Commercial Content Loïc Moutault, global president, MARS Petcare, shares discoveries from the State of Pet Homelessness Project which yielded common themes that may contribute to this problem. These include housing limitations, owners struggling with pet behavior, difficulties in accessing veterinary care and negative perceptions of strays. Keeping pets in homes is the … [Read more...]
Properly prepared beef is safe to eat; HPAI is not a food safety threat
“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and USDA food safety experts, properly prepared beef is safe to eat,” said Meat Institute’s Julie Anna Potts. Source: Drovers, March 25, 2024. Link. HPAI cannot be transmitted to humans by eating <properly prepared> meat or poultry products.” … [Read more...]
HPAI confirmed in Texas, Kansas dairy cows
Unpasteurized, clinical samples of milk from sick cattle collected from two dairy farms in Kansas and one in Texas, as well as an oropharyngeal swab from another dairy in Texas, have tested positive for a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza. The USDA said that affected dairy cows do not appear to be transmitting the virus to other cattle within the same herd. Source: … [Read more...]
Study: Even a short round of common antibiotics can change the equine gut microbiome
A new study from the Gluck Equine Research Center at the University of Kentucky showed the effect of antimicrobials on equine gut microbes. The study begins addressing the growing recognition of the susceptibility of the equine gut microbiota to antibiotic-induced disturbances, which can lead to adverse, and occasionally severe, consequences. Source: Equine Science Update, … [Read more...]
A closer look into cryptococcal fungal infections in pets
Cryptococcal fungi are most naturally found in warm and humid environments, particularly where soil, decaying organic material, such as wood, leaf litter, compost and bird droppings are present. Dogs and cats can develop serious, even life-threatening, cryptococcal infections when they inhale the spores of the fungi, writes Sara Lawhon, DVM, PhD, DACVM. Infections are more … [Read more...]
9 types of difficult colleagues, how to handle them
It takes extra effort to deal with the dynamics of situations involving difficult people. Sharing nine types of difficult colleagues or clients, Nick Robinson explains simple, direct strategies to deal with them. Among them were these three: The worrier The dark strategist The people pleaser Source: Fast Company, March 20, 2024. Link. “The best way to deal with a … [Read more...]
Practicing with care for the emotional well-being of animals
Slick floors, padding for exam tables and seeing posters from an animal’s perspective were among topics when Temple Grandin, PhD, MS and Fear Free’s Marty Becker, DVM addressed Fetch dvm360 conference attendees recently. Not everyone gets to attend these events, so we’re sharing an overview from Kristen Coppock, MA. Source: DVM 360, March 17, 2024. Link. “Creating and … [Read more...]
5 key pet industry trends to watch from 2024 to 2028
Sharing takeaways from an in-depth Packaged Facts webinar titled, “US Pet Market Outlook 2024: Opportunities in a Mixed Growth Landscape, Sarah Schmidt offers a summary of key trends: Impact of inflation on pet owner spending Economic challenges facing younger pet owners Shift to lower-cost products and services Decline in the dog population Continued pet … [Read more...]
Hate making time for exercise? Cozy cardio might work.
From TikTok trend to more mainstream, those who dislike exercise but know they need it are trying cozy cardio as a method to get their hearts beating. According to a study done by the Annals of Internal Medicine, low-intensity exercise offsets the harmful effects of sitting down for hours on end. Source: UniqueBeauty, February 15, 2024. Link. “Exercise is no longer a chore … [Read more...]
When what’s possible isn’t an option, enter the spectrum of care
Not all veterinary clients can afford the gold standard and sometimes a pet’s health situation has limitations. Mark Thill reviews how the rising bar for “standard of care” comes with ethical and practical challenges. He shares perspectives from various leaders about “care creep” and how some veterinary students are being introduced and taught to deal with care … [Read more...]
Nearly 50 percent of women skip preventative health appointments
This article is appropriate for Women’s History Month 2024, especially for busy animal health pros. In it, Julia Ries shares disturbing results from recent Ipsos research. She prioritizes the most important checkups to avoid missing beginning with blood work and working to create a custom plan with the primary care physician. Source: Health, March 9, 2024. Link. “Nearly … [Read more...]
We geld stallions, but spaying may not be the way for mares
Sharing the perspectives and experiences of researchers at the Clinical Endocrinology Laboratory at the University of California-Davis, Megan Arszman covers the gamut regarding spaying of female horses in this article. Sudden changes in a horse’s behavior or performance can be many things besides hormones, explain the researchers. Source: The Paulick Report, March 15, 2024. … [Read more...]
Springtime checklist for horse owners, veterinarians
Spring sets the tone for the rest of the year, writes Lucile Vigouroux. She says the key to transition from winter to spring is to have a plan in place to tackle a horse’s various seasonal needs, including vaccinating and deworming, as well as rebuilding the horse athlete’s fitness after a winter hiatus. Beyond the comprehensive checklist note the take-home message for … [Read more...]
AAFP updates position statements on the responsible breeding and indoor/outdoor lifestyle of cats
Seeking to provide evidence-based guidance to veterinary professionals and cat caregivers to ensure the highest standards of care for feline companions, the AAFP issued statements to more realistically address challenges with feline husbandry. Included in the statements were: The AAFP does not condone the breeding of cats with inherent malformations, and any breed with … [Read more...]
Kitten season is out of control. Are warmer winters to blame?
For more than a decade, animal shelters across the country have noted kitten season starting earlier and lasting longer. Scientists, conservationists and cat advocates all agree unchecked outdoor cat populations are a problem, but they remain deeply divided on solutions. Whether longer periods of warmer weather or an increase in food sources, a large number of feral cats around … [Read more...]
How to talk with your team about a decision you disagree with
Ron Carucci shares six strategies to use when you have to convey a decision you don’t agree with. It’s an inevitable task leaders must face requiring thoughtful preparation and tact beginning with regulating your own emotions first. Source: Harvard Business Review, February 5, 2024. Link. You may not be able to change the decision, but how you lead your team through it … [Read more...]
Getting over “doing” in leadership
We are a results- and outcomes-oriented and action-driven culture often taxed for time. High-achiever leaders often feel the tension between doing and being, writes Katie Anderson. She offers ideas to move from “doing” to “being” for leaders at all levels. Source: Industry Week, March 13, 2024. Link. The essence of impactful leadership lies not in the multitude of tasks we … [Read more...]
Employee discounts? Be sure to follow the rules.
Mira Johnson CPA, CVPM, MBA, and Jimmy Bell, CPA, share the rules of employee discounts. They say the practice is a misunderstood and an often abused on-the-job benefit in veterinary practice. Source: Today’s Veterinary Practice, February/March 2024. Link. Make sure your policy on employee discounts is clarified and well understood. Consider offering pet health insurance as … [Read more...]
Dairy industry contraction trend continues
There were 1,642 dairies that milked cows for the last time in 2023, bringing the number of dairy farms with a permit to sell milk in the United States to 26,290, a reduction of 5.9 percent of the nation’s dairy farms. Overall, herd size has grown 382 percent over the past 32 years keeping cow numbers relatively steady. Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, March 11, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Unraveling patterns of swine pathogen co-infections
Pig health is continually challenged and conditions vary from farm to farm. Multiple pathogens influence effective prevention strategies frustrating producers and veterinarians. To evaluate co-infections and their impact on farms and to better understand the consequences of pathogen challenges, a collaborative project of Iowa State University and Boehringer Ingelheim studied … [Read more...]
Overcoming the Stress Response Cascade to get more productive cows
Includes Commercial Content This article explains the results of stressors on cows and a trio of negative effects including reduced feed intake, development of leaky gut and systemic inflammation. It offers perspective on proactively using additives to reduce stress effects. Source: Feedstuffs, March 1, 2024. Link. With proper use, additives can be an effective and … [Read more...]
Pros and cons of vaccinating a horse against EHV-1
The debate continues about the validity of equine herpes virus vaccines despite consensus that vaccination is an important tool for reducing EHV-1 spread and the severity of clinical signs. Dr. Klaus Osterrieder shares the history, challenges and concerns about EHV-1. Source: The Horse, January 18, 2024. Link. INSIGHTS: Osterrieder urges researchers to continue working … [Read more...]
Feeding milk replacer when a foal needs extra nutrition
When a mare is not providing enough milk for her foal, owners can supplement with a milk replacer designed for horses, writes Clair Thunes, PhD. Plenty of early suckling is important so the mare can support the foal’s needs as she grows. If the issue is that the foal does not have much drive to nurse, a veterinarian will need to determine the cause. Source: The Horse, May … [Read more...]
Spring cleaning? Beware the toxic risks.
With warmer temperatures and increased daylight, homeowners get busy cleaning windows, washing decks, treating yards . . . generally freshening up their homes and yards. Those with pets need to be reminded many cleaning products contain chemicals that, in large enough amounts, can be toxic to humans and animals. Veterinary toxicologists share what and how much can be … [Read more...]
How cats see the world. Let’s review.
Paul Miller, DVM, DACVO, explains how cat vision works, from the way they see the world to how it shapes their behavior. Like dogs, cats are red-green color blind. Their night vision is about 5.5 to 7 times better than humans in dim light but humans are more than 10 times better at detecting motion in daylight. Miller shares some signs of eye problems in cats owners may notice … [Read more...]
Dogs with epilepsy found with altered levels of trace elements, heavy metals
Dogs with epilepsy exhibit distinct alterations in trace elements and heavy metal levels in their blood and fur compared with healthy counterparts according to findings from research being done by Sarah V. Rosendahl, DVM. The results showed that dogs diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy had significantly higher levels of selenium and copper and lower levels of chromium in the … [Read more...]
Long-term cannabinoids deemed safe to give to healthy dogs, study finds
Results from the first-of-its-kind peer-reviewed safety study of cannabidiol products in healthy dogs demonstrated hemp-derived cannabinoids are well tolerated in healthy dogs at a dose of 5mg/kg of body weight per day and do not pose a significant risk to dogs in long-term use. Source: Pet Product News, March 2024. Link. The study was published in Frontiers in Veterinary … [Read more...]
Is the 5-Second Rule real?
Inquiring minds wanted to know if food that fell on the floor and was there fewer than five seconds, was it still acceptable to eat. Under ideal conditions . . . maybe. Source: Interesting Facts, March 12, 2024. Link. When in doubt, throw it out!” … [Read more...]
Finnish study shows noise sensitivity tops anxiety-related traits in dogs
Using an online questionnaire given to pet parents of mixed-breed and purebred dogs, researchers concluded that 72.5 percent of the dogs exhibited a behavior related to seven traits. Noise sensitivity was first, fearfulness second. Note: Aggression and separation-related behavior were the least common anxiety traits among the 37,715 dogs involved in the study. Source: … [Read more...]
How big of a deal are student loans?
Includes Commercial References Student loan debt hovers over veterinary professionals and is an underlying element as new graduates come into the marketplace. CJ Burnett, CExP, proposes loan advisors need to deal with student loans as individualized and situational to help graduates manage them intentionally. Source: DVM360, February 29, 2024. Link. . . . student loans … [Read more...]