Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, February 1, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the February 1st AHD Bulletin – A plan is not a strategy. Link. Studies: Early social housing helps dairy calves thrive. Link. Using standing equine CT in veterinary diagnostics. Link. Do it NOW! Link. ============================================ … [Read more...]
8 tips for avoiding conflict in email
Common examples of email or texting bad behavior include belittling others, finger-pointing when things go wrong, stealing credit for ideas and contributions, and disrespectful language and behavior toward colleagues, writes Joseph Romsey. He offers advice to maintain professional, civil communications including keeping your email structure simple, avoid politics and being … [Read more...]
Cunning chameleon, M. bovis contributes to calf pneumonia
Mycoplasma bovis might seem harmless, but its presence increases a calf's chance of contracting bovine respiratory diseases by 74 percent, writes Geof Smith. Difficult to detect at onset, M. bovis is more common than producers think. It is hard to treat, too. Source: Ag Proud, January 30, 2024. Link. BRD caused by M. bovis is a threat to dairy calves and ultimately a dairy’s … [Read more...]
Purdue hosting 2nd annual conference on antimicrobial resistance
Regarded as a significant public health threat globally, antimicrobial resistance involves multi-drug resistant infections that are predicted to only worsen over time. The Purdue AMR Conference will feature three sessions, each covering an AMR-related area: Determinants, Dynamics, and Deterrence. Source: Purdue University, January 26, 2024. Link. The two-day conference will … [Read more...]
Body condition score in early lactation sets the fertility stage
There is a relationship between body condition and fertility. University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers studying fertility share that when diary cows lose a lot of body condition, they have much lower fertility than their herd mates that maintain or gain weight in early lactation. Source: Dairy Herd Management, January/February 2024. Link. It’s not a foregone conclusion … [Read more...]
Bedding makes a difference to cow comfort
Dairy cows will rest in a lying position 14 or more hours per day. Maximizing cow comfort during these periods is important to optimum production. Italian researchers compared wheat straw and poplar wood shavings focusing on the cleanliness of the beds and comfort of the cows resting on them in a small study worth noting and using to start a conversation on a farm … [Read more...]
How often do horses need to see the dentist?
The general rule is that a horse’s teeth should be floated every year, but there are other considerations depending on the horse’s age, health and the equine dentist. Lu Ann Groves, DVM, shares equine dentistry guidance, as well as questions for horse owners to ask dental professionals. Source: Equine Wellness Magazine, AHD Archives. Link. Also see: Equine dentistry tips … [Read more...]
Silent hazards of the grooming profession
Probably one of the more common and most debilitating issues groomers deal with is Groomer’s Lung, writes Cliff Faver, DVM. It is a combination of breathing in hair slivers, bacteria, fungi, dead skin cells and probably even an occasional parasite. Shampoo is designed to clean, and unless it is specifically designed to kill bacteria/fungus, it does not protect against … [Read more...]
Reminder. Clean it up and dispose properly!
This article offers a good reminder of the importance of removing dog and cat feces from yards, parks and trails to avoid potential infections and to keep updated on preventatives. Dog and cat feces left in neighborhoods, dog parks and forests can spread life-threatening parasites and viruses to other dogs and cats as well as wild animals and people” – Julia Wuerz, … [Read more...]
Avoiding communication faux pas
Everyone makes mistakes, especially when it comes to grammar. Rapid communications by text, SMS and email exacerbate errors. Here’s a look at common grammatical errors and words often used incorrectly. Grammatical errors can make your work look unpolished, unprofessional and may change your intended meaning while leading to confusion.” Source: Word Genius, January 24, 2024. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – February 1, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, January 15, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the January 25th AHD Bulletin – Develop an opportunity mindset. Link. How dogs understand time. Link. An update on multi-drug-resistant parasites in horses. Link. ============================================ 8 Pet supply, service businesses on … [Read more...]
Studies: Early social housing helps dairy calves thrive
Dairy cows are social creatures so they seek contact with fellow calves after birth. Their eventual social status within herds can play a role in their access to water and food. Research results increase our understanding of paired housing in the critical newborn and pre-weaned stages of dairy calf lives. . . . housing designed to facilitate early socialization can build … [Read more...]
Ready or not, here they come
Oklahoma State University shares ways to get ready for calving season. The article is a good resource to send in newsletters or post on social media to help producers prepare for calving. Yes, they probably know most of this . . . but have they acted on it? Give them a nudge to save a middle-of-the-night emergency during a storm. Source: The Cattle Site, January 23, 2024. … [Read more...]
How to read cattle mineral tags
Pet food labels are not the only confusing product labels animal owners must read and decipher. Understanding how to choose the correct mineral for cattle can be challenging. This article from Penn State University provides an overview of how to read mineral tags. Source: The Cattle Site, January 24, 2024. Link. INSIGHTS: Consider this article as a resource when working … [Read more...]
Cattle industry and animal health pros gather for NCBA CattleCon
CattleCon24 provides education, networking, business ideas, advocacy and fun for those who work in the cattle industry. It’s happening in Orlando January 31 through February 2. Not going? Never been? Follow posts here: #cattlecon24 Source: NCBA. Link. See the floor plan and exhibitor list here <Link>. … [Read more...]
Houseplants: 6 to keep, 6 to keep out of pet spaces
With the holidays over, some pet owner’s homes are getting reset for the rest of winter and early spring. Offices, too, are getting a fresh look. Plants are often a part of these space revitalization activities and in some cases contractors choose and care for the greenery. Houseplants, beyond being decorative, are assets to purify the air and remove toxins but, not all … [Read more...]
Tips for discussing weight management with pet owners (video)
Hill’s Karen Shenoy, DVM, shares advice for veterinary teams when discussing a pet’s weight with clients and addressing a case of obesity with animal owners. Her guidance about working pet owners’ behaviors into proactive feeding plans and considering the inclusion of treats is excellent counsel. We reminded veterinary teams to include food and treat information in pet … [Read more...]
What dogs may do better than your friends
The research on the human-animal bond has given us much to consider and even more to learn. Stacy Colino shares information from neuroscience, psychologists and veterinary behaviorists. They just sit there and look at you with loving eyes. Dogs don’t judge or criticize. This silent form of canine encouragement can have a calming effect when you’re anxious or under pressure, … [Read more...]
Bad career advice women should ignore
Everyone has advice these days, especially for women moving into the workplace or seeking to advance their career position. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, PhD, and Cindy Gallop, MA, provide a list of popular suggestions they believe are best ignored. Source: HBR Ascend, April 15, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
STOP thinking about work after hours
Thinking about our job after the official workday is over may not be beneficial. Constant rumination leads managers to be more depleted and less able to show up as leaders . . . something even their employees can pick up on. Research recently published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, suggests that constantly thinking about work may hurt rather than help your … [Read more...]
Don’t let dairy cows get lost in transition
One of the bigger threats to overall transition cow health is a reduction in dry matter intake while her energy requirements increase to support milk production. Mindy Ward gathered dairy management practices to help improve overall transition cow performance for this article. The transition cow is milking, producing more milk and not consuming enough calories to cover that . … [Read more...]
Dairy cattle genomics quietly improving sustainability
Since genomic testing became commercially available in 2008, more than 8 million U.S. dairy animals have been genotyped for dozens of key genetic traits related to milk production and quality, feed efficiency, reproductive viability and cow health. By optimizing genetics within their herds, dairy producers have successfully bred new generations of cows to produce more milk, … [Read more...]
Beef impact on dairy gestation
Little had been known about the impact of beef semen on the dairy cow until a project at Pennsylvania State University that was summarized in the Journal of Dairy Science. . . . using beef sires on your dairy herd isn’t going to hurt a herd of high-producing dairy cows.” – Bailey Basiel, PhD candidate Source: STgenetics, January 10, 2024. Link. Basiel reports there was a … [Read more...]
Ventilation required despite cold for backyard chickens
When temperatures fall below 35°F, supplemental heating is needed to keep backyard chickens from cold stress and frostbite. However ventilation is important to remove excess moisture and avoid a build-up of ammonia. Mary Hightower’s article provides several wintertime tips for backyard poultry raisers worthy of sharing on social media or in newsletters. Source: Farm Talk, … [Read more...]
Emerging equine eye therapies
Horses will likely develop eye issues at some point in their lives. Chris Smith, DVM, shares four cutting-edge treatments for equine eye issues ranging from corneal ulcers to cancer. They offer hope for owners caring for horses with eye conditions: Low-dose gentamicin intravitreal injection Corneal cross-linking Cyclophotocoagulation Photodynamic … [Read more...]
Horses are built for cold weather, but need support
The educational infographic shared by the AAEP is a good reminder for horse owners, especially those who may be struggling to care for their horses in winter. This, along with information from the AHD archives are good resources to support educational communications on social media or in newsletters. Source: AAEP, Facebook, January 19, 2024. Link. Source: Search results … [Read more...]
An update on multi-drug-resistant parasites in horses
During a University of Kentucky equine vet CE event, Martin Nielsen, DVM, PhD, DACVM, DEVPC, DVSc, provided attendees with an update on the current state of parasite drug resistance, as well as the most current guidelines for diagnosing drug resistance in horses. He shared equine-practitioner-specific recommendations that will appear in an updated version of the AAEP’s … [Read more...]
Dog fitness and canine endurance methods
Fitness trends for canines are trending higher. From endurance exercises to agility training, many pet owners are ensuring their furry pals stay in top shape year-round, writes Anderson Cox. He covers the health benefits and reviews myriad options for getting dogs the exercise they need to thrive. A ‘one size fits all’ approach simply doesn’t work. Factors such as breed, age, … [Read more...]
CDC issues warning about cat-transmitted sporotrichosis
ICYMI. Cat-transmitted sporotrichosis has emerged in Brazil as a zoonotic epidemic and major public health threat and is a concern for the United States according to the CDC. The most common form of sporotrichosis is skin infections. Infected cats will present with lesions on their face, often around their nose. Source: DVM 360, May 2023. Link. This was the most read DVM 360 … [Read more...]
11 ways dog owners could be stressing out dogs without realizing it
Pet owners’ everyday activities may unknowingly cause their dogs stress. These include smoking, sunglasses and hats, staring too intensely, tight hugs and more. This is great content to share on social media and in newsletters, as well as review with clinic, retail and pet boarding employees. Source: BUSINESS INSIDER, January 19, 2024. Link. Also see: Dog mental health … [Read more...]