🐾 Crickets for Dinner, Tapeworms Toast — Pet Health 2.0

Good morning, fellow pet lovers! Happy Sunday! Let’s kick things off with a brain-teaser:

If your pet suddenly launched a startup, what problem would they solve first? 🦴💡
Hit reply and pitch us your fur-CEO’s big idea!

The Big Picture:

(Sources: SpectrumLocalnews.com¹ , businessresearchinsights.com², petobesityprevention.org³)

Why these numbers matter: More parasites, more pounds, and more tech. Translation: prevention (and maybe a fancy collar) beats pricey treatment later.

Animal Health

Beyond the Kibble: New Pet Health Trends

Sustainable protein is buzzing. Here’s the skinny on the latest science keeping tails wagging.

New proteins, fewer paw-print pounds

• Insects on the menu: A fresh Kansas State survey found 62% of U.S. dog parents are open to grub, or cricket-based kibble—but only 19% knew about its lower allergy risk.

• Lean, green—and growing: The insect-pet-food market is valued at $1.6B in 2025 and is sprinting toward $4.1B by 2035 (10% CAGR). With 35% of dogs now classed as overweight, lighter-calorie larvae could help slim waistlines and carbon footprints at the same time.

Why should you care? Healthier pets, healthier planet. Two-thirds of U.S. dog parents say they’d try cricket- or grub-based kibble, yet 35% of pups are already overweight—a combo that drives up vet bills and carbon footprints alike.

Bottom line: Pet care is pivoting from “fix it later” to “catch it early.” Expect cricket protein in the food aisle and biometric graphs in your vet portal long before your dog needs a crash diet.

Animal Industry

FDA gives Simparica Trio a tapeworm-killing upgrade

Tapeworms? Not on Zoetis’ watch: The FDA has green-lit a label extension for Simparica Trio, making the monthly chew the first & only combo parasiticide that prevents flea-borne tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum) infections by killing the vector flea before it can pass the parasite along.

Quick Bites:

• All-in-one upgrade: One chew now covers heartworm, six tick species, fleas, and flea tapeworms—simplifying compliance for vets and pet parents alike.

• Bigger market share: Tapeworms are the most common canine cestode, with studies putting prevalence in owned dogs anywhere from <1% to 41%. Adding this indication lets Zoetis swipe at a parasite category most combo products still miss.

• Competitive heat. Elanco’s Credelio Quattro, cleared last fall, also targets tapeworms—but Zoetis now touts the only chew that prevents infection at the flea stage, not just treats it after the fact.

Why it matters: Flea tapeworm is zoonotic (kids can get it by accidentally swallowing an infected flea), and the CDC still lists year-round flea control as the gold standard for prevention.

A chew that knocks out both pests and parasite in one go could trim clinic visits, reduce zoonotic risk, and keep compliance high—good news for vets’ schedules and owners’ wallets.

Bottom line: The parasiticide arms race is shifting from “kill more bugs” to “block the bugs’ baggage.” Expect future combo chews to brag less about how many pests they zap and more about the diseases they never let start.

Pet Stat-Of-The-Day

🎂 Paw-ty Animals: Planning a bash for your doggo's big day? You're not alone! A high percentage of pet parents are celebrating their companions' birthdays with gusto, especially millennials and Gen Z. This trend is fueling a significant market for pet treats, gifts, and parties, valued in the billions annually in places like the UK (£1.7bn, or over $2.2 billion). Get that puppuccino ready!

📱 #PetFamous: Move over, human influencers! Pets are dominating social media feeds. This isn't just for fun; pets are increasingly effective in marketing, and building your pet's online brand is now a legitimate way to earn income through partnerships and sponsored content. Your furry friend could be the next big thing online.

🏥 Tele-Vet Boom: Skipping the waiting room? Virtual vet visits are becoming a go-to for non-emergency pet care, and the market is growing rapidly (valued at ~$134.3 million in 2022). Pet owners are reporting high satisfaction rates, with around 75% in one survey saying they were 'satisfied' or 'extremely satisfied' with the convenience and accessibility of telemedicine for their pets.

Veterinarian’s Daily Pick

Parasite-Season Power-Up (Lyme + Heartworm edition)

Even the chillest pets need a little proactive love. Here’s your two-minute health huddle to stay one paw ahead of spring-summer nasties (and a zen hack for your carrier-hating cat).

1. Tick-&-Heartworm Double-Check

• Know your map. CAPC’s brand-new 2025 forecast shows Lyme disease risk pushing into Kansas, Missouri, and—yep—parts of Arizona for the first time.

• Stay on the calendar. The American Heartworm Society reports a 21% jump in positive tests per clinic since its last survey, proof that year-round preventives beat “I’ll start when it’s warm.”

• Do a 30-second post-walk scan. Ticks hit their stride April – September, so check ears, armpits, and tail base after every hike.

2. Calm-Cat Carrier Hack
If Fluffy morphs into a chainsaw at vet time, ask your vet about a pre-visit gabapentin dose. Multiple studies show it cuts stress signs by +50% and makes the exam faster for everyone.

3. Shot Worth Remembering
AAHA’s 2024 guidelines just bumped the leptospirosis vaccine to “core” for most dogs—especially if spring floods are a thing in your ZIP code

Bottom line: Bugs are creeping west, heartworms are trending up, and a tiny white pill can turn your drama-queen cat into a purring passenger. Stick to your preventive schedule, give your pet a quick tick once-over, and chat with your vet about any new vaccine recs. Your future self (and your sofa) will thank you.

Tails End: Breed of the Week

Introducing: The Basenji

Welcome back to the Breed Pit Stop, where we hand you three bite-size bragging rights so you can flex your canine trivia muscles at the dog park.

Helmets on—today we’re chasing the Basenji, a.k.a. the “barkless” wonder from Central Africa.

🐕‍🦺 Silent trumpeter: Thanks to a uniquely shaped larynx, Basenjis don’t bark—they yodel (“baroo!”). Victorian explorers loved the odd sound so much they shipped pairs to Britain as living curiosities.

🧼 Dog by day, cat by night: Fastidious groomers, Basenjis lick themselves clean after walks and carry almost zero “doggy” odor. Translation: fewer baths, more couch cuddles.

🧬 Ancient athlete with a health asterisk: Cave art in Libya and artifacts in Egyptian tombs depict Basenji-like hounds chasing game. Modern DNA says they’re one of the world’s oldest breeds—but age comes with quirks.

They can inherit Fanconi syndrome (a kidney disorder), so reputable breeders now run a simple cheek-swab test before pairing parents.

Paws and reflect: Got a question you want our vets to tackle? Hit reply. Until then, keep the treats crunchy and the walks adventurous—see you Wednesday!

— The Knowledge Kennel Team 🐾