Help clients who travel hire the best professional pet sitterJune 6, 2018As more than 88 million Americans prepare for family vacations this summer, educational association Pet Sitters International (PSI) reminds pet owners to use caution when deciding who will watch their animals, recommending they forgo hiring hesitant friends and neighbors to fill this role and instead seek professional pet sitters, trained to handle potential emergencies. "When it comes to finding pet care, don't prioritize convenience over quality," said Beth Stultz, PSI vice-president. "Just because you can quickly find and book the services of a pet lover with a profile on a pet-sitting or dog-walking app doesn't mean you are choosing a qualified pet-care provider. Pet owners should take a closer look to ensure they are hiring not just a pet lover, but a pet lover who is also a true pet-care professional." Professional pet sitters come to clients' homes, which limits interruption to pets' routines and eliminates the stress and danger of exposing them to new, unfamiliar environments. Additionally, many professionals provide services for owners traveling with animals, offering pet-care services at hotels for clients who need to leave their animals and participate in non-pet friendly events or activities. PSI advises pet owners to schedule a consultation …
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Enter Veterinary Practice News' 2018 They Ate What?! X-ray ContestJune 1, 2018Pets eat the most puzzling things that land them in the vet's office: shoes, coins, socks, teddy bears, watches, rubber ducks, rocks, lightbulbs, kitchen utensils, pendants, golf balls, and more. If the rads weren't there to prove this stuff actually happens, the tales would be hard to believe. That's why Veterinary Practice News is asking the veterinary community to submit radiographs to the 2018 They Ate What?! X-ray contest that show how truth is often stranger than fiction when it comes to the contents of some pets' stomachs. The winner, selected by a panel of veterinarians and Veterinary Practice News editors, will receive $500 and a one-year subscription to Web PACS, a Picture Archiving Communications System valued at $2,400, from contest prize sponsor, IDEXX Laboratories Inc. How to enter: Go to VeterinaryPracticeNews.com/xraycontest and log in or register to enter. Upload high-resolution images—large files reproduce best—and fill in your name, clinic name and address, telephone number, and a short explanation of the case, including the outcome. If available, include images of the patient and the recovered item(s). The submission deadline is July 23. The winner and honorable mentions will be unveiled in the …
Caring for the geriatric petJune 1, 2018Puppies and kittens are adorable, but I can’t help loving another group—geriatric pets. There’s something about the weak and the wobbly, the skinny and the stinky.
Lysine: A therapeutic zombie?May 16, 2018Science is a process for developing and refining our understanding of nature over time. The work of a community of scientists, often with vigorous competition and conflict between individuals, gradually improves the accuracy of our understanding.
The purebred paradoxMay 11, 2018Purebreds are overrepresented in popular culture. Though a few of the Hollywood elite may proudly promenade their “rescue mutts” as they shop Rodeo Drive, most lay claim to full-blooded epitomes of dogdom.
Kindred Biosciences' Mirataz commercially available in U.S.May 9, 2018Update: this product is now commercially available in the U.S. Kindred Biosciences Inc. has received approval from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration for Mirataz (mirtazapine transdermal ointment) for the management of weight loss in cats. Mirtazapine, which blocks specific serotonin and histamine receptors that play a role in appetite and nausea, demonstrated a 3.9 percent increase in body weight in cats with unintended weight loss in as little as 14 days, according to San Francisco-based Kindred. To help improve owner and patient compliance, Mirataz will be available in a topical formulation applied to the inner pinna of a cat's ear. Research shows daily topical application for 14 days resulted in measurable plasma concentrations of mirtazapine in cats, the manufacturer stated. Mirataz offers the confidence of a product approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine, convenience of transdermal application, Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) production quality, known stability, manufacturer technical support, and a practical way to manage feline weight loss without administration of oral medication, according to Valentine S. Williams, DVM, DACVS, director of veterinary affairs at Kindred Biosciences.
The trials of therapeutic dietsMay 8, 2018Client misconceptions and behaviors can be the biggest barrier to successful outcomes when prescribing therapeutic diets for dermatologic disease.
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.
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.
Is a cure for IMHA near?May 3, 2018The image of a straight line neatly sums up the frustration of treating dogs afflicted with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA), according to Andrew Mackin, BVMS, DVSc, FANZCVSc, DACVIM, professor and head of the Department of Clinical Sciences at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
