Some clients fear for their pets when anesthesia is required. Starting with preoperative blood work is a key step that allows for client education and gives them confidence the pet will be okay. Lynda Paul, LVT, VTS, CVPP, shares common concerns from pet owners and how to help them understand the processes involved in treating their pet. Source: Today’s Veterinary Nurse, … [Read more...]
Using cross-species vaccination approaches to counter emerging infectious diseases
The last two decades have seen multiple animal health business units spun off from traditional pharma company ownership. In this paper, the authors highlight a ‘One Health vaccinology’ approach. They present key areas of synergy in human and veterinary vaccinology that could be exploited to accelerate the development of effective vaccines against shared health … [Read more...]
AHD welcomes IBPSA members
Members of the International Boarding and Pet Services Association will begin receiving the weekly Animal Health Digest Bulletin in July. Pet boarding and daycare is a multi-billion-dollar business segment. The IBPSA is the pet boarding and daycare industry’s only professional business association. More than 1,000 businesses are members, including 140 veterinary … [Read more...]
Teach cats to wear a harness
Cat owners may enjoy their cats more when they can take them safely outside. Habituating a cat to a harness and then to a harness-plus-leash takes time and needs to follow specific steps says Nicole Ellis. Source: Catster, April 17, 2021. Link. Also see: Choosing a harness for a cat, Tufts Catnip, April 21, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Turn down the volume on pets’ firework and thunderstorm fears
Complimentary Commercial Content Don't ignore your pet's fear out of the mistaken belief you will reinforce it and make it worse, writes Marty Becker, DVM. The key is to stay calm and not get all worked up yourself, but instead provide calm attention like how you normally interact with him. Becker has updated his previously published article for 2021. Source: Dr. … [Read more...]
Responsible antimicrobial stewardship
It is unclear how recent FDA guidance for antimicrobial drug oversight may affect companion animal practices, yet stewardship of the right drug for the right bug remains a priority for all animal health professionals. Practicing responsible antimicrobial stewardship involves striving to prevent antimicrobial resistance and an unnecessary impact on the microbiome by … [Read more...]
Colorado Supreme Court rejects animal cruelty initiative
It is not over yet, but the Colorado Supreme Court on Monday rejected a ballot initiative that would have extended the state’s animal cruelty laws to cover livestock and poultry. The current law has an exception for animals raised on farms and ranches, as long as their owners follow accepted animal husbandry practices. The proposal would have added cows, pigs, chicken and … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – June 17, 2021
Last week’s most read post 2021-2022 APPA National Pet Owners Survey reveals important post-pandemic changes for the pet care industry Source: Animal Health Digest, June 8, 2021. Link. U.S. bans importing of dogs from 113 countries due to rise in false rabies records Source: NPR, June 14, 2021. Link. Veterinarians are praising the decision. 36 … [Read more...]
Why does my puppy growl at strangers?
At its core growling is about communication writes, Stephanie Gibeault, MSc, CPDT. It is a warning, a symptom of your puppy’s discomfort. Rarely an indication of aggression initially, growling at strangers is a sign that something is wrong. The most likely explanation is the puppy is fearful of people they don’t know. Source: AKC, January 19, 2021. Link. Whenever your puppy … [Read more...]
CIRDC. Does a new name make it easier?
Opinion Two excellent articles are included as Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex sources for this post. Adjusting the nomenclature to represent a variety of cofactors is logical scientifically and diagnostically. Pragmatically, though, many of the known CIRDC pathogens are NOT included in core vaccines, including two well recognized pathogens: Canine … [Read more...]
Engage pet owners to monitor respiratory rates in dogs and cats
The animal health industry is finding value when owners become active participants in their pets’ care. The human–animal bond and client–veterinarian relationship is strengthened and pet patients are observed in a normal home environment. Brian A. Scansen, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology), shares pet owners can be trained to measure, record and track their pet’s resting … [Read more...]
Dr. Jen the Vet at VMX
Complimentary Content Eugene “Gene” O'Neill, CEO, and Dr. Dana Varble, chief veterinary officer at the North American Veterinary Community, were guests on Chats with the Chatfields during the recent VMX industry conference. They and Jen Chatfield, DVM, discussed current innovations in veterinary medicine, NAVC’s support of innovative companies and the industry landscape … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – June 10, 2021
Last week’s most read post Watch the quiet people. Source: Animal Health Digest, June 1, 2021. Link. Knowing when not to talk is an art.” – Patrick T. Malone Empowered women empowering others Source: DVM 360, May/June 2021. Link. Empowering Veterinary Teams’ founders Alyssa Mages, CVT and Caitlin Keat, BS, MS are filling their own career gaps by helping … [Read more...]
Pandemic misery index reveals far-reaching impact of COVID-19 on American lives, especially on Blacks and Latinos
Opinion Social media posts are sharing the excitement of live attendance at the 2021 VMX Convention. There’s a backdrop to these return to normal accounts to keep in mind. While progress is being made, racial and ethnic gaps persist, despite an overall decline in pandemic hardship. According to the U.S. Pandemic Misery Index, 80 percent of U.S. adults experienced at least … [Read more...]
Dogs get sunburn too!
People are surprised to learn dogs need protection from the sun. Hair offers a natural barrier between its skin and the sun’s rays, but it is not complete protection. Dogs can get sunburned, too. We’re including two references to help educate pet owners via social media or newsletters. Source: 5 ways to protect your dog from sunburn, Animal Wellness, May 2017. … [Read more...]
Help pet owners conduct home health checks
Opinion The need for pet owner education and training became more apparent during 2020. New pet owners, especially, seemed unprepared to manage the day to day with pets, let alone changes to their pets’ wellness. Sandra Murphy shares a home health checklist suitable for helping pet owners systematically monitor their pet. Pet owners will appreciate this list. Consider … [Read more...]
Bobcats, Lone Star ticks, bobcat fever
University of Georgia experts are urging cat owners across the state to proactively protect their pets due to cases of cytauxzoonosis, or bobcat fever, caused by the tick-transmitted protozoan parasite Cytauxzoon felis. The infection spike is centered in a five-county area covering approximately 1,900 square miles. However, male bobcats are known to range up to 60 miles which … [Read more...]
The crystal ball: Veterinary medicine in 2031
Complimentary Content In a recent blog post, Bill Wagner, DVM, took a stab at what he thinks veterinary medicine will be 10 years from now. Much of what he projects is realistic, being created or in progress. The key will be to make the most of the customer experience and transition veterinary team members. Source: Associated Veterinary Partners, May 24, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Preventive care paradox
Recognizing and reinforcing behavior that results in the absence of disease is difficult, especially in a veterinary healthcare system built to respond to disease states versus reinforcing a state of health, according to Bob Lester, DVM. It is a challenge for a reacting-and-repairing versus preventing-and-preparing way of working Lester describes the future benefits as … [Read more...]
2021-2022 APPA National Pet Owners Survey reveals important post-pandemic changes for the pet care industry
It comes as no surprise that trends from the 2021-2022 APPA National Pet Owners Survey show steady growth in pet ownership, as well as pet owners buying more products and services online, writes Steve King, president and CEO of the APPA. However, the survey also sheds light on the resilience of brick and mortar facilities. Pet owners continue to frequent their local pet stores, … [Read more...]
Wait. Boarding and grooming for pets are ESSENTIAL?!
Complimentary content includes an offer from RESCUE® disinfectants Carmen Rustenbeck, founder of the International Boarding and Pet Services Association (IBPSA), joins Drs. Jen and Jason Chatfield in this episode of the Chatfield Show. They discuss the involvement of pet services and how the IBPSA serves those businesses and people. In all actuality, groomers, boarders and … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – June 3, 2021
Last week’s most read posts – these two posts tied for most read These 8 expressions can make you sound insensitive at work: Source: Animal Health Digest, May 25, 2021. Link. Flexible workforces in veterinary practices might include aging boomers: Source: Animal Health Digest, May 25, 2021. Link. Best dog bones for tough chewers Source: Puppies and Pooches, … [Read more...]
The next pandemic is already happening. Targeted disease surveillance can help prevent it.
The next pandemic threat is likely already making its way through the population right now writes Maureen Miller, PhD. Her research as an infectious disease epidemiologist has found that there is a simple strategy to mitigate emerging outbreaks: proactive, real-time surveillance in settings where animal-to-human disease spillover is most likely to occur. Miller discusses the … [Read more...]
Most-read companion animal posts of April and May 2021
What you read helps us prioritize topics most interesting to animal health pros. It is the most important feedback we receive. The links below share the most-read posts from April and May in ranked order. Source: Animal Health Digest. April, May 2021. The best dog names of 2021. 500 names by category. How Petco is increasingly a stealthy competitor to clinics … [Read more...]
Fireworks and noise phobias. It’s the season.
Complimentary Content The first fireworks of spring started a couple weeks ago here in Kansas City. Graduation celebrations may include some left over pyrogenic flashes and booms. While minor, these sonic disruptions are a reminder that July 4th celebrations are just around the corner. Fear Free Happy Homes offers pet owners a digital kit containing strategies for … [Read more...]
1 in 3 people believe that their pet will make them a better parent
Note: These survey results are worth reviewing. In a recent survey from OnePoll and AskVet, pet owners shared they experience anxieties and expenses found with child-rearing. More than 45 percent of pet parents worry their pets might get sick or hurt, while another 33 percent worry their pets may be unhappy. While pet parents trust veterinary professionals the most, they are … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 27, 2021
Last week’s most read post No, people aren’t giving up pandemic pets because they’re bored Source: Animal Health Digest, May 18, 2021. Link. Two words for an instant dose of empathy Source: Forge, May 3, 2021. Link. Try mirroring the other person’s struggle with the words “of course” to validate their challenges or … [Read more...]
Canine origin coronavirus causing a stir
Preliminary reports of a dog origin alpha canine coronavirus infecting people are alarming. Scientific diligence is needed to confirm the species jump and determine how much risk management is required, if any. We’re sharing three articles for your review and consideration. I think the more we look, the more we will find that these coronaviruses are crossing species … [Read more...]
Dog accessories help owners with responsibilities
Opinion The author got my attention with these opening sentences: Bringing home a dog means an addition to your existing family and your responsibilities. Being the owner, you will be responsible for the dog’s actions, behavior and health. What followed was a nice overview of some accessories to help make a dog’s life easier and strengthen his bonds with family … [Read more...]
AAFP releases new end-of-life toolkit
AAFP’s new End of Life Educational Toolkit provides information to help facilitate a peaceful and painless transition for a cat at the end of their life. This digital toolkit aids veterinary professionals in preparing a well-planned process to honor the life of the cat by offering guidance and valuable information. Source: American Association of Feline Practitioners. May … [Read more...]