Veterinary teams understand the risks of popular dog parks. Dog trainer Angie Barber’s Instagram posts caught our attention, and we’re sharing this image with her permission. Consider using it to underscore the need for preventatives, along with the obvious safety and wellness concerns. Source: State of Mind Dog Training. Website <Link>, Instagram … [Read more...]
NASCAR goes to the dogs; Why many drivers bring their dogs to every race
When Shane van Gisbergen was offered the chance to move from Australian Supercars to NASCAR two years ago, he had one question: Can I bring my dog? And when we say dog, we really mean horse because Ronald is much closer to a small pony than he is to a large dog. Source: Los Angeles Times, May 12, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
There’s no place for shock and prong in dog training
Contains commercial links Two professional organizations recently updated their policies. Only one made a commitment to reward-based training, writes Zazie Todd. She reviews evidence against aversive training and stances of various organizations noting these most recently: The International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants decided to rule out the use of … [Read more...]
When it’s too late to prepare for the unknown and catastrophic
Whether you are a business owner or managing your personal life being prepared for those events that can’t be predicted is critical. Tom Seeko, CexP shares the various elements of preparedness in this article. It is a good read. Source: DVM 360, May 12, 2025. Link. The best gift to give yourself is to remove the “might-be-okay” and add certainty to your life so you can live … [Read more...]
NAPHIA’s 2025 State of the Industry Highlights Report
Commentary There is a lot to digest in this 2025 report from NAPHIA for those interested in numbers*. In 2024, the overall penetration rate for pet insurance in the U.S. marketplace reached 3.92 percent (based on the population of 163.5 million pets). The top claims paid by dog or cat breed and the most common medical conditions are interesting. Source: NAPHIA, LinkedIn, … [Read more...]
How to better utilize vet techs
Commentary Yes, it’s another article on using veterinary technicians at the top of their license. We have found each iteration of this topic is helpful for animal health pros at all levels as we gain more understanding of opportunities and barriers in practices and various regions. Adrienne Kruzer, BBA, RVT, LVT, tackles this topic covering pros, cons, economics and more. … [Read more...]
The cost of ignoring pet insurance: a valuable lesson in preparedness
A cat owner reflects on a challenging experience with a pet cat by sharing how clear the stress and uncertainty of the situation could have been alleviated with pet insurance. Sharing what animal health pros know, she says, “Pet insurance provides peace of mind by ensuring that pets receive timely and necessary veterinary care without the added stress of financial … [Read more...]
Is the future of veterinary medicine feline?
For veterinary teams, product developers, investors and strategists, the message is clear: cats are here to stay and they're driving measurable industry growth, writes Jill Lopez, DVM. One of those sharing insights on the new 2025 CATalyst Feline Market Insights Report (Volume 1), she notes cats are gaining a growing share of pet ownership and that feline visits are up in the … [Read more...]
Hay, forage outlook for 2025
Marian Viney provides a timely look at hay prices in different areas and how drought can affect availability and prices. Forage availability and costs play into producer confidence and their relationships with animal health pros. Source: Progressive Forage, May 1, 2025. Link. Related: Tips to manage cow-calf pairs through a drought, UNL Beef, April 1, 2025. … [Read more...]
FDA approves PRRS-resistant pig
After years testing a rainbow of pigs, Genus has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the gene-edited PRRS-resistant pig in the U.S. food supply chain. Source: National Hog Farmer, April 28, 2025. Link. Addressing PRRS can allow us to improve animal welfare and reduce the environmental impact of raising pigs. Recent research indicates that PRRS … [Read more...]
PBI-Gordon Companies acquires TriviumVet
The acquisition of TriviumVet brings the addition of an innovative new product, Felycin®-CA1, to the PRN® Pharmacal portfolio of products. Felycin is the only FDA conditionally approved drug for the management of ventricular hypertrophy in cats with subclinical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), one of the most common and life-threatening diseases in cats. TriviumVet adds … [Read more...]
Large animal internship guidelines emphasize mentorship, supervision, outcomes
It’s a first! AVMA’s Large Animal Hospital Internship Guidelines and Veterinary Large Animal Ambulatory Internship Guidelines outline the structure of a successful large animal internship for both scenarios, accounting for issues specific to working in such practices. Source: AVMA, April 28, 2025. Link. The internship guidelines say that such programs should be a one-year … [Read more...]
Better feed, fewer burps: Scientists target dairy gas emissions
University of Florida research provides a different perspective on methane gas which is consistently under fire in the greenhouse gas dialogue. When cows’ stomachs make methane, they lose valuable energy that could otherwise be used to make milk or meat. Keeping methane in is better than having it come out. The researchers investigated a potential dairy cattle … [Read more...]
Lowering unit cost of production in cow-calf herds
Although the beef market remains strong, there is a limit to how much an animal will bring in the marketplace. At some point, cow-calf producers must consider managing input costs to yield higher profits. Aaron Berger shares ways to address the costs of production in this article. Source: The Stockman, April 2025. Link. Commentary Historically, producers often reduced … [Read more...]
Tick control may be possible from exposed animals’ immune systems
Could it be? New Washington State University research reveals that animals like deer mice, rabbits and cattle can develop resistance to tick bites. And once they do, tick populations start to plummet. Ticks feeding on previously exposed animals were 23 percent less likely to reach adulthood, and female ticks that did survive produced 32 percent fewer larvae. Simulations … [Read more...]
Is it time to legalize horse slaughter in the U.S.?
Commentary Kudos to Sarah McNaughton-Peterson for addressing a volatile topic. As a horse owner, she is grounded in doing the best for her animals. Still she asserts, “there comes a time . . .” Her comment about culling practices is notable. With welfare issues top of mind, she reminds us that the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 classifies horses as livestock, of … [Read more...]
New survey shows horse owners underestimate disease risks
Content provided by Merck Animal Health A new survey of AAEP members builds on a 2023 survey of horse owners, where researchers sought to better understand of owners’ knowledge and awareness of biosecurity practices for preventing infectious disease in the United States. The results of both surveys reveal many horse owners underestimate infectious disease risks and only take … [Read more...]
What happens when a cat feels emotionally safe long-term?
An emotionally safe cat is surprisingly adaptable, writes Linnea H, BSc, Sociology. Despite the first photo showing a dog’s paws, her assertions on cats and trust are a worthy read. Those of us who grew up around free-range barn cats will recognize some of the behaviors she says indicate a cat feels truly at home. When they trust their environment and their people, new … [Read more...]
Mental health considerations for cats
We often see articles about the mental health and emotional benefits cats provide to us when we suffer with mental health issues. But do cats experience sadness? Wendy Hauser, DVM, shares what we need to know and consider when it comes to the mental health care of our cats in this article from the ASPCA® Pet Health Program. Hauser covers feline depression, anxiety and … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – May 5, 2025
We noted: Adding a new independent pet services provider membership is a good opportunity for the pet services business. The May 14th member webinar on the essentials of Online Authority, what it impacts, and how to increase it. 2025 FedEx Small Business Trade Index Trends in doggy daycare accommodations undergoing upgrades Pittsburgh pet cremation business … [Read more...]
Resources for Mental Health Awareness Month
May will bring a plethora of content on mental health as society continues to address and prevent challenges of the mind and emotions. Suicide is always top of mind, but being more aware and less polarized by “mental health” can help avert crises. Whether one-on-one or communicating with your constituents, consistency is important. We’re sharing a few resources in the links … [Read more...]
Chewy Health president shares 3 trends revolutionizing pet healthcare
Mita Malhotra, president of Chewy Health, shares shifts in pet parent behavior she believes to be shaping the future of veterinary care: An increasing focus on preventative health Greater adoption of digital tools A stronger commitment to building trusted, long-term relationships with veterinary teams Source: Forbes, April 25, 2025. … [Read more...]
Reminder: Don’t bring home more than ribbons from shows
Fair and show season is here and Sophie Varner’s article reminds us of the importance of planning for animal biosecurity to protect our livestock investments before, during and after shows. The same goes for horses going to events or trail rides. AND . . . don’t forget to protect the pets that travel to shows and events. Veterinary teams can use Varner’s article as a … [Read more...]
Extended colostrum feeding adds $500 per heifer, slashes treatment costs, boosts lifetime milk
Leading producers are capitalizing on the untapped potential of extended colostrum feeding, writes Andrew Hunt. He shares research from Dr. Michael Steele at the University of Guelph showing that transitioning quickly from colostrum to milk replacer could limit a herd’s genetic potential and reduce the operation’s future revenue. Source: The Bullvine, April 11, 2025. … [Read more...]
Make temperature monitoring part of daily calf care
A lot has been written on keeping calves warm in cold weather and easing environmental heat during summer heat waves <Link>. In this article, Maureen Hanson shares the importance of urging producers to make temperature monitoring a routine part of daily calf care. Source: Bovine Veterinarian, February 26, 2025. Link. Early detection of disease is critical to avoid … [Read more...]
The 4 lengths of horse’s feet
Here’s a situation where physics and trigonometry can benefit performance and horse welfare. Randy S. Luikart explains the thought processes defining four different lengths of the overall hoof: too short, protective, optimum and too long. He defines each and how they apply to different equine disciplines. The importance of shoeing each equine discipline varies on what and how … [Read more...]
Decoding a fly spray label
To effectively reduce the number of flies terrorizing horses, horse owners, retailers and veterinary teams need to identify and consider eight important elements from the various product labels available. The EPA tightly regulates label language. Know that the small print gives the types and levels of active ingredients, which vary from one fly product to the next. This … [Read more...]
Tracking health in mature and senior cats
Improving pet owner adherence to annual and semi-annual veterinary visits for mature or senior cats is an uphill battle for many veterinary teams. The research shared in this article is valuable if only to confirm what is already known about the importance of active, long-term health screening with laboratory testing. The study monitored the overall health of 259 mature or … [Read more...]
Dogs’ capacity for understanding human speech
A recent study conducted by experts at the Universities of Lincoln and Sussex highlighted how dogs listen attentively, even when we speak in a monotone voice, making them true participants in our conversations. The researchers referenced vocabulary, sounds and tone, including how dogs pick up on nuances in our speech, reflecting their understanding of our emotions. Source: … [Read more...]
New lifestage infographics support pet owner education and identify health needs
More than half of U.S. pet owners skip or decline needed veterinary care <Link>, according to a recent study. Veterinary care need not be out of reach for most pet owners, but educating them is required to improve adherence to important veterinary care. Two new infographics from ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance Program will help animal health pros discuss wellness and … [Read more...]