and obesity management. But rarely do we hear that exercising a dog is more than a walk around the block. Debby McMullen, CDBC, shares ways to physically condition dogs in this article. She advocates activities that cover cardio, stretching, balancing and strengthening to benefit a dog’s conditioning and stimulate them … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – October 9, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, October 2, 2025. Link. Most read posts from October 2, 2025 AHD Bulletin – Unreturned phone calls can cost you more than $50,000 a year. Link. It’s the process that counts. Link. Case suggests Tamiflu MAY help cats infected with H5N1. Link. Meeting Gen Zs where they learn. Link. Got the giggles? … [Read more...]
Merck Animal Health: more than 7 million rabies vaccines donated through Afya program
Complimentary Content Merck Animal Health remains committed to helping eliminate the deadly threat of rabies through its global non-profit initiative, the Afya Program, by donating NOBIVAC® rabies vaccines to support canine vaccination efforts in areas where rabies is endemic. More than seven million NOBIVAC® rabies vaccines have been donated. Combating rabies and … [Read more...]
What value do pet owners place on sustainable pet food?
Sharing data from recent research, Debbie Phillips-Donalds concludes that sustainability features have an impact on pet food purchasing, but which features and to what degree they affect purchasing matter a lot. She notes the challenges with defining sustainability and animal welfare in the context of product education and marketing. Source: PETFOOD Industry, September 17, … [Read more...]
Weight bias among veterinary professionals
Sharing research on weight bias, this article from Zoe Belshaw, Vet MB, MA, PhD, addresses the potential of relating an owner’s weight to their pets. The need to have proactive discussions with pet owners is often difficult and addressing potential bias is worth consideration. Belshaw shares tips for talking with clients about weight management just in time for World Pet … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – September 23, 2025
Congratulations to everyone who was nominated for a Pet Care Business Excellence Award at this year’s Forum for your dedication to excellence and helping our industry continue to raise the bar for pet care. Winners of the 2025 Pet Care Business Excellence Awards! Category Winner Independent Provider Noosa Country … [Read more...]
Review: Harmful algal blooms, red tides and their hidden dangers
As summer ends, it is time to review the potential of harmful algal blooms. These occur when environmental conditions like warm water, nutrient runoff and sunlight promote rapid algae growth, some of which produce dangerous toxins. These articles review the different types of harmful algae, symptoms when exposure occurs, health effects and prevention. Sources: Morris … [Read more...]
Dogs learn and remember how toys work
We know dogs are smart. They’re even smarter than we thought, according to a study recently published in the journal ‘Current Biology.’ In this study, Gifted Word Learner dogs showed they can distinguish between toys used for tugging versus fetching, even if the toys didn’t look alike. The study took place in dogs’ home environments with their owners using the words “pull” and … [Read more...]
Setting client expectations for canine infectious respiratory disease complex
CIRDC is a clinical syndrome caused by a range of pathogens, not a specific disease. Coinfections are common, writes J. Scott Weese, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM, FCAHS. Acknowledging the challenges of client conversations, he models communication scenarios in this article. Source: Clinician’s Brief, August 2025. Link. Providing clear information about the approach to treatment is … [Read more...]
Nassau County warns residents about spread of rabies among raccoons and cats
Rabies has been found in at least 25 animals since July of last year in mostly raccoons and three feral cats, according to Nassau County New York officials. Rabies had previously been eradicated in Nassau County in 2016 following aggressive control efforts. The resurgence is a stark reminder of the importance of vaccination, public education and wildlife baiting to manage … [Read more...]
Turmeric a promising yet under-researched functional ingredient
Commentary If it hasn’t happened already, a pet owner is going to ask questions about turmeric or curcumin, a key compound in turmeric. Used historically in folk medicine, the compounds have a renewed modern appeal. Tim Wall shares essential information for pet food professionals about turmeric’s role in formulations. Turmeric is a promising yet under-researched functional … [Read more...]
Four worn out, unwelcome words or phrases in vet med
Wendy Hauser, DVM, shares four words used in veterinary medicine she thinks we should ban or use less frequently: Compliance Gold standard Standard of care Pet parent Source: Animal Health News and Views, September 2025. Link. . . . the sentiment behind pet parent normalizes the idea that pets are not property.” INSIGHTS: We agree and work diligently to refer … [Read more...]
Rabies is NOT a thing of the past
In her first-person account, Mary McNamara shares how her dog, Harley, recently tangled with a bat—a striking reminder that rabies is still present today. Thanks to vaccination, Harley and millions of other dogs remain protected. McNamara points out that the disease’s near disappearance can be traced to efforts like the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association’s … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – September 9, 2025
We are pleased to provide IBPSA members with our weekly AHD Bulletin. We believe boarding and pet services professionals can have a significant role in supporting pets’ quality of life and advocating for best health practices for the animals they see routinely.” – Kirk Augustine, AHD Founder, president From this week’s Fast BITES There are still openings for Bold and … [Read more...]
Are veterinary teams obligated to discuss the option of pet insurance?
In February 2024, Alyssa Watson, DVM, and Beth Molleson, DVM, discussed the veterinary team’s role in pet owner education, including lifetime costs of pet care and pet insurance options. They debated the pros, cons and limitations veterinary teams experience during a Veterinary Breakroom podcast. Fast forward to this year. Jennifer Sperry, DVM, broke down key differences … [Read more...]
When is a dog a senior?
Old age is not a disease, yet some health issues are more common in older dogs, writes Cindy Howle, M.Ed. NBCT. She shares factors that influence aging and how to proactively support an aging animal. Consider sharing this article for pet owners with dogs over six or seven years old in direct communications, newsletters or social media. Source: Whole Dog Journal, November … [Read more...]
Understanding the liquid tools used in grooming
Having a thorough understanding of the science, technique and proper use of grooming products can be <quality of> life-changing for the groomer and pets, writes Cliff Faver, DVM. His article is timely as we close the summer dermatitis season and enter the turn-on-the-furnace season. It’s also important to understand that since most pets have hair as their first line of … [Read more...]
DVM weighs in on dog hair dying safety
Dogs are more likely to be okay with dye than cats, shares Julie Hunt, DVM. She offers guidance about animal dyes in this article, which is worth sharing with pet owners. Source: Pet Parade, September 4, 2025. Link. Image: Link. … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – September 2, 2025
2025 IBBY finalists named, Virginia feedback needed on proposed regulations for animal boarding establishments, pheromone-based pet wellness webinar was well attended, more information about opportunities at The Forum and the August 28th Animal Health Digest Bulletin. Source: IBPSA, September 2, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
Canine dysfunctional behavior might be similar to autism spectrum disorder in humans
Canine dysfunctional behavior is idiopathic and currently poorly understood, but is thought to mimic some autism-like behaviors in humans, writes Kate Mornement PhD, CAAB. She describes common symptoms that are believed to indicate canine dysfunctional behavior in this article, reviews some of the research and most importantly, how to manage these behaviors. Source: Whole … [Read more...]
2nd edition of the Purina Institute Handbook of Canine and Feline Well-Pet Nutrition
Complimentary Commercial Resource This edition of the Purina Institute handbook is a valuable resource for veterinary team members and animal health pros alike. Authored by 54 experts from around the globe, it is dedicated to the nutritional management of healthy dogs and cats with the objective to provide unbiased, science-based information. Acknowledging advocacy potential … [Read more...]
National Pet Health Insurance month is here
Sponsor Content September is Pet Health Insurance Month. It is a great time to explore how pet insurance can be a game-changer for pet parents and veterinary professionals alike. It’s more than a safety net; it’s a way to ensure pets get the care they need without financial stress. Now through September 30th, connect with an ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance representative to … [Read more...]
Pet dental care: Evolving for convenience and better health
Includes Commercial Content The pet dental and oral care segment is expanding beyond the traditional bone-type products for dogs, writes Lindsey Beaton. She says dog and cat owners are more educated on the importance of oral care and are interested in making dental care more convenient. The trends are giving rise to supplement chews, powders and functional foods. Science … [Read more...]
Dryden breaks down how parasite preventives work
Michael W. Dryden, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVM, emphasized the importance of proper administration of parasiticides as well as consistency to prevent heartworm disease during his Fetch KC keynote lecture. He reviewed macrocyclic lactone activity and the importance of timing to be effective. Discussing resistance, Dryden emphasized doing a better job, as there may be factors causing … [Read more...]
The joy of sharing life with a dog or cat comes with a solemn responsibility
Commentary Routine diagnostic tests for dogs and cats are the secret arsenal to uncover hidden threats early and protect a beloved companion’s future, according to this article. Secret arsenal? Simply that “secret” is used should raise eyebrows among animal health professionals. Secret? . . . Whose fault is that? Can clients name the two or three diagnostic tests their … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – August 25, 2025
2025 IBBY finalists named in six categories, Forum room block reservations extended through September 2nd, IBPSA staff announces weekly Zoom hours, more and more dogs and fewer and fewer children in Spain spawns luxury pet hotels, Mississippi is number 1 in heartworm infection rates, followed by Louisiana, Texas, Alabama and Arkansas. Plus the August 21st AHD Bulletin, which … [Read more...]
Doodle mania has become a billion-dollar business
Despite the assertions of people like Emma Milne, BVSc, FRCVS, to reduce extreme conformations in dog and cat breeds <Link>, the doodle craze continues to drive interest, breeding experiments and value. We’re sharing Allie Conti’s article sans graphics, which describes how crossbreeding poodles with other breeds has created a billion-dollar business. It’s a long read, but … [Read more...]
The science behind animal communication
Real or perceived? LaShelle Easton, DVM, explores what the research reveals about animal communication. Can they read our minds? Further, can we read their minds? And she addresses all the anecdotal evidence of pet-to-human, or human-to-pet telepathy. Source: Animal Wellness, August 18, 2025. Link. Image: Link. … [Read more...]
Emma Milne: The (many) problems with extreme conformation in dog and cat breeds
Commentary Kudos to Kristen Green Seymour, who took on the challenge to share the bent of several topics Emma Milne, BVSc, FRCVS, covers in this video interview. Like her, we recommend this article and video as “required” for all animal health pros. We found reading the article while listening to it was most helpful. It doesn’t matter which side you’re on. This discussion … [Read more...]