One hundred percent of dogs and cats that visit a veterinary hospital or retail center eat some type of food. The diet category gets more confusing every day. Most animal owners make diet choices with little information. This article compares the needs of cats and dogs eating raw diets and presents the realities of species differences. Source: Dogs Naturally, February 19, … [Read more...]
Trail riding with dogs
Understand the value, training and best breeds to develop a good trail dog. The companionship for horse and rider is represented in this essay and pictorial. Source: Horse Illustrated, March 2016, page 36. (direct link unavailable) Trail dogs are common on ranches and farms, but less so in areas where people trail ride for pleasure. But a good trail dog is worth his weight … [Read more...]
Canine influenza resources available from AVMA
Veterinary hospital teams and the representatives who support them will find reviewing the information now available to veterinarians and pet owners from the AVMA valuable. Media coverage about Canine influenza has made pet owners aware of the disease. They’re seeking information, too. Hospital teams and reps who support them will find the latest information from AVMA valuable. … [Read more...]
Scoot or squeeze
Anal sac troubles affect as many as 12 percent of dogs, according to multiple sources. Yet, animal health professionals have no clear understanding of what causes anal sac issues and there is limited research on the subject. Further, there is confusion on the topic of anal sac expression. Source: The Whole Dog Journal, January 2016. Page 16-17. (direct link … [Read more...]
Calcium important to canine health
Dr. Ben Character positions calcium as an important component of canine physiology. Veterinary hospital teams will enjoy this article. It is also good information for clinic websites or newsletters. Source: The Retriever Journal, February/March 2016. (direct link unavailable) Calcium is involved with muscle contraction, nerve conduction, coagulation, phosphorus regulation, … [Read more...]
Tracking canine cancer
Genetic makeup, breed size and lineage are factors that determine cancer risk in dogs. This article follows the development of canine cancer studies and changes in the incidence of cancer in Golden Retrievers. Source: Bark, Winter 2015. The high incidence of cancer in Golden Retrievers appears to be a relatively new phenomenon. A health report in 1999 by the Golden … [Read more...]
Dogs vs. stairs
A subscriber sent this.. We hope you smile as much as we did when you watch it. Source: Petcha.com. There is something about stairs that some dogs just can’t figure out. Petcha compiled some funny clips of dogs using some "unique" methods to figure it out. … [Read more...]
Dog tails tell
TV personality Cesar Millan explains how a dog’s tail tells his emotions in this article. Veterinary hospital teams will find this valuable for in-service days with elementary school kids and puppy classes. Source: Cesar’s Way, February 3, 2016. Animals’ primary methods of communicating are through eye contact, their ear position, and their tails. When an animal is being … [Read more...]
Canine influenza on the move
Discussing media content about disease movement and prevalence directed toward consumers is critical for animal health professionals. We are frequently challenged to maintain consumer confidence in our pharmaceuticals, biologicals, even veterinarians, while we fight to do what’s right for animals and their owners. Thankfully, the AVMA is the information resource in this article … [Read more...]
No bones about it
“With a knick-knack, paddy whack, give a dog a bone,” go the lyrics of This Old Man a nursery rhyme published in 1906. According to Erik Barchas, DVM, bones are a no-no. Veterinary teams might use this as a discussion item for a staff meeting so everyone is on the same page in the practice. Source: Dogster, January 12, 2016. Bones — and it doesn’t matter whether they’re … [Read more...]
Help stop canine brucellosis
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is urging veterinarians to play a major role to help stop the spread of canine brucellosis, a contagious and incurable bacterial infection most often found in breeding kennels. The agency’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service released best practices for veterinarians and kennel operators who may encounter the disease, which causes … [Read more...]
Where do dogs really come from?
A new study may help us understand the origin of modern dogs as we know them. Scientists have some consensus but many hypothesis are still at odds. Source: The New York Times, January 18, 2016. One reason for the conflicting theories, according to Greger Larson, a biologist in the archaeology department at the University of Oxford, is that dog genetics are a mess. In an … [Read more...]
Toenail trim tips
Proper, routine nail care is emphasized in this well-illustrated article. Groomers, vet technicians and hospital team members will benefit from understanding the biomechanics of nail care in dogs. The information is also good for clinic websites and newsletters. Source: Dog Naturally Magazine, January/February 2016. Trimming nails does not have be a traumatic event … [Read more...]
A dog’s life and death – illustrated
Social media strikes again. This time in the form of a cartoon about a dog’s life here and beyond. Sent by a subscriber, we share this especially with veterinary teams in mind. This will be useful in dealing with the natural deterioration of health as a client’s animal ages. Take a look, then you can decide. Source: PawMyGosh.com. Nothing brings us more joy in life than … [Read more...]
Red urine
Winter snowfall makes changes in urine color easier to spot. Dr Ben Character, DVM, walks through what changes in urine color mean and what to do about it in this issue. Source: The Retriever Journal, December/January 2015, page 32. (direct link unavailable) The more common cause of red colored urine is the presence of blood – and in this case whole blood vs. just the … [Read more...]
Editorial – Hunting dogs need vets, too
Awareness for the roles of companion animal veterinarians in multi-species or mixed practices is increasing. Veterinarians hiring new associates will find this article valuable. Chuck Johnson references the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in Ft Collins, CO. He presents a set of questions for working dog owners to use in the process of choosing … [Read more...]
Dogs bloat
Concise and scary is how I describe this article about bloat in dogs or, gastric dialation-volvus complex, GDV. The key to survival is quick recognition. Approximately 180,000 owners of AKC-registered animals will receive this information. It is also good content for veterinary hospital websites, blogs or client newsletters. Source: AKC Family Dog, January/February 2016, … [Read more...]
Myth Buster: corn edition
Reading dog food labels is beyond challenging. The proliferation of specialty veterinary and commercial diets coupled with myriad ingredient choices is confusing for most pet owners. This article and the resources it references will help veterinary teams and reps servicing owners’ pet diet choices sift through the confusion. Source: Trends, January 2016, page 40. (direct … [Read more...]
People foods for dogs
Feeding dogs table scraps or people food treats has been an ongoing conversation for as long as I remember. The slide show featured here may or may not support your own convictions. However, thousands of pet owners may use this resource. Source: Web MD, January 6, 2016. (slideshow) Make human food a treat -- no more than 5% to 10% of your buddy's diet. See what eats are … [Read more...]
Poop-tastrophe … a dog owner’s nightmare
Poop happens! Then you or the dog steps in it. Any dog owner has had this happen. You’ll get a smile from this, as we did: What to do If Your Dog Steps in Poop: A Semi-Practical and Full Humor Guide to Your Very Own Poop-ageddon. It could be fun to include it in a veterinary hospital newsletter too. Source: Dog Channel, December 30, 2015. You feel the wild tug of a mad dog … [Read more...]
Canine disaster search teams to have world-class facility
The Search Dog Foundation provides dogs and training at no cost to fire departments and other emergency agencies around the U.S. The non-profit foundation relies solely on contributors for funding. It is building a new training facility to prepare dogs and their handlers for active rescue duties. Source: Equine and Canine News, Fall 2015, page 40. Finding a rescue dog with … [Read more...]
Pet age in human years
While anthropomorphic, comparing our pets’ ages to our own is common. Heather Cha, editor, offers perspective in this Yahoo News story. Veterinary hospital personnel will appreciate the updated information and resources. Source: Yahoo News, December 15, 2015. In fact, a dog’s aging process is accelerated during the first few years of maturation and then slows down after … [Read more...]
What we’re learning about new canine flu
Emerging diseases confound animal health professionals. Staying abreast of current information is critical to disease recognition and prevention. Learn about a recent canine flu study, the dogs most likely to be infected and actions taken by DVMs to avoid spreading the disease. Source: Veterinary Practice News, December 16, 2016. Middle-aged dogs, not puppies or the … [Read more...]
Setting the facts straight about leptospirosis
Vaccination is still the primary method of protection against leptospirosis. This short article helps veterinary hospital teams prepare for discussions about lepto and lepto vaccines with pet owners. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, 2015 must read summary. Leptospirosis is not limited to large-breed or outdoor dogs. If a dog goes outside, she could be exposed—all it takes is … [Read more...]
United Airlines brings dogs to airports to comfort stressed holiday travelers
The human-animal bond reduces stress for airport travelers at seven airports, thanks to United Airlines’ United Paws program. Source: 89.3 KPPC, Southern California Public Radio, December 22, 2015. “United Paws is a wonderful program that comes at just the right time for some holiday travelers who may be experiencing a bit of anxiety or stress," said Veterinary Consultant … [Read more...]
Are your dog’s teeth a hot mess?
Veterinary clients can take a quiz in this issue of Dogster and read about dental care. Learn what they’re reading and consider using the quiz as a fun, pre-exam activity while clients wait for their appointments. Two articles in this issue present canine dental care considerations for dog owners. Source: Dogster, February/March 2016. (direct link unavailable) Dental care … [Read more...]
Bird Dogs: American Labs vs. British Labs
The American Kennel Club (AKC) announced in February 2015 that the intelligent, family friendly Labrador Retriever held on to the number-one spot on the most popular list. This was the 24th consecutive year, continuing the longest reign as the nation's top dog in AKC history. The blog post from Pheasant’s Forever goes into detail on the differences in the British vs. … [Read more...]
Fluid dynamics on four legs: The brilliance of how dogs drink
In the, “Did you every wonder about?” category, this article helps those who wonder how dogs get enough to drink with their head down and all the splashing that takes place from those tongues. Dogs are drinking machines. A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences confirms it. Source: Los Angeles Times, December 18, 2015. A dog laps by … [Read more...]
Effect of ketamine on the minimum infusion rate of propofol needed to prevent motor movement in dogs
Veterinary practitioners and their technical staff members will appreciate this study of the minimum infusion rate (MIR) of propofol and ketamine. The study results may be important to surgical suite protocols for anesthesia. This is also a good reference paper for representatives who supply ketamine and propofol. Source: American Veterinary Journal of Research, December … [Read more...]
Top 5 maintenance insulins
This peer-reviewed article is great material for a veterinary hospital staff meeting. Ruth Gostelow, BVetMed(Hons), DACVIM, DECVIM-CA, MRCVS, Royal Veterinary College, provides perspective on treatments of diabetes mellitus in dogs and cats. Representatives can lead the discussion as a service to the veterinary team or use this information to become more aware of the variances … [Read more...]