No one wants to see pets born who will end up homeless or unwanted. But in areas where veterinary practices are already facing a tough economic landscape, the opening of nonprofit spay/neuter clinics can feel threatening. Are those fears realistic? A new study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association suggests the… Learn More

Cats, it turns out, really like classical music. And when veterinarians played Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for Strings (Opus 11)” while cats were being spayed, the feline patients were less stressed out than when listening to other types of music, or no music at all. In what might be unwelcome news for rock fans, the cats… Learn More

Your foster caregivers provide a warm and safe place for their foster pets, but do they know how to properly clean and disinfect their homes? This is especially important when there is a sick foster in the house. Everything from how to clean, why, when and supplies needed are discussed in this 17-minute Flash Class,… Learn More

Streptococcus zooepidemicus, known more commonly as strep zoo, is one of the most fearful respiratory diseases that can strike a shelter dog. How did the dogs at the Pima Animal Care Center in Tucson, AZ, escape it? Thanks to the swift response of the shelter medicine team and loving foster homes! “This is a truly… Learn More

It’s Dungeons and Dragons meets Harry Potter Chess in an engaging and hands-on session on how to prepare and what to do when the unexpected breaks out in your animal shelter! It’s happening at the Humane Society Animal Care Expo in May, when we present “Become a Wizard of Wellness, Find the Magic to Minimizing… Learn More

Do you want to get more senior dogs and cats adopted? A new study reports that, to accomplish that goal, animal shelters and rescue organizations need to provide health care to pets already in the shelter, as well as veterinary support to help keep older pets in the homes they already have — whether it’s permanently,… Learn More

A rapid DNA test lets animal shelters know with certainty that a cat or kitten is negative for ringworm, allowing those kitties to head straight out to the adoption floor or into foster care without concern that they might be contagious. The test considered the “gold standard” for diagnosing ringworm (Microsporum canis dermatophytosis) in cats is… Learn More

Whether your animal organization does large-scale transport in or out of your area, or moves one animal at a time for out-of-state adoptions, keeping those pets from getting sick, experiencing stress, or spreading disease into the receiving shelter or community is critical. Transport of animals from areas with limited adoption opportunities to those where there… Learn More

Can you imagine how terrifying it must feel for cats who are trapped for sterilization and returned to their outdoor habitat, especially when the cat is not socialized to humans? And you probably don’t need to imagine how much stress pet cats can experience when taken to the veterinarian — if you’ve ever owned a… Learn More

When should you vaccinate your dog, and for what? How can shelters use vaccines to protect against outbreaks? And what about titer testing? The latest recommendations from a panel of veterinary experts, including a number of shelter medicine leaders, has the answers! The newest guidelines for canine vaccination have been published by the American Animal… Learn More