Science-based advice for poultry care at every life stage is now available in a new book from University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. ‘Dr. Cluck’s Backyard Chickens’ is fun to read, peer-reviewed, poultry vet-approved and and reads like a sitcom. Maurice Pitesky, professor at the UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine and veterinarian Evan Adler share … [Read more...]
Review: Common ectoparasites of backyard chickens
Olivia A. Petritz, DVM, DACZM, reviews the most common ectoparasites of backyard hens and treatment options in the U.S., noting laws regarding the treatment of food animals vary from country to country. Source: Veterinary Practice News, March 18, 2026. Link. Clinicians who treat chickens in the United States are strongly encouraged to review rules and regulations for … [Read more...]
Planning for the 3 most stressful days for a beef-on-dairy calf (video)
Trey Gellert, DVM, outlines how birth, weaning and transport shape lifetime performance in beef-on-dairy calves. His focus for producers is to plan ahead to reduce risk and to set the stage for the best calf to send to the next production stage. Source: The Beef Site, April 27, 2026. Link. [5:49] Before weaning, <producers> need to start programming the calf at a … [Read more...]
Four stoic rules to master your emotions at work
Stoicism is staying calm when life isn’t, focusing on what you can control, and not wasting energy on what you can’t, writes Thomas Oppong. He shares four Stoic teachings that can help make the most of the gap between feeling and action and become your best self at work. They are: You control the response Name the emotion before it names you See the obstacle as the … [Read more...]
Tablets for tabbies: technology, animal welfare and interaction in cat cafes
A recent study investigated potential uses and challenges for technology in environments like cat cafes. What researchers learned could affect how similar technology is used in veterinary clinics in the future, writes Kristen Green Seymour. Source: AAHA Trends, December 23, 2025. Link. <There is> a really interesting future for cat technology, from applications used … [Read more...]
Laser therapy for the veterinary cancer patient: a modern approach to supportive care
Lisa Miller, DVM, CCRT, and Chelsea Tripp, MS, DVM, DACVIM(O), share how laser therapy or photobiomodulation can be used in veterinary oncology to reduce treatment side effects and improve healing, pain control and quality of life in this informative article. Current evidence supports the safe and judicious use of photobiomodulation in cancer patients when dosing and tumor … [Read more...]
Rubber mats on slatted floor feedlots may benefit cattle welfare
Research shows cattle raised in covered slatted floor facilities benefit from adding rubber slatted mats. They have better mobility, as witnessed by getting up and down more frequently, and exhibit less lameness when assessed while walking compared with cattle raised on concrete slats. Jerad Jaborek’s comments about lameness and cattle welfare in the last paragraph add value … [Read more...]
Nick Saban: Three lessons to keep you grounded (video)
Nick Saban shares habits to help you stay grounded, focused, and at peace, even when life gets tough. Source: LinkedIn, October 2025. Link. [1:01] … [Read more...]
CBD for cats is increasingly popular
This article looks at the feline CBD market, and how the brands that focus on feline-specific data are the most well-placed to build market entry barriers. Compared to CBD for dogs, the efficacy and safety data behind CBD for cats is very thin. Cats have a different metabolism than dogs making it hard for cat owners to find CBD supplements they can trust for pain or … [Read more...]
Chicken bone guidance for dogs and cats
Picnic and grilling season puts cats and dogs at more risk of being tempted by bones in garbage containers or tossed near park shelters. These two articles address bone safety for cats and dogs. Pet owners and their families need to understand the danger of feeding bones reinforced to avoid an incident. Consider sharing these on social media and in newsletters. Sources: … [Read more...]
Dog breed influences how dogs communicate with humans
New research looked at whether all dogs were equally sensitive to verbal instructions. It shows that it all depends on the breed. Cooperative breeds bred to rely on human guidance outperformed independent breeds in the research trials. Discussing obstensive communications*, the researchers say it’s easy to gain the attention of cooperative dogs but independent dogs may need … [Read more...]
Livestock euthanasia delays caused by lack of recognition and failure to act
Euthanasia is often thought of as a single act, but in practice, it is a process shaped by how quickly problems are recognized, how clearly decisions are made and how reliably systems support follow-through. Farm systems do not consistently support acting at the right time, even when the need is recognized. Andrea Bedford describes the two-clock model which is especially … [Read more...]
Child-resistant packaging: Is your practice compliant?
Like the childhood warning before crossing the street, this article echoes the Stop, Look, Listen approach. Practice owners, managers and purchasing staff will benefit from reviewing it and ensuring practice processes and procedures are in place. Source: AAHA Trends, February 3, 2026. Link. INSIGHTS: Choosing colors is helpful for clients to distinguish their pets’ … [Read more...]
Master the core ideas behind AI without getting lost
Shreyas Naphad believes if you understand these five terms and concepts, you’ll be miles ahead of almost everyone else in the room Source: Medium, March 29, 2026. Link. AI is not going away and the gap between people who vaguely use AI and people who actually understand how it works is going to matter more and more in the next few years.” … [Read more...]
Antiviral resistance in cats: Let’s not screw up game-changing drugs
The use of antivirals in cats is an important topic with a lot of issues to consider, writes J. Scott Weese, DVM. Citing decades of history in human and veterinary medicine of fouling up the use of remarkable, game-changing anti-infective drugs, he expresses concerns about resistance and using the anti-virals for other diseases. Source: Worms and Germs, March 18, 2026. … [Read more...]
How long is too long to leave a dog home alone?
Rather than trying to figure out how long we can leave our dogs alone, we should be trying to help our dogs get more out of every day, writes Nancy Tucker, CDBC, CPDT-KA. She discusses the challenges pet owners face to meet their work obligations and their individual dog’s needs for company, relieving themselves, kennel time and more. Tucker’s article provides food for … [Read more...]
How to identify and address grooming neglect
Grooming neglect does not always look dramatic, but it can be a warning sign that an animal and/or a client needs help. By treating grooming as a core health concern rather than cosmetic care, veterinary nurses can help protect animal welfare through early detection, education and collaboration. Source: Today’s Veterinary Nurse, March 11, 2026. Link. RACE Approved for 0.5 CE … [Read more...]
Why dairy cattle bunch: What published research reveals about this costly behavior
Published research shows there are clear reasons “cows just stand around for no reason” and they’re almost always environmental. Leading peer‑reviewed research on why dairy cows bunch, what environmental factors drive the behavior and how dairies can reduce it is shared in this article. Key reasons for bunching include: Stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans) Heat … [Read more...]
Building adherence with CAPC data
Chris Carpenter, DVM, talks about the value of CAPC data and forecasts in this Fountain Report Conversation. It’s <now> proven that when veterinarians share a forecast for what’s gonna happen in that county and send that forecast in an alert-type format to the owner, they come in and they purchase.” - Chris Carpenter, DVM Source: Antelligence, Fountain Report … [Read more...]
10 common causes of sudden death in cats (and which ones are preventable)
Sudden death in cats is one of those topics that feels too heavy to think about proactively, but understanding the real causes is one of the more useful things cat owners can do for their cats. There’s little doubt veterinary teams will agree with Dan Seymour’s assertion and quickly reference the limited time they have available to educate even their best feline … [Read more...]
De-exaggerate extreme features in popular dog breeds
To preserve the breeds we love, we need to ‘de-exaggerate’ extreme features by only breeding individuals with healthy and robust features, and petition kennel clubs to update the breed standards to match, according to Karyn Kanowski, BVSc, MRCVS. Referencing health challenges in breeds like the French Bulldog, Clumber Spaniel, Dachshund and Shar-pei, Kanowski advocates for … [Read more...]
Universal ethogram created to help standardize equine social behavior
A relatively new universal ethogram represents a significant step forward in equine behavior science. By standardizing definitions and supplementing them with video clarity*, it enables consistent cross-study comparisons and deeper insights into equine welfare. For veterinary professionals, it offers a practical framework to better assess, interpret and optimize management … [Read more...]
Defining the next chapter of beef-on-dairy with genetics, data
The days of “any black bull will do” are over, shares Karen Bohnert in this article, relaying information from the recent High Plains Dairy Conference in Amarillo, Texas. The reason the beef-on-dairy movement has been so successful is rooted in its ability to solve the beef industry’s greatest challenge: variability. Source: Dairy Herd Management, April 6, 2026. Link. To … [Read more...]
Replacement heifers have different needs than finishing heifers
When short on grass and hay, cattle producers may contemplate how to manage replacement heifers in a dry lot or in confinement. The Nebraska wildfires were the catalyst for Karla Wilke’s article, but it is good guidance to share with producers who face similar challenges. Source: BEEF, April 6, 2026. Link. Replacement heifers do not need the high-energy diet fed to finishing … [Read more...]
Global veterinary groups unite behind parasite prevention as risks expand worldwide
More than 40 veterinary and animal health organizations have signed a global “Prevention Pledge” emphasizing the importance of year-round parasite control as fleas, ticks and worms expand into new geographic regions. Organizers cited growing concern over shifting parasite distributions driven by climate change, increased pet travel and evolving wildlife populations. In the … [Read more...]
We keep rewarding burnout. How to stop.
Stress isn’t the price you pay for success; it’s the thief that steals it, asserts Amy Leneker. She shares three things leaders can start doing today to stop rewarding burnout. Source: HR Executive, March 27, 2026. Link. Rewarding stress and burnout fosters destructive patterns of overwork, self–doubt and relentless pressure to do more, prove more and be more. It’s … [Read more...]
Simple screening tool can increase identification of canine behavioral problems
There is a gap between the frequency of behavioral problems with dogs and identification and treatment in general practice, according to Leslie Sinn, CPDT-KA, DVM, DACVB. She references a retrospective study that analyzed more than 32 million records to understand the overall frequency of behavioral problem labels and certain psychoactive medications. To close the gap … [Read more...]
How dogs see the world: Canine vision and senses
In this article, Brian Faulkner, FRCVS, shares information on how dogs see and smell their environments. Consider it for new dog parents and for newsletters, social media or school visit content. Notable facts include: Dogs only have two types of color-sensing receptors and may be red-green color blind Most dogs have 20/75 vision; labs are an exception, as many have … [Read more...]
Health outcomes for bitches neutered prepubertally or post-pubertally
This study investigated the health outcomes of 306 Labrador/Golden Retriever crossbreed bitches that were neutered either before puberty (at six months of age) or after their first oestrus. The results suggest that there may be detrimental associations between neutering before known puberty and some musculoskeletal and immune diseases. Source: Animals, January 10, 2025. … [Read more...]
Horses with PPID may need more frequent deworming
PPID, or Cushing’s Disease, is slowly progressive even in treated horses, writes Eleanor Kellon, VMD. She says the disease weakens the immune response, including waning immunity to intestinal parasites. For horse owners who may deworm horses twice a year, their PPID horse may still have long periods of parasite damage. The density also builds up in their … [Read more...]