Part of the fun of Halloween includes frightening images, sounds and sudden movements. While great for most humans, our pets are not as tolerant. Fear Free Pets offers some ideas to reduce anxiety and create a Fear Free Happy Home for pets. The tips are available as PDFs so animal owners can easily try to prevent Halloween howls from their pets. Source: Fear Free Pets. … [Read more...]
Table Talk to provide information about canine genomic testing in veterinary practice
Complimentary content DNA testing options are continuously being developed for dogs and adoption of the technology is on the rise. Veterinarians can now use genomic testing to screen for common, actionable disorders to anticipate health issues and enable preventative care. Join Lindsey Kock, DVM, and Lauren Thorne of Neogen® for a free RACE CE approved Table Talk: … [Read more...]
Petco launches Vital Care Wellness Plan
"Petco's Vital Care Wellness Plan is the latest offering in our mission to improve the lives of pets and pet parents. With Vital Care we are offering critical, everyday services, from nail trims and teeth brushing to vet care, in a way that has never been done before - all in one accessible destination." - Ron Coughlin, Petco CEO. Source: Rural Marketing News, October 12, … [Read more...]
Content for dog owners
Animal owners are full of questions. If you don’t believe it, monitor one of The Bridge Club Pets sessions or videos < link >. Our industry supports more than 150 publications targeting animal owners, all of which compete for their eyes and their dollars. The scope of social media has progressed considerably beyond Dr. Google. We share the following information for dog … [Read more...]
Metronidazole is not FDA-approved for dogs
Opinion Regardless of accuracy, it concerns me when articles and videos* like this one are published in consumer publications. Regardless of how frequently metronidazole is prescribed by veterinarians, it is not yet approved by the FDA for veterinary use. * The video features Jerry Klein, DVM, AKC’s chief veterinary officer Source: AKC, September 21, 2020. … [Read more...]
Debunking pet food myths and misconceptions
Ryan Yamka, PhD, challenges the World Small Animal Veterinary Association guidelines and pet food recommendations. He calls for an update to fill gaps and provide proper security for those recommending pet foods. This statement motivated posting Yamka’s article, “Based on WSAVA guidelines, a pet food company only needs to provide a complete nutrient analysis for one formula … [Read more...]
5 ways to optimize your pet’s health
Complimentary content Katie Woodley, BVSc, cVMA, GDVCHM, brings a collaborative mindset to integrative veterinary medicine. She combines western and eastern approaches to improving the quality of life for pets. A frequent guest on The Bridge Club Pets*, she anchors on food being the foundation for health. She asserts five steps to implement into pet's lives for optimal … [Read more...]
Dr. Jen translates dog diarrhea and new puppy musts
Complimentary content Two new YouTube editions of Is this a Thing? are now available. Jenifer Chatfield, DVM, Dipl. ACZM, Dipl. ACVPM, talks about new puppies and dealing with diarrhea in her initiative to help pet owners understand veterinary jargon and be more comfortable communicating with veterinarians. Source: Dr Jen the Vet, YouTube. Link to YouTube channel. … [Read more...]
The 4 Cs of restraint-free grooming
Restraint-free grooming has allowed fearful and aggressive peta that hated to be groomed to feel calm and protected, writes Hannah Ziegler. Restraint-free means no extra people, no grooming loops, no muzzles or Elizabethan collars. She says that with dedicated time and repetitions, 98 percent of pets can be groomed without restraints using her approach. The 4 Cs to grooming … [Read more...]
SID feeding of indoor cats may improve health
Obesity is the most common nutritional problem affecting cats. In research likely to surprise veterinarians and cat owners*, cats that ate one meal a day were more satisfied, which could result in less food-begging behavior. The study results also suggest cutting back feeding frequency could help reduce the risk of obesity by controlling cats' appetite and potentially making … [Read more...]
The dilemma of pandemic pet pounds
The challenge of obesity in dogs has been exacerbated by the pandemic lockdown. The WFH messages promoted to date involve pets getting more exercise, but Kim Kavin’s Washington Post story indicates many dogs have packed on extra weight. On the other hand, dogs that have lost weight might have a few aches and pains from the increase in activity. Dog owners should work with … [Read more...]
Decoding vaccine titers in companion animal practice
Sara E. Gonzalez, DVM, MS, provides a literature-based review of the limitations and benefits of this type of testing and guidance for interpreting results. In the summary comments she shares: The gold standard laboratory techniques for detecting circulating blood antibody titers against the core canine vaccine antigens and FPV are VN and HI. Core vaccine titer testing … [Read more...]
The conversations continue at The Bridge Club and The Bridge Club Pets
The Bridge Club remains true to its origins to provide virtual opportunities to connect, engage, learn and grow. Now with a professional version and a pet owner version, the coming weeks provide opportunities for animal health pros and pet owners to meet. Click on the link below and then register by clicking on individual conversation topics. Source: The Bridge Club … [Read more...]
Improvements in overnight monitoring care
Complimentary Commercial Content from Kevin Maher, VetMeasure Overnight monitoring care is often necessary for a veterinary patient and can be difficult for the veterinary team, animal owner and the animal. Today, there are options for pet wearables that practices can use to monitor various vitals including: a patient’s axillary temperature, respiratory rate (range), and … [Read more...]
Choosing a feline behaviorist from 4 types of specialists
All cat behaviorists are not equal. In fact, there are four recognized types of them, each with their own credentials: Board-Certified Veterinary Behaviorist Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training & Behavior Source: Tuft’s Catnip, September 18, 2020. Link. … [Read more...]
4 categories help cats thrive for 5 types of cat owners
September was Happy Cat Month, an event created by the CATalyst Council to improve cat wellness by focusing on happiness. The council promotes helping cats live their best lives by focusing on four major categories: health, enrichment, safety and value. The hunting behavior of cats is frequently a topic for songbird enthusiasts. However, understanding how cat owners view … [Read more...]
Why dogs eat rocks and how to stop it
Rock eating by dogs can be the result of a medical, behavioral or psychological problem, writes Kaitlyn Arford. While boredom is frequently the reason, she reviews eating disorders and possible medical reasons for this habit that is also hard on teeth. Teaching dogs and puppies two important basic commands, “leave it” and “drop it,” is the foundation of successfully destroying … [Read more...]
Proofing a dog’s training
The 3-D approach to proofing a dog’s training involves challenging the dog with what it does at home without distractions in a distracted environment. Kathy Santo explains the three major categories of proofing: Distraction Duration Distance The reality of dog training is that proofing is the way to take your training from “works at home, sometimes” to “works … [Read more...]
Dog training services are more important than ever
All the time we’ve spent at home with dogs isn’t as beneficial as we initially thought. Trainer Dale Buchanan is seeing an increase in adult dogs that are suddenly developing serious behavior issues related to stress and anxiety. He suggests these changes are likely coming from the stress and anxieties of their WFH owners. The dogs are most likely over-stimulated and … [Read more...]
The endocannabinoid system and phytocannabinoids
Beyond obvious regulatory challenges, there is a definite need to ensure the safety and effectiveness of cannabis use in animals. The challenge for pet owners and veterinarians is to become educated with about the endocannaboid system and cannabis administration. Gary Richter, DVM, MS, provides an introduction to understanding how the endocannabinoid system functions and how … [Read more...]
Top 5 consequences of brachycephaly
Cute or not, dogs that look like they ran headlong into a wall at 60 mph have problems. Anne Fawcett, BVSc, MVS, MANZCVS, DECAWBM, shares how brachycephalic conformation is associated with multiple health problems, some of which can be life-threatening and most of which are lifelong. Awareness of the consequences of brachycephaly is important when advising pet owners about … [Read more...]
10 dog breeds known to turn on their owners
There are dog owners who swear their pet would never attack them. However, some dog breeds are more dangerous than others. The authors compiled a list of 10 of the most dangerous dog breeds often make headlines. We’re sharing them with animal health pros who want to offer additional safety and training information with owners of these breeds. American Pit Bull Terrior … [Read more...]
Some perspective on drive-through or curbside services
COMMENTARY Louis Sullivan (1856-1924) helped pioneer and change the face of architecture. This quote is attributed to him, “form follows function.” In this context, writer Mark Wilson reviews fast food chains’ $290 billion race for the perfect drive-through. What does this have to do with animal health? Drive-throughs have been a staple of fast-food revenue for decades, … [Read more...]
This week is National Dog Week
National Dog Week was established in 1928. It was the brainchild of Captain Will Judy, a veteran of World War I and an ordained minister who devoted his life to educating Americans on the spiritual bond connecting humans and canines. As the publisher of Dog World magazine, he used it to urge his readers to treat dogs with kindness and respect. National Dog Week…has had the … [Read more...]
Water quality and the microbiome
Drinking water quality is considered important to the health and productivity of pigs and all animals for that matter. The classification of "quality" water includes more than just the mineral content. Preliminary data from a study at North Carolina State University suggests that drinking water and location may influence the sow microbiome. . . . oral, nasal, rectal and … [Read more...]
Don’t kiss the calves.
We’ve featured more than a few posts about not kissing chickens. The same caution applies to calves. According to Jeff Bender, DVM, MS, DACVPM, the Centers for Disease Control reported 59 disease outbreaks tied to animal contact in 2017. Of these, 25 were linked to farm livestock and 15 to poultry. Source: Dairy Herd Management, September 14, 2020. Link. The zoonotic … [Read more...]
The latest on RHDv
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) is a calicivirus that affects rabbits. This includes wild and domesticated European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), from which our own domesticated rabbits are descended. Outbreaks in the southwest U.S and in New York are occurring in 2020 < link > Any sudden rabbit death is suspicious and should be reported to your veterinarian … [Read more...]
Include pets’ fate in estate planning
Including the fate of pets in estate plans is not typical advice from an estate-planning attorney writes, Tony McReynolds. He shares advice about including what will happen to pets in end-of-life planning from attorney and author Kelli Brown, JD, LLM. . . . many pets are relinquished because their owners went into an extended-care facility without having named a designated pet … [Read more...]
Don’t wait! Fix by 5 Months reduces feline issues.
Performing a spay or neuter before a cat reaches maturity has benefits beyond preventing unwanted pregnancy. Reiterating the value of the Feline Fix by Five initiatives launched in 2016, the author reminds us of best practices to help manage the health and welfare of cats, plus curtail the ongoing overpopulation in our country and the world. Source: Veterinary Practice News, … [Read more...]
Dealing with clingy cats
Chronic clinginess can lead to full-blown separation anxiety for some sensitive cats, says Nicholas Dodman, BVMS. The constant stress not only puts your cat at risk for illness, but also makes his quality of life marginal at best. He offers several ways to address unwanted behaviors. . . . rather than pushing the cat away, stop what you’re doing and give him your full … [Read more...]