Mikkel Becker reviews handy tools to help pet owners control the chaos of leashed walks. There’s a good chance that several clients are struggling in this area and may not know you can give them advice. Even if a dog comes in with all the right equipment, that doesn’t mean its owner is using it properly or that it’s working for the dog. Source: Veterinary Medicine, October 1, … [Read more...]
Chasing tail, fun or malady for felines?
Tail chasing in dogs is common and likely a game. In cats, however, it is less common, writes Michaela Conlon. Infections, allergies, hyperesthesia and stud tail are conditions where tail chasing is common. Cats can also chase their tails for a number of medical reasons,” Dr. Sasha Gibbons explains. “Cats will chase their tails if there is an infection and the tail is … [Read more...]
8 tips to determine trustworthy cat nutrition sites
The team at Catnip delivers common sense about feline nutrition websites and feline sites. They suggest eight questions to use to determine if a site is reputable and its information legitimate. They have also generated a list of the best of the best websites for nutrition information. <link> Source: Catnip, October 2018. Link. If the evidence on a site is presented … [Read more...]
Natural cat litters are gaining popularity
Among product segments that retailers dominate, the $3 billion litter category is projected to grow theee percent over the next five years. Clay litter sales remain strong, but new litters made from corn, grasses, coconut, hemp and even lavender are making their way into a growing natural, ecofriendly list of litter options. . . . consumers are leaning toward a natural litter, … [Read more...]
Talking about dogs and dreams
Like humans, dogs dream. Dog dreams likely summarize the day’s events and allow dogs the opportunity to process what they learn. I don’t think anyone can say for sure what dogs dream about but we can be fairly certain that they do dream,” says Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM. Source: Dogster, September 18, 2018. Link. What we’ve basically found is that dogs dream doggy things,” … [Read more...]
Opinion – Your smartphone obsession may make your dog sad
I recently noticed a change in our Morkie’s behavior when I turn to my cell phone to monitor emails, texts or see what’s going on with LinkedIn or Twitter. Once I do, the dog allows about 30 to 45 minutes before deciding if it’s time to play, pet or seek attention. I’m not alone. Cheyenne Macdonald reviews growing amounts information that dogs are especially hurt by owners’ … [Read more...]
Pheromones and household cat aggression
Targeting multicat households in the midwestern U.S., researchers recently examined the use of synthetic feline-appeasing pheromone (FAP*; Feliway Friends*) for its effect on intercat aggression in multicat households. Take-home Message - For households with established intercat aggression issues, FAP treatment correlated with significantly reduced aggression within 21 days of … [Read more...]
Install an off switch to dogs’ playtime
Pat Miller shares her experiences with an overly energetic dog and the benefits of teaching the off switch. She explains how to install a cue like “all done” to indicate its time to stop or change focus. Training humans to ignore your dog’s attempts to get them to play fetch might be the hardest part of this! Source: Whole Dog Journal, August 2017. Link. . . . All done!” … [Read more...]
Animal health pro finds out the hard way that pet insurance works
Animal health pro Mark Niblo was on the fence about committing to pet insurance for his new dog, Storm. No so, anymore. He shares Storm’s journey and tallies the costs without insurance. Now insured, Storm is covered for another incident of this kind anytime in the next five years. If only I would have had it earlier! Source: Durvet, September 2018. Link. INSIGHTS: Mark’s … [Read more...]
AAHA welcomes 12 new accredited practices
A dozen practices evaluated from August 15 to September 17 achieved the AAHA Accredited status. Congratulations to these practice teams for going above and beyond to meet the highest standards in veterinary medicine. Source: AAHA Red, September 18, 2018. Link. The following practices achieved accreditation: Anthracite Animal Clinic, Ashland, PA Atlantic Animal … [Read more...]
FDA alert – potential neurologic adverse events associated with isoxazoline class flea and tick products
Bravecto, Nexgard, Simparica and now Credelio are implicated in the FDA alert. Following drug approvals, the FDA monitors adverse events. In the case of the isoxaline class of flea and tick products, FDA’s post-marketing activities show some pets have experienced adverse events such as muscle tremors, ataxia and seizures. In the first three years after approval, the FDA pays … [Read more...]
Caterwauling, what and why
There’s nearly always a reason behind caterwauling, the higher pitched, drawn-out, melodic yowling sounds cats sometimes express, writes Angie Bailey. She shares some reasons for it, and what might help remedy the situation. Cats caterwaul: because they’re in pain as a signal they want to breed to alert us to outside activity when they are feeling insecure or … [Read more...]
Digging into compost intoxication
Compost piles in backyards are often tempting to pets. However, until composting materials have fully decomposed they can be toxic to pets who ingest the mixtures. Frank Davis and Laura Stern, DVM, share what to do when dealing with compost toxicity. Source: Today’s Veterinary Nurse, Fall 2018. Link. Treatment is aimed at controlling clinical signs. Compost intoxication can … [Read more...]
Individual approaches best for post-appointment follow-up
Research uncovers that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to communicating with pet owners after a clinic visit. There are some indications of when clients want follow-up in the study referenced. For the rest, maybe it is time to JUST ASK! Source: VETTED, May 10, 2018. Link. If we leave it up to guesswork, then we have a 50-50 shot at getting it right. But if we ask … [Read more...]
Kibble size matters to dogs
New research reveals data contrary to common beliefs that smaller dogs prefer smaller kibble and larger breeds larger kibble. The research by AFB International was conducted to help customers make informed decisions about their dog food brands. . . . the research found small, mid-size and large dogs preferred large-size kibble to small-size kibble. Source: Petfood Industry, … [Read more...]
Steve Dale: Dog flu is relentless
When dog flu hits a community, all exposed dogs – except those who recently had the flu or those vaccinated – will get the virus, writes Steve Dale. Around 25 percent of dogs who get the virus don’t show any signs or symptoms. But, they’re just as contagious as sick dogs. Numbers below only hint at the real story. What we do know is that around two to five percent of dogs do … [Read more...]
Vetfolio announces new education programs
New programs offer free education. Minimizing Preoperative Vomiting and Maximizing Post-operative Care, sponsored by Zoetis <link> This two-part podcast series discusses strategies for preoperative management in dogs with an in-depth discussion on the role of a veterinary nurse in this clinical scenario. Dealing with Ixodes scapularis and Lyme disease … [Read more...]
AAHA announces pet insurance plan and new board of directors
Congratulations to the new AAHA board members whose leadership began following the inaugural Connexity conference. AAHA also announced The AAHA Pet Health Insurance Program, offered by Petplan. The AAHA plan seeks to provide more options for pet owners seeking to manage the cost of veterinary care and is specifically designed to help clients pay for unexpected expenses for … [Read more...]
More reasons for an annual exam
Melissa Beall, DVM, PhD, explains why regular, comprehensive screening is critical and what veterinarians can do to help keep dogs healthy. All dogs need to be screened annually for exposure to infected ticks Source: Veterinary Practice News, June 20, 2018. Link. A new study . . . showed two key findings: 1) dogs with Ehrlichia antibodies in E. canis-endemic areas have a … [Read more...]
Babies may be healthier with a pet around
Steve Dale reviews research about the microbiome benefits of raising babies in the company of animals. We urge animal health pros to share this information in their various networks and social media. While previous studies have established that reducing allergen exposure in the home helps control established asthma, the new findings suggest that exposure to certain allergens … [Read more...]
Deciding when a pet’s behavior is a problem
Zazie Todd, PhD, explores behavior issues. Some we find endearing, some we tolerate,and some we struggle with. But she asks, “How do we know when a behavior issue is a problem?” Referencing an Italian study, she shares the three behaviors people were more likely to see as a problem: aggression towards other dogs, being fearful on walks and aversion to strangers. For many … [Read more...]
Sponsored content: Recently seen in AAHA NEWStat
We’re sharing sponsored content from NEWStat, one of several publications available from AAHA Press, the publishing arm of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). New study shows link the evolution of feline hypertension, Boehringer Ingelheim, September 1, 2018. Link. New study shows link between ticks and kidney disease, September 1, 2018. Link. Guide to … [Read more...]
Reviews.com rates pet meal delivery services
Home delivery of dog food continues to grow. Dog owners can now get raw ingredient meal delivery services like their owners get pizza. The team at Reviews.com reviewed canine meal delivery services. They rated variables for customized meals that included: ordering experience, recipe variety, scheduling flexibility, packaging, instructions, ease of serving and … [Read more...]
The skinny on pet supplements
Jackie Brown investigates pet supplements and finds a lot of questions remain. While certain supplements can have a place in joint disease management, some veterinarians are concerned about how they might be perceived by pet owners. Source: Veterinary Practice News, August 23, 2018. Link. Sam Franklin, MS, DVM, PhD, DACVS, DACVSMR, tells clients, “. . . if they can afford to … [Read more...]
Animals served by nonprofit spay-neuter clinics often not vaccinated for rabies
The latest JAVMA is out. The paper <link> profiling spay-neuter clinic clients and pets is of profound interest to animal health pros who sometimes refer to these locations as price competitors. Note the high percentage of animals without basic rabies protection. Respondents indicated that 49% of dogs and 77% of cats had not been examined previously by a veterinarian, … [Read more...]
AAFP releases first cat-specific anesthesia guidelines
The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) has released the profession’s first feline-specific anesthesia guidelines. According to the AAFP, a standardized, evidence-based approach for administering anesthesia helps ensure a patient’s safe and predictable perioperative response and recovery. Empirical evidence shows that cats undergoing anesthesia have a higher … [Read more...]
The biggest financial shocks for pet owners
This article paralleled the announcement of AAHA’s Promoting Preventive Care Protocols: Evidence, Enactment, and Economics <link>. Jean Chatzky discusses how to avoid letting a big veterinary bill destroy a family budget. Source: Better, September 6, 2018. Link. . . . while there’s no way to completely eliminate the possibilities of a health catastrophe for your pet, … [Read more...]
Free videos available to help businesses accommodate service animals
Persons using service animals are sometimes denied access to restaurants, hotels or other services because of their animals. American Humane and Mars Petcare recognized this was happening to U.S. veterans. An American Humane survey showed that nearly seven in 10 of retail employees say they never received training on questions they are legally allowed to ask customers to verify … [Read more...]
September is National Service Dog Month
September is National Service Dog Month which celebrates guide dogs, seeing-eye dogs, service pets and other assistance animals, including military working dogs. Part of the month’s focus is to help people become familiar with service dog challenges, etiquette and more. Source: Healthy Paws Pet Insurance and Foundation, September 1, 2018. Link. Service animals are defined … [Read more...]
AAFP survey finds successes for practices certified as Cat Friendly Practices
According to Elizabeth Colleran, DVM, MS, DABVP, AAFP co-chair of Cat Friendly Practices (CFP), this was a long time coming. The CFP program is a collaboration of feline experts who provide guidelines to ensure a more positive and less stressful veterinary experience for cats and their owners. . . . when cats panic and their cortisol levels skyrocket, the quality of the exam … [Read more...]