The AAHA Standards of Accreditation were created to help standardize and promote excellence in care in the veterinary profession and for veterinary practices. Since 1933, these standards have been updated to reflect evolving industry standards. The enhanced standards were developed to keep these practices at the forefront of advanced veterinary medicine. Standards are … [Read more...]
Archives for September 2016
A wink is not just a wink
Not everyone can wink. Whether using an emoji or contorting your face to drop an eyelid, winks are one of the most wide-ranging, ambiguous behaviors there is. Bottom line, you can’t really control how your wink is interpreted. Source: Science of US, September 19, 2016. The most popular interpretations: The wink was meant as a way of communicating thanks, or it was a sign of … [Read more...]
Transition time is critical for milk and more
Phil Cardoso, University of Illinois, shared his presentation, “Fine-tuning transition cow care,” with listeners on the monthly Hoard’s Dairyman webinar. He strongly urged producers to limit the change in body condition scores by 0.5 for the entire lactation and dry period. “It is tough, but we really need to minimize the condition shifts.” Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, … [Read more...]
New resource helps people understand expanded feed directive
Human and animal health experts agree that antibiotic resistance is a public health concern. This is why some agriculture groups, including the Animal Health Institute, National Pork Producers Council, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Animal Agriculture Alliance launched a new educational website, togetherABX. It offers information about how the Food and Drug … [Read more...]
Tick warning from up north
Cooler weather is ahead or here. Veterinarians from Prince Edward Island reminded pet owners that fall is clearly still tick season. You should warn your clients, too! Source: CBC.ca (Canada), September 15, 2016, via AVMA SmartBrief. The cooler weather may have some pet owners thinking they can ease back on flea and tick treatments for their animals. But P.E.I. … [Read more...]
Veterinary medicine, lynchpin for One Health
One Health Day is taking place November 3, 2016. The campaign is designed to engage as many individuals as possible from as many arenas as possible in One Health education and awareness events, and to generate an inspiring array of projects worldwide. Veterinary medicine is the only profession that routinely operates at the interface of the three main components of One … [Read more...]
Young foals susceptible to colic, other GI issues
There’s nothing quite like watching a new foal struggle to stand on wobbly legs. But, colic can quickly spoil that joy. Because of the foal’s delicate gastrointestinal system, it is important to take signs of even mild colic seriously. It could progress to a life-threatening condition in a few hours. Dr. Thomas Lenz reviews common causes for foal colic and gastrointestinal … [Read more...]
Find out if you’re a jerk
We don’t typically ask ourselves, “Am I jerk?” That’s because most people tend to know themselves relatively well. We know if we’re talkative or quiet. We know if we’re creative. Yet, we don’t yet have a full understanding of jerkitude. There is no scientific designation that matches the range of the application of the term “jerk.” It’s hard to determine if the guy who cuts in … [Read more...]
Collectively curing beef’s $35 million bruise
Cattle today are bigger than they were 30 years ago, thanks to improved genetics and better husbandry. In fact, finished cattle have outgrown the trailers used to haul them. Industry consensus and research show that larger cattle being hauled in equipment designed in the last century are creating welfare and product quality issues, resulting in $35-million-plus industry wide … [Read more...]
Real empathy is not about you
In our self-centered society, empathy seems like an outdated concept. Even caring individuals often get it wrong when trying to be empathetic to another’s situation. Genuine empathy is difficult because it is all about the other person – not you. Source: Gordon Tredgold, August 1, 2016. This is something that I still struggle with because as a confident person when I put … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Videos help explain mosquito control and heartworm prevention
AHD sponsor CEVA created a video series in which parasitology experts discuss vector control and the multimodal approach to heartworm prevention. Presenters in the videos share results from studies by John McCall, MS, PhD, which examine the effects of topical repellent-insecticide plus oral heartworm preventive on development of heartworm disease. Videos like these are … [Read more...]
Don’t kiss your chickens
Backyard chicken raising continues to grow. Owners love these chickens, too. In fact, they may love them too much. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported last week that an emerging public health trend in the form of increased outbreaks of salmonella. Source: The Washington Post, September 14, 2016. It doesn’t help that, according to the available data, a … [Read more...]
USDA Veterinary Services needs feedback
Emerging animal diseases have the potential to negatively affect animal health, public health, and trade. Continuing work begun in 2014, this week, the Veterinary Services (VS) division at the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service released an update titled “Emerging Animal Disease and Preparedness Plan.” The agency seeks comments on the document, which expands on the … [Read more...]
National Wellness Week in progress
National Wellness Week wraps up this Saturday. It was launched to inspire individuals and communities to incorporate the eight dimensions of wellness into their lives. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration supports embracing these dimensions — emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social and spiritual — to achieve … [Read more...]
Smiling depression is real
A subscriber sent this and commented, “This goes along with all the talk of suicide in our industry.” Smiling depression includes appearing happy to others and smiling through pain, keeping inner turmoil hidden. It is a recognized depressive disorder with atypical symptoms. As a result, many don’t know they’re depressed and don’t seek help. People with smiling depression are … [Read more...]
Anthropocene epoch defined by chicken bones
In contrast to the dinosaurs (Cretaceous period), some species, with human help, have spread rapidly across the world. Despite being domesticated thousands of years ago, it is only since the mid-20th century that mass poultry production has spread across the world. Production and consumption of chicken meat is forecast to continue growing, making its presence in future fossil … [Read more...]
It’s good to wipe a dog’s butt
Don’t forget to wipe! It turns out that the crusty mess hiding under a dog’s tail could easily irritate the dog and make him drag his backside to scratch it. While a dog also scoots across a floor when his anal glands need to be expressed, checking for crusty messes under the tail is a cheaper and easier fix to try first. If left uncleaned for too long, the irritation could … [Read more...]
It’s a lousy time of year
Cooler weather brings a greater risk of lice. The USDA estimates that U.S. livestock producers lose $125 million each year to it. Protecting cattle includes understanding the life cycle of lice, recognizing the potential damage and using effective methods of control. If not controlled, a single adult female in September can result in approximately 1 million lice by … [Read more...]
Dynamics of a practice going defunct
This is a very thought-filled piece about the times a corporate buyout goes bad. Christopher J. Allen, DVM, JD, offers many things to think about, including patient records, liability, controlled substances and more. Take special note of the discussion about whose name is on the orders for controlled substances. Source: DVM 360, August 5, 2016. Allen suggests that if a … [Read more...]
Expressing gratitude – it’s not about you
When we express our gratitude to others, we tend to talk about ourselves. Instead, we should think about our benefactors. When we get help, it is common to talk about how the favor made us feel. But expressing gratitude shouldn’t be about you. Thanking someone who helps you keeps them interested and invested in having a long-term relationship with you. It makes their time, … [Read more...]
Equine WNV Diagnoses Increasing
Horses in three states recently tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV): two in New York, one in Oklahoma and five in Wisconsin, according to officials at the Equine Disease Communications Center. Source: The Horse, September 13, 2016. In addition to vaccinations, horse owners also need to reduce the mosquito populations and their possible breeding areas. Recommendations … [Read more...]
Editorial – Keep the loop(s) closed
Multiple social media sources organize content for veterinary practices. The challenge is to keep the practice team up to date on what is being posted and the possible questions that could result from it. Knowing what practices are posting can also be a big help for sales representatives as they support their clinic customers. Similar dynamics exist for reps who service retail … [Read more...]
Baxter Black: The curious cow
We think you’ll get a laugh from this Baxter Black story about on-farm adventures of a cow and a chicken. Source: Dairy Herd Management, September 12, 2016. By Ag Day TV. … [Read more...]
Booster vaccinations for beef calves questioned
Proven protocols, even booster vaccinations, are under full scrutiny these days. As vaccine technology advances, the need for these vaccinations is being questioned. Most protocols developed by marketing programs and manufacturers continue to include booster vaccinations as standard practice. However, more of today’s vaccines do not offer label instructions to repeat … [Read more...]
Dr. Little’s Exponential Vet
Dr. Adam Little tracks areas where technology and animal health intersect. This issue highlights some artificial intelligence, biotech news, profiles recent investments in pet care and shares his take on the KC Corridor Animal Health Investment Forum. Source: Exponential Vet, September 12, 2016. Here are the stories Little shares: Technology As lab-grown meat and … [Read more...]
Dogs should get to keep their tails
Surgical operations such as tail docking and ear cropping are commonly performed on certain dog breeds. They’ve become so common for some breeds, that’s is difficult to recognize dogs with intact ears and tails. Katelyn Mills, a graduate student at the University of British Columbia became interested in unnecessary surgeries. She, her animal welfare professor and fellow student … [Read more...]
How horses see the world
Common problems between horses and their handlers are often rooted in how differently they see the world. Here’s what you need to know about equine depth perception, night vision and other sight-related systems. Source: Equus, March, 2016. Understanding the variance between equine and human vision helps us to train horses more effectively states Janet L. Jones, PhD. She … [Read more...]
4 surprising flea-transmitted diseases you need to know
Unlike ticks, fleas don’t seem all that threatening. Mostly, we see the tiny bloodsuckers as a nuisance for pets and for us, not a serious threat to anyone’s health. Don’t dismiss them. Learn how fleas can transmit a surprising number of diseases to animals and humans. Source: Pet MD, September 12, 2016. Fleas can cause serious harm to you and your pet’s health through … [Read more...]
How-to videos hack the way humans learn
According to Google, YouTube searches for the phrase “how to” grew 70 percent between 2014 and 2015. In the first half of last year alone, people in North America watched more than 100 million hours of how-to videos. In a recent issue of Nautilus, writer Tom Vanderbilt explained, “We are, in effect, simulating doing the task ourselves, warming up the same neurons that will be … [Read more...]
Peer pressure and your beer of choice
Just for fun! Wharton professor Jonah Berger’s new book, Invisible Influence, is about the unseen ways the people around you shape your behavior. The beer anecdote is a brief rundown of a study conducted at a brewery by consumer psychologists Dan Ariely and Jonathan Levav. They argue with their paper that people are highly motivated to signal their uniqueness, even when it … [Read more...]