Despite the assertions of people like Emma Milne, BVSc, FRCVS, to reduce extreme conformations in dog and cat breeds <Link>, the doodle craze continues to drive interest, breeding experiments and value. We’re sharing Allie Conti’s article sans graphics, which describes how crossbreeding poodles with other breeds has created a billion-dollar business. It’s a long read, but … [Read more...]
The science behind animal communication
Real or perceived? LaShelle Easton, DVM, explores what the research reveals about animal communication. Can they read our minds? Further, can we read their minds? And she addresses all the anecdotal evidence of pet-to-human, or human-to-pet telepathy. Source: Animal Wellness, August 18, 2025. Link. Image: Link. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – August 27, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, August 21, 2025. Link. Most read posts from August 21, 2025 AHD Bulletin – Many problems with extreme conformation in dog and cat breeds. Link. 8 Gen Z habits that make others say, “Huh?” Link. Time management or prioritization? Link. Expert views on the importance of recordkeeping. Link. … [Read more...]
Emma Milne: The (many) problems with extreme conformation in dog and cat breeds
Commentary Kudos to Kristen Green Seymour, who took on the challenge to share the bent of several topics Emma Milne, BVSc, FRCVS, covers in this video interview. Like her, we recommend this article and video as “required” for all animal health pros. We found reading the article while listening to it was most helpful. It doesn’t matter which side you’re on. This discussion … [Read more...]
New tool helps clarify pet insurance decisions for owners
Animal Health Digest introduces a “Pet Insurance Guide,” a tool designed to save time, advance pet health insurance conversations, and highlight its benefits for clients, their pets, veterinarians, and their teams. The free, non-commercial PDF is available here. Link. AHD’s Pet Insurance Guide helps animal pros easily take pet owners through the “who, what, when, where, and … [Read more...]
Time management or prioritization?
Includes Commentary Time management in animal healthcare isn’t about squeezing more hours out of the day – it’s about spending the hours you have on what moves the needle, writes Brian Sullivan. His focus is on salespeople, but the guidance is universal. He asserts that it’s not time that’s scarce, it’s your focus. Agreed. Source: Veterinary Advantage, April 2025. … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – August 18, 2025
The latest ahead of the upcoming FORUM, IBPSA Zoom office hours, clearing up travel expense confusion, Digs Dog Care and more. Source: IBPSA, August 18, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
HABRI announces 2025 Human Animal Bond Innovation Award winners at SUPERZOO
The Human Animal Bond Innovation Awards recognize companies, individuals and organizations with innovative programs and practices designed to advance the human-animal bond and create a more pet-friendly society. Awards were presented in the public service, media, pet-inclusive culture and pet-inclusive infrastructure categories. Source: Pet Age, August 18, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
Anaplasmosis incidence growing
Lila Seidman’s article in The Los Angeles Times shares the growing threat of anaplasmosis in dogs in California. Anaplasmosis and Lyme disease are spread by western blacklegged ticks and can infect humans. A look at the Companion Animal Parasite Council map shows the anaplasmosis incidence across the country. Source: CAPC, The Los Angeles Times, August 18, 2025. … [Read more...]
Healing dogs with their own cells: The promise of regenerative medicine
Commentary Part of our curation commitment at AHD is to capture articles that may drive animal owner questions to veterinary team members. This article fits that profile. Consider sharing it with clinic teams as a discussion topic so they present a consistent position when asked about regenerative options. Source: AKC Canine Health Foundation, August 19, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
Back to school: exciting for families, not so much for pets
This infographic appeared in the recent B2C Fear Free Happy Homes email. While many clinics, pet services businesses and shelters have adopted Fear Free practices, personnel may not be seeing what pet owners are receiving. We’re sharing it to help all animal health pros keep the Back to School narratives consistent. Source: Fear Free Happy Homes, August 15, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
Vets urge smarter parasite control to combat drug resistance
Commentary The topic of parasite resistance is not new to U.S. livestock production. However, the British Veterinary Association’s actions described in this article are important. Many foreign production environments are more condensed than those in the U.S. and can foretell future domestic production issues. The BVA’s new policy position warns that routine, blanket … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – August 21, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, August 14, 2025. Link. Most read posts from August 14, 2025 AHD Bulletin – When the economy suffers, the dogs and cats suffer. Link. Combine disease. A good reminder for livestock producers. Link. The hidden costs of fear in businesses. Link. Tetanus creates problems for animals after storms. … [Read more...]
Tetanus creates problems for animals after storms
Because animal environments are commonly populated with Clostridium tetani, or tetanus, any wound can easily become contaminated at any time. However, caution is warranted in areas damaged by storms. Storm damages provide abnormal opportunities for horses, cattle and hogs to be injured and get a tetanus infection. Source: Feedstuffs, August 6, 2025. Link. Following a storm, … [Read more...]
Doing pet telehealth right isn’t optional; it’s essential
Complimentary Content Telehealth should support, not compete with, local veterinarians, writes Deb Leon, founder and CEO of whiskerDocs. She asserts that the best systems relieve pressure on clinics, help triage smartly and improve access without undermining the critical role of in-person exams. Warning of the risks from cutting corners as the services grow, she outlines why … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – August 11, 2025
Conference reminders and overview, Rover expanding through acquisition, legislative updates, August 7th AHD Bulletin and more . . . Source: IBPSA, August 11, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
When the economy suffers, the dogs and cats suffer
It’s a story heard across the country: pet owners relinquishing their animals and shelters too full to take them. Liam Stack and Olivia Bensimon share what amounts to a situation analysis of burgeoning issues in New York City’s public animal shelters. It’s non-stop and no one can keep up . . . We can’t adopt our way out.” – Katy Hansen talking about the number of surrenders in … [Read more...]
Understanding feline behavior for better diagnosis, stronger bonds
What a great statement, “The human animal bond is bilateral!” Christine Won shares some quotes from Dr. Carlo Siracusa’s presentation at the 2025 AVMA Convention explaining the importance of understanding feline behavior as a fundamental key to a more accurate diagnosis. He called for an integration of behavioral signs into the clinical reasoning process. Source: AVMA, … [Read more...]
Pumpkin 101 for dogs
Sarah Ann Taylor shares two articles about pumpkin meat and seeds in these articles. We knew raw pumpkin is a healthy snack, but the seed information may be new to some. Fresh raw pumpkin for dogs makes a good and healthy snack. It adds nutritional value to their diet, can help alleviate some health concerns, has virtually no side effects and canned, plain pumpkin for dogs … [Read more...]
Top 5 pre-season tips for hunters and their hunting dogs
Early hunting seasons are a month away. For hunters and their dogs, now is the time to listen to the ball games on the radio and get ready for days in the field. Ruth Ann Lobos, DVM, shares good advice to acclimate and condition dogs before opening day: Refine their off-season nutrition plan Take inventory and refresh the first aid kits (for dogs and hunters alike) … [Read more...]
Farmina Pet Foods Genius AI wins Pet Care Innovation of the Year Award
Farmina Pet Foods Genius AI is a free, online chatbot that seamlessly integrates AI with human expertise, delivering instant, trusted advice 24/7 to pet parents on pet health, nutrition and care. Genius AI also enables consumers to schedule one-on-one appointments for a personalized and in-depth level of pet care, according to the company. Source: PR Newswire, August 7, … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – August 14, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, August 7, 2025. Link. Most read posts from August 7, 2025 AHD Bulletin – Goodbye trial by fire, hello strategic onboarding. Link. Team successes dependent on emotional intelligence (video). Link. The ABCs of dog blood work: What the results really mean. Link. Financial strain often shapes horse … [Read more...]
Financial barriers revealed in 2025 Hill’s Pet Nutrition State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report
This report confirms much of what we suspected. The cost of veterinary care ranked as the number-1 perceived pet ownership expense or that two-thirds of Americans say vet care costs directly influence their decision to adopt a pet. Three of the top five barriers to pet adoption are financial reasons: veterinary care, the initial cost of the pet and ongoing pet food expense. … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – August 4, 2025
This week’s Fast Bites arrived in a new format with reminders of resources for pet services businesses, an announcement of a new webinar to help elevate pet care businesses and the weekly link to the last AHD Bulletin. Registration for The Forum is still open and rooms are available at the convention hotel. Source: IBPSA, August 4, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
Observational study analysis of the pet-conversationalist phenomenon
Rather than being a quirky habit, the tendency to converse with pets as if they were human reveals more about our psychological makeup than simple pet devotion. These behaviors indicate a complex set of traits: enhanced empathy, sophisticated communication skills, comfort with vulnerability, effective stress management, creative thinking, self-awareness, and exceptional … [Read more...]
The best defense against rats and leptospirosis is a good trash can
The scene? Urban Boston where One Health researchers sought to better understand the risks from leptospirosis. Rats, being typically asymptomatic carriers of leptospirosis, can be an important source of exposure to humans (and pets) in urban environments. Since the organism is shed in the urine, common methods of exposure include direct contact with rat urine or with … [Read more...]
The ABCs of dog blood work: What the results really mean
It is common when reviewing articles on client feedback for pet owners to express confusion about test results and to indicate veterinary teams sometimes don’t take time to explain the results. In this article from AAHA’s Your Pet, blood work results are explained in the context of helping pet owners understand the numbers, their importance and why doing bloodwork is part of … [Read more...]
Steve Dale. Safety first. Use the leash!
There are at least seven reasons to always keep dogs on a leash in public areas. Steve Dale shares the list and a video to drive home the importance of leash use as a safety measure for pets and people. Consider sharing this piece on social media and in newsletters. Source: Steve Dale Pet World, July 28, 2025. Link. Image: Link. … [Read more...]
CDC ends emergency response to H5N1 bird flu
“As reports of animal infections with avian influenza A virus have declined and no human cases have been reported since February 2025, CDC’s H5N1 emergency bird flu response was deactivated to transition back to regular program activity on July 2, 2025.” Source: CNN, July 7, 2025. Link. Surveillance, readiness and response for influenza, including H5N1 bird flu, will … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – August 7, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, July 31, 2025. Link. Most read posts from July 31, 2025 AHD Bulletin – Ridiculous to sublime. K-9 preventive wellness mirrors their humans. Link. Buzz off! Deer flies irritate horses and pester riders, too! Link. Timing BRD vaccines likely improves calf health, performance. Link. 7,000 steps/day is … [Read more...]