“Man’s best friend.” This is a phrase commonly used to describe dogs, and one which rings true with findings from a poll of pet owners in the U.S. saying their animals offer companionship (65 percent), are a true friend (65 percent), and provide unconditional love and support (64 percent).
The recent Healthy Minds Monthly Poll, conducted by Morning Consult for the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), was participated in by 2,200 adults on Feb. 6-9. Majority of the respondents (84 percent) say their pets have a mostly positive impact on their mental health. According to the APA statement, this insight is similar to the results of last year’s polling on the same topic.
“It’s easy to overlook the role of pets when we’re talking about mental health,” says APA president Petros Levounis, MD, MA. “But for people who do enjoy the company of animals, they can be a source of companionship, comfort, love, and friendship. I routinely enco..
Following five years of study, the Topikos Biofilm Research Institute (TBRI), a division of Topikos Scientific, Inc., has reported an advancement in the treatment of periodontitis resulting from a study of over 100 dogs with gingivitis and periodontitis.
“Dental science was first to conclude that biofilm disease, dysbiosis, drove the pathway from plaque and gingivitis to anaerobic, increasingly pathologic biofilms in the sub-gingival sulcus leading to ligament and bone loss that creates irreversible periodontitis,” says TBRI team member Kevin Cawood, DVM. “Over several decades it became clearer chemical elements in the biofilm matrix entered the circulation to cause distant inflammation and serious complications.”
Dr. Cawood, along with the rest of the TBRI team, ENT physician William Cast, MD, and microbiologist Michael Bechill, PhD, treated dogs of various breeds, age, and disease severity with scaling, polishing, and placingement of an antibiofilm compound into the subgingival sul..
The VMX 2024 saw an attendance of more than 27,000 people from 82 countries, with 8,700 first-time attendees. Bringing together industry professionals to showcase the latest in continuing education (CE) and product innovations is central to the annual conference hosted by the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC).
Under the theme “Show of Shows” this year, the 41st annual Veterinary Meeting and Expo (VMX), held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL, from Jan. 13 to 17, did just that. The world’s fair-type event explored the full gamut of veterinary medicine to showcase to the 27,000-plus audience it drew. The five-day conference offered continuing education sessions, including topics on managing feline diabetes, introducing patients and clients to specialized pet diets, practicing spectrum of care, updates on the canine infectious disease, promoting team mental health, learning about new medications developed, and integrating artificial intelligence in the practic..
Improving the lives of farm animals is the driving force behind a recently formed nonprofit organization.
Launched in Jan. 2024, the Veterinary Association for Farm Animal Welfare (VAFAW) aims to increase veterinary leadership, education, and advocacy for the welfare of animals used in food and fiber production systems.
“Veterinarians are known for their compassion, scientific understanding, and pragmatism,” says Gwendolen Reyes-Illg, DVM, MA, chair of the VAFAW board of directors and director of Policy Development, in the association’s statement. “VAFAW seeks to leverage this unique constellation of professional attributes to speed up the pace of progress when it comes to improving farm animal welfare.”
Through legislation, regulations, industry standards, and corporate protocols, VAFAW seeks to:
● Improve the welfare of animals used in food and fiber production by promoting and utilizing contemporary science-driven frameworks and research.
● Support veterinarians, animal producers..
The dangers of secondhand cigarette smoke have been well documented. For example, dogs that are exposed to cigarette smoke regularly are more likely to develop things like eye infections, respiratory issues, allergies, and even cancer than canines that live with non-smoking owners. However, the effects of secondhand vaping haven’t been extensively studied yet. We do
Read MoreIn our animal clinic in Woodbridge, We believe that Abyssinian cats are incredibly playful and elegant. They’re mostly known for their distinctive coat, which has a “ticked” pattern. However, their large, almond eyes are a close second. If you’ve been lucky enough to adopt one of these felines, one of your first steps should be
Read MoreIn our pet clinic in Woodbridge , We believe that Yorkies are adorable dogs, but did you know they have a day dedicated to them each year? August 1st is always National Yorkie Day no matter which day of the week it falls on, and there are tons of great ways to celebrate this unique
Read More1. Protects your pet If your cat is vaccinated, he/she is protected from a number of serious, preventable, diseases. If your cat slips out the door or is contact with other outdoor pets in your home, your cat needs certain vaccines in order to reduce the risk of contracting a preventable disease, thereby helping her
Read More