Animal Health Digest

Curating useful content for animal health professionals

Industry consolidation is concerning to independent pet specialty retailers

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For independent pet specialty retailers, consolidation can be cause for concern. But consolidation remains an overarching pet industry trend. Big-name pet product manufacturers, retailers and service providers are making big deals while private equity and venture capital money streams in, writes David Lummis. Source: Pet Product News, March 2023. Link.  . . . overall market … [Read more...]

Artie wins 2023 Pet Care Innovation Prize at Global Pet Expo

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Five pet care startups from across the U.S. and Canada pitched their businesses to pet industry influencers in a bid to win the 2023 Pet Care Innovation Prize powered by Purina. Artie presented a unique countertop appliance system used to prepare artisan-inspired, home-cooked Artie Harvest Bowls meals for dogs at the touch of a button. The four other competing companies … [Read more...]

Demand for pet groomers, grooming remains high

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The demand for grooming is outpacing the number of groomers available, according to Paula Hendrickson. She discussed the situation with grooming industry peers in the article linked here. Burnout is a concern as professional skills specialization and certification advance customer expectations and groomer economics. Source: Pet Product News, March 8, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]

Chewy’s autoship sales hit all-time high in Q2

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Commentary For almost 25 years, home delivery and autoship options have been available for veterinary hospitals. The recent Q2 report from Chewy shows the importance animal owners place on  recurring shipments and online access to healthcare and food products. Avoiding a decision IS a decision . . . failing to decide IS also a decision.” Source: Pet Product News, September … [Read more...]

Finalists for Pet Product News’ Annual Editors’ Choice Awards

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Here’s a look at the most promising new products in the array being considered for the 2022 Pet Product News’ annual Editors’ Choice Awards. Source: Pet Product News, October 5, 2021. Link. INSIGHTS: There are a lot of new treats in this mix. Consider the importance of managing Kcals since treats are frequently a part of what is fed that contributes to overweight pets … [Read more...]

Winners of the 2021-2022 Retailer of the Year awards

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Pet Product News editors selected one standout store as its Retailer of the Year: Animal Connection in Charlottesville, Virginia. The pet supply store won the 2019-2020 Marketing Award and managed to top itself this year, snagging the top honor for PPN’s 2021-2022 awards. The list of award categories reveals the efforts and complexities of the pet retail … [Read more...]

Cat owners say felines are sometimes treated as 2nd class

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Commentary Results from two consumer studies indicate a large percentage of cat owners perceive they are treated as the proverbial red-headed stepchild compared to dog owners. Scores of 40 percent or more for every category indicates our industry has less-than-desirable customer experience issues with cat owners and their pets. Source: Pet Product News, January 13, 2021. … [Read more...]

Pet owners need more education about proper handling of pet food

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Many Americans don’t wash their hands after feeding or playing with their dogs and cats. They aren’t aware of the risk of contracting a foodborne illness from those activities. Results from a recent Purdue University study showed 78 percent of people were not aware of recent pet food recalls or outbreaks associated with foodborne pathogens in those foods. They don’t really … [Read more...]

Training and behavior products category booming

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Let’s face it, there is a growing need for canine companions to be well-behaved in a variety of settings. In fact, the need has created a fast-growing product/services category that includes innovative training and behavior products. Client education is also a strategy for retailers to serve clients who need help with improving their pets’ behaviors. Source: Pet Product … [Read more...]

Autoship sales projected to help Chewy retain 1.6 million new customers

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Commentary: includes complementary commercial content from VetSource® Chewy’s success is getting noticed by our industry. For veterinary hospitals, it is a definitive call to action to embrace, implement and optimize home delivery” - Kirk Augustine Like Amazon and other e-commerce retailers, Chewy has seen the kind of growth that was expected to take years to achieve, get … [Read more...]

Coach pet owners about natural diets

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Linsey Getz says pet owners require more guidance with natural diets than regular diets. Terminology and ingredients are important factors that increase understanding. Source: Pet Product News, May 2020. Link INSIGHTS: We’ve included this information to add perspective to the ongoing dialogue about pet food diets. Pet food diet choices continue to reflect owners’ focus on … [Read more...]

Dog beds are improving

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An aging dog population and the increased focus on pet comfort by younger dog owners has dog bed manufacturers combining science and style to meet owner and pet needs. Source: Pet Product News, May 2020. Link. Manufacturers and retailers named a number of functional qualities that owners want from their dog beds, such as comfort, durability, safety, and ease of cleaning. … [Read more...]

Pet food labels have more sizzle than substance

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Nebulous terms create confusion on pet food labels, especially when ridiculous terms are used to describe a product. Most of these terms have no legal definition or if they have been defined, they are a mismatch to popular definitions. The author discusses a list of terms to ignore or rethink when choosing food for your pets: Human-grade Premium Organic Holistic … [Read more...]

First aid kit for backyard chickens

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Like all backyard animals, chickens can get injured. Access to veterinary care is not always timely, so Victoria Peterson suggests putting together a first aid kit for the flock and keeping it in toolbox or container. Injuries are common when birds fight or when attacked by a predator. Source: AcreageLife, February 2020. Link. Also see: Variety is key to selling first aid … [Read more...]

CBD warnings by FDA to animal product companies

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13 companies making cannabidiol (CBD) products for pets were among the 15 warned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on November 25, 2019. The companies’ sales of CBD-containing pet and human items violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. (CBD pet product companies warned are listed in the references. Source: Pet Product News, December 2, 2019. Link. The FDA … [Read more...]

CBD special report

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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...]

219 million people to dress pets for Halloween

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The National Retail Federation annual survey results indicates there will a lot of four-legged pumpkins this Halloween with 172 million people planning to celebrate Halloween. Twenty-nine million of them plan to dress their pets in costumes. Animal health pros know Halloween is stressful for most pets before they get dressed up. We captured a selection of articles, tips and … [Read more...]

PIJAC issues statement on use of pet vaccinations

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According to its statement last fall, the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) supports the judicious use of vaccines in pets in order to protect both animals and humans from disease and death. This position complements the views of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Animal Hospital Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the … [Read more...]

New product awards showcased at SuperZoo by WPA

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Revamping the New Product Showcase Award categories, the WPA named a winner in each of seven categories: Innovative (never-before-seen solutions) Lifestyle (products designed to improve pets’ health and well-being) Shelf Appeal (packaging that stands out and clearly conveys the product’s benefits) Point of Purchase (in-store displays that grab shoppers’ … [Read more...]

Billions being spent on convenience services, including pets

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Americans love convenience services. A recent Finder.com survey shows a massive increase in spending across convenience categories. Although fewer reported spending on pet services, 29 percent of Americans spent $50.8 billion per year on pet services such as dog walking and grooming. This averages $703 per person, according to survey findings. Source: Pet Product News, … [Read more...]

Demand for life-stage diets growing

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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...]

New website vets dog breeders and rescue dogs for consumers searching for pets

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The company, Good Dog <link>, aims to bring transparency and accountability to the process of getting a dog. The company is centralizing pet searching onto one platform where only responsible sources are included. Each breeder, shelter and rescue that is listed is vetted based on a set of standards created by Good Dog’s advisory board of leading veterinary and academic … [Read more...]

Safety, efficacy key to stain and odor control product purchases

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Despite the large brand variety in the stain and odor control category, animal owners prioritize safety and efficacy as key factors to consider when selecting these products. Lindsey Getz discusses the category with retailers so they better understand selection, differentiation and the educational needs. Dealing with odors, stains and waste removal is a reality of pet … [Read more...]

Smarter snacks and treats

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Consumers are seeking treats that are palatable to their pets and provide wholesome, natural nutrition at a good price, writes Keith Loria. He reviews trends, challenges and options in the retail treat marketplace. Source: Pet Product News, February 2019, page 40. Link.  Loria reviews trends including superfoods, increased protein options and price sensitivity using … [Read more...]

7 secrets to choosing the best food for cats

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Elizabeth Pask and Laura Scott discuss cat food secrets and present information for cat owners to help them make the best choices for their individual animal(s). Their topics cover: Tinned food versus dry foodRead the ingredient listWhat’s the deal with grain?Good fats vs. badFiber versus fillerAdd fresh foodsConsider your cat’s life stage and activity level Source: … [Read more...]

Retailers get guidance on dental care

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Simplicity is key with oral hygiene, according to industry insiders—and brushless options have become very appealing to pet owners, writes Jen Sotolongo. The low-hanging fruit in the modern dental market for animals is centered on home care options that are alternatives to the long-touted brushing. It is important to start conversations. Note the article does not suggest … [Read more...]

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Animal Health Digest, LLC is a content curation and aggregation service for animal health professionals. We continuously read and review more than 150 publications that produce articles, studies, reviews, white papers and other material for veterinarians, veterinary professionals, veterinary support staff, companion animal owners and livestock owners. Learn more.

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