The FDA recently released a document offering guidance on how to minimize the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in felines and highlighting recent investigations on HPAI infection in cats. According to the FDA report, felines—both domestic and wild species like tigers, mountain lions, and lynx— are especially vulnerable to HPAI H5N1, so precautions should be taken to prevent their exposure to the virus.

Clinical signs of HPAI infection are better understood in cats than in dogs, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

 Still, both canines and felines exhibiting any of the following symptoms should receive prompt veterinary treatment

Neurologic signs, like tremors, seizures, incoordination, or blindness

To help prevent the risk of a HPAI infection in cats and dogs, the AVMA recommends maintaining cats indoors; keeping pets that go outdoors away from wild birds, poultry, and cattle, including these animals’ environments; ensuring pets do not consume dead birds or other animals; and steering clear of feeding pets raw meat or poultry and unpasteurized milk.

According to the FDA document, several investigations have shown that HPAI can spread to cats through food, with the most common route of transmission being raw or undercooked meats and unpasteurized milk. “Cats should not be fed any products from affected farms that have not been thoroughly cooked or pasteurized to kill the virus. Cats should also be kept from hunting and consuming wild birds,” wrote the FDA.

A study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in July 2024 on HPAI A(H5N1) infection in domestic dairy cattle and felines in the US detailed that domestic cats fed raw colostrum and milk from infected cattle developed a fatal system influenza infection. These cats also exhibited neurologic signs before death. Affected cattle, meanwhile, showed signs of nonspecific illness, reduced feed intake and rumination, and a sudden decline in milk production.

In Seoul, South Korea, investigators reported multiple cases of HPAI in 2023 from July of the same year at 2 cat shelters where the felines were fed raw food that was “improperly sterilized” and made from domestic duck meat.

According to the study, the postmortem examination of the cats showed “systemic pathologic lesions.” Additionally, the virus was found in different tissues.

The United States Department of Agriculture runs a testing program to detect HPAI in wild mammals, including both feral and domestic felines, according to the FDA.

 These most recent HPAI detections can be found on the usda.gov website. 

FDA outlines ways to reduce risk of HPAI in cats. United States Food & Drug Administration. December 13, 2024. Accessed December 17, 2024. 

https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/cvm-updates/fda-outlines-ways-reduce-risk-hpai-cats?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Avian influenza in pets and backyard flocks. American Veterinary Medical Association. Accessed December 17, 2024. 

https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/animal-health-and-welfare/animal-health/avian-influenza/avian-influenza-companion-animals

Burrough ER, Magstadt DR, Petersen B, et al. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Clade 2.3.4.4b Virus Infection in Domestic Dairy Cattle and Cats, United States, 2024. 

. 2024;30(7):1335-1343. doi:10.3201/eid3007.240508.

Kang Y, Heo G, An S, et al. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Infection in Cats, South Korea, 2023. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2024;30(12):2510-2520. doi:10.3201/eid3012.240154.

Articles

The document offers tips for minimizing the risk of the highly pathogenic avian influenza in felines and highlights the virus' growing threat to these animals

FDA releases guidance to prevent bird flu risk in cats

Equine rehabilitation is a large, focused field of specialized equine medicine. Its main indications are to reduce pain, facilitate tissue healing, and restore muscle strength, endurance, and proprioception to return the patient to its prior level of activity while also trying to prevent further injury.

 Several modalities are available to the equine practitioner, and they can be divided into manual therapies, physical therapies, therapeutics, and biological.

Once an accurate and complete diagnosis is reached, a rehabilitation protocol can be put in place taking into consideration the phase of the tissue healing (acute, subacute, chronic) and the primary functional rehabilitation issues (pain, incoordination, muscle weakness).

 An adequate protocol should outline specific goals and a rehabilitation timeline after discussion with the owner/rider/trainer to ensure compliance.

Once a rehabilitation program has been chosen, regular reevaluation and adjustment of the modalities used may be necessary based on the clinical response obtained.

 A brief overview of 3 modalities the author uses commonly in equine rehabilitation and that could be incorporated into various rehabilitation programs follows.

. Equipment needed to perform mesotherapy: a blue linear adaptor connected to 5 intradermal needles and a small extension for ease of injection.

Mesotherapy consists of intradermal injection of small amounts of highly diluted drugs. By injecting small volumes of drugs, it reduces the risk of adverse effects and increases the drug duration activity. This procedure can be performed in a hospital or on the road, is relatively easy and economical to perform, and has the advantage of being synergetic with other therapies. Mesotherapy is often indicated in cases of back pain (kissing spine, lumbar pain, sacroiliac pathology) and cervical pain or stiffness. As with any other modalities, owner consent should be obtained prior to treatment, and risks of complications should be discussed including local reaction, infection, and hair growing back white at the injection sites. Mesotherapy necessitates the use of a linear injector, a small extension set, and intradermal needles with a depth of no greater than 4 mm (

). Drugs commonly used for mesotherapy include mepivacaine local anaesthetic, corticosteroids, Traumeel homeopathic injectable solution (Heel Veterinary Medicines), vitamin E complex, and sarapin. With the use of corticosteroids, withdrawal time should be taken into careful consideration as the drug may stay longer within the dermis. The linear applicator is inserted perpendicular to the skin in lines parallel to the midline for the back, about 1 cm apart. Medication is injected until a small lump is seen on the skin (

). Horses are usually given 24 hours of rest during which they should neither be washed nor rugged, and they can then progressively resume regular exercise.

 Mesotherapy is applied to a horse’s thoracolumbar region. Note the raised injection site in lines parallel to the midline and about 1 cm apart on each side of the back.

Kinesiotape consists of an elastic tape made of 100% cotton elastic fibers that can stretch along its longitudinal axis up to 130% to 140% of its resting length. Once applied it can stay on up to 5 days, 24 hours per day. Kinesiotape affects all layers of tissue and organs. Applied to the skin surface, it results in a lifting effect with the creation of space between superficial layers. It also directly acts on the fascia through an unwinding effect and redirection of movement. Finally, it optimizes muscle function and helps provide decongestion and fluid redirection by acting on the lymphatic system. The main indications for using kinesiotape are tendon and ligament injuries, muscle imbalances, postural adjustments, lymphatic and circulatory conditions such as lymphangitis (

), pathologic movement patterns, fascial adhesions, and acute and chronic pain.

 Kinesiotape is applied in a lymphatic drainage pattern to treat lymphangitis over the hock region. Most of the lymphatic drainage occurs on the medial aspect of the limb; therefore, that is where the tape should be applied predominantly.

Laser, or light amplification by simulation of emitted radiation, is commonly used in equine practice. Class III and IV lasers are most commonly used in equine rehabilitation. They have a range of less than 500 mW, and their wavelengths vary from 540 nm to 1060 nm. Laser stimulates cell growth and metabolism, improves cell regeneration, increases fibroblastic activity, and modulates inflammation by acting on prostaglandin E2, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, plasminogen activator, and cyclooxygenase-1 and -2. Laser increases serotonin, which is an excitatory neurotransmitter peripherally, and it also works in the dorsal horn to modulate pain response, providing a general feeling of well-being. It also increases the release of β-endorphin, which results in increased production of endogenous opioids. Finally, it increases acetylcholine, which is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, resulting in the decreased discharge frequency of excitatory neurons and increases the frequency of inhibitory neurons; this results in a significant increase of the pain threshold required for the transmission of sensory nerve input. The main indications for laser use in equine practice are performance maintenance, prevention of injury recurrence, tendon and ligament injury, chronic joint disease, synovitis, osteoarthritis (

), back pain or injury, wound healing, and pain relief.

. Application of a class IV laser to a horse’s tarsal region to relieve pain caused by chronic osteoarthritis.

There are several modalities available for the practitioner to integrate into the rehabilitation of the equine patient. Each modality should be chosen carefully and the function of their mode of action and the pathology diagnosed. Given that the scientific evidence is limited in this area of veterinary medicine, frequent assessment and reevaluation of patients is recommended to make adjustments when needed and obtain the best outcome from each rehabilitation protocol.

McGowan CM, Cottriall S. Introduction to equine physical therapy and rehabilitation. 

. 2016;32(1):1-12. doi:10.1016/j.cveq.2015.12.006

Bergh A, Lund I, Boström A, Hyytiäinen H, Asplund K. A systematic review of complementary and alternative veterinary medicine: “miscellaneous therapies.” Animals (Basel). 2021;11(12):3356. doi:10.3390/ani11123356

Kaneps AJ. Practical rehabilitation and physical therapy for the general equine practitioner. 

. 2016;32(1):167-180. doi:10.1016/j.cveq.2015.12.001

Haussler KK, King MR, Peck K, Adair HS. The development of safe and effective rehabilitation protocols for horses. 

. 2021;33(3):143-151. doi:10.1111/eve.13253

Alves JC, Santos A, Lafuente P. Evaluation of different substance combinations in a multiple-session mesotherapy protocol for the management of osteoarthritis in dogs: a retrospective study. 

. 2024;262(8):1-7. doi:10.2460/javma.23.10.0588

Alves J, Jorge P, Santos A. Comparison of two mesotherapy protocols in the management of back pain in police working dogs: a retrospective study. 

. 2021;43:100519. doi:10.1016/j.tcam.2021.100519

Alves JC, Santos A, Jorge P, Lafuente P. Multiple session mesotherapy for management of coxofemoral osteoarthritis pain in 10 working dogs: a case series. 

Alves JC, Santos A, Jorge P, Lafuente P. A multiple-session mesotherapy protocol for the management of hip osteoarthritis in police working dogs. 

. 2022;84(1):ajvr.22.08.0132. doi:10.2460/ajvr.22.08.0132

Molle S. Kinesio taping fundamentals for the equine athlete. 

 2016;32(1):103-113. doi:10.1016/j.cveq.2015.12.007

Ericson C, Stenfeldt P, Hardeman A, Jacobson I. The effect of kinesiotape on flexion-extension of the thoracolumbar back in horses at trot. 

. 2020;10(2):301. doi:10.3390/ani10020301

1Luna SPL, Schoen A, Trindade PHE, Rocha PBD. Penetration profiles of a class IV therapeutic laser and a photobiomodulation therapy device in equine skin. 

. 2020;85:102846. doi:10.1016/j.jevs.2019.102846

Millis DL, Bergh A. A systematic literature review of complementary and alternative veterinary medicine: laser therapy. 

. 2023;13(4):667. doi:10.3390/ani13040667

Haussler KK, Manchon PT, Donnell JR, Frisbie DD. Effects of low-level laser therapy and chiropractic care on back pain in quarter horses. 

. 2020;86:102891. doi:10.1016/j.jevs.2019.102891

An overview of 3 types of therapy includes mesotherapy, Kinesiotape, and laser

Common modalities in equine rehabilitation

 editorial team is counting down our Top 20 news stories and articles of the year, from January 1, 2024, to November 15, 2024. Rank was determined by measurable audience interest and engagement.

A spotlight is shining on 1 article each day through New Year’s Eve, when the No. 1 dvm360 story of the year will be shared. The following article is No. 15 on this list:

University veterinarians save newborn foal

Photo: Jason Nitsch/Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

The newborn foal, Vicky, was cared for by the Large Animal Teaching Hospital team.

Soon after birth, a German warmblood foal nicknamed Vicky, became separated from her mother, Queenie, after rolling into an adjoining stall. Just a few hours apart creates serious consequences because Vicky could not receive the special care a mother horse typically provides in the initial hours of a foal’s life.

 Because of the situation's severity, the foal was rushed to the Texas A&M Large Animal Teaching Hospital (LATH) by owner, Gavin Britz, MD, MBBCH, MPH, MBA, FAANS, a human neurosurgeon for Houston Methodist in Texas.

Britz purchased Queenie while she was pregnant. Because of transportation delays, Queenie didn't arrive at Britz’s stable in Chappell Hill, Texas, until about 2 1/2 weeks before her due date. Unexpectedly, Queenie went into labor earlier than anticipated, resulting in Britz missing Queenie giving birth. According to a news article from Texas A&M,

 the barn manager found Vicky in the adjoining stall hours later, but the foal had already missed out on colostrum, which is a preliminary form of milk that contains extra nutrients, antibodies, and antioxidants that is normally passed from mother to baby in the first few hours after birth.

“If a foal doesn’t get colostrum in the first few hours of life, developing sepsis is a huge risk, because they are born without an immune system, so they can’t fight off any insult to their little bodies unless they get important antibodies from the mare,” Amanda Trimble, BVMS, MS, PGCertVetEd, DACVIM (LAIM), a clinical assistant professor of equine internal medicine at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, said in a news release.

Britz has close relations working with graduates and veterinarians at the Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and felt comfortable putting his horse’s care in their hands. “When we found her, the baby was not doing well,” Britz said in the release.

 “We contacted the local vet, who said to bring her down to their hospital. After we took her there, they said she probably wasn’t going to survive, but we could try and take her to Texas A&M.”

When Vicky first arrived at the hospital, she was reported as extremely weak, not nursing well, and showing an abnormally lethargic demeanor. Her mother, Queenie accompanied the foal to the hospital.

For information on this story, including treatment used on the foal, continue reading the full article: 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/university-veterinarians-save-newborn-foal

dvm360 is counting down the Top 20 news stories and articles from 2024 with this series of spotlights

2024 veterinary news in review: #15

Photo courtesy of the American Veterinary Medical Association

Sandra Faeh, DVM, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, examines the reindeer Dasher during a visit to the North Pole. 

Sandra Faeh, DVM, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and Jamie Rauscher, LVT, president of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA), and representatives from the North Pole confirmed today that all of Santa Claus’s reindeer have bene approved for their upcoming flight on Christmas Eve.

Faeh and Rauscher traveled to the North Pole earlier this year to perform a series of critical health checks on the 9 reindeer to ensure they were healthy enough for their global journey. Faeh traveled to the North Pole earlier than normal this year because Claus noticed Dasher was not acting like himself and asked her to come check on him. Faeh had diagnosed him with keratitis, also known as pink eye, and prescribed him a treatment plan of eye drops, rest, and close monitoring by the elves and Claus himself.

“Dasher responded wonderfully to treatment and is back to his energetic leading role,” said Faeh, in an AVMA release.

 “It’s always a privilege to care for these incredible animals, and it’s reassuring to know they’re all in peak condition for their important global journey.”

According to the AVMA, even though the association presidents traveled to the North Pole for Dasher’s health, they also conducted full-body examinations on all of the reindeer, looking for signs of injury, illness, or parasites that could harm them or animals they could encounter during their yearly travel. Faeh and Rauscher performed blood tests, x-rays, and inspections of their antlers, hooves, fur, and vital signs.

The AVMA team provided Claus with the official “North Pole Certificate of Animal Export” which is necessary for internal travel. The documents provided to Claus certified that all 9 reindeer met the global health standards and can safely cross borders.

"Veterinary technicians are an essential part of every veterinary team, and working with Claus’s reindeer is no exception," Rauscher explained. "From diagnostic tests to ensuring the reindeer’s comfort during exams, it’s rewarding to play a role in keeping them healthy for such a key voyage."

Faeh and Rauscher will return to the North Pole on Christmas Eve for one final preflight check of the reindeer and will examine them when they return home to the North Pole. The level of care provided to Claus’s reindeer by Faeh and Rauscher helps ensure that each reindeer is ready for the big night, but also protected from the risk of spreading or contracting diseases during the voyage.

“Without my reindeer, there would be no Christmas, and without veterinarians, my reindeer wouldn’t be ready for the big night. [Sandra] and Jamie are truly on my ‘nice list’ this year!" Claus said.

The trip to the North Pole also helps demonstrate the important contributions veterinarians and veterinary technicians do for animal and public health. For those who want to also support the reindeer, Faeh and Rauscher noted that they can leave graham cracker cookies, the reindeers favorite treat, on Christmas Eve to provide them a ‘tasty energy boost.’

The AVMA also shared that although there can only be 1 veterinarian and 1 veterinary technician on the official team at the North Pole, veterinary officers can help the cause by becoming a volunteer with Santa’s emergency staff on Christmas Eve. The AVMA has badges that professionals can download to help clients know they are on Santa’s Emergency Landing and Veterinary Expert System support team.

AVMA: Santa’s reindeer pass annual veterinary exam, cleared for flight. News release. American Veterinary Medical Association. December 16, 2024. Accessed December 16, 2024. 

https://www.avma.org/news/press-releases/avma-santas-reindeer-pass-annual-veterinary-exam-cleared-flight

Sandra Faeh, DVM, and Jamie Rauscher, LVT, traveled to the North Pole to provide health checks to Santa Claus’s reindeer ahead of their big journey

AVMA and NAVTA clear Santa’s reindeer for annual flight

I love my feline patients, but most of them are battling similar issues – red and puffy eyes that will not get or stay better. Our best treatment strategies are based on knowing the most common causes of feline conjunctivitis, how to diagnose it and how to treat it.

When a cat presents with a history of red eyes, squinting or watery discharge, it is important to do a complete ophthalmic exam and create a problem list. Limited kitty minutes? Be sure to have all of your tools together before starting the exam, and remember that checking for an ulcer is an important part of this assessment. Once you have completed a fluorescein stain, looked for any irritants (eyelid masses, hairs), and found the intraocular exam is normal, you conclude that feline conjunctivitis is the diagnosis.

In cats, the most common underlying cause for conjunctivitis is an infectious etiology. This includes feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1), 

Each of these organisms is treated differently, so being able to narrow down a more specific diagnosis will help guide treatment decisions. Preferred samples can include a conjunctival swab or a swab of the oropharynx if the cat has respiratory signs.

 Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing is considered the best diagnostic for the most common organisms, and your preferred lab may even offer a feline respiratory panel that would screen for them all. As we continue to discuss these organisms below, it is important to remember that false negatives and false positives can occur. Understanding your results is an especially important step because no test is perfect, and therefore, we often rely heavily on the overall clinical picture.

FHV-1 is considered common, especially among shelter-housed cats. Following an acute episode, 80% of cats develop a latent stage where the virus resides in the trigeminal nerve and waits to recrudesce in times of stress or immunosuppression.

 These cases will have a few different presentations:

The acute infection: Following exposure, acute clinical signs can develop within 2-6 days and last 10-20 days.

 These signs can include conjunctival hyperemia, ocular discharge, corneal ulceration and squinting. They may or may not have respiratory signs. Infection is typically self-limiting, and not all cats require anti-viral treatment. It is also important to know that secondary bacterial infections are common. If signs are severe in an adult cat or last longer than a few weeks, adding an anti-viral would be indicated.

This patient can have the same signs as an acute patient, and they may also have a history of episodes of conjunctivitis. Treatment in these patients is the same as the acute patient, but it becomes important to understand what triggers these episodes. Has there been a recent stressful event in the home or cat’s life such as moving, traveling or a new animal in the house? Adjusting the environment becomes important with the goal of limiting stress to decrease the number of flare-up events. 

The recrudescent patient, advanced version

These are the tricky ones. These patients will have signs of blood vessel growth throughout their cornea (keratitis) because their immune system has mounted a response within the cornea (Figure 1). Their clinical signs are more often a result of their immune system creating inflammation on the ocular surface than actual active viral disease.

 I will often complete a course of anti-viral therapy if one has not been done to ensure the virus is no longer contributing but more often, these patients benefit from topical immunomodulatory therapy.

: Stromal vessels growing across the cornea of chronically affected cat. (Image courtesy of Mary Lucille Walsh, DVM, DACVO) 

Additionally, FHV-1 is not only associated with conjunctivitis and superficial ulceration but has also been correlated with corneal sequestrums and eosinophilic keratitis. When treating these conditions, adding an anti-viral may also be of benefit.

PCR testing can help obtain a diagnosis of FHV-1; however, since co-infection is also very common in these cases, PCR can help identify if there is a second organism that requires treatment. If FHV-1 reveals a negative result on PCR, either the patient is truly negative, they are no longer shedding, the sample is inadequate, or the sample degraded in transport.

 If FHV-1 reveals a positive result on PCR and the clinical signs support diagnosis, then we feel confident in treatment.

The most common anti-viral therapies include idoxuridine 0.1% topical solution, cidofovir 0.5% topical solution and famciclovir oral tablets. I strongly recommend considering two things when selecting your therapy:

Can the owner easily give a drop OR a tablet?

How do I minimize the number of therapies and achieve maximal success?

Why do I approach every case with these questions? Stress can contribute to the recurrence of signs, so we are working against ourselves by asking an owner to do multiple therapies that force the cat to hide all day. We also want to set our owners up for success. The eye drop is only effective if it actually makes it off the counter and onto the eye. We want successful treatment that also maintains a good relationship between the veterinarian, the owner and the patient.

Idoxuridine is most effective 5-6 times per day, well tolerated by cats, but is not thought to be effective in our cases of keratitis (see recrudescent, advanced version) because that is isolated deeper within the cornea. Cidofovir is effective at two times per day, well tolerated (but personal experience has shown some cats are reactive) and believed to be effective for all versions of clinical disease.

 Famciclovir is an oral medication with the best formulation as a tablet. It is a very effective anti-viral, but the tablet size can be quite large which is challenging for owners to administer. There are compounded formulations available, but studies have shown that the dose is not consistent throughout the provided bottle which can then impact treatment response.

Also quite common in shelter-housed communities, this organism has a predilection for conjunctival epithelial cells. Therefore, it’s thought that 

will produce more chemosis (“puffiness”) vs FHV-1, which has more predominant hyperemia. Incubation lasts about 2-5 days, and clinical signs can persist for up to 2 weeks.

Generally, acute infection will cause watery discharge, squinting and chemosis, but this organism does not cause ulceration like FHV-1. PCR testing is an excellent way to confirm a diagnosis of active infection and screen for any possible co-infections. Systemic doxycycline is an effective treatment and should cure clinical disease after 3-4 weeks of therapy.

 This organism is also susceptible to oral fluoroquinolones. Still, care should be taken considering the risk of retinal toxicity in this species. Topical therapy with erythromycin can also be considered, as it will improve clinical signs and target the organism. Unfortunately, it does not always eliminate infection if the organism.

While multiple spp. have been isolated from feline conjunctival samples, 

are thought to be the most common. Clinical signs are non-specific, including discharge, hyperemia and chemosis. PCR testing is an excellent diagnostic tool in confirming your diagnosis. The recommended treatment includes doxycycline for at least 2 weeks.

 A topical tetracycline could also be used, but there is some resistance to macrolides, so erythromycin or azithromycin may be less effective.

Mastering feline conjunctivitis cases

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. but if you’re in veterinary medicine, it can be extra stressful. If you know, you know. 

December often marks the busiest time of year for veterinary clinics, and although that might seem surprising, there are multiple reasons why the holiday season brings an influx of pet health issues and increased veterinary visits. From holiday travel and seasonal hazards to shifting pet care routines, understanding the reasons behind this spike in appointments can help you better prepare for the unique demands of the season. 

Here’s a look at 7 main factors that make December a whirlwind month for veterinary clinics and tips for navigating the holiday rush while also maintaining your sanity and taking care of yourself.

 where Cousin Eddie’s dog, Snots, meets a squirrel and Aunt Bethany’s cat succumbs to an unfortunate electrical event? Family members who bring their pets to relatives’ homes may not anticipate the chaos that can ensue. Fights between cats, fights between dogs, and other behavioral issues may arise during the holidays. For those not traveling with their pets, boarding becomes an option, leading to an influx of respiratory diseases this month. Additionally, December sees a surge in clients seeking last-minute vaccinations or boarding examinations. This can stretch clinic schedules, particularly for routine wellness visits, as teams balance urgent care needs with preventive care.

2. Dietary indiscretions: Holiday food hazards

The holidays are synonymous with rich, festive foods, which often means pets consume things they shouldn’t. During the holidays, pet owners may cave and indulge their pets with foods they wouldn’t typically allow. From fatty foods such as turkey and gravy to toxic ingredients such as chocolate, onions, and raisins, the season’s culinary delights can lead to digestive distress or even life-threatening toxicities in pets. Emergency visits spike as pets encounter foods that cause severe gastrointestinal upset, pancreatitis, or poisoning. Educating pet owners in advance about the risks and providing clear guidance on foods to avoid can be a proactive way to reduce holiday-related digestive issues.

Festive decorations, although beautiful, can introduce risks for pets. Christmas tree water tinsel, ribbons, and low-hanging ornaments are tempting items for curious pets. Tinsel and ribbon in particular can cause severe gastrointestinal blockages, especially in cats, leading to costly surgeries and emergency procedures. Toxic plants such as poinsettias, mistletoe, and lilies (for cat owners) are also holiday hazards, as many pet owners are unaware of the dangers these plants pose. Clinics frequently see cases of toxic ingestion or injury from decorations during this time, highlighting the need for increased client education about pet-safe holiday decor. Be sure to post social media content with calls to action for the Pet Poison Helpline or poison control.

Depending on where you practice, you may see extremes—heat stroke in our brachycephalic friends or frostbite in colder climates. Salt and deicing chemicals can cause skin irritation on paws, and hypothermia risks also increase. Pets with arthritis may experience more pain in the cold, leading to more frequent appointments as owners seek relief options. Additionally, some clients may not be familiar with winter paw care and will need guidance on safe products and practices to protect their pets’ paws in icy or snowy conditions.

The holidays often bring a lot of commotion into the household. Visiting family members, crowded gatherings, and noisy celebrations can stress pets who are sensitive to changes in their environment. As a result, veterinary professionals see more cases of anxiety-related and fear-based behaviors during this time. Some pets experience gastrointestinal symptoms due to stress, whereas others display behavioral changes, such as increased barking, scratching, hiding, or even biting people. Clinics that offer behavioral consul-tations or anxiety management options (eg, training, supplements, calming products, or behavior-modifying medications) may find these services especially in demand. Preparing clients with stress management strategies for their pets can help prevent these issues.

December can be a challenging month for staffing, as team members take time off to celebrate with their families. Limited holiday hours and fewer staff can intensify the clinic’s workload, leading to increased pressure on remaining team members. Effective scheduling and encouraging crosstraining can help mitigate burnout during this demanding season. Clinics can also notify clients about holiday hours and recommend scheduling routine appointments well in advance to prevent last-minute booking congestion.

Gift shopping, baking, entertaining, decorating, and working at the veterinary clinic can make this a stressful time. Be sure to take time for yourself. Prioritize getting enough sleep, set boundaries with others, say no to activities that drain your energy, make time for hobbies you enjoy, exercise regularly, practice mindfulness through meditation or deep breathing, and manage expectations to avoid unnecessary stress. Remember to nourish yourself with healthy food, prioritize your mental well-being by connecting with loved ones, and practice gratitude. This has been one tough but amazing year. At dvm360, we are honored to have you as an active learner taking part in the exciting offerings we’ve provided for you and your team. On behalf of the entire team, we wish you and your loved ones a joyous holiday season and a healthy new year! Let’s dive into 2025!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.