The discovery of “why” is part of many animal health pros’ scientific makeup. We investigate to understand and then study more to be sure we understand. For several months, our industry has been focused on suicide and its underpinnings, including depression. This article references studies that have shown a link between chronic immune responses and the development and presence … [Read more...]
Archives for June 2018
Modern technology helping to manage smelly pigs
The battle between swine producers and their neighbors over the hog production smells may be getting some new technology beyond tree and bush windbreaks. Electrostatic precipitator technology from commercial industries is being tested at Iowa Select Farms. Source: National Hog Farmer, June 19, 2018. Link. John Stinn, environmental projects manager, says, “the electrostatic … [Read more...]
Latest JAVMA
We’ve linked you to the table of contents for this issue of JAVMA. The following summary is from the JAVMA news segment: Veterinarians, caught in a chronic opioid shortage, are turning to other anesthetics that may be less effective. In other news, the social climate at veterinary colleges is improving overall, but among students, sexism, racism, and homophobia may be … [Read more...]
Heartworm cousin infects women’s face
Here’s another reminder that mosquitoes are risky to humans, wildlife and our domestic animals. Consider sharing this story within your networks to help educate people on the need for assertive mosquito control. Source: The Washington Post, June 19, 2018. Link. The case — and shocking images — were published Thursday in a report titled “Migrating Dirofilaria repens” in the … [Read more...]
Smithsonian exhibit shows viral vulnerability
The “Outbreak: Epidemics in a Connected World” exhibit <link> in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History explains the perfect storm that we’ve brought upon ourselves: The more of the planet humans take over, the more we inadvertently make it a viral paradise, and a dangerous place for us to live. The exhibit shows that our vulnerability to viral infection depends on … [Read more...]
Ticked off: America’s quiet epidemic of tickborne diseases
Animal owners are becoming more aware of their own risks in addition to their animals’ when it comes to ticks and mosquitoes. Sharing this article may help animal owners understand the need for prevention for themselves as well as their animals. Source: Harvard Health Publishing, May 25, 2018. Link. If infections spread by ticks have increased steadily, infections spread by … [Read more...]
Don’t break the chain, the science behind lasting change
Do you remember your New Year’s resolution? Did you keep it? Aytekin Tank writes about how to keep your changes moving forward. He quotes what Jerry Seinfeld once said about his writing work. “Don’t break the chain.” “He said for each day that I do my task of writing, I get to put a big red X over that day. After a few days you’ll have a chain. Just keep at it and the chain … [Read more...]
Opinion: Generation Z; Chasing butterflies
If you spent any time trying to understand millennials, then this article series will bring perspective about the next generation, Gen Z. The series focuses on brand practitioners, but since each of us manages our own brand, some of the information applies to every animal health pro. The authors compare Gen Z metaphorically to a butterfly. Some are in a state of metamorphosis … [Read more...]
Create a motivating environment
At some point, every leader has dealt with a person or worse, a group of people, who has lost motivation. It is frustrating. As much as we’ve been there ourselves, sometimes it’s hard to empathize with others who are disengaged from work and are unproductive as a result. Source: Harvard Business Review, March 22, 2018. Link. Despite these difficulties, it is possible for … [Read more...]
Developing leaders properly critical to success
Leadership matters! Most people at least implicitly understand this basic concept. People who have studied, and practiced leadership understand it at a deeper level. Developing and selecting individuals for positions of authority is one of the most important responsibilities of today’s leaders. Source: General Leadership, August 6, 2014. Link. The ability to be steady and … [Read more...]
Take way better photos of your cat
Many veterinary hospitals use photographs as part of digital pet records. Pet photography is also widely seen on social media. Photographer Grace Chon offers nine tips that will drastically improve your cat photos. Consider this article for social media posts and as a resource on websites. Source: Modern Cat, June 21, 2018. Link. Your cat, needless to say, is super … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Pinkeye cofactors reprint
We recently posted a Progressive Dairyman article discussing pinkeye in terms of primary and co-factor infections. Link. The article featured the experiences of Bruce Addison and Austin Springer with Addison Biological Laboratories. it is now available as a one-page reprint that makes it handy to share with beef and dairy producers. Source: Addison Biological Laboratories. … [Read more...]
Remember to vaccinate horses for rabies
It is easy to forget rabies vaccinations for horses, but it is critical to remember. Of the five core diseases for horses, rabies is the deadliest. Horses are nearly four times more likely to contract rabies than dogs. Across the U.S., the majority of horses are not vaccinated for rabies and often have a higher risk of exposure than dogs. Source: AQHA, June 18, 2018. … [Read more...]
Dealing with dog lipstick, or not
Dr. Eric Barchas shares perspective on the often embarrassing, happy dog attribute in male dogs, the dog penis. His approach quickly moves away from nicknames to anatomy in an article that makes it easier to answer a dog owner’s question. This will make a good resource when supporting telemedicine calls or during sensitive conversations with a pet owner. Source: Dogster, … [Read more...]
Common skin masses in veterinary patients (image gallery)
The phrase "one look is worth a thousand words" is attributed to Frederick R. Barnard. Link. Elizabeth R. May, DVM, DACVD, presents an image gallery of skin masses that proves the old idiom, “a picture is worth 1,000 words.” She prefaces her comments with the following: Although most skin tumors encountered in veterinary patients are benign, malignant tumor types do occur. … [Read more...]
Canine flu risks affected by lifestyle
Southwest Airlines’ tagline, “You’re now free to move about the country,” may represent the reality of canine influenza risks. Catherine Ashe, DVM, shares her perspectives on diagnosing, testing, treatment, transmission and vaccine decisions. She reinforces the AVMA’s lifestyle vaccination designations. Source: Whole Dog Journal, July 2018. Link. Overall, while canine … [Read more...]
Have dog, will travel
To help veterinary professionals protect the health of their patients and their pet communities, the American Heartworm Society (AHS) and the Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV) have formulated evidence-based best practices for minimizing transmission of heartworms in relocated dogs, according to Karen S Walsh, LVMT, CFE, CAWA. These recommendations apply regardless of … [Read more...]
Vacation – just do it
Right now is a good time to plan some well-deserved time away from the office. The team at the Muse pulled together some vacation-related articles to help you get ready for time off—and even return to work feeling relaxed, recharged, and ready to tackle anything. Source: The Muse, June 21, 2018. 6 really good reasons you should stop what you're doing and plan a vacation. … [Read more...]
Marty Becker, DVM, speaks to fireworks fears
Medication has its place, but it’s not the only tool I recommend to help pets cope with this noisy and often frightening time of year. Here are the tips I recommend to my patients’ owners, and use on my own fearful dog: Get outta town Create a pet cave Strike up the band Hug the fears away Take a chill pill Something in the air Get out the big … [Read more...]
Make Independence Day meaningful
As Independence Day approaches, I am reminded of a story my friend John Teeter told me several years ago. He was lucky. His customer, R.D. Floyd, demonstrated to Teeter what the flag meant to him – not only with an emphatic request, but by serving our country with honor. It’s a lesson that reminds us that the 4th of July is about more than cookouts and fireworks. Source: … [Read more...]
Enjoy winning photos from The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy recently announced the winning entries of its 2018 Photo Contest. Take a break and enjoy the majesty of nature. Source: The Nature Conservancy, June, 2018. Link. From the grand prize to the judges’ special recognition, you’ll like what you see. Be even more awed when you look at this year’s Judges’ Favorites. Link. … [Read more...]
Email is stressful, but not that time consuming
A recent study showed the average professional spends 4.1 hours per day responding to work messages, says Dorie Clark, who undertook a project to determine why email seemed so burdensome. She shares three important lessons learned from the process, which may be valuable as you think about how to make the time you spend on email more efficient: Each “yes” leads to more … [Read more...]
July 2018, Journal of Dairy Science
One of the easiest ways to stay in touch with dairy research is by skimming the Interpretive Summaries section. We’ve linked that section for you. Here are some interesting studies: A role for serotonin in lactation physiology—Where do we go from here?, Link. Comparison of adhesion characteristics of common dairy spore formers and their spores on stainless steel and … [Read more...]
30-year milestone for World Pork Expo in the books
“It’s hard to believe Expo has been around for 30 years,” says Jim Heimerl, NPPC president and producer from Johnstown, Ohio. “Just as the U.S. pork industry has evolved over the years, so too has Expo.” In search of new ideas and solutions for today and tomorrow, more than 20,000 producers, employees and industry professionals attended the 2018 World Pork Expo. Among the … [Read more...]
Study of animal personality, mood to give new welfare insights
AgResearch’s Animal Welfare Team is working to expand the knowledge of livestock behavior, at a time of growing consumer demand for strong welfare standards. Studies like this could be used to compare how animals experience different farming situations and to improve design of production systems. Source: Feedstuffs, June 12, 2018. Link. New research exploring the moods and … [Read more...]
Beef business is marathon, not sprint
BEEF’s annual State of the Industry survey shows that while short- and long-term optimism have diminished, most respondents accept the roller coaster challenges of raising beef. Source: BEEF, June 2018., page 8. Link. When analyzing the responses to the short-term and long-term questions, it becomes a glass-half-full outlook versus a glass-half-empty worldview. Indeed, how … [Read more...]
The Bridge Club to launch ICON Series
Expanding on its video-based community platform and live event strategy, The Bridge Club will launch the first event of a new ICON series during the AVMA Convention in Denver. The ICON event, featuring honoree Kristen Peck of Zoetis, will take place July 16, 2018. Advance ticket purchase and registration are required. Tickets are available now. <Ticket Link> Source: … [Read more...]
Understand why cats fight to stop fights
At least 55 percent of cat homes in the U.S. are multi-cat homes. So, it is no wonder that cat fights occur. A cat fight is actually a natural behavior, and the key to get cat fighting to stop is to understand why the cats are fighting in the first place. How cat owners handle the fighting can determine lack of trust and aggressiveness vs. harmony. Source: Catster, June … [Read more...]
A guide to pets’ body language
Dogs and cats display common non-verbal gestures and postures. This article provides a downloadable, pictorial guide to help animal owners understand what a pet is trying to convey. Source: American Lifestyle, April 1, 2016. Link. Canines are usually very expressive, but their messages can get lost in translation. Felines can be a bit more mysterious with their body … [Read more...]
The dos and don’ts of moving with pets
Nancy LaFever reminds us that moving is especially disturbing for our pets, because they don’t understand what’s going on. She offers steps to make the move safe and less stressful for owners’ animal companions. Source: Sparefoot Blog. Link. Here is a sample of the tips offered: Plan ahead for boarding Designate a pet room Utilize crates and carriers … [Read more...]