Whether it is to reduce pulling, avoid trachea injuries or gain a mechanical advantage, dog harnesses are beneficial.Pat Miller updates the dog harness information from the April 2017 article we posted in AHD, March 29, 2017. Miller uses a 0 to 4 paw rating when identifying the best harnesses. Pet owners will appreciate this information. Consider using it on websites, social … [Read more...]
Tips for separation anxiety in dogs (includes video)
Treating separation anxiety in dogs can vary depending on the level of nervousness a dog feels. Every case is different, says Kimberly Alt. Some dogs will respond well to the strategies shared here, while others will require more persistence. Source: Canine Journal, November 17, 2017. Alt discusses counter-conditioning for mild separation anxiety. She reminds us that … [Read more...]
Pregnancy, babies, and the family dog(s)
Jennifer Messer writes about the challenges of bringing a new baby home and the apprehensive fears from well-intentioned family and friends. The article shows preparation and continues with the rest of the story one year later. She summarizes that dogs and kids can be a golden combination with a plethora of health and social benefits, but they do require informed guardians who … [Read more...]
Veterinary Medicine Essentials: diabetes mellitus
By assembling articles on cat and dog diabetes, the dvm360 team provides a package that covers diagnostic steps and treatment plan guidance. Along with the latest updates, they offer resources to share with your veterinary team and clients. Source: Veterinary Medicine, February 15, 2018. The package includes tips on which insulin to use, how to best monitor glucose … [Read more...]
Nasal discharge in dogs could be more than one thing. (diagnostic guide)
Douglas Palma, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), has a special interest in respiratory medicine. He trains interns and residents in internal medicine and is residency director for ACVIM. His educational experiences show in this diagnostic chart to help animal health pros move quickly toward a diagnosis when a dog is presented with nasal discharge. Source: Clinician’s Brief, February … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content: Pheromones; the nose knows.
Our recent post about the Flehman response in cats led me to further investigate the pheromone topic. Googling produced several references on semiochemicals and their use in insect control. Most important was information provided by AHD sponsor, Ceva Animal Health, which helps clarify some of the confusion about pheromones and pheromone products: Pheromones are naturally … [Read more...]
Off the Leash animated episodes (includes videos)
Rupert Fawcett's "Off the Leash," is a cartoon strip that features sweet and funny moments that represent our wonderful canine friends. It has now been adapted into animated episodes. These short videos are fun to watch, ironic and make good content for social media posts or websites. Source: Modern Dog, March 1, 2018. Featuring the secret thoughts and conversations of … [Read more...]
Study proves that dogs are good judges of character
A study recently published in the journal, “Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews,” found that dogs can tell when someone is being rude or mean to another person. Like humans, dogs then use this information to decide how to treat people. Source: Simplemost. Dogs in the study reacted negatively to humans who refused to help their owners. “We discovered for the first time … [Read more...]
Feral cattle creating issues in California national monument
Sand to Snow National Monument lies approximately 50 miles north, northwest of Palm Springs, California, and about 50 miles east of San Bernardino, California. Rising from desert lowlands, its mountainous high desert and cascading streams create panoramic views, tranquility and solitude. But, recent visitors have been surprised by members of a herd of 150 feral cattle that are … [Read more...]
One-health approach addresses obesity in pets, people
Obesity is a tough subject for human and veterinary doctors. This article highlights the findings of "Preventing Obesity in People and their Pets: A One Health Approach," from November 2016. The conference paired speakers from human and veterinary medicine to discuss obesity in humans and companion animals. These statements stuck in our review of the content: Physical … [Read more...]
Inconvenient truth: sterilization increases dog obesity
Patty Khuly, VMD, MBA, addresses our decades-old position on sterilization and the inconvenient truth that dog sterilization leads to fatter dogs. Agree or disagree, this is content that animal health pros need to read, discuss and consider. Source: Veterinary Practice News, February 16, 2018. Khuly asserts that health and overpopulation are two separate issues and need … [Read more...]
Nationwide offers free household pet toxins infographic
From antifreeze to dishwasher detergents, our houses hold innumerable items that are poisonous to pets. Nationwide offers a high-resolution PDF and HTML code of an informative infographic that is perfect for e-newsletters, printed newsletters, social media, websites and counter handouts. Source: Nationwide. These common household chemicals can cause serious injury to your … [Read more...]
Dog and cat behavior myths debunked
Amy L. Pike, DVM, and Jessey Scheip, LVT, tackle common misconceptions about our dog and cat behaviors that still are being propagated, despite scientific evidence to the contrary: Myth No. 1: The human needs to be dominant to the pet to maintain proper structure and obedience. Myth No. 2: Misinterpretation of body language Myth No. 3: Misunderstandings with … [Read more...]
Focus and passion fuel Lucky Dog show host’s success
The CBS Dream Team programming features six high-definition half-hours with pro-social messaging. Each show offers inspiring and educational messages on subjects that interest teenagers. The Lucky Dog host Brandon McMillan is an animal behaviorist whose training came from family lineage plus experience. Larue Palmer shares the interactions Pet Product News had when shadowing … [Read more...]
How dogs process people’s emotions
Karen London, PhD, updates information on how dogs process and respond to our emotions. Previous studies showed that dogs use different sides of the brain to process information, depending on the emotions involved. As we develop and advance Fear Free initiatives, this information can help evaluate how we interact with dogs. Source: The Bark, February … [Read more...]
Oral health matters to pets’ quality of life (video)
In this Spark video, dental experts share perspectives and benefits of a focused dental care strategy for veterinary hospitals, animal owners and pets. There is consensus that oral health affects pets differently and why veterinary dentists believe radiographs are critical in dental treatment. Source: NAVC Spark, February 16, 2018. Oral health disease is probably the most … [Read more...]
Pet insurance getting better
Writer Cynthia Foley noticed improvements in what the various insurance companies cover since Whole Dog Journal looked at pet insurance in September 2015. She notes rate competitiveness, outlines each plan and provides a list of things to pay attention to when comparing pet insurance plans. For animal health pros, this article can help save time and help animal owners make … [Read more...]
How good breeders raise puppies
Fearless puppies don’t just pop out of their dam, say hello to the world and settle into biddable dogs. Linda Rehkopf shares her approach to raising puppies that grow into happy, confident dogs. Breeders and puppy owners alike will value this information. Source: Fear Free Happy Homes, January 30, 2018. Starting with a sire and dam that were both calm confident adults at … [Read more...]
Signs of a sick dog
Dog Breeds Center recently surfaced as another media source targeting animal owners. Mark Reed offers dog owners some signs that a dog might be sick. The tips are logical and the images represent situations well. Consider this resource for social media posts and website content. Source: Dog Breeds Center. All of these symptoms and any sudden behavioral change require an … [Read more...]
Home tooth infection care ill-advised
Jackie Brown’s article, “Dog tooth infection signs and treatments,” includes information about home remedies. He engages the expertise of John Huff, DVM, FAVD, Dipl. AVDC, to discuss dental challenges. Huff explains, “If you think your dog might have a tooth infection, don’t try to treat it at home. All the brushing in the world doesn’t correct the infection. Instead, make … [Read more...]
Second annual Veterinary Emerging Topics® (VET) Report
Kudos to Banfield Pet Hospital® and The NAVC® for collaborating on The 2018 VET Report. It focuses on feline antimicrobial usage and the mounting public health issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The 2017 VET Report addressed AMR in dogs. A lack of awareness about existing guidelines for antimicrobial usage in veterinary medicine has contributed to discordance between … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – My MAXI/GUARD® surprise in Better Homes and Garden
During a recent visit to the grocery, I picked-up a copy of Better Homes and Gardens magazine. A one-page article featuring a Pug titled, “Happy Teeth” caught my eye. It referenced Jan Bellows, president of the Foundation for Veterinary Dentistry. My surprise was under the heading, “The Right Tools” in the right-hand column. Number 1 called out MAXI/GUARD® Oral Cleansing … [Read more...]
10 obesity related conditions in fat pets
Nationwide reports that its members filed 1.4 million pet insurance claims for conditions and diseases related to obesity in 2017. They sorted through its database of more than 630,000 insured pets to determine the top 10 most common dog and cat obesity related conditions. Source: DVM 360, January 26, 2018. Nationwide data from 2016 showed more than 51,000 pet insurance … [Read more...]
Beware the whites of K-9 eyes
Wide, bulging eyes that show the whites of dogs’ eyes is a behavior referred to as whale eyes. Jill Breitner explains whale eyes are a sign of fear that shouldn't be ignored. Source: Dogster, January 23, 2018. If you even think you see whale eyes, err on the side of caution. Stop what you’re doing, assess the situation and proceed to redirect the dog to something else to … [Read more...]
10 human foods dogs can eat
Rose Frosek shares healthful people foods that can be shared, guilt-free, with dogs. This list can be used on social media, in newsletters and websites. Who knows? Maybe, if the dog eats green veggies, so will the children. Source: Modern Dog. Remember that treats and other additions to your dog’s regular meal should comprise no more than 10 percent of their daily intake. … [Read more...]
Look for third-party certifications of pet food
Nancy Kerns speaks to the growing source verification and ethical source standards that are now part of pet food decisions. Suspicious of claims, she recommends looking for certification by a legitimate third-party auditor and references the number of companies that provide verification and certification of organic, socially, environmentally, and/or humanely responsible … [Read more...]
Not all shedding is normal (includes handout)
Animal health pros frequently get questions about excessive pet hair shedding. It is generally normal or seasonal, but there are times to be concerned. Darin Dell, DVM, shares perspectives on causes of shedding. Source: Vetted, January 16, 2018. The first step when faced with an exam for “excessive shedding” is to determine if there is obvious alopecia or true thinning of … [Read more...]
Osteoarthritis management update (includes video)
David Dycus, DVM, urges veterinary teams to consider multi-modal options for dealing with osteoarthritis. He recommends establishing a baseline through joint supplements, diet and especially, routine exercise. Each patient needs to be considered individually instead of using a standard plan. This is good material to review as a veterinary team to uncover different perspectives … [Read more...]
8 fun scent games dogs love
Smell is the most powerful sense dogs possess. It is fully developed at birth. Dogs have up to 300 million sensors compared to six million in humans. The part of the dog brain that analyzes smells is 40 times bigger in dogs than humans. As pet owners, we frequently forget to include scent games as part of activities with our animals. Steve Duno shares some that owners can play … [Read more...]
5 signs of canine boredom
Rather than whine around the house complaining there’s nothing to do, dogs who stay at home alone sometimes decide to amuse themselves with activities that are not funny to their owners. Teoti Anderson share five signs of dog boredom that are easily shared on websites or social media. Source: Modern Dog. Anderson shares five typical signs of dog boredom, as well as what … [Read more...]