Commentary The popularity of small pets continues to grow. In pet retail, this growth opens up many opportunities to cater to these feathered, furred and scaled animals, writes Lindsay Beaton. However, for veterinary and pet services businesses, specialty pets may prove challenging. Regardless, the metrics are worthy of review. They may generate some questions about … [Read more...]
Analgesia trends in exotics
Discussing analgesia in rabbits and rodents, Olivia A. Petritz, DVM, DACZM, provides an overview of recent studies. She also refers to the development of grimace scales for rabbits, rats and mice. Source: Veterinary Practice News, September 20, 2024. Link. Clinical signs of pain in rodents are similar to rabbits and include a hunched posture, lack of or increased grooming, … [Read more...]
Survey: Only 1/3 of Americans have natural disaster plans for pets
Hurricane Helene is in the news <Link>. Floridians are prepping for her effects. Preparations for natural disasters should include pets, but as the August ’24 Talker survey reveals, many pet owners have no plans in place for their animals. This article outlines important elements of a comprehensive disaster plan for pets. It is suitable for sharing on social media, in … [Read more...]
The most expensive pets to own; annual and lifetime costs ranked
Insuranceopedia analyzed online sources and conducted independent research from large pet stores to compare the average costs for food, bedding, toys etc. for each animal segment and calculated an estimated annual cost for each. The cost graphic in the article is revealing, including: Parrots are the most expensive pets to own, largely due to their long lifespan … [Read more...]
SuperZoo preview
Flipping through Pet Business’ SUPERZOO preview gives animal health pros a look at consumer-facing marketing and product trends. Taking place in Las Vegas August 13th through 16th, the convention is where the retail pet industry comes together to discover the latest products, trends and innovations, along with well-rounded education sessions. Source: Pet Business, Link. … [Read more...]
June heat wave enveloping the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast
A hot day or two is normal, but the National Weather Service says a near-record strong heat dome will bring record-breaking high temperatures and sultry, uncomfortable nights during the next two weeks. The inherent risks to people are no surprise especially when temperatures remain high during the night. For animal health pros, reminding animal owners to keep their animals … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 25, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, April 18, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the April 18th AHD Bulletin – NAAVR launched to elevate, support veterinary client service pros. Link. Solitude. Link. Top beef cow counties in the U.S. Link. ===================================== Scientists say animal consciousness needs a … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – January 11, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, January 4, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the January 4th AHD Bulletin – Will we be ready? Introducing Gen Alpha. Link. Cat takes exception to coyotes attacking the family dog (video). Link. Communication – a critical skill for success. Link. … [Read more...]
Prevention top of mind for new year for AVMA president, Steve Dale (podcast)
Rena Carlson, DVM, and Steve Dale, CABC, talk about resolving to be more comprehensive about pet preventative care including diet, oral care, vaccination, parasite control, behavior training and lifestyle enrichment. The discussion includes the growth of reptiles, small mammals and opinions about telemedicine sources. The podcast is good for sharing on social media or linked … [Read more...]
How to register a dog as an emotional support animal
An emotional support animal is any critter that provides comfort, companionship and relief for a person who has an emotional or mental condition. Emotional support animals are not registered in any database, no specific training is required and are not the same as service dogs. Emotional support dog certification must come from a human licensed mental health … [Read more...]
NAVC shares 2024 VMX educational direction and World’s Fair style event plans
Complimentary content NAVC will host its 41st annual conference January 13 through 17, 2024 in Orlando, Florida, at the Orange County Convention Center and everywhere virtually. The first global veterinary conference of the year, VMX empowers the direction for the animal healthcare industry. Key continuing education session highlights include: Technology’s impact on … [Read more...]
Super Zoo schedule set for August 15th through 18th
North America’s largest pet retail event in Orlando, Florida, will draw as many as 20,000 attendees and more than 1,100 exhibitors. Produced by the World Pet Association, it is a comprehensive marketplace to debut products, reveal bestsellers, as well as management and e-commerce solutions for pet retailers. Source: World Pet Association. Link. Includes video (0:46) With … [Read more...]
Yes, animal chiropractic is a thing
Commentary Having a conversation* with Dr. O (William Ormston, DVM) is mind-expanding. He is a veterinarian with a passion for exploring, learning, teaching and sharing the benefits of animal chiropractic, a branch of physical medicine. We are pleased to share this recent article. For a four-legged animal to move correctly, it requires every bone, muscle, ligament, tendon … [Read more...]
Three reasons farmers give antibiotics to livestock and poultry
With fair season underway, some livestock people face scrutiny from the general public while showing their animals. Phibro’s Leah Dorman, DVM, shares why animals are given antibiotics in food production. Consider sharing her article with FFA and 4-H members who can use her article to support their production practices and the importance of responsible use. Source: Explore … [Read more...]
Instacart delivery data reveals pet-related purchase data
We found this to be a unique look at pet food and pet treats brands sold via Instacart’s home delivery service. They also share other pet items they deliver, including hay for small animals and bird food. Source: Instacart, May 23, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – March 23, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, March 16, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from March 2nd AHD Bulletin – 7 things to know to keep rabbits healthy and hopping. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy Vets. Link. ===================================== Fake ChatGPT Chrome extension stealing Facebook … [Read more...]
7 things to know to keep rabbits healthy and hopping
Morris Animal Foundation shares seven things to know before adopting a rabbit. Bunnies are often sold alongside chicks during spring. Like dogs and cats, they need special care, attention and training. Source: Morris Animal Foundation, January 19, 2023. Link. Also see: Search results for bunnies, AHD. Link. RHDV, rabbit math, abandonment, cute factor and more about … [Read more...]
RHDV update for practitioners
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease is endemic in eleven states. Cases appeared in two non-endemic states during 2022. The first case in Iowa was reported in August 2022. Ingrid Taylor, DVM shares what practitioners need to know as well as updates the status of the Medgene Labs emergency use RHDV2 vaccine. Source: AAHA Trends, December 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
AskVet™ Launches VERA, the world’s first “Answer Engine for Animal Health”
Complimentary Commercial Content Move over Dr. Google! Search is old hat . . . VERA has answers VERA which stands for Virtual Engagement and Relationship Agent is powered by AI, ChatGPT and AskVet's database of over 1.5 million digitized conversations between veterinarians and pet parents. Developed to use natural language, the vetbot objectives are: to help pet parents … [Read more...]
Rabbit math: 1 + 1 = 42
Before the local farm supply store fills up with baby bunnies, this beginners’ guide to rabbit husbandry and management may help with decision making as Easter approaches. Source: Grit, May 2022. Link. INSIGHTS: Easter is April 9th which means rabbit breeding that takes place in the next two to three weeks will likely show up in stores by early March. Consider this as a … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – December 21, 2022
Last week’s most read posts – Happiness and meetings. Link. Last AHD Bulletin - Animal Health Digest Bulletin, December 15, 2022. Link. ==================================================================== U.S. warns of escalating ransomware attacks Source: Security Affairs, October 2022. Link. U.S. government agencies warned that the Daixin Team cybercrime … [Read more...]
RHDV: what clinicians need to know
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus and RHDV2 are caused by rabbit caliciviruses in the genus Lagovirus. It affects domestic and wild rabbits, leading to sudden death, liver failure, neurological signs and bleeding from the nose and genitourinary tract, writes Ingrid Taylor, DVM. She discusses diagnoses, treatment and prevention, including guidance on an emergency use … [Read more...]
Rabbit body language and behavior
Melissa Witherell, DVM, shares a glossary of terms for rabbit behavior and body language. We wondered if we could construct a short story to share how a rabbit owner might explain their bunny’s behaviors. We’ll use Rosey as the bunny’s name. Rosey had been in her rabbit hutch for several days with only feed and water interactions from the neighbor who cared for her while we … [Read more...]
Megacolon can cause problems in rabbits
Rabbits with megacolon may not absorb the nutrients from their food well. Without treatment, rabbits can lose weight and muscle, especially along their back. Rabbits with megacolon need pellets in their diet for the extra nutrition and calories, and they may need larger servings than other rabbits. Source: The Rabbit Haven. Link. … [Read more...]
Outdoor cats’ hunting instincts may increase risk of Tularemia
Russ Daly, DVM, MS, DACVPM, shares how the hunting and maternal instincts of outdoor cats could increase the risk of Francisella tularensis, the bacteria that causes Tularemia. Rabbits and rodents can be infected with the bacteria, as can ticks. He shares the symptoms and advocates for tick prevention, careful handling of cats appearing ill and increasing risk awareness of … [Read more...]
Reasons for optimism in the animal health market
Based on recent industry figures, things are looking up for the animal health market, says Graham Garrison, who shares industry figures and estimates that bolster confidence in the pet care segment. <factors contributing to U.S. pet industry growth> include a heightened focus on pet health and wellness among pet owners in closer contact with their pets, a ramped-up … [Read more...]
Customer education is an important competitive differentiator
Commentary We routinely see articles promoting BtoC engagement and education in the retail sector. Veterinary teams can benefit from similar activities and from engaging those who are actively educating pet owners. Working with active influencers can help promote the importance of regular veterinary care and improve education efforts by those advocates engaging animal owners … [Read more...]
Dark shadows and the neighbor’s new chicken coop
Personal experience A neighbor has constructed and populated a small backyard chicken coop about 100 yards from the back fence in my yard. Within a few days, I saw more hawks and owls circling the area, resting in the tall oaks and casting shadows as they flew over our neighborhood. Startled by the shadow of a swooping red-tail hawk I watched a massive one dive-bomb … [Read more...]
Keep rabbits safe from RHDV2 (includes video)
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 is a virus specific to rabbits that does not infect people. However, it can cause sudden death in rabbits. Rabbits that survive the infection shed the virus for up to 100 days after symptoms disappear and can infect other rabbits. The virus spread rapidly in Europe after its 2010 discovery in France and has been spreading in the U.S. since … [Read more...]
USDA grants emergency-use authorization for RHDV2 as virus spreads
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Center for Veterinary Biologics recently granted emergency-use authorization for an experimental RHDV2 vaccine produced by Medgene Labs, a biotechnology company in Brookings, South Dakota. Since then, the vaccine has been cleared for distribution by animal health officials in 32 states. Source: VIN, October 15, 2021. Link. Also see: … [Read more...]