Surgical operations such as tail docking and ear cropping are commonly performed on certain dog breeds. They’ve become so common for some breeds, that’s is difficult to recognize dogs with intact ears and tails. Katelyn Mills, a graduate student at the University of British Columbia became interested in unnecessary surgeries. She, her animal welfare professor and fellow student … [Read more...]
4 surprising flea-transmitted diseases you need to know
Unlike ticks, fleas don’t seem all that threatening. Mostly, we see the tiny bloodsuckers as a nuisance for pets and for us, not a serious threat to anyone’s health. Don’t dismiss them. Learn how fleas can transmit a surprising number of diseases to animals and humans. Source: Pet MD, September 12, 2016. Fleas can cause serious harm to you and your pet’s health through … [Read more...]
Educate yourself and clients on ringworm
Recognize ringworm, treat it and educate clients fast says Chris Keller, Animal Dermatology Center, Studio City, California. The zoonotic potential of this disease must not be underestimated. Frequent client communication and patient monitoring are the best ways to assure a successful outcome. He discusses how the disease presents, diagnosis, treatment and environmental … [Read more...]
The 3 Cs of cat care
Most cats do not get proper care, even when it is readily available. No matter where we fit in the various channels-of-influence, enabling proper cat care is improves their life quality, avoids a cat population becoming a vector for zoonotic disease and strengthens the animal care economy. Last week we posted Get a handle on cats which referenced various feline care … [Read more...]
Pacemaker Posse celebrates dogs’ longer lives
Dr. Ryan Baumwart, veterinary cardiologist at Oklahoma State University’s Veterinary Medical Hospital, has placed pacemakers in 23 dogs over the last two years. Five members of the Pacemaker Posse joined Baumwart last spring for a reunion. Some of their stories are shared in this report. Source: Center for Veterinary Health Sciences News, August 22, 2016. Our students can … [Read more...]
The latest from JAVMA
We have linked to the table of contents in the latest issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. The article Risk reduction and management strategies to prevent transmission of infectious disease among dogs at dog shows, sporting events, and other canine group settings provides a series of 64 recommendations focused on group settings from multi-dog … [Read more...]
X-rays tell the story
The headline says it all, “They ate what?” The honorable mention images from the 2016 x-ray contest give a view of the challenges created when animals ingest things not intended for their consumption. We think you’ll enjoy the cases shown and could use some of them in client education as well. Source: Veterinary Practice News, September 2016, page 30. … [Read more...]
First puppy cloned in U.S.
ViaGen Pets of Austin, Texas, announced the birth of a Jack Russell terrier named Nubia on July 22, 2016. Nubia was implanted as an embryo in a surrogate and was born nine weeks later. The article suggests cloning can be a win-win for veterinarians wanting to offer a solution to help soften the loss of a favored pet. Source: Veterinary Practice News, September 2016, page … [Read more...]
September is Animal Pain Awareness Month
The second annual Animal Pain Awareness Month is being sponsored this month by the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM). The IVAPM is a multi-disciplinary organization dedicated to promoting, enhancing, and advancing pain management in animals. Scheduled to coincide with human medicine’s Pain Awareness Month, its theme is “Because their pain is our … [Read more...]
Researchers want dogs to live longer
Researchers at the University of Washington are studying what may be done to increase the life expectancy of dogs. Daniel Promislow and pathologist Matt Kaeberlein at the school have started the Dog Aging Project. Guest host Patt Morrison interviews Kaeberlein. Source: KPCC, August 31, 2016. They want to understand how dogs age and explore if medications can help them live … [Read more...]
Back to school doggie blues
Now that everyone is back to their fall schedules, dogs may feel neglected and can even fall into depression. Cesar Milan presents strategies to prevent or help relieve depression and anxiety in family pets during this time period. Source: Cesar’s Way, August 31, 2016. If a dog has never experienced “back to school,” it is going to take some time. If the dog has gone … [Read more...]
Why do dogs eat poop?
Poop-eating is surprisingly common and mostly harmless to dogs eating their own poop. Coprophagia, is the scientific name for this vile habit. Ingesting the stool of other animals, on the other hand, puts a dog at higher risk for intestinal parasites, viruses or toxins. Lisa Radosta DVM, DACVB, recommends physical and fecal examinations to rule out physiological factors such … [Read more...]
Get a handle on cats
Funded by a grant from Zoetis, this toolkit provides a multi-topic review of key elements in feline care that range from pain to premise. Veterinary team leaders can use it to create a team exercise. Assign team members the task to read through the toolkit and identify at least one positive thing currently done in the practice and one strategy or tactic that could be … [Read more...]
Teaching puppies to sleep
Katherine Eldridge offers tips for helping a puppy to settle in and sleep through the night. She says getting a new puppy is just like having a baby in the house. They are cute and fun to cuddle and play with, but also poop a lot and throw occasional tantrums. Everyone has heard horror stories about owners kept awake all night by an unhappy baby. Luckily getting a puppy to … [Read more...]
Cat nutrition is top concern of feline owners
Nutrition is the number one topic that cat owners want to talk about with their veterinarian, according to a Royal Canin survey of 1,001 cat owners. However, the survey showed that three in five cat owners do not regularly take their cats to veterinarians. Compared to dogs, cats are three times as likely to be taken to the vet only when sick. Source: Petfood Industry, August … [Read more...]
Keep pets safe during Labor Day fun
Labor Day is this weekend. It’s great to include pets in the festivities, but remember to take precautions to keep them out of harm’s way. The folks at Pet Poison Helpline offer straightforward safety tips. Source: Pet Poison Helpline. Many people will gather with friends and families and enjoy games, picnics and BBQs outdoors. As always, our furry family members are … [Read more...]
Tunes for dogs
Deezer, the on-demand digital music streaming service has assembled two playlists that dogs enjoy. Deezer worked with animal behaviorist Dr. David Sands to study how dogs hear and react to different kinds of music based on beats per minute. The results are these playlists that they claim are scientifically proven to help energize or calm your pup. Source: The Bark, August … [Read more...]
Dr. Roark explains anal sacs
Dr. Andy Roark explores – not expresses – the four things pet owners need to know about anal glands. The video clip offers a fun discussion. Source: Dr. Andy Roark, August 24, 2016. He discusses: What are anal sacs or glands? Why are they there? How do they cause problems? What can we do to keep them healthy? … [Read more...]
What’s trending at Animal Health Digest
Every market creates its version of the top five or 10 list. Our Animal Health Digest team uses views and clicks to understand what our subscribers read. The results shape the focus of what we “read for animal health professionals.” AHD is a free service for all levels of personnel in our industry. The AHD Bulletin is published weekly and delivered on Thursdays via email. We … [Read more...]
Facts on CBD treats for dogs
Sources vary on the exact number, but cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of among 60 to over 100 distinct chemical compounds — called cannabinoids as a group — that can be derived from the plant we know as marijuana. This author reviews what CBD is, clarify what it is not, how it functions and the kinds of medical conditions that it might be useful in treating. The Food and Drug … [Read more...]
After visits to vets, cats smell funny to cats left at home
Marilyn Krieger, certified cat behavior consultant, offers tips for multi-cat owners to help return cats to a peaceful home after a visit to the clinic or grooming shop. Clients will appreciate these tips if they receive them ahead of an office visit or grooming appointment. Source: Catster, August 19, 2016. Cats carry scents from places such as vets' offices, which can … [Read more...]
More dogs prefer praise over food
Those dog treats, coupled with praise for a dog’s job well-done may not be necessary, new research suggests. “Awake Canine fMRI Predicts Dogs’ Preference for Praise Versus Food,” was recently published online in the Journal Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. It confirms more dogs prefer praise over food. Gregory Berns, a neuroscientist with Emory University used an … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Parasitology experts discuss vector control
Ceva recently announced the second phase of a study by John McCall, MS, PhD, which examines the effects of topical repellent-insecticide plus oral heartworm preventive on development of heartworm disease. The results support using a topical parasiticide to repel and kill mosquitoes, rather than relying solely on an oral heartworm preventive. Ceva’s educational campaign elements … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – The importance of mosquito control and repellency
Phase 2 of a study by John McCall, MS, PhD, further supports using a topical parasiticide to repel and kill mosquitoes, rather than relying solely on an oral heartworm preventive. His two studies combined send a powerful message regarding the efficacy of a double defense protocol. Ceva’s campaign website FightHeartwormNow.com now includes a series of videos featuring key … [Read more...]
3 tips stop chaotic barking when the doorbell rings
Jennifer Mauger, certified dog trainer, offers tips to help silence dogs when the doorbell rings. She references classical conditioning methods to redirect a dog’s associations with the doorbell. Consider using this article for blog posts, websites or as a pet owner handout. Source: Petcha.com, August 16, 2016. Mauger’s tips require practice and repetition but work: … [Read more...]
The impact of pet food purchase frequency
Veterinary teams and retailers often struggle with managing pet food marketing opportunities. In addition to space and inventory concerns, ensuring the product moves out is critical to getting margin on sales. David Sprinkle shares that the frequency of pet food purchasing is a key factor to pet food retailing and target marketing. Frequency of purchasing affects everything … [Read more...]
New dog breeder certification program verifies standards
The Pet Leadership Council, an organization comprised of pet industry leaders, animal welfare advocates, veterinarians and academia, announced its support for Canine Care Certified, a new national, voluntary program that sets rigorous, science-based standards for professional breeders. The program is built on five pillars of care for dogs and puppies in a professional breeding … [Read more...]
OSU veterinarians save 6-month old Marley
Marley, a six-month old Golden Retriever needed a life-saving procedure. Trouble was, it had never been done before at Oklahoma State University. However, Marley’s owners, Marcene and Fred Warford of Muskogee, OK, had full faith in the OSU team. It was a faith rewarded. Source: NewsOK, August 15, 2016. They found a shunt, a diversion of blood, in Marley’s liver that wasn’t … [Read more...]
5 alternatives to cat declaws
It is tremendously frustrating for clients if their cat scratches everything, but there are alternatives to surgical declawing. This author shares simple things cat owners can do to prevent unwanted scratching and avoid a major surgery: Make the objects of inappropriate scratching unattractive Get some good scratching surfaces Provide distractions Trim cat’s … [Read more...]
Embracing the open pet pharmaceutical transition
Results from the 2015 Pet Pharmaceutical Market Study, a collaboration of Brakke Consulting, Inc., and Trone Brand Energy are summarized in three main areas: Tracking the portable pet prescription movement Diminishing veterinary pharmacy revenues Veterinary pharmacy revenue loss coping strategies The study collected responses from U.S. companion animal … [Read more...]