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...]
New canine blood bank to serve DFW metroplex
When dogs undergo surgery or get hurt in accidents, they sometimes need emergency transfusions. Canine Blood Heroes is opening its first Texas location. It will operate from the Animal Emergency Hospital of North Texas in Grapevine. Once stocked, the facility will serve animal hospitals in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Source: pressreader, November 12, 2016 and Dallas Morning … [Read more...]
Stop the leash pulling, PLEASE!
Following chronic barking and house soiling, stopping leash pulling is a top dog owner wish. This behavior adjustment is also a safety measure for owners. The video resources and the training approaches presented here are good tools to share with clients and customers. Source: Petcha.com, November 8, 2016. Here are a few reasons dogs pull on the leash: They have four … [Read more...]
Golden retriever’s favorite toy comes to life
Just for fun! See what happens when a dog’s favorite toy comes to life. Source: Petcha.com, November 8, 2016. Watch how a dog reacted when her favorite toy, a Gumby doll, seemingly sprang to life. … [Read more...]
Hemp-derived CBD eases dogs’ anxiety
Amidst controversy about legalized marijuana, enter hemp-derived CBD (cannabidiol). You have likely heard heard of the benefits of hemp-derived CBD products for pain management, but may be surprised to learn they also help address behavioral problems. Dr. Robert Silver, a licensed, nationally recognized holistic veterinarian, explains the potential. Source: Modern Dog, … [Read more...]
My dog’s poop – your trash can
Just for fun! Should you use a neighbor’s trash can to dispose of bagged dog poop when out with your dog? Perhaps. This topic makes a good icebreaker or can lead to a more productive discussion. It is interesting to note that bagging dog poop is considered a standard practice in this article. Source: Dogster, October 21, 2016. There are two types of people in the world: … [Read more...]
Modify canine humping behaviors
Non-sexual mounting in pre-adolescent and neutered dogs is generally a byproduct of physiologic arousal – an inappropriate response triggered by sensory stimuli, motor activity and/or emotional reactivity. The longer a dog practices his mounting behavior, the harder it is to change, shares Pat Miller. Source: Whole Dog Daily, October 30, 2016. Recommendations to address … [Read more...]
High times for pets a-comin’
Pets in states where marijuana use has become legal are getting high. Accidental consumption is generating some pretty lofty veterinary bills, too. Plus, veterinarians are increasingly concerned about the potency of today’s edibles, many of which contain highly concentrated tetrahydrocannabinol. Source: Washington Post, October 28, 2016. In the year after pot became legal … [Read more...]
Holistic veterinarians say congestive heart failure is sometimes reversible
Congestive heart failure in dogs, as in humans, can be classified in four functional phases. Combining conventional treatments with complementary approaches may improve whatever underlying imbalances or deficiencies the dog may be experiencing, which can help to slow or stop the progression of disease. Source: Whole Dog Journal, October 23, 2016. (via Whole Dog Daily … [Read more...]
Dogs dig pot, dude
Voters in eight states are voting on various forms of marijuana legalization next month. No matter your position, keep your pets in mind. Veterinarians are seeing more dogs suffering from highs from marijuana smoke and edibles. It’s not pretty, either. Source: The Boston Globe, October 21, 2016. 'With the increase in all these recreation products, we saw the number of … [Read more...]
More controversy over dog kisses
Mouth to mouth dog kisses may feel like the ultimate display of affection, but when it comes to such kisses, several experts caution: beware of dogs. Source: New York Times, October 21, 2016. Dr. Nandi, University of Pennsylvania, says a dog’s saliva has proteins that may help cleanse or heal its own wounds, but in a paragraph titled “Why Not to Make Out With Your Pet,” he … [Read more...]
Senior dogs can turn into puppies
Dogs often revert to puppy like problems as they age. Teoti Anderson reviews some issues pet owners may find coming back as their canine friends age. The core areas of anxiety, housetraining accidents, destructive behavior and grooming struggles are all considerations. Source: Modern Dog, October 13, 2016. As a dog ages, hearing and other senses diminish. Remember that … [Read more...]
Studies help define human relationships with dogs
Karen B. London, PhD, shares her perspective about the direction of anthrozoology studies. She references recent research published in the Applied Animal Behavior Science Journal; Measuring dog-owner relationships: Crossing boundaries between animal behaviour and human psychology. Source: The Bark, October 15, 2016. Referencing the study London relates some suggestions … [Read more...]
Training an older dog
Pat Miller says training an older dog requires some accommodations, but it can be done. She discusses a number of factors that influence how much and what mature canines can learn. She recommends talking with a veterinarian before starting a senior dog in a physically vigorous training program. Source: Whole Dog Journal, October 16, 2016 (repurposed from December 2007 … [Read more...]
Fall can be hazardous for pets
Sarah Young reminds us that fall weather also brings some seasonal hazards for pets. These simple reminders make good material for newsletters, posts and websites. Source: Consumer Affairs, October 12, 2016. Before heading outdoors, pet owners should keep in mind that fall brings with it certain risks to dogs. Some of these risks are made by mother nature while others are … [Read more...]
Dog-centric practices benefit dogs, vet teams
Progress is being made in all animal care segments to reduce the stress on animals when visiting a veterinary hospital or treatment environment. This article, the first of two, presents proactive thinking and preparation for animals that respond negatively to practice visits. The guidance includes people safety and reminds us that some preparations need to start at … [Read more...]
Water dangers for dogs
Ben Character, DVM, reviews the risks of dogs getting in the water in this Q & A. He says there are five major infectious organisms considered as waterborne. He also references chemical runoff. While this e-blast targets hunting dog owners, the warnings are similar for urban animals. Water features are common in suburbia and on golf courses. While pretty, they may not be … [Read more...]
Researchers determine if mutts are healthier than purebreds
Researchers at the University of California-Davis challenged the theory that purebred dogs are more prone to genetic disorders than mixed breed dogs. They studied 27,254 dogs with inherited disorders over a five-year period. The theory that purebred dogs are more susceptible to inherited diseases only holds true for 10 out of the 24 disorders studied. Source: Dogs Naturally, … [Read more...]
Dogs may have better social filter than humans
Researchers at Yale University’s Canine Cognition Center provide perspective on human social learning by testing dogs in a similar environment. This information and video are intriguing. Source: AAHA NEWStat, October 3, 2016. Yale researchers concluded that dogs will leave out irrelevant actions when there is a more efficient way to solve a problem, even when a human … [Read more...]
Review canine influenza
Canine influenza virus (CIV) is diagnosed worldwide. The rapid spread of the H3N2 virus in Asia and the United States indicates this virus is capable of regional epidemics and potentially worldwide pandemics. A lot has been written about CIV. This article provides a solid scientific perspective. Source: Clinician’s Brief, September 2016. The introduction of the H3N2 virus … [Read more...]
Dogs like TV
Dogs notice and understand pictures they see on the television screen, as well as the sounds that accompany them. Digital and HD technology has improved the TV experience for dogs, says Janet Miller. Dogs literally see a new picture, with more clarity than before. Studies show how they see and process images, why they are attracted in the first place, and whether or not they … [Read more...]
Dogs not a reservoir for Zika virus – so far
There is no indication that dogs harbor the Zika virus which might allow a mosquito to pick it up when it bites a dog and then inject the virus into a person. To date,, there are no reported cases of Zika virus in dogs or other animals in the U.S. This may change as continued research and testing is completed. Zika virus is related to the West Nile virus. Source: Capital … [Read more...]
Saving parvo puppies
Medora Pashmakova, DVM, DACVEC, presented tips about managing Parvoviral enteritis at the International Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Symposium in Grapevine, Texas. Her underlying message was when you help puppies survive the first three to four days of a parvo infection, they usually make a rapid recovery. Source: DVM 360, September 28, 2016. Dr. Pashmakova … [Read more...]
Help pets adapt to fall
Fall may be more work than fun for dogs says Cesar Milan, noted TV dog whisperer. He offers tips that will help make the transition into the new season enjoyable for owners and their dogs. He covers allergies, Halloween candy, arthritis concerns, nutrient needs, exercise needs and protective wear. Source: Cesar’s Way, September 28, 2016. The change in the season can mean a … [Read more...]
It’s dog food revolution
A series of three articles addresses the abundance of new dog foods and claims that now proliferate the diets marketplace. Why human food trends are changing how your dog eats – it’s a revolution. Should you really feed it to your dog? – demystifying life stage dog food. We demystify the lingo on dog food packaging and labels – no this, not that! Source: Dogster, … [Read more...]
Gun-shyness
Next to having a dog killed by a passing car, there is probably no worse feeling for a bird dog owner than having the hunting dog he paid dearly for, trained, raised carefully and conditioned to loud noises, come crawling into your vest at the first gun shot on opening morning. If this sounds like a personal story, it is. It was devastating and never resolved. Craig Doherty … [Read more...]
Banfield’s Aja shares his big picture
Dan Aja, DVM, chief medical officer for Banfield Pet Hospital, moved from private practice into industry roles. He shares some perspective on the challenges of those situations and about our industry. Following the Aja story is a micro-review of The State of Pet Health® 2016 Report (page 38), created by Banfield’s research team. In summary, Banfield data shows diabetes and … [Read more...]