Could noise sensitivity in dogs be a cry for pain relief?March 26, 2018 A study conducted by animal behavior scientists from the U.K. and Brazil found that dogs that show fear or anxiety when faced with loud or sudden noises could actually be in pain. The researchers examined cases of dogs that had developed sensitivity to variations in noise volume, pitch, and occurrence, and found they also had associated musculoskeletal pain. The undiagnosed pain could be exacerbated when auditory stimuli makes the dogs tense or jump, placing extra stress on muscles or joints that already are inflamed, causing further pain, according to the study. That pain is then associated with a loud or startling noise, leading to sensitivity to noise and avoidance of situations where they had a previous bad experience, such as at a local park or in a loud room at home. According to the researchers, veterinarians should give any dog with a behavior issue a thorough physical exam to determine that if pain is a factor, it can be diagnosed and treated, and the behavior issue can then be addressed. In the study, all dogs that experienced pain and were treated showed improvement in behavior. Pain, behavior issues, and the onset of pain "Although the average ages of the …
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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 …
Wild Earth wants pets to eat environmentally friendly vegan pet foodMarch 19, 2018Wild Earth Inc. is using cultured proteins to develop clean, high-quality pet foods that are healthier, more environmentally friendly, and more humane than conventional products, according to the biotech startup company. "Wild Earth will be the first to bring cultured protein and cultured meat products for dogs and cats to market, that are nutritious, humane, and without the devastating ecological impact of factory farming," said Ryan Bethencourt, CEO of Berkeley, Calif.-based Wild Earth. "Using biotechnology gives us the ability to scale and to get a product to market safely, quickly, and affordably." The company's first cultured protein product is made from human-grade koji, the common name of the fungus Aspergillus oryzae, a microorganism found in Asian cuisine. According to Bethencourt, Wild Earth can create a range of proteins and carbohydrates, with varied textures and flavors, all with ingredients sourced, formulated, and made in the U.S. Using cultured proteins aims to avoid the risks associated with traditional animal-based proteins, Bethencourt added, referring to recent recalls as well as the environmental impact of manufacturing of pet foods. An estimated 25 to 30 percent of meat's environmental impact in the U.S. is attributed to pet food, but Wild Earth can produce at …
Pheromones' therapeutic use in animalsMarch 14, 2018Pheromones are chemical compounds produced by an animal that have predictable physiologic and behavioral effects on other animals of the same species. They are a form of social signaling that can influence behavior related to reproduction, aggression, feeding, social coordination, and many other areas.
Dog flu goes viralMarch 13, 2018While it’s unknown how many dogs have been affected—canine influenza isn’t a reportable disease in the U.S., although it is in Canada—the figures are underreported, said Cynda Crawford, DVM, clinical assistant professor at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.
Send a clear parasite prevention messageMarch 12, 2018Clients simply aren’t getting the message when it comes to preventing fleas, ticks, and in particular heartworm. With current weather patterns contributing to the parasite problem, pets are more in need of prevention than ever before.
Shedding light on diagnostic transilluminationMarch 9, 2018Transillumination is defined in Veterinary Dentistry: Principles and Practice as “assessment of the reflectivity of the internal tooth structure to evaluate vitality of the pulp by placing a light behind a tooth and viewing it.”
An inconvenient truthFebruary 16, 2018If you’re like me, you were raised to think that all dogs should be sterilized. Veterinary school and our lives in practice further reinforced that truism. Dogs, we were reverently informed, require sterilization if they’re to live long, healthy lives.
