🐜 Is That Itch Just a Vibe... Or a Visitor?

Good morning. Your coffee is brewed, your inbox is (maybe) under control, and your furry co-worker is probably doing their best impression of a decorative rug. All is calm... until you notice a tiny, unwelcome commuter hopping aboard.

Yes, spring has officially sprung, and unfortunately, so have the fleas.

They're more than just an itchy annoyance; these little vampires are masters of disguise and can cause bigger problems than you'd think. Before you dive headfirst into panicked scratching (you or your pet), let's look at the reality of the situation in...

The Big Picture:

(Sources: Companion Animal Parasite Council¹ , Banfield Pet Hospital², American College of Veterinary Dermatology³)

Why these numbers matter: These stats show that fleas are not just a superficial problem. They multiply rapidly in your home, and even a few bites can cause intense suffering for allergic pets. Consistent prevention is key to avoiding a much larger, harder-to-solve problem.

Pet Tech & Innovation

Pet Telehealth: Your next Must-Have Employee Benefit Perk

Move over dental and vision—2025’s most talked-about perk might just be 24/7 video access to a vet for Mr. Whiskers or Buster. Los Angeles–based Airvet recently closed an oversubscribed $11 million Series B-2 funding round led by HighlandX, with plans to scale its pet-telehealth platform and plug it straight into company benefit packages.

What Airvet Actually Does:

• Instant access: Offers instant video/chat consults with a network of 2,000-plus licensed vets. Perfect for that 10 p.m. "is this hairball or doom?" moment, or quick questions about minor issues.

• Vet connectivity: Shares care summaries and can help funnel prescription needs back to your regular clinic, aiming to ensure no info gets lost in cyberspace.

• Employer-paid perk: Positions pet telehealth as an employer-sponsored benefit – think Teladoc, but for tails. HR teams can add it alongside other wellness apps to help keep pet parents (and potentially their PTO balances, by avoiding unnecessary urgent trips) happier.

Why should you care? This funding boost signals growing confidence in making quick vet access a common perk. For you, it means potentially easier, employer-covered ways to get peace of mind for minor pet health concerns, saving time and stress for busy pet parents.

Bottom line: The quantified-pet trend isn’t just about wearables anymore; it's expanding into integrated service platforms. Don't be surprised if your company Slack starts buzzing with "🐾 Anyone have the Airvet link?" instead of just "Anyone know a good plumber?”

Animal Industry

Workshop Pulled: CDC unexpectedly cancels June bird-flu safety summit for farmworkers

Bird flu isn’t just ruffling feathers anymore – now the meetings meant to stop it are getting axed. According to Reuters, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) abruptly told the National Academy of Sciences to scrap a June 26-27 workshop that would have trained vets, poultry execs and farmworkers on best-practice PPE for H5N1 hotspots.

What's off the agenda? The cancelled two-day Washington, D.C. workshop was set up at industry request after a March forum highlighted gaps in on-farm safety.

Organizers were halfway through building slide decks on respirator fit-tests, barn-entry protocols and “One Health” coordination when, on April 23, the CDC terminated the contract without explanation, leaving biosecurity education hanging mid-air.

Why should consumers care? 

• Biosecurity back-pedal: PPE slip-ups helped fuel human cases in last year’s Colorado outbreak; fewer trainings = higher odds of repeat infections.

• Supply-chain splash: More sick workers ➜ harder containment ➜ bigger culls ➜ pricier eggs and chicken nuggets—simple poultry math.

• Vet workforce strain: Your local clinic may already be short-staffed; losing national guidance makes frontline education a DIY affair.

Bottom line: A virus that has already infected 70 U.S. farmworkers in the past year isn’t taking a coffee break; pausing prevention lessons now risks turning “may-day” into “Mayday.”

Pet Stat-Of-The-Day

🐶 Your heartbeat isn’t the only one racing when you see your dog. A University of Helsinki study of 25 dog-owner pairs found their heart-rate variability synchronized during calm interaction—proof your pup literally feels your vibes.

🐹 Guinea-pig reality check: a VetCompass deep-dive into 51,622 UK cavies put average lifespan at just 4.03 years (females live about 10 months longer than the lads). Time to schedule that wellness visit, not “one day soon.”

😴 Your cat’s true super-power is the snooze button. A comparative sleep study released last week shows house-cats spend 57% of every 24 hours—roughly 13 hours—sleeping, with kittens and seniors often topping 20. No wonder the laser-pointer workout ends after five minutes.

Veterinarian’s Daily Pick

Pain-Free or Problem? FDA flags new safety concerns over Librela, the monthly arthritis shot for dogs

Pain-busting monoclonal antibody Librela (bedinvetmab) has been a game-changer for creaky canines since its 2023 launch—but the U.S. Food & Drug Administration just dialed the caution siren up a notch.

In an April 14, 2025 “Dear Vet” notice, FDA detailed a surge of 3,674 adverse-event reports, including 458 deaths, and ordered updated warning language on the drug’s label.

News outlets from Colorado to Kansas City quickly echoed the alert, reminding clinicians that post-approval surveillance is an ongoing team sport.

Vet-approved actions steps for pet parents

1. Log the dose & look for red flags – stumbling, tremors, excessive drinking/peeing, or sudden lethargy warrant a call to your vet within 24 hours. (Per. FDA)
   

2. Ask about baselines – simple bloodwork before the first shot (and 2–4 weeks after) gives your clinician a “before & after” window on kidney and liver values
   

3. Discuss alternatives – the toolbox still includes NSAIDs, physical therapy, weight control (hello, BCS chart!) and newer laser/PRP options; your vet can tailor a multimodal plan

Bottom line: Librela still offers powerful relief for many arthritic dogs, but informed monitoring is now part of the prescription. Keep records, know the warning signs, and partner closely with your vet—the best pain plan is the one that works and keeps tails wagging safely.

Tails End: Breed of the Week

Welcome to Breed of the Week—your quick pit stop on the Knowledge Kennel racetrack. Each issue we’ll spotlight one fur-covered over-achiever and drop three snack-size facts so you can sound like the resident breed geek at the dog park. Ready? Set? Whippet!

🐕💨 Built for blur: A Whippet can rocket past 35 mph, and 19-century British millworkers held weekend “rag races” to bet on that sprinting power—hence the nickname “the poor man’s racehorse.”

🩺 Light on fat, high on caution: Their ultra-slim build makes Whippets extra-sensitive to anesthesia and quick to shiver in cold weather—think pre-op bloodwork and a winter sweater.

🛋️ The 60-mph couch potato: After a quick burst in the yard, most Whippets morph into lap-loving loafers, happily snoozing beside you for the rest of the day.

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 Sunday!

— The Knowledge Kennel Team 🐾