Traveling with cats requires more planning than without, but cats can be fun travel mates. The author shares these planning tips: Find a pet-friendly hotel Make reservations by phone Inspect your hotel Make the cat feel at home Source: Modern Cat. Link. INSIGHTS: Consider this content for newsletters, blog posts and social media. Be sure to add information … [Read more...]
Tips to keep cats off counters
Most people don’t like their pet jumping on surfaces where food is prepared. The Animal Humane Society ( link ) has some tips: Make counters undesirable Keep your cat confined during mealtime Never yell at your cat Do reward your cat for appropriate behavior Don’t make perfection the enemy of progress Source: Tufts Catnip, July 2019. Link. INSIGHTS: This … [Read more...]
Answers to questions about cats scratching
Andrea Y. Tu, DVM, discusses the what, when, how and why of cat scratching. In many households, she shares, people don’t understand that scratching is natural behavior that needs to occur. She discusses carpets, scratching post orientation and texture so the cat finds an outlet and something to scratch. Source: Catster, June 13, 2019. Link. Scratching is a behavior cats … [Read more...]
Purina research shows promise for those allergic to cats
By taking advantage of natural allergen-antibody interactions, Purina researchers discovered how to safely neutralize Fel d1, a major cat allergen, in hair and dander. This was done by incorporating an egg product containing anti-Fel d1 antibodies into a cat's diet. Their research, published in Immunity, Inflammation and Disease and featured at the Purina Institute website … [Read more...]
Horses helping seniors
Human-animal bond research continues to expose the power of animals interacting with humans and vice versa. The Connected Horse program in California is stretching the approach for seniors with dementia, including Alzheimer’s. The program also recognizes the needs of caregivers and uses older horses past their prime. The combination appears effective and is the focus of … [Read more...]
Snakebite dos and donts for dogs
Non-poisonous snakes, like the garter snake, don’t have fangs. They have rows of teeth and they do not produce toxic venom, says Travis Arndt, DVM. This distinction is crucial when it comes to snake bites on dogs. . . . if you or your dog are bitten by a non-poisonous snake, you won’t see the two puncture wounds that you would see from a venomous snake. A non-poisonous bite … [Read more...]
Dogs absorb our emotions
A new study shows owners who experience long-term stress and anxiety can pass it on to their dogs. Dogs are quite good at understanding humans. They’re definitely better at understanding us than we are at understanding them.” - Lina Roth, Zoologist Source: National Geographic, June 6, 2019. Link. Roth found no evidence that anxious dogs created nervous owners. INSIGHTS: … [Read more...]
Demand for life-stage diets growing
Today’s pet owners are more informed than in previous years and seek research-backed foods for their pets. They want sustainable food that will support their dogs from head to tail, through all phases of their life. As a result, the market for life-stage diets for dogs is steady, according to industry insiders. Paige Brockway reviews the trends, challenges and nuances of … [Read more...]
Downward head tilt can make people seem more dominant
New research findings could have practical implications for our routine social interactions. People often display certain movements or expressions during their everyday interactions, such as a friendly smile or wave, as a way to communicate information. Research suggests that we may also want to consider how we hold our head during these interactions, as subtle head movements … [Read more...]
Banfield adds telehealth tool, VetChat
Actress, author, singer and comedian Jane Lynch (Glee, Best in Show) is helping warn people about the dangers of seeking out random advice about their pets’ health from the internet. Her work coincides with Banfield’s launch of VetChat, a 24-hour veterinary advice platform, to wellness plan participants. Source: DVM 360, June 20, 2019. Link. Banfield has presented the new … [Read more...]
Climate changes expand the distribution of diseases
Some experts fear climate change is expanding the distribution of diseases that can sicken or even kill dogs, putting more of them at risk for diseases their owners have never had to deal with, according to Elizabeth Weise’s report. The biggest spread in heartworm disease in the United States certainly followed the 2005 national distribution of dogs due to Hurricane Katrina.” … [Read more...]
Keep pets safe on July 4th
Independence Day is one week from today. It’s a fun holiday, but the noisy festivities can really scare pets. Noisy fireworks can cause pets to run away, holiday food can be harmful and the heat can bring trouble. The AVMA has assembled common-sense tips to help prepare for the holiday and and to keep everyone and their pets as safe as possible. Source: AVMA. Link. Safety … [Read more...]
Bad moods, venting and yelling
The hurrier I go the behinder I get!” – White Rabbit, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Our VUCA world < link > routinely challenges us. As frustration mounts, so do the tendencies to express our feelings outwardly or bottle them inside. This collection of articles speaks to managing through challenging times. 9 Mental-health experts on the strategies they use to … [Read more...]
The flies have it!
As summer kicks off, Travis Meteer reviews four main types of flies that bother livestock. Wet spring conditions have provided favorable breeding conditions and we’re likely to see considerable fly pressure through the summer months. Cattle facilities are not the only places flies are nuisances. Meteer’s strategies for control apply to urban and suburban locales, as … [Read more...]
How to keep chickens cool in summer
Chickens are better adapted to handle cold temperatures than heat. Kathy Shea Mormino shares ways to keep your flock safe during hot weather months. Source: Hobby Farms, June 11, 2019. Link. Leave birds undisturbed to the extent possible. They’re decreasing their activity levels to stay cool, so don’t let children or pets bother them on hot days. … [Read more...]
Rescue dog book promotes children reading to animals
A new fictional book, My Name is Curly, supports both childrens’ reading and shelter animals. Research has shown that when children read to animals, it helps with their reading skills, helps children socialize. It also comforts and reduces the anxiety of shelter pets. Plus, it nurtures empathy in children. Author and attorney Andi C. Kryszak says when she adopted her first … [Read more...]
Evaluating pain in cats
Natalie Stilwell, DVM, summarizes a recent Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery article < link > reviewing the latest advancements in acute pain assessment in the cat. She reviews various scales to assess feline pain which is often masked by the individual cat. Source: DVM360 Magazine, April 12, 2019. Link. Stillwell discusses pain scoring instruments including: … [Read more...]
All cats NEED heartworm prevention
Mosquitos don’t ask permission before entering homes, offices or other facilities. Sustained transmission in northern states expands the distribution and expansion of Dirofilaria immitis, the filarial nematode that is transmitted via infected mosquitoes, writes Richard Gerhold, DVM, MS, PhD. He discusses prevention differences in dogs and cats. Diagnosing and treating … [Read more...]
HeHelp owners, employees pick the best treats
There is a lot of pet junk food on the market. Regardless of how much pet owners research main diets, treats can have a detrimental effect on pets. Tavor White shares five things to look for when choosing pet treats: Made with pristine, all-natural ingredients Monitored for quality and safety Sustainably and ethically sourced Created with a conscience … [Read more...]
Dirty dogs need people to solve their problems
Canine house soiling has many potential causes, including medical conditions and behavior problems. Accurate assessment is critical, as the prognosis for control or resolution is typically good once the underlying cause is identified according to Ellen Lindell, VMD, DACVB. She shares information about diagnostics, behaviors, treatments and training. Clients are often … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – 5 resources needed for summer travel with pets
The staff at Global VetLink summarizes helpful tips to ensure animal owners’ travel plans go smoothly this summer. Know if the state you’re traveling to has changed their 7001 form rules Brush up on your regulatory knowledge Look up state movement requirements before traveling with animals Find movement requirements for international health certificates Keep … [Read more...]
Brainwash your veterinary patients
Monique Feyrecilde, BA, LVT, VTS (Behavior), reminds us that pets are often unconsciously classically conditioned by their owners and by veterinary professionals. To efficiently change a conditioned response, you will need to use desensitization in conjunction with classical and operant counterconditioning. Source: FIRSTLINE, June 17, 2019. Link. Wield the benevolent … [Read more...]
Antibiotic influence persists in the environment long after they’ve done their duty
Antibiotics’ influence persists in the environment long after they've done their duty, according to recent studies that revealed a global problem with drugs found in major rivers. The samples were screened for 14 different types of commonly used antibiotics. No continent was immune. Researchers found traces of at least one drug in 65 percent of all the samples they studied … [Read more...]
Middle-aged users drive social media use
You’re just as likely to use social media if you are 35 to 54 years old or if you’re under 35 years old. This shift and other insights in the Social Habit report from Edison Research, is important to practice marketers who promote their clinics via social media. Instagram and Snapchat users are typically younger, but those older than 34 outnumber youngsters on Facebook, … [Read more...]
TickEncouter website helps with tick identification and prevention
The TickEncounter Resource Center (TERC) from the University of Rhode Island promotes tick bite protection and tick-borne disease prevention by engaging, educating and empowering people to take action. One supportive element allows persons and organizations to become TickEncounter Prevention Partners. A new program enables nationwide crowd-sourced tick surveillance using … [Read more...]
Meet Gen Fur, the biggest growing target market
Jeanne Shields says to forget Gens X, Y and Z. The biggest growth market is what she calls Gen Fur. Shields sites a recent article from Forbes < link > that features metrics that confirm the explosive growth of the pet industry. The new generation of pet owners embraces pet ownership with enthusiasm and spares no expense in treating their pets like family. Source: … [Read more...]
PetInsuranceInfo.com to help pet owners learn about, compare pet insurance
LifeLearn Animal Health announced the launch of PetInsuranceInfo.com < link >, a new pet insurance education website. It can help pet owners learn about what pet insurance is, what it isn't and the questions they need to ask prior to buying a policy. The site also allows pet owners to easily compare quotes from different pet insurance companies and find the coverage that … [Read more...]
Call the vet! Rural America needs help
Betsy Freese, executive editor of Successful Farming and a veterinarian’s wife, writes about the dearth of veterinarians in rural areas came to be and how we can fix the situation. From documenting the realities of underserved communities to 16 unvarnished trends about veterinary medicine, she puts the names and faces and with the intestinal fortitude it takes to be a … [Read more...]
Opinion – Keyboards could become obsolete with AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) seems more like an oxymoron than reality. Weird e-mails, robocalls and web pop-ups are already the products of rudimentary AI applications, as well as Siri and Alexa. Ian Heller offers considerations about AI being used in ordering and replenishment platforms. It is worth thinking about in the context of inventory replenishment and … [Read more...]
Opinion – Fair Oaks issues affect all animal health pros
Dairies, kennels, catteries, swine operations, racetracks, feedyards, even backyard poultry coops, no matter how well-run, took an animal welfare hit when video footage of abuse at Fair Oaks Farms became public. Purdue University’s Candace Croney, PhD, is correct when she said, “. . . events like this can happen anywhere. What is most important is the response to them.” She … [Read more...]