Pet spending growing despite inflation, growing brands through partnerships, employee well-being program benefits, three qualities of a mindful leader and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, August 5, 2024. Link. NOTE: The IBPSA Master Business Academy starts October 14th. The intensive 10-week program covers three core areas essential for business success: … [Read more...]
Inflation pinching pet owners’ pocketbooks forcing pet spending decisions
This article appeared as the fifth article in the August 5 edition of IBPSA FastBites <Link>. NPR’s Lola Murti shares the challenges of rising costs for pet owners, how they are adjusting and what drives cost increases across the pet services industry. Source: NPR, July 30, 2024. Link. “<Re: price increases> It's higher ingredient, higher packaging, higher … [Read more...]
Dog import rules changed, but simplified
Effective today, the CDC is implementing new requirements for dogs arriving from countries that are canine rabies-free or low-risk. Beginning August 1, dogs that have spent at least the last six months in countries such as Canada and Mexico will need to meet these few requirements before U.S. entry: Be healthy on arrival Be at least 6 months old at the time of entry or … [Read more...]
Assessment of the effect of gabapentin on blood pressure in cats with and without chronic kidney disease
Fractious cats challenge veterinary staff and owners. Getting a good blood pressure reading with an upset feline gets difficult. Researchers studied the effect of gabapentin on blood pressure in cats with and without chronic kidney disease. Gabapentin has an effect on arterial BP in cats with and without CK. This effect appears to be more than just the result of stress … [Read more...]
Short nose? Beware of BOAS
Cases of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome are on the increase, writes Kara Burns, MS, MEd, LVT, VTS, VTS-H. Her article reviews medical and nutritional management of BOAS and GI signs in brachycephalic dogs. A case report in SOAP format is also shared. BOAS is progressive; age at presentation ranges from a few months to a few years. After 5 years of age, a first … [Read more...]
The chemistry behind the smell of wet dogs
Chemist Andy Brunning, a British chemistry teacher, distilled the essence of the complex molecular reactions into the infographic shared here <Link>. The aroma of a wet dog starts with a cast of tiny critters like yeasts and bacteria that take up residence on the pet. These bugs leave behind “micro excreta” in the form of volatile organic compounds that are carried away … [Read more...]
Study shows how dogs feel when we hug them. You may not like the results.
Dogs don't always love being hugged, writes Angela Vuckovic. She shares study results published in Applied Animal Behavior Sciences revealing dogs in the study often responded to being hugged by expressing feelings of extreme physical stress and anxiety. Misinterpreting a dog's reaction to being hugged, can be harmful to owners and their dogs. Source: Pet Guide, June 2024. … [Read more...]
New app helps pet owners book backyard space for their dogs
An new app, Sniffspot, connects pet parents with homeowners willing to rent out their private property as dog parks. The app is available nationwide, with Sniffspot reporting 20,000 listings and 100,000 guests. Prices vary depending on a yard's size, location and amenities. Designed for private play, only the people and dogs in each booking are allowed in the spot during a … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – July 29, 2024
Niche markets in the pet industry, compliance for paying independent contractors, disaster preparedness, internet security and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, July 29, 2024. Link. The IBPSA IBBY Committee has chosen the following finalists for this year’s Pet Care Business Excellence Awards from a record number of nominations. … [Read more...]
Beware of these toxic flowers in gardens, yards and building sites
Many flower enthusiasts and landscapers will soon start their fall planting. GreenRipe dug into the dangerous world of common garden flowers to reveal their hidden toxicities in this article. Saving the Monarchs <Link> is important but knowing if plants are toxic to pets and humans needs to be considered. Source: GreenRipe, December 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Training dogs to not attack chickens
The “leave it” command is critical to managing safe dog poultry interactions, shares The Dog Expert, Carolyn Georgariou. Leave it works on more than chickens and is much more humane than the old-style method shown in the photo. Source: Backyard Poultry, February 26, 2019. Link. … [Read more...]
Staggering mountain lion confirmed as first North American case of rustrela virus
Rustrela virus is marked by animals staggering, having trouble walking or behaving abnormally. The disease is found in domestic cats, rodents and other animals in Europe. The case began in May 2023 and has now been confirmed in the Colorado mountain lion. For most veterinarians, Rustrela virus would not be on a differential diagnosis list if a companion cat presented with … [Read more...]
One in 30 U.S. dogs test positive for Lyme
Valley Vet Supply’s Aimee Elyse Robinson reminds dog owners of the risks of Lyme disease, especially those that live and play in less manicured outdoor environments. The places dogs love to explore are the most likely environs for them to encounter ticks. These include farms, acreages and large urban green spaces. Consider this article for social media or newsletters, … [Read more...]
The stages of heat-related illness in sporting dogs
Complimentary Sponsored Content When a dog exercises, its body generates excessive physiological heat that causes its body temperature to rise beyond the normal core body temperature ranges between 99.5°F to 102.5°F. The Eukanuba staff has put together charts to address the three stages of heat-related illness in active dogs: heat stress, heat exhaustion and heat … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – July 22, 2024
Improving employee exit experiences, fawn response in pets, reigniting the startup spark, Morgan Stanley predicts pet services will anchor continued spending growth, catering to traveling pets and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, July 22, 2024. Link. NOTE: The FLOW Business conference housing deadline is August 19th. Current ticket prices are good through August 25th. … [Read more...]
Veterinarians as pet care influencers are on a more crowded stage
There’s no question that veterinarians remain queens of the hill regarding authority on pet care, writes David Sprinkle. However, other sources of information are gaining ground among millennials and Gen Zers as specialty pet shops and the internet have gained influence in recent years. Source: PETFOOD Industry, June 26, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – July 17, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, July 11, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the July 11th AHD Bulletin – Meeting customer expectations starts with employees. Link. Updated fluid therapy guidelines from AAHA. Link. Addressing common nutrition misperceptions. Link. ================================== The rise of pet product … [Read more...]
Morris Animal Foundation, Nestlé Purina PetCare to collaborate to advance care of aging dogs
A new collaboration between Morris Animal Foundation and Nestlé Purina anticipates being another step in the journey to unlock the potential of nutrition to enhance dog health and well-being through science. The collaboration will focus on deepening the scientific understanding of key areas impacting senior dogs, including healthy aging, longevity, body condition and … [Read more...]
Royal Canin and American Kennel Club renew multi-year agreement to sponsor the AKC National Championship
A five-year renewal of its multi-year agreement ensures Royal Canin will serve as the title and exclusive pet food sponsor of the AKC National Championship, the largest dog show in North America featuring thousands of dogs competing for the coveted title of America’s National Champion. The sponsorship will extend across several AKC programs as well. Source: PETFOOD Industry, … [Read more...]
Embark Veterinary announces 3 new tests for copper toxicosis
Breeders of Labradors and Dobermans can now test their dogs’ DNA to make informed decisions for ongoing breeding programs to reduce the risk of copper toxicosis in progeny. Dogs affected with copper toxicosis have difficulty excreting excess copper from their liver, which allows copper to build up until the liver eventually begins to fail. Source: Embark Veterinary Inc, July … [Read more...]
Handling the threat of ticks
While animal health pros may discuss the same topic multiple times daily, individual animal owners may only hear about the risks from mosquitoes, fleas and ticks once or twice a year and ignore the topic in their online streams or feeds. Dana Kneese, DVM, reminds us that animal owners need to know the types of ticks and what diseases they carry and understand the basics of … [Read more...]
Cultivated meat, microbial protein enter the pet food conversation
The potential for alternative proteins is gaining steam as cultivated meat and other novel proteins begin appearing as actualities in pet food formulas, rather than as hypotheticals, writes Lisa Cleaver. Source: PETFOOD Industry, July 2024. Link. With increasing pressure on the supply chain of animal-derived protein ingredients, <cultivated products> differentiate the … [Read more...]
Catnip. How and why it works on some cats
Cats get high off catnip by inhaling nepetalactone, the organic compound found in catnip which scientists believe their brain interprets as cat pheromones. Catnip sensitivity is hereditary, develops when cats mature to about three to six months and is inherited in only about 50 percent of cats. Source: Happy Puppy Tips. Link. INSIGHTS: Consider this for social media posts … [Read more...]
Understanding FIP in cats
JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM, shares information for cat owners about feline infectious peritonitis, a viral disease caused by a mutated form of the feline coronavirus. She clarified the feline coronavirus is not related to the Covid 19 coronavirus. Since this article was published, a treatment for FIP has been making news <Link>. Jeanette L. Maucher, DVM, shares Stokes … [Read more...]
Peanut butter. Good for dogs or not?
Most experts agree that peanut butter is safe for most dogs in moderation. Jennifer Lesser shares facts on why moderation is warranted. Considering that myriad brands now exist, she shares the importance of reading labels and, whenever possible, avoiding ingredients like sugar or corn syrup, artificial sweeteners like xylitol, or other potentially harmful preservatives. Also, … [Read more...]
Zoonotic web exposes complexity of disease transmission
As humans, animals, and wildlife coexist, there’s a lot to consider, including the zoonotic risks of cross-species disease transfers. This article provides a comprehensive picture of naturally occurring zoonotic interactions, sure to expand how animal health pros view zoonotic transmissions and risk management. A major challenge for the One Health community is quantifying … [Read more...]
Brush, don’t shave to keep animals comfortable during heat waves
Speaking with NPR, Sandra Faeh, DVM, comments about the practice of shaving pets during hot summer days. Shaving their fur does not help. Their fur makes them comfortable and protects them from sunburn. Brushing dogs removes the hair that they would have shed so that they have their normal coat which makes them so much more comfortable.” Source: NPR, July 10, 2024. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – July 11, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, July 3, 2024. Link. This edition contains links to archived content in the Worth a Glance section plus links to previous years’ full editions as well as topic tags. ===================================== How to cope with post-vacation blues Source: Harvard Business Review, July 9, 2024. Link. Feeling drained … [Read more...]
Facility tips to help manage the impact of flies on cattle
Sponsored Content Got flies? Choosing fly control products is important, but proper facilities management along with product rotation and application are even more crucial for effectively controlling fly populations. Note: The management tips shared here also apply to anywhere flies and animals exist such as kennels, animal shelters, stables and backyard poultry … [Read more...]
Choosing the right cat bowl
Food bowls are a consideration when addressing cat acne <Link>, so we’re sharing an article that explores the most recommended type of bowls for individual cats. Whiskers are one of the considerations when choosing a bowl. Source: Cat Food Advisor, May 15, 2024. Link. INSIGHTS: Consider this article for kitten kits, social media posts or newsletters. … [Read more...]