Skip to main content

Tag: sponsored

Older posts

4 Ways to Talk to Clients About Vaccines

By Kim Campbell ThorntonWhen clients think about vaccinations for their pets, they often associate them with their own feelings about needle-sticks. And most people don’t have positive associations with vaccinations or blood draws. As a veterinary professional, though, you know that vaccinations are essential to your patients’ good health. The conversation you have with clients can not only address the importance of protecting dogs and cats against disease, but also explain why vaccinations don’t have to be the painful experience that they think it will be for their pets.

Here are four conversation starters to help clients see the benefits of vaccinations, not only for their pets’ good health, but also how vaccinations can contribute to a positive and Fear Free experience in the clinic.

The risk of contagious diseases hasn’t gone away.

Canine parvovirus, canine distemper, and infectious canine hepatitis are highly contagious and frequently life-threatening.1 In cats, herpesvirus, calicivirus, panleukopenia, chlamydia, and feline leukemia are all widely distributed diseases that cause significant morbidity and mortality.2 Rabies is fatal in both species. Young animals are at highest risk, but any unvaccinated pet can acquire them. All of these diseases are preventable with vaccinations, and multiple combination vaccines are available for any protocol.

Combinations Are Key to Comfort

To prevent anxiety, reduce stress, and keep visits Fear Free for patients and clients, you can offer combination vaccines that contain only half the volume of most vaccines. That means not only fewer needle sticks but also shorter duration of the injection. For clients who are familiar with Fear Free techniques, those things are important.

Disease risks are changing.

Bacterial diseases such as Lyme disease and leptospirosis are increasingly seen in urban and suburban dogs and in areas where the infections were previously not considered to be a problem specific to leptospirosis.3 The Companion Animal Parasite Council reports that tick-borne diseases4 such as Lyme are spreading across much of the United States, in particular to the South and West, carried by deer, rodents, and migratory birds. A warmer climate, contributing to longer periods for tick reproduction, is also a factor. Adult ticks are active year-round any time the temperature is above freezing.

Climate change and increasing human and domestic animal contact with carrier wildlife have contributed as well to a greater incidence of leptospirosis. Dogs who previously were considered to be at low risk for these diseases, in particular city dogs and dogs weighing 15 pounds or less, are now the ones more likely to be exposed to them.

Lyme disease is spreading rapidly, and leptospirosis is now found in most areas.5 A combination Lyme and lepto vaccine provides protection with a single injection and less vaccine volume.

In addition to vaccinations, be sure to provide client education about vector control and exposure risk reduction through topical or systemic insecticides.

Clients with indoor cats may believe their pets don’t need vaccination for feline leukemia virus, but a single unsupervised escape outdoors can lead to exposure to the disease. All kittens should receive vaccination(s) for FeLV, followed by a booster when they are one year old.6 They can receive a lower volume 1/2mL FVRCP-FeLV combination for a more comfortable vaccination experience.

Vaccinating cats against FeLV has contributed to a decrease in the prevalence of the disease. Test for FeLV prior to vaccination so that cats who test positive aren’t vaccinated unnecessarily.

Technology designed to reduce the likelihood of vaccine reactions.

Unwanted proteins are associated with injection-site pain and swelling. Highly purified 1/2mL Ultra vaccines, using Purefil Technology, are designed to decrease vaccination reactions associated with unwanted protein and debris, reducing proteins by up to 75%. Their efficacy and safety have been demonstrated extensively in real-world studies.

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Kim Campbell Thornton is content manager for Fear Free Pets and is an Elite Fear Free Certified Professional. She has been writing about dogs, cats, wildlife, and marine life since 1985 and is a recipient of multiple awards from the Cat Writers Association, Dog Writers Association of America, and American Society of Journalists and Authors. When she’s not writing or editing, she’s snuggling with Sparkles, her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

TruCan, TruFel, Elanco and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates.  Other company and product names are trademarks of their respective owners. ©2023 Elanco or its affiliates. PM-US-22-2260

References

1 2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines. https://www.aaha.org/globalassets/02-guidelines/2022-aaha-canine-vaccination-guidelines/resources/2022-aaha-canine-vaccinations-guidelines.pdf Accessed on December 13, 2022.

2 2020 AAHA/AAFP Feline Vaccination Guidelines. https://www.aaha.org/globalassets/02-guidelines/feline-vaccination-guidlines/resource-center/2020-aahaa-afp-feline-vaccination-guidelines.pdf Accessed on December 13, 2022.

3 White, A., et. al. “Hotspots of canine leptospirosis in the United States of America.” The Veterinary Journal, 222 (2017), 29-35. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S109002331730059X Accessed on December 13, 2022.

4 Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) 2022 Pet Parasite Forecast. https://capcvet.org/about-capc/news-events/companion-animal-parasite-council-releases-2022-annual-pet-parasite-forecast/ Accessed on December 13, 2022.

5  Smith, Amanda M., et. al. “Potential Drivers for the Re-Emergence of Canine Leptospirosis in the United States and Canada.” Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease (2022).  https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/7/11/377/htm Accessed December 13, 2022.

6 Little, Susan, et. al. “2020 AAFP Feline Retrovirus Testing and Management Guidelines.” Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, Vol. 22, Issue 1 (2020). https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1098612X19895940 Accessed December 13, 2022.

This post is brought to you by our sponsor, Elanco, the maker of TruFel Ultra Vaccines.

Top Tips for a Fear Free Approach to Managing Canine OA

Kristin Shaw, DVM
Are you diagnosing and managing canine osteoarthritis the same way you were taught in vet school? Depending on when you graduated, chances are the techniques and treatments you learned may be due for a refresh. This article will offer tips for ensuring you are practicing the best medicine you can for your canine patients while following the principles of Fear Free practice.

Diagnosing OA: You don’t have to cause pain to find pain

If you were ever taught that you had to “push harder” to find the pain—forget that! Instead, there is a very good chance you can diagnose OA pain without even putting your hands on a dog (though that is still important!). Dogs show chronic, OA pain through changes in their mobility, posture, function, mood and behavior.1 Additionally, joint pain leads to compensatory pain in other parts of the body, including muscles. There are a number of ways we can identify OA pain without trying to make the dog cry out with our palpation.

  • Use a screening checklist: A recent study found that using an owner checklist that asks questions about a dog’s mobility at home can increase the rate of identifying dogs with OA.2 See here for the checklist that was used in this study and is available for you to implement in practice.
  • Observation is key: Dogs with OA may hide an obvious lameness during a traditional gait evaluation. While it is still recommended to watch how dogs walk on a leash, more rewarding information is often gleaned observing a dog’s posture and from watching how a dog moves through transitions (rising from a down position, moving into a seated or down position).3 When standing, if the spine is not neutral, and/or if limbs are held in abnormal or asymmetric positions, and/ or if weight is shifted off of a limb or body segment, these are all indications of likely joint pain. If any slowness or asymmetry to movement through transitions is seen, there is a good chance the dog has musculoskeletal pain.
  • Sedate for radiographs! Imagine being pinned to a cold table in a dark room and having your painful limbs manipulated. You would at the very least squirm too! Sedation and analgesia are musts for obtaining high quality, diagnostic radiographs while minimizing stress and discomfort. Also remember to take orthogonal views, centered on the joint of interest, and take both sides for comparison.

Treating OA: Unmanaged OA pain is a life-threatening condition

We care about OA because it causes pain. And not just pain in the arthritic joint, but over time, whole-body pain develops. Additionally, chronic/maladaptive pain is progressive and usually worsens, often drastically, without treatment.4 Multimodal, proactive, and continuous pain management is essential to reduce the devastating consequences of unmanaged OA.3

  • Multimodal is built on effective analgesia: According to the 2022 AAHA guidelines, the first line of analgesia for canine OA should be either NSAIDs or the anti-NGF monoclonal antibodies (mAbs).3 Both of these classes of drugs have proven efficacy and safety in dogs with OA. There are additional benefits of anti-NGF mAbs that may make it a better option for many dogs. Anti-NGF mAbs are administered by a veterinary professional, in the clinic, so take away the caregiver burden of an oral medication, improving owner compliance. Additionally, anti-NGF mAbs directly target a key player of chronic pain, sensitization, and neurogenic inflammation and have an encouraging safety profile. Maintenance of a lean body condition and regular exercise are also required as part of an effective OA plan. Other supplemental therapies may be considered as needed.
  • Proactive pain relief is standard of care: Canine OA is predictable- it typically develops secondary to developmental orthopedic disease (dysplasia, OCD) or joint trauma. Therefore, as soon as a dog is diagnosed with a joint disorder, which in the case of developmental disease generally occurs in the first few years of life, a proactive OA plan should be put in place. Clients should be educated on OA, the consequences of unmanaged pain, and how to monitor for pain at home. Analgesics should be started when pain is mild rather than waiting until it becomes severe.
  • Don’t let the pain break through: It is tempting to suggest to pet owners that they give analgesics on an as-needed basis. However, this can become problematic if they don’t recognize the early signs of pain. Chronic pain signaling leads to physical changes in the spinal cord that ultimately result in severe, neuropathic pain.4 A study that evaluated maintaining dogs at the NSAID label dosage vs. gradually reducing the dosage of the NSAID overtime, found that the dogs maintained at the label dosage, had the best outcome.5  Furthermore, continuous pain management through daily NSAIDs has been shown to improve signs of OA in dogs.6 Once a month anti-NGF mAb is given as a monthly SQ injection and controls pain for up to 4 weeks, which may be an optimal alternative to asking pet owners to give a daily medication. Remember to ensure a pleasant and enjoyable visit utilizing Fear Free techniques whenever dogs are coming in for any type of appointment, including monthly injections.

References

  1. Roberts C, Armson B, Bartram D, et al. Construction of a conceptual framework for assessment of health-related quality of life in dogs with osteoarthritis. Frontiers in Vet Sci. 2021.
  2. Wright A, Amodie DM, Cernicchiaro N, et al. Identification of canine osteoarthritis using an owner-reported questionnaire and treatment monitoring using functional mobility tests. JSAP 1-10, 2022.
  3. Gruen ME, Lascelles BDX, Colleran E, et al. 2022 AAHA Pain management guidelines for dogs and cats. JAAHA 58:55-76, 2022.
  4. Malfait AM, Miller RE, Miller RJ. Basic Mechanisms of Pain in OA: Experimental observations and new perspectives. Rheum Dis Clin N Am 47:165-180 (2021).
  5. Wernham BGJ, Trumpatori B, Hash J, et al. Dose Reduction of Meloxicam in Dogs with Osteoarthritis-Associated Pain and Impaired Mobility. ,J Vet Intern Med 25:1298–1305, 2011.
  6. Innes JF, Clayton J, Lascelles BDX. Review of the safety and efficacy of long-term NSAID use in the treatment of canine osteoarthritis. Vet Record 166:226-230, 2010.

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Want to learn more about Fear Free? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop on upcoming events, specials, courses, and more by clicking here.

Brought to you by our friends at Zoetis. ©2022 Zoetis Services LLC. All rights reserved. NA-03139

Why FeLV and FIV Don’t Have to Be Death Sentences for Cats

By Kim Campbell ThorntonTwo infectious retroviral diseases are often thought of as a death sentence for cats, but they don’t have to be. One is feline leukemia virus, and the other is feline immunodeficiency virus.

Apprehension about transmission and preconceptions about how they can affect a cat’s quality of life or adoption potential often leads to routine euthanasia for shelter cats who test positive for either disease. And some veterinarians may recommend against adopting a cat with FeLV or FIV particularly if clients have other cats in the household.

Life-saving protocols and good guidelines for adopters make those concerns outmoded, however. Cats with FeLV or FIV can live normal lives without being a hazard to other cats. With preventive healthcare strategies and prompt identification and treatment of illness, both diseases can be managed effectively and their spread limited. Moreover, the Association of Shelter Veterinarians and the American Association of Feline Practitioners do not support euthanasia based solely on a cat’s infection status.

FeLV

Approximately three to four percent of cats in the United States test positive each year for feline leukemia virus, according to the 2020 AAFP Feline Retrovirus Testing and Management Guidelines. The diagnosis affects an estimated 60,000 cats in animal shelters annually.

It’s important to know that the disease, which suppresses a cat’s immune system, does not run a straight course, says Julie Levy, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, DABVP (Shelter Medicine). It affects different cats in different ways and at different times. Levels may change over time depending on a cat’s immune status. Some cats live with the disease with little problem. It may flare up if the cat is stressed or has a comorbidity such as an upper respiratory infection and then subside. It’s not possible to run a test once and then expect the cat to remain the same throughout life.

More important, people are willing to adopt cats with FeLV and give them the care they need.

There is a high national demand for a lifesaving option for cats diagnosed with FeLV, and more and more shelters are working to place FeLV-positive cats in homes. Programs include Chicago’s Tree House Humane Society, Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society, Operation Kindness in Carrollton, Texas, and Austin Pets Alive!

A cat with FeLV can live for many years without illness and without spreading the disease to other cats if they are adopted into single-cat homes or with other FeLV+ cats. This has made a difference for cats in several ways. One is that recommended options for testing have been pared down to a small menu of the most accurate and cost-effective tests. A long-running study has allowed researchers to determine the most reliable tests as well as to evaluate how the status of cats with the disease changes over time. Using a new quantitative PCR test, shelters can now identify whether a tested cat is likely to be a long-term survivor or develop disease and mortality early.

Preventing FeLV

The advisory panel of the AAFP recommends that kittens be vaccinated for FeLV starting as early as 8 weeks of age with two vaccines given three to four weeks apart and then boosted when they are a year old. Vaccination of cats for FeLV during kittenhood, followed by a single booster vaccination at one year of age, is the best way to prevent spread of the disease and reduce its incidence.

While it does not consider FeLV a core vaccine for adult cats, the AAFP recommends that adult cats should be vaccinated annually for FeLV if they are at risk. Risk factors include spending time outdoors, living with cats known to be infected with FeLV, or interacting with cats of unknown disease status.

Ask clients or adopters about the lifestyle and vaccination status of other cats in the home. While vaccination doesn’t help cats already infected with FeLV, it is important for uninfected cats who may have access to the outdoors or potential contact with infected cats. It’s not uncommon for indoor cats to accidentally get out of the house or to experience a change in lifestyle leading to time spent outdoors on a regular or full-time basis.

Elanco’s range of vaccines against FeLV are designed to give feline patients a more comfortable vaccine experience. The ½ mL vaccine—containing half the volume of traditional 1 mL vaccines decreases administration time, increasing the comfort of the vaccination. It is also highly purified, using PureFil technology, designed to reduce adverse reactions associated with extraneous proteins and cellular debris. The vaccine line is available in a variety of combinations, including the only 1/2mL FVRCP+FeLV vaccine, to reduce the number of injections that may be needed.

FIV

Along with FeLV, feline immunodeficiency virus is one of the most common causes of infectious disease in cats worldwide. Cats typically acquire FIV through bite wounds when they fight with FIV-infected cats. A cat’s FIV status should be determined at the time of adoption or if the cat later becomes ill or has any risk of exposure.

But an FIV-positive test does not make a cat unadoptable. While the possibility of transmission is there, exposure to an infected cat is not as risky to uninfected cats as previously thought. FIV-positive cats living amicably with disease-free cats do not appear to pass on the disease. Nor do FIV-positive queens pass on the disease to their kittens. Casual contact, such as allogrooming or sharing water bowls, has not been found to be a common or efficient route of transmission. And while FIV is contagious among cats, it’s not transmissible to humans.

FIV infection can have three phases: acute, asymptomatic, and progressive. In the acute phase, occurring one to three months after infection, cats may have mild signs or no signs. It is followed by an asymptomatic, or latent, phase, which can continue for months or years. They may or may not progress to symptomatic disease.

With good care, some infected cats can live for many years with good quality of life. Some cats show no signs at all, although they remain infectious. However, because FIV affects the immune system, cats with the disease can be more prone to respiratory, dental, eye, or skin infections. Other signs associated with FIV include fever, lethargy, chronic diarrhea, and weight loss.

Clients or adopters caring for cats with FIV should protect them from injuries or wounds that could lead to secondary bacterial infections, as well as from other viruses and parasites that could cause illness. Best management practice is for these cats to live indoors, where they are protected from exposure to potential injuries and infections and prevented from spreading the disease to other cats.

A vaccination for FIV is not commercially available in the U. S., nor is it recommended by any veterinary organizations or schools of veterinary medicine. Its use can complicate diagnosis of FIV infections. Vaccinated cats produce antibodies indistinguishable from antibodies induced by natural infection, making test results unclear if a cat’s vaccination history is unknown. Cats vaccinated for FIV should have a microchip or tag indicating their vaccination status.

The bottom line is that cats with FeLV or FIV are often young, healthy in the moment, enjoying life, and can make great companions. With good care protocols, they can live happy lives with people and other cats.

Click-thru URLS

Fear Free         https://fearfreepets.com/

Blog                 https://fearfreepets.com/blog/

Elanco Animal Health https://www.elanco.us/

American Association of Feline Practitioners 2020 AAFP Feline Retrovirus Testing and Management Guidelines (sagepub.com)

This post is brought to you by our sponsor, Elanco, the maker of TruFel Ultra Vaccines.

TruFel, Ultra, Purefil, Elanco, and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates.

©2022 Elanco or its affiliates. PM-US-22-1068

The Importance of Managing Pain in the Fear Free Practice

Michael Petty, DVM, CVPP, CVMA, CCRTIf you have ever hit your finger with a hammer, the immediate response is often one of surprise or even frustration. The next day, as you are having trouble using that finger, a common emotion is disappointment at the discomfort you are experiencing and wishing that you had been more careful. What causes that reaction?

The “fear center” and the “pain center” occupy adjacent areas of the brain. The thalamus is the area of the brain that registers pain, and on either side of the thalamus is the limbic system, which is responsible for emotions including fear, anxiety, and the sequelae of stress (FAS).

These two areas of the brain “talk” to each other and send signals back and forth. The thalamus sending signals to the limbic system is what causes your reaction to hitting your finger with a hammer. When this thalamic-limbic crosstalk happens in an animal in acute pain, the animal may lash out at the owner or veterinary staff.

So now consider an animal who is in pain and has been presented to you. If experiencing acute pain, the animal may lash out due to a combination of pain and FAS. If experiencing chronic pain, many of these pets act dull and disinterested. The owner may even comment that the pet just doesn’t socialize and lacks the energy and mobility that she used to demonstrate. Even worse is the animal who has chronic pain, say from osteoarthritis, and now has an acute injury on top of it. The distress in some of these animals is almost too much to bear.

It is easy for us to recognize and treat acute pain, but the diagnosis of chronic pain states can be difficult for a variety of reasons. It takes time to take a thorough history and perform a complete pain exam on dogs and cats. However, there are many resources available to make that task easier, including pet owner-friendly screening checklists for osteoarthritis (Cat, Dog) and expert tips for the OA exam (feline OA exam).

Even with successful diagnosis, the treatment of chronic pain can sometimes be difficult especially if your treatment is narrow in focus. But it is essential to make a timely diagnosis of chronic pain and provide effective analgesia to be successful in therapy. And it is also important that the owner understands your diagnosis, whether through education alone or with the help of radiographs and teaching tools (feline and canine chronic pain). The owner is an essential member of the pain treatment team, both in the evaluation of treatments over time but also in enlisting them in the day to day therapies that might be required.

My approach to the treatment of chronic pain in dogs, for example, is to build a pyramid of treatments, and on the base layer I start with an NSAID. The NSAID I use most commonly is Rimadyl® (carprofen), which I really like for its effects on both pain and inflammation. For many chronic OA cases, there are other factors that can influence the ability to manage both pain and disease progression, and they should all be looked at.

For example, consider the animal next. Is he overweight? One study showed that in an obese dog, losing only about 10 percent of body weight can significantly improve lameness1. In other words, weight loss for an overweight dog can amplify the pain relief achieved with an NSAID alone

What about exercise? Again, one human study showed that one-half hour of exercise 5 days a week for people with knee OA was the equivalent of – you guessed it: an NSAID! So now you have tripled your pain-relieving efforts by building a solid foundation of multi-modal therapies, upon which you can add other therapies as needed.

It is beyond the scope of this writing to discuss all possible treatments: medications, physical therapy, acupuncture, and so forth, but I encourage everyone to read or re-read the 2015 AAHA Pain Management Guidelines for a thorough review of all of the pain management options we have for both acute and chronic pain.

What does the future hold for us? The most exciting thing I have seen on the horizon is the introduction of anti-NGF monoclonal antibodies. NGF, or Nerve Growth Factor, is one of several major “players” in the transmission of pain via the nociceptors. The use of these monoclonal antibodies holds great promise to reduce the sensation of pain in our patients with osteoarthritis. More information about the action of anti-NGF monoclonal antibodies can be found at the New Science of OA Pain website.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR RIMADYL: As a class, NSAIDs may be associated with gastrointestinal, kidney and liver side effects. These are usually mild but may be serious. Pet owners should discontinue therapy and contact their veterinarian immediately if side effects occur. Evaluation for pre-existing conditions and regular monitoring are recommended for pets on any medication, including Rimadyl. Use with other NSAIDs or corticosteroids should be avoided.

See full Prescribing Information at:
https://www2.zoetisus.com/content/_assets/docs/Petcare/rimadyl-prescribing-information.pdf

Reference:

  1. Marshall WG, Hazewinkel HA, Mullen D, et al. The effect of weight loss on lameness in obese dogs with osteoarthritis. Vet Res Commun 2010;34(3):241–53.

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.Sponsored by our friends at Zoetis Petcare. ©2021 Zoetis Services LLC. All rights reserved RIM-00324

That Hurts, But I Won’t Tell You About It: How to Find and Help Your Feline OA Patients

Jason Doolittle, DVMFelis catus – the domestic cat – is an amazing animal who delights and surprises even those of us who have spent years working with them. Among their many unique personality traits is their ability, highly evolved and adapted over thousands of years, to mask their pain when frightened, surprised, or otherwise stressed. It should be no surprise, then, that when your feline patients are in an unfamiliar environment, surrounded by sights, sounds, and smells they don’t recognize (such as a veterinary exam room), they will be inclined to mask their pain.

Cats in these situations also commonly experience fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS). FAS can cause a cat to mask their pain but could also result in behaviors easily mistaken for signs of pain. Partnering with your client, the cat owner, is essential to make an accurate diagnosis of pain in your feline patients.

Helping our feline patients with osteoarthritis (OA) starts at home, with our clients. As you are aware, cat owners are highly attuned to even small changes in their cat’s habits, personality, and idiosyncrasies that make them unique. Partner with your clients and teach them to screen for OA pain at home with a validated Cat OA Checklist produced by Zoetis. On this website, there are three simple screening steps that should only take your clients a few minutes to complete:

  1. The first step utilizes animations to show healthy cat movement in performing several activities (e.g., climbing upstairs) compared to how cats move with joint disease. Your clients will be asked to check on the animations that are consistent with how their cat moves and that are suggestive of OA-related pain.
  2. The next step evaluates, on a scale, the cat owner’s perception of their favorite feline’s emotional and physical well-being. Because OA is a chronic disease that can affect cats emotionally, this is an important step in connecting to the disease state.
  3. The third, and final, step briefly summarizes, with yes/no questions, general behavior changes.

Once complete, clients can enter their email address to receive a copy of the checklist results. In some cases, clients will see the need to bring their cat into you for evaluation; others will need some encouragement to make an appointment. Consider recommending that your clients email the checklist results so you can identify those who might need to be seen.

To help prepare you for these kitties who will be coming to your office, Zoetis has created a website that provides you with resources such as helping to build cat owner awareness of feline pain, talk through the OA checklist they have completed, and feline orthopedic exam resources, including demonstration videos. This website contains a link to a printable version of the Cat OA Checklist that could be used, for example, with a client who has come into your office with their dog but has a cat at home that you haven’t seen in several years to encourage them to seek veterinary care for their feline companion.

It is important to remember that using Fear Free and Cat Friendly principles may mean that some cats who are coming to you to be evaluated for OA may require pharmaceutical help to remain calm. Keep in mind that some anxiolytic regimens may also produce analgesia and alter your exam findings. Objective diagnostic tools, such as orthopedic radiographs, are also an important part of the complete clinical evaluation.

Orthopedic exams and diagnosing OA in cats are yet more reminders that cats are not small dogs! As you partner with your cat-owning clients by asking them to screen their cats in the environment where they are most likely to show signs of OA, you will be better able to diagnose your arthritic feline patients. This partnership will greatly enhance your reputation amongst your clients who will see you as a trusted advisor to their beloved and treasured cat companion.

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.Sponsored by our friends at Zoetis Petcare. © 2021 Zoetis Services LLC. All rights reserved. NA-02588

Dispelling Dental Myths

Mary L. Berg, BS, RVT, RLATG, VTS (Dentistry)Did you know that approximately 80 percent of adult dogs and 70 percent of adult cats have some form of oral disease? Dental problems in dogs and cats are among the top three pet owner concerns, and many have misconceptions about how to provide good oral care. Here is a list of the most common myths your clients believe about pet dental health or questions they have and what to know to answer them.

  1. White teeth equal a healthy mouth.

Not necessarily. The health of the gums is more important than the color of the teeth.  Red, swollen gums are a sign that infection is lurking below the gumline. Infection can lead to bad breath, tooth loss, and heart, liver, and kidney disease in pets. The best way to ensure that every pet has a healthy mouth is to have your veterinarian perform a regular oral examination and professional tooth cleaning procedure on at least an annual basis.

  1. Bad breath is normal in pets

Not true. Bad breath is an indicator of an infected mouth. The odor is often caused by by-products of bacteria in the mouth that form plaque and lead to dental disease. Pets with halitosis need a thorough dental exam and cleaning procedure.

  1. Anesthesia is scary, so non-anesthetic dental cleaning is the way to go.

There is always a risk when an animal is anesthetized, but a thorough pre-op examination and blood work along with individualized anesthetic protocols and monitoring reduces pets’ risk during anesthesia. An anesthesia-free dental cleaning provides no benefit to the pet’s oral health. Scaling or scraping the teeth with an instrument only makes a tooth whiter in appearance. Think of the tooth as an iceberg; we see only about one-third of the tooth with the remaining two-thirds below the gumline. Bacteria below the gumline quickly become pathologic and begin to destroy the tissues surrounding the tooth. It is not possible to eliminate bacteria beneath the gumline where damage is done. Scaling without proper polishing roughens the tooth surface, leaving more surface area for bacterial plaque to attach to the tooth surface. Anesthesia-free dental cleanings are dangerous because they give a false sense of security that the pet has a clean mouth, allowing periodontal disease to go undetected and untreated. See more at: http://avdc.org/AFD/pet-periodontal-disease/#sthash.EGBX3IuT.dpuf and http://avdc.org/AFD/

  1. Tooth brushing is too difficult, and my pet hates it and it really doesn’t help anyway.

While not all pets are willing to accept tooth brushing, it is the gold standard for good oral care.  It does take time to teach pets to accept tooth brushing. Have a detailed explanation and demonstration for the pet owner such as this: “Start slow, with your finger and some pet toothpaste. Hold the muzzle with one hand and gently insert your finger between the cheek and the teeth and ‘brush’ the teeth.  Reward pets with a favorite treat, praise, or game when they accept brushing! You may need to do this every day for a week to ensure your pet learns that it’s okay! Once the pet accepts your finger, begin using a toothbrush but introduce it slowly over several days. You only need to brush the outside of the teeth.” You can also refer clients to this video from Maddie’s Fund.

  1. Feeding hard kibble will keep my pet’s teeth clean.

Most dogs and cats swallow kibble whole, getting no dental benefit. Even if pets chew kibble, the kibble is too hard and breaks apart when the tooth hits it, offering no benefit. Some dental diets are designed to solve this problem. The kibble is larger and softer, comprising a fiber matrix that allows the tooth to penetrate the kibble, thus wiping plaque off the tooth.

  1. 6. Bones, chew toys, and tennis balls will help keep his teeth clean.

While your dog will love you for the bone, his teeth may not. The canine jaw does not shift side to side like a human jaw, so when dogs bite down on a bone they often fracture the carnassial teeth. These fractured teeth hurt and can lead to infections and abscesses if left untreated.

Here’s a good rule of thumb when choosing a chew toy: if you can’t easily bend it with your hands or if you wouldn’t want to be hit in the knee with it, don’t give it to a pet. Wild dogs and wolves often have multiple fractures in their mouths due to chewing on bones.

Playing fetch with a tennis ball is a great way to bond with your pet but put the ball away when done. The rough surface of the tennis ball can abrade tooth enamel over time. Dogs who constantly chew on tennis balls often have severely worn teeth that can become painful.

  1. Dogs and cats do not feel pain.

Our pets can’t tell us about the pain they feel, and they often want us to be happy, so they mask the pain. An infected mouth or a fractured tooth hurt and require treatment. Pets need to eat to stay alive so they will often figure out a way to do so that causes the least amount of pain.  If clients notice their pet dropping food or only chewing on one side of the mouth, their pet has a problem.

  1. It doesn’t bother me if my pet’s teeth aren’t pretty.

Pets with dental disease have an infection that should be treated just as an infected ear or wound would be treated. This infection is in the oral cavity and every time the animal chews, bacteria is released into the bloodstream, causing a detrimental effect on the heart, liver, and kidneys. There are even new studies linking joint issues to the oral cavity.

  1. Oral disease is an inevitable part of aging.

Pets who receive good oral home care and routine professional cleanings are much less likely to develop dental disease as they age. Many veterinary professionals believe that good oral care can add an average of two years to the life of a pet. Just as age is not a disease, dental disease does not have to be an issue in aging pets.

  1. How can I know if a dental product will really work for my pet?

The Veterinary Oral Health Council gives dental products a seal of approval for either plaque reduction or tartar reduction. The VOHC recognizes products that meet pre-set standards of plaque and calculus (tartar) retardation in dogs and cats. Types of products include special diets, toothbrushes, treats that may contain enzymes to help clean teeth, and treats or toys that can be filled with enzymatic pet toothpaste. Items awarded the VOHC Seal of Acceptance have been proven to work based on scientific studies and protocols. Bright Dental chews and toothpaste are currently in the midst of trials to earn VOHC certification.

References

Pavilica, Z., Petelin, M., Juntes, P, Erszen ,D., Crossley, DA, Skaleric, U,  “Periodontal Disease Burden and Pathological Changes in Organs of Dogs.”  J Vet Dent 2008 Jun:25(2):97-105.

DeBowes LJ: The effects of dental disease on systemic disease. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 28:1057. 1998

Debowes, LJ, Mosier, D. Association of periodontal disease and histologic lesions in multiple organs from 45 dogs. J Vet Dent 1996; 12: 57–60.

Maresz, KJ, etal, “Prophyromonas gingivalis facilitates the development and progression of destructive arthritis through its unique bacterial peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD)” .  PLos Pathog. 2013 Sep;9(9):e 1003627

Tang, Q, Fu H, Qin B, etal,”A possible link between rheumatoid arthritis and periodontitis: A systemic Review and Meta-analysis.” Int. J Periodontics Restorative Dent 2017, Jan/Feb, 37(1):79-96

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Mary is a charter member of the Academy of Veterinary Dental Technicians and received her Veterinary Technician Specialty in Dentistry in June 2006. She worked in research for over 28 years, specializing in products aimed at improving oral health of companion animals and continues to work with companies to evaluate the efficacy of their products. Mary is the founder and president of Beyond the Crown Veterinary Education, a veterinary dental consulting service.  She was named NAVTA Veterinary Technician of the Year in 2020 and received the AVDT’s Excellence in Dentistry Education award in 2019. Mary is a speaker and wet lab instructor at numerous state and national conferences. She lives on a small farm near Lawrence, Kansas, with her husband, Doug, and has two sons and three grandchildren.

Brought to you by


A sick dog is lying on the carpet. Treatment of dogs at home

Talking About OA with Your Clients Doesn’t Have to be Painful

Mary Ann Vande Linde, DVM, Vande Linde & Associates, Brunswick, GeorgiaOsteoarthritis is the most common joint disease diagnosed in humans and pets. What does this mean to a veterinary team? It means that a high percentage of pets and their owners have some familiarity with the discomfort and pain of joint disease. I’m sure we have all had clients tell us they have noticed a change in their pet’s activity, but they usually pass it off as normal for his/her age or suggest their pet is just “slowing down.” This belief does not mean that they don’t care; they just do not understand that what they are seeing may be due to pain. There are some simple communication tools your team can utilize to add value and increase a client’s understanding and acceptance that osteoarthritis (OA) is not normal, and their pet has options.

One of my mentors once told me “never tell a client what you can show them.” A client may see their pet hiding or not playing, and they will need assistance determining if their pet is painful or fearful. Using the Fear Free Strategies of Considerate Approach (CA) and Gentle Control (GC) allows the pet to be comfortable enough to exhibit OA signs in the client’s presence. With CA, a relaxing atmosphere can be created where the pet can have room to move and be observed. Adding pheromones to help keep them calm and non-slip surfaces both on and off the exam room table enables them to safely explore. In addition, with GC, veterinarians can examine the pet where he or she prefers and is most comfortable. Make sure to plan ahead by having materials easily accessible, and have assistance available in the room so the veterinarian can keep a gentle reassuring hand on the pet. Later during the physical exam, the doctor can communicate how their assessment relates to what the client sees their pet experiencing.

To be efficient and consistent communicators, teams need tools that open clients’ minds to possibilities.  The Zoetis Canine and Feline OA Screening Checklists can be a discussion starting point. These checklists have “cartoons” of cats and dogs doing common activities around the home that have been identified through research as top behaviors that can indicate OA pain.1,2

This visual checklist allows the client to see their pet’s behavior changes through the animations.  They can see how a healthy cat moves compared to a cat who has unhealthy changes from OA pain. With a checklist a client can tell the veterinarian what they see in comparison to the pictures, or they can review a video of what their pet is doing compared to the cartoon. By reviewing the checklist with a trained technician or veterinarian, the client can offer insight into how they view their pet’s mobility, behavior, and daily comfort. This checklist can be used prior to any exam with an email electric copy, or completed in the room by computer, phone, or as a printed hard copy. This could be a valuable addition to any biannual or annual checkup.

Age is not a disease. And we have tools, strategies and skills that make client discussion interactive, efficient and fun. Clients love to learn about their pets, they want a plan, and they want to feel confident they have made good decisions. Combining the tools of an interactive team checklist, Fear Free strategies of CA and GC and using open questions with active listening create productive discussions, save time, and produce healthier teams and pets. Go ahead talk about OA with these tools: it’s painless.

References

  1. Enomoto, M. (2020). Development of a checklist for the detection of degenerative joint disease-associated pain in cats. Journal of Feline Medicine And Surgery
  2. Wright, A. (2019). PVM1 Diagnosis and treatment rates of OA in dogs using a Health Risk Assessment (HRA) or Health Questionnaire for OA in general veterinary practice Value In Health, 22, S387
  3. Adams, C., & Kurtz, S. (2017). Skills for communicating in veterinary medicine. Oxford: Otmoor Publishing.

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Sponsored by our friends at Zoetis Petcare. NA-02335

Communicating the Value of Fear Free to Your Clients

Dr. Julie Reck, Owner, Veterinary Medical Center of Fort Mill, Fort Mill, South CarolinaMore than ever, pet owners have a strong bond with their pets. That means they are expecting their pet’s experience at the clinic to be enjoyable. Fear Free provides that excellent “customer” experience for both the pet and the pet owner. However, a client’s first Fear Free experience will likely be different from previous veterinary visits and could seem strange. It is important to ensure that each client fully understands that Fear Free considers both the medical and emotional well-being of their pet and realizes the significance of taking both aspects of the pet’s care into consideration.

Three Key Messages for Our Practice

  1. We believe in the power of positive reinforcement. Patients will be treated kindly and receive lots of treats and verbal encouragement.
  2. Fear Free is reinventing the definition of a successful veterinary visit. It is no longer acceptable to “just get it done.” We take into consideration where the patient is emotionally and proceed appropriately, which may mean that some things will not get done during a visit. For example, toenail clipping may have to be done another day if the patient elevates to moderate signs of fear, anxiety, and stress (Level 3 FAS).
  3. Our hospital has a consistent approach to handling and treating our patients: Everyone is practicing Fear Free techniques with every patient.

Below are tips for successfully communicating the benefits of Fear Free to your clients.

Maximize Your Social Media Presence

Currently I have owners seeking out my clinic specifically for the Fear Free experience, but in the beginning this was not the case. It became obvious to me that the benefits of the Fear Free visit needed to be stated clearly in all my communications.

For the pet owner, the Fear Free journey begins before they get to the clinic. I want my clients to be educated consumers, so they “know before they go,” or, in other words, they know what to expect when they arrive at my clinic. My website and my clinic’s Facebook page fully communicate this to pet owners. We take a proactive approach to prepare the client for a positive experience. This includes stating our philosophy on what a good veterinary experience looks like for the pet and the pet owner using videos, testimonials, news feeds, or stories to keep pet owners informed and prepared for that great Fear Free experience.

The Customer Service Representative (CSR) Prepares the Client and Pet for the Visit

Our CSRs are the next line of communication. They are trained to answer any questions about Fear Free and are critical in making sure that the pet arrives safely and prepared for the visit.

Safety includes recommending that the pet is either in a carrier or harnessed/seat belted while in the car, and that they have a collar and leash if walked into the clinic or stay in the carrier until in the exam room. The carrier can provide the pet a sense of comfort.

Being “prepared” for the visit means making sure the pet arrives hungry and that we have their favorite treat ready for them when they arrive. A day or two before the visit, we send the owner a reminder email and/or text with these same instructions.

Continuing to Communicate During the Examination

The examination provides an opportunity to have a conversation with the pet owner, allowing them to feel more involved with the entire process. I will explain what I am doing, such as standing behind the patient instead of examining their head and face first. I will also describe the patient’s emotional status based on the patient’s body language and my physical findings. This prepares the owner for any diagnostic and/or treatment recommendations that I make, and they are more likely to be compliant with my plan.

Additionally, if the patient’s level of FAS does not allow the completion of the exam or planned procedures, such as nail clipping, the client will be more likely to understand because of the ongoing conversation about the patient’s behavior and emotional status.

It is also important that the pet owner understands their pet’s level of fear, anxiety, and stress will change, based on the situation. A dog who typically loves coming to the clinic may behave differently when coming in for examination and treatment of a painful ear infection. Where we may have never needed to sedate in the past, it is necessary now to ensure that the patient had the best possible experience because the dog’s pain has exacerbated his level of fear.

For patients with a history of severe veterinary visit FAS who we are seeing for the first time, we will inform the pet owner that the first visit will be a consultation. We take the patient’s history, perform a visual examination, but forgo the physical examination to keep the FAS level as low as possible. We may prescribe PVPs and/or schedule a series of “Happy Visits” where the patient arrives, receives treats, then leaves before we ever get to the hands-on physical exam.

What About the Client Who Fails to See the Benefits of Fear Free?

For clients who are more interested in “just getting it done,” I will inform them that the goal is to consider the long-term emotional wellbeing of their pet rather than the short-term approach of “just getting it done.” Some clients will understand and comply. For those who do not, we will agree to disagree and part ways.

It is important that the clinic owner and staff back this decision and uphold the values the Fear Free team has agreed upon. This is especially true if the pet owner is loud and unpleasant. Professional affirmation for the decision and support from colleagues can reinforce that one negative encounter with a client cannot undermine all the positive feedback and improved patient outcomes that comes with being Fear Free.

I have found that it is the small consistent changes that accumulate over time that get you to Fear Free. You might start with pheromones and see a subtle difference, then add in Considerate Approach and Gentle Restraint with liberal use of treats and see more of a change. As you continue to master the techniques and communicate the benefits of Fear Free, you will find that you and your staff are emotionally enriched, your clients have a renewed feeling of trust and bonding to you, and your clinic and your patients are actually happy to see you!

Sponsored by our friends at Zoetis Petcare. NA-02292

5 Ways to Have the Worm Conversation with Your Clients

When clients come to your clinic and discuss the parasites that worry them most, they often start with ticks and fleas because they’re visible — they can see the threat. As a veterinary professional, however, you know there are other dangerous parasites they can’t see, including more than just heartworm. You also know that recommending broad-spectrum parasite protection isn’t a sales tactic; it’s good medicine. So how do you start the conversation about the importance of protecting dogs against other types of parasites in a way that pet owners will understand, appreciate, and ultimately listen to?Here are five conversation starters to help your clients understand the risks and why intestinal parasites can pose a bigger problem than they may think.

1. Parasites disrupt the pet owner-pet bond.

No pet owner wants to see the dreaded “rice” on their dog’s rear, or learn their dog has been shedding eggs from intestinal parasites and contaminating their yard. Intestinal parasites aren’t just stressful for pet owners, but for pets, too. An indoor dog could suddenly be relegated to the outdoors or confined to a single room – all while a frantic pet owner tries to reach their veterinarian after hours. Dogs are intelligent creatures, but that doesn’t mean they will understand why their owner is suddenly distant, worried or disgusted. The bottom line: Parasitic infections can undermine efforts to create a warm, inviting, Fear Free home for a pet.

2. Intestinal parasite prevalence rates are rising.

The average number of heartworm-positive dogs per clinic increased by 21.7 percent in a 2017 survey conducted by the American Heartworm Society.1 While pet owners may recognize the importance of protecting against heartworm, they might not realize the threats posed by intestinal parasites as well. Along with the increasing threat of heartworm, prevalence rates of intestinal parasites are also on the rise. In shelter dogs:

  • Canine hookworm (Ancylostoma caninum) prevalence rates increased from 19.2 percent average prevalence nationwide in 1996 to 29.8 percent in 20142,3
  • Canine whipworm (Trichuris vulpis) prevalence rates increased from 14.3 percent average prevalence nationwide in 1996 to 18.7 percent in 20142,3

3. Pets are out and about (and exposed) more than ever.

Dog parks are prime areas for the spread of parasites like hookworm, whipworm and roundworm. In a pilot study conducted across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, 80 percent of sampled dog parks had at least one dog test positive for intestinal parasites.4 If a client frequents dog parks or other areas with lots of dogs, they should know that it increases their dog’s risk of picking up a parasitic infection.

4. Shelter dogs may increase parasite prevalence in your area.

Did you know nearly two thirds of animal shelters and rescue organizations do not test, treat or provide heartworm prevention before transporting dogs? From 2014 to 2017 shelters imported 114,000 dogs to Colorado, and during that same time period Colorado saw a 67.5 percent increase in heartworm prevalence. Even if you practice in an area with historically low parasite prevalence, shelter dog relocation may contribute to a higher local risk of parasitic disease for your clients.5

5. Owners and their families are at risk, too.

Pet owners often don’t realize that zoonotic disease transmission is a real threat to their families, especially young children.6 If clients question the necessity of intestinal parasite protection, explain that roundworm eggs can remain in an environment for years6 — leaving pets and human family members at risk long after the problem was thought to be “over.” Even walking around barefoot in their own yard could be a risk, because infective hookworm larvae can penetrate human skin to spread zoonotic disease.7

Regardless of the many Fear Free reasons to protect against intestinal parasites, educating pet owners on the risks of these “hidden” parasites can be a challenge. Using the conversation starters above can help support a recommendation for heartworm prevention that also protects against hookworm, roundworm, whipworm, and tapeworm, as well as potentially increasing compliance. After all, a client who understands the value of intestinal parasite protection for their pet is that much more likely to administer it.

References

    1. American Heartworm Society. AHS survey finds increase in heartworm cases. Available at: https://d3ft8sckhnqim2.cloudfront.net/images/bulletin/AHS-1705-May-17-Summer-Bulletin.pdf?1535050388. Accessed June 20, 2019.
    2. Blagburn BL, Lindsay DS, Vaughan JL et al. Prevalence of canine parasites based on fecal flotation. Comp Cont Educ Pract. 1996;18(5):483-509.
    3. Blagburn BL, Butler JM, Mount J, et al. Prevalence of internal parasites in shelter dogs based on centrifugal fecal flotation [abstract]. In Proceedings AAVP 59th Annual Meeting. Denver; 2014. 26-29 July 2014.
    4. Elanco Animal Health. Data on file.
    5. Drake J, Parrish RS. Dog importation and changes in heartworm prevalence in Colorado 2013-2017. Parasite Vector. 2019;12:207.
    6. Companion Animal Parasite Council. Ascarid. Available at: https://www.capcvet.org/guidelines/ascarid/. Accessed May 16, 2018.
    7. Companion Animal Parasite Council. Trichuris vulpis. Available at: https://www.capcvet.org/guidelines/trichuris-vulpis/. Accessed May 16, 2018.
  2. This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.This post is brought to you by our sponsor, Elanco, the makers of Credelio® (lotilaner) and
    Interceptor® Plus (milbemycin oxime/praziquantel).    INDICATIONS FOR CREDELIO

    Credelio kills adult fleas, treats flea infestations (Ctenocephalides felis) and treats and controls tick infestations [Amblyomma americanum (lone star tick), Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick), Ixodes scapularis (black-legged tick) and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (brown dog tick)] for one month in dogs and puppies 8 weeks or older and 4.4 pounds or more.

    IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR CREDELIO

    The safe use of Credelio in breeding, pregnant or lactating dogs has not been evaluated. Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures. The most frequently reported adverse reactions are weight loss, elevated blood urea nitrogen, increased urination, and diarrhea. Please see full Credelio product information for complete safety information or contact your veterinarian.

    INDICATIONS FOR INTERCEPTOR PLUS

    Interceptor Plus prevents heartworm disease (D. immitis) and treats and controls adult hookworm (A. caninum), roundworm (T. canis, T. leonina), whipworm (T. vulpis) and tapeworm infections (T. pisiformis, E. multilocularis, E. granulosus and D. caninum) in dogs and puppies 6 weeks or older and 2 pounds or greater.

    IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR INTERCEPTOR PLUS

    Treatment with fewer than 6 monthly doses after the last exposure to mosquitoes may not provide complete heartworm prevention. Prior to administration of Interceptor Plus (milbemycin oxime/praziquantel), dogs should be tested for existing heartworm infections. The safety of Interceptor Plus has not been evaluated in dogs used for breeding or in lactating females. The following adverse reactions have been reported in dogs after administration of milbemycin oxime or praziquantel: vomiting, diarrhea, depression/lethargy, ataxia, anorexia, convulsions, weakness, and salivation. Please see full Interceptor Plus product information for complete safety information or contact your veterinarian

    Credelio, Interceptor, Elanco and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates.
    © 2019 Elanco. PM-US-19-1483

4 Reasons to Start a Puppy Socialization Class in Your Clinic

Valarie V. Tynes, DVM, DACVB, DACAW

Do you still believe that a puppy should have all her vaccinations before ever meeting another dog? Do you think the safest place for every new puppy is within his own home until after the last set of vaccinations? If so, you may be running the risk of the puppy’s early death due to behavior problems.

Studies have demonstrated that behavior problems likely result in more pet deaths than any other single cause.1, 2,3 A properly run puppy socialization class should not put your patients at any increased risk of communicable disease.4

If you do not have a reliable, safe place to refer your clients to for puppy classes, then consider offering them at your own clinic. Puppy classes are fun and, when held at your clinic, allow you and your staff to reap the benefits. Here are four reasons to consider adding puppy classes to your practice’s programs:

1. Proper socialization is critical to the puppy’s proper development and the window for this period of development is only open until about 14-16 weeks. After that time, puppies are not as able to learn to cope with novelty and develop new relationships with other individuals.

Your clinic is a safe place for this experience to happen because:

  • You can sanitize the surfaces puppies will contact.
  • You can be certain that all puppies who attend have had at least one vaccination several days prior to their visit.
  • You can give each puppy a brief exam and send puppies home if they appear to be sick.

2. Puppy classes help create more cooperative patients. When puppies come to your clinic once a week for a few weeks, and the only thing that happens there is they get to play with other puppies, meet some new people, see some strange things and get lots of treats, they learn that there is nothing scary about the vet clinic.

Part of at least one puppy class session should involve demonstrating to pet owners how to handle their new puppy’s ears, toes, tail, and other body parts in a way that mimic handling for veterinary and grooming procedures. When this is done while giving treats, puppies learn that this type of handling is routine and “no big deal.”

You can help set the puppy up for success in advance by recommending the owner use an Adaptil Junior collar. This is a collar impregnated with dog appeasing pheromone, the same pheromone that mother dogs release during the period of time when they are nursing puppies. Numerous placebo-controlled studies have demonstrated its ability to help decrease signs of fear and anxiety in many situations.5,6,7 When placed on puppies during their critical period for socialization, the collar has been proven to help with the socialization process.8 Puppies between 8 and 16 weeks of age who wore an Adaptil collar for just 30 days while attending a puppy class showed signs of being better socialized 1, 3, and 6 months later than puppies who wore a placebo collar.9

3. Puppy classes will bond clients to your practice. When clients see how much you care about their puppy’s healthy development and good behavior, they will appreciate your commitment to their puppy’s overall health.

When they see how happy their puppy is to return to your clinic time and time again because he only has good memories associated with the visit, they will have no reason to ever consider going to another practice.

4. Puppy classes provide an added revenue stream. They do not have to be managed by the veterinarian. It is very possible that you have a staff member who is interested in learning more about how to do this and would love the opportunity to take on such a valuable and rewarding project. There are several excellent resources available for learning how to teach a puppy class and with some training and practice most anyone can add puppy classes to their clinic’s list of services. One of the best is the Puppy Start Right for Instructors Course, which offers a discount to Fear Free Certified Professionals using code FEARFREEPSRI.

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

References

This article was brought to you in collaboration with our friends at Ceva.
  1. Dolan ED, Scotto J, Slater M, et al. Risk factors for dog relinquishment to a Los Angeles municipal animal shelter. Animals (Basel) 2015; 5: 1311-1328.
  2. Dreschel NA. The effects of fear and anxiety on health and lifespan in pet dogs. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2010;125: 157- 162.
  3. Houpt KA, Honig SU, Reisner IR, Breaking the human-companion animal bond. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1996; 208: 1653-1659.
  4. Stepita ME, Bain MJ, Kass PH. Frequency of CPV Infection in Vaccinated Puppies that Attended Puppy Socialization Classes. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2013; 49:95-100.
  5. Pageat P, Gaultier E. Current research in canine and feline pheromones. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2003: 33;187-211.
  6. Mills DS, Ramos D, Esteller MG, et al. A triple blind placebo controlled AABS investigation into the assessment of the effect of Dof Appeasing Pheromone (DAP) on anxiety related behaviour of problem dogs in the veterinary clinic. 2006;98:114-126.
  7. Gaultier E, Bonnafous L, Vienet-Lague, et al. Efficacy of dog-appeasing pheromones in reducing stress associated with social isolation in newly adopted puppies. Vet Rec 2008;163:73-80.
  8. Gaultier E, Bonnafous L, Vienet-Lague, et al. Efficacy of dog appeasing pheromones in reducing behavours associated with fear of unfamiliar people and new surroundings in newly adopted puppies. Vet Rec 2009;164:708-714.
  9. Effects of dog appeasing pheromone on anxiety and fear in puppies during training and on long term socialization: Denenberg S. & Landsberg G.M. JAVMA, (2008) 233;12
Older posts