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It's important for owners to be aware that even seemingly insignificant, short-term changes in a pet's normal behaviors, such as play and eating habits, can be subtle indicators of a serious underlying problem, writes veterinarian Christie Long. Fever, pain, anemia and toxin ingestion are just some of the potential causes of an animal's behavior changes and early evaluation by a veterinarian is essential for the pet's health.  The Coloradoan (Fort Collins, Colo.)

Researchers at the University of Georgia Regenerative Bioscience Center helped design fracture putty, a gel-like substance fortified with mesenchymal stem cells that produce a bone-growth promoting protein that has been shown to cut fracture repair time from weeks to days in animal studies. The gel will likely be used in animals and people, and the Department of Defense, which funded the research, is interested in using it for soldiers in the field.  ScienceDaily

Researchers from the University of Texas MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital and Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine tested a new cancer therapy in dogs whereby the animal's T-cells are removed and stored prior to chemotherapy and then reintroduced to the body. The replaced T-cells, unharmed by the chemotherapy, eradicated remaining cancer cells, improving the dogs' tumor-free status by nine months compared with chemotherapy alone. The FDA has given its approval for human trials.  FoxNews.com

Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, has called on the FDA to fast-track the investigation searching for a link between chicken jerky dog treats manufactured in China and canine illnesses. Separately, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, sent a letter urging the FDA to recall the implicated products. The FDA and AVMA have previously released alerts to make veterinarians and owners aware of the illness reports; until a contaminant is identified, the treats remain on some store shelves.  The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)

Excalibur, a dog rescued from a shelter and trained to be a therapy dog, pulled his unconscious owner by the ankle from a bathtub filled with water, saving the man from drowning. This was the second time Excalibur saved Pastor Ray McCoy's life; McCoy, who suffers from debilitating spinal cord tumors, previously blacked out and fell down a hill, prompting the dog to alert McCoy's wife.  KWTX-TV (Waco, Texas)

Spaying female dogs prior to their first heat cycle decreases their chances of developing breast cancer to 0.05% and also prevents ovarian and uterine cancers, writes veterinarian Bernhard Pukay. Additionally, other medical problems, such as uterine infection and false pregnancies, can be averted by early spaying.  Ottawa Citizen (Ontario)

Maryland's State Public Health Veterinarian Katherine Feldman explains that there are illnesses that humans can contract from their pets, such as roundworms and salmonella. Regular veterinary care for pets combined with good hygiene practices for people and pets is the best means of preventing zoonotic disease transmission between pets and owners, according to Dr. Feldman.  Cumberland Times-News (Md.)

If your pet is injured, it's probably in a lot of pain, and scared and confused too. And that means it could unintentionally scratch or bite. In this AVMA Animal Tracks podcast, Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald from Alameda East Veterinary Hospital in Denver, Colo., and a featured veterinarian in Animal Planet's television series "E-Vet Interns," offers tips on how to care for an injured pet without causing further injury.  Listen to the podcast.

Running together can give you and your dog a good workout, provided the animal is of an age, size and breed that's well-suited to the exercise. Start with a visit to the vet who knows your dog and have the animal thoroughly checked out before beginning, advises AVMA President-elect Rene A. Carlson.  The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.)

As the mercury rises, public-safety agencies are already responding to the annual calls about dogs locked in hot cars. The AVMA warns that the temperature can quickly rise in a vehicle and many pets die after being left in hot cars.  Times & Transcript (Moncton, New Brunswick)

Any dog or cat that's not on a year-round heartworm preventative can be infected with the potentially deadly disease with the simple bite of a mosquito, writes pet columnist Sharon L. Peters. The parasite, which used to be largely limited to the southern U.S., has now been found in all 50 states, making it imperative for pet owners to protect their dogs and cats, she writes.  USA TODAY

Officials in El Paso, Texas, have confirmed almost a dozen cases of canine distemper in the first two weeks of April, and say they're hearing reports of additional cases in several U.S. states. The AVMA advises dog owners to see the veterinarian if they notice early symptoms of the highly contagious virus, including lumps or swelling, marked weight changes or changes in behavior or fatigue.  KTSM-TV (El Paso, Texas)

Dogs who ingest the Oleander flower or the leaves from the plant are at risk for arrhythmia, kidney damage, seizures or even death, says veterinarian Nancy Harvey. Owners are advised to seek immediate veterinary help if their pets exhibit signs such as diarrhea, vomiting and slow heart rate, Harvey notes.  KTSM-TV (El Paso, Texas)

Dogs and other pets are at risk of contracting heartworm disease, which primarily attacks the blood vessels of infected animals and may include signs such as coughing, lethargy and weight loss. Heartworm disease is potentially fatal, but it can be prevented through veterinary-prescribed and FDA-approved heartworm prevention treatments, according to AVMA.  Daily Herald (Chicago)

Left untreated, canine parvovirus has a roughly 90% mortality rate, writes veterinarian Michael Dill. The best treatment against this illness is to prevent it from occurring in the first place, by having puppies vaccinated, he notes. "I usually recommend beginning vaccines at 6 weeks of age and boosting the vaccine every three weeks until the puppy is 4 months old," Dill writes.  The Sun Herald (Biloxi-Gulfport, Miss.)

Dozens of dogs in Durango, Colo., have been reported to be sick with a mysterious respiratory disease that includes wheezing, coughing and other signs. Worried that more dogs could become infected with the virus, area veterinarians say they have been collecting samples from the infected dogs for testing to determine the cause of the outbreak.  KRQE-TV (Albuquerque, N.M.)

Jones Natural Chews has recalled 2,705 boxes of its pig-ear dog chews amid concerns that the product might be contaminated with salmonella. No incidents associated with the recalled product have been reported, per this article.  The Wall Street Journal/The Associated Press 

that have not been spayed or neutered have a greater risk of developing tumors in their mammary glands, according to this article. A University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School program offers free medical care to shelter dogs with mammary tumors and aims to gather canine tissue samples to aid in clinical trials to identify a way to block the spread of the cancer cells.  WPTV-TV (West Palm Beach. Fla.)

Proper medical care holds the key to a pet's longevity, writes veterinarian Michael Dill. Among the basic veterinary care that owners can provide their pets are updated vaccines, heartworm and internal parasite prevention, routine blood work and regular teeth cleaning, Dill writes.  The Sun Herald (Biloxi-Gulfport, Miss.)

Owners are advised to start brushing their pet's teeth at a young age to avoid plaque buildup, which can develop in dogs ages 5 to 7, says veterinarian Robert Reich. "It's really important for dogs and cats to have their teeth brushed because that's the center of where the disease gets into your body, through your gums. Bacteria from the tartar can go in through the gums into the capillaries, the heart, the kidneys and all the vital organs," he says.  KHQA-TV (Quincy, Ill.)