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Most strains of feline coronavirus are avirulent, that is, they do not cause disease per se. However, some strains can mutate into feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), an almost always fatal disease, according to the Cornell Feline Health Center. A new study hopes to change that. Researchers from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University have successfully developed an antiviral compound for feline coronavirus associated with FIP. The study was published March 30 in PLOS/Pathogens.

If you live in a part of the country where your water has a high mineral content, also called “hard water,” not only will you use more laundry detergent when washing kennel blankets. You may also see a higher number of urinary health conditions. On April 7, Trupanion, a pet insurance company, released data that linked urinary health conditions in pets with hard water ratings in U.S. cities, as identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Is "canine influenza" a misnomer? Perhaps, in light of a recent finding. The Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine (UW Shelter Medicine) has confirmed that the virus that sickened a large number of dogs in the Midwest last year has now infected a group of cats in the region. The UW Shelter Medicine team recently tested multiple cats at an animal shelter in Northwest Indiana and found them positive for the H3N2 canine influenza virus.

Veterinary visits don’t have to be stressful for pets and their people – that’s the goal of the Fear Free Certification Program, which will launch during the American Animal Hospital Association Yearly Conference today, March 31. Supported by AAHA and available on the VetFolio platform, the Fear Free Certification Program aims to reduce the fear, stress, and anxiety pets experience when they visit the veterinarian. The initiative aims to “take the pet out of petrified” and get pets back for veterinary visits by promoting considerate approach and gentle control techniques used in calming environments.

Historically, early retinal degeneration (ERD), an inherited canine retinal disease that leaves dogs sightless within a year of birth, was attributed to the eye’s inability to regenerate its photoreceptor cells, rods, and cones. However, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania offered early evidence to refute that. In a new study, they show that retinal cells continue to differentiate early in a dog’s life before overwhelming cell death caused the retina to degenerate. The study was published March 11 in BMC Genomics.

A preventive healthcare program enables a practice to take its patient care to the next level. But where do you begin? And how do you assess the value of the tools and resources available? Talk with your peers. Practices across the country are using tools and resources offered by Partners for Healthy Pets (PHP), an alliance of 100+ veterinary associations, veterinary colleges, and animal health companies focused on preventive care led by AAHA and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

AAHA is pleased to announce a new agreement with Veterinary Study Groups (VSG) through which VSG will be AAHA’s provider for study group infrastructure, organization, and management. Practices currently participating in the North American Business Association (NABA) with AAHA will be transitioning into “AAHA-Accredited Veterinary Management Groups” over the next few months.

How do you or your clients know if a feline patient is in pain? A new study has documented the signs. Academics and clinical practitioners from across the globe with specializations in internal medicine, anesthesiology, oncology, dentistry, behavior, dermatology, ophthalmology, and neurology have identified 25 behavioral signs that cats display which could indicate that they are suffering pain. The research was published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE on Feb. 24.

Eighty percent of dental practices forward book, that is, book the next appointment before the client leaves the premises, according to the 2013 AAHA State of the Industry Report (2013 Report). (Only five percent of U.S. veterinary practices do.) Pet Dental Health Month, being celebrated in February, is the perfect time for veterinary practices to do the same, and start forward booking. And there is good reason to, not only to prevent future health crises but also to insure a high quality of care. Additionally, client visits and compliance can increase. Partners for Healthy Pets (PHP) can help.

Lead toxicity is a real threat in Flint, Mich. and not just for humans. On Feb. 5, James Averill, DVM, PhD, State Veterinarian and Animal Industry Division Director at the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), announced that two dogs tested positive for lead toxicity, reported CBS News Detroit. One dog was a stray and the other was a family dog. Both survived.