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.

Articles

The effects of separation anxiety in dogs and available treatment methods

Canine separation anxiety: prioritizing treatment

IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. announced this week that it officially launched Vello, a software solution that connects veterinary practice with its clients through digital tools. Vello will enable veterinary practices that use ezyVet, Neo, and Cornerstone software to be able to communicate with pet owners in one system that is easy to use.

“Practice productivity continues to be a top priority for veterinary clinics, and we are dedicated to delivering cloud-based software that creates efficiencies,” said Jay Mazelsky, president and chief executive officer of IDEXX, in an organizational release.

“With the Vello solution, practices can streamline workflows by managing pet owner communications within their existing practice management software, fostering stronger client relationships, and improving care for pets.”

 the key features that will be available when Vello launches are:

Automated appointment reminders and confirmations to help reduce clients not showing up for their pet's appointment.

Health service reminders to keep clients up to date on upcoming or past-due services such as wellness visits or vaccinations.

Online scheduling gives pet parents a convenient way to request appointments directly from the health services reminders or the Vello software.

Pet owner mobile experience to cut out the need for an application download. This feature will provide full digital access to pet health records, appointment information, prescription history, test results, and more.

Two-way texting allowing pet owners and veterinary teams to communicate immediately as well as automatically update patient records and communication logs without character count limitations or for more fees.

Pre-appointment instructions to encourage both diagnostic and visit compliance such as fecal or urine sample reminders and drop-off and pickup times.

“Vello automates the way we engage with clients, eliminating duplicative administrative work, which has saved our team hours weekly and has significantly reduced no-shows and cancellations,” said Kendall Snyder, DVM, from Animal Care Clinic in North Canton, Ohio. “Since starting with Vello on ezyVet, my staff feels like they’re partnering with the client so we can provide the best care possible for all of our patients—and our clients are loving the Vello experience too, from easy communication tools to having their pet’s records just a click away.”

Vello will be available as a subscription service for ezyVet, Neo, and Cornerstone software in the United States in March 2024 and in Canada during the second quarter of the year.

IDEXX launches Vello, an innovative pet owner engagement software solution, streamlining how practices and clients connect. News release. IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. February 15, 2024. Accessed February 16, 2024. https://www.idexx.com/en/about-idexx/news/idexx-launches-vello-pet-owner-engagement-software-solution/?utm_source=LinkedIn&utm_medium=Jay+post&utm_campaign=VetSoft_Vello

Vello is working to better streamline how clients and practices connect 

New pet owner engagement software solution soon to be available

Petszel LLC is a company in the pet and veterinary software space, co-founded by CEO Matt Russell. Russell used his expertise in veterinary technology to create digital platforms and resources that aim to connect shelters and pet parents with providers and improve the well-being of pets. The company officially launched a new online platform for the post-adoption journey that new pet parents face. This resource will connect shelters and owners for a seamless communication experience, as well as supplying information about nearby veterinary services in the user’s area.

Petszel's post-adoption app for shelters and pet parents. (Photo courtesy of Petszel LLC)

Russell stated in a company release, "As a lifelong animal lover and pet/vet entrepreneur, I am excited to introduce this revolutionary solution. Our mission is to bridge the communication gap between shelters, pet parents, and pet/vet services, fostering continuity of care for our pets."

According to ASPCA, as of data from 2019, approximately 4.1 million shelter animals are adopted each year (2 million dogs and 2.1 million cats).

 With this large amount of animals adopted each year, more available support and resources can help adoption transition shelters and owners deal with. Communication between shelters and owners can also aim to reduce the number of pets returned to the shelter. From a survey conducted by the ASPCA, responses showed that the most common reasons for re-homing were pet problem (46%), family problem (27%), and housing problem (18%). The most common individual pet-related reasons were aggression (35%), destruction (29%), and health problems (26%).

 With post-adoption resources, these pet problems could be clearly discussed instead of owners feeling like they have no other option besides surrendering the pet back to the shelter.

Petszel offers access to medical records from animal shelters, simplifies appointment scheduling, provides personalized pet care advice, offers breed and age-specific resources, and more. With the initial stages of a new pet adoption, Petszel helps adopters by providing tailored product and service suggestions and facilitating connections with local care and health providers. From there, Petszel also aims to provide resources and tips for ongoing pet care. This integrated experience is specially designed for shelters at no cost.

 Petszel hopes that this platform can enhance their post-adoption procedures and allow open communication with pet parents. Easy access to this correspondence can ensure owners are prepared to care for their new pet and foster their health and well-being.

The Petszel team and advisory board consist of veterinary and animal welfare experts. "Our team is dedicated to delivering an exceptional user experience and providing unparalleled support to shelters, providers, and pet parents alike,” said Russell.

Petszel is currently rolling out to shelters nationwide. For more details about this innovative platform, please visit the Petszel website.

Pet/Vet startup unveils innovative platform. News release. Petszel LLC. February 14, 2024. Accessed February 16, 2024. 

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/petvet-startup-unveils-innovative-platform-302061165.html?tc=eml_cleartime

Pet statistics. ASPCA. 2019. Accessed February 9, 2024. 

https://www.aspca.org/helping-people-pets/shelter-intake-and-surrender/pet-statistics

Weiss E, Gramann S, Victor Spain C, Slater M. Goodbye to a Good Friend: An Exploration of the Re-Homing of Cats and Dogs in the US. 

. 2015;5(4):435-456. doi:10.4236/ojas.2015.54046.

This online source from Petszel connects shelters and owners for guidance with their newly adopted pet

New digital platform designed for post-adoption support

Happy Friday dvm360 readers! We hope everyone had a great week and had the chance to celebrate Valentine’s Day, whether with a partner, a pet, family, or even some alone time to give yourself some much-needed self-care time. We are officially a month away from our first Fetch conference of the year in Charlotte, North Carolina. Join the dvm360 team and our incredible faculty to earn over 30 hours of continuing education and network with other veterinary professionals. You do not want to miss this one, so learn more and register 

In the meantime, here is what was popular this week on dvm360.com:

The Ana G. Méndez University-Gurabo (UAGM-Gurabo) School of Veterinary Medicine in Gurabo, Puerto Rico officially 

 a letter of reasonable insurance from the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education to begin offering a doctorate in veterinary medicine program beginning August 2024.

 is now available on dvm360.com! Jan Bellows, DVM, DAVDC, DABVP, FAVD, explains to readers how to help veterinary teams approach dental care all year, and not just in honor of National Pet Dental Health Month.

, Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, welcomed back Mike Natale, LVT, to discuss how Natale takes care of his wellbeing, and how others can care for theirs as well.

During the 2024 Veterinary Meeting & Expo in Orlando, Florida, Kara Burns, MS, Med, LVT, VTS (Nutrition) VTS-H (Internal Medicine, Dentistry) 

 attendees how veterinary clinics can increase the responsibilities for credentialed technicians and improve how teams are utilizing these veterinary professionals.

 an effective treatment for stabilizing a wounded pastern or foot region for equine patients, plus how to apply a phalangeal cast in equine patients.

The University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine recently 

 to get a better understanding of the impact that service dogs have on military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder by examining cortisol levels in veterans with a service dog compared to a veteran without one. 

Wrap up: Puerto Rico welcomes first veterinary school, and other veterinary news 

Walkin’ Pets has announced a veterinary-exclusive product line with mobility solutions for pet professionals. The new product line includes the Walkin’ Fit Adjustable Splint, which provides full lower-leg support; No-Knuckling Training Socks, designed to enhance proprioception; Walkin’ Wrist Hugger, designed to conform to the natural angle of the carpal joint; and Walkin’ Hock Hugger, tailored to conform to the natural angle of the hock. 

From the company JustAnswer comes Pearl for Pets GPT, a ChatGPT add-on that enables people to have verified veterinarians and animal behavior experts review and rate the accuracy of artificial intelligence–generated, pet-related query responses. Anyone with a ChatGPT Plus subscription who uses the Pearl for Pets GPT and receives a chat response to a pet-related question will automatically receive a prompt asking if they would like their conversation reviewed by a JustAnswer veterinarian or animal behavior expert for free. If they answer yes, they will receive a “Trust Score” for the query response ranging from 1 (lowest level of confidence in its accuracy) to 5 (highest rating of accuracy).

RYERCAT has introduced a dual-sided toothbrush, designed specifically for cats. One side has a round micro head for everyday brushing. The bristles are soft, so they won’t hurt the cat’s gums. The pick on the opposite end allows owners to remove any excess food that gets stuck in the back molars. This side is also charcoal infused, which prevents bacteria from spreading.

Veterinary radiology company SignalPET has launched SignalSTAT, which seamlessly blends cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology with human expertise in x-ray interpretations. According to SignalPET, veterinarians can get full interpretation results in 45 minutes guaranteed, available 24/7, and at a cost-effective price of $75 or less per study. Every case also provides a full radiologist report that includes the differentials, recommendations, and next steps.

Plant-based pet nutrition company PawCo Foods introduced 2 products in January. The new dog foods in this product line are powered by plants and, according to PawCo Foods, are optimized using artificial intelligence. The new products, InstaBites and LuxBites, join the company’s existing GreenBites. InstaBites is a shelf-stable dog food designed to offer the convenience and affordability of kibble with the quality of fresh nutrition. LuxBites represents a premium, functional fresh dog food formulated with postbiotics and fermented protein to support gut health, immunity, and nutrient absorption.

Here's our regular rundown of new and notable veterinary products

dvm360® product report: Mobility products, plus cat toothbrush, and more

Banfield Pet Hospital announced that it is now accepting applications for its NextVet internship program for the third year in a row. The program invites students 16 years of age or older from multiple cities across the United States to spend their summer learning what it is like to work in veterinary medicine.

“This unique internship program provides students with support and coaching from experienced hospital teams – a critical need as the industry looks to create a more sustainable future for veterinary medicine,” said Alea Harrison, DVM, chief medical officer of Banfield Pet Hospital, in an organizational release.

According to the organizational release, 30 students from Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland-Vancouver, Raleigh, San Diego, San Francisco, and Washington DC, will have the chance to participate in this paid program.

 The selected students will work with Banfield Hospital teams to get a better understanding of the ins and outs of caring for patients and clients. With its last 2 NextVet classes, 28% of participants currently work at Banfield in different roles, and others have gone to veterinary school in the US.

“NextVet enabled me to make connections and learn hands-on skills that I wouldn’t have been able to get anywhere else,” expressed Riannah, a 2023 NextVet intern.

 “I’ve made lifelong friends with teammates who share like-minded goals, and who push me to reach those goals by being people I can look up to. I’m so happy with where I’m at in my veterinary career journey and am so excited to continue to grow and learn with Banfield.”

Any interested students can apply by submitting a brief video to tell Banfield more about themselves and submit an application. These positions are temporary and part-time positions that will start at $15 per hour with flexible hours.

Calling all aspiring veterinary professionals: apply now for your dream internship! News release. Banfield Pet Hospital. February 8, 2024. Accessed February 15, 2024. https://www.banfield.com/about-banfield/newsroom/press-releases/2024/banfield-accepting-applications-for-2024-nextvet-program

Banfield Pet Academy NextVet. Banfield.com. Accessed February 15, 2024. https://jobs.banfield.com/NextVet

The paid internship program will give students over the age of 16 the chance to spend their summer in the veterinary industry 