Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, July 26, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the July 26th AHD Bulletin Smart ways to handle too much business. Link. Sharing cases can create confusion. Link. Beware of these toxic flowers in gardens, yards, building sites. Link. Toxic leadership. Link. … [Read more...]
Archives for July 2024
ICASA Award addresses antimicrobial stewardship for BRD
Multifactor bovine respiratory disease remains a major expense to producers who commonly treat the late stage pulmonary disease with antibiotics. ICASA, along with matching funds from other organizations, has funded a $2,446,948 research grant to Brad J. White, DVM, MS, who is building a multi-disciplinary team to research how the secondary diseases form in cattle infected with … [Read more...]
Iowa State researchers find possible way dairy cattle are infected with HPAI
A study published this month by a team in ISU's College of Veterinary Medicine found that bovine mammary gland tissue held receptors for the avian influenza virus. This offers a potential “why” connection for how cattle are being infected with the virus, which is found in raw milk. Source: AgriMarketing, July 19, 2024. Link. Also see: Current H5N1 situation in dairy … [Read more...]
Dog import rules changed, but simplified
Effective today, the CDC is implementing new requirements for dogs arriving from countries that are canine rabies-free or low-risk. Beginning August 1, dogs that have spent at least the last six months in countries such as Canada and Mexico will need to meet these few requirements before U.S. entry: Be healthy on arrival Be at least 6 months old at the time of entry or … [Read more...]
Revolutionary tech for hog barn monitoring
Commercial Content Like big brother for hogs, NUtrack’s surveillance technology promises to help producers manage barns more efficiently from their phones. The NUtrack system uses full body recognition as facial recognition is difficult from cameras above the animals. The NUtrack system, developed by researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, allows producers to … [Read more...]
AI powered app can recognize cows from 50 feet away
Commercial Content Agtech start-up 406 Bovine is working to simplify cattle identification using facial recognition technology and smartphones. The technology can be used anywhere which eliminates the short-distance restrictions of current RFID. Source: Dairy Reporter, July 22, 2024. Link. Anything that can be done with RFID tags can be done with facial recognition . . . … [Read more...]
What’s your diagnosis?
This deformed giraffe was spotted at an unnamed private game reserve in Kruger National Park, South Africa. Sara Ferguson, DVM, shared, “Without radiographs to prove the bone has been broken, we would refer to the giraffe as having severe torticollis or wryneck." Source: Live Science, July 23, 2024. Link. Photo by Lynn Scott … [Read more...]
When probiotics might help a horse
Gut health continues to be a frequent topic across all species. In this article, Christine Barakat and Melinda Freckleton, DVM, share situations where probiotics might be worth a try. Probiotics are designed to aid a horse’s digestion by restoring the balance of gut microflora disturbed as a result of illness, stress or medication.” Source: EQUUS, June 24, 2024. Link. Also … [Read more...]
How to teach a horse to dance (includes [amazing] video)
At the Paris Olympics, hundreds of competitors will try to marry athletic prowess to artistic grace, but only those competing in dressage will attempt it while sitting astride a willful animal. Source: The New York Times, July 30, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Using a weight tape to manage a horse’s condition and protect his health
Weight tapes, while not as accurate as a scale, can provide vital information about a horse’s health. University of Edinburgh researchers investigated the utility of weight tapes over a two-year period in a study that included 1,716 horses. Source: EQUUS, June 24, 2024. Link. Horse owners with access to a scale can easily correlate the scale reading to the weight tape making … [Read more...]
Assessment of the effect of gabapentin on blood pressure in cats with and without chronic kidney disease
Fractious cats challenge veterinary staff and owners. Getting a good blood pressure reading with an upset feline gets difficult. Researchers studied the effect of gabapentin on blood pressure in cats with and without chronic kidney disease. Gabapentin has an effect on arterial BP in cats with and without CK. This effect appears to be more than just the result of stress … [Read more...]
Short nose? Beware of BOAS
Cases of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome are on the increase, writes Kara Burns, MS, MEd, LVT, VTS, VTS-H. Her article reviews medical and nutritional management of BOAS and GI signs in brachycephalic dogs. A case report in SOAP format is also shared. BOAS is progressive; age at presentation ranges from a few months to a few years. After 5 years of age, a first … [Read more...]
The chemistry behind the smell of wet dogs
Chemist Andy Brunning, a British chemistry teacher, distilled the essence of the complex molecular reactions into the infographic shared here <Link>. The aroma of a wet dog starts with a cast of tiny critters like yeasts and bacteria that take up residence on the pet. These bugs leave behind “micro excreta” in the form of volatile organic compounds that are carried away … [Read more...]
Study shows how dogs feel when we hug them. You may not like the results.
Dogs don't always love being hugged, writes Angela Vuckovic. She shares study results published in Applied Animal Behavior Sciences revealing dogs in the study often responded to being hugged by expressing feelings of extreme physical stress and anxiety. Misinterpreting a dog's reaction to being hugged, can be harmful to owners and their dogs. Source: Pet Guide, June 2024. … [Read more...]
New app helps pet owners book backyard space for their dogs
An new app, Sniffspot, connects pet parents with homeowners willing to rent out their private property as dog parks. The app is available nationwide, with Sniffspot reporting 20,000 listings and 100,000 guests. Prices vary depending on a yard's size, location and amenities. Designed for private play, only the people and dogs in each booking are allowed in the spot during a … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – July 29, 2024
Niche markets in the pet industry, compliance for paying independent contractors, disaster preparedness, internet security and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, July 29, 2024. Link. The IBPSA IBBY Committee has chosen the following finalists for this year’s Pet Care Business Excellence Awards from a record number of nominations. … [Read more...]
Trust your gut (with audio)
The connection between decision making and gut feelings has become a hot field for research, says Arthur C. Brooks. Our understanding of the mechanisms of “gut and brain" is still incomplete, but tests of the quality of decisions made from feelings as opposed to conscious analysis yield strongly suggestive and useful results. Source: The Atlantic, July 18, 2024. Link. Three … [Read more...]
Workplace superheroes need to remove their capes at home
Stop . . . look . . . listen! The guidance here may be incriminating for some achievers, but it is a good review of how things can go haywire at home after a busy, successful day. Being decisive, logical and goal- or task-oriented at work can be your superpowers, but at home, they can get in the way of genuine connection with family members who may feel unappreciated or … [Read more...]
Interested? Then ask.
While no one wants to be seen as rude, nosey, overbearing or insensitive, I believe the fear of asking some questions is often overblown. Source: Veterinary Advantage, August 2023. Link. How can we help others succeed if we don’t know where they want to go?” INSIGHTS: Ask “And what else?” until the answer is “nothing.” Also see: The power of questions, AHD Archives, … [Read more...]
Stop chasing vanity metrics
Our industry is full of new businesses and brands. Darian Shimy shares how some metrics are meaningful and others deflect business teams away from their purpose. His article, while focused on startups, is a good reminder to do the most meaningful things. Source: Entrepreneur, July 23, 2024. Link. . . . prioritize mission-driven growth levers over vanity metrics . . . focus … [Read more...]
The state of allyship in animal health
Last week we shared Sara Taylor’s article on unconscious filters and biases <Link>. In this article, MWI’s Lesli Stasiek shares excerpts from the 2023 State of Allyship-In-Action survey in which WILMAH participated. The participation enabled a look at animal health industry data separate from the total survey results. Positioning allyship as a continuum, she shares the … [Read more...]
Some change is necessary, some inevitable. Creating stability is critical.
Ashley Goodall explains the importance of the virtues of stability, together with an understanding of how to renew and practice creating stability, in this article. Underappreciated, constant change can become the enemy of performance, not its catalyst. “The science is clear: people do best at work when their environment is predictable, when they have some sense of control … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – July 26, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, July 18, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from July 18th AHD Bulletin – Facing declining interest in vet practice ownership. Link. Zoonotic web exposes complexity of disease transmission. Link. Biosecurity planning for secure beef supply. Link. ===================================== Managing equine … [Read more...]
Beware of these toxic flowers in gardens, yards and building sites
Many flower enthusiasts and landscapers will soon start their fall planting. GreenRipe dug into the dangerous world of common garden flowers to reveal their hidden toxicities in this article. Saving the Monarchs <Link> is important but knowing if plants are toxic to pets and humans needs to be considered. Source: GreenRipe, December 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Horses get scours too
In a stable or barn environment, bugs are everywhere, despite the best hygiene practices. Salmonella bacteria are rugged bugs in these environments and can exist outside equine intestinal tracts for extended periods. Kelly Diehl, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, shares basic information and ways to decrease the risks of salmonellosis. Since it is fair, rodeo and trail ride season this … [Read more...]
VetPulse survey seeks raw diet feedback
Nine multiple-choice questions about raw diets seek to understand preferences and choices in this expanding nutritional segment. A drawing is included to encourage participation. Source: DVM 360. Link. … [Read more...]
First-Class Mail Forever stamps now 73 cents each
New postage rates went into effect on July 14th. First-Class Mail Forever stamps went from 68 cents to 73 cents. The approved adjustments raise mailing service product prices approximately 7.8 percent. There are no price changes for USPS retail or commercial prices for shipping services like Priority Mail and Ground Advantage. Source: Pitney Bowes. Link. … [Read more...]
Top universities in the U.S. for veterinary science
The University of California, Davis is the best school in the U.S. for veterinary science according to U.S. Career Institute research that ranked U.S. veterinary schools from best to worst Source: The Cattle Site, July 22, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Do pathogens come with the ability to develop resistance?
A study published in nature communications <Link> demonstrated that the within-host diversity of pathogen populations plays a key role in shaping the emergence of resistance in response to treatment. This in contrast to the traditional view that antimicrobial resistance emerges from pathogens that acquire new mutations. Source: IDSE, July 17, 2023. Link. “Study … [Read more...]
Biting barn flies may be spreading mastitis-causing bacteria, study says
Researchers have tried to link pathogens spread by barn flies with the incidence of bovine mastitis on dairy farms, paving the way for potential disease prevention strategies. Altogether, <study> results identify biting flies as underrecognized carriers of bacterial taxa associated with environmental bovine mastitis and other opportunistic infection in vertebrates and … [Read more...]