Top Stories
How Do You Put Pigeons on the Pill? Scientists Test Contraceptives to Curb Pest Numbers
Source: The Guardian Scientists are exploring the use of contraceptives to control wildlife populations humanely and effectively. Trials in the UK and Europe aim to deliver contraceptives to pigeons, wild boar, grey squirrels, and potentially other species like...
Dolphins Off Florida, Georgia Have High Levels of Mercury
Source: Health Day A study has found elevated mercury levels in dolphins off the coasts of Georgia and Florida, posing potential risks for human residents. Led by Colleen Bryan, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology analyzed 175 skin...
Bearded Dragons Linked to Outbreak of Salmonella Infections, CDC says
Source: The Oregonian An outbreak of salmonella infections linked to pet bearded dragons has been reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Fifteen cases across nine states, mostly affecting children under 5, have been documented. The CDC...
Diphtheria-Like Germ Can Be Passed Between People and Pets
Source: Health Day Two cases of a diphtheria-like illness caused by Corynebacterium ulceran were reported in the U.S., involving transmission between humans and pets. In 2022, a Utah resident with a non-healing leg wound, diabetes, and multiple pets was found to have...
Cat Kidney Transplants: For some, the Pricey Procedure is Well Worth it
Source: Washington Post Max Segal's cat, Desperado, received a kidney transplant that significantly impacted Segal's life due to the emotional support Desperado provided during Segal's illness. The procedure, costing up to $25,000, is viewed by many pet owners as...
Using Positive Reinforcement to Train Dairy Cows
Source: Veterinary 33 A study published in the Journal of Dairy Science explores the use of positive reinforcement training (PRT) for dairy cows to reduce stress and improve handling experiences. Conducted at the University of British Columbia Dairy Education and...
How Pet Owners are Handling Higher Pet Product Prices
Source: Pet Food Industry In a recent analysis, Suzy Badaracco from Culinary Tides described the current economic situation, particularly in pet food markets, as in a "stall pattern." Although inflation rates for pet food in the U.S. and some other countries have...
RedRover Grants Pilot Program Enables Homeless Shelters to Welcome Pets for First Time
Source: Pet Age RedRover has allocated $438,900 in Safe Housing grants across various shelters to enhance or establish pet-friendly accommodations. This cycle marks a significant first with $200,000 dedicated to homeless shelters for creating pet-friendly spaces,...
Dogs Now Love Their Mail Carrier Thanks to Poochie-Post Edible Greeting Cards
Source: Pet Age Only An Ocean has launched Poochie-Post, a novel pet gifting concept: edible, bacon-scented greeting cards tailored for dogs. These unique cards allow pet parents to send heartfelt messages to their furry companions through mail. Dogs can also engage...
Dogtopia Foundation Celebrates Milestone, Unveils PTSD Study, Sponsors 500th Service Dog
Source: Pet Age Dogtopia, a leading dog wellness franchise, celebrated a major achievement as its U.S. Dogtopia Foundation surpassed sponsoring 500 service dogs for veterans. This milestone highlights Dogtopia's commitment to supporting veterans, having raised over...
Rise in Mosquitoes in Southern Nevada Potentially Deadly for Dogs, Cats
Source: 3 News Veterinarians in Las Vegas are urging pet owners to give their dogs and cats heartworm preventive medicine due to a significant rise in mosquito activity, which can be deadly for pets. The Southern Nevada Health District reported an early season peak...
Bacteria May Play a Role In Mental Illness
Source: Futurity A new study reveals that patients with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders are three times more likely to have Bartonella DNA in their blood than those without these disorders, suggesting a possible link between vector-borne pathogens and...
Charleston Dog Recovering After Removal of Rare 3-Foot Worms Found During Surgery
Source: ABC 4 News A hound dog named Twiggy is recovering after veterinarians at the Charleston Animal Society discovered and removed three-foot-long kidney worms during a spay-neuter surgery. Twiggy, found on Johns Island, was suffering from Dioctophyme renale, or...
Revolutionizing the Animal Health Industry: Introducing Vet Together.
Source: Vet Together Press Release Vet Together, an innovative business development conference, will be held Nov. 18-20 at the Durango Casino & Resort in Las Vegas, bringing together representatives from top animal hospitals and Veterinary vendors. Unlike...
FDA Warns Company Making Stem Cell Products for Pets
Source: MedPage Today The FDA has issued a warning letter to Safari Stem Cell, a Texas-based company producing stem cell and platelet-rich plasma products for pets. The agency noted that Safari Stem Cell claims its products can treat various animal diseases,...
Who Gets the Dog Fur-ever?
Source: JDSUPRA Pennsylvania law currently treats pets as inanimate property during divorce proceedings, similar to furniture. House Bill No. 1108, introduced on May 5, 2023, aims to change this by defining pets as "companion animals," a special category of personal...
$10m Prize Launched for Team that can Truly Talk to the Animals
Source: The Guardian The Jeremy Coller Foundation and Tel Aviv University have launched the Coller Dolittle Challenge, offering a $10 million prize for achieving interspecies two-way communication. AI is not required but could enhance proposals. The challenge draws...
Veterans with Service Dogs have Fewer PTSD Symptoms, Higher Quality of Life
Source: University of Arizona News Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Gretchen Evans, who lost her hearing and sustained a traumatic brain injury in Afghanistan, struggled to adapt to civilian life. A service dog named Aura helped her regain confidence and independence....
Artificial Intelligence Poised to Transform Veterinary Care
Source: AVMA News Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming various fields, including Veterinary medicine. At the forefront, Johns Hopkins University's Smart Tissue Autonomous Robot (STAR) successfully performed laparoscopic surgery on pigs, demonstrating...
Can Vet Techs Help Cure Colorado’s Vet Shortage?
Source: 5280 The Dumb Friends League’s (DFL) animal clinic at Colorado State University’s SPUR Campus allows the public to observe surgeries on pets, aiming to inspire future veterinarians amid a critical shortage in Colorado. A CSU survey revealed that 67% of...
Comments Open: Proposed Specialty in Clinical Wildlife Practice
Source: AVMA The American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS) has received a proposal to establish a “clinical wildlife practice” specialty under the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. Public comments on the proposal are invited until July 31, 2024, to...
Denver Animal Protection: Dozens of Pets Found Confined in Hot Cars Since January
Source: FOX 31 Denver Animal Protection has responded to 130 calls for animals trapped in hot vehicles so far this year, nearing last year’s total of 450. They've also handled 277 cases of animals lacking shelter, compared to 595 in 2023. Leaving pets in overheated...
New Braunfels Veterinarian Offers Tips for Identifying, Treating Heatstroke in Dogs
Source: The Herald-Zeitung As summer heat intensifies in New Braunfels, pet owners are increasingly vigilant about heatstroke signs in dogs. Charlotte Dawson, medical director at Chisholm Trail Veterinary Clinic, highlights key symptoms like excessive panting,...
Grown Here at Home: Veterinarian Explains Whether Spread of Avian Flu will Impact Food Supply
Source: WDBJ7 Dr. Charlie Broaddus, Virginia's state veterinarian, assures consumers that diseased birds do not enter the food supply amidst growing concerns over Avian Flu. He emphasizes the rigorous inspection process for poultry, ensuring only birds that test...
Sploot Veterinary Care Partners with GlobalVetLink to Expand Pet Travel Services
Source: PR Newswire Sploot Veterinary Care and GlobalVetLink have announced a partnership to integrate the GVL Compliance Assistant into Sploot's operations, enhancing their service offerings with comprehensive pet travel solutions. This collaboration aims to...