AAFP releases updated zoonoses guidelinesOctober 16, 2019The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) is hoping to combat misinformation that exists about cats and disease transmission through its updated Feline Zoonoses Guidelines. Appearing in the November issue of the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (JFMS), the guidelines aim to provide accurate information about feline zoonotic diseases to owners, physicians, and veterinarians to allow logical decisions to be made concerning cat ownership. "These guidelines provide recommendations concerning the prevention of feline zoonoses, as well as the latest research and information on these diseases," says Heather O'Steen, CEO of the AAFP. "Cats are wonderful pets, and with education, we can improve the health and welfare of cats as well as decrease any potential risks to their humans. This updated resource is another significant milestone in that direction." The new guidelines focus on: the enteric zoonoses; scratch, bite, or exudate exposure zoonoses; ocular and respiratory zoonoses; urogenital tract zoonoses; vector-borne zoonoses; and lessening the risk of zoonotic transfer of disease from cats. It also includes a client brochure titled, "What Can I Catch from my Cat," to educate veterinary teams and cat owners about how zoonotic organisms are spread. Further, it provides examples …
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2019 They Ate What?! X-ray Contest winnersSeptember 30, 2019 You can't help but marvel and shake your head a little when checking out the X-rays we get every year as part of our They Ate What?! Contest. You've got to wonder what an animal is thinking when they swallow an object whole, especially the long pointy ones (think fishing poles and forks). This year's entries didn't fail to deliver in the wild and wacky department, which made choosing a winner especially challenging for our panel of experts. Check out the X-ray that nabbed the highest scores in relevancy, appeal, originality, description, and appearance, along with the runners-up and honorable mentions. This year, the winner receives a $500 VISA gift card from contest prize sponsor, Trupanion. Contest judges Marty Becker, DVM, writes VPN's "In the Middle" column John Lewis, VMD, FAVD, DAVDC, writes VPN's "Dental Pearls" column Brennen McKenzie, MA, MSc, VMD, cVMA, writes VPN's "Evidence-Based Medicine" column Alice Villalobos, DVM, FNAP, is a member of VPN's editorial advisory board Phil Zeltzman, DVM, DACVS, CVJ, Fear Free Certified, writes VPN's "Surgical Insights" and "Practice Management" columns Patty Khuly, VMD, MBA, writes VPN's "Off Leash" Check out the winner >
Royal Canin's celebrity partnership supports feline veterinary healthAugust 22, 2019Americans love their cats, but taking them to the veterinarian is a different story.
Veterinary behaviorists question "scruffing"August 20, 2019Animal care professionals may want to reconsider the way they handle their feline patients.
Sterilization preferred method for controlling feral felinesAugust 1, 2019High-intensity trap-neuter-return (TNR) practices may be the safest and most effective way to control free-roaming cat populations.
Cats' weight on the riseJuly 19, 2019Cats are, indeed, getting chunkier. This is according to a new study out of the University of Guelph’s (U of G’s) Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) in Canada, which analyzed the data of more than 19 million cats in North America to demonstrate the typical weight gain and loss of the animals over their lifetimes.
Veterinary professionals, pet owners divided on pet food claimsJune 26, 2019When it comes to an animal’s nutrition, veterinary professionals and pet owners remain divided on several dietary trends.
Are vegan or vegetarian diets good for pets?June 24, 2019Pet owners frequently project their beliefs about human health onto their companion animals. Anxieties about purported harms from vaccines in children, for example, have spurred an anti-vaccination movement among veterinarians and pet owners.
Trupanion names America's 25 most cat-friendly citiesJune 24, 2019Cat-lovers planning a move may want to consider a recent report from Trupanion and real estate brokerage Redfin.
Alexandria, Va., tops list of heartworm cities for JuneJune 19, 2019Alexandria, Va., is the number one city for heartworms in June, the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) reports.