High-tech remote health monitoringMay 7, 2018A cat visits the litterbox more often and for a longer duration than normal. A dog makes extra visits to the water bowl and is up and down a bit more often than usual.
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How to fix oronasal fistulasMay 4, 2018This month’s column discusses the surgical approach to treatment of the most common manifestation of oronasal fistulas: those that occur in the area of the maxillary canine tooth in dogs.
Soothe the itchMay 1, 2018Whether it’s from allergies, bacterial infections, or external parasites such as fleas or mites, pruritus is easily among the top 10 problems veterinarians see in dogs and cats. Atopic disease alone is the No. 1 most common condition in dogs and the eighth most common in cats.
Ticks' increasing threatApril 25, 2018Masters of ride-sharing well before Uber and Lyft came along, ticks hitch rides with white-tailed deer, migrating birds, and other animals, making their way to locales where they didn’t exist in the past. Now, one or more tick species are found in every state, including Alaska and Hawaii.
As U.S. pet obesity balloons, vets, owners talk diet, nutritionApril 20, 2018The dog and cat pet obesity epidemic in the U.S. continues to grow, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP). In the organization's 2017 annual clinical survey, 56 percent of dogs and 60 percent of cats were classified as overweight or obese by their veterinarian. In 2016, APOP found 54 percent of dogs and 59 percent of cats were overweight or obese. In the survey, pet owners and veterinary professionals were questioned about diet and nutrition, sources of pet food advice, the benefits of corn, dry versus canned, whether pet food has improved, the best sources of pet dietary recommendations, and more. Among the findings: 58 percent of pet owners and 54 percent of veterinary professionals reported having tried to help their own pet lose weight via low-calorie and weight loss diets combined with increased exercise. 25 percent of pet owners and 43 percent of veterinary professionals said they were "too busy" to exercise their dog; 21 percent of pet owners and 19 percent of veterinary professionals cited behavior issues as a barrier. Inadequate access to exercise areas and physical limitations of the owner and pet rounded out the reported challenges. 48 percent of …
Allergic, parasitic, and viral skin disease treatment toolkitApril 16, 2018Most veterinarians understand the basics of preventing and controlling feline and canine skin issues, but today’s pet health professionals should strive to be aware of the multitude of recent group of product and treatment options for managing skin issues when they arise.
Nothing to sneeze atApril 10, 2018The most common cause of acquired oronasal fistulas is periodontal disease. The roots of the maxillary teeth are located close to the nasal passage. When vertical bone loss occurs due to periodontal disease, inflammation and infection can dissolve the thin shelf of bone and epithelium that separates the mouth from the nose.
A different perspective on the wide world of Fear FreeMarch 23, 2018My perspective in this magazine is unique. I am a certified animal behavior consultant, not a veterinary professional. I am on the radio and TV, I write blogs, and I contribute to popular press books about companion animals. My involvement in veterinary medicine spans just over two decades.
Forensic files: Veterinary editionMarch 22, 2018Like Liam Neeson in “Taken,” Christina Lindquist, MS, touted her “particular set of skills” in 2006 when she visited the veterinary genetics laboratory (VGL) at the University of California, Davis, in search of a job.
Florida manufacturer develops rapid animal diabetes testingMarch 20, 2018Tallahassee, Fla.-based Baycom Diagnostics has developed A1Care, a cost-effective kit for monitoring and testing for both feline and canine diabetes. Much like with humans, cases of diabetes in dogs and cats have increased steadily over recent years. According to research released by Vancouver, Wash.-based Banfield Pet Hospital, instances of dog diabetes have increased from 13.1 cases per 10,000 in 2006 to 23.6 cases per 10,000 in 2015—a 79.7 percent jump in less than 10 years. While previous tests for detecting the disease in dogs and cats have been largely expensive and time consuming, A1Care is neither, the company stated. The test allows veterinarians to mail a patient's dried blood sample to Baycom's labs; the sample is analyzed and results are returned to the clinic within two weeks—all with a fee of $49 per test. "For the vets, it is super easy to use," said Gus Ray, Baycom's CEO. "Blood, information, mail, and you're done. All of the magic happens once we get the sample." Ray developed A1Care after he was hired to conduct at-home glycated hemoglobin (A1C) testing for diabetic persons. Initially, he thought the same test could be effective when testing for the disease in …
