Gastritis is so prevalent in cats that the disorder ranks as the number 2 reason people seek veterinary care for their cats. Mary Labato, DVM at Tufts University, says a few bites of spoiled food or a mild infection can cause stomach distress for our finicky feline friends. Source: Tufts Catnip, February 20, 2017. There are two types of gastritis: acute and chronic. Acute … [Read more...]
Do you know your dog breeds?
If a customer requested assistance for their St. John’s Water Dog, today it would be called a: Newfoundland Barbet Boykin Spaniel Labrador Retriever Otterhound Source: Acreage Life, February 2017, page 44. Discover the answer here. … [Read more...]
End of Life Care Guidelines web conference closes February 26
This webinar will feature the goals of hospice care and ways to provide optimal compassionate care during this delicate, yet enriching time. The VetFolio conference is presented by Dr. Brenda Stevens and Dr. Kathleen Cooney. Source: VetFolio, February 18, 2017. After this Web conference, the participant should: Become familiar with the scope of end-of-life care … [Read more...]
DIY marketing for parasite-free pets
Remember "stop, look and listen?" They were potentially life-saving actions drilled into us by our parents and teachers when we are about to cross the road. Our AHD team urges you to stop, look and listen to the advice Jane Harrell offers regarding marketing parasite prevention yourself. Research shows that clients view the education you give them about their pet’s health as a … [Read more...]
“Lexus” pet dentistry
The title made me a bit uncomfortable but as the metaphor played out it was clear the authors had a strong point to make. As with shopping for a car, clients want to compare the Lexus style with that of the Kia. However, actual dental services represent a wide continuum of services depending, at least, on the age, size, and breed of the pet. To the client, however, it often … [Read more...]
Kids prefer pets to siblings
While many families have pets, there hasn’t been much research done on the importance of child-pet relationships. Researchers with the University of Cambridge wanted to shed more light on these relationships by developing a system to test them. The study was published online in the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology and will appear in the March 2017 print … [Read more...]
Editorial – Consumers getting dental messages
February is National Pet Dental month, but dental care for pets is a daily routine we rarely get established as animal health pros. Even veterinarians admit they don’t brush their own pets’ teeth daily. Still, the amount of media attention to this topic in February is admirable. In this consumer article Sarah Young summarizes the importance of dental care, a daily routine, … [Read more...]
Look at the ears
Ear infections and ear troubles almost always top the list of common pet ailments. Louis Norman Gotthelf, DVM, offers a photo tour of ear examinations and discussion of managing for healthy ears. Consider using this article for discussion during a veterinary team meeting. Source: Clinician’s Brief, December 2016. Dr. Gotthelf says a thorough physical examination of the ear … [Read more...]
Pet medicines are a poison risk for kids
Children five-years-old and under account for 88 percent of calls to poison control centers for exposure to veterinary medicines, researchers report in Pediatrics. In almost all of these cases, kids consumed drugs intended for the family pet. While this is a limited study, the action items are clear. Educate animal owners about keeping animal medications out of reach of … [Read more...]
Audiobooks may calm dogs
Audiobooks played in a recent study conducted by researchers at Hartpury College in the United Kingdom resulted in dogs spending more time resting and less time displaying vigilant behaviors. This is a new dimension beyond the considerable studies on how music effects dogs. Source: The Bark, February 11, 2017. The book used in the experiment was The Lion, The Witch and The … [Read more...]
Diagnostic dental radiographs: A concise how-to
Mary Berg, RVT, RLATG, VTS (Dentistry), demonstrates her preferred method of obtaining these types of images. She has been teaching veterinary technicians how to take dental radiographs for more than 20 years. Her proven techniques are shared and discussed in this article and video. Source: Firstline, January 18, 2017. Berg’s simplified positioning methods eliminate the … [Read more...]
Top 5 genetic diseases of cats
The most frequent conditions are complexly inherited and involve combinations of multiple genes and environmental factors. Jerold S. Bell, DVM, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, discusses: Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) Diabetes mellitus Lymphocytic or plasmacytic inflammatory disease Polycystic kidney disease Hypertrophic … [Read more...]
Global pet care sales hits $100 billion milestone
Sales for all pet products and services totaled US$103.5 billion globally in 2016, surpassing the US$100 billion mark for the first time, writes Debbie Phillips-Donaldson. This 4.7 percent growth rate stands out among other consumer packaged goods industries, according to analyst Jared Koerten. Source: Petfood Industry, February 7, 2017. Focusing on the US, by far the … [Read more...]
Hot car temperatures kill pets
Lest you think it’s too cool to worry about pets left in parked cars, think again. Police in Palm Springs, California, report that a dog left inside a car for more than three hours there, died of heat exhaustion February 5 – a 70°-day. Yet, his body temperature reached 104°. The dog’s owner was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor. Source: KESQ, February 6, 2017 There … [Read more...]
Support for Leptospirosis vaccination increasing
Not every DVM is on board with the need for a leptospirosis vaccine, but the numbers are growing. The FIRSTLINE staff finds consensus among some DVMs that lepto vaccination should not be ignored. Source: Firstline, January 18, 2017. Some vets used to try to keep vaccine frequencies lower for small-breed dogs. But general-practice Dr. Jeff Rothstein says that's less of a … [Read more...]
Plaque, tartar, gingivitis – oh my!
Pets need dentistry least three times in their lives. February is National Pet Dental Month Teeth scaling is a big part of the in-clinic dental cleaning. Jan Bellows, DVM, DAVDC and DABVP, offers tips for veterinary teams. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, January/February 2017. 5 guiding points can help ensure that every patient’s teeth are cleaned with similar expertise. … [Read more...]
Animals get first-class treatment at JFK
It doesn’t qualify as an airport lounge, but the new ARK at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City provides top-flight services to animals travelling by air. Racebrook, the company backing the project, partnered with Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and the New York State Department of Agriculture, to build the world’s first privately owned … [Read more...]
SAD affects dogs, too
Seasonal Affective Disorder is a well-known human ailment. Darker, drearier, winter days may cause low moods. New research reveals it seems to affect dogs too. “Lethargy, an increased appetite, irritability and a reluctance to go outside and exercise are typical behaviors exhibited by dogs in the colder months when natural sunlight is at a minimum.” Source: Dogs Today, … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – AAHA Resources for dental month
Improve dentistry at your practice and help clients understand the value of proper dental care with a variety of resources from AAHA Press. It is easy to let the month of February go by without acknowledging Nation Pet Dental Health Month. Fortunately, animal health pros understand the importance of promoting dental care for our animals. The resources available help enable … [Read more...]
Biter or catnip-er
Cat owners will appreciate the perspective in this excerpt about biting in cats. A cat may be a mild biter during play or may mean business when she chomps down, inflicting pain and drawing blood. In either case, biting behavior must be corrected. Source: Tuft’s Catnip, January 30, 2017. Biting may have become a very effective means of communication for a cat. She may … [Read more...]
Tunes calm dogs
Dogs were generally less stressed when they heard music, and they showed a slight preference for reggae and soft rock according to researchers at the University of Glasgow. Source: The Washington Post, January 27, 2017. The study, published in the journal Physiology and Behavior, built on previous research by the same team that found shelter dogs hearing classical music … [Read more...]
Bugs in the kibble
Insects are a promising source to generate protein sustainably and with a low carbon footprint. Bühler Insect Technology Solutions, located in China, has begun operations to develop scalable, industrial solutions for the rearing and processing of insects to provide novel protein sources for livestock, human and pet food. Source: Petfood Industry, January 17, 2017. One … [Read more...]
You and your dog’s personalities influence how you both walk
The general conclusions of a recent study showed the personalities of human and dog influence the walk, and that the walk is a part of life which involves power negotiations between the dog and the human. It also reports that according to those interviewed for the study, people want their dogs to enjoy getting to “be a dog” by running free on walks. Source: The Bark, January … [Read more...]
Stay calm, listen to the dogs
Dogs are not fully colorblind. They have limited color vision, similar to humans with red-green colorblindness. They’re particularly good at seeing shades of blue, although they don’t have the same range when it comes to seeing shades of gray. When it comes to dogs’ metaphorical vision, they live in a world that is entirely black and white, says Cesar Milan. Source: … [Read more...]
11 pet food trends forecast for 2017
Experts believe pet owners will increasingly demand the same qualities in pet food they want in their own meals, such as familiar ingredients, sustainability and nutrition. Our AHD team believes some of these trends will greatly affect veterinary teams and retail associates. Review this list and consider how you may address these trends as they appear in your … [Read more...]
Kirby’s Rule of 20
The Kirby’s Rule of 20 is a classic checklist of 20 important patient parameters. Its creator, Rebecca Kirby, double board-certified in internal medicine and critical care, is the former owner of Animal Emergency Center in Glendale, Wisconsin. This checklist would help create good discussion at an upcoming practice team meeting. Don’t forget to discuss what it means to give … [Read more...]
Similar, yet different
Not humanizing your dog’s mind is the best thing that you can do. Dogs and humans are very different species, reminds Cesar Millan. With dogs, our first instinct is often humanization — to treat a dog like a person — which is how a lot of canine behavior problems begin. With dogs, we need to be constantly aware of how we are different and how we are the same as them. Source: … [Read more...]
Rethink the concept of dangerous dogs
New research suggests it’s time to stop thinking of dogs as either safe or dangerous. In most cases canine aggression seems to be a learned response to a particular situation, not a personality characteristic, since a dog that growls or bites in one situation may not do so in other contexts. The article references a large survey from Rachel Casey et al, at the University of … [Read more...]
Canis vertigus, the dog that powered kitchens
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...]