In the 17th century, one breed of dog was created as a high-tech solution to a household need. The now-extinct turnspit dog, or Canis vertigus, was common in European kitchens from the 16th century until the mid-1800s. Source: Saveur, January 19, 2017. Turnspit dogs are described as “long-bodied, crooked-legged, and ugly dogs, with a suspicious, unhappy look about them. … [Read more...]
Addison Biological Laboratory commits to sponsorship
Our team at Animal Health Digest appreciates Addison Biological Laboratory continuing as a Supporting Sponsor in 2017. This commitment is especially relevant as our industry prepares for National Pet Dental Health Month in February. Addison’s sponsorship will be visible using the Maxi/Guard® product line logo during this time. Karlin Yaeger, global sales manager, has created … [Read more...]
Puppies like baby talk
A recent study of human voices suggests that puppies favor the higher pitch we use when talking to them. Source: Science of Us, January 11, 2017. While older dogs were equally responsive to high-pitched and normal recordings, younger ones seemed particularly engaged when they were listening to people baby-talk in their direction. Also see: The Bark, January 14, 2017, Dog … [Read more...]
Monthly preventives are not 100-percent effective on worms
Richard Gerhold, veterinary parasitologist, sets the record straight about monthly preventive medications and the possibility of pets still picking up parasites. He discusses a case where a dog picked up hookworms, even though the client was believed to be compliant on a monthly preventive regimen. Source: DVM360, January 3, 2017. The preventive effectiveness and the … [Read more...]
Embrace dentistry
There’s no shortage of dental opportunities says one veterinarian. "The incidence of dental disease is 100 percent in cats and dogs," says Dr. Dave Nicol, BVMS, Cert. Mgmt. MRCVS. Matthew Lemmons, DVM, DAVDC, agrees. “Veterinary dentistry is almost an instant gratification for our patients.” Each veterinarian makes the case for pet dentistry in these two … [Read more...]
Bones to pick – the good, bad and ugly
Deb M. Eldredge, DVM, discusses the pros and cons of bones for dogs. She writes, “Bones can be good, bad or ugly. If you choose to feed bones, use care in the bones you feed and how you feed them. If you choose to avoid bones altogether, they are absolutely not necessary for your dog’s health or happiness.” Source: Petcha.com, January 10, 2017. Dog Bones and Safety. Is … [Read more...]
Separation problem could be excess energy
Destruction, inappropriate elimination and incessant vocalizing are common signs of a separation issue. However, they must be assessed in context with the rest of a dog's behavior. Here’s an excerpt on the subject from a book sold by Whole Dog Journal. It’s up to you if you want to buy it, but the recommendations are good to discuss with pet owners. Source: Whole Dog Journal … [Read more...]
It’s National Train Your Dog Month
Behavior issues are among the top five reasons people give away their dogs. January is National Train Your Dog Month. See what VetFolio offers animal health pros about canine behavior. Source: VetFolio, January 7, 2017. Behavior Questions and Answers Diagnosing and Treating Aggressive Dogs: So Many Medications, So Little Time! Recognizing Patient Fear, Anxiety and … [Read more...]
Top 5 genetic diseases in dogs
From allergies to airway disease, heart disease to hip dysplasia, this article explores common genetic disorders in dogs. Source: Clinician’s Brief, December 2016. … [Read more...]
Fade the use of treats when training dogs
Reducing the use of food rewards should be a goal when training dogs, but always be ready to to use more or better treats when you add distractions, duration or distance to a behavior. Here’s a good excerpt on the subject from a book sold by Whole Dog Journal. It’s up to you if you want buy it, but the practical training tips are good to share with pet owners. Source: Whole … [Read more...]
10 most popular pet food industry news stories of 2016
In 2016, news about pet food contamination, top dog and cat food companies and market trends topped the list of most popular stories published by Petfood Industry. The rankings were determined by the number of page views recorded by Google Analytics. Source: Petfood Industry, December 27, 2016. These 10 stories received the most attention on Petfood Industry’s … [Read more...]
Look into the ears
Ear problems rank in the top five of reasons a pet owner seeks treatment for their dog or cat. This ear cleaning image gallery will make for a good discussion about the importance of ear health. Consider using the video in a staff meeting to discuss various ear health approaches. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, October 2016. (full access requires sign-on) Ear cleaning … [Read more...]
Pet photobombs will make you chuckle
Just for fun! Cat and dog lovers will laugh at these pet photobombs from Purina. Source: Purina Petcentric, December 2016. Now that dogs and cats have caught on to the trend, photobombing is funnier – and cuter – than ever. (See more) … [Read more...]
Keep pets safe from winter hazards
Sheila Fitzpatrick, DVM, submitted good guidance to her local newspaper readers. In Vail, Colorado, winter comes early, so her warnings are timely as the arctic front blankets the northern U.S. Consider submitting a similar story to your own local media with appropriate reminders for your area. Source: Vail Daily, December 2, 2016. There are many cold weather dangers to be … [Read more...]
Surgeon’s Corner: Friction Knots & the Aberdeen Knot
Knots are basic to surgery. Friction knots are recommended to maintain extrinsic tension on the ligated tissues between the first and subsequent throws. The associated video demonstrates the proper technique to form three friction knots, along with the alternative Aberdeen knot used in subcutaneous and intradermal closures. Sometimes reviewing basic techniques is a good … [Read more...]
Cesar’s short guide to shopping with your dog
U.S. businesses are increasingly accommodating to our pets, especially dogs. Dog owners have responsibilities when taking dogs into businesses. They need to make sure that dogs are calm, well-behaved and always on a leash. Cesar Millan shares tips on preparing dogs for shopping and where to shop. Source: Cesar’s Way, December 2016. Shopping with dogs can be a bonding … [Read more...]
Ultimutt holiday gift guide 2016
Just for fun! What else can we say? Source: Modern Dog, December 2016. Holiday gift ideas and irresistible finds for dogs & dog lovers. INSIGHTS: Our team found a couple items from the 48 shown that might be valuable for one of the four dogs in our collective households. Check out the onesie in slide 11 and the automatic ball launcher in slide 19. Just for fun! … [Read more...]
Blood test basics video
One of my best veterinary hospital experiences included the use of an educational video. In an AVMA video, Dr. Joyce Ashamalla covers the basics of why blood tests are needed and what they help find. Source: AVMA SmartBrief, December 1, 2016. … [Read more...]
The cost of convenience euthanasia
Your behavior could be costing you on many levels, writes Portia Stewart, editor of Vetted. About 10 percent of pet owners who relinquish their pets say it's because of behavior issues. Consider that 7.6 million pets end up in shelters each year and 2.7 million are euthanized, behavior is a high risk factor that can disrupt the human-animal bond. Source: Vetted, December 1, … [Read more...]
Help keep pets safe during the holidays
There are never too many reminders to help keep pets safe during the holidays. Purina makes the effort simpler with a quick video, five tips and a downloadable template to mark hazardous items as “non pet-friendly.” There’s something here for clinic websites, blogs, counters and literature racks. Source: Purina, November 30, 2016. Purina vet, Dr. Zara, shares her tips for a … [Read more...]
House soiling in senior pets
It is easy to assign “my pet’s showing his age” to soiling by a senior pet. But there are reasons beyond a break-down in the animal’s training. Adam Rudinsky, DVM, MS, DACVIM, reviews the top five reasons for fecal house soiling in senior pets: Behavioral disorders Colorectal and anorectal diseases Osteoarthritis Structural disease Neurological … [Read more...]
Two quick tips to help identify dogs affected with Addison’s
Chen Gilor, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, shares two pointers from his CVC presentation about diagnosing Addison's disease: Don't just think about the sodium-potassium ratio. Be screening for Addison's, even if your index of suspicion is not very high. Source: Veterinary Medicine, November 16, 2016. … [Read more...]
10 things humans do that dogs don’t like
This list of don’ts caught our eyes. Consider using this on websites, blogs or in newsletters. A version of this would be good in new pet orientations as well. Source: About.com, January 2016. Jenna Stregowski, RVT, provides concise reasoning for each of the 10 don’ts to match descriptive photos: Hugging Dressing them up Getting in a dog's face and personal … [Read more...]
Holiday pet safety tips
Marianne Lipanovich writes about the risks of holiday changes to pets in this article for pet owners. She reminds readers about the chewable risks and the effect of confusing human activities and guests that can stir up pets. Animal health pros can use this content in blogs, websites and newsletter ahead of the upcoming holiday celebrations in December. Source: The Bark, … [Read more...]
Keep pets safe this Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a week from today. It’s a great holiday, but it can also present hazards for pets. AVMA offers home, party and travel advice that’s ready to go in clinic counter material, blogs and newsletters. Source: AVMA. Holiday food needs to be kept away from pets, and pet owners who travel need to either transport their pets safely or find safe accommodations for them … [Read more...]
Build off-leash skills in dogs
Most dog owners would love to go leash-free when taking out their dogs. However, there is no way to guarantee the safety of a dog off-leash. Skills presented here can improve on the human-animal bond and reduce risk should a dog get loose. Source: Whole Dog Daily, November 13, 2016. Mardi Richmond from Santa Cruz, California offers tips and perspectives about off-leash … [Read more...]
Behavior drugs, nothing to fear
Veterinary teams are slowly getting over their concerns about using behavior drugs. The debate about animal anxiety continues but, “it should have been dead decades ago,” says Nicholas H. Dodman, BVMS, Dipl. ACVA, Dipl. ACVB. Client acceptance is stronger now as more humans use anti-anxiety and depression medications. Source: Veterinary Practice News, November 8, … [Read more...]
Harness depicts canine moods
A harness called Inupathy ("inu" means dog in Japanese), has been invented by biologist Joji Yamaguchi. It measures the dog's heart rate and uses an algorithm to indicate different moods through a colored LED light. Red means excited or anxious, blue for relaxed, white for focused and rainbow for happy. Source: The Bark, November 10, 2016. Inupathy is expected to be … [Read more...]
New End-of-Life Care Guidelines
AAHA teamed up with the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (IAAHPC) to create the 2016 AAHA/IAAHPC End-of-Life Care Guidelines. A first for the veterinary profession, these groundbreaking guidelines provide practice teams with the framework and tools to develop a comprehensive, collaborative, end-of-life plan and better recognize the needs of … [Read more...]
Get Smart About Antibiotics Week
Four educational programs are available on VetFolio during the November 14-20, 2016 antibiotics week. An annual one-week observance promoted by the Centers for Disease Control, the objective is to raise awareness of the threat of antibiotic resistance and the importance of appropriate antibiotic prescribing and use. Source: VetFolio, November 12, 2016. Learn more about the … [Read more...]