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...]
Study confirms that many animals fart
Just for fun! As ridiculous as it sounds, scientists are studying flatulence, its causes and how to prevent it, especially in humans. Whether specific animals fart is apparently a question that zoo employees often receive from their youngest visitors. Therefore, a new hashtag is making the rounds through science Twitter: #DoesItFart. Source: Science of Us, January 11, … [Read more...]
NYC cat-astrophe – 100’s of cats quarantined
A rare strain of bird flu has flown through New York City’s animal shelters. So far, 500 cats have been quarantined and 386 of the them have tested positive for the H7N2 virus — the first time the disease has even been found in cats, officials said. Source: New York Post, January 12, 2017. Collecting cats from shelters in all corners of the city, city officials have locked … [Read more...]
Veterinary hospice helps clients and patients
We found this article thoughtful, informative and relevant as the average life span of pets continues to increase. In veterinary hospice, the goals of care include managing clinical signs, promoting patient comfort and preserving or improving quality of life; not attempting to cure the patient. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, November/December 2016. Clients increasingly … [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...]
Catster promotes vet visits
Consumer media sources don’t often tell pet owners the importance of veterinary visits. Not so with this Get-your-cat-to-the-vet for a checkup article. Source: Catster, January 4, 2017. Cats are experts at hiding pain and illness. Just because your cat doesn’t seem sick doesn’t mean she isn’t. She could have dental disease — by three years of age, most cats have signs of … [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...]
Editorial – Pet care goes to Mars
Mars will soon dominate corporate-owned pet hospitals with the purchase of the animal-hospital chain VCA Inc., that was announced Monday. Mars already owns Banfield Pet Hospital and BluePearl Veterinary Partners, as well as several pet food brands. Its combined marketplace clout is not expected to exceed 10 percent of the veterinary market after the merger. There will be a … [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...]
Clinician’s Brief, best reads of 2016
Veterinary hospital teams and the representatives who call on them should find at least one topic from this “best of” list worthy of a team meeting or sales call discussion. Source: Clinician’s Brief, December 29, 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...]
Communicate well in the exam room
From the minute a client walks in the door, the experience they have sets their perception of value for the services they receive. To ensure continuity in staff deliverables starts with everyone being on the same page. Checklists in this article provide instructions for duties and responsibilities associated with patient exam rooms. Source: MWI Messenger, January 2017, page … [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...]
New flow chart helps teams deal with nasal discharge in cats
Respiratory conditions rank in the top issues feline patients face. Douglas Palma, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), has created an impressive flow chart to help veterinary teams deal with both acute and chronic signs of nasal discharge. Consider using it in staff meetings as a training tool. Source: Clinician’s Brief, December 2016. … [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...]
Humans and cats have a strange, complicated history
Alice Robb writes the humans’ relationship with cats is rife with paradox. There are an estimated 100 million pet cats in the U.S. and their ranks are growing. Cat culture flourishes online. The cat-less can get their fix at cat cafés opening across Asia, Europe and North America. The article features a Q & A session with journalist Abigail Tucker, author of The Lion in … [Read more...]
Top 5 feline genetic diseases
Genetic diseases should be recognized in practice because they must be treated as chronic illnesses — not episodic diseases. Source: Clinician’s Brief, December 2016. Insurance claims and centralized hospital databases monitor the most frequent disease presentations, which helps veterinarians understand the most frequent genetic diseases. The most frequent conditions are … [Read more...]
Pets help people manage mental illness
Anyone who owns a pet knows how it can help us weather rough times. This may be even more so for those with serious mental illness. A United Kingdom study found that some people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder say pets help them manage their condition more than anything else. The study was published December 9 in the journal BMC Psychiatry. Source: NPR Shots, December … [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...]
Talk about feline heartworm limited
Veterinary technicians don’t talk about preventive care as much as they could, says Ciera Miller, CVT, VTS. Feline heartworm has been diagnosed in all 50 states. It was important enough that the American Association of Feline Practitioners crafted an entire campaign about it. But reluctance remains strong. Source: Vetted, November 22, 2016. Many veterinary staff members are … [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...]
Thank you AAHA!
Your AHD team thanks our colleagues at AAHA for their support and input over the last year as we have developed Animal Health Digest. AAHA is a member of our Founder’s Circle and has a long history of communicating value to AAHA practices. Source: AAHA NEWStat, December 1, 2016. One of the tools AAHA uses to communicate is NEWStat. It covers current events that matter to … [Read more...]