Pet Poison Hotline: Cannabis poisoning reports up 765%

In response to a recent spike in marijuana poisonings, the American Veterinary Medical Association is reminding veterinarians to warn their clients of the potential dangers associated with animal consumption of cannabis. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Animal Poison Control Center reports a 765% increase in calls about marijuana ingestion by animals in 2019 over the same period last year. Likewise, the Pet Poison Helpline says it has seen a 400% jump in marijuana-related calls over the past six years. . . . more

Pit bull grabs baby by diaper, alerts owners to fire

A heroic pit bull helped save a family from a house fire and carried a baby outside in Stockton, California. As fire began to rage at their fourplex, eight-month-old pit bull Sasha banged on the back door. “I open it, and she runs in and starts barking at me like crazy, and I was like, ‘OK, this is weird. This is not like her,’” owner Nana Chaichanhda said. She then noticed that the building was on fire and went to the bedroom to get her seven-month-old daughter to find Sasha already there. “She had my baby by the diaper and was dragging her off the bed,” she said. . . . more

Should dogs be prescribed for chronic pain?

It’s estimated that 20.4% of US adults have chronic pain and a further 8% have high-impact chronic pain, totaling 69.9 million people. Chronic pain can affect a person’s ability to carry out daily tasks, from earning an income to falling asleep at night. Research shows that being in the presence of a dog and petting them can help to distract from pain, provide comfort, and reduce the feelings of isolation that often result from chronic pain. . . . more

FDA approves ProHeart 12

The US Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine has approved ProHeart 12 (moxidectin) extended release injectable suspension for dogs one year and older. Manufactured by Zoetis, ProHeart 12, which is a macrocyclic lactone antiparasitic compound, prevents against heartworm disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis for 12 months, and is also approved for the treatment of existing larval and adult hookworm infections. The drug demonstrated 100% effectiveness in the one-year prevention of heartworm disease in two laboratory dose confirmation studies and a field study of 297 client-owned dogs who were administered the product. . . . more

Study: Beagles could be used to detect rare kind of cancer

Specially trained beagles could one day detect mesothelioma by scent, according to the lead researcher of a recent study that details the dog breed’s stunning accuracy with lung cancer. Thomas Quinn, DO, a clinical professor at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, believes the dogs could be equally effective with pleural mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure. The beagle breed was used for the study because of its unusually acute olfactory ability. According to the study, a typical dog’s sense of smell is 10,000 times stronger than that of humans, and beagles are at the top of the canine olfactory list. . . . more