Top 5 Articles for May 2017

At the 2017 Animal Care Expo in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Kate Hurley, DVM, MPVM, director of the University of California, Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program, and Sandra Newbury, DVM, director of the University of Wisconsin Shelter Medicine Program, talked about some activities that shelters should do less often so that they have more time for other activities that may have greater impact on the health and well-being of pets in the shelter.

2. Geographic Patterns of Canine Leptospirosis in the United States

In a study published in The Veterinary Journal, researchers constructed a predictive risk map for canine leptospirosis in the United States based on leptospirosis test results collected over 14 years. Positive tests were most likely to occur in the East, Midwest, and Southwest. Location (type of land cover) and climate affected the risk for canine leptospirosis.

3. RECALL: Phenobarbital and Amitriptyline Recall Expanded

Following an initial recall of one lot of phenobarbital tablets resulting from a label mix-up error, Truxton Inc. is expanding its voluntary recall to include more lots of phenobarbital and amitriptyline tablets.

4. Social Behavior Differences in Neutered and Intact Male Dogs

Social behaviors of neutered male dogs differ in some ways from those of intact male dogs, according to a study published in Veterinary Medicine. The authors recommend that dog owners and veterinarians be aware of the potential effects of neutering on dog-to-dog interaction. They also point out that castration may not change undesired behavior in a male dog.

5. FDA Warns of Possible Accidental Overdose with Sileo

If the oral dosing syringe for Sileo, a drug prescribed for dogs suffering from noise aversion, is not locked properly, the dog may receive an accidental overdose of the drug.