Even as industry professionals, our own dogs don’t always get the best dental care. Two articles address pet dental care. The handout offers some great ways to start brushing. Source: Firstline, April 21, 2016. Print this and give it to clients for something wonderful to chew on to teach some good dog tooth brushing techniques. See also: Vetted, April 27, 2016. “Do as I … [Read more...]
Feline hyperthyroidism guidelines released
AAFP has issued new guidelines for managing feline hyperthyroidism. They include: Distill current research into simple, testing sequence recommendations to avoid misdiagnosis. Organize a FHT diagnosis into six clinical categories with associated strategies. Outline the currently available disease treatments. Explain how to monitor the patient to minimize co-morbid … [Read more...]
Don’t hug the dog
Behaviorists have cautioned people for years about hugging dogs because dogs don’t like it, says Karen B. London, PhD. It is common for dogs to dislike being hugged, and for people to love hugging them. It should be no surprise that members of two different species have different preferences. Source: Bark, May 2, 2016. A recent post by Stanley Coren, Ph.D, called The Data … [Read more...]
Gene differences in fat Labradors
Labrador retrievers have a tendency to get fat. Studies indicate 50 percent to 60 percent of labs are classified as overweight or obese. Overeating is possibly in Labs’ genes according to a newly published study. Source: Washington Post, May 3, 2016. What we’ve found in the study is that there really is a hard-wired reason for some Labradors to be completely obsessed by … [Read more...]
Tough talk on titers
“Do your veterinary team members know how to respond when pet owners ask about titers?,” asks Brian Stewart, DVM, medical director at Woodstock Veterinary Clinic in Woodstock, Illinois. He discusses the pros and cons of using titers as a good way of establishing protection against disease. Source: Firstline, April 25, 2016. Titers can have a place in veterinary medicine. … [Read more...]
Cat scratching explained
Cats aren’t trying to be destructive when they scratch things, despite how it appears. Cat guru Tony Buffington, DVM, offers reasoning for why cats scratch like they do. Source: Huffington Post, May 2, 2016. Don’t be offended if your cat scratches your brand-new couch to shreds. She’s just following the way of her ancestors. INSIGHTS: This article features a TED-Ed video … [Read more...]
Cesar Millan’s tips for picking up dogs
Cesar reminds pet owners of a dog’s perspective about being picked up. The perspective is interesting to consider. “Stay calm, and leave the dog on the floor,” is his guidance. Source: Cesar’s Way, May 1, 2016. We always have to remember that dogs are different than people, no matter how much we consider them to be a part of our lives and families. Their psychology is … [Read more...]
Scan every pet, every visit
This is a good reminder during National Pet Week. Routine scanning of individual microchips ensures their reliability. To be effective, the microchip, scanner and the registration databases must all in good order. Routine scanning is essentially quality control and supports the value of the recovery systems should an animal become lost. Source: MWI Messenger, May 2016, page … [Read more...]
National pet week
National Pet Week is in full swing through Saturday, May 7. With the theme, “Lifetime of Love,” each day focuses on a special topic. They are: Sunday, May 1: Choose well, commit for life. Monday, May 2: Socialize now. New doesn't have to be scary. Tuesday, May 3: Exercise body. Exercise mind. Wednesday, May 4: Love your pet? See … [Read more...]
Is your vet making your dog sick and charging you for it?
With the headline, Dangerous over-vaccination is on the rise, Patricia Jordan, DVM, challenges annual vaccination protocols, duration of immunity and profit motives. She makes no reference to the regulatory oversight required to get a vaccine approved or the ongoing testing continually underway in manufacturing. Source: Dogs Naturally, April 26, 2016. Today I’m writing … [Read more...]
Find Fido’s perfect rawhide chew
Nancy Kern provides an informative essay on the subject of rawhide chews. It includes the who, what, when where, how and why of chews. She shares how to identify the best ones. This is good information for veterinary teams to discuss at staff meetings and to use on websites, blogs and newsletters. Source: Whole Dog Journal, February 19, 2016 via May 1, 2016 … [Read more...]
Improved environments stop cats from eating non-food items
Pica or wool-sucking is common in oriental cat breeds. Nicholas Dodman, BVMS, director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University shares an experience with a pica cat and discusses the disorder. Source: Cat Talk, March 2012. These days, wool-sucking/pica is regarded as a form of feline compulsive disorder and, as such, has … [Read more...]
CEVA increases commitment to heartworm education
Ceva Animal Health is stepping up its commitment to the American Heartworm Society by becoming a Platinum sponsor along with Bayer, Elanco, Merial, Virbac and Zoetis. “This is an especially appropriate time for Ceva to show our support, as we believe the emphasis on the importance of fighting both heartworms and the vectors that carry them is more important than ever … [Read more...]
The impact of training recommendations on patients and clients
Behavior-related issues are cited as determining factors in more than half of all pets relinquished to shelters. This AAVSB RACE-accredited article helps reset expectations for what modern dog training should be and the importance of veterinary team members’ knowledge of training approaches and local trainers. Source: NAVTA Journal, Apr/May 2016, page 36. (direct link … [Read more...]
Here come the bugs!
The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) gazed into the future and doesn’t like what’s coming. Its computer models for 2016, released April 19, predict growing threats to dogs and cats from multiple vector-borne diseases. Source: Veterinary Practice News, April 19, 2016. For the entire year, CAPC predicts: Growing risk of Lyme disease in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and … [Read more...]
3 tips help keep pets safe during storms
Storm season will be around for a few more weeks. These three, common-sense tips will help keep your pets as safe as possible during severe weather. Source: White Oaks Veterinary Clinic. You can increase the chances that your pet will survive a storm by following these tips from our Edmond, OK, veterinary team... … [Read more...]
Local DVM recommends year-round prevention
Lawrence Gerson, VMD, shares his perspective and recommendations for heartworm and other parasites. He references the recent attention to mosquitoes and the Zika virus, the need for year-round prevention and its benefits on other parasite threats to pets and humans. Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, April 23, 2016. (via AVMA SmartBrief, April 25, 2016) Dogs can be bitten by … [Read more...]
10 Memorial Day pet safety tips
The Memorial Day weekend is just a month away. There’ll be picnics, campouts, boat rides and even fireworks. What’s celebratory to us may not be to our pets. Here are 10 pet safety tips ready to include in newsletters, blogs and counter materials. Source: Pet 360. Unlike people, dogs won’t associate the noise, flashes and burning smell of pyrotechnics with a celebration. … [Read more...]
Top dog and cat medical conditions
Learn about the top 10 medical conditions affecting dogs and cats and their associated costs based on Nationwide claims data from 2015. Here are the top three in each category. Top three medical conditions in dogs: Allergic dermatitis Otitis externa Benign skin neoplasia Top three medical conditions in cats: Feline cystitis, or FLUTD … [Read more...]
Homemade feline diets are complex
Veterinary hospitals and retailers will find this article supportive of commercially available cat foods. Dr. Cailin Heinze strongly warns against preparing homemade cat meals without talking with a veterinarian and requesting a referral to consult with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist. Consider using this information on websites, in blogs or newsletters for feline … [Read more...]
Pet weights are swelling
Cats and dogs are getting heavier, according to a release from the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) that compares 2015 data to 2014 data. Source: DVM 360, March 17, 2016 cited in April 15 newsletter. One problem is that “overweight” remains largely undefined industry-wide. APOP defines clinical pet obesity as 30 percent above ideal weight. “Our profession … [Read more...]
Avoid the new allergy drug for dogs
This article warns pet owners of potential safety issues with Apoquel® (oclacitinib tablet), from Zoetis. It is indicated for the control of pruritus associated with allergic dermatitis and control of atopic dermatitis in dogs of at least 12 months of age. Holistic veterinarian Deva Khalsa, VMD, expresses opinions about the product’s mode of action, its safety profile and … [Read more...]
Help keep pets safe during storms, disasters
Help clients keep their pets safe during storms and disasters. May 8 is National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day. It is a reminder to create a disaster plan for pets or include them in your personal disaster plan. Eight tips are featured here. Source: AAA Oklahoma. While pets can suffer from sickness or injury as the result of a natural catastrophe, we hope to minimize … [Read more...]
Natural, safe ways to get rid of worms
Rita Hogan takes on conventional dewormers and offers natural alternatives. The subhead, Avoid Deworming Drugs, is a red flag to our editorial team because they are generally efficacious. Fortunately, she does suggest taking a stool sample to a veterinary hospital for testing. We share this article for your review and consideration, especially noting their April 11th Facebook … [Read more...]
Fear Free™ taking veterinary industry by storm
AAHA, VetFolio and the Fear Free™ advisory panel have created a groundbreaking certification program intended to change handling approaches in veterinary hospitals. This initiative may be the largest, most important transformation in the history of companion animal practice, according to its advocates. Simply put, Fear Free™ is an experience management initiative to benefit … [Read more...]
Cats and dogs now playing computer games
Computer games for pets are the latest in the continuing trend of dogs and cats being elevated from family pet to furry babies. Source: The Age, April 9, 2016 via APPA SmartBrief. I don't think people spend enough time with their pets. Anything that encourages people to interact with their cats, so they're not living such a sedentary lifestyle, is good," Dr. Bronwen Slack, … [Read more...]
5 tips help with pet travel
Vacation season is almost here. In fact, Memorial Day weekend, the traditional kick-off to summer, is just seven weeks away. For those traveling with pets, five considerations will help make traveling with pets as stress-free as possible. Source: American Red Cross A common concern of people who travel with their pets is that the animals will get sick, hurt or lost during … [Read more...]
Is pet insurance worth it?
Consumer Reports analyzed policies from three providers to determine whether pet insurance was a good deal. The analysis was done using one dog and one cat. Source: Consumer Reports, May 2016. The insurance trade group says that accident and illness coverage per year averaged $473 for dogs and $285 for cats in 2014. Accident-only policies ran $158 and $132, … [Read more...]
Feline FIP tops concerns
A 2015 survey of cat owners indicated Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) as the most urgent disease of concern, followed by heart disease and chronic kidney disease. Definitive diagnostics and treatments remain elusive, although great strides have been made in viral genetics and pathobiology. Veterinary teams, sales representatives and marketers will appreciate the perspective … [Read more...]
Canine influenza confirmed in felines
The first confirmed report of multiple cats testing positive for H3N2 canine influenza virus in the U.S. shows the virus can affect cats. Researchers hope that infections and illness in felines will be rare. An H3N2 vaccine is now available for dogs, but no vaccine is currently approved or recommended for cats. Source: AAHA NewStat, April 7, 2016. Suspicions of an outbreak … [Read more...]