By Caroline Coile Many short-legged dogs suffer from herniated spinal discs, in which the disc ruptures and compresses or injures the spinal cord. This acute condition can lead to rear-end paralysis and incontinence. Conservative treatment is usually with strict cage rest, pain medication and physical therapy. If that doesn’t work, surgery to remove the disc is [...]
By: Lisa M. Freeman, DVM, PhD, DACVIM Recently, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued their fourth update on diet-associated dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) – this time, in the form of frequently-asked questions about this serious heart disease. To make sure pet owners have the most accurate and up-to-date information, I thought this would be a good [...]
Morris Animal Foundation announced it is funding four new studies focused on two common health issues in dogs – ear infections and obesity. “Chronic, sub-acute diseases in dogs often are overlooked for research funding,” said Dr. Kathy Tietje, Vice President of Scientific Operations at Morris Animal Foundation. “These new studies focus on common disorders affecting [...]
The American Kennel Club has learned that New Jersey Senate Bill 1803, which seeks to prohibit declawing procedures from being performed on cats and other animals unless deemed necessary for a therapeutic purpose by a licensed veterinarian, has been moved to the Senate Economic Growth Committee. Please see updated committee contact information below. The American Kennel Club [...]
The NAVC shares tips for your pets during heart health month. Your dog’s heart speeds up every time you get home, ready for a game of fetch or cuddles on the couch. To keep your furry best friend active and happy for as long as possible, it is important to care for their health year-round. [...]
If you’re planning something romantic this Valentine’s Day, remember to protect the ones you love – the furry ones. The toxicology experts at Pet Poison Helpline want to warn pet lovers about the dangers posed by various common romantic gestures, such as massage oil, candles, flowers and yes, especially chocolate. “Valentine’s Day is a holiday [...]
Story by Megan Myers, VMBS Communications When Oscar, a 5-year-old Dachshund, developed partial paralysis from a herniated disc, he became the first dog to experience a new, non-surgical treatment option through a veterinary clinical trial at the Texas A&M Small Animal Teaching Hospital (SATH). Herniated discs are common in short-legged breeds like Dachshunds and can cause [...]
Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside of the United States and Canada, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (NYSE:MRK), today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval of an expanded indication for BRAVECTO® Chews for Dogs. The new indication treats and controls Asian longhorned ticks, which are an [...]
Purina announced it is sponsoring a litter of puppies, all of which will be raised by company employees and trained to serve as certified Duo Dog facility, assistance or service dogs. The new program is another step the pet care company is taking to address the mental health epidemic by harnessing the positive impact of [...]
A new grant hopes to shed light on the genetics underlying subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS) in Newfoundland dogs. The study, funded by Morris Animal Foundation, will be conducted by a veterinary team at Michigan State University. Led by Dr. Vilma Yuzbasiyan-Gurkan, Professor, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics and Small Animal Clinical Sciences and the project’s Principal Investigator, the study [...]
