Study: "Dog cognition does not look exceptional," researchers findOctober 3, 2018 Dogs may be smart cookies—just not quite the braniacs that many believe they are, according to research published in Learning & Behavior. In a study that examined more than 300 papers on the intelligence of dogs and other animals, researchers reviewed evidence that compared dogs' smarts with other domestic animals, other social hunters, and other carnivorans, such as wolves, bears, lions, and hyenas. What scientists from the U.K.'s University of Exeter and Canterbury Christ Church University discovered were that dogs' cognitive abilities were at least matched by several species in each of these groups as well as several cases where dogs' mental abilities suffered from "over interpretation." "During our work it seemed to us that many studies in dog cognition research set out to 'prove' how clever dogs are," said Stephen Lea, PhD, the study's principal author, from the University of Exeter. Lea went on to say that dogs' correct responses or actions are often compared to those of chimpanzees, but researchers found "in each and every case … other valid comparison species that do at least as well as dogs do in those tasks." The review focused on sensory cognition, physical cognition, spatial cognition, social cognition, and …
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Royal Canin releases Pill Assist to help administer medication to dogs October 2, 2018Royal Canin has launched veterinary-exclusive Pill Assist soft chews to simplify administering medication to dogs. According to a study by the company, Pill Assist enabled successful pill administration in 97 percent of cases. "We understand the stress pet owners face when trying to provide necessary medication for their pets," said Catherine Lenox, DVM, CVA, DACVN, scientific affairs manager for Royal Canin. "A dog's medication cannot help if it is not taken. Royal Canin developed Pill Assist to ease the burden on pet owners and enable dogs to better consume the medication they need." The product's soft texture can be molded around any pill shape, is available in sizes for small and medium-to-large dogs, has moderate calorie content, and includes vitamins and prebiotics. The product can be found at select veterinary clinics.
VetMedTeam RACE-approved CE examines patient health trendsSeptember 6, 2018VetMedTeam, an online resource offering free continuing education to veterinarians, credentialed veterinary technicians, and practice team members, is hosting a RACE-approved, 1 interactive credit course on evolving patient health trends. "By the numbers: Examining top health risks for dogs and cats," led by Mary Rothlisberger, ACAS, MAAA, associate actuary at Trupanion pet insurance company, is scheduled to go live Sept. 19 at 2 p.m. Eastern. The webinar will highlight current medical condition trends for veterinary patients, including by age and size, as well as some popular purebred dog breeds, and shares how teams can incorporate this information into patient services, from diagnosis to client education. Further, Rothlisberger will share analytical data from Trupanion medical database records, including expected treatment costs. For those unable to attend the live webinar, VetMedTeam will notify members when a free self-study course becomes open for enrollment. All who enroll in the live webinar, regardless of live attendance, also will receive emailed information. Membership in VetMedTeam is free and open to all members of the veterinary practice team as well as veterinary and veterinary technology students. Click here to register for the webinar; click here to find answers to FAQs. Email …
Pet King Brands donates $240K in ear infection products to dogs in need August 30, 2018Pet King Brands Inc. has donated 12,000 bottles of Zymox Plus Advanced Otic-HC Enzymatic Ear Care Solution to assist animals suffering from ear infections and increase adoptions of rescued dogs. Ear infections, among the top health issues seen among dogs in animal shelters, rescues, humane societies, and animal sanctuaries across the U.S., can cause a myriad of symptoms, including pain, discharge, irritability, and even hearing loss if left untreated. "We receive stories all the time regarding the impact Zymox has had on pet ear health. We are also aware that shelters are overcrowded and under-funded with a large pet population suffering from painful ear infections," said Pamela K. Bosco, Pet King president. "We realized we could help on a large scale. We want pets to become more adoptable, sooner. Plus, Zymox is very easy to use, which reduces the demands on the shelter staff." Pet King Brands said it will continue helping to promote pet adoptions, reduce the number of homeless pets, and support pets in shelters through additional future donations.
OSU enrolling dogs with mammary cancer for clinical trialAugust 29, 2018Oregon State University's Lois Bates Acheson Veterinary Teaching Hospital is now enrolling dogs with mammary cancer in a new clinical trial. Dog owners considering standard tumor removal surgery may be able to choose a new surgical procedure involving an intravenous injection of a cancer cell-illuminating nanoparticle compound that highlights exactly which tissue needs to be removed. After the mammary tumor is removed, the surrounding tissue is irradiated with an infrared laser that causes the nanoparticle compound to heat up, killing any remaining cancer cells. The compound, developed by researchers in the Oregon State University College of Pharmacy, has been found to effectively cure cancer in mice. The new procedure eventually may be most beneficial for treating tumors in challenging anatomic areas, such as the brain and spine, according to Milan Milovancev, DVM, DACVS-SA, an OSU associate professor of small animal surgery participating in the study. The Oregon State University Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine is a member of a national consortium of veterinary oncology centers, managed by the National Institutes of Health, with a focus on translational veterinary medicine. Owners who believe their pets may be good trial candidates can ask their veterinarian …
Dogs and cats prefer protein, right? Not so, says OSU studyJune 6, 2018Dogs prefer foods high in fat while cats are carb lovers, according to study results published in the Journal of Experimental Biology. The study, conducted by Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University, monitored 17 healthy adult dogs and 27 cats over a 28-day period using four types of foods designed to encourage subjects to make food choices based on what their bodies were telling them they needed—not based on flavor. If palatability isn't balanced between foods, cats prefer to eat high levels of protein and dogs want to eat high levels of fat, according to OSU's Jean Hall, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, the study's corresponding author. With the flavor factor removed, the results were "much different than what traditional thinking would have expected," said Dr. Hall. "Some experts have thought cats need diets that are 40 or 50 percent protein," she said. "Our findings are quite different than the numbers used in marketing and are going to really challenge the pet food industry." The dogs and cats in the study had four food choices: high-fat, high-carbohydrate, high-protein, and balanced foods. Dogs had one hour each day to eat all they wanted …
Spayathon for Puerto Rico kicks off in JuneMay 9, 2018The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) along with a coalition of 22 organizations from around the world will begin the first round of the Spayathon for Puerto Rico, June 3-9. The initiative, which is offered at no cost to pet owners, aims to spay and neuter at least 20,000 dogs and cats in the territory by May 2019. "This is the first time such a broad collection of national and international groups has come together to intensively reduce the population of animals across an island," said Tara Loller, senior director, strategic campaigns and initiatives, HSUS. "We could not make this historic event happen without the generous participation of each and every coalition member." The initiative will be funded with support from nonprofit organizations, including Maddie's Fund, PetSmart Charities, Petco Foundation, GreaterGood.org, and the 20/22 Act Society. Additional resources will come from groups including Banfield Foundation, Best Friends Animal Society, and Rescue Bank, which will provide supplies, such as vaccines, pet food, and crates. Veterinary teams from Emancipet, ViDAS, Veterinarians for Puerto Rico, Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program at Cornell University, and Helping Paws Across Borders will provide high-volume spay/neuter services in locations across the island. Ground support will be …
Maddie's Fund awards $100K in grantsApril 25, 2018National animal welfare foundation Maddie's Fund announced the 10 recipients of this year's Maddie Hero Awards, recognizing organizations across the U.S. that have furthered the foundation's "no-kill nation" mission and contributed to the overall welfare of companion dogs through innovative ideas, progressive thinking, and preventative action. Introduced in 2016, the honor awards each recipient a $10,000 grant. The 2018 Maddie Heroes and their teams: Alan Borgal, Animal Rescue League of Boston Jon Cicirelli, San Jose Animal Care and Services, Calif. Ryan Clinton, Attorney, Austin, Tex. Denise Deisler, Jacksonville Humane Society, Fla. Sheriff Wayne Ivey, Brevard County Sheriff's Office South Animal Care Center, Fla. Teresa Johnson, Kansas City Pet Project, Mo. Aimee Sadler, Dogs Playing for Life, Col. Risa Weinstock, Animal Care Centers of New York City Lori Weise, Downtown Dog Rescue, Calif. Makena Yarborough, Lynchburg Humane Society, Va. Established by Dave and Cheryl Duffield in 1994, Maddie's Fund is a family foundation with an overall objective of eliminating unnecessary euthanasia in animal shelters and ensuring all healthy and treatable shelter dogs and cats are guaranteed a home. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded more than $208.9 million in grants toward increased community lifesaving, shelter medicine education, and pet …
Canadian Kennel Club announces country's top breedsApril 10, 2018 The Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) released its annual list of the country's most popular dog breeds and, like the American Kennel Club's (AKC) list, Labrador retrievers maintained their position as leader of the pack, having held the honor in Canada since 1995. This year, the CKC welcomed a new breed to the official rankings of the country's best-loved: the Australian shepherd made the list for the first time in more than 25 years, taking the No. 9 position and bumping the Yorkshire terrier out of the top 10. "The Aussie can do it all," said Shawna Wiebe, president of the Canadian National Australian Shepherd Association. "They are a very intelligent, athletic dog in a moderate package. They can move from the herding arena, to the agility ring, to the rally ring, to the Frisbee field, with great ease." Australian shepherds are ideal for active families who are looking for a dog to keep up with them. The breed thrives in a home that is committed to socializing and training them, Wiebe added. German Shepherds, golden retrievers, and poodles remain in the CKC's No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 spots, respectively, while Shetland sheepdogs and …
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.
