It’s believed that grooming areas on the body that they can’t reach establishes and maintains social relationships, and may also foster trust and cooperation in horses. It also helps remove sweat, dirt, mud, lice, fleas and ticks and distributes natural oils throughout the coat. Sources: More than scratching an itch, The Paulick Report, October 4, 2024. Link. A … [Read more...]
Euthanasia. A horse owner’s final act of care.
Some of the more difficult horse ownership decisions come as the animal nears its end of life. Saundra Tenbroeck, University of Florida Extension horse specialist, provides reasoning for euthanasia or natural death, carcass disposal and thinking with your head and heart. Source: UF|IFAS Extension Panhandle Ag e-News, October 4, 2024. Link. Tenbroeck offers: Euthanasia, … [Read more...]
Keeping canine cognitive dysfunction at bay
Mental sharpness in dogs can decline over time. Some suffer from a serious condition called canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome. CDS is a neurodegenerative disease like Alzheimer’s disease in people and is more common than originally suspected. What is important for dog owners and veterinary professionals is to recognize changes that aren’t part of normal aging. Source: … [Read more...]
Dealing with a toxic employee as a manager
Sharing a balanced approach to addressing challenging behaviors, Vincent Sanderson advises managers to start by being mindful of how they’re defining toxic behavior. Then engage one-on-one with a focus on understanding rather than dictating. Source: Fast Company, October 8, 2024. Link. One bad apple unfortunately can spoil the lot. But if you focus on the cause of the … [Read more...]
Simon Sinek: What Noah taught me about leadership (true story)
Simon Sinek shares a true story of his experience with a barista named Noah which taught him an interesting lesson about leadership. In under three minutes, Sinek shares the importance of leadership creating the right environment. Throughout the day managers will walk past me, ask me how I am doing and if I need anything . . .” Source: Live2Lead, YouTube, Simon Sinek, … [Read more...]
5 red flags that show you don’t understand your Gen Z employees
Gen Z is shaking things up, writes Cheryl Fields Tyler. She shares five signs of ineffective engagement and ways for companies to improve: Not realizing Gen Z is more skeptical of AI than millennials Assuming you can attract them without strong company values Treating DEI as old news and not essential Failing to harness Gen Z’s enthusiasm toward their employers … [Read more...]
To mask or not in the swine barn for flu?
Montse Torremorell, DVM, shares the risks from bidirectional transmission of influenza A virus between pigs and people. He says the frequent spillover of human-origin seasonal influenza viruses to pigs is a main driver for flu diversity, resulting in new reassortant viruses that threaten pig health, productivity and public health. Results from a recent study evaluating masks … [Read more...]
Explaining why cats chatter
Victoria Atkinson shares possible reasons to explain the quiet chattering noise cats sometimes make. There are no current studies investigating this behavior, however, cat owners and researchers have some possible explanations for the chattering behaviors. Cats can be seen and heard chattering in the You Tube video shown above <Link>. [6:29] Source: LiveScience, … [Read more...]
Theories on why dogs do what they do
Many dog behaviors are inexplicable, but they have meaning. Experts share some theories on why dogs tilt their heads, eat grass, lean on us and more. Animal health pros can use this article for social media or newsletters to help dog owners attempt to decipher and understand their dogs' idiosyncratic behaviors. Source: Better Help. Link. Related: Educating pet owners on … [Read more...]
How to stop making excuses
If you’re currently an excuse maker, there is good news: you can break the habit with better choices and stronger effort. It takes a mindset shift and a conscious, continuous effort to take responsibility for your actions and choices. Steve Keating shares some practical steps to help maintain power over your circumstances rather than allowing circumstances to control … [Read more...]
Why handwriting still matters in the digital age
Research shows that putting pen to paper offers cognitive benefits that digital tools can’t replicate. Source: National Geographic, September 26, 2024. Link. The most surprising thing was that the whole brain was active when they were writing by hand, [while] much smaller areas were active when they were typewriting.” - Audrey van der Meer, PhD … [Read more...]
Celebrate National 4-H Week (video)
National 4-H week celebrates how the organization helps prepare youth for success in college and careers. From October 7th through October 14th, the week will be marked by activities across the country, showcasing the talents and accomplishments of 4-H members. Whether through community service projects, leadership workshops or educational fairs, the week will shine a spotlight … [Read more...]
Organizational basics, SOPs important in on-farm dairy production
Discussing procedural drift, Lisa Holden, PhD, emphasizes the need for dairy producer management to refresh SOP training and monitoring. It's easier to write an SOP and train than to create the culture of compliance, she shared. Source: Dairy Herd Management, January 12, 2023. Link. The consistency that cows crave so much is gained through those standard operating … [Read more...]
Waste milk fed to calves may be creating resistant bacteria
Feeding non-salable milk from antibiotic-treated cows to calves is a common practice. Now, the presence of antimicrobial residues in waste milk raises significant concerns within the scientific community. Researchers assert that waste milk’s use poses a risk by exerting selective pressure, fostering the emergence and spread of resistant bacteria in the intestinal microbiota of … [Read more...]
“Social license to operate” topic drives equine gathering agenda
Public scrutiny of equine welfare is increasing despite humans having a relationship with horses for centuries. Horse owners, trainers, breeders, and riders must show the public that they are mindful of their horses' physical and mental well-being. To continue to enjoy horses, the equine industry must understand that issues cross all breed and discipline boundaries. Though the … [Read more...]
Cat gut microbiome may help treat feline diseases
Sponsored Content Felines possess several unique gastrointestinal traits distinct from other companion animals, writes Hill’s Renea Creech, MS. She explores the role of some of the different bacterial species of the cat GI microbiome and their role in feline health and disease. Understanding the GI microbiome and its diverse microbial populations holds significant promise … [Read more...]
Non-antibiotic approaches to canine recurrent UTIs
Various non-antibiotic measures show promise in managing canine UTIs and reducing the amount of antibiotics used to fight infections. The authors assert combining conventional veterinary medicine with complementary therapies may offer a more holistic approach to managing UTIs in dogs. Source: Innovative Vet Care, September 27, 2024. Link. A combination of approaches may … [Read more...]
Probiotics, prebiotics for feline digestive health
Gut dysbiosis describes a microbiome imbalance. In a cat’s gut, the bacteria microbiome has a direct effect on overall health, influencing digestion, immune system function and nutritional metabolism, as well as moods and mental health. Scott Gavaletz, DVM, recommends the use of probiotics under two circumstances: a) as a first line in treating diarrhea, and b) to replace … [Read more...]
Nonmedical pet services: A tangled web of competition
The high cost of pet food and of veterinary services top the list of significant challenges that pet owners currently face, writes David Sprinkle, referencing Packaged Facts’ February 2024 data. The high cost of nonmedical pet services such as grooming, boarding, daycare and training weigh in at a lower level, but these services remain part of the picture for a robust pet … [Read more...]
Success with supplements
Health and wellness trends are driving a pet supplement market positioned to surpass $2.7 billion <Link>. Many veterinarians are concerned about quality, writes Graham Garrison, who shares the opportunity to help practices realize revenue benefits that accompany selling supplements. Packed Facts’ survey <Link> indicates online purchases outpace in-store sales giving … [Read more...]
Changing weather patterns call for a change in deworming habits
Sponsored Content Lice over-summer instead of over-winter like many parasites. They hide on cattle in folds between the legs and body and the dewlap. One type of louse can even over-summer in the ear. Once they get cold, they wake up and start reproducing. If cattle are treated too early, the lice don’t become an issue until several months into an endectocide product’s … [Read more...]
The story no one talks about: the cost to produce food
John Nalivka shares an opinion piece that speaks to the pinched wallets consumers are experiencing. The overall costs costs of livestock production, have increased 28 percent from 2019 to 2023. The cost of energy posted a 35 percent increase over the same years while the cost of labor rose 24 percent from 2019 to 2023. Land values have also risen significantly, making … [Read more...]
Voluntary waiting period data can set up cows for success
A dairy cow’s voluntary waiting period, the time after calving until breeding, is a flurry of internal activity, writes Steve Pavelski. He asserts the voluntary waiting period should be considered a preparation period. The article is a good resource to share and discuss with dairy producers. Source: Progressive Dairy, September 5, 2024. Link. The most profitable voluntary … [Read more...]
Breeding soundness exams give 20:1 ROI
The lack of breeding soundness exams keeps Joe Dalton, PhD, awake at night, writes Becky Mills. He shares concerns about data on the low percentage of producers who test bulls already in their bull battery for at least two breeding seasons. He emphasizes a complete breeding soundness exam, not just a semen test, as critical to the value of reproduction. Source: Angus Beef … [Read more...]
Analgesia trends in exotics
Discussing analgesia in rabbits and rodents, Olivia A. Petritz, DVM, DACZM, provides an overview of recent studies. She also refers to the development of grimace scales for rabbits, rats and mice. Source: Veterinary Practice News, September 20, 2024. Link. Clinical signs of pain in rodents are similar to rabbits and include a hunched posture, lack of or increased grooming, … [Read more...]
Safety tips for clients when holding horses for farriers and vets
Horses can react suddenly, no matter how well-behaved they seem. Owners are often asked to help the veterinarian or farrier. Once a horse owner accepts care and control, THEY are made immediately responsible for ANYTHING that may happen while tending to the horse. This e-book is a handy resource to help clients remain safe and helpful, as well as keep the veterinarian, … [Read more...]
When resentment is building on your team
Employee discontent is on the rise, shares Rebecca Knight. More workers are thinking about quitting their jobs now than during the Great Resignation in 2022, despite a less favorable job market. People are living more on the edge, making it easy for impatience, concern and discomfort to leak out as sarcasm or subtle verbal attacks that turn into resentment. Two experts share … [Read more...]
To preg-check or not . . . an economic decision
Dean Kreager relates the importance of checking beef cows for pregnancy to the potential costs of overwintering an open cow. He shares only 20 percent of cow-calf producers in the eastern U.S. preg-check beef cows. Noting drought conditions in some areas, Kreager estimates the overwintering feed costs, and compares that to preg-check costs and the relative value of a cull cow … [Read more...]
It’s not Old McDonald’s dairy farm anymore
Beef-on-dairy has become a cash cow for many dairy farmers, writes Fran O'Leary. But making it all work takes some experimentation, time and planning. She shares some producer experiences and the economics in this article. Source: Wisconsin Agriculturist, September 5, 2024. Link. INSIGHTS: O’Leary’s article is good context for veterinary teams and sales representatives … [Read more...]
Why we forget things we were just thinking about
The brain isn't capable of multitasking, states Earl K. Miller, PhD. He describes two types of memory, long-term and working memory, and explains why we sometimes forget what we were just thinking about or go to grab a specific item only to return without it. Working memory is like the sketchpad of conscious thought and has very limited capacity. It has to juggle different … [Read more...]