Content about companion animals is expanding exponentially alongside the metamorphic consumer-retail market focus. Topics are varied, including how-tos, should-dos, opportunities and research. The seven most-read posts from June 1 through October 31, 2019 are listed here. Source: Animal Health Digest. Link. Snakebite dos and donts for dogs, AHD, June 25, 2019. Link. … [Read more...]
CBD special report
Cannabidiol here, CBD there! Various manufacturers tout a variety of benefits from their products. The FDA is currently drafting regulations for hemp and hemp-derived substances. The USDA released the final interim hemp farming rules on October 31, 2019 < link >. The Pet Product News insider’s report sheds light on where this new category is headed and gives perspective … [Read more...]
Top 10 tips for senior cats
November is Adopt a Senior Pet month. To honor senior cats, the American Association of Feline Practitioners provided tips to set up aging cats for success and build the special bonds between them and their owners. The list is a great resource to share in social media posts, newsletters or targeted communications. Source: Cat Friendly Homes. Link. Also see: Tips for … [Read more...]
5 reasons cats act weird
Angela Lutz shares reasons for sudden changes and weird behaviors cats display. Cat owners will value this list. Share it on social media, in newsletters or as problem-solving reference material. A cat acting weird: might signal depression could be caused by stress might be threatened because of an illness may mean the cat doesn’t like a person Source: … [Read more...]
Making cats share can cause trouble
Some situations in multi-cat households where asking cats to share may create stress and possibly lead to behavior problems, writes Pam Johnson-Bennett, certified cat behavior consultant. She recommends: Every cat should have their own food bowl and the bowls should be placed at a distance that allows everyone to eat securely The general rule of thumb for a multi-cat … [Read more...]
Age-related changes in canine brain structure and metabolism
Although cognitive decline and cognitive dysfunction may occur as pets age, neither should be accepted as simply a consequence of aging. This is the conclusion by the authors from a study at the Purina Institute. Nutritional interventions provide opportunities to slow cognitive decline, mitigate the behavioral signs of cognitive dysfunction and improve quality of life for … [Read more...]
Poop contains great information
Stool samples are telling of a dog’s health, writes Kyle Grusling, DVM. He reminds dog owners that parasites are not the only thing that can be seen on a fecal check. In addition to gastrointestinal parasites, stool samples may reveal diarrhea, mites and protozoa. Source: Whole Dog Journal, March 2019. Link. A great diagnostic or screening tool for any dog, routine poop … [Read more...]
Skin tags, lumps and bumps on dogs
No skin growth should be dismissed without veterinary attention, writes Melvin Peña. Common as dogs age, he says the most important thing you can do about skin tags on dogs is to be observant. Acknowledging he is not a veterinarian, he shares researched information on lipomas, fatty and mast cell tumors. The article is simplistic, but the messages are clear for dog … [Read more...]
KCAHC plays vital role in pet food industry
Lindsay Beaton shares the importance of the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor (KCAHC) < link > in the pet food industry. Gaining perspectives from various corridor manufacturers, she outlines benefits Kansas City area companies realize. Growing the pool of qualified laborers remains a challenge for corridor companies but progress is ongoing. More than 300 companies … [Read more...]
Making decisions about boarding
Jessica Finnegan presents considerations for boarding as part of veterinary hospital ancillary services. She reminds us that pet boarding and grooming is a hot business prospect, growing nearly double year over previous year. She challenges veterinary teams to look at boarding differently and to bolster veterinary practice revenue slowly being eaten away by online and big-box … [Read more...]
Popular cat podcast goes into second season
Let’s Talk About Cats podcast < link > hosted by Mary Phillips-Sandy and produced by Lizzie Jacobs is entering its second season. Described as a fun educational program, it covers everything from kitty lifestyle issues to the enormous power of the human-feline bond. Veterinary and retail teams may wish to monitor the global discussion, topics and solutions. Source: … [Read more...]
Keeping dogs safe in cold weather (includes infographic)
Keeping dogs warm outside takes forethought. Pet owners need to make sure dogs maintain their body temperature to ward against hypothermia and have protection on their paws to help prevent frostbite. When temperatures drop below 20°F, all dogs are prone to developing hypothermia and frostbite.” Sally Jones Source: Canine Journal, October 23, 2019. Link. INSIGHTS: Sally … [Read more...]
Rough training has long-term effects on dogs
Dogs trained using positive reinforcement experience less short- and long-term stress than those in aversive training classes. This, according to a new study from Universidade de Porto in Portugal. Forty two companion dogs from schools that use reward-based training and 50 dogs from four school that use averse-based training were compared. Source: Sciencealert, November 7, … [Read more...]
5 important questions when choosing supplements for cats and dogs
Bill Bookout reminds us that supplements are either nutritional or health-related. He recommends reading product labels for answers to these questions: Are the product claims too good to be true? Does the product have a lot number? Are ingredients and amounts clearly listed? Is there contact information if I have questions? Does the supplement have the NASC … [Read more...]
Found in AAHA NEWStat
We found several articles worthy of sharing in recent AAHA NEWStat posts. Some selections are sponsored while others are original and collaborative content. Post-surgical rechecks made simple with virtual care, sponsored content by BabelVet. AAHA NEWStat, November 1, 2019. Link. A logical, comprehensive staging tool for canine osteoarthritis, sponsored content by Elanco … [Read more...]
Revisiting Frito feet
The causes of Frito feet are natural enough and don’t mean a dog has been sneaking corn chips. However endearing for some, canine paw odors disgust others. Like strong or acrid human foot odors*, the sources of paw smell are many. Like the fungi that cause humans feet to smell, one source of dog foot odor is an unchecked proliferation of yeast fungi in and around its feet. … [Read more...]
5 ways to bond with a rescue dog
James Woller shares five ways to welcome a rescue dog into the home so they can become a part of the family. It’s essential that you do everything you can to make her feel at ease and look for the ways to make a true and unbreakable bond, he says. Woller recommends five ways of connecting with a rescue to help them become a friend for life: Talk and touch is everything … [Read more...]
Defining causes of dogs’ aggression in boarding facilities
Of all the behaviors boarding and daycare personnel experience, dogs’ aggression can be difficult and frequently dangerous. Dogs become aggressive for multiple reasons including fear, pain, dominance and illness, writes Steven Applebaum. Understanding root causes is critical to treating any problem, as aggression is often a symptom of an underlying factor. Aggressive behavior … [Read more...]
Leptospirosis continuing education
Most mammals are susceptible to infection, writes Ashley DiPrete, RVT, VTS, (SAIM). As humans expand their environmental footprint, encroachment on wildlife becomes a greater issue, and people, pets and wild animal reservoir hosts cross one another’s paths more frequently. The importance of leptospirosis sp. is underscored by its status as the most prevalent zoonotic disease … [Read more...]
Younger pet owners’ pet food and care decisions don’t rely on tradition
Younger consumers are independent, do-it-yourselfers, and less reliant on traditional authority figures and similar experts, writes Debbie Phillips- Donaldson. She describes factors that may explain changing influences on pet owner decision making. In the old paradigm, consumers trusted veterinarians and major brands backed by vets, as well as large pet specialty … [Read more...]
You can’t disinfect a turd, but disinfectants work
We can learn a lot from practical biosecurity protocols used by swine veterinarians and their clients. The approaches practiced in swine production apply across species as we expand our thinking about zoonoses and One Health. Biosecurity must be a mindset and lifestyle. . . it must be ingrained and adhered to, and we also need to trust all employees to do the right thing even … [Read more...]
5 animal health topics beyond African swine fever to think about
Behind the scenes, animal health officials are working on behalf of producers and the livestock industry, writes JoAnn Alumbaugh. She shares five topics of interest discussed during a recent meeting of the National Assembly of State Animal Health Officials in conjunction with the 2019 U.S. Animal Health Association (USAHA) annual meeting: Flurry of activity on antibiotic … [Read more...]
Advancements saving damaged corneas in pets and horses
Veterinary ophthalmologists at Cummings Veterinary Medical Center < link >have started using corneal crosslinking to help spare animals’ eyes or avoid surgery. Corneal crosslinking was developed to treat a condition called keratoconus in people which animals don’t get. Veterinary ophthalmologists have found the crosslinking approach valuable in treating dogs and horses … [Read more...]
Making an Easter surprise profitable
Four to six months after Easter, some rabbit owners are faced with choices. If Laverne and Shirley turned out to be Lenny and Shirley, there is likely an abundance of bunnies. One choice is to begin raising meat rabbits. Dennis Douthart offers a how-to in this updated article including: Production objectives Feeding Housing Breeding Health Meat processing … [Read more...]
Steve Dale on the ferret debate; domestic or wild?
It is illegal to own a ferret in California, writes Steve Dale. The debate over who has jurisdiction explodes from there. California legislators, who have little expertise or interest, could legalize ferrets but don’t, because the Fish and Game Commission continues to classify domestic ferrets as wild. Although Dale is impassioned, there are some interesting facts he … [Read more...]
Q&A with Alexandra Horowitz
Best-selling author, researcher and professor Alexandra Horowitz sees a lot of contradiction in how we live with dogs. She talks with Claudia Kawczynska following the publishing of her third book, Our Dogs, Ourselves < link >. Source: Bark, October 2019. Link. Humans who accompany dogs have never been my focus, but . . . I’ve studied whether our anthropomorphisms are … [Read more...]
2019 They Ate What?! X-ray contest winners
Judges had a difficult job as they viewed the entries for this year’s contest. It is amazing what animals swallow. DON’T FORGET TO VOTE! Voting for the People’s Choice award runs from October 1 to November 30. Review our winner, runners-up, and honorable mentions, then go to our voting page to make … [Read more...]
Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile now open
Travelers and their pets have a new lodging option in Southern Utah. It also represents another reason to ensure pets are vaccinated. Best Friends Animal Society has opened Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile <link>. The 40-room property is designed to be pet friendly and focuses on pets. Furnishings are built 18 inches or higher to avoid entrapment. Nightstands have … [Read more...]
5 important feline emergency procedures
Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC, DABT says there are five important feline procedures that every veterinarian should learn to perform. Practice is needed to build confidence says Lee. She explains why these procedures are critical and offers tips for improving skills: Gaining venous access Thoracentesis and abdominocentesis FAST and TFAST ultrasound Placing a … [Read more...]
Cat virus could be linked to feline cancer
Domestic cat hepadnavirus (DCH) has been found in certain types of hepatitis and liver cancer in cats, suggesting it might be the cause of the diseases. DCH was identified last year by researchers at the University of Sydney < link >. The virus is similar to hepatitis B in humans. We don’t know what causes most types of cancer, but if we know it’s triggered by a virus, … [Read more...]