Cooper, a wire fox terrier, was rushed to the emergency room after ingesting some his owners caffeine pill (Image courtesy of Pet Poison Helpline)

Whether it's a student studying for finals or even just a veterinary professional who needs a steady supply of caffeine, there will most likely be an increased supply of caffeine nearby. However, in its latest installment of Pet Poison Helpline's "Toxin Tails," the team is warning caffeine consumers that the energy boost it gives humans is not the same for cats and dogs, as they are more sensitive to the effects of the stimulant.

“So many products contain caffeine at various strengths, that it’s difficult to know when something is dangerous,” said Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT, a senior veterinary toxicologist at Pet Poison Helpline, in an organizational release.

 “The reactions that humans feel from consuming caffeine, such as an increased heart rate, are intensified in pets. In addition to an increased heart rate, if the dose is too high, caffeine can lead to an elevated blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures, and in extreme cases, death.”

According to dog owner, Becky Maxwell from the Atlanta area, her husband Keith is the last person on the planet that still takes caffeine pills every morning. She shared that Keith had recently purchased a new package his caffeine pills and left them in the box, within a plastic bag, and on top of their kitchen counter. Despite being what they thought was out of reach for Cooper, the couple’s wire fox terrier, he managed to get the box out of the bag, tear it open, and chew the pill pack open. The couple found the ripped packaging as well as several pieces of pills, but they were unclear how much Cooper had ingested.

Worried, Becky and Keith rushed Cooper to Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG) in Alpharetta, Georgia and its emergency medical team called Pet Poison Helpline.

“We are quite often the next call the veterinarian asks the pet owner to make after a pet eats something potentially toxic,” explained Schmid. “Most veterinary hospitals in the US don’t have toxicologists on staff to treat patients, so many rely on our expertise to help them diagnose and treat poisoning cases.”

The amount of caffeine that is in less than one of those tablets was enough to cause a poisoning concern for Cooper, especially the fact he likely ingested multiple pills, and made him at high risk to develop severe signs. By the time Becky and Keith got him to VEG, he had an elevated heart rate and was hyperactive. According to the release,

 the emergency team gave him a sedative to calm him down as well as an anti-emetic to help avoid any vomiting with aspiration because of his neurologic status.

Cooper was placed on IV fluids and was given diligent nursing care, plus his treating veterinarian advised to give anticonvulsants if seizures developed and methocarbamol for tremors. He was able to return home the following day after spending a night being monitored and cared for by the team at VEG.

“The folks at VEG were very compassionate, and allowed us in the treatment area rather than making us wait in the lobby. It really helped calm us down,” Becky added.

 “We also really appreciate how quickly Pet Poison Helpline communicated with the hospital. It allowed them to work on Cooper almost immediately.”

Cooper was successfully treated for what he ingested and his owners know have a better understanding of the dangers of caffeine ingestion for pets, and that some breeds are more likely to get into trouble than others.

“We’ve had dogs our entire adult lives, but never a terrier,” Becky concluded. “They get into everything. It’s like having a toddler.”

Caffeine can be poisonous to pets. News release. Pet Poison Helpline. May 8, 2024. Accessed May 8, 2024. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/caffeine-can-be-poisonous-to-pets-302138954.html

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As we enter finals season, caffeine may be a necessity for students but a danger to pets 

Canine munches down caffeine pills

New veterinary clinics expanding nationwide allows for a significant boost in pet care and service accessibility. Similar to clinics, veterinary laboratories play a crucial role in safeguarding animal health and evolving research and development. Distribution centers are also vital in maintaining efficient movement of veterinary products to ensure they reach veterinary professionals.

Here are 3 recent clinic, laboratories, and distribution centers openings across the United States:

The Vets in Fort Worth and San Antonio, Texas

The Vets is a mobile veterinary service that takes its veterinary care directly to the patient. The company has expanded its reach to the Fort Worth and San Antonio metro areas of Texas.

 The Vets is also currently offering services in Austin, Dallas, and Houston.

"We are thrilled to bring our in-home pet care services to Fort Worth and San Antonio," Esben Mou, chief operating officer of The Vets, said in a news release.

"Our mission is to provide care that is as accessible as it is convenient and compassionate. This expansion allows us to touch the lives of even more families, offering them the convenience and peace of mind that they and their beloved pets deserve.”

The Vets provides services such as wellness check-ups, vaccinations, consultations for sick pets, and more. With the expansion into Fort Worth and San Antonio, The Vets now offers its services to 20 markets across the country.

Boehringer Ingelheim R&D Laboratory in St. Joseph, Missouri

A look at Boehringer Ingelheim's new R&D Laboratory. (Photo courtesy of Boehringer Ingelheim)

Boehringer Ingelheim has opened a new research and development (R&D) laboratory in St. Joseph, Missouri. The animal health company aims to transform the development of future products, particularly biotherapeutics, with this new facility.

"As we venture into exciting new areas of innovation, this facility will play a pivotal role and will be instrumental in driving R&D for future products," Caroline Belmont, vice president of US Global Innovation, Boehringer Ingelheim, said in a company release.

The R&D laboratory features a flexible layout and proprietary equipment enabling scientists to replicate operations, overcome transfer obstacles and optimize operational efficiency. The space is open, allowing for easy movement and less overcrowding.

"Boehringer has a strong presence in the Midwest, with key facilities and operations contributing significantly to its global operations. This region is a crucial hub for the global animal health industry due to its rich agricultural heritage and extensive livestock farming,” Belmont added.

Covetrus distribution center in Grimes, Iowa

The outside of the new Covetrus distribution center. (Photo courtesy of Covetrus)

Covetrus has opened a new state-of-the-art distribution center in Grimes, Iowa, that will provide veterinarians with access to more than 5000 product offerings used to manage practices and treat large and small animals. The distribution center will serve the greater Midwest region through veterinary practices in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, North Dakota, Texas, Wyoming and Wisconsin.

Todd Worthington, senior director of operations and logistics at Covetrus noted that the the new distribution center is one of the company's 13 facilities, serving practices across the US. "Whether the veterinarian is treating large animals, such as horses, or small ones like dogs and cats, the products they need can be found at Covetrus. Located in central Iowa, the new distribution center is able to fulfil customer orders quickly and efficiently so they can treat the animals in their care," Worthington said in a news release.

The facility is more than 80,000 square feet and offers walk in support for veterinarians to visit in person to pick up products or get any other assistance they may need.

The Vets expands: Bringing in-home pet care to Fort Worth and San Antonio. News release. The Vets. May 6, 2024. Accessed May 8, 2024.

Boehringer Ingelheim unveils new R&D Laboratory in St. Joseph, Mo. News release. Boehringer Ingelheim. May 6, 2024. Accessed May 8, 2024. 

https://www.bovinevetonline.com/news/industry/boehringer-ingelheim-unveils-new-rd-laboratory-st-joseph-mo

Covetrus opens new state-of-the-art distribution center to meet growing demand for products and services. News release. Covetrus. May 2, 2024. Accessed May 8, 2024. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/covetrus-opens-new-state-of-the-art-distribution-center-to-meet-growing-demand-for-products-and-services-302134424.html

Take a look at these 3 veterinary centers newly opened

Clinic center: New veterinary businesses open across the country (May 8, 2024)

Veterinary Management Groups (VMG) announced it launched an economic dashboard that will provide data-driven insights into the status of the economic health of the veterinary industry. The VMG Veterinary Economic Barometer is designed to empower veterinary professionals, business owners, and stakeholders with actionable data to help them make informed decisions as well as navigating the economic and veterinary landscape effectively.

"This dashboard and the monthly survey we are doing with VMG members provides the profession with insights into a number of economic indicators, all in one place," Clint Neill, PhD, economist and CEO of Applied Economic Consulting, who partnered with VMG to create the dashboard, said in an organizational release.

 "The addition of the VMG Veterinary Economic Barometer™ is a key component, as it provides a regular pulse on what practice owners are experiencing and their future expectations of the market."

According to the release, the VMG Veterinary Economic Barometer has a user-friendly interface that presents macroeconomic trends on expenditure and inflation for veterinary services. The tool offers a comprehensive measure of the overall health of the industries economic that is based on a monthly survey completed by VMG members sentiments spanning multiple market indicators.

The dashboard will also provide users with a data-driven approach on several economic measures instead of anecdotal evidence on how the economy and practices are performing through data reported in the dashboard.

"We are thrilled to introduce our Economic Data Dashboard, a significant milestone in our commitment to supporting the veterinary community," Matthew Salois, PhD, president of VMG, said in the release.

 "In today's rapidly evolving veterinary landscape, access to timely and accurate data is crucial for making informed decisions. Our dashboard fills this gap by providing veterinary professionals with the tools they need to thrive in an increasingly competitive market."

The dashboard is openly accessible to the public on the VMG website, but VMG members will receive an exclusive report each month providing them with a more comprehensive economic analysis.

Veterinary Management Groups (VMG) Launches Innovative Veterinary Economic Dashboard. News release. Veterinary Management Group. April 26, 2024. Accessed May 7, 2024. https://www.prweb.com/releases/veterinary-management-groups-vmg-launches-innovative-veterinary-economic-dashboard-302128102.html

The dashboard will provide the veterinary industry with data-driven insights into its economic health 


Veterinary economic dashboard aims to empower industry

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) announced that the application period for its 2024 Michael J. Day Scholarship for veterinary students is now open. The scholarship awards financial assistance toward a research project into either small animal infectious disease, clinical vaccinology, or immunology.

“The WSAVA Michael J. Day Scholarship is important as it affords the selected scholar with the opportunity to hone their research skills, while pursuing a topic of interest relating to immunology, vaccinology, or infectious diseases. Its significance, however, extends beyond aiding students as the research conducted by the scholars benefits the whole global veterinary community. We thank MSD Animal Health, the long-term committed partner of the WSAVA Vaccination Committee, for continuing to support this scholarship in honor of our greatly missed friend and colleague, Michael,” Mary Marcondes DVM, Msc, PhD, chair of the WSAVA Vaccination Committee (formerly known as the Vaccination Guidelines Group), said in an organizational release.

According to the release, the scholarship recognizes Michael J. Day BSc, BVMS(Hons), PhD, DSc, Dr(hc), DiplECVP, FASM, FRCPath, FRCVS, and his contributions to companion animal immunology and vaccinology during his time as chair of the WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines Group from 2009 until March 2020.

 The scholarship was announced in 2022 and awarded to Scholar Somnath Aryal, BVSc & AH, who was studying the prevalence of canine tick-borne disease within the dog population of Nepal, one of the first initiative surveys of diseases at the species level.

“The findings of my research project shed new light on the prevalence and molecular characteristics of canine tick-borne diseases in Nepal where they pose significant health risks to both dogs and humans. This knowledge is crucial for the implementation of effective prevention and control strategies and is now available to veterinarians across Nepal,” Aryal explained in the release.

Prospective student applicants will need to identify a principal supervisor prior to submitting their application and prospective principal supervisors need to find a suitable student before they can apply as well. The applications submitted should include the aims, hypothesis, and objectives of the proposed research and offer details of budget requirements, expected outcomes, and methods of research.

The following criteria are also required for candidacy

Applications must be submitted in English

Curricula vitae of student applicant and prospective principal supervisor

A 500-word maximum summary of the project with the significance of the expected results in the context of current knowledge

A reference of good standing from the Dean or Head of the candidate’s veterinary school

The ability to travel internationally (valid passport and any necessary visas) and be available to commit to a minimum of 8-12 weeks of research activity in the host institution.

“MSD Animal Health recognizes the importance of enabling veterinary students to undertake research projects. Not only is it a valuable educational experience but it adds to our body of knowledge in small animal infectious disease, clinical vaccinology, and immunology. That is why we’re proud to support this scholarship, which was developed in memory of Professor Michael J Day, a leader known for his commitment to both education and research in this field,” David Sutton, global technical director, Companion Animal Vaccines, said in the release.

The application deadline is July 31, 2024, and the winning scholar will be notified by the end of October 2024. The scholar's research project is expected to be performed between January and September 2025 and they must submit a 1500-word report on their findings within 3 months of completion. They will also be invited to present or publish their findings in English, as an abstract or poster, during the WSAVA World Congress, but not obligated to.

Applications Open for the 2024 WSAVA Michael J. Day Scholarship. News release. World Small Animal Veterinary Association. May 2, 2024. 

Michael J. Day Scholarship. World Small Animal Veterinary Association. Accessed May 7, 2024. https://wsava.org/resources/michael-j-day-scholarship/

The scholarship is awarded to a veterinary student interested in companion animal infectious disease, clinical vaccinology, or immunology.

2024 WSAVA Michael J. Day Scholarship applications now open 

 for the second year in a row by the American Kennel Club (AKC),

 however a new study from Paw Safe revealed that the most searched breed on the internet was the cane corso.

The cane corso had an average monthly search volume of 1.5 million internet searches in 2023. Second place was tied with the French bulldog and American Pitbull terrier each having 838,000 monthly searches. The golden retriever and Australian shepherd are next on the list, tying with 673,000 monthly searches.

The cane corso is characterized as being affectionate with families, good with children and other dogs, effective guard dogs, easily motivated in training, and high energy levels.

 Cane corsos are also known as Italian mastiffs and “cane” translates to dog, while it is believed “corso” comes loosely from the Latin word cohors, which means “guardian.” This breed did not place in the top 10 of AKC’s top breeds of 2023, despite having an overwhelming volume of online searches. The breed placed at #16 in 2023, and has steadily risen over the years, as these dogs were #51 on the list 10 years ago, in 2013.

With the cane corso reaching the top of general search inquiries, Paw Safe also took a deep dive into online searches that had purchase intent. The pet company wanted to see if there was a connection between the general curiosity about dog breeds and the actual intent to purchase them. To determine this, Paw Safe analyzed data that included the breed’s name and “for sale” as an example.

In these results, Paw Safe found the golden retriever on top with 215,800 monthly searches that included some kind of purchase intention. Second place was the French bulldog with 186,300 monthly searches and third place was the cane corso with 164,500 searches.

Paw Safe also broke down this information by state. Golden retrievers were the top searched with purchase intent for 43 states. This could point to why golden retrievers and French bulldogs placed higher on the AKC list since search inquires of these breeds tend to result in purchasing the dog, rather than just general interest.

Vive La Frenchie! French bulldog is America’s most popular pup for the second year in a row. News release. American Kennel Club. March 20, 2024. Accessed April 1, 2024. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vive-la-frenchie-french-bulldog-is-americas-most-popular-pup-for-the-second-year-in-a-row-302092740.html

Pollard C. Canine trends: A nationwide analysis of America’s preferred dog breeds in 2023. Paw Safe. March 14, 2024. Accessed May 7, 2024. 

https://pawsafe.com/blogs/data-research/americas-preferred-dog-breeds

Cane Corso. American Kennel Club. Accessed May 7, 2024. 

https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/cane-corso/

New data from Paw Safe reveals the most common online searches within the United States

Most searched dog breeds in 2023

A new informational poll was conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of the Humane Society of the United States. The poll surveyed 2042 US adults between March 19 and March 21, 2024 to gather new insights into the financial struggles owners face when trying to get veterinary care for their pet. One of the top findings of the poll included 43% of all pet owners indicating that they have been unable to pay for their pets' needs at some point because of financial reasons.

Overall, approximately 20 million pets in the US experience poverty with their families and 70% have never seen a veterinarian, according to the Humane Society.

 Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, said in a news release, "The human-animal bond transcends demographics, and everyone should have the opportunity to experience the joy of animal companionship. Millions of loving pet owners cannot afford or don't have access to veterinary services or pet resources. Most people are aware of how poverty and structural inequality create challenges and barriers to accessing healthy food, education, jobs, healthcare and housing for people. Pet resources are no different."

Some additional insight from the poll revealed the following

89% of respondents agree that all pet owners deserve to keep their pets as long as they care for them and love them.

81% of respondents believe no one should have to give up their pet if they fall on financial hard times.

75% of respondents believe that overcrowded shelters need more people to adopt pets, regardless of their socio-economic status.

The Humane Society also found that 91% of pet owners surveyed are willing to make personal sacrifices to prioritize caring for their pet. About 64% would consider taking money out of their savings, taking out a loan, or going into debt to pay for veterinary care or other pet needs. Nearly half (46%) would adjust their living situation or career such as getting a new job in order to work from home, moving homes, or breaking up with a significant other to care for their pet.

These survey responses coincide with another data collection that shows the significance of the human–animal bond. According to a Pew Research Center survey, as of 2023, many Americans (62%) own a pet, including about 35% who have more than one. Nearly all US pet owners (97%) say their pets are part of their family.

To tackle the crisis, the Humane Society of the United States created an initiative called More Than a Pet that actively confronts this widespread issue by raising awareness and offering solutions for individuals experiencing financial difficulties and finding it challenging to obtain pet care. This campaign is supported by partners TQL, Motel 6, Smalls and Tractive, and celebrity ambassador Jackson Galaxy, a renowned cat behavior and wellness expert, author, and television host.

"There is no greater joy than the unconditional love and relationship we have with our animal family members. They are more than just pets; they're part of our lives and our hearts, and no one should ever have to even think about giving them up because they don't have access to pet food, supplies and essential resources. We need to do all we can to keep these families together. People can make a difference by helping a neighbor out, whether that be giving them a bag of cat food, offering to care for their cat if they have fallen on hard times, or driving them to veterinary appointments if they don't have a car. Every bit helps and means more than you know,” Galaxy said in the release.

The Humane Society also encourages the public to lend a helping hand to someone you know or anyone experiencing a financial crisis. Food donations can be extremely helpful, as well as other pet products like toys, bedding/blankets, leashes/collars, and more. Donations directly to the Humane Society can also help those in need as the organization has donated more than $40 million worth of pet supplies, including 14 million pounds of pet food since its founding in 2002.

20 million pets in the US experience poverty with their families. News release. The Humane Society of the United States. May 6, 2024. Accessed May 7, 2024. 

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/20-million-pets-in-the-us-experience-poverty-with-their-families-302136367.html

Brown A. About half of US pet owners say their pets are as much a part of their family as a human member. Pew Research Center. July 7, 2023. Accessed May 7, 2024. 

https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/07/07/about-half-us-of-pet-owners-say-their-pets-are-as-much-a-part-of-their-family-as-a-human-member/

Pet owners facing financial crisis are unable to get veterinary care for their pets, new poll finds