The 23 most popular pet influencers, from Jiff Pom to Lil Bub

Influencers don’t have to be human to accrue massive followings and garner incomes of millions of dollars. The world of pet influencers has boomed in recent years, spawning animal-specific influencer agencies, major brand campaigns and partnerships, and on-screen appearances. These are the 23 most popular pet influencers, ranked by their total followings across Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook. . . . more

FDA: Raw pet food lots test positive for Salmonella, Listeria

Two Aunt Jeni’s Home Made raw frozen pet food products have been recalled after samples tested positive for Salmonella and/or Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono). The samples were obtained by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) during a routine inspection of the company’s manufacturing facility. The Aunt Jeni’s Home Made products being recalled are turkey dinner dog food and chicken dinner dog food. As handling the contaminated food items increases the spread of the bacteria, the FDA is advising veterinarians to alert pet owners of the recall and suggest they safely discard any affected products, as well as thoroughly clean and disinfect areas where they were stored. . . . more

Widening Salmonella outbreak linked to pig ear dog treats has sickened 143 people in 35 states

Two more pet food manufacturers are joining the list of those recalling pig ear dog treats tied to an outbreak of Salmonella that has now stricken 143 people in 35 states. The illnesses include 33 hospitalizations and 26 cases of children under five, federal health officials said on Thursday. Dog owners should not buy or feed any pig ears to their pets, including treats already in homes, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Food and Drug Administration reiterated in an update. The warning comes two days after the latest in a string of recalls involving the dog snacks. . . . more

Black bear attacks on humans are rare but often begin as scuffles with dogs, experts say

Predatory attacks on humans by black bears are extremely rare, but experts are offering insight as to how some of them may start after a woman was killed in Canada by a black bear while searching for her dogs. A “disproportionate number” of attacks by bears on human are related to dogs, Lynn Rogers, PhD, a research scientist for the Wildlife Research Institute and founder of the North American Bear Center, told ABC News. A 62-year-old Minnesota woman died over the weekend while she was looking for her dogs in the woods in Rainy Lake, Canada, just a few miles over the border from Minnesota. The dogs, yelping and barking, later returned to the cabin, but the woman never returned and was later found with a bear standing over her. . . . more

Gender discrimination holding women back in veterinary practice

Women face discrimination and occupy fewer places in the higher reaches of the veterinary profession, even as they begin to outnumber men in the field, according to a new study. Research conducted by Lancaster University Management School and Open University Business School shows that sexism continues to be a big issue with clients, while managers fail to recognize or understand gender issues. Women are increasingly dominating the profession, with 76% of veterinary school graduates being female—but disproportionately few reach the higher echelons of practice, with their employment much more likely to be as an associate than a director or partner. . . . more