October is National Pet Wellness Month
HOW MILITARY DOGS WORKING FOR CRITICAL MISSIONS
STAY HEALTHY AND READY TO ASSIST SOLDIERS

Military Working Dogs serve alongside Soldiers in crucial roles, including detecting explosives and narcotics and providing protection, significantly enhancing operational success and safety.

The Army Reserve invests extensive time and resources into training Military Working Dogs, ensuring they are skilled in areas such as tracking, detection, patrol, and search-and-rescue missions, making them invaluable assets on the battlefield. Today, the Army Reserve has just over 500 Military Working Dogs and mine-detection dogs.

Beyond their operational value, Military Working Dogs build strong bonds with their handlers, fostering trust and morale. They are more than tools—they are trusted teammates and companions. The Army Reserve recognizes and values the loyalty and dedication of Military Working Dogs by ensuring they receive top-quality care during their service and a dignified retirement once their duties are complete, often being adopted by their handlers or loving families.

The U.S. Army Veterinary Corps and the Army Military Working Dogs Program takes a holistic approach to the dogs’ overall wellness and quality of life. In addition to the Military Working Dogs, Army Reserve veterinarians often serve as the first line of care for service members’ pets, ceremonial horses, and other animals within the Department of Defense.

The Veterinary Corps is a unique branch of the Army organized under the Army Medical Department. Army Reserve veterinarians are critical to the military, often performing important roles such as:

Provide routine medical care, perform surgeries, and respond to emergency situations.

Lead cutting-edge research to advance the understanding of zoonotic diseases (those that can spread from animals to human), biosecurity, and animal health.

Ensure the safety and quality of food consumed by Soldiers by inspecting food production and distribution facilities, like our posts’ commissaries. The Soldiers ensure that food supplies are free from contamination and meet safety standards both in the U.S. and deployed locations.

Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Jessica Brozda, a Veterinary Preventive Medicine Officer based at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, and the Officer in Charge (OIC) of the 7358th Veterinary Detachment. She’ll discuss the role of a veterinarian in the military and explain how they play a vital role in improving Military Working Dogs’ quality of life and overall wellness, as well as caring for other animals.

#military #working #dogs #handlers #pet #mission #soldiers #detectingexplosives #narcotics #protection #enhancingoperational #safety

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Claire Kirsch and her dog at home in Vassar, Mich. Brittany Greeson for The New York Times

The new pet care

By Katie Thomas

I’m an investigative reporter with a focus on the intersection of money and health care. I have a dog named Gerald.

Pets these days are just like us. They get birthday cakes, day care and rubber boots to wear in the snow. Their health care is becoming more human, too — for better and for worse.

Decades ago, animal care was relatively rudimentary. Veterinarians usually owned their own clinics, and the options to treat a sick or injured pet were limited. Today, animal hospitals are equipped with expensive magnetic resonance imaging machines, round-the-clock critical care units and teams of specialists in cancer, cardiology and neurology. For pets and the people who love them, the advances are welcome.

But as animals’ health care has changed to more closely resemble our own, it has also taken on some of the problems of the human system, including the biggest one: cost. The price of veterinary care has soared more than 60 percent over the past decade, outpacing inflation. Private equity firms have snapped up hundreds of independent clinics, in a trend reminiscent of corporate roll-ups of doctors’ offices. Veterinarians around the country told me that they worry this is changing the way that they practice, as they face growing pressure to push costly treatments and order more tests.

The changed landscape means that even as veterinarians can do more for dogs and cats than ever before, pet owners face sometimes heartbreaking decisions about whether they can afford the care. (Read more in our story on the topic.)

Changes in the industry

About one-quarter of primary care clinics and three-quarters of specialty clinics are owned by corporations, according to Brakke Consulting, which focuses on the animal health industry. Sometimes, the corporate ownership is not obvious: Many private equity firms do not change the name of the vet clinic when they take it over.

Most veterinarians are paid, at least in part, based on how much money they bring into a practice, whether that is by ordering tests, selling prescription dog food or performing procedures. One veterinarian said she quit her job after she was told her “cost per client” was too low; another said she was told she needed to see 21 animals a day, about a half-dozen more than her current workload.

Retired veterinarian David Roos and his dog, Chester. Mike Kai Chen for The New York Times

Other veterinarians said the pressure had no influence on the care they provided. In interviews, they said they bore the brunt of pet owners’ complaints, even when they have little to do with setting prices. Veterinarians make far less money than doctors for humans, and are also often in debt from years of education. Prices have gone up partly because of the rising cost of drugs, vaccines and other supplies, as well as worker salaries in a tight labor market.

One veterinarian I interviewed, Dr. Pam Nichols of South Jordan, Utah, has seen the transformation firsthand. When she was starting out in the 1990s, she said she used to sneak dachshunds into the human hospital where her father was a radiologist to give them M.R.I. scans. If the dog needed surgery, the bill would be about $2,000. Now, she said, a similar dog might get an M.R.I. and a CT scan, and will probably be operated on by a specialist who is assisted by several nurses. The cost could reach $10,000.

Tough choices for owners

Veterinary care differs from human health care in one big way: Most pet owners pay out of their own pocket — and in full — before leaving the vet’s office. While pet insurance is available, only a small percentage of pet owners have it.

A generation ago, pet owners with a seriously ill animal may have had little choice but to opt for euthanasia if they wanted to relieve their pet’s suffering. Now, they must choose between extending the animal’s life and going into what can be debilitating debt, or letting an animal die. I spoke to some pet owners who were still paying off credit card debt years after their animals had died. And animal welfare groups said owners frequently relinquished their pets to shelters because they couldn’t afford veterinary bills.

For many people, though, the sacrifices are worth it. That was the case for Claire Kirsch, who was earning less than $10 an hour as a veterinary technician in Georgia when her own dog, Roscoe, and her horse, Gambit, each had medical emergencies, resulting in bills that totaled more than $13,000. The animals would have died if she had not opted for the additional care. She took a higher-paying job, maxed out a credit card and tapped into her husband’s retirement account to pay off the debt.

“I knew I would never be able to forgive myself if we didn’t try,” she said.

The post The Morning: Pet Health Care appeared first on Good News!.

Here’s the link for easy reference: https://worldanimalfoundation.org/advocate/pet-ownership-statistics/

Linking back will not only supports our organizational cause but also aids the trust of your readers. Please let us know once the link is in place.

Thank you for understanding and for your cooperation.

Warm regards,

Davin Trent,

Outreach Manager
World Animal Foundation

www.animaltalksinc.com For anyone who has ever dealt with the loss of a pet, the grief can be overwhelming. The animal-human bond is immense during their lifetime but for many, trying to find resources for relief after the fact can be daunting.

According to data from the World Animal Foundation, 70% of households in the U.S. (90.5 million) owned a pet in 2022, as compared to 56% in 1988. These pet owners might share 15 to 20 years with their animal – be it a dog, cat, bird, rabbit or otherwise – and may even be around them 24 hours a day.

The absence caused by their death is what led Reverend Kaleel Sakakeeny, an animal chaplain, to create the nonprofit organization Animal Talks, which offers grief counseling to those in mourning.

With more humans than ever owning a pet, a story on how to cope with loss of one may be of interest to your audience. Reverend Sakakeeny can discuss more including:

· The different stages of grieving that pet owners may experience
· How an animal’s death can compare to that of a human’s in our lives
· What can happen if we do not grieve the death of a pet properly
· How to decide if one-on-one grief counseling is right for you

#nationalpetmonth #reverendkaleelsakakeeny #animaltalks #humananimal #pets #lossoflife

The post Natl. Pet Month- Coping with Loss of Precious Pet appeared first on Good News!.

Here with tips to help relieve the itch in your dog, is veterinarian Dr. Shannon Cabell (“Ca-BELL”), Consumer Medical Lead for Petcare Dermatology at Zoetis, a global leader in pet care.

BIO-Shannon Cabell, DVM, MBA
Consumer Medical Lead (Dermatology)
Zoetis Petcare

About Dr. Shannon Cabell
Dr. Shannon Cabell joined Zoetis in 2022 as the Consumer Medical Lead for Petcare Dermatology. Prior to working at Zoetis, she spent several years in general veterinary practice before focusing on mobile veterinary hospice and end-of-life care, serving patients throughout central New Jersey. A New Jersey native, Dr. Cabell is a graduate of Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, and received her MBA from the Quantic School of Business and Technology in 2021. When she’s not serving pets and the people who care for them, Shannon enjoys traveling and staying active and spending time with her family.

IMPORTANT ISI INFOMRATION
Apoquel Indications
Control of pruritus associated with allergic dermatitis and control of atopic dermatitis in dogs at least 12 months of age.
Apoquel Important Safety Information
Do not use Apoquel in dogs less than 12 months of age or those with serious infections. Apoquel may increase the chances of developing serious infections, and may cause existing parasitic skin infestations or pre-existing cancers to get worse. Consider the risks and benefits of treatment in dogs with a history of recurrence of these conditions. New neoplastic conditions (benign and malignant) were observed in clinical studies and post-approval. Apoquel has not been tested in dogs receiving some medications including some commonly used to treat skin conditions such as corticosteroids and cyclosporines. Do not use in breeding, pregnant, or lactating dogs. Most common side effects are vomiting and diarrhea. Apoquel has been used safely with many common medications including parasiticides, antibiotics and vaccines.
For more information, please see the full Prescribing Information

#shannoncabell #petcare #zoetis #pet #care #allergies #health #bacterial #fungalskin #infections #vet #veterinarian #medical #dermatology #hospice #medicine #itchingforhelp

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#care #pets #indoors #outdoors #pet #marty #becker #cats #cat #dog #puppy #dogs #kitten #puppies #kittens

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Quit hounding me!

Remain paws-fictive!

Please fur-give me.

Today has been ruff.

I’m mutts about you!

Let’s raise the woof!

I’ll collie you later.

Howl I ever live without you?

You need a new leash on life.

The dog is from California.

This place seems so fur-milliard.

Don’t bite the hound that feeds you.

People who hate dogs are re-pug-nan.

My dog’s favorite band is The Beagles.

I’m so fur-tannate to have you in my life

What dog does Dracula own? A blood-hound.

That dog was so cold, he was a pup-sickle!

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Listen to “HELPING PETS AND THEIR PARENTS TRANSITION AS THE NATION REOPENS” on Spreaker.

HELPING PETS AND THEIR PARENTS TRANSITION
AS THE NATION REOPENS
Celebrity Veterinarian Dr. Lisa Lippman to Discuss New Survey Findings and Provide Tips for Getting Back to “Normal”

PETS PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN HELPING THEIR PARENTS NAVIGATE THE STRESSES OF THE PANDEMIC. BUT EASING COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS AND A RETURN TO NORMAL ACTIVITIES IS CAUSING ANXIETY FOR SOME PET PARENTS AS THEY LEAVE THEIR PETS HOME ALONE MORE OFTEN. JOINING US AS WE DISCUSS RESULTS FROM A NEW SURVEY AND TO SHARE EXPERT PET CARE ADVICE IS NEW YORK CITY’S PREMIER VETERINARIAN AND DOG MOM DR. LISA LIPPMAN.

BIO: Lisa Lippman, DVM, Premier Veterinarian
Lisa Lippman, DVM, is one of the most followed and socially influential veterinarians in the United States and is nationally respected as a go-to source for expertise in pet health and safety by media outlets such as Dr. Oz, Inside Edition, and Live with Kelly and Ryan. When not making house calls to treat some of the most influential pets in the world, Dr. Lippman serves as a medical director for Animal Lighthouse Rescue, whose mission is to help the homeless dogs of Puerto Rico, co-hosts a hugely popular podcast called “We Don’t Deserve Dogs” with comedian Richie Redding, while still finding time to devote to her own dog, the incomparable Rhodesian Ridgeback named Chloe. The only thing larger than Dr. Lippman’s big brown eyes is the size of her heart, which is why she tirelessly advocates for animals and the humans who love them

Dr. Lisa Lippman knows firsthand how much extra time pet parents have spent with their pets during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a dog parent, New York City veterinarian and Instagram influencer with over 159k followers, she’s hearing from pet parents daily about their concerns as the country shifts to reopening. As U.S. restrictions ease and people start transitioning to their “normal” lives and activities, pet parents also have to adjust to spending less time at home with their beloved pets they’ve grown so close to.
http://bravecto.com/bravobuddy
A new survey is shedding light on some of the biggest pet parent anxieties around this once-in-a-lifetime transition. Now more than ever, dog and cat owners are looking for advice on leaving their pet home alone more often and how to relieve stress through pet care solutions that help pet owners and their furry friends adjust to their new day-to-day routines.
On Tues., June 29, Dr. Lippman will be available to share her perspective about this “new normal” as a veterinarian and a pet parent. As part of the interview opportunity, she’ll also provide solutions to help ease the transition for pets, such as:

 How pet parents can prepare to spend longer periods of time away from pets
 How to recognize signs of a stressed pet when returning to work or going on vacation
 How to simplify pet care and streamline pet parents’ routines

Dr. Lippman announces a special social media contest encouraging pet parents to share their favorite video or photo of their pet. The contest aims to help pet parents focus less on the stress of leaving their pet home alone and more on the reasons they love coming home to their four-legged pals each day. Winners will receive 12 weeks’ worth of pet care services to help ease the transition, which may include dog walking, doggie daycare and more.

Interview is courtesy: Merck Animal Health

https://www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/newsroom/merck-animal-health-survey-reveals-pet-owners-need-advice-navigating-their-pets-transition-to-normalcy

#help #pet #parent #transition #nation #reopen #veterinarian #dr #lisa #lippman #new #survey #finding #tip #get #back #normal

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As the country increasingly begins to open back up following the pandemic closures, Paws of War will begin providing Pet Therapy once again with the mission of putting smiles back on the faces of their local community. This particular event will be held at one of the local nursing homes; The Smithtown Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing Care.
Our local communities and those in the nursing homes, including the Veterans residing there, always enjoy getting visits from therapy dogs. Paws of War will be providing therapy dog services to the Smithtown Center on Wednesday, June 23, 2021.

Paws of War rescues, trains and places rescues dogs and cats to serve and provide independence to our Veterans and First Responders who suffer the traumatic effects of wars and disasters. They do this so our heroes in need can experience the therapeutic relief and unconditional love only a companion animal or service dog can bring. Additionally, the organization also provides Pet Therapy services and helps soldiers relocate their rescued pets back to America after deployment through their War-Torn Pups and Cats Program.

The organization will have three to four teams that will be providing Pet Therapy Services to the residents that are currently residing at the Smithtown Center. Pet Therapy will provide moral support, help increase morale, provide overall comfort and social interaction to the residents.

WHEN:
Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at 11:00 am

WHERE:
Smithtown Center for Rehabilitation & Nursing Care
391 N. Country Rd. Smithtown, New York 11787

MEDIA CONTACT: Cher Murphy PR (571) 263-2128 or cher@chermurphypr.com

ABOUT:

Paws of War is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization that provides assistance to military members and their pets, rescues and trains dogs to be service dogs, and provides therapy dogs to veterans. To learn more about Paws of War and the programs provided or to make a donation visit its site at: http://pawsofwar.org

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Trusty Treats–New snack designed for especially picky eating pets

Purr-Fect Ideas–Expert advice on providing a safe space for your animals

Clean & Safe—Easy ways to keep your pets cleaner with less hassle

Spokesperson Background: Kristen Levine is the founder of Fetching Communications, the nation’s first and only marketing and public relations firm dedicated to serving the pet and veterinary industry. Today, Kristen is a popular pet living expert, speaker, author and blogger, connecting with pet parents, and providing business consulting services to pet positive companies and veterinary practices. A Florida resident, Kristen is married and lives with her dog Chilly, a pair of miniature donkeys, and cats.

#happier #pets #living #portal #purrfect #perfect #trusty #treats #animals #clean #safe #ideas #kristen #leine #fetching #communications #public #firm #serving #pet #speaker #author #blogger #parents #dog #chilly #cats #donkeys

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