Bacteremia is a recognized sequela of dental scaling and oral surgery in patients with severe periodontal disease. A small study sought to assess whether transient bacteremia developed after dental scaling, root planing and dental extractions, as well as whether the amount of bacteremia warranted antibiotics. Perioperative use of systemic antibiotics for dental procedures in … [Read more...]
It’s better to forget the ice cubes for dogs
Depending on which Google search result you read, the vote on sharing ice cubes with dogs is 50/50, yes/no. Pam Nichols, DVM, CCRP, CFI, offers guidance on the topic in this article, ultimately saying not to offer dogs ice, including teething puppies. The main risk is tooth damage, she says. Giving a dog ice water, or just a handful of ice cubes, has no beneficial … [Read more...]
Vet care costs are skyrocketing. 8 people share their vet bill horror stories.
Commentary Deborah Vankin’s story relating pet owner experiences with veterinary care costs from survey results is not surprising. What is concerning is the bent toward negative experiences. Sadly, there is only one reference to pet insurance, especially when this month is National Pet Health Insurance Month which is promoted every year in September <Link>. Source: … [Read more...]
Advocacy series popular with clinic teams
Feedback shared with ASPCA@ Pet Health Insurance field representatives reveals our advocacy series <Link> has sparked attention from clinic teams over the past several months. We’re sharing two resources available to help clinic teams engage pet owners and share the value of pet insurance with pet owners. Source: ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance. Pet insurance … [Read more...]
Top 3 retail trends driving industry transformation in 2024
Commentary Retailers are facing fundamental shifts in the rules and relationships that define the consumers’ purchase paths. At its core, retail is about delivering the right product at the right price to the right customer. The same goes for services businesses. Like it or not, digitalization empowers business models like marketplaces, direct-to-consumer and social … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – September 16, 2024
The People and Animals Well-being Act, rising costs threaten pet ownership, Pak Social seeks to redefine pet care, what works in marketing now and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, September 16, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
10 most popular vet apps for cat owners (2024 Update)
Apps can’t completely replace in-person vet appointments and annual checkups, but they can still benefit many cat owners, shares Jessica Kim. She classifies the most common types of vet app deliverables as providing 1) tele-triage services, 2) telemedicine services, and 3) veterinary clinic operations software. The reviews of the various app functions may provide some … [Read more...]
Study: Canine respiratory, digestive disease ‘strongly linked’
Dogs with respiratory disease may be at higher risk of digestive system abnormalities, according to a study from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. Researchers investigated the interplay between disorders in canine respiratory and digestive systems, finding 75 percent of dogs with respiratory disease were found to have one or more co-existing digestive … [Read more...]
Strategies to help manage cognitive decline in senior dogs (video)
Like people, older dogs can show signs of age-related cognitive decline, shares Jerry Klein, DVM. With a growing population of senior dogs, combining diet, physical exercise and behavioral enrichment can help combat cognitive decline and the more serious cognitive dysfunction syndrome. Source: AKC, August 28, 2024. Link. Any time an animal shows noticeable changes to his … [Read more...]
Why you should pet your dog first thing in the morning
Before getting out of bed for the first cup of coffee, start the day with five minutes of head pets and belly rubs. By making this a regular activity, you’re essentially teaching the dog that the day doesn’t begin until they have been petted and acknowledged. Plus, those few minutes before checking email, texts and schedules are good for our health too. Source: Better … [Read more...]
Let’s review. Dog park safety tips
Dog parks come in many shapes, sizes and terrain. Ashley Bates shares 11 tips to ensure pets and people have good experiences using these spaces. This article is good content for social media posts, newsletters and to share with your own commentary with local media. Source: Whole Dog Journal, September 5, 2024. Link. Before you go to dog parks know the rules. Some of them … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – September 9, 2024
Tech and the veterinarian, retaining talent, video marketing for small business, streamlining, luxury pet brands, heartworm and questions about customer-centricity. Are consumers starting to fade into the backseat?” Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, September 9, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Automation to streamline its rabies vaccination, certificate processes
GlobalVetLink has developed a solution that simplifies the creation and submission of rabies vaccination certificates and ensures compliance with state and local regulations. GVL's Rabies Vaccination Certificates eliminates the cumbersome, time-consuming tasks associated with manual certificate management, saves time and reduces errors. Source: GlobalVetLink via PR Newswire, … [Read more...]
Chewy Q2 earnings results show app use growing, net sales increase
Chewy’s Q2 earnings call highlighted six percent net sales per active customer increase, 20 million active customers, six Chewy Health clinics in operation and 13 percent more unique customers using the Chewy app. Source: Digital 360, September 3, 2024. Link. Digital Commerce 360 projects that Chewy online sales will reach $11.59 billion in 2024. Also see: Chewy sees … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – September 5, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, August 29, 2024. Link. Most read posts from the August 29th AHD Bulletin – The 5 levers of compliance. Link. Character and integrity. Link. Highlights from the 2024 KCAHC Animal Health Summit. Link. What did we miss at the VIS? Link. 5 silent revenue drains and ways to plug them. Link. … [Read more...]
AAFCO and FDA to end longstanding MOU signaling shift in animal feed regulation
The 17-year memorandum of understanding to provide standardization to the animal food industry is ending. It allows AAFCO to look at new and innovative solutions in the ingredient space, and to seek out additional partners that can provide strong, science-based guidance to our state officials. Meanwhile, the FDA is evaluating its animal food ingredient review authorities and … [Read more...]
Detecting and mitigating stray voltage
The need to stay grounded takes on a different meaning in the two articles shared here. Stray voltage is a hidden risk to production and safety in production settings. Testing for stray voltage is crucial to protecting the herd and livelihoods: Stray voltage can severely affect livestock, resulting in stress, reduced milk production, and higher illness incidents. Causes … [Read more...]
Eyeworm emergence in cats, dogs in the U.S.
Muscoid flies like the house fly and stable fly, along with drosophilid flies like fruit flies, can transmit eye worm nematodes in the genus Thelazia. Many eyeworm species have been identified in the United States in dogs, wildlife, horses and cattle. Heather D.S. Walden, MS, PhD, shares the discovery of Thelazia callipaeda infections in cats and explains the importance of … [Read more...]
Do cats need fresh air?
All cats can benefit from a little fresh air. This article shares tips on safely getting cats the benefits from fresh air and outdoor environments. Source: Catster, July 2, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
The prevalence and diagnosis of feline heartworm infection
It is estimated that feline heartworm infection prevalence is five percent to 20 percent of the canine infection prevalence in the same area. The authors review the challenges of diagnosing feline heartworm infections, the differences in life cycle and clinical aspects of feline heartworm infection versus dog heartworm infection. Source: Today’s Veterinary Practice, … [Read more...]
Heartworm fact sheet urges pet owners to Think 12
A convenient fact sheet from the American Heartworm Society urges pet owners to test annually for heartworm and commit to year-round heartworm prevention. The document is suitable for social media and newsletters. Heartworm preventative compliance remains challenging and requires routine reinforcement of the reasons and benefits. Source: Think 12, American Heartworm Society. … [Read more...]
Allergy season, real or not?
Many things cause dogs to be pruritic that may not be a true allergy. Cliff Faver, DVM, reminds us that a pet can be allergic to anything, even hypoallergenic products. He suggests groomers can play a major role in minimizing or preventing conditions often considered allergies by focusing on repairing the skin barrier. A strong skin barrier is an amazing thing and often the … [Read more...]
Advocacy helps pet owners discover benefits of choosing pet health insurance (Part 5)
Sponsored Content This series on how veterinary teams position and share the benefits of pet insurance has been well received. In this edition, Roberta Jaime shares how pet insurance is integrated into discussions with pet owners at Aloha Veterinary Hospital. Our doctor takes it further by writing recommendations directly onto the ASPCA Pet Insurance pamphlets during … [Read more...]
What happens to water left sitting out
This article by Christina Manian, RDN, is worth reading for personal reasons and relates to water quality for animals. Fresh, clean water is foundational to animal health and often overlooked by animal owners <Link>. When water is left sitting out, uncovered for eight or more hours, the carbon dioxide in the air starts to mix with it. This chemical reaction will result … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – September 2, 2024
The role of UV technology in disease prevention, Pet Food Institute’s Dana Brooks, data security before AI, market fit, cash flow, FidoAlert and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, September 2, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
What did we miss at the VIS?
The 2024 Veterinary Innovation Summit, organized by the NAVC’s Veterinary Innovation Council, provides a platform for veterinary and industry professionals to explore new ideas and technologies. Past gatherings have opened eyes as companies work to ensure an innovative and resilient future for veterinary medicine. The networking and relational elements are also not to be … [Read more...]
Highlights from the 2024 KCAHC Animal Health Summit
Ending a busy 10 days in Kansas City, the 2024 Animal Health Summit hosted by the KC Animal Health Corridor provided the industry with information on sustainability in the consumers’ mind when buying meat, addressing access to veterinary care, including a pipeline of veterinary talent, where technology is going and what it can provide. Congratulations to Craig S. Wallace, … [Read more...]
Common allergy medications can be deadly to pets
Well, of course . . . BUT do pet owners and their guests really guard where pills are stored and ingested. It’s not uncommon to find an aberrant pill that didn’t reach the weekly pill organizer or a person’s mouth. With cats on the table and dogs in our laps, this release from the Pet Poison Helpline underscores the risks of our pets getting into our medications, as well as a … [Read more...]
Revisiting Old Yeller ahead of World Rabies Day 2024
The news story of at least one puppy in a litter of unvaccinated puppies transported from North Texas to a Denver-area dog rescue that was found to have rabies prompted Dan Solomon to write the article shared here. Fred Gipson’s 1956 novel, “Old Yeller” and subsequent movie depictions of it may not be familiar to Millennials or Gen Z and likely won’t be on reading lists for Gen … [Read more...]
Essential items needed when hiking with dogs
Many dog owners will take to the trails or field as summer wanes and cooler fall temperatures prevail. Patrick Lumontod has assembled a list of essential items for being out and about with dogs. Water, ID tags, microchips and a photo are among the items he lists. The article is good content for social media. Source: Top Dog Tips, December 6, 2023. Link. INSIGHTS: Many dog … [Read more...]