Top 5 Articles for August 2017

The growing anti-vaccination movement in human medicine is apparently amplifying to veterinary medicine—most recently in parts of New York. The reason: the belief that vaccines can potentially cause more harm than good in dogs and cats.

2. Breed, Hair Length, and Hyperthyroidism Risk in Cats

The causes of hyperthyroidism in cats are not well understood. Previous studies have indicated that some breeds (Burmese, Himalayan, Persian, and Siamese) have a lower risk for developing hyperthyroidism than other cats, possibly because of the gene mutation responsible for their colorpoint coats, say the authors of a study that examined breed and hair length in hyperthyroid cats.

3. Pet Health Insurance Growing Thanks to Employers

According to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA), premiums paid for pet health insurance in 2016, including insurance sold both as a voluntary benefit and to individuals, rose 21% and the number of pets insured in North America grew by 11.5%.

4. Caregiver Placebo Effect

VIDEO: Margaret Gruen, DVM, MVPH, PhD, DACVB, researcher at Duke University's Canine Cognition Center and adjunct professor at North Carolina State University, explains what the caregiver placebo effect is and why it is important in veterinary medicine.

5. A Genetic Mutation Causes a Rare Skin Disease in Dogs

In Central Asian Shepherd (CAS) dogs, a pathological variant of the COL7A1 gene causes a rare and serious skin disease called recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB), according to a study recently published in PLoS One.