Feline herpesvirus is probably one of the most common causes of feline respiratory disease. How can animal shelters and rescue groups best treat it? In a recent study published in the August 2016 issue of American Journal of Veterinary Research, authors looked at the anti-viral drug famciclovir. Because of unique characteristics of the drug itself,… Learn More
In 2009, veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker attended a presentation where veterinary behaviorist Dr. Karen Overall said something that changed his life: “Fear is the worst thing a social species can experience, and it causes permanent damage to the brain.” “I’d always thought of myself as a particularly compassionate veterinarian,” he said. “I had been exposed… Learn More
Shelter cats are happier, more playful, friendlier with each other, and less stressed when they have more room — 4 square meters, or 43 square feet, per cat, to be precise. In a study published in the June 2016 issue of Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Swedish researchers tested the play, mutual grooming, and inter-cat aggressiveness… Learn More
Want to grow your shelter vet skills or boost the credentials on your resumé? VetFolio is offering a free online Shelter Medicine Certificate Course, “dedicated to improving shelter medicine by offering participants information on everything from parasites, to infectious diseases to vaccination and more!” Students will receive a CE certificate after completing each self-paced class,… Learn More
Why do shelter cats so frequently get sick or suffer behaviorally? Because they’re essentially being held in a form of captivity, usually one originally designed for an entirely different species, the dog. There are many medical and housing interventions that can reduce the stress of captivity for cats, and they are indeed associated with a… Learn More
APEX, N.C. — Whether they are performing spay and neuter procedures in a private practice, spay-neuter clinic, mobile clinic or veterinary school, veterinarians can now reference newly updated and expanded professional guidelines that encompass all aspects of the spay-neuter process. The Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ 2016 Veterinary Medical Care Guidelines for Spay-Neuter Programs were recently… Learn More
Animal shelters have been among the places hardest-hit with infections of the H3N2 canine influenza virus since it made its first U.S. appearance in dogs from a Chicago animal shelter. Understanding how to prevent the spread of this respiratory disease is critical to protecting dogs in shelters and the community. One key to preventing transmission… Learn More
Parvo is an often-fatal disease that affects dogs in shelter and community alike. And when Maddie’s Fund® put out a call for applicants for a community parvo treatment apprenticeship program, we were flooded with responses from all over the U.S. Out of the thirty-four people who applied for the program, eight were selected to attend a… Learn More
High-volume spay/neuter programs come in all shapes and sizes, from standalone clinics, to MASH-style operations, to mobile vans, to in-shelter surgical suites, and more. A task force of experts from the Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV) has just released their 2016 guidelines to best practices to ensure excellent animal care in high-volume spay/neuter programs —… Learn More
Cats scratch. They scratch where they should — cat trees, scratch pads — and where they shouldn’t — drapes, carpets, furniture. Scratching is a natural and important activity for cats, but it can come into conflict when cats practice it in a human home. At the 2014 Maddie’s® Shelter Medicine Program at the University of… Learn More