In recognition of President’s Day, Pet Poison Helpline used its latest installment of Toxin Tails to bring awareness to toxins by highlighting cases where the pet shared a name with a President of the United States, like Washington, a German Shepard mix from Bend, Oregon. 

Like the president he shares a name with, who loved chocolate and once ordered 50 pounds of it,

 Washington helped himself to some of the chocolate candy that his owner Sarah Pringle, and her family kept next to their coffee machine.  

“[The individually wrapped chocolates] had been there for months, but for some reason Washington decided he wanted a snack and individually unwrapped each chocolate before eating them. We knew chocolate was dangerous to pets, so we called the Pet Poison Helpline. Fortunately, the toxicologist who assisted us told us that based on Washington’s size and type of chocolate ingested, he didn’t eat enough to require treatment. If he had been a small dog, however, it would have been a different story. He ended up being fine, but it was still scary,” said Pringle, in an organizational release.

Chocolate poisonings are common in dogs because chocolate is something that can be easy for them to get into, depending on their home life. When a dog ingests chocolate, their bodies cannot metabolize it the way a human can. Dogs that eat chocolate are ingesting caffeine and theobromine, the 2 toxic components for dogs, that cause stimulation of the central nervous center and heart and can act as diuretics.

 The severity of the diagnosis depends on how much the dog ingested, and what kind because darker and more bitter chocolates are the most toxic, and symptoms can begin within 2-12 hours and last up to 12-36, sometimes longer. Signs of poisoning include restlessness, vomiting, increased thirst, abnormal heart rhythms, tremors, diarrhea, elevated heart rate, hyperactivity, diarrhea, tremors, and hyperthermia.

Jefferson, a golden retriever, was treated recently for THC poisoning after his owner thought he was giving him CBD gummies. Pure CBD is not expected to be a concern in pets because it has no psychoactive properties so it cannot cause neurological signs in pets or get them high. Pets brought into the clinic suspected of suffering a THC poisoning will have lethargy, weakness, ataxia, unresponsiveness, hypotension, bradycardia, and urinary incontinence.

 Most pets will recover but increased sensitivity to THC can result in life-threatening signs that can require the veterinarian to propose aggressive medical care.

“Thomas Jefferson grew hemp at Monticello,” said Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT, a senior veterinary toxicologist at Pet Poison Helpline, in the organizational release.

 “It is only fitting that a golden retriever named Jefferson was recently treated for eating what his owner thought were CBD gummies, but his symptoms were more consistent with THC poisoning. It’s possible that the product was contaminated, or perhaps the gummies were in fact THC and the owner was unaware. As more states legalize medical and recreational cannabis, the more marijuana-related calls we are receiving for both THC and CBD. In fact, marijuana ranked sixth on our top 10 pet toxins of 2023.”

Teddy, a cat from New York, ingested an unknown amount of laundry detergent when his family’s backs were turned. Cats who have ingested laundry detergents can also present with burns in their mouth or pawing at their mouth but one of the biggest concerns is if the pet will develop aspiration pneumonitis.

 Teddy’s family brought him to the clinic after he started vomiting and showing signs of respiratory irritation. The Pet Poison Helpline team recommended the veterinary team use anti-emetic, IV fluids, chest radiographs, sedation, and oxygen therapy. In Teddy’s case, he received lifesaving care and was able to recover and return home to his family. 

“Cats are very sensitive to the surfactants and cationic detergents in laundry detergent with oral and esophageal lesions, vomiting, mouth pain, and aspiration occurring, which can lead to severe respiratory distress,” explained Schmid.

Finally, Lincoln, a Portuguese water dog from Michigan, made the Mount Rushmore of 

 after he ingested 100 chews of a supplement designed to prevent grass scalding from pet urine. The chews contained DL-methionine which caused Lincoln to overdose. An overdose of DL-methionine can cause abdominal pain, ataxia, coma, metabolic acidosis, seizures, tremors, and vomiting. Lincoln developed neurologic signs and vomiting but he was treated by a veterinarian with help from the Pet Poison Helpline and made a full recovery.

Move over Mount Rushmore. News release. Pet Poison Helpline, February 15, 2024. Accessed February 19, 2024.

The Washingtons and chocolate. George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Accessed February 19, 2024. https://www.mountvernon.org/inn/recipes/the-washingtons-and-chocolate/

Chocolate toxicity: What should I do if my dog eats chocolate? Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Published October 24, 2023. Accessed February 19, 2024. https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-information/chocolate-toxicity-what-should-i-do-if-my-dog-eats-chocolate

Some of my finest hours have been spent on my back veranda, smoking hemp... (Spurious Quotation). Monticello. Accessed February 19, 2024. 

Understanding and treating laundry detergent ingestion. ASPCApro. Published August 25, 2017. Accessed February 19, 2024. https://www.aspcapro.org/resource/understanding-and-treating-laundry-detergent-ingestion

Articles

Pet Poison Helpline presented the Mount Rushmore of Toxin Tails to bring awareness this Presidents Day 

Honoring Presidents Day with toxin awareness 

Jameela was born via Caesarean section on January 5, 2024, at the Fort Worth Zoo (Images courtesy of Fort Worth Zoo) 

The Fort Worth Zoo shared that on January 5, 2024, it welcomed Jameela, a female baby gorilla. She is the third baby gorilla to be born at the zoo but has become the first to be born via Caesarean section (C-section). The team had to switch to the C-section after Jameela’s mother Sekani had life-threatening complications during the birth.

 Sekani, a 33-year-old gorilla, was pregnant with her fourth offspring, Jameela, with an expected due date of early to mid-February. However, on January 3, 2024, zookeepers noticed she was moving slowly and holding her head as if she had a headache. The zookeepers believed she was exhibiting symptoms of preeclampsia, a blood pressure condition that can occur during pregnancy of both primates and humans and performed tests that confirmed their suspicions. The team knew that they needed to intervene but of the diagnosis and the birth of a premature baby, they reached out to a local obstetrician and neonatologist, who agreed that an emergency C-section was needed to save Sekani and give her baby a chance of survival.

Jamie Walker Erwin, MD, board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology who has worked with the zoo to consult on cases since 2016, was called to help with Sekani. Erwin assembled a team of volunteer medical professionals to assist with the delivery process and on January 5, 2024, the team successfully performed the C-section and immediate care to a premature Jameela.

Jamie Walker Erwin, MD, board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology, holding baby Jameela.  

"Taking part in delivering Sekani’s infant via cesarean section was one of the highlights of my entire career as an OB-GYN. It is an honor and privilege to assist with care for this endangered species and to share my expertise with the veterinary staff at the Fort Worth Zoo. I was amazed at how Sekani’s anatomy matched that of my human patients," expressed Erwin.

Because she was born 4-6 weeks early and required immediate intervention, the Zoo brought in Robert Ursprung, MD, neonatologist and national director of quality and safety for neonatology. Ursprung helped the zoo’s team with resuscitation and stabilization, radiographs, serial examinations, and respiratory support and provided consultations with the staff to help optimize the nutritional strategy, including oral feedings, and temperature guidelines.

The primate keepers at the zoo and the veterinary and nutrition staff worked around the clock to care for and feed Jameela while her mother recovered from the procedure. However, after multiple attempts to reunite the mother and baby, Sekani showed little interest in caring for the baby. The team at the zoo is not entirely sure what caused this, but experts suspect it’s because she never experienced the necessary hormonal cues she would have if she had a natural and full-term birth.

 Regardless, the team continued to provide the constant care the baby needed including bottle feeding every 2-3 hours, weight checks, monitoring eliminations, and ensuring she was near other gorillas to learn the smells, sights, and sounds of the troop.

Robert Ursprung, MD, Neonatologist and National Director of Quality and Safety for Neonatology, holding Jameela. 

"It was incredible how similar this mother-infant pair was compared to what I see in the hospital for babies born under similar circumstances. The baby needed critical respiratory support for a few hours post-delivery, but as she transitioned to life outside the womb, she stabilized quite nicely. She had so many features typical of a slightly premature human baby. The Zoo's care team was incredible. Their ability to adapt to the care needs of a medically fragile infant was amazing to watch," said Ursprung.

The team continued to try to reunify Jameela and Sekani but after 2 weeks, the team decided it was time to make a crucial decision of training Gracie, a 24-year-old female gorilla, to become a surrogate mother. Gracie has 2 offspring of her own, including a 1-year-old named male named Bruno. The team is hopeful that Gracie will be a good surrogate mother because she has been trained already to “present” her baby to zookeepers through a mesh barrier so they can get a visual examination of the baby as well as she has exhibited maternal behaviors that would be crucial to Jameela’s survival.

“Observing our staff and their continuous commitment to this baby and the subsequent surrogacy journey is a testament to their dedication to the animals in their care,” said Michael Fouraker, executive director of the Fort Worth Zoo. “It’s been incredibly inspiring to witness, and we are all hopeful that we can continue to watch this little one grow.”

Fort Worth Zoo is not the first to utilize human medical professionals to deliver a gorilla through C-section. In 2016, the Louisville Zoo welcomed a baby gorilla via emergency C-section performed by James W. Forrester, MD, and Robert C. Zoller, MD, however, the mother of this infant did not make it due to complications.

 Then 2017, the Philadelphia Zoo brought in Rebekah McCurdy, MD, MPH, to assist in the emergency C-section, despite being 28 weeks pregnant herself, and the mother and baby gorilla were reunited after the birth and have been inseparable.

The Zoo decided to name her Jameela which means beautiful in Swahili, but also serves as a tribute to Erwin. The zoo team is optimistic that she will integrate into the zoo’s troop of 7 gorillas, 8 including Jameela, and will continue to update the public through social media about Jameela and Gracie’s surrogacy journey.

Meet Jameela. News release. Fort Worth Zoo. Accessed February 19, 2024. https://www.fortworthzoo.org/premature-gorilla

Kemnitz R. Gorilla baby infant via cesarean. Louisville Zoo. Published March 15, 2016. Accessed February 19, 2024. https://louisvillezoo.org/mr2016-03-15/

Yong E. How a Philly ob-gyn ended up delivering a baby gorilla. The Altantic. Published online June 14, 2017. Accessed February 19, 2024. https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/06/how-to-deliver-a-baby-gorilla/530235/

Jameela was successfully delivered by emergency cesarean section after complications arose that threatened the life of the mother 

Fort Worth Zoo welcomes baby gorilla after a historic birth 

The 2024 National Business Aptitude Award from the Simmons Educational Fund (SEF) was awarded at the Veterinary Business Management Association's (VBMA) annual conference in January, held at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. The SEF is a non-profit organization established in 2002 that is committed to educating practitioners and students about the business of veterinary medicine.

 The VBMA is a student-driven organization dedicated to advancing the veterinary profession through business knowledge, networking opportunities, and empowering students to achieve their personal and professional goals.

The national honor awarded the winner $30,000, SEF's most substantial annual student prize. The check was handed over by Carly Watson Tobler, chief operating officer of Simmons & Associates, to Max Wunsche, a third-year student at the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Veterinary Medicine. According to a news release, Wunsche earned the recognition based on his outstanding case study submission, along with notable achievements in academics, leadership, and the professional realm.

Carly Watson Tobler, chief operating officer, presents the 2024 SEF Business Aptitude Award to Max Wunsche. (Photo courtesy of Simmons & Associates)

“Max Wunsche is an extremely impressive veterinary student. The case study he submitted demonstrated an excellent understanding of the challenges and opportunities of practice management,” said Watson Tobler in the release. “He represents the best of the best in veterinary students.”

Wunsche is originally from Charleston, South Carolina, and received his undergraduate degree from Clemson University. While a veterinary student at UGA, Wunsche held the presidential responsibility of the university’s VBMA chapter and previously served as the treasurer of his College of Veterinary Medicine class.

“I am honored to be the recipient of the SEF Business Aptitude Award. I have a keen interest in entrepreneurial opportunities in veterinary medicine and am grateful that the Simmons Educational Fund incentivizes exploring that interest through their annual case study,” said Wunsche. “Working on the case study greatly bolstered my confidence in my business knowledge. I am thrilled my submission was selected as this year’s winner as this award will go a long way in helping me achieve my goals.”

SEF’s annual award encourages submissions from veterinary students nationwide who stand out for their demonstrated enthusiasm and proficiency in the pursuit of business excellence within veterinary medicine. A panel of experts from Simmons & Associates assesses the submissions and chooses a deserving winner. Historically, only third-year veterinary students were eligible to apply for the award, however, SEF would like to expand the eligibility criteria to include more excellent veterinary students who will be currently enrolled in veterinary school through January 2025.

“As someone who has owned and operated a veterinary practice, I know how important it is for veterinarians to be knowledgeable and skilled in both medicine and business management,” said SEF board member David King, DVM. “Max Wunsche’s case study showed a strong understanding of both. He is a worthy winner of the SEF’s National Business Aptitude Award.”

Simmons Educational Fund names UGA student the winner of the National Business Aptitude Award. News release. Simmons & Associates. February 1, 2024. Accessed February 19, 2024. https://simmonsinc.com/sef-2024-award-winner/

Our mission. Veterinary Business Management Association. Accessed February 19, 2024. https://vbma.biz/

Winner Max Wunsche is a third-year student at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine 

University of Georgia student wins national business honor

M Einero/peopleimages.com/stock.adobe.com

Good morning and happy Monday dvm360 readers! We hope everyone had a great weekend and if you were affected by the snowfalls that hit the northern parts of the country, we hope you stayed safe and warm! If you are sick of the cold and want a change of pace, do not forget Fetch is heading to Charlotte, North Carolina, in less than a month! You can learn more about what speakers will be attending, what lectures you can go to, and the networking opportunities. This is not one you want to miss so learn more and sign up 

The Fort Worth Zoo welcomed Jameela, making her birth the third gorilla birth at the Zoo but the first gorilla to be born via cesarean section that required lifesaving caring for the mother and baby, including help from human medical experts.

In recognition of President’s Day, Pet Poison Helpline’s recent installment of 

shares emergency calls the helpline received for pets who have been named after presidents.

, Jason Balara, DVM, DACVS(SA), and host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, discuss investing in real estate as a veterinary professional.

The veterinary team at the UC Davis Veterinary Hospital’s Companion Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery Service recently joined forces with other veterinary teams at the hospital to treat a snow leopard's fractured tooth.

Coverage from the 2023 New York Vet conference continues with a recap to prepare teams if a patient comes in without visual, plus a common cause of blindness in pets and how teams can create these patients to improve their quality of life.

The American Healthcare Documentation Professionals Group announced the Veterinary Assistant and Veterinary Assistant Scribe Online training programs to train participants with invaluable insights into the world of veterinary medicine.

Here is a sneak peek of this week’s headlines 

Sneak peek:  Fort Worth Zoo welcomes gorilla baby via cesarean section, and other veterinary news 

Veterinary businesses and companies play a vital role in safeguarding the well-being of pets, skillfully balancing medical expertise, compassionate care, innovative technology, and effective management. Exceptional leadership within the veterinary industry significantly influences the standard of pet care and contributes to the professional development of their teams. By fostering a culture of evolution and staying up-to-date on the latest advancements in veterinary medicine, industry leaders create an environment that ensures the continued standards and quality in pet healthcare.

Various veterinary businesses and organizations recently announced new promotions and appointments. The following individuals are among those making career advancements:

Karen Kline, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Neurology), NAVC board president for 2024 – 2025

Karen Kline, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Neurology), NAVC board president for 2024 – 2025. (Photo courtesy of NAVC)

Karen Kline, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Neurology), officially started her term as the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) board president for 2024 – 2025. Kline was welcomed by the NAVC at its annual Veterinary Meeting & Expo event in Orlando, Florida, last month. Kline served on the NAVC board of directors for 6 years, before she took over the position from previous president, Bob Lester, DVM.

Prior to her new role, Kline was the medical director from 2019 to 2024 at VCA Northwest Veterinary Specialists in Clackamas, Oregon. She has been a practicing veterinarian for 35 years and a board-certified neurologist for 30 years.

"I am honored to be the next president of NAVC and I will carry on the tradition of excellence and innovation that this organization represents,” said Kline in a news release. “VMX 2024 was a fantastic experience for all participants from all over the globe and has gotten 2024 off to an exciting start.It was indeed the Show of Shows, and I look forward to continuing that energy and innovation throughout this year and my tenure as NAVC board president!”

Carol G. Ryan, DVM, and Michael P. Lent, DVM, AVMA board of directors

Carol G. Ryan, DVM, and Michael P. Lent, DVM, were both elected to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) board of directors earlier this month after running unopposed for 2 open seats. Ryan will oversee District VII, which consists of AVMA members in Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Lent will be in charge of District IX, representing Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Utah. Both terms will officially begin in June during the 2024 AVMA Convention in Austin, Texas and both directors will serve for the next 6 years until 2030.

Ryan is described as a mixed animal practitioner, according to the AVMA, and is a partner owner of the 2 locations of Troy & Wentzville Veterinary Clinics in Missouri. “I have been involved in organized veterinary medicine since I graduated veterinary school in 1992. I have volunteered a multitude of hours for the Academy of Veterinary Practitioners, Emergency Management Team, Wellness and Suicide Task Force, state convention planning and countless committees,” Ryan said in the release. “My passion has focused on mentoring pre-veterinary and preceptor students for over 30 years. I admire all the previous leaders that have committed their time and talent to our veterinary profession. I intend to carry forth the enthusiasm to make our profession shine.”

Lent is a small animal practitioner at Pantano Animal Clinic in Tucson, Arizona where he also serves as the clinic’s medical director. “I've found involvement in organized veterinary medicine has helped me grow as a person and veterinarian by serving and representing others. I've been very fortunate to make some lifelong friends and mentors, and always felt like I got back more than I gave from the experiences,” Lent stated. “I’ve been challenged to see issues from many different perspectives and learned a great deal about aspects of the profession I love I otherwise would have not been exposed to. I also feel the most kinship and connection with my colleagues in the profession when I'm involved in something bigger than us as individuals.”

Holly May, chief human resources officer of Petco

Holly May, chief human resources officer of Petco. (Photo courtesy of Petco)

Holly May was named the chief human resources officer of Petco Health and Wellness Company Inc, in which she is now tasked with formulating a human resources strategy for the company aimed at achieving both profitable growth and performance, while maintaining Petco's mission to enhance the well-being of pets.

May comes to the Petco team having 2 decades of experience in human resources, her most recent role being EVP & Global chief human resources officer for Walgreens Boots Alliance.

"Over the past week, I've had the pleasure of meeting many Petco partners, and I've directly observed their passion for taking care of pets and pet parents," May stated in a news release. "I look forward to helping this high-impact team further harness that passion to fuel both personal and business growth across the organization."

João Marcelo Gomes, president of Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health – EMENA

João Marcelo Gomes has been appointed president of Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health – EMENA (Europe, Middle East, and North Africa) after nearly 30 years at Kemin Industries. Previously, Gomes has served as president of Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health for its South America division and president of Kemin Food Technologies – EMEA.

 Gomes will be responsible for enhancing the sales, marketing, and business development for the animal nutrition and health company.

"I'm eager to join the EMENA region and work together to continue the team's success, execute Kemin's growth strategy, and take the business to the next level," said Gomes in the company release. "Over the past few years, Kemin has invested significantly in the EMENA region with new production sites, innovative technologies, and local experts supporting customers. In the upcoming years, we will continue to focus our efforts on feed efficiency, feed protection, animal productivity, and cost reduction—all while investing in efficiency and progress toward net zero greenhouse gas emissions."

Aaron Schacht, Gallant Therapeutics board of directors

Aaron Schacht was welcomed on the board of directors for Gallant Therapeutics, an animal health biotechnology company pioneering off-the-shelf stem cell therapies for pets. Schacht has previously held positions at BiomEdit, Elanco, and Eli Lilly, but comes to Gallant Therapeutics as the company grows towards potential conditional FDA approval for its inventions.

"The field of animal health is hungry for innovative solutions to address our pets' health concerns,” said Aaron Schacht in the release. “Gallant's pioneering approach to developing 'off-the-shelf' cellular therapies that are disease modifying fills a needed gap in our industry. I look forward to supporting the Gallant team in their efforts to drive the industry's evolution by bringing a new class of therapies to the market.”

The NAVC welcomes Karen Kline, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Neurology), as 2024 - 2025 board president. News release. North American Veterinary Community. February 8, 2024. Accessed February 16, 2024.

Ryan, Lent elected to AVMA board of directors. News release. American Veterinary Medical Association. February 5, 2024. Accessed February 16, 2024. 

https://www.avma.org/news/ryan-lent-elected-avma-board-directors

Petco names Holly May as chief human resources officer. News release. Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc. February 13, 2024. Accessed February 16, 2024. 

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/petco-names-holly-may-as-chief-human-resources-officer-302060097.html

João Marcelo Gomes named president of Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health – EMENA. News release. Kemin Industries. January 29, 2024. Accessed February 16, 2024. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/joao-marcelo-gomes-named-president-of-kemin-animal-nutrition-and-health--emena-302046373.html

Gallant Therapeutics adds animal health executive Aaron Schacht to board of directors. News release. Gallant Therapeutics. February 6, 2024. Accessed February 16, 2024. 

https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2024/02/06/2824305/0/en/Gallant-Therapeutics-Adds-Animal-Health-Executive-Aaron-Schacht-to-Board-of-Directors.html

Check out the latest news in the veterinary industry with these 5 recent promotions and appointments

Paws and profits: Highlighting new promotions in veterinary business

Canine separation anxiety (CSA) is a common behavioral disorder in dogs that can notably impact the human-animal bond. Pet owners want to ensure their dogs are comfortable, but avoiding that separation is not always an option. Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, of 

, sat down with Christopher Pachel, dvm, dacvb, cabc, to discuss the impact of and treatment options for CSA.

Adam Christman, DVM, MBA: How many dogs in the United States are affected by CSA?

It depends on which study you look at but, generally, the estimate is around 17%, so roughly 1 in 6 dogs. About 13 million dogs in the United States are affected by a negative emotional state that occurs when they’re separated from their pet parents or left home alone.

Christman: How does CSA impact the human-animal bond?

Separation anxiety is something I hear about frequently from pet parents. They mention how devastating it is to know that, when they need to leave their pet alone, they’re experiencing an emotional crisis. It’s often a helpless feeling for those pet parents because they aren’t there to comfort or soothe their pets.

Christman: When it comes to treating CSA, how do pet owners feel about the current options? What are their main concerns and priorities when it comes to finding the right treatment?

I’d say that the big 3 treatment options involve some form of management. It’s not always doable but avoidance, or trying to leave the pet alone less frequently, helps to minimize panic. Then there is training and behavior modification that teaches animals to self-soothe and be calm and nonreactive when they’re left alone. Then we have pharmaceutical options, which can directly target that emotional response to help those animals feel comfortable. It can be a labor-intensive process and some of those interventions create a potential for adverse effects. If I told my clients to never leave their dog home alone, they wouldn’t be able to live their lives. Avoidance is helpful, but it’s also difficult to do. Then, even if pet parents have the time for training options, they may not be skilled in that area. The onboarding of those skills can take time, effort, and financial resources. There is also pushback on some of the pharmaceutical options. People love their pets and don’t want a personality change; they’re just looking for those animals to be comfortable when they’re home alone.

Christman: Calmer Canine® is a drug-free option for treating CSA. How does Calmer Canine work? What is the treatment protocol?

It’s a fantastic intervention that I’m grateful to have on the market. It utilizes technology called targeted pulse electromagnetic frequency, which is very similar to the technology used within the Assisi LOOP® that typically targets pain and inflammation. Calmer Canine is a device that sits within a harness or vest that the animal can comfortably wear. The animal wears it for roughly 15 minutes, twice a day, at least 8 hours apart. The overall course of treatment is generally 4 to 6 weeks long. Compared to other options, it can be easier for the client to put the device on and calmly sit with their dog for 15 minutes twice a day.

Christman: What types of results can be seen after using Calmer Canine as prescribed?

The results have been profound. There have been 2 studies. One was presented at the International Veterinary Behavior Meeting in Washington, D.C., in 2019, and in that small pilot study, all the animals showed statistically significant improvements in those metrics of separation anxiety. Another study was published in 2021 with 40 dogs that had moderate to severe separation anxiety signs. At least two-thirds of those dogs showed marked improvement in signs of distress when they were left home alone, and there was also an increase in comfort behaviors like playing and resting.

Christman: Can Calmer Canine be used in other species, or on other anxieties?

It’s only been studied in dogs. There’s a potential to look at other species in the future but it’s currently directed toward canines. The anecdotal research or information coming in from practitioners and pet owners implies that, while it is targeted for separation anxiety, there have been improvements in other conditions like noise phobia or generalized anxiety. These conditions operate at similar centers within the brain with negative emotional responses. If a pet does have other fear anxiety or stress-related conditions, it’s possible that those owners will appreciate those additional benefits.

The effects of separation anxiety in dogs and available treatment methods