No more 'cone of shame'

If your pet has had surgery or a sore spot, you're familiar with the Elizabethan collar, a plastic device resembling an ugly lampshade that fits around your pet's neck to prevent it from licking, biting, chewing or scratching at the area. We all know that pets hate the "cone of shame," and now researchers at the Sydney School of Veterinary Science in Australia confirm that it affects not only pet quality of life but also that of owners. It interferes with a pet's ability to sleep, eat, drink and move around, and also causes injuries to people and property. Alternatives include softer fabric or inflatable collars, body wraps or clothing, and socks or booties.

Pet don't need COVID-19 test

Do pets need to be tested for COVID-19? Right now the answer is no, but Idexx Laboratories has tests that it says will be made available if necessary. While developing and validating a new veterinary test system for the novel virus, Idexx tested samples from thousands of pet dogs and cats and found no positive results for SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus strain that causes COVID-19. Pets with respiratory signs such as coughing should be seen by a veterinarian, who can check for common viral or bacterial pathogens that cause respiratory problems.

Botox for Bowzer?

It's a thing, but not in the way that you're thinking. Bella and Beau don't need Botox for wrinkles or saggy jowls, but reconstructive surgery can improve a short-faced dog's ability to breathe, improve vision in dogs with eyelid abnormalities such as entropion or ectropion, and help prevent urinary tract infections in dogs with an inverted vulva. These are often heritable defects, so acquiring a dog from a reputable breeder is a good start to avoiding them, but a veterinarian can often improve quality of life with surgery.

Pet Connection