Search Results for “pet insurance”

When you prescribe a medication for a patient, do you advise the client on the proper disposal of those meds? Most veterinarians don’t.A 2018 study by researchers at Oregon State University (OSU) found that 60%

It’s like the paleo diet, only for pets. Grain-free, all-meat, and raw-food diets are hugely popular with pet owners who like the idea of feeding their cats and dogs a diet that’s closer to what their ancestor ate in the wilds. The problem is, there’s no hard, scientific evidence that raw meat–based diets (RMBDs) are any healthier than traditional dry or canned pet foods.

If you’re a confirmed carnivore, how would you feel if your pet went vegan? A new study finds that one-quarter of pet owners who identify as vegans feed their dog or cat a vegan diet, while more than one-third of all dog and cat owners (which includes a lot more meat-eaters than vegans) are interested in plant-based diets for their pets.

“I see a lot of epileptic patients,” says Stephanie McGrath, DVM, MS. “It’s a very heart-wrenching disease.” Canine idiopathic epilepsy affects up to 5.7% of the pet dog population worldwide. McGrath, a neurologist and researcher at Colorado State University’s (CSU) Veterinary Teaching Hospital who says she’s frustrated at the lack of good options for treating it, thinks cannabidiols (CBD) might be one answer.

We’ve entered the peak moving season in the US. On average, more than 40 million people move each year in the United States, with an estimated 80% of those moves occurring between April and September. And, according to an oft-quoted study on pet relinquishment at US animal shelters, the number one reason pet owners give for relinquishing pets is moving (7%). Does that mean we’ve also entered the peak season for pet relinquishment?

Fifteen percent of unused human medication gets flushed down the toilet. But only about 8% of pet medications get flushed. So, are veterinarians doing a better job of educating their clients on how to properly dispose of unused medication than physicians? Maybe, but it’s still not good enough.

Even responsible pet owners do it all the time.They’ll take their dog for a walk in the woods and won’t bother picking up his feces, an oversight they’d never consider on a walk around the neighborhood. Maybe they think, “Hey, it’s the woods, nobody’s going to step in it.” Or, “Hey, it’ll decompose and help fertilize the ground.” Or, “Hey, bears go in the woods and nobody picks up their poop. What’s the difference?”

This week: A new study seeks opioid options for postsurgical pain, Metallica may have saved a hiker’s life, and a new report aims to reduce the number of dogs shot by police.

Raw food diets are rooted in the notion that dogs and cats are carnivores who crave protein and evolved to eat meat. But is meat what they really want to eat? Maybe only if it tastes good. A new study shows that when food is altered to remove the appetizing taste, dogs and cats will pass up protein in favor of other macronutrients. Specifically, dogs prefer fat, and cats like carbs.

This week: Man bites dog, cat wins lawsuit, and monkeys get cloned