A colleague sent us this video featuring a University of Minnesota researcher documenting the relationship between foxes and coyotes in the Twin Cities seven-county metro area. Informative, it explains the challenges of fox-coyote relationships which push foxes closer to our backyards. The intersection of wildlife and our domestic animals is worth more attention and … [Read more...]
AKC has a new top dog
After 31 years, America has a new favorite dog bypassing the ever-popular Laborador Retriever. AKC’s top dog in 2022 is the big-headed, smash-nosed, urban-friendly French Bulldog. The Lab is still number 2. Source: UpWorthy, AKC, January 22, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
February is National Cat Health Month
Along with the annual focus on oral care and the beginnings of flea, tick and mosquito season, February is dedicated to cat health. The consumer messages remind cat owners of the importance of maintaining regular veterinary appointments. Christian Adams shares tips to ensure cats remain healthy all year long. Source: Catster, January 27, 2024. Link. INSIGHTS: Veterinary … [Read more...]
Silent hazards of the grooming profession
Probably one of the more common and most debilitating issues groomers deal with is Groomer’s Lung, writes Cliff Faver, DVM. It is a combination of breathing in hair slivers, bacteria, fungi, dead skin cells and probably even an occasional parasite. Shampoo is designed to clean, and unless it is specifically designed to kill bacteria/fungus, it does not protect against … [Read more...]
Canine and feline dental home care tips for pet owners
Sponsored Content Even with all the options for pet oral care, animal health pros need to keep the topic front and center year-round. February is National Pet Dental Month which parallels Children’s Dental Health Month and Gum Disease Awareness Month promotions. This article provides content worth sharing with animal owners. Comprehensive oral care for pets starts at home . … [Read more...]
Reminder. Clean it up and dispose properly!
This article offers a good reminder of the importance of removing dog and cat feces from yards, parks and trails to avoid potential infections and to keep updated on preventatives. Dog and cat feces left in neighborhoods, dog parks and forests can spread life-threatening parasites and viruses to other dogs and cats as well as wild animals and people” – Julia Wuerz, … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – February 5, 2024
Farmer’s Dog partners with WSAVA, Disney’s pet resort, small business preparations for future, updated information on human animal bond benefits, pet tech from Consumer Electronics show and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, February 5, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – February 1, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, January 15, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the January 25th AHD Bulletin – Develop an opportunity mindset. Link. How dogs understand time. Link. An update on multi-drug-resistant parasites in horses. Link. ============================================ 8 Pet supply, service businesses on … [Read more...]
Houseplants: 6 to keep, 6 to keep out of pet spaces
With the holidays over, some pet owner’s homes are getting reset for the rest of winter and early spring. Offices, too, are getting a fresh look. Plants are often a part of these space revitalization activities and in some cases contractors choose and care for the greenery. Houseplants, beyond being decorative, are assets to purify the air and remove toxins but, not all … [Read more...]
Tips for discussing weight management with pet owners (video)
Hill’s Karen Shenoy, DVM, shares advice for veterinary teams when discussing a pet’s weight with clients and addressing a case of obesity with animal owners. Her guidance about working pet owners’ behaviors into proactive feeding plans and considering the inclusion of treats is excellent counsel. We reminded veterinary teams to include food and treat information in pet … [Read more...]
What dogs may do better than your friends
The research on the human-animal bond has given us much to consider and even more to learn. Stacy Colino shares information from neuroscience, psychologists and veterinary behaviorists. They just sit there and look at you with loving eyes. Dogs don’t judge or criticize. This silent form of canine encouragement can have a calming effect when you’re anxious or under pressure, … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – January 29, 2024
Posting OSHA 300 logs, animal voting rights, M&A in pet food, small business accountants speak, budgeting, money lost and more, including last week’s AHD Bulletin. Source: IBPSA, January 29, 2024. Link. The 2024 IBPSA FLOW Business Conference will be held in Tucson, Arizona September 24th-26th. Use this link if you wish to become a speaker at the conference <Link>. … [Read more...]
Combatting lack of adherence to heartworm preventatives
Animal health pros need to share images like this one over and over. We recently featured disturbing data on noncompliance <Link> and called for more realistic imagery in that post. Kudos to AHS for this image of heartworm. What will you do with it? Source: American Heartworm Society, X, January 18, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – January 25, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, January 18, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the January 18th AHD Bulletin – Cell phone addiction, how it impacts our relationships. Link. Leadership or sales tactics. Link. Practices that push cow-calf profitability. Link. ============================================ Elanco’s multi-year … [Read more...]
Skippy named Farm Bureau’s 2024 Farm Dog of the Year
Skippy, a 4-year-old Border Collie, Australian Shepherd and Catahoula Hound mix, is the grand prize winner of the 2024 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year Award. Owned by Georgians Laura and Donald Adams, Skippy helps herd cattle, get rid of predators and helps Donald through his paralysis caused by a 2019 farm injury. The Adams received Skippy from P.H.A.R.M. Dog USA, an … [Read more...]
Dog fitness and canine endurance methods
Fitness trends for canines are trending higher. From endurance exercises to agility training, many pet owners are ensuring their furry pals stay in top shape year-round, writes Anderson Cox. He covers the health benefits and reviews myriad options for getting dogs the exercise they need to thrive. A ‘one size fits all’ approach simply doesn’t work. Factors such as breed, age, … [Read more...]
Cannibis? Keep aware of pet owner choices
Commentary We’re reposting these resources after learning that a neighbor’s 8-year-old terrier spent nearly four days recovering after ingesting cannabis during a visit from guests. The family thought the dog had ingested an Rx tablet but questions from poison control led them to discover one of the guests had dropped a marijuana bud. “Avoiding CBD discussions won’t stop … [Read more...]
Essential oils smell good to us but may be dangerous for pets
We live in a smell-sensitive society awash with myriad options for improving the aromas of our environs. With more than 60 percent of households with pets, the $2 billion U.S. air freshener market continues to grow <Link>. Aware of the potential health or environmental risks associated with synthetic chemicals, consumer demand is increasing for organic and natural … [Read more...]
CDC issues warning about cat-transmitted sporotrichosis
ICYMI. Cat-transmitted sporotrichosis has emerged in Brazil as a zoonotic epidemic and major public health threat and is a concern for the United States according to the CDC. The most common form of sporotrichosis is skin infections. Infected cats will present with lesions on their face, often around their nose. Source: DVM 360, May 2023. Link. This was the most read DVM 360 … [Read more...]
11 ways dog owners could be stressing out dogs without realizing it
Pet owners’ everyday activities may unknowingly cause their dogs stress. These include smoking, sunglasses and hats, staring too intensely, tight hugs and more. This is great content to share on social media and in newsletters, as well as review with clinic, retail and pet boarding employees. Source: BUSINESS INSIDER, January 19, 2024. Link. Also see: Dog mental health … [Read more...]
How dogs understand time
Investigating the uncanny sense of time in dogs, Jen Phillips April learned about periodic timing and interval timing from dog cognition experts. She shares insights into how dogs track time. Dogs may not understand time in the exact way that humans do, but our canine companions do mark time using their senses, routines, and environmental cues.” Source: Great Pet Care, … [Read more...]
How cold is too cold?
Depending on a dog's breed, body condition, size, hair coat and whether they have pre-existing conditions, 20°F is when dog owners and caretakers need to provide protection and limit outdoor sessions to under 15 minutes, shares Christopher Brito. Source: CBS News, January 19, 2024. Link. Also see: How cold is too cold for your dog?, PetMD, January 2, 2024. Link. Jennifer … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – January 22, 2024
Forbes trends in pet health care, VMX review, grooming’s pivotal role, choosing a credit card processer, exceptional lobbies, pets as family, lines of credit and more . . . Source: IBPSA, January 22. 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Knowing what dogs like to watch could help veterinarians assess their vision
Seeking better ways to assess dogs’ vision, researchers needed to first determine what kind of video content dogs prefer. Video content featuring animals was the most popular, with other dogs being by far the most engaging subjects to watch. Movement on screens was a strong motivator for screen attention however, no mention was made about whether sounds were … [Read more...]
Vets identify 4 barriers to pet food nutrition communication
Commentary Four main barriers may hinder communication about nutrition between pet owners and vets, according to research published in JAVMA <Link>. Time Misinformation and information overload Pet owners’ apprehension toward new information Veterinarians’ confidence in nutrition knowledge and communication skills Collecting diet and treat information … [Read more...]
Social media calendars help plan clinic outreach
Consistency, relevance and authenticity are key to fostering lasting relationships with your audience in the digital landscape, writes Adam Christman, DVM, MBA. His article is good guidance for veterinary clinic teams to help them avoid knee-jerk posting. A content calendar serves as a road map, enabling veterinary hospitals to plan their social media content systematically.” … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – January 18, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, January 11, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the January 11th AHD Bulletin – Understanding active listening and distractions. Link. The pros and cons of servant leadership. Link. 22 team-building activities and games for 2024. Link. ============================================ Study: Antibiotics … [Read more...]
Swine herd biosecurity can reduce the incidence risk of PRRS
The industry can keep PRRS at bay, says Scott Dee, DVM, MS, PhD. The results of a two-year retrospective study provide confidence that improvements in swine herd biosecurity can reduce the incidence risk of PRRS. He shares the importance of next-level biosecurity and relates it to all group housed animal settings. Biosecurity is a people business. If people don’t follow the … [Read more...]
6 things to know about pet-safe ice melts
Contains Commercial References All ice melts pose some kind of risk to our pets. Those considered pet-safe contain urea or magnesium chloride are considered slightly safer but may still cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting or diarrhea and may not be as effective in melting ice and snow. Rock salt, sodium chloride, is one of the least pet-friendly ice … [Read more...]
How the No-Kill movement betrays its name
A neighborhood overrun with cats is a spectacle of contradictions, writes Jonathan Franzen. He shares the pros, cons, controversy and politics surrounding feral and outdoor cats. By keeping cats outdoors, trap-neuter-release policies have troubling consequences for city residents, local wildlife—and even the cats themselves.” Source: The New Yorker, December 25, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]