While barbecues can be fun, it is important to alert dog owners of the risks these summer events can carry for canine companions. In a recent release of a trulnsights report, a data initiative by Trupanion that provides health-related data and insights, Trupanion shared the potential dangers barbecues can bring to pets.

With barbecue season comes the risks of choking and toxicity for pets. Cooked animal bones can splinter when chewed by the pet, posing a choking hazard for these animal companions. These bones can also puncture the intestines or become lodged in them and can also cause to gastrointestinal issues.

Meanwhile, raw bones carry their own risks due to possible bacterial contamination, such as salmonella. Moreover, spices used on barbecued meats can also upset a pet's stomach and potentially cause conditions like pancreatitis.

Stephen Rose, BVSc (Hons1) M Infotech CVA ACVCHM, Trupanion general manager emphasized the potential dangers that various items found at barbecues can pose to pets in a news release. “There are plenty of things at barbecues many people would never even think of as being dangerous that curious pets can get into: kabab skewers, corn on the cob, fruit salad, onion, garlic, avocado, and even aluminum foil, just to name a few,” he said.

Rose explained that even hot dogs and hamburgers can also cause stomach upset or pancreatitis in animal companions. “It’s important to keep pets secured and away from areas where food is being cooked and eaten during barbecue gatherings, and don't feed your pets off your plates,” he said.

Pancreatitis frequently affects dogs. Clinical signs include nausea, vomiting, fever, lethargy, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and decreased appetite, according to VCA Animal Hospitals. During a pancreatitis attack, dogs may assume a 'praying position', where they lift their rear end up in the air while lowering their front legs and head onto the floor. In severe cases, this can lead to acute shock, severe depression, and even death.

Effective management depends on timely diagnosis and immediate medical intervention. For mild, edematous pancreatitis, treatment involves providing supportive care to allow the pancreas time to recover naturally. Patients experiencing vomiting should undergo fasting until symptoms resolve, with the option to withhold food for several days if necessary. If they are not experiencing vomiting, they can be fed a low-fat, easily digestible diet to aid in their recovery process.

According to the release, Trupanion data revealed that the largest claim for choking on a bone was $3,800 in 2020, involving a West Highland White Terrier who swallowed a bone in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. In a separate incident, the highest claim for toxicity related to bone ingestion was $3,057 in 2019. This occurred when a small mixed-breed puppy in California ingested both chocolate and bone simultaneously.

 on hyperthermia, dehydration, and burnt paw pads in dogs, which are most frequently reported during the summer months.

Trulnsights into summertime pet health: Trupanion offers safety tips for high temps, & backyard barbecues. New release. July 10, 2024. Accessed July 15, 2024. 

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240710843386/en/truInsights-into-Summertime-Pet-Health-Trupanion-Offers-Safety-Tips-for-High-Temps-Backyard-Barbeques

Hunter T. Panning A, Ward E. Pancreatitis in dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals. Accessed July 15, 2024. 

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/pancreatitis-in-dogs

Articles

In a recent health data report, Trupanion shared the risks barbecues can pose to dogs

Dogs and barbecues: A potentially dangerous mix 

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a malignant bone tumor that is most common in children and young adults. It is also known to be common in larger breed dogs and share similarities with human OS clinical presentation and tumor genomics. It is also more common in taller humans and dogs. This may be due to the association with osteoblasts and the fact that this cancer develops during periods of rapid growth. Most of the time, this cancer develops in individuals sporadically, but in 25% of patients with OS the reason remains unclear but may be related to gene variants.

A group of researchers from universities across the United States realized that there are too few incidences of osteosarcoma in humans to be able to gather enough data on OS’s etiology. This sparked the idea of using comparative oncology using canines.

Past studies focused on multiple large breed dogs (Irish Wolfhounds, greyhounds, and Rottweilers) but failed to find any overlap of OS risk between breeds. Consequently, these researchers chose to focus on Irish Wolfhounds and concentrated their efforts looking at OS risk allele detection. This is because growth rate and height are consistently seen as common risk factors in humans, leading them to focus on these attributes in Irish Wolfhounds.

By examining OS in children and adolescents alongside large breed dogs, researchers have been able to narrow down their findings to even more specific regions. In previous studies for example, they found that Chromosome 18 in Irish Wolfhounds is frequently implicated in OS risk, but now with an extended haplotype, they can identity eight specific genes on that chromosome.

Expanding research efforts to include both humans and canines allows for possible 'discovery of biological pathways affecting both normal and malignant bone growth.’ This multi-ethnic cohort of OS patients exceeded sample sizes of all previous OS risk studies and was able to identify potential OS risk alleles. The information discovered throughout this study will allow cancer epidemiologists to continue to make life-saving breakthroughs.

 is a 2025 PharmD candidate at the University of Connecticut

Lucas SE, Yang T, Wimberly CE, et al. Genetic variation near GRB10 associated with bone growth and osteosarcoma risk in canine and human populations. 

. Published online June 12, 2024. doi:10.1016/j.canep.2024.102599

Researchers within the United States are investigating risk factors for osteosarcoma in canine and human patients 

Does patient size matter for osteosarcoma?

A loggerhead sea turtle near Brijuni National Park in Croatia.

The relationship between animal hosts and their microbial communities is vital to the animals’ development, physiology, immune response, metabolism, and reproduction. This relationship has recently gained more attention in sea turtles because human egg poaching, habitat disruptions, climate change, and accidental bycatch has increased their susceptibility to microbial changes. Conservation and rehabilitation efforts have increased interest in sea turtle gut, skin, nest, and egg microbiota.

A team of researchers from Croatia, Italy, and Austria, sparked by this interest, investigated the bacterial and fungal communities of loggerhead sea turtles belonging to the Adriatic Sea and published their findings with the 

. The researchers found loggerheads of ranging ages at various points along the Adriatic Sea coast and brought them to locations where samples were collected or over 3 years. Investigators sequenced the samples’ ribosomal RNA to identify microbial and fungal species.

Previous research in this area focused on pathogenic bacteria and gut microbiota as it relates to hatching failure, rehabilitation efforts, plastic pollution, and various other points of interest. These investigators discovered more microbial diversity and fungal communities than were previously known, individual variation in microbes amongst the loggerheads, and a microbial exchange with the loggerhead environment.

The microbial and fungal communities had a few important characteristics. Distinct microbial communities occupied the carapace (top shell), cloacal (opening for feces, urine, and reproductive product removal, as well as breathing), and oral mucosa. Microbial communities were distinct to each sampling site and cloacal microbial diversity showed a negative correlation with turtle age and size. This correlation may be attributed to stronger bite force and diving capabilities developed in juvenile loggerheads. Fungal communities were highly heterogeneous among individual turtles and did not indicate patterns with regards to age or sex.

Because of shifts in turtle behavior leading to increased human interaction, understanding the microbial communities present within loggerhead sea turtles is important to anticipate risk, especially with bacterial and fungal pathogens. Even with increased interest and research into loggerhead microbiota, challenges to establishing a healthy microbiome persist. The investigators stressed that future studies should attempt to establish healthy loggerhead microbiomes at various developmental stages and consider the role of probiotics and prebiotics to improve conservation efforts.

 is a 2025 PharmD candidate studying veterinary pharmacy at the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy in Storrs.

Filek K, Vuković BB, Žižek M, et al. Loggerhead sea turtles as hosts of diverse bacterial and fungal communities. 

. 2024;87(1):79. doi:10.1007/s00248-024-02388-x

Conservation and rehabilitation efforts have increased interest in the gut, skin, nest, and egg microbiota of these aquatic chelonians.

Loggerhead sea turtles are the latest microbe hosts

The Veterinary Technology (Vet Tech) program at Owensboro Community and Technical College (OCTC) in Owensboro, Kentucky has extended its application deadline to August 1, 2024. Graduates of the Vet Tech program have obtained positions in a wide range of settings, such as general practices, specialty clinics, the University of Florida, animal shelters, and animal rescues, according to a news release.

Last fall, the Vet Tech program celebrated its 10-year anniversary. The program was first accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) in January 2015,

 and is the only fully accredited 2-year program in Kentucky.

The program prepares graduates to take the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE),

 an exam aimed at assessing the competence of entry-level veterinary technicians and qualifying them for credentialing.

 The Vet Tech program’s curriculum covers a vast array of subjects, including office and hospital procedures, client relations and communication, anatomy, physiology, parasitology, microbiology, clinical techniques, pharmacology, anesthesiology, surgical and medical nursing, radiology, and clinical pathology. The program also provides practical clinical and laboratory experiences to cultivate the skills necessary for success as a professional in the field, according to the release.

“Veterinary technicians are the backbone of our industry, aiding veterinarians in providing quality, compassionate care for our patients,” Laura Boarman, DVM, OCTC Vet Tech program director said in the news release.

 “At OCTC, it is our mission to produce highly trained technicians who will continue to advance the profession and the level of care provided to the animals in our community. As an educator, it is an honor and a privilege to be a part of that mission.”

The employment of veterinary technologists and technicians is projected to grow by 21% from 2022 to 2032, which is significantly faster than the average growth rate for all occupations, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

 Moreover, there are expected to be around 14,800 job openings annually, on average, for veterinary technologists and technicians over the next 10 years.

OCTC’s Vet Tech program is selective in its admission process and has a limited number of seats available annually, according to the news release. Additionally, it has the lowest tuition in Kentucky.

 It will be hosting pre-admission conferences on September 24, 2024, and March 25, 2025, in OCTC’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

Richardson R. OCTC Veterinary Technology program extends admission application deadline. 

. July 14, 2024. Accessed July 16, 2024. 

https://www.owensborotimes.com/news/2024/07/octc-veterinary-technology-program-extends-admission-application-deadline/

Veterinary technology programs accredited by the AVMA CVTEA. American Veterinary Medical Association. Accessed July 16, 2024. 

https://www.avma.org/education/center-for-veterinary-accreditation/veterinary-technology-programs-accredited-avma-cvtea#kentucky

What is the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE)? VetTechPrep. Accessed July 16, 2024. 

https://www.vettechprep.com/vtne.jsp#:~:text=The%20Veterinary%20Technician%20National%20Examination%20(VTNE)%20is%20an%20examination%20designed,practice%20and%20to%20become%20credentialed

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. April 17, 2024. Accessed July 16, 2024. 

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/veterinary-technologists-and-technicians.htm

Veterinary Technology. Owensboro Community & Technical College. Accessed July 16, 2024. 

https://owensboro.kctcs.edu/education-training/program-finder/veterinary-technology.aspx

The only fully accredited 2-year program in the state is now accepting applications until August 1, 2024

Veterinary technology program in Kentucky extends application deadline

Rozi at the Maryland Zoo (Image courtesy of Maryland Zoo)

Maryland Zoo announced that the number of chimpanzees at the zoo has grown by one as it welcomes Rozi on June 10, 2024. Initially after her birth, she was doing well but after a few weeks the animal care team at the zoo noticed a decline in her health. 

“Rozi is a hand-reared chimp and first time mom so we weren’t sure what to expect,” said Pamela Carter, Chimpanzee Forest Area manager at the Maryland Zoo, in an organizational release.

 “In this case, it was in the baby’s best interest for us to carefully intervene.”

The animal care team became concerned that Rozi was not getting enough milk from her mother. However, the team was able to stabilize her and the zookeepers have been providing around the clock care until she is strong enough to rejoin the troop. According to the release,

 the medical staff at the zoo is placed with Rozi’s progress recently but she may need supplemental nutrition even after reuniting with her mother. Currently, Rozi is being cared for behind the scenes at the zoo.

Breeding at Maryland Zoo for Rozi was approved by the Association of Zoo and Aquariums Species Survival Program. She was found to be genetically compatible with all 3 of the breeding males at the zoo and the identity of the father is awaiting testing. Rozi is now one of 4 juvenile chimpanzees at the zoo, Lola, who was born to Bunny and Jack in July 2019; Violet, born to Raven and Louie in December of 2019; and Maisie, who was born in August 2020 at the Oklahoma Zoo and was then brought to Maryland Zoo in September 2020.

Chimpanzees learn how to get along in a group from birth by watching their mothers and other members of the group. They also will learn from the group how to feed, groom, “read” other chimp’s behaviors, interact with others, and where to sleep.

According to Maryland Zoo, there was 1 to 2 million wild chimpanzees living in the wild in 1900. Now, there are only about 150,000 chimpanzees left in the wild and are considered endangered due to poaching, habitat loss from logging, creation of farmland and other encroachment, and diseases introduced from humans.

Rozi was named based on a public vote and details about her progress will be available on the Zoo’s website and social media channels.

Maryland Zoo announces birth of a chimpanzee. News release. Maryland Zoo. July 9, 2024. Accessed July 16, 2024. 

https://www.marylandzoo.org/news-and-updates/2024/07/maryland-zoo-announces-birth-of-a-chimpanzee/

Chimpanzee. The Maryland Zoo. Accessed July 16, 2024. https://www.marylandzoo.org/animal/chimpanzee/

Rozi was born at the Maryland Zoo on June 10th, 2024. 

Maryland Zoo welcomes baby chimpanzee

Exploring the future of veterinary oncology, Neal Mauldin, DVM, ACVIM, ACVR, Thrive Pet Healthcare’s national director of radiation oncology and chief medical officer for Petcure Oncology, and Julie Bulman-Fleming, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology), Thrive Pet Healthcare’s national specialty director of oncology and medical director and residency program director for Veterinary Cancer Group, share their insights on the evolving landscape of cancer care for pets. These distinguished experts bring a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to advancing treatment options and improving the quality of life for veterinary patients facing cancer.

Tell us a little bit about you both. What’s your background and experience, and what led you to oncology?

: I grew up in a family that raised show dogs for a living so it seemed only natural that I would become a veterinarian. When I entered vet school, I had the intention of being a general practitioner and returning to practice in my local community. However, while in veterinary school, I met a medical oncologist, Claudia Barton DVM, ACVIM (Internal Medicine, Oncology), who became my inspiration to pursue specialty training and become an oncologist. I did my internship and residency training at the Animal Medical Center in New York City, followed by a clinical fellowship in radiation oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, also in New York. I spent some time as a tenured professor and department head at Louisiana State University before returning to clinical practice in Western Canada.

: I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian from about 3 or 4 years old. When I entered veterinary school, I learned about all the specialties available. During that process, my father was diagnosed with cancer, and I realized what a difference an oncologist can make during such a challenging and scary time. I completed my residency at Veterinary Cancer Group and now head the residency training program there.

Comprehensive cancer care for people has been around for a while. It’s moving into the veterinary medicine space. How is comprehensive cancer care for pets similar to or different from human care?

: The single biggest differentiator between human and veterinary comprehensive cancer care is easy access to services. There are not as many veterinary specialists, and access to sophisticated medical technology is much more limited in the veterinary sphere. For example, those who do not live in a major population center may have difficulty accessing radiation therapy, necessitating the need to develop protocols that allow families to pursue radiation therapy for their pet even if they live 8-10 hours away from a radiation therapy facility. This has been a huge driver for the development of stereotactic radiation therapy protocols, which can be delivered in 2-4 days rather than the 3-4 weeks needed for conventionally fractionated protocols.

: Veterinary Cancer Group has offered comprehensive cancer care to patients for over 30 years. This model allows clients to reach people dedicated to oncology every step of the way, from the moment they call to make their first appointment to their final radiation or chemotherapy appointment celebration. I’m very proud of our teams’ ability to help clients navigate this journey. As in human care, we collaborate extensively across specialties, as well as across the oncology realm. Veterinary medicine is working to catch up to human medicine regarding the size and breadth of their clinical trials and the established standards of care.

Since cancer treatment is customized to each pet, I’m sure there are multiple doctors collaborating on the treatment. In veterinary medicine, we don’t see all those doctors in one place. How do you achieve that collaboration?

: As I mentioned, the single biggest challenge we have for the families of our veterinary cancer patients is access to specialists and technology. A major focus for our group has been expanding access to the expertise of our radiation and medical oncologists. There are only about 100 radiation oncologists in the world, so we have been very focused on expanding access to this valuable and limited resource. The pandemic significantly changed peoples’ attitudes towards telehealth consultations, and we have seen families accept this option to get the expertise and opinions they need to make an informed decision for their pet.

Additionally, advances in digital communication have allowed multidisciplinary plans to be created and executed even when the specialists are not in the same hospital or even in the same region of the United States. Obviously, the patient must eventually come to a physical facility for care, but a telehealth consultation can help ensure that the patient is directed to the correct specialist and that the family has at least a general understanding of the prognosis and treatment options available. Ideally, a patient would be seen at a multispecialty center that had everything necessary to provide comprehensive cancer care. When this is not possible, there are options to provide multidisciplinary care and to ensure that a veterinary cancer patient gets the best care possible.

: Many of Thrive Pet Healthcare’s cancer centers are located within multispecialty centers or associated with specialists in a “campus,” where dentists, dermatologists, internists, neurologists, ophthalmologists, surgeons, and other specialists can collaborate on an individual case. Our patients are evaluated even before their first appointment to ensure they see the appropriate oncology service, and cases are often discussed with their referring veterinarian or specialist. In addition, as oncology is always evolving, medical and radiation oncologists worldwide can consult on unusual, unexpected, or challenging cases.

This sounds like team-based healthcare, which is something seen a lot in human medicine. With primary care doctors being part of that team, what should they know about?

: I think the single biggest challenge confronting veterinarians today is the information explosion. It is impossible to keep up with advances in veterinary cancer therapy if you do not practice it every day and follow the literature closely. This is a problem for all of us as the digital age has presented us with far more information than we are able to process and remember. In human medicine, there has been a push to try and remove the stigma of a cancer diagnosis as our treatment options have increased and patient outcomes have improved. In many cases, cancer is now treated more as a chronic disease to be managed rather than a death sentence. The same technological advances are happening in veterinary medicine, and it’s important to realize that we have options today that were not available even 5 or 10 years ago. The first conversation with a family about the diagnosis of cancer in their pet can be a difficult and emotional process. It is important for them to understand that there are options for many patients and that, ideally, a conversation with the specialist who deals with those options daily is the best place to start.

: Being on the front line, and usually the ones delivering the diagnosis of cancer, primary care veterinarians are an essential part of a pets’ oncology team. Being able to navigate the initial diagnosis and reach out for specialist insight where appropriate is key, and our primary care veterinarians are wonderful at doing this. As the first introduction to veterinary oncology, primary care veterinarians should assure their clients that the goal of veterinary oncology is a longer and better quality of life. I think understanding the primary concerns owners have, such as fear of adverse effects, and common questions about available treatment options, is most important. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can be curative for some patients but also serve as a strong palliative, comfort focused role when appropriate.

What are some of the biggest misconceptions pet owners have about cancer care? What are the misconceptions in the veterinary industry?

: I think the single biggest misconception for the families of veterinary cancer patients, and to a lesser extent the veterinary industry, is that there are limited or no options for a cancer diagnosis. Advances in technology have expanded our repertoire significantly, allowing us to treat conditions that we would've classified as untreatable just a few years ago. Improvements in radiation therapy technology have allowed us to minimize anesthetic events, treat patients in 1-3 fractions, minimize side effects and maintain quality-of-life, and produce outcomes that are similar to or better than those seen with conventionally fractionated protocols.

Additionally, many sites previously untreatable with radiation therapy, such as the lung, spinal cord, and liver are now common targets for stereotactic protocols. While I’m highlighting the advances in radiation therapy, it’s important to note that similar advances are occurring in the fields of chemotherapy, electro chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and personalized medicine.

: Our pet family members are better educated than ever before. Despite this, there remains misconceptions about the prevalence of adverse effects after chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and how treatments are administered. Notable chemotherapy side effects occur in 10-15% of pets and include nausea, inappetence, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, and myelosuppression. These are transient and commonly treated at home. Owners are often also afraid that chemotherapy or radiation administration is painful which, thankfully, is not the case. Chemotherapy administration is akin to having a blood sample taken, and radiation therapy is akin to getting an X-ray.

Within the veterinary community, I feel our palliative options are often overlooked or misunderstood. One of the things I love about oncology is the ability to modify treatment plans when needed, either because of patient factors or client factors such as cost or scheduling.

Thinking about the future of cancer care for pets, what’s coming and how can primary care doctors prepare for it?

: Veterinary oncology is a rapidly changing field that is undergoing immense technological advancements. If you are not making it your primary focus of practice, it will become increasingly difficult for you to keep up with these changes, especially in the age of artificial intelligence. The biggest message here is that the field of oncology is evolving at a fast pace, and what was true yesterday may not be true today. Therefore, it is imperative for pet owners to understand their options and make informed decisions as they advocate for their pets. Don't be left behind in this rapidly changing field. Stay informed and stay ahead of the curve! PetCure Oncology maintains a patient and veterinary portal at PetCureOncology.com that contains a wealth of information, as well as tools to help you request an appointment for your patients, get an imaging review, or speak with a radiation oncologist.

: The field of oncology is ever-changing. New avenues include half-body radiation therapy for canine lymphoma, advancements in electrochemotherapy technology and immunotherapy. We have also offered targeted therapy (using tumor mutations to direct therapy) for several years now, and supporting research is starting to be published.

Primary care doctors can advocate for their patients through reading articles like this, attending local or regional continuing education lectures, and joining email list-serves. Veterinary Cancer Group sends monthly tips and continuing education notifications to veterinary industry subscribers at no charge. Please follow 

is a pioneer in the field of veterinary radiation therapy, having practiced as a veterinary radiation oncologist for more than 35 years, and has supervised the treatment of more than 8,000 pets with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) since 2010. He provides clinical oversight, remote treatment planning and review, and oversees research for facilities across the PetCure Oncology network and serves as the National Director of Radiation Oncology for Thrive Pet Healthcare.

Mauldin is a triple-board certified veterinarian in the fields of internal medicine, medical oncology and radiation oncology, attaining board certification in veterinary radiation oncology the first year it was offered in 1994. He has authored over 25 peer-reviewed publications, written numerous textbook chapters, and presented invited scientific abstracts at over 40 national and international meetings pertaining to the specialty of veterinary oncology. He is past president of the Veterinary Cancer Society.

Mauldin has 4 rescued Shetland Sheepdogs, 2 Maremma Sheepdogs and 15 horses, with more on the way.

Julie Bulman-Fleming, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology) 

was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and attended the University of British Columbia for her bachelor's degree in animal biology. Next it was on to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan where she attended the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and developed her interest in oncology. After graduating in 2007 with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree with great distinction, she moved east across Canada and did a rotating internship in small animal medicine, surgery and critical/emergency care. Bulman-Fleming joined Veterinary Cancer Group as a medical oncology resident and completed her ACVIM residency in medical oncology in 2011. Her areas of interest include client education, palliative care and the role of the immune system in cancer development and treatment. Julie's personal interests include circus arts, rock climbing, camping, and cats.

This Q&A style-article takes a deep dive into insights on cancer care for pets