One of the most important ways to improve dental health is to feed dogs and cats the correct diet writes Judy Morgan, DVM, CVA, CVCP, CVFT. She reviews the effects diets have on dental health and addressing some erroneous beliefs. Contrary to popular belief, the consumption of dry food does not provide enough mechanical abrasion to prevent the development of plaque and dental … [Read more...]
Search Results for: oral health
Train the whole team on dentistry, oral care
Midmark’s Danielle Heberle, CVT, VTSH (Dentistry), provides sound reasoning for total clinic team dentistry training in this SPARK video. She discusses the practice development opportunities as well as Midmark’s training services. Traditionally we have seen that the client care people get left out of the education process. It is sad considering how integral these staff members … [Read more...]
Choosing and administering oral electrolytes to calves
Robert Corbett, DVM, says not all calf electrolytes are created equally. Additionally, ingredients are expressed in a variety of ways that make label comparisons difficult. He shares what a good oral electrolyte should include and how to feed them. Note that he warns against mixing with milk or milk replacer emphasizes spacing electrolyte administration between milk … [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...]
Oral ulceration diagnosis needs proper etiology (slide show)
Jan Bellows, DVM, FAVD, DAVDC, DABVP, provides a comprehensive look at oral ulcers and a diagnostic flow chart to help with diagnosis. As National Pet Dental Health Month helps bring clients to veterinary hospitals, oral abnormalities may be discovered during exams. Oral ulcers have several causes ranging from physical trauma to malignancy and are characterized by a loss of … [Read more...]
February is National Dental Pet Health Month
It is time again for National Pet Dental Health Month, an annual event AVMA sponsors. The association offers a toolkit to help clinic’s work as effective as possible during the promotion. Source: AVMA. A website to help clients help their pets is here. Link. A website exclusively for AVMA member veterinarians to help clients is here. Link. Make the most of the free tools … [Read more...]
Opinion: Not my problem: A moral philosophy
I’m including this as food for thought. At first, I thought maybe Jessica Wildfire was on to something that made sense. And it does, but only to a certain point. That point for me was when Wildfire wrote, “Sure, he might cause a major disaster. But that disaster isn’t your problem.” Constantly bailing out others might help your boss, or your company. But it doesn’t help … [Read more...]
Moral distress is widespread among veterinarians
Sixty nine percent of veterinarians recently surveyed felt moderate to severe distress about not being able to give animals what they believe to be the right care. Nearly two-thirds were bothered by inappropriate requests for euthanasia. These were but two of the findings of a study published October 15 in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Link. Study authors believe … [Read more...]
Behavioral assessments essential
The American Veterinary Medical Association, the Association of Feline Practitioners, and the American Animal Hospital Association all include behavioral health in their guidelines and highlight behavior as an essential part of animal health and routine wellness visits. Leslie Sinn, DVM, DACVB presents information about conducting assessments on behavioral symptoms that will … [Read more...]
1st NAVTA Animal Health Bi-Weekly for 2018
The veterinary technician/nurse role development is rapidly being expanded and professionally recognized. Two posts from their bi-weekly e-mail will interest most animal health pros: The importance of veterinary social work Top veterinary dentistry tips for 2017 Source: Animal Health Bi-Weekly, January 2, 2018. INSIGHTS: Like human prevention, animal dentistry … [Read more...]
Get ready for National Pet Dental Health Month
Next month is National Pet Dental Health Month, as recognized by AVMA. The organization is ready to help members promote this important period with a free Pet Dental Health toolkit. Regularly brushing pets’ teeth is the single most effective thing pet owners can do to keep their teeth healthy between dental cleanings, and may reduce the frequency or even eliminate the need … [Read more...]
Oral flea control: DVM vs. OTC
Nancy Kerns with Whole Dog Journal discusses oral flea control in a two-article series. The first describes five oral medications that veterinarians may prescribe to stop or prevent a dog’s flea infestation. The second describes the four oral medications that kill fleas on dogs and are available to owners as over-the-counter (OTC) products – no prescription … [Read more...]
Novel approaches presented at Kansas City Animal Health Corridor Investment Forum
Seventeen companies were selected from 48 applicants to present their innovations and technologies to potential investors for the 9th annual Investment Forum. It offers the only opportunity in the world for early stage companies in the animal health sector to present their vision and business plan to potential investors. Competition was stiff and diverse this year. Forum … [Read more...]
Trial results: calcium supplement for improvement of health in dairy cows in early lactation
Prophylactic calcium supplementation immediately after calving is a common strategy to prevent clinical and subclinical hypocalcemia in parturient dairy cows. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of prophylactic administration of an injected calcium supplement on blood calcium concentration at 24 hours and 48 hours after treatment, incidence risk of clinical … [Read more...]
Editorial – Don’t ignore this take on canine health and wellness
The information on canine health and wellness in this issue falls short. Even the website references miss the basics of urban dog care. Published for specific cities, the articles do not cover basic vaccines, endo- or ecto-parasite control, dental tips or pain management. Information on the website is hardly a primer on canine wellness. Source: CityDog Magazine, Spring … [Read more...]
Shelter dogs do better with a well-matched roommate
Newly published research from Virginia Tech showed companiable dogs housed together showed fewer signs of stress and were adopted more quickly than dogs housed by themselves. . . . social isolation can work against dogs’ behavioral health and adoptability.” - Erica Feuerbacher, PhD Source: Virginia Tech News, June 12, 2024. Link. INSIGHTS: Pairing dogs that can get along … [Read more...]
Banfield, more than half of dogs and cats have periodontal disease
Commentary Research from Banfield’s expansive, granular veterinary visit records has been invaluable as our industry seeks to understand the metrics of our business. Their recent report on oral health issues, while not surprising, quantifies the challenges veterinary teams face in making oral health an integral part of managing a pet's overall health and … [Read more...]
Dental treats. Every crunch counts.
Fifty-five percent of treats dog owners buy are for dental care. Caroline Coile, PhD, says yes, then reminds us about xylitol and shares perspectives on the benefits of dental treats as a secondary oral health approach. Every crunch counts. Dogs can chew, chomp and lap their way to cleaner teeth. Use treats as a preventative following a professional cleaning.” - Caroline … [Read more...]
Time to review the 2019 AAHA Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats
As National Pet Dental Month promotions end, animal health pros need to consider how pet oral care and dentistry will be presented during exams and in client communications. The AAHA Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats were updated in 2019 to outline a comprehensive approach in improving the oral health and often, the quality of life of their canine and feline … [Read more...]
Dental month considerations
Commentary Animal Health Digest actively promotes oral care, including dentistry as an important client education and animal health topic. We believe dental month is an opportunity for animal health pros to refresh their messages and educational efforts on the importance of oral care. The animal health message is not the only message on oral care each February. Use all the … [Read more...]
Top 5 ways to prevent dental disease in dogs and cats
Commercial Content included August will be six months since our industry promoted the annual National Pet Dental Month. Making in-home oral health a priority for every pet has consistently been part of Animal Health Digest posts. We’re outspoken about oral care at home first and Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment (COHAT) in the clinic. Link. Dental exams are … [Read more...]
Dental pain in cats: A prospective 6-month study
This study from in a Portuguese veterinary hospital summarizes evaluations of 64 cats that randomly presented for different dental procedures. Researchers wanted to understand feline dental disease as a pain trigger during routine examination and whether disease severity correlates to the degree of pain. This study concluded that cats with dental disease feel pain during … [Read more...]
Reminder: February is Pet Dental Month
Opinion National Pet Dental Health Month is celebrated in February to reinforce the importance of pet dental health and as a reminder for pet owners to practice routine oral care on their pets. It is sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Call it dental care or oral care, it is a critical component of healthy pet management at home, in veterinary … [Read more...]
Study indicates canine cognitive dysfunction and periodontal disease seem linked
Recent research suggests that what is going on in a dog’s mouth may play an important role in canine cognitive dysfunction. Specifically, periodontal or gum disease has been shown to be an important factor in humans with Alzheimer's disease. Research done at Elemental Pet Vets in Freeville, New York recently generated data that suggests that what is going on in a dog's mouth … [Read more...]
The dentistry gap
Dawn Singleton-Olson reinforces the importance of comprehensive oral healthcare assessment and treatment (COHAT) to address the nearly 70 percent of cats and 80 percent of dogs over the age of 3 have some form of periodontal disease. “Pet owners truly want what is best for their animals, but often don’t understand how critical dental care is to the overall health of their pet … [Read more...]
What ever happened to COHAT?
Opinion In INSIGHTS a year ago I wrote this: Establishing COHAT language could help build veterinary dentistry. Mixed practices can take the lead by applying the acronym in a multi-species environment and including COHAT assessments as a line item on invoices and vet records. Moving away from labeling oral care as dentals made sense then and still does.” Source: COHAT is … [Read more...]
Animal hospitals need to prepare now for summer rebound
Michael Raphael shares why he believes animal hospitals are positioned for one of the busiest summers in years. According to his reference data, the main drivers to revenue returning are recapturing delayed well visits, vaccinations, oral health procedures and surgeries. He shares five reasons animal hospitals are well-positioned for the summer and ideas to get prepared: … [Read more...]
Dental tools for dogs
Dental month promotions are over, but oral health care and plaque control efforts remain a daily habit. Emily Watson writes about various dental tools and products available to help pet owners stay current with oral care. Her approach to using a dental toy as a reward is unique and worth sharing. From our idea files During a recent discussion with an industry colleague … [Read more...]
5 ways to start brushing dogs’ teeth
Among the 2019 Top 10 from DVM 360, was a handout on how to start brushing teeth. It linked to GIFs in an article that demonstrate the steps shown in the handout. In-home oral care is step number 1 for better oral health care. Check out these tools. Use them on social media, in newsletters and during examinations. Source: DVM 360, FIRSTLINE. Handout: Top 5 ways to start … [Read more...]
Effects of diets, treats and additives on periodontal disease
Alexander Reiter, Dr. med. vet., discusses periodontal disease in the context of what dogs and cats eat, chew on and drink. The studies referenced are supportive of dry diets, dental treats and toys adjunct to best care practices. The gold standard for the management of periodontal disease is diagnosis and treatment under general anesthesia, followed by home oral hygiene … [Read more...]