Cat love bites are the result of our demonstrative human nature run amok, writes Denise LeBeau. Often a leftover kitten play-aggression behavior, love bites can happen as play or as a consequence to overstimulation. Consider this article for communications with cat owners via social media, newsletters or when questioned face to face. . . . it’s called petting-induced … [Read more...]
The latest on age and gonadectomy
A lot of confusion remains about spaying or neutering dogs. There is even conflicting evidence about whether it should be done at all. Timing of gonadectomy surgery is not one size fits all. Counseling with pet owners is an important component of decision making. There is no single or definitive source of information on effects of gonadectomy for each breed, and most current … [Read more...]
AAHA’s updated Pain Management Guidelines: A paradigm shift in managing pain
The 2022 AAHA Pain Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats mark the first update of the guidelines since 2015 and there have been big changes. Tony McReynolds shares some of the most important changes from discussions with members of the pain guidelines task force including: incorporation of the last eight or nine years of research and development and understanding in pain … [Read more...]
Texas A&M lab: Pets have been getting Covid-19, too
Research on 600 animals from homes where a person had Covid-19 shows about a quarter of the pets sampled since June 2020 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. One quarter of those infected pets were symptomatic with what is described as a very mild illness that resolved without veterinary interventions. Gaining support from the CDC, the lab’s SARS-CoV-2 surveillance will continue, … [Read more...]
Chatfield’s chat about blood transfusions in dogs, cats
Complimentary Sponsored Content The Chatfields welcome Richard Stone DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), to the chat room. The Chatfields and Stone discuss blood transfusions, client reactions, risks and where the blood comes from. Stone and Dr. Jason were classmates at Texas A&M University. Source: Chats with the Chatfields, You Tube, February 27, 2022. Link. 56 … [Read more...]
Ambulatory assistants add value for farm-call DVMs
Twenty-plus years ago, an equine veterinarian shared his troubles with keeping inventory, invoices, medical records and follow-ups current. The discussion led me to suggest he consider hiring a person to be his shadow. A few months later, he called to say thank you. He said the assistant had captured more than double the wages in lost charges alone in the first 90 days. Amy … [Read more...]
Prepare clients to be financially prepared from the start
Getting a pet has financial consequences that often surprise pet owners. Boo Larsen shares data from the recent Synchrony Lifetime of Care study along with three ways to help prepare clients for the cost of care: Prepare new pet owners for costs they may not anticipate. Recognize that an invoice of $250 or less may cause anxiety. Be upfront and open about the … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – March 17, 2022
Last week’s most read post Gen Z wants this more than flexibility at work. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, March 10, 2022. Link. =================================== Delta variant of COVID-19 found in cat Source: My Vet Candy, March 11, 2022. Link. This apparent interspecies transmission is the first published example … [Read more...]
Coccidia in dogs and cats
Coccidia are a major issue for puppies and kittens under eight weeks old and can even kill them. After the first exposure, Coccidia parasites may remain present in the animal's intestines, and they're just waiting to take advantage of any digestive upset, writes Marty Greer, DVM. The bacteria is rarely the initial cause of the diarrhea, but once diarrhea starts, the Coccidia … [Read more...]
How pets are helping Ukrainians cope with war
As Jake fled his hometown of Kharkiv, Ukraine, he took his two most prized possessions: his Nintendo Switch and Puzo, his pet pug. Score of other displaced Ukrainians have refused to leave their animals behind for good reason. Pets can provide companionship, help reduce feelings of loneliness and boost feel-good hormones, such as oxytocin, according to Laure Powell, … [Read more...]
The 7 habits of highly effective dog owners
Complimentary Commercial Content Those who appreciate Stephen Covey’s seven habits will enjoy this special edition. Tiffany Lovell, CPDT-KA, CSAT, AAI, shares how the seven habits apply toward more successful relationships with dogs. Source: Whole Dog Journal. Link. … [Read more...]
Dogs can enjoy TV
Domestic dogs can perceive images on television almost like we do. They also recognize sounds from it. The author shares what affects what dogs really see on TV, canine dichromatic vision, motion detection and channels dogs enjoy. Source: Happy Puppy Tips. Link. Sitting in front of a screen is not a replacement for outdoor play and exercise, but can be fine on occasion, … [Read more...]
Cruelty-free pet brands growing
More brands are coming to market that are certified as cruelty-free, making them an option garnering attention from animal owners. Source: Happy Puppy Tips. Link. When it comes to understanding what exactly qualifies a brand as “cruelty-free,” consumers are often left to fill in the gaps . . . . . . there is no “official” or government-sanctioned cruelty-free label” … [Read more...]
Veterinarians’ prognosis as pet food sellers uncertain
Citing data from MRI-Simmons market research, David Sprinkle shares the veterinary hospital segment sales of pet diets has slipped from 9 percent in 2016 to 7 percent of dog/cat owners in 2021. He shares the dynamics of online and direct-to-consumer sales and the analysis of still strong veterinary influence in diet decisions. Source: Petfood Industry, March 2022, page … [Read more...]
Petco’s healthy strategy is paying off
Petco has expanded Vital Care wellness rewards program to include new services and added cats. References to growth from its customer experience and retention strategies makes this article informative reading for animal health pros. Vital Care members typically spend three times more with Petco than non-members” - Ron Coughlin, CEO Source: Forbes, March 8, 2022. Link. Seven … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – March 10, 2022
Last week’s most read post Too many pets kept alive when it’s not the kindest option, say vets. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, March 3, 2022. Link. =================================== Let’s cancel the online review culture Source: Today’s Veterinary Practice, February 11, 2022. Link. Dana Varble DVM, CAE, … [Read more...]
From fat to fit; help for overweight cats
Encouraging cats to exercise is a two-pronged approach. First, schedule in mini sessions of active play in the morning and the evening. Keep exercise sessions short and sweet, about five to 10 minutes at a time, several times a day. . . . to really accelerate a cat’s weight loss, you need to add in some exercise.” Source: Catster, February 25, 2022. Link. Also see: Apps … [Read more...]
Exercise guide for dogs
There’s more to making sure dogs get exercise than Just Do It. Audrey Pavia shares ideas, options and warnings for dog owners as they set out to get their dogs more exercise. Source: Dogster, January 10, 2022. Link. INSIGHTS: This is a good resource for social media and newsletters especially as the weather warms up. … [Read more...]
Pets afflicted with pandemic pounds just like us
Veterinarians blame extra treats and table scraps given to pets since the coronavirus pandemic began as the primary reason for a whopping increase of pet obesity. Banfield Pet Hospital found nearly 40 percent of cats and almost 35 percent of dogs were diagnosed as overweight in 2020, up from less than 20 percent a decade ago. Source: The New York Times, March 4, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Better cat care, includes inside-outside cat perspectives
Includes Commercial Content The Chatfields visit with Margie Scherk, DVM, DABVP (Feline), about benefits and risks of indoor-only versus outdoor-access cat care and stewardship. The discussion challenges the indoor-only advocacy now prevalent in the U.S. . . . indoor only cat behavior resembles human cabin fever. . . “ Source: Chats with the Chatfields, You Tube, February … [Read more...]
Evaluating grief in dogs
Italian researchers have increased our understanding of grief in dogs. Whether the changes are behavioral or actual grief are not clear, but the research indicates dogs are affected by the loss of a canine companion in multi-dog homes. Knowing that dogs likely experience changes due to grief can help both researchers and pet owners. Source: Treehugger, March 2, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Top 25 pet retailers in North America
17 retailers on this year’s list have added at least one store since March 2021, including 12 chains that grew by three or more locations during that period. The number of stores represented by the Top 25 list finally increased by 106 stores after two consecutive years of declines. Source: Pet Business, March 1, 2022. Link. Total # of stores as of March 1, 2022: … [Read more...]
Toxicologists debunk common myths about pet poisons
The internet, word of mouth and possibly breed correlations spread inaccurate information about toxins says Renee Schmid, DVM, DABVT, DABT. Pet proofing helps. Safety checks of homes and garages needs to be done every year to remain pet friendly. Schmid recommends veterinary professionals let clients know where they can find reliable information, like the poisons list … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – March 3, 2021
Last week’s most read post Alert! Highly pathogenic avian influenza now identified in 13 states and counting. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, February 24, 2022. Link. =================================== Fake meat is bleeding money Source: PORK, February 23, 2022. Link. “Beyond Meat has been lauded as a disruptor … [Read more...]
Study predicts marijuana toxicity will overtake chocolate toxicity by 2023
BluePearl recently released its 2021 Pet Health Trends Report. One key takeaway from it is that marijuana toxicity cases have quickly risen to be the second leading cause of animal toxicity, behind chocolate. Marijuana toxicity cases remain constant as more states move toward legalization and/or decriminalization. We have a responsibility to utilize our medical data for the … [Read more...]
Bite inhibition matters
Though using their mouths on our hands, arms, legs, hair and clothes is natural behavior for dogs, they must learn to interact in ways that are appropriate in our world. Karen B. London, PhD The degree to which dogs learn not to use the full force of their mouths on people and other dogs is called “bite inhibition,” and it is the most important part of a dog’s … [Read more...]
Benefits of multi-cat households hard to prove
Conducting an appraisal of published literature, researchers sought to assess evidence of the impact of cat group size on cat well-being in domestic homes. The appraisal results highlight the complex, multifactorial relationships between cat well-being and various social and environmental factors. These may be as important than the numbers of cats living in a … [Read more...]
Special days coming in March
Savvy animal health pros will find reasons to conduct outreach, have themes in house or start conversations using one of these featured day or week designations. Source: National Today. Link Here’s what we found for the first part of March 2022. National If Pets Had Thumbs Day – March 3, 2022 National Professional Pet Sitters Week – March 6-12, 2022 National K9 … [Read more...]
Pet ownership linked to slower cognitive decline
In a study thought to be the first to consider the effect of duration of pet ownership on cognitive health, pet ownership was especially beneficial for working verbal memory, such as memorization of word lists. Owning household pets for five years or more produced the most benefit, delaying cognitive decline by 1.2 points over the six-year period of the study compared with … [Read more...]
Become a Veterinarian Camp Contest 2022
Please share this opportunity with your local middle school administrators, counselors, science teachers and youth groups. Vet Set Go together with Merck Animal Health and VCA Animal Hospitals is inviting rising sixth, seventh and eighth grade students to enter the sixth annual Vet Set Go Become a Veterinarian Camp Contest 2022. The online essay contest will award three … [Read more...]