There’s no better group than animal health pros with whom to share these images. Our dedication to animal owners and the health of their animals deserves a few minutes to enjoy the images captured for this year’s Comedy Pet Photo Awards. Source: Treehugger, September 22, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Archives for September 2022
Worth a Glance – September 29, 2022
Last week’s most read posts – Veterinarians shouldn’t do it all. Link. Dealing with plastics. 2,4,5. . .Let’s review. Link. Need to vent? Link. Last AHD Bulletin - Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, September 22, 2022. Link. ================================================== If a dog or cat smells like this, it’s time to see a veterinarian … [Read more...]
Managing fall calving cows is different than spring calving cows, especially during drought
Managing nutrition for fall-calving cows is different than spring-calving herds throughout the production cycle. Fall forages regrow less hardily than spring forages, especially in drought and post-drought conditions. The author shares pros and cons of fall calving and tips for fall calving in drought-stricken areas. Source: Drovers, September 20, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Thinking like a pig – a key to improving animal welfare (podcast)
Swine It Podcast host Laura Greiner, PhD, visits with Jason McAlister who shares how we can improve animal welfare while simultaneously improving the efficiency of production facilities. We may just need to get down on all fours and think like a pig would…” Source: Swine It Podcast, September 27, 2022. Link. Greiner and McAlister discuss: Moving from meat science to … [Read more...]
Merck Animal Health awards bovine vet scholarship
Complimentary Commercial Content Merck Animal Health awarded $90,000 in scholarships to 18 bovine veterinary students. The students received their American Association of Bovine Practitioners Bovine Veterinary Student Recognition Award and a $5,000 scholarship during the 2022 AABP Annual Conference that took place in Long Beach, California, September 22 through … [Read more...]
A guide to fall and winter chicken care
Raising chickens in winter has its challenges and with an avian flu surge predicted, preparing flocks for the colder months now is good common sense. The author offers six tips for fall flock preparation to help chickens enter the winter season in good health. Source: Backyard Poultry, September 9, 2022. Link. INSIGHTS: Consider this article for social media and … [Read more...]
Protect poultry from bird flu
Bird flu circulates among wild birds worldwide. When domestic birds encounter the virus that causes bird flu, it can cause mild symptoms. Some strains, referred to as highly pathogenic avian influenza, can cause severe symptoms and death. Since last January, HPAI has been detected in nearly every U.S. state. Source: University of Florida Extension, September 23, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Why horses seek shelter
A Swedish study suggests that horses head for run-in sheds to avoid insects rather than to seek respite from the sun. The data revealed that five of the seven horses who entered a shelter during the study period had a clear preference for the three-sided shelter over the open structure. Source: EQUUS, August 14, 2022. Link. The researchers noted a significant drop in … [Read more...]
The blanket rule for blanketing horses
The onset of cooler weather often has horse owners trying to determine if their animals need blankets. Some horses do well without blankets, others need a bit more warmth occasionally and then there are some that never get comfortable with weather changes, hot or cold. . . . there is only one blanket rule for blanketing horses: it depends.” - Kathy Farrokhzad Source: Horse … [Read more...]
The meaning behind different dog sounds
Pat Miller, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, says there are generally six types of sounds dogs use to vocally communicate with humans or with other canines. She shares ideas about what the dog sounds might mean and how to decipher the different noises dogs make. Source: Whole Dog Journal, July 20, 2011. Link. Barks, growls, howls, whines, whimpers, even dog purring . . . dog sounds have … [Read more...]
Cats get zoomies too
Zoomies are normal behavior for cats and a great way to burn off excess energy, writes Sassafras Lowrey. FRAPS or, frenetic random activity periods, are also known as zoomies and frequently associated more with dogs. They are likely not a reaction to Zoom meetings despite the number of cats seen sitting at laptops. Sudden, increased and unexpected bursts of energy, especially … [Read more...]
A new model and terminology for understanding feline emotions
New Cat Friendly Guidelines aim to provide a better understanding of feline emotions and how, in the veterinary clinic, interactions with cats and the physical environment can be adapted to achieve a truly cat-friendly experience. The guidelines take a cat-centric approach, respecting their emotions and the resulting behaviors. . . . ‘cat friendly interaction’ replaces ‘cat … [Read more...]
Lepto on the rise
Michelle Evason, BSc, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), says there is a global jump in the number of dogs diagnosed with leptospirosis, including some hot spots where lepto exposure and infections are likely to occur. Her article offers perspective on One Health concerns, hot spot areas and the ongoing need to embrace client education and use vaccine to prevent infections. . . . … [Read more...]
Vetoquinol announces 5 new Flexadin® products
Vetoquinol USA’s five new Flexadin® products will provide research-proven joint support ingredients to dogs and cats of all ages and life stages. The expanded line of products will be available October 1, 2022. The full line of Flexadin products makes it easy to find a supplement that matches the needs of pets. We now know that glucosamine and chondroitin are ingredients that … [Read more...]
Zoetis announced the U.S. commercial launch of Solensia™ (Frunevetmab injection) as the first and only monoclonal antibody treatment to control osteoarthritis pain in cats approved in the U.S.
Complimentary Commercial Content Zoetis has researched pain progression in cats and now knows that a protein known as Nerve Growth Factor is a key driver of OA pain. By targeting NGF, Solensia controls cats’ OA pain, helping them to regain their quality of life by increasing their mobility and improving their overall comfort. Source: Zoetis, September 26, 2022. Link. To … [Read more...]
More than 100,000 veterinary and pet professionals now Fear Free certified
Congratulations to Marty Becker, DVM, and the Fear Free organization for achieving this significant milestone in training animal health professionals at all levels about providing emotional wellbeing, enrichment and the reduction of fear, anxiety and stress in pets. Source: Cision, September 27, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – September 26, 2022
Keeping pet influencers in mind, grooming good and bad from dogs’ points of view, business tech, pet brands to watch from SuperZoo 2022, pet food as health food, and more . . . The recent IBPSA FLOW Business Conference benefited over 300 owners and general managers, 40 vendors and offered deliverables from 28 speakers. Hosted by the Chatfields, the conference <Link> … [Read more...]
How to keep your brain sharp; memory starts to decline in your 30s (3 videos)
Forgetting often happens simply because we’re not focusing. Paying attention to something long enough to really observe it is key to memory, but that’s being threatened by all the rush of modern society. You’ve got to make efforts to set up your memory and keep it working. You want to enhance whatever natural abilities you might have.” - Richard Restak MD. Source: TODAY, … [Read more...]
Don’t forget to inhale
Complimentary Commercial Content* Niklas Göke shared an excerpt from his new book, 2-Minute Pep Talks, now the #2 new release for Kindle books in the personal growth category. The excerpt is a transcript from pep talk #14. Living is exhaling. Don’t forget to inhale, writes Göke. . . . if do is all you do, it’ll be impossible to extract happiness from even the most … [Read more...]
How to know if it is time for a new job
Gregg Vanourek recommends reevaluating your job every couple of years and finding ways to enhance it while scanning for new opportunities. He shares his perspective on why people stay in a bad job too long and the effect it has on future opportunities. Source: GreggVanourek.com, September 23, 2022. Link. Most of all . . . stop drifting through your career and don't settle.” … [Read more...]
The elevator pitch
Earlier this month I shared the importance of opening a conversation effectively <Link>. Once that is accomplished, you have less than a minute to engage your audience and Carmine Gallo has excellent tips to help you to do just that. Source: Harvard Business Review, October 3, 2018. Link. What is your idea? If you can answer in one compelling sentence, you can hook … [Read more...]
A 10-point email audit for strategic planning
Covid-19 and its aftershocks threw a big wrench into marketing operations, but it wasn’t the only factor reshaping the email landscape. Corporate restructuring, the Great Resignation, a new focus on owned data, economic and political upheavals and the continued evolution of marketing technology all have left their marks on many email programs. Here's an email blueprint for the … [Read more...]
Stop feeling guilty about delegating
The last few years have left many animal health leaders with short staffing and heavy workloads for all team members. Guilt about adding more work to a team member’s to-do list has been a primary obstacle voiced by many leaders, writes Dina Smith. . . . when unchecked guilt gets in the way of delegating, it’s a no-win situation. Increased leader workload results in anxiety, … [Read more...]
Idaho liability case serves as a warning when using contracted labor
Before a contracted laborer gets injured, it is important to consider liability issues. Paige Carlson shares details from an Idaho Supreme Court ruling. The court unanimously ruled that a livestock transportation broker was the statutory employer of a contracted driver injured while attempting to load a cow onto a truck for delivery. Source: Drovers, September 23, 2022. … [Read more...]
How to lead an operation model transformation
Commentary Businesses large and small are working to be more flexible, agile and responsive to changing marketplace needs. Words like pivot, nimble, elastic or resilient often show up in value statements and strategic plans. Learning how large companies approach these challenges can help educate animal health pros who want to streamline or update their business … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – September 22, 2022
Last week’s most read posts – September is National Pet Health Insurance Month. Link. Chewy’s autoship sales hit all-time high in Q2. Link. Last AHD Bulletin - Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, September 15, 2022. Link ====================================== Bird flu now in 40 states Source: Successful Farming, September 19, 2022. Link. Threat … [Read more...]
When stray voltage strikes and dealing with it
No one likes to get an unexpected electrical shock. Animals hate it even more than people. Areas constructed indoors or outdoors where wire mesh or other conductive elements are embedded in or placed under concrete, bonded to all metal structures and fixed nonelectrical equipment have the potential to become energized unless the equipotential plane is properly grounded. The … [Read more...]
Dealing with the impact of heat and drought
Producers need to be mindful of the aftermath of heat and drought, writes Beth Doran. Heat stress affects semen production in bulls and pregnancy rates in females. Producers appreciate reminders like this especially during harvest time. Source: BEEF, September 12, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
5 ways to relieve stress on calves during receiving
The difference between a stressful and a seamless receiving period can have a significant impact on future performance. Purina’s Chad Zehnder, PhD, shares five tips that can help reduce stress in receiving protocols: Be prepared Reduce stress on arrival Avoid the yo-yo effect Focus on fresh feed and feed type Don’t forget water* * Know how much water cattle … [Read more...]
Sustainability, one of the DFA Nerd Herd’s primary objectives
Dairy Farmers of America’s Matt Musselman shared sustainability initiatives dairy farmers are pursuing during the recent KCAHC Summit ‘22. Launched in 2021, the DFA Nerd Herd is led by farmers. They are supported by a team of engineers, nutritionists, veterinarians, technology experts, scientists and more to help educate consumers about how DFA farm families are using renewable … [Read more...]