Understanding why sleep affects dog behavior starts with understanding how they actually sleep, writes Colette Kase, citing a recent literature review. She covers sleep’s effects on behavior, what good sleep looks like, stimulation timing, environmental factors and how cognitive decline disrupts the sleep-wake cycle as dogs age. Kase’s article is written for veterinary … [Read more...]
What normal aging looks like in cats, when to worry
With the increasing focus on cat health and the need to educate cat owners evident, Dan Seymour’s article gives you a good start for prepping owners on senior cat care. Consider using it to set the stage for senior cat wellness, which typically begins at age 10. Knowing the difference between normal ageing and signs of an emerging health crisis is one of the most useful things … [Read more...]
How exercise can change a dog’s core strength and fitness
Complimentary The muscles that support the spine play an important role in overall movement, stability, and performance in especially active dogs. Cynthia M. Otto, DVM, PhD, DACVECC, DACVSMR, and her team at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center are examining how an exercise regimen changes core muscle structure and performance scores in healthy dogs in a Canine Health Foundation … [Read more...]
Dog poop is not fertilizer
Dog poop is not fertilizer. It is harmful to vegetation and likely contains harmful bacteria, parasites and pathogens that pose risks to people and other pets. The EPA classifies dog waste as a “nonpoint source pollutant,” which is the same technical category as motor oil, chemical runoff and acid drainage from abandoned mines. Source: Whole Dog Journal, July 3, 2026. Link. … [Read more...]
Finding hidden fly breeding sites (video)
Successful fly control starts long before producers reach for an insecticide, says David Prentice, DVM. “Fly populations are like icebergs. The flies that we’re actually seeing are only about 20 percent.” In this article, he discusses prioritizing premise and environmental management, different fly species and matching insecticide use to individual farm situations. Our July … [Read more...]
Cyclospora and pets: Reservoir, bystander or red herring?
Cyclospora cayetanensis has been in the news a lot lately. Despite the parasite headlines, veterinary teams do not need to worry about dogs or cats as carriers, reservoirs or patients with C cayetanensis. Other Cyclospora species in primates and reptiles are a legitimate veterinary parasitology footnote, but they are a different story. Source: DVM 360, July 15, 2026. … [Read more...]
CVS announces new pharmacy option for pet owners
CVS Health announced Tuesday that CVS Pharmacy is now dispensing select prescription medications for dogs and cats, including antibiotics, allergy medications, flea and tick treatments, insulin and pain relievers, making it easier for pet owners to access medications for their animals. Source: ABC News, July 21, 2026. Link. Eligible pet prescriptions can also take advantage … [Read more...]
Sylvester.ai launches Connect to Care to help veterinary practices grow feline visits
Sylvester.ai is launching Sylvester Connect to Care. The new program is designed to help veterinary practices capitalize on feline growth opportunities. The program uses geo-targeted ads to reach local cat owners, encourages them to complete Cat Comfort Checks through the Sylvester app, and directs them to a participating veterinary practice to book an appointment if … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – July 23, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, July 16, 2026. Link. Most read posts from July 16th, 2026 AHD Bulletin – How the ‘Knowing-Doing Gap’ undermines even the best ideas. Link. What if the mid-level practitioner role wasn’t clinical at all? Link. Professional burnout. Link. If you think your cat is being nice, think again. Link. … [Read more...]
What if the mid-level practitioner role wasn’t clinical at all?
If you’re as comfortable seeing your nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant as you are with your doctor, this may resonate with you. We’ve not seen much recognition of this alternate concept to mid-level practitioners since April. See what you think. Registered veterinary technician Jodi Belongié suggests that the debate over mid-level practitioners in veterinary … [Read more...]
Veterinary nurses want growth. Doctors want relief. Clients want better patient care.
Elevating veterinary nurse use directly impacts patient care, team morale and practice revenue, writes Kenichiro Yagi, MS, RVT, VTS. He shares the benefits of high-level veterinary nurse engagement, reviews barriers to using them at the "top of their license" and provides a responsible utilization formula. Yagi says responsible utilization means establishing a safeguarded … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – July 6, 2026
Passing on credit card fees? Yes or No? Check out the July webinars: Future proofing; Staffing systems On the road dates for IBPSA: SuperZoo, CANIS Conference Source: IBPSA, July 6, 2026. Link. Also see: Animal Health Digest Bulletin, July 2th. Link. Tick-borne diseases, when "we're like family" becomes a leadership problem, dog sunburns, and more! … [Read more...]
New pet-sitting data highlights strong career outlook, revenue growth
New data from Pet Sitters International’s 2026 State of the Industry Survey reveals that the average annual revenue for professional pet sitters continues to rise, and a majority of pet sitters expect revenues to continue to grow. According to the survey, the average gross revenue for U.S. pet sitters in 2025 was $112,423, a 12 percent increase from $100,537 in 2023. The … [Read more...]
91 percent of pet owners would go into debt to save a pet’s life, yet nearly half have delayed care due to cost, per new report
Pet owners would do almost anything to protect their pets, yet many continue to face difficult decisions when it comes to seeking care, according to the 2026 Lovet Checkup Report from Lovet Pet Health Care. The research results showed a majority of pet owners nationwide would be willing to take on debt to save their pet's life. At the same time, nearly half said rising … [Read more...]
CATalyst Council’s second edition of “Puppocalypse, Kitten Craze” Report confirms its veterinary visit forecast with updated Q2 2026 data
Cats have outpaced dogs in clinical visit growth every quarter since Q1 2023 and the CATalyst Council’s new report confirms the previous assertions, incorporating a full fiscal year of clinic visit data. The CATalyst Council’s second edition of “Puppocalypse, Kitten Craze” report was released July 15th. It confirms the bust is fewer puppy acquisitions each year, not just fewer … [Read more...]
Study: Cats readily accept, digest cultivated hamster cell-derived meat diet.
A published scientific study conducted in collaboration between BeneMeat and Ghent University evaluated the acceptance and digestibility of a complete feline diet containing cultivated meat as a novel pet food ingredient. Source: PETFOOD Industry, May 28, 2026. Link. The feeding trial demonstrated strong acceptance of the cultivated meat diet in domestic cats and found … [Read more...]
If you think your cat is being nice, think again
You may get warm fuzzies when you see one cat grooming another, but don’t be fooled. It could be an act of aggression. Researchers at Ghent University recently published findings in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science showing the behavior could sometimes be classified as bullying or tormenting. Source: The New York Times, July 10, 2026. Link. The researchers suggest … [Read more...]
Tick-borne parasite killing cats in Kansas City metro, veterinarians warn
Veterinarians in the Kansas City metro are urging cat owners to act quickly as cases of a deadly tick-borne disease known as bobcat fever (cytauxzoonosis) appear to be on the rise. Source: KCTV5, July 14, 2026. Link. Bobcat fever is caused by the parasite Cytauxzoon felis, which is spread through the bite of an infected tick, veterinarians say. Bobcats are the parasite’s … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – July 17, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, July 9, 2026. Link. Most read posts from July 9, 2026 AHD Bulletin – Beyond exercise: The role of stretching routines for dog joint health. Link. Review: Understanding the three stages of laminitis in horses. Link. Tick, tick-borne disease - requires integrated One Health approach. Link. Most-read … [Read more...]
Tick, tick-borne disease management requires an integrated One Health approach
A new review <Link> emphasizes that tick and tick-borne disease control in the United States now requires a coordinated One Health strategy that accounts for changing tick distributions, wildlife and domestic animal hosts, environmental conditions and human exposure patterns. Kristen Coppock Crossley, MA, shares the rationales in this article. The expanding range of … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – July 6, 2026
In this week’s Fast Bites: Two webinars scheduled for July: Future Proofing Pet Care Facilities, July 15th Staffing Systems to Protect the Business, July 30th 16 new members added in 2-Q-2026 Congratulations to the members who earned a Species Certification in Q2. NOTE: The IBPSA email communications calendar is changing effective August 3rd Source: … [Read more...]
Handling the unruly patient
Commentary David Burger’s article reviews an apparent increase in fractious pets that increase injury risks for veterinary teams and pet owners alike. While “do more training” is advocated, it is clear that beyond veterinary teams adjusting their approach with problem pets, getting modern pet owners to establish basic behavior boundaries is difficult. Similarly, groomers … [Read more...]
Review: Dogs can get a sunburn, too
Includes commercial references It is typically not top of mind but sun protection is another important preventive consideration as dogs get sunburned as humans do. Barri J. Morrison, DVM, provides appropriate reminders in this article worth sharing with pet owners. Groomers can be a good source for sunburn education as dogs leave the salon with a fresh haircut. Key … [Read more...]
Beyond exercise: The role of stretching routines for dog joint health
Commercial source Exercise alone isn’t always enough to support your dog’s mobility, writes Britt Kascjak in this informative article. She shares five essential stretches for dog joint health, their benefits, safety and when it is best to help dogs stretch. Consider this article for newsletters, social media posts and for exam room information to help dog owners add … [Read more...]
Study: Outdoor access may help improve welfare in multi-cat homes
Zazie Todd, PhD, summarizes key points from a new correlational study in Applied Animal Behaviour Science <Link>. It reveals insightful welfare dynamics in multi-cat households with and without outside access. Many cats would prefer to be the only cat in the home. Having more than one cat is linked to poorer welfare*. In a study, when cats had outdoor access, … [Read more...]
10 Q&As about pet food for aging dogs and cats
Good read Despite the expanding population of senior pets, scientists observed that nutritional recommendations remain largely based on research conducted in younger animals. In a literature review published in the journal Animals, they examined what scientists know about nutrition for aging dogs and cats, identify the biggest gaps in current knowledge and outline the … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – July 9, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, July 2, 2026. Link. Most read posts from July 2, 2026 AHD Bulletin – Choose thriving. Link. Pet owners seeking help sooner; telehealth becoming the first step. Link. A new framework for assessing dog bite risk. Link. Behavior and health problems during short-distance transport. Link. Pet vaccine … [Read more...]
A history of veterinary medicine as America celebrates its 250th anniversary
This evolution of the veterinary profession is a good read to accompany the United States’ 250th anniversary celebration this year. Julie A. Jacob shares resources from the American Veterinary Medical History Society that show great support for the profession from our country’s founding to current times. Source: AVMA, June 1, 2026. Link. Our country's founding fathers … [Read more...]
New data: Pet owners seeking help sooner; telehealth becoming the first step
Complimentary whiskerDoc’s analysis of 2026 pet health interactions suggests that telehealth is increasingly becoming the first step in a pet parent's care journey. The data reinforces the power of early intervention: timely access to professional advice helps owners make more informed decisions, potentially reduce unnecessary treatment and incur lower pet health care … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – June 29, 2026
Registration is still open for the 6-part webinar series, Pet Industry Leaderboard: Benchmarks and Actionable Business Strategies. Free for members. <Register here> Source: IBPSA, June 29, 2026. Link. Also see: Animal Health Digest Bulletin, June 25th. Link. Killing innovation, when to disengage, stopping interruptions, the growing pet wellness market, and more! … [Read more...]