This is Mars Pet Nutrition North America’s fifth annual report examining how pets can connect us with the community and people we normally would not meet without our pets. The survey is based on participants in the United States and Canada. 

"Our latest 'Pets Connect Us' report shows a very clear picture: the power of pets in bringing people together is stronger than ever," said Lisa Campbell, senior vice president of Corporate Affairs, Mars Pet Nutrition North America, in the release. "With new consumer insights on the increasingly important role pets play in our lives, along with the latest data on the state of pet homelessness across North America, we are better prepared to build on our Purpose of creating a Better World For Pets."

Some key findings on how pets can help us meet new people include the following:

89% of adults say pets are one of the easiest conversation starters.

88% of pet parents are more likely to "swipe right" on a dating app if a pet is featured in the profile picture.

85% of pet parents say pets have made them feel more familiar with their neighbors.

83% of adults say pets cause interactions with people they wouldn’t have connected with otherwise.

73% of pet parents have connected with someone from a different generation, culture or racial/ethnic background through mutual affection for their pets.

70% of pet parents say owning a pet makes them more invested in their community.

Key insights from the “Pets Connect Us” report by Mars Inc.

Some additional key findings promoting the inclusion of pets in our community:

90% of pet parents agree that pets contribute to a stronger sense of community.

88% of pet parents want more pet-friendly places to connect with other pet lovers.

84% of dog-friendly employers see improvement in culture and retention.

Pets have a remarkable ability to bring people together and creating shared experiences between people that otherwise seem very different from ourselves. The shared responsibility of caring for a pet also encourages collaboration and teamwork among family members or roommates, strengthening bonds through the shared commitment to the well-being of pets. From these overwhelmingly positive results, Mars encourages the expansion of pet-friendly places within communities to allow for more connection. Whether it’s a pet-friendly restaurant, retail store, café/bar, work office, or hotel, allowing for pets to come along with their owners can break the cycle of loneliness. Through its BETTER CITIES FOR PETS program, Mars is helping cities be pet-friendly.

In partnership with the State of Pet Homelessness Project and animal welfare experts, it is estimated that 1 in 5 or 20% of dogs and cats in the US and Canada are living outdoors as strays or waiting in shelters to be adopted. Adopting a pet can offer a very 

Report finds that 73% of pet parents have made connections despite differences because of their pets. News release. Mars Inc. February 27, 2024. Accessed February 28, 2024. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/report-finds-that-73-of-pet-parents-have-made-connections-despite-differences-because-of-their-pets-302071924.html

Pets Connect Us: Mars Pet Nutrition North America 2023 Report. Mars Pet Nutrition North America and BETTER CITIES FOR PETS. Accessed February 28, 2024. https://www.bettercitiesforpets.com/resource/2023-report/

Articles

A new report reveals that pet owners have met new people in their community through pet interactions

Human connections made through pet playdates

Talia Mdlungu/peopleimages.com/stock.adobe.com

In veterinary medicine, our mission extends beyond the medical care we provide to animals, but we need to bring a broader vision of nurturing the human relationships on our team. We also need to build a strong business, so we will be there for our community in the future. As owner of a veterinary clinic, The Drake Center for Veterinary Medicine, and co-founder of GeniusVets, I've dedicated my career to delivering world-class veterinary care and guiding veterinary practices toward achieving sustainable growth and success.

I am a firm believer in the innate relationship between a strong culture and strong business operations. In my over 30 years as a veterinarian and practice owner, I've seen firsthand the impact a practice's overall culture can have not only on its financial success, but also on its capacity to deliver exceptional care for animals, and great service for their owners as well.

Why your practice’s mission and culture are so important

Veterinary medicine is a demanding profession

Veterinary medicine demands resilience, dedication, and often involves long hours and emotionally stressful situations. We must learn to set boundaries and care for ourselves while pursuing our purpose.

When a practice's mission is clear and its culture is supportive and engaging, it naturally attracts clients who share similar values and are loyal to the practice. This alignment between the practice and its clientele fosters a strong, trust-based relationship necessary for long-term success. A strong mission and culture translate into a competitive advantage, driving growth and profitability by differentiating the practice in a crowded market.

Building the foundation of great care and exceptional service

What sets great practices apart from merely good ones is the care and service provided to patients and their owners. The beauty of owning a small, independent business is that you can make quick decisions to best serve your practice's needs. I’m a firm believer in the value of progress, no matter how small. If you aren't making changes regularly that contribute to your mission or elevate your culture, your practice isn’t progressing.

Business decisions such as hiring, team development, and business processes must be made with your culture and mission in mind. Hire people who are a great fit for your practice culture, and train them for the specific skills they’ll need. An organized practice significantly reduces stress and enhances productivity, benefiting everyone, from your staff to the animals you serve.

Cultivating a healthy workplace and a committed team

While we view culture and mission as the backbone of a thriving veterinary practice, nothing functions without a healthy heart. The pulse of your practice is in its team. As leaders, it is our duty to assemble a group of individuals who are not only skilled and knowledgeable but also share a common vision and passion for veterinary medicine.

The importance of building a team that is aligned with your mission cannot be overstated. If your team does not actively work with and contribute to your practice's culture, are they delivering the value their role demands? Once you have the right people, embracing and maintaining a positive workplace culture is the next step. This requires intentional efforts to nurture and sustain an environment of collaboration, respect, and continuous improvement.

Creating a vibrant culture extends beyond the first phase of recruitment; it involves ongoing development, mentorship, and empowerment of your team members. Invest in professional development and create mentorship processes within your hospital. When practice owners invest in their teams, it will improve employee satisfaction and retention, lowering turnover costs, and ensuring high service consistency.

When you align your practice with a mission-driven approach and create a healthy workplace, you will set the stage for both business success and the mission of improving and supporting animal health. Lead by example and create environments where compassion, communication, and continuous improvement of animal care are encouraged and celebrated.

Through this commitment, we don't just run better veterinary practices; we make a lasting impact in our communities.

is the owner of The Drake Center for Veterinary Care in Encinitas, California, a 10-doctor, 55-employee hospital that consistently outperforms competitors and industry averages because of Drake’s passion for embracing change and new technologies. She has served on committees and advisory boards for the University of California, American Animal Hospital Association, Novartis, and more. Drake completed her DVM at the University of Missouri and founded The Drake Center in 1992. She also serves as the chief veterinary officer for GeniusVets. Michele can be reached via email at michele@geniusvets.com.

Everything begins with creating a healthy workplace

Delivering on your mission while building a strong business

Periodontal disease is the most common disease affecting companion animals today and studies show that by 2 years of age 70% of cats and 80% of dogs have some form of periodontal disease.

This staggering statistic implies that a significant portion of puppies and kittens seen for wellness exams will suffer from periodontal disease within 16 months of completing their vaccine appointments. (

Figure 1: Thiol strip testing a dog that is less than 1 year old (images courtesy of Arizona Veterinary Dental Specialists)

Figure 2: Thiol test strip result for the same dog

What can we do to mitigate these staggering figures? Imagine averting dental cleanings with 10-15 extractions for small breed or feline patients at age 4 years by initiating proactive dental disease prevention in their youth.

By the time clients detect bad breath or tartar and calculus build up, periodontal disease has already entrenched itself, possibly irreversibly. Only stage 1 periodontal disease (PD) can be reversed to a stage 0 through professional dental cleaning (PRO) and proactive home care. Once PD progresses to stages 2-3, treatment involves a PRO, addressing periodontal pocketing, oral surgery, and client education on home care routines that can be committed to.

The degree of severity of PD relates to a single tooth; a patient may have teeth that have different stages of periodontal disease.

Does your pet drop toys or treats while chewing?

Does your pet carefully hold toys or treats in their mouth?

Does your dog resist playing tug of war when they used to love it?

Clinically normal; gingival inflammation or periodontitis is not clinically evident.

Gingivitis only without attachment loss; the height and architecture of the alveolar margin are normal.

Early periodontitis: Less than 25% of attachment loss or, at most, there is a stage 1 furcation involvement in multirooted teeth. There are early radiologic signs of periodontitis. The loss of periodontal attachment is less than 25% as measured either by probing of the clinical attachment level, or radiographic determination of the distance of the alveolar margin from the cementoenamel junction relative to the length of the root.

Moderate periodontitis: 25-50% of attachment loss as measured either by probing of the clinical attachment level, radiographic determination of the distance of the alveolar margin from the cementoenamel junction relative to the length of the root, or there is a stage 2 furcation involvement in multirooted teeth.

Advanced periodontitis: More than 50% of attachment loss as measured either by probing of the clinical attachment level, or radiographic determination of the distance of the alveolar margin from the cementoenamel junction relative to the length of the root, or there is a stage 3 furcation involvement in multirooted teeth.

What you can do to advocate for your patient’s dental health

As veterinary professionals, we must advocate for dental health during every wellness exam and educate clients on preventative measures. Oral health assessments can be integrated into various appointment types including wellness exams for puppies and kittens during the vaccine series, adult wellness exams, new patient exams and presurgical exams for routine procedures such as spays and neuters.

There are visualization tools we can use to show clients the current state of their pet’s teeth and gum line such as ultraviolet light to illuminate tartar build up. (

When visual exams are challenging, thiol test strips (

) allow detection of infection in the mouth. Negative results can be celebrated as a success, and positive results can be used to educate the owner as to why a PRO is recommended.

Figure 3: Ultraviolet light illuminating tartar buildup

At puppy and kitten exams, the team can offer client education on breed-specific dental health issues. Malocclusions, eruption of adult teeth and missing teeth can be watched closely at each appointment. Abnormalities such as cleft palates and displaced teeth can also be assessed during these exams.

Routine spay or neuter exams offer a prime opportunity for oral health assessments, allowing early intervention for dental abnormalities. The team will assess crowding of teeth (

) that may allow PD to occur at a faster rate and visualize missing, fractured, displaced teeth causing trauma, and persistent deciduous teeth. This is a perfect time to advocate for baseline dental radiographs (

) and oral thiol tests to see what is happening under the gum line and decide when their first PRO may be needed.

For small breed dogs or mini/micro dogs, it’s possible to recommend a PRO before they reach 1 year of age. Early identification of unerupted or displaced teeth causing pain when chewing or closing the mouth allows for timely intervention. The urgency remains the same for persistent deciduous teeth; if a deciduous tooth coexists with an adult tooth, prompt attention is necessary to address the issue.

Now that we have established the timing for evaluating our patients for dental disease and other dental abnormalities, let’s explore additional services that can be provided alongside preventative PROs.

A team with preventative dental culture allows us to see how prevention of PD really works. For team buy-in:

Educate everyone about dental disease and how it progresses.

Meet with staff to create questions the front staff can use when fielding calls about dental cleaning appointments on the phone.

Use/create dental health report cards or dental questionnaires the technicians can start in the room on intake.

Have doctors and technicians use thiol test strips to detect the presence of periodontal disease.

The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) is a great resource to provide information on home care products as a team and proactive approaches to make oral health important for the staff and clients.

Home care is one of the biggest tools we have in our toolkit for PD prevention. Exploring products and techniques available on the VOHC website can help identify suitable options to address tartar and plaque buildup across various patient profiles. The VOHC seal ensures the product will help control plaque and tartar. With many products on the market, relying on a dependable source is key to knowing which recommendations will prove effective.

Clients must assess their ability to engage in teeth brushing with their pet. While brushing remains the gold standard for prevention, not all pets readily accept it. In such cases, alternate options become necessary to ensure compliance such as rawhide chews, edible chews, water additives, oral gels, teeth wipes, and sprays, all of which, when used as directed, effectively target tartar and calculus build-up.

In an ideal scenario, every veterinary hospital would have proactive dental technicians and doctors, significantly impacting the trajectory of our clinics. Technicians, who often initiate client education, particularly regarding dental evaluations, play a crucial role. By asking the right questions and openly discussing our patients’ dental needs, we can garner strong support from both staff and clients.

Developing questionnaires for staff to use during check-in or intake can prompt clients to consider their pet's oral health. Additionally, dental health report cards, containing details about the pet’s oral health status, recommended home care products, and any conducted tests, can be distributed post-appointment. These measures contribute to a comprehensive approach to dental care and enhance overall clinic performance.

When our patients exhibit a positive thiol test, show signs of PD, or report oral discomfort, we recommend a comprehensive approach. This includes a thorough anesthetized oral exam and probing, full mouth dental radiographs, and ultrasonic scaling. Preventative measures yield shorter anesthetic dental procedures, reduced oral surgeries, less systemic disease, and lower financial costs for clients.

Understanding breed-specific abnormalities

Educating staff about the unique dental abnormalities present in many dog and cat breeds can significantly improve awareness and care for these pets. Early identification and intervention are key to effectively addressing these dental issues. In our hospitals, we frequently see these breeds with early onset periodontal disease or other dental issues.

Figure 7: Displaced tooth in an exotic breed cat

: Persians, British shorthairs, and exotic shorthairs often exhibit abnormally positioned teeth due to crowding associated with the brachiocephalic skull shape. (

: Dogs with brachiocephalic skull shapes experience crowding and rotated teeth, leading to advanced PD. Additionally, unerupted teeth (

) in these breeds may result in dentigerous cysts if left untreated.

Figure 8: Radiograph of a French bulldog with an unerupted tooth and crowded teeth

: These breeds can have linguoversion of mandibular canine teeth (

), also known as base narrow, which often causes occlusal trauma on the roof of the mouth (

). Early intervention during deciduous and adult tooth stages is crucial.

Figure 10: Occlusal trauma from base narrow canines

 are prone to rostroversion of maxillary canine teeth (

), sometimes requiring orthodontic treatment if causing oral trauma.

:Known for advanced pocketing on the palatal aspect of their maxillary canines, untreated cases may lead to oronasal fistulas. Dachshunds are overrepresented for this condition. (

: This breed can suffer from a congenital defect called tight lip syndrome, where the lower lip curls over the mandibular incisors, causing lingual displacement and interfering with normal mandibular growth. Early intervention is essential to ensure oral comfort and health. If the owner notices any of the above changes, a complete oral health exam should be considered. Using thiol strip tests, along with a complete oral exam, PRO, and full mouth dental radiographs, can effectively identify the underlying cause of discomfort and address it promptly.

Figure 12: Periodontal pocketing on its way to oronasal fistula

Early prevention significantly impacts our patients' oral and overall health, fostering a longer and healthier quality of life. By championing oral health initiatives now, we envision a future where many patients enjoy healthy mouths well into their senior years.

Winckler embarked on her veterinary journey in general practice. With a Certified Veterinary Technician license, she honed her skills in general practice until 2016, when she transitioned to the dental specialty field, joining Arizona Veterinary Dental Specialists. In 2023, Carrie achieved additional certification as a Veterinary Technician Specialist in Dentistry. An advocate for dental wellness, Carrie enjoys educating others on the importance of oral care for all animals. She is currently an instructor for Thrive Pet Healthcare’s Dental Growth Program, which empowers general practices nationwide to set higher standards in dentistry.

Wiggs RB, Lobprise HB. Veterinary Dentistry : Principles and Practice. Lippincott-Raven Publishers; 1997.

Blackwell’s Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion : Small Animal Dentistry.

 Wiley-Blackwell, A John Wiley And Sons, Inc., Publication; 2012.

Wolf HF, Hassell TM, Rateitschak-PlüssEM, Rateitschak KH. Color Atlas of Dental Medicine: Periodontology. Georg Thieme Verlag; 2005.

Holmstrom SE. Veterinary Dentistry: A Team Approach E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences; 2018.

Early intervention strategies and insights into breed-specific dental care to promote pet oral health

Strengthening oral health: A call to action for veterinary practices

Jamo Images/Wirestock Creators / stock.adobe.com

Some severe eye injuries or disease can appear to worsen drastically and need immediate attention. Ralph E Hamor, DVM, MS, DACVO, Hamor Veterinary Ophthamology LLC, explained to attendees at the 2024 Midwest Veterinary Conference,

 about what makes an eye condition an emergency. “Ocular emergencies. I was laughing with a colleague at lunch because I don’t know why I lecture on these because I don’t really think they exist,” Hamor confessed to attendees. “There aren’t too many of them. [Patients] usually aren’t going to die with [ocular issues].” 

Hamor then explained that ocular issues don’t usually require dire emergency attention, but they can still be urgent and need to be treated swiftly. He first noted that ocular emergencies can often look similar, so he categorized different cases with its respective clinical presentation.

 could be corneal ulcers, glaucoma, anterior lens luxation, or anterior uveitis.

could be glaucoma, orbital disease, uveitis, conjunctivitis, or keratitis.

could be glaucoma, anterior lens luxation, or anterior uveitis.

 could be glaucoma, buphthalmos, or exophthalmos.

 could be glaucoma, retinal disease, or sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome.

Glaucoma can present as all 5 of these categories, so this is just one example of how it can be challenging to get the diagnosis correctly.

One ocular emergency is proptosis, a bulging of the eye out of the socket usually caused by injury, like blunt trauma (such as being hit by a car or attacked by another animal). This injury dislodges the eyeball from the orbit and eyelid spasms prevent the eyeball from returning to its proper position. As bleeding and swelling occur, the eye is displaced more extensively from its socket. This results in dryness of the eye, potentially leading to a deterioration or loss of vision.

Hamor stated that a few indicators can determine the prognosis of this particular ocular emergency. If the patient appears to have full or partial vision or a normal pupillary light reflex, then prognosis is usually better. However, if the patient has damage to more than 3 extraocular muscles, hymphema, or a desiccated cornea, then the prognosis would be worse. Hamor did mention that counting extraocular muscles in general is difficult, so checking for damaged ones would be even more challenging.

Because of the injury's traumatic nature, most dogs do not regain vision, but brachycephalic dog breeds have a 30% chance at regaining vision, according to Hamor. “Basically, some brachycephalics can regain vision. They have a very swallow orbit. They have a very wide eyelid opening. Their eyeballs fall out on a random Tuesday,” Hamor joked.

Corneal ulcers may arise due to insufficient eye lubrication (inadequate tear production) or as a result of trauma, such as scratches or other injuries.

 Corneal injuries can also occur from a foreign object getting caught in the eye like dirt, sand, an eyelash, wood shavings, etc. The ulcers can escalate in severity if infections take hold.

Hamor would classify a deep ulcer as an ocular emergency. These cases should warrant getting a culture and cytology report. Hamor recommended getting a Schirmer tear test in the unaffected eye, since the injured eye will most likely come back inaccurate.

Identified by elevated pressure within the eye, glaucoma has the potential to result in vision loss.

 This is primary and secondary glaucoma. In primary glaucoma cases, it typically occurs in middle aged dogs and the drainage is not working properly because of breed dispositions or genetics. “[Primary glaucoma] is the one of the most frustrating diseases in veterinary ophthalmology to treat. I’ve been doing it for years and I keep thinking that something is going to change my life and save vision,” Hamor said. “With primary glaucoma, I usually tell owners: vision battle is a war. [Unfortunately], we’re going to lose the war so it’s more so about how many battles do you want to fight and how much money are you willing to spend?” Hamor stated that primary glaucoma can be stalled so it could be worth it for some owners to try treatment.

In secondary glaucoma, the drainage structure has been affected by some outside force like trauma or other disease. According to Hamor, secondary glaucoma tends to have a better outcome than primary. Secondary could be solved with treatment, unlike primary.

Although not every eye injury or disease will be an emergency, it is important to help inform clients about the signs and symptoms of cases that can worse if left untreated. Treating any urgent ocular case quickly can help prevent prolonged pain, infection, and vision loss.

Hamor R. Ocular emergencies: What can I do? Presented at: Midwest Veterinary Conference; February 20-22, 2024.

Gelatt K. Eye emergencies. Merck Veterinary Manual. November 2022. Accessed February 27, 2024. 

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/special-pet-topics/emergencies/eye-emergencies

A veterinary ophthalmologist discusses when ocular conditions turn urgent during the Midwest Veterinary Conference

Recognizing 3 eye emergencies

Through informative content and community engagement, World Spay Day aims to educated individuals worldwide on the benefits of spaying and neutering pets, fostering a more sustainable and compassionate approach to animal welfare. To celebrate and educate veterinary professionals on spay procedures, we have complied a list of articles and podcast episodes.

From an article exploring the speed, safety, and surgery skills needed for spay care to a podcast episode to help veterinary professionals be more confident with spay procedures, there is something here for everyone. Enjoy!

: June Long, DVM, offers host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, and listeners tips on how to perform a quick and efficient spay procedure under a plethora of conditions.

Combining the best of private practice with clinic spay/neuter care

: This article discusses the integration of private practice principles with clinic spay/neuter services, aiming to enhance efficiency and quality in veterinary care. It highlights strategies for combining the strengths of both models to improve patient outcomes while maintaining affordability and accessibility for pet owners.

: Staci Scolavino, VMD, and Christman, reviewed the impact spay or neuter procedures have on a pets appetite and metabolisms, plus how these can often lead to significant weight gain in these patients.

Check out these podcasts and articles discussing spaying procedures, the aftermath of the surgery on patients, and more

Recognizing World Spay Day 

An advisory board has been formed for the Veterinary Innovation Council (VIC) of the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC). Comprised of veterinary leaders from across the industry’s spectrum, the board brings together practitioners, academics, industry leaders, and representatives from animal welfare organizations.

Advisory board members include practitioners, academics, industry leaders, and representatives from animal welfare organizations. The goal of the advisory board is to create a multi-dimensional perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing the profession, according to an NAVC release. Members will work toward generating awareness and understanding of a diverse set of issues that affect the profession and collaborate with the VIC Board of Directors to identify solutions.

"This is a pivotal moment for veterinary medicine," said Jennifer Welser, chief strategy officer at CityVet based in Dallas, Texas, and the VIC Board of Directors chair, in the release. "The establishment of this advisory board marks our commitment to broadening our understanding of the complex landscape in which our profession operates and to having a positive impact. We aim to foster a dialogue that is both inclusive and forward-looking, ensuring the best possible care for animals and support for those who dedicate their lives to this noble cause."

The VIC was formed in 2015 with the purpose of “advancing the field of veterinary medicine through innovation, education, and advocacy,” according to NAVC. The advisory board plans to meet regularly and will provide recommendations and guidance to the VIC. Their perspectives will provide insights that are expected to shape the council's strategies and initiatives. "We believe that the collective wisdom and experience of our Advisory Board members will be invaluable in guiding our efforts," said Aaron Massecar, executive director of the VIC, in the release. "Their input will help us not only to address current challenges but also to anticipate and prepare for future developments in veterinary medicine."

The VIC Advisory Board members are as follows:

Douglas G. Aspros, DVM and chief veterinary officer for Veterinary Practice Partners based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania

James W. Lloyd, PhD, DVM, dean emerita and senior consultant at Animal Health Economics in Sears, Michigan

Brianna Armstrong, DVM, medical director and co-owner at Firehouse Animal Health Center in Austin, Texas

Adam Little, DVM, entrepreneur based in Vancouver, British Columbia

Valerie C. Marcano, DVM, co-founder of Pawsibilities Vet Med based in Cary, North Carolina

Samuel Schopler, student veterinarian at The College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University in Raleigh

Michael Blackwell, DVM, MPH, director of the Program for Pet Health Equity, College of Social Work, at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville

Emmitt Nantz a cofounder of Inventory Ally based in Vancouver, Washington

Niccole Bruno, DVM, CEO and founder of blendvet based in Katy, Texas

Christina Tran, DVM, founding dean and clinical professor at Hanover College School of Veterinary Medicine in Indiana

Ashby Green, founder of Gazelle Capital based in Portland, Maine

Veterinary Innovation Council launches advisory board to provide feedback and guidance on profession-wide issues. News release. North American Veterinary Community. February 27, 2024.

The North American Veterinary Community named nearly a dozen members that represent a wide spectrum of veterinary profession experience