A recent Swedish twin study provides evidences of a strong genetic component to dog ownership. The results fit with feelings many have that loving dogs is an intrinsic part of who we are. Heritability for dog ownership ranged from 57 percent for females and 51 percent for males. A shared environment accounted for much less; in the range of 0 to 6 percent. Source: Bark, May … [Read more...]
Blood-sucking ‘kissing bugs’ cause Chagas disease
If you live in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Georgia, Virginia, South Carolina or Tennessee it’s important to understand Chagas disease. Nancy Scanlan, DVM, CVA, shares information on disease symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. In dogs, the primary area to be infected is the heart, but sometimes the nervous system is also involved. The trypanosomes cause a high level of … [Read more...]
Dogs need vets to manage arthritis
Veterinarian Kathryn Primm reminds us that May is National Arthritis Awareness Month. It is a perfect time to be aware of the subtle signs pets who might be in pain from conditions such as arthritis provide and to seek veterinary help when necessary. The article is worthy of posting on social media or in e-newsletters. Source: Fear Free Happy Homes, May 6, 2019. Link. If … [Read more...]
Keep dog paws healthy
Christine Caplan, CVT, reviews the various aspects of dog paw health. She says foot problems can be as uncomfortable for dogs as they are for us. Caplan provides this list of common problems and conditions: Allergies Seasonal hazards Cuts, abrasions, lacerations Nail problems Cracked or dry pads Growths Source: Animal Wellness Magazine, May 28, 2019. … [Read more...]
Man’s best friend ready to help with summer chores
Caution! These pics will make you smile. Summer may seem late, but it will get here soon. It’s likely a dog will be along for the ride. Farm Journal’s Sonja Begemann compiled a fun set of dog photos working farms and checking cattle. Source: AgWeb, May 28, 2019. Link. INSIGHTS: This may provide inspiration for a local clinic photo contest featuring the best farm and ranch … [Read more...]
Study: Dogs act as sentinels to human risk for Lyme disease
New research from the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) quantifies the association between canine seroprevalence for the disease-causing bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, and human incidence of Lyme disease, the most prevalent tick-borne disease in the U.S. The overall association shows that human incidence increases as dog seroprevalence increases. Source: Infection … [Read more...]
Pet food smell important for pets and pet owners (includes video)
Diana Pet Food’s Chloe’ Champion and Perrine Delime share the challenges of satisfying both pet palates and owners’ noses when developing pet diets. . . . pet food must smell great to both the pet and the owner Source: Appetizer, May 12, 2018. Link. Data from an online consumer survey showed 25 percent of respondents said that pet food odor was a very important criterion … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Pet Anxiety Awareness Campaign kicks off June 2nd
Kristen Levine began a campaign three years ago to raise awareness about the need to recognize the symptoms of fear, anxiety and stress (FAS) in dogs and cats. She wants to encourage pet parents to speak to their veterinarians about how to get their pets relief. An estimated 50% of dogs and cats suffer from FAS Source: Cision, May 21, 2019. Link. Each week in June one of the … [Read more...]
Top 3 most common pet insurance claims from 5 providers
ASPCA Pet Insurance, Embrace, Nationwide, Pets Best and Trupanion shared their top three most common claims of 2018 with Veterinary Economics. For veterinary teams, these lists represent opportunities for discussion and consensus around treatment, products and preparations. Salespersons can use these lists as a backdrop for pre-call planning and product … [Read more...]
If you are approached by a service dog without its owner, it may need your help
Ashley Brewer shares what to do if a service dog approaches you without its owner. In all likelihood, the owner needs help. Share this article using social media, e-newsletters and texts. Knowing how to engage the animal to help you find its owner is important because it is different than how we’ve been trained. Source: Animal Planet, May 9, 2019. Link. . . . any verbal cue … [Read more...]
50 ways dogs communicate with their people
The position your dog sleeps in means something, writes Inno Asuncion. He shares 50 more common dog behaviors explained in human terms. This is fun to share on social media, in e-newsletters or as part of a follow-up message after initial clinic or retail visits. Source: Animal Planet, August 21, 2018. Link. … [Read more...]
Canine parvovirus spiking again
Recent reports of canine parvovirus (CPV) infections in areas around the country remind us of how prevalent and challenging this virus is in dogs. CPV itself is small and nonenveloped, making it one of the more robust viruses affecting animals. While our industry has been fighting CPV for nearly 50 years, the only way to stop its spread is to vaccinate dogs. Because of its … [Read more...]
Thunder, firecrackers and more loud sounds
Spring storms have been frequent and loud this year in the Midwest. Add graduation celebrations with fireworks and it’s a noise-averse dog’s nightmare. Bonnie Beaver, DVM, shares strategies for managing sound sensitivity in dogs. The information is an excellent reference to share with dog owners frequently. Studies have suggested that nearly 49% of dogs are reported by … [Read more...]
Top 50 pet food companies in the world
This is a compelling look at economic mass in the pet food industry based on 2018 results. The companies listed also have links associated with them. Source: Petfood Industry, May 2019. Link. Also see: Pet market trends, signals from other services, Petfood Industry, May 2019. Link. The increasing use of non-medical pet services extends even to daily dog care needs . . … [Read more...]
Commercial content from AAHA NEWStat
We captured the commercially sponsored content below as featured in AAHA NEWStat for review. Source: AAHA NEWStat. Link. How do you know which pet supplements are safe?, May 1, 2019. Link. Sponsored by Rx Vitamins Survey reveals good opportunity for veterinarians to include feline MCS assessments, May 1, 2019. Link. Sponsored by Kindred BioSciences BabelBark … [Read more...]
Take Fido for a bike ride in his own basket
John Wood offers a look at five bicycle baskets that allow a pet owner to take a smaller dog along for a ride. He says the baskets are safer than a small dog running alongside a rider. Biking enthusiasts will enjoy getting this information via social media or in an e-newletter. Source: All Things Dog, May 13, 2019. Link. Choose properly-sized pet baskets which have: … [Read more...]
Brucella canis confirmed in Iowa commercial breeding facility
Canine brucellosis is considered zoonotic and is highly contagious among dogs. It causes severe reproductive problems. Iowa's State Veterinarian Jeff Kaisand, confirmed several cases of "canine Brucellosis" coming from a commercial small-dog breeding facility in Marion County southeast of Des Moines. When spread to humans, a rare occurrence, B. canis produces flu-like … [Read more...]
Senior pet diets warrant serious conversations
While every dog or cat that enters a veterinary or retail facility needs a pet diet, animal health pros may shy away from a discussion of individual pet diet needs. Especially true as pets age, nutritional recommendations are important at all stages of pets’ lives, but they’re critical as pets age. Animal owners are bombarded with marketing messages about pet diets. They need … [Read more...]
Watch out for snakes! For you and Fido.
It is that time of year for exciting hikes and nature walks, but remember to watch for snakes. The number-one rule for hiking is for us and our dogs to stay on the trail, experts say. The snakes are waiting in the high grass where they’re harder to see. Rock climbers need to watch where they put their hands, too. Source: NPR Shots, May 12, 2019. Link. Like humans, dogs are … [Read more...]
Promote pet chipping this month
May is National Chip Your Pet Month and an excellent time to turn up attention to the benefits of placing microchips in pets. Once pets are chipped and registered in a national pet recovery database, services like the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool < link > can reference the chip against hundreds of registries’ databases. Pets with microchips are up to 20 times … [Read more...]
Poisonous plants for cattle, horses, dogs, cats
Spring brings a flowery green up but, plants toxic t0 our critters may lurk among the blooms. We compiled some resources for cattle, horses, dogs and cats below. Use them on social media and to solve problems with animal owners. Source: Plants toxic to cats, ASPCA. Link. Source: Plants toxic to dogs, ASPCA. Link. Source: Poisonous plants that can kill cattle, BEEF, … [Read more...]
9 mosquito myths debunked
Jason Cameron and Amy Lawhorne tackle myths about mosquitoes and share ways to help protect you and your family. They share the 7 Ts of mosquito control. Tip Toss Turn Remove Tarps Take care Team up Treat Source: diy Network, link. INSIGHTS: This is good information for social media posts, e-newsletters and websites. Consider sharing it with … [Read more...]
250-plus unrivaled names for dogs
New pet owners might appreciate this set of unique names for dogs. These names include the least-common dog names in the world, creative dog names, and some which are a little exotic that offer an extra specialness that dog owners may find intriguing. Consider this for social media posts, e-newsletters or new pet kits. Source: All Things Dog, May 2, 2019. Link. … [Read more...]
May is National Arthritis Month; remember pets, too
May is recognized annually as National Arthritis Awareness Month. Arthritis affects more than 50 million Americans, making it the number-one cause of disability in the country. Osteoarthritis is a very common problem in small animals, as well. It has been estimated that around 20 percent of dogs and 40 percent of cats will be affected by osteoarthritis at some point in their … [Read more...]
It’s National Pet Week
Since 1981, National Pet Week® has celebrated the human-animal bond. It encourages pet owners to be certain they provide their best friends with all they need for a happy, healthy life every week of the year. Everyone loves their pets, but not everyone is aware of what their pet needs to be happy and healthy long into their senior years, says the AVMA. It provides tools and … [Read more...]
Deal with canine noise phobias
Thunderstorm season is a challenging time for many dogs and their owners. Noise phobia describes the intense and irrational fear displayed to certain sounds by some dogs. Fear is a normal emotional response to a real or perceived threat or situation but they can escalate to a phobia that can emotionally cripple a dog. Nicholas Dodman, BVMS estimates close to 50 percent of dogs … [Read more...]
Fun, easy brain games for dogs help them bond with owners
John Wood provides some great games to help dog owners bond with their dogs. The dog-human social contract is all about our relationship with our dogs. Play builds relationships. Behavior training is important, but so is play. Source: Dogster, April 16, 2019. Link. Playing brain games for dogs can help to alleviate boredom and prevent destructive behaviors such as chewing … [Read more...]
Stevie the pit bull was likely high
Megan Stadler, DVM, and Julien Guillaumin, DVM, DACVECC, DECVECC, present the case of Stevie, a pit bull presented for an emergency examination approximately three hours after the owner noticed an acute onset of lethargic behavior. The owner affirmed that Stevie had the potential for recent marijuana exposure, but there was no way to confirm it. Stevie’s experience is a … [Read more...]
Experts weigh in on pet-safe houseplants
“Even just the fertilizer that the plant sits in can be a problem,” says Stephanie Liff, DVM. Liza Corsillo sought her arborist and educator Ben Team about pet safety with houseplants. She includes specific species and links to resources for acquiring them. This is informative fit for social media and e-newsletters to help educate pet owners. Source: New York Magazine, April … [Read more...]
Opinion – Pets becoming part of long-term eldercare
A Google search produces dozens of visiting pet organizations that provide pet therapy visits to elder care facilities. The results are positive and the organizations require visiting pets to be trained for such activities. Ramona Marek reviews a growing trend of allowing seniors to bring their pet from home when they enter a care facility. I’m supportive of fur, feathers … [Read more...]