Our August disaster planning post prompted Leslie Brooks DVM, MPH to share disaster safety guidelines created by the team at betterpet.com with us. Their guidelines are worth sharing with you. The best way to prepare for an emergency is to have a disaster plan in place ahead of time. Some extra preparation (even if it seems a little excessive) can go a long way in protecting … [Read more...]
IBPSA’s Fast Bites – October 11th edition
What BarkBox teaches us about subscription services and personalization, survey shares pet care considerations when pet owners are hospitalized, a guide to airport pet boarding facilities and more. Source: IBPSA FastBites, October 11, 2021. Link. INSIGHTS: IBPSA offers members an online education center for easy to access species-specific educational materials and … [Read more...]
First, do good. Dr. Bellows on beneficence versus maleficence and oral care
The veterinary oath does not contain any language about doing no harm, shares Jan Bellows, DVM, DAVDC, DABVP. It is a basic principle errantly drilled into veterinary students and practitioners, he says. Nowhere in the veterinary oath is the mention of doing no harm, otherwise known as nonmaleficence.” - Jan Bellows, DVM, DAVDC, DABVP Bellows shares information about the … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – October 7, 2021
Last week’s. . . . . . most read post Highlights from the 31st Carthage Swine Conference. Link. . . . AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin - Sept 30, 2021. Link. Goodbye Google: 7 privacy-first search engines everyone should try Source: Fast Company, September 29, 2021. Link. Jared Newman offers search engine options that remove the … [Read more...]
Halloween safety tips for cats
A new infographic from the AAFP will help cat owners take precautions for their feline friends during Halloween activities. The tip list appeared with the announcement of the newly redesigned Cat Friendly website which is now organized by categories like Behavior, Veterinary Care, and Being a Cat Friendly Caregiver. Source: Cat Friendly … [Read more...]
Dogster’s 2021 top dog Halloween costumes and accessories
While many dogs get really spooked this time of year, others tolerate Halloween costumes. The tricks’ part? Who knows? The treats? Just keep the calories down. 😉 Source: Dogster, October 5, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
5 supplements dogs need or don’t
NOTE: The word SHOULD in this article is strong and potentially dangerous language for pet owners. There is also a link to “top” supplements to help with everything from anxiety, digestion and joint health to dental and immune support. Ugghh! Turmeric, coconut oil, probiotics, glucosamine and fish oil are supplements Jennifer Yau says dog owners SHOULD give their dogs. At … [Read more...]
Them’s the Rules: Bio containment? Viral escapes? What?
Complimentary* Bio-containment expert Lisa Kercher, PhD, discusses virus research, bio attacks and what type of regulations exist in the US to prevent catastrophes including viral mishaps! Source: Chats with the Chatfields, You Tube, September 16, 2021. Link. “How to work with animals in containment was the longest amount of training I had,” shared Kercher. The scariest … [Read more...]
Preparing for the holiday rush
Ho! Ho! Ho! Thanksgiving is seven weeks away. Christmas is 11 weeks away. Jonathan David talks about pacing yourself from a groomer’s perspective as the holidays approach. Source: Groomer to Groomer, pages 6-9, October 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Petco to expand PupBoxes, include private label products
Opinion PupBox, a monthly subscription service for dogs, will expand to offer boxes across four life stages: puppy, young pup, grown pup and senior pup. The boxes each contain five to seven hand-picked items items designed for a dog's specific needs at each stage of life. This expansion follows the one of Petco’s mental health pet programs, which also feature the … [Read more...]
Good consumer marketing is like dating
The goal of dating is to get someone to like you, to take a chance on you and to, hopefully, give you a second date. That’s exactly what we want when we’re trying to bring somebody into our brand, store (clinic) or service.” - Michael Johnson Source: Petfood Industry, September 29, 2021. Link. The things that most pet consumers have in common is that they are value-minded, … [Read more...]
Bot flies annoy cattle, horses, pets and humans
The last days of summer weather often spark more bot fly activity before the first frost wipes out the egg-laying females. Bot flies are chunky, beelike flies usually with rounded heads and rarely seen. Like other true flies, bot flies have only a single pair of wings. There are six important species of bot flies that affect the U.S. livestock industry: Hypoderma bovis, H. … [Read more...]
Evaluation of antimicrobial prescriptions in dogs with suspected bacterial urinary tract disease
A study published in the August 16 edition of the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine evaluated antimicrobial prescriptions for dogs in the U.S. and Canada diagnosed with urinary tract disease. Understanding antimicrobial use is a critical component of antimicrobial stewardship efforts. Decreases in duration and increased use of recommended first-line antimicrobials were … [Read more...]
Proactive nutrition for the healthy indoor cat
Nutrition is especially important for indoor cats, which depend solely on their owners for what, when, and how they eat. Indoor cats are at greater risk for becoming overweight or obese and for developing behavior problems." From the summary: Recommending that clients weigh daily food portions and monitor the cat’s BCS and body weight will help them maintain a healthy weight … [Read more...]
End-of-summer canine checklist
AKC Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Jerry Klein provides an end-of-summer checklist to make sure dogs are in top shape for fall. He reminds dog owners to watch temperatures and use summer thinking until the cold sets in fully. Source: AKC TV. Link. INSIGHTS: This video and others are good resources to use on social media, link in newsletters or targeted communications. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – September 23, 2021
Last week’s. . . . . . most read post Survey: Workers ages 18 to 44 want payday more flexible. Link. . . . AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin - Sept 16, 2021. Link. Forget a pre-flight drink. Pet an airport therapy dog. Source: Washington Post, September 17, 2021. Link. Sure, you could drown your travel anxieties at the airport bar or … [Read more...]
R.I.P. Stuckie, the coon hound that refused to quit
The photos in this article may be disturbing to some. Chasing a raccoon almost 30’ above the floor of heavy northeast Alabama woods 40 years ago, a Redbone coonhound got lodged in an oak tree and was out of hearing range of its owner. Forty years later a logging operation fell the tree and discovered the well-preserved hound, posthumously named, Stuckie. The log, dog and … [Read more...]
Toxic, invasive poison hemlock is spreading into gardens, yards, parks across U.S.
Poison hemlock, which resembles Queen Anne’s Lace, is often spotted along highways, in fence lines and on the edges of farm fields. Recently, populations of this toxic and invasive plant have exploded in parks, yards and gardens across the country. Poison hemlock spreads and grows its footprint during late summer and fall. Each plant produces up to 30,000 seeds that ripen … [Read more...]
Puppies are born ready to communicate with people
Researchers from the Arizona Canine Cognition Center at the University of Arizona put 375 eight-week-old puppies through four tests, designed to establish whether even such tiny pups were receptive to human communication. The results suggest that communication abilities must be inherited instead of being learned. Source: AKC, July 26, 2021. Link. The researchers now seek to … [Read more...]
Dogs will eat just about anything but their own food
A survey of 2,000 American dog owners found dogs will get ahold of just about anything. Pet caregivers shared they experience this at least once per week. The One Poll survey also revealed the average pet parent says that it’s hard to find dog food that is nutritious and delicious. Source: 72POINT, September 20, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Helping canine boredom
Complimentary Content The market for toys and puzzles to ward off boredom by pets is exploding as pet caregivers return to work outside the home. Hardly a day goes by without seeing another article about what to do now that the dog is home alone. While resources are plentiful, it is hard for owners to choose what works for their pet. Plus, finding the best choices may result … [Read more...]
Extensively drug-resistant Campylobacter jejuni infections associated with U.S. pet store puppies
More than 90 percent of human Campylobacter infections are caused by Campylobacter jejuni. Major symptoms include diarrhea that is often bloody, fever and abdominal cramps. Most recover within one week. BUT not all recover that fast. Thanks to the CDC Campylobacter surveillance network, the drug-resistant strains of C. jejuni were reported and investigated. Surveillance data … [Read more...]
It’s okay to truly grieve for lost pets
Losing a trusted pet sucks. Without traditional grieving rituals we generally experience when family members die, losing a pet can truly mess with us. Experts say the death of pets can even activate grief over previous losses. Source: Outside, September 2, 2021. Link. The death of a pet is a very big deal. I often have people tell me they are surprised the experience is … [Read more...]
11 million-plus animals may be affected by ransomware attack
NEW Cooperative in Fort Dodge, Iowa, was recently hit with a ransomware attack that forced the farm and feed supply operation to take systems offline. Blackmatter, the group allegedly behind the attack, is demanding $5.9 million to provide a decryptor. NEW Cooperative claims its software powers grain production and feed schedules for 11 million animals. Source: ars TECHNICA, … [Read more...]
Scientists have identified 7 distinct feline personality traits
According to new research, each cat's personality and behavior can be defined using a combination of seven traits. Five personality traits and two behavioral traits are defined in the results: Activity/playfulness Fearfulness Aggression towards humans Sociability towards humans Sociability towards cats Litterbox issues (such as refusing to use the litterbox, … [Read more...]
Dogs with the strongest bite
Bite strength is measured in terms of pounds per square inch. The author shares the dog breeds with the most bite strength. The Kangal, a shepherd dog from Turkey, has the strongest bite force of 740 PSI. Some breeds have more bite force than a lion. Source: Puppies and Pooches, June 9, 2021. Link. Studies indicate that dogs with large heads, big bodies, and broader jaws … [Read more...]
Chats with the Chatfields. . . . Them’s the Rules: Can we join your PACCC?!
Complimentary Exploring little known rules, regulations, and guidelines for important aspects of animal care, Dr. Jen the vet and Dr. Jason are joined by Stephanie Shipley, the current chair of the Professional Animal Care Certification Council. The PACCC is the world's only certification program for animal care professionals and requires successful examination for … [Read more...]
Basics of canine hydration
There are pet caregivers who do not know dogs’ hydration needs are different than our own. This author provides relevant resources, including a consumption chart (Table 1) and discusses variables that influence hydration needs. Source: Animal Wellness, August 10, 2021. Link. All dogs need adequate water to survive, and in most cases, water absorption is enhanced with the … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – September 9, 2021
Last week’s . . . . . . most read post Success starts with followership, AHD. Link. . . . AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin - Sept 2, 2021. The surprising upsides of spite and how to harness them Source: New Scientist, September 1, 2021. Link. Spiteful behavior, harming another at some cost to yourself, is a psychological game where no … [Read more...]
Dermatology pearls: Your 4-step guide to educating pet parents about pruritus
Owners of pets with allergic pruritus can often encounter confusion and frustration. It’s important to tackle the issue from the first appointment and develop a dependable treatment plan that keeps the needs of both patient and owner in mind. Source: DVM 360, via AAHA NEWStat, August 29, 2021. Link. To navigate these conversations with clients, Ashley S. Bourgeois, DVM, … [Read more...]