Veterinary practice requires canine influenza vaccination before boarding.

Veterinary practice requires canine influenza vaccination before boarding.Canine influenza isn't in the Billings area just yet but according to local veterinarians, there have been cases reported across the state. One Billings animal hospital is asking dog owners to be proactive about the disease. Best Friends Animal Hospital is requiring all dogs to be vaccinated before being boarded with them this holiday season. Veterinarian Lisa Galvin at Best Friends Animal Hospital says the influenza presents itself like kennel cough but also features a fever. The canine influenza is spread through the air by close contact, such as dogs coughing. Any dogs that go to the groomers, dog parks, dog shows, or live with or in close contact to dogs are at risk.

How to Socialize Your Puppy.

How to Socialize Your Puppy.Socialization is probably the single most important consideration when you get a new puppy. This video offers some general information on the topic and provides some examples on how to do it so that you can set your puppy up for success.

Assessing the risk of parvovirus infection in puppies attending socialization classes.

Assessing the risk of parvovirus infection in puppies attending socialization classes.The best time to begin socialization training in young dogs is between 4 and 16 weeks of age, yet sequestering puppies until their full course of vaccines is completed is often recommended.

 In this study, the authors sought to determine if puppies ≤ 16 weeks of age that attended puppy socialization classes were at increased risk of contracting canine parvovirus (CPV) infection compared with dogs that did not.

 Researchers gathered data from 21 clinics in the United States, including clinics in both high- and low-income areas as well as from four cities with distinct seasonal patterns.


Information was gathered on puppies examined between birth and 16 weeks of age with respect to signalment, CPV vaccination status, whether the puppy was suspected of or confirmed as having CPV infection, and whether the puppy had attended socialization classes.

 In addition, dog trainers in the same four cities were contacted to participate if they taught puppy classes with enrollees that were predominantly < 20 weeks of age and that had at least one CPV vaccine before starting the first class.

Information about these puppies included signalment, vaccine history, and whether the puppy was suspected by the trainer as having CPV infection before or while attending classes. These cases were followed up further with the owners to determine whether CPV infection had been diagnosed. 

Information collected from participating clinics included data on 1,012 puppies, and of these 48 (4.7%) attended puppy socialization classes and 876 (86.6%) did not. Class history of the remaining 88 dogs was unknown.

CPV infection was diagnosed in 14 dogs that did not attend socialization classes and was not diagnosed in any of the dogs that did. In addition, information on 231 puppies from 24 dog trainers was evaluated.

CPV infection was not suspected by the trainers in any of these dogs. The result shows that puppies ≤ 16 weeks of age that attended socialization classes are at no greater risk of developing CPV infection than those that do not attend these classes.


 The authors caution, however, that this population was not a random sample and that these results are not generalized for all geographic areas. Assessing the risk of parvovirus infection in puppies attending socialization classes.

When and how to socialize pets.

Safe places to socialize puppies.Socialization is an important part of a young dog's early life. Make sure your veterinary hospital clients choose safe spaces for socialization that won't prematurely expose puppies to other pets or diseases. While the temptation to take that new, not fully vaccinated puppy to places like pet supply stores is strong, remind pet owners that there are better, safer places to shop with their pooch and get some early socialization. This guide will to help choose places to practice the socialization exercises you recommend,remember to plan socialization with other dogs strategically and with advice from a veterinarian or the preferred veterinary behavior expert. Don't wait to socialize young pups!!! what are the risks of socialization before vaccinations are complete.

The positive effects of puppy classes.

The positive effects of puppy classes. Listen as veterinary behaviorist Dr. Ellen Lindell explains how puppy classes aren’t just playgrounds anymore—they’re a good opportunity to share information with pet owners about proper handling and training techniques.

Socialize puppies and save lives.

Socialize puppies and save lives.Research has shown that behavior issues are one of the most common reasons a pet is relinquished to a shelter. But as veterinarians, we have the chance to intervene in the lives of our patients and curb those problems before they start. Not only will puppy classes add a new revenue stream for your practice, but they’ll let you dip your toes into the behavior pool if you’re not doing a lot of behavior counseling already. The puppies win, the clients win and your practice wins—with bonded clients who come back for the lifetime of their new pet. Here’s why puppy socialization classes are important. No, it’s not social media .Posting cute pics of their new puppy on social media might be a fun pastime for new pet parents, but it really isn’t helping the pup’s social life at all. Here’s what you need to know about puppy socialization classes. Puppies are most open to novel experiences during their socialization period and this is the perfect time to expose them to as many new things and experiences as possible in a safe, proactive and positive manner so they develop healthy coping skills,

Strive Masiyiwa: If I started again I’d do agriculture, says telecoms tycoon.

Strive Masiyiwa: If I started again I’d do agriculture, says telecoms tycoon.Zimbabwean tycoon Strive Masiyiwa made his money in the mobile telecoms business, but if he were to start all over again, he would bet on agriculture. Speaking at the opening of this year’s African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) in Zambia’s capital Lusaka, Masiyiwa made a case for the opportunities in the agriculture industry. The Zimbabwean billionaire is chairman of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), an organisation set up in 2006 to support smallholder farmers with the goal of reducing poverty and hunger. Masiyiwa noted Africa’s food market would be worth US$1tr in just 15 years, citing a 2013 report by the World Bank. According to a report launched at the forum, Africa currently spends more than $60bn on food imports each year thereby benefiting producers outside the continent.