The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved TruCan™ Ultra CIV H3N2/H3N8, a canine influenza vaccine designed to provide broad respiratory disease protection. The approval of this CIV vaccine completes Elanco’s Tru Portfolio of comfortable and convenient combination vaccines made with PureFil™ Technology, an exclusive process for creating highly purified vaccines designed to … [Read more...]
Cool-down science: A simple head dunk could save dogs from heat stroke
Here’s an article you’ll want to review, save and share. With funding from the AKC Canine Health Foundation, Cynthia M. Otto, DVM, PhD, DACVECC, DACVSMR, tested different cooling methods. A voluntary head dunk in 70°F water delivered the fastest and most sustained reduction in body temperature.” Source: AKC Canine Health Foundation, July 8, 2025. Link. It makes sense. Dogs … [Read more...]
Here are the 40 least obedient dog breeds
Agree or disagree, at minimum, the approach to develop this list is interesting and may be revealing to some. Sharing the list internally, on social media and in newsletters might help a pet owner decide on a second or replacement dog. A December 2024 study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior found that a staggering 99 percent of dogs in the U.S. have a behavior … [Read more...]
4 key applications of Tui Na in canine veterinary practice
Wax on, wax off? Not exactly but Tui Na stands out as a versatile, non-invasive therapy in canine veterinary care. The author shares four situations where this ancient massage therapy can help support canine wellness and recovery. Pain relief and arthritis management Enhancing mobility and musculoskeletal recovery Stress and anxiety reduction Support for chronic … [Read more...]
Riding along with the volunteers rescuing pets from the Guadalupe Flood
Hours after the Guadalupe River receded, a brown pit bull named Hulk, whose family and half of their riverside house were swept away by the July 4 flooding, returned to the wreckage of his home. He settled atop a torn-up floorboard, turned up his nose, and sniffed the air. Source: Texas Monthly, July 7, 2025. Link. Kerrville and Austin Pets Alive have rescued many dogs and … [Read more...]
Veterinary tips for how to read pet food labels
Making sense of pet food labels is not getting easier. This article addresses terminology and descriptions that can be confusing for animal owners and animal health professionals alike. The author recommends to begin by evaluating and comparing different options by accessing their dry matter analysese. Source: Dogster, May 21, 2025. Link. Image: Link. … [Read more...]
Report: Misinformation, misconceptions can make pet obesity discussions difficult
Commentary We liked Don Vaughn’s approach to this article. He involves several veterinarians, is realistic about non-veterinary obesity information influences, time management restrictions during clinic visits and the relative lack of comfort many veterinarians have when discussing obesity. The lack of nutrition education in veterinary curricula is noted and … [Read more...]
Is it play or fighting? Evaluating rough play.
Includes Commercial Content This AKC article and video from the pandemic period <Link> initiated more digging for pet owner guidance on fighting and play. We discovered the Dunbar Academy resources as linked in the video here where Jamie Dunbar discusses play behavior versus aggression. By removing sound in a dog-to-dog interaction, he provides an informative dialogue … [Read more...]
5 things to know before getting a second dog
Abby Driver’s personal experience with adding a second dog is spot-on and resonates with recent experiences*. The article is worth sharing to help dog owners research deeply before adding another dog to a household. She shares five realities to consider. Source: Pets Radar, May 4, 2025. Link. If you're thinking about adding another furry friend to your household, it's a big … [Read more...]
Gallant’s rebranding reflects regenerative medicine mission
Complimentary Commercial Content Gallant’s recent LinkedIn post about its rebranding caught our attention <Link>. The company focuses on regenerative medicine for everyday use designed to reduce inflammation and support the body’s natural healing process. Reviewing the website, we found the recent study results linked below. The new study examined how small animal … [Read more...]
New York judge says a dog is now legally a member of the family
Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Aaron Maslow declared that dogs are no longer just property in the eyes of the law, but rather “immediate family.” The decision, however, is limited to cases where a dog is struck while being walked on a leash. Source: TimeOut, June 23, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
Elanco’s Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody FDA-approved as a preventive measure
Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody is the first and only U.S. Department of Agriculture conditionally approved treatment to target parvo. The USDA has now approved the use of CPMA for passive immunity (i.e., prophylactic treatment) to prevent parvo infection in puppies exposed to the virus, expanding the potential to protect dogs from this devastating disease. Source: … [Read more...]
Frog wins inaugural Farrier Dog of the Year
Farriers often take a dog with them as they travel from one job to the next. This year the American Farriers Journal celebrated farrier dogs with a contest. Frank Lessiter introduces the 2025 winner, Phrog Frog Diggity Dog who works alongside farrier Jeremy Zackowski. Frog goes to work every day with Jeremy, unlike many of the dogs celebrated during Take Your Dog to Work Day … [Read more...]
In stressful times, our anxiety can rub off on pets. Causes and cures for pet anxiety.
The Associated Press has featured this piece and other coverage about pet anxiety. Cedar Burnett shares a good article on the reasons for pet anxiety as it relates to pet owner issues and expectations. “Dogs are incredibly responsive to our expressions, our body language and our scent, so when the owners are nervous, the dog gets nervous. Our cortisol levels rise and fall in … [Read more...]
Is there a Plan B for dogs? Not in the U.S.
In some countries a drug called Alizin (aglepristone) is available by veterinary prescription to effectively terminate early pregnancy in dogs when administered within the first 45 days after mating. Alizin can be effective in safely ending a canine pregnancy under professional supervision, writes Mary Cope, PhD. Cope continues to explain options U.S. veterinarians have for … [Read more...]
Heat warning as seen on the internet
A friend sent this sign they saw on Instagram. It is a good perspective as temperatures rise this summer. One would think pet owners would know to protect their pets on hot days, but we still see too many of them walking their dogs when it is too hot for man or beast. Maybe sharing this sign graphic will resonate with someone in your communication sphere. Source: … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – June 23, 2025
Grants and resources for veterans, new guidelines for professional dog and cat groomers, the influence of premiumization and humanization in the pet industry, Volume II of the CATalyst Council’s 2025 Feline Market Insights Report and more. . . Source: IBPSA, June 23, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – June 26, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, June 19, 2025. Link. Most read posts from June 19, 2025 AHD Bulletin – Avoid confusion about pinkeye in cattle. Link. Calf vaccinations: You won’t find all the answers in a bottle. Link. Consumer sentiment rebounds sharply in June. Link. Sounds that can trigger aggressive behavior in cats. … [Read more...]
DVM discusses half-dosing vaccines
Scott Weese, DVM, shares the short answer to a common question about half-dosing vaccines, emphazing “we don’t know.” He covers these key elements in this article: a) half-dose efficacy, b) adverse reactions and c) liability. Source: Worms and Germs, May 28, 2025. Link. About client requests, Weese writes, veterinarians are expected to act professionally and reasonably, … [Read more...]
Study sheds light on veterinary patient safety events
“You cannot improve what you don’t measure,” could be an overarching theme to this voluntary and broad retrospective study. The study revealed roughly four patient safety events for every 1,000 visits during two years. While most reported incidents were harmless, the small number that caused major harm or death were often tied to anesthesia and sedation errors. Source: AVMA … [Read more...]
Consumer sentiment rebounds sharply in June
Commentary Okay, so the photos are unrealistic. But, economic indicators suggest that now there is a likely opportunity for veterinary clinics to bring back clients’ pets that are past due for wellness checks, oral health procedures and vaccinations. Consider the potential for a campaign to reach owners stretching their pets’ adherence timelines to return to the … [Read more...]
Nom Nom research reveals the impact of pup’s perceived happiness on pet parents
Complimentary Commercial Content We appreciate the efforts Nom Nom put forth to answer our questions* about the April 2025 survey findings they shared with us. Dogs crave mental and physical challenges that keep them engaged beyond toys, beds or long walks, shares Kristin Chenoweth, who promotes meal time as one place to improve experiences for dogs. Beyond the commercial … [Read more...]
When looks can kill. The science behind animal breeding.
Breeding for aesthetics has resulted in genetic disorders, health problems and a loss of biodiversity, writes Sorelle Tan. Selective breeding for aesthetic traits such as floppy ears, short noses and flat faces often predisposes the hybrid animal to ear infections and respiratory problems. Brachycephalic breeds like French bulldogs have a life expectancy about 4.1 years shorter … [Read more...]
Steve Dale: Start now to help pets deal with fireworks
Includes Commercial Content We were pleased to see Steve Dale’s assertions for pet owners ahead of July 4th festivities. He shares products and conditioning methods, saying “when pets are terrified of fireworks, odds are good that pet might also be fearful of other loud and sudden sounds, such as thunderstorms, So, being proactive also supports pets beyond July … [Read more...]
Addressing sighing behaviors in dogs
A recent article shared that Trupanion data reveals a sharp rise in anxiety-related health claims among dogs and cats <Link>. Since a dog sighing can be a sign of anxiety, we’re sharing this article. In it, Gemma Johnstone describes many reasons dogs may sigh and when owners need to be concerned. Source: AKC, June 12, 2025. Link. INSIGHTS: Consider this article for … [Read more...]
Forbes, How can the veterinary industry help with the rising cost of care?
Commentary We held this article for a few weeks trying to best present the content for consideration. Aimee Gilbreath, president of PetSmart Charities, wrote it. She shares metrics seen routinely in various media and calls the rising cost of pet care a full-blown pet healthcare crisis. I disagree. I believe we have a pet parent spending problem veterinary hospitals are … [Read more...]
A crate training discussion. Cruel or kind?
The heart of crate training lies in how it’s introduced and used, writes Esther Evangeline. Emphasizing the dog safety, she addresses misconceptions, training approaches and crate alternatives. Consider the article for social media or newsletters. Source: DoggoDigest, May 11, 2025. Link. Crate training is the process of teaching a dog to see a crate as a positive, secure … [Read more...]
Review: Diagnostic testing for tick-borne diseases; recommendations, interpreting results
Ticks are making the news across the U.S. as resident populations bloom and areas experience new tick species migrating into a region for the first time. A large percentage of vector-borne diseases reported are vectored by ticks, with dogs acting as sentinels for human exposure to concerning bacterial, protozoal and viral agents. In this article, Doctors Schlemmer and … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – June 9, 2025
Diminishing veterinary care blamed on rising costs, small businesses need to consider risk management, harnessing AI for small business, law maker activities and more . . . Source: IBPSA, June 9, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – June 12, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, June 5, 2025. Link. Most read posts from June 5 2025 AHD Bulletin – Strategies for culling cows this year. Link. Orange cats, freak of nature? Link. Plain speak. Link. AVMA’s New World screwworm resource for veterinarians. Link. DocTalk . . . Embryos and reproductive technologies. Link. … [Read more...]