A comprehensive review article published in Applied Animal Science examines vaccination strategies across three critical phases of cattle development: maternal vaccination during pregnancy, early calf vaccination from birth through branding (60 to 120 days of age), and vaccination timing around weaning (approximately 205 days). The study found that current vaccination … [Read more...]
Synthetic bait, insecticide designed to attract adult screwworm flies being deployed
Swormlure-5, created using modern science and built upon previous versions, is a potent synthetic attractant that mimics the scent of open wounds, drawing adult screwworm flies to the bait, where they die, according to Sid Miller, Texas agriculture commissioner, who is quoted in this article. Source: Bovine Practitioner, July 2025, 2025. Link. The attractant only impacts … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – July 31, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, July 24, 2025. Link. Most read posts from July 24, 2025 AHD Bulletin – The stares we can’t ignore. Link. Decoding pet insurance: Navigate policies, client questions (podcast). Link. Improve employee communications by these 9 phrases. Link. Difficult customers. Link. Hunter ticks and pathogen … [Read more...]
Improve employee communications by these 9 phrases
Empty platitudes, vague promises, corporate jargon and performative empathy were all part of negative feedback when Jess Zafarris queried her LinkedIn network. She shares nine phrases to retire from your leadership vocabulary and what to say instead in this article. These resonated with our AHD team: Don’t say: “We’re a family.” Don’t say: “We hear you.” (If you don’t … [Read more...]
The silent career killer that high performers don’t see coming
Managers aren't just looking for task completion anymore, writes Jason Morris, a business expert at Profit Engine. The modern workplace rewards visibility as much as capability. Morris points to a fundamental shift in how leadership evaluates promotability. He explains why a heads-down work culture, avoiding meetings and staying invisible, can stall professional growth despite … [Read more...]
22 veterinary specialties, organizations and active specialist numbers
Ben Williams looks at the 22 AVMA-recognized veterinary specialty organizations that support approximately 18,000 specialists/diplomates worldwide in this piece. He includes a chart of the number of specialists in a given field and the name of the specialty organizations. Click on the name of the organization to be transferred to their websites. Source: AAHA Trends, July 17, … [Read more...]
Cats love their concrete
Bruce Kornreich, DVM, PhD, ACVIM, shares why cats and concrete go together. Whether for scent marking, a scratching surface, or temperature regulation, cats enjoy concrete. Cat owners might consider adding a concrete block to catios. Source: Popular Science via AVMA SmartBrief, July 17, 2025. Link. Image: Link. … [Read more...]
Toxic plants cat owners must avoid
Animal health pros can help cats avoid getting poisoned by plants by sharing this article. On the list of outdoor plants are lilies and tomato plants, which are blooming or producing fruit in backyards across the U.S. now. Source: Paws and Tails. Link. Image: Link. … [Read more...]
Camel walks again with prosthetic leg
A camel in Pakistan is learning how to walk on a prosthetic leg developed by workers at an animal shelter. It is thought to be the largest animal in the country to get a prosthetic limb. Source: BBC, July 20, 2025 (short video) Link. … [Read more...]
Use of flank laparoscopy in the standing horse as a diagnostic aid in horses with chronic abdominal pain
Advances in laproscopy equipment allow veterinarians to view and explore potential causes of abdominal pain in horses. Exploratory laparoscopy is a well-established, minimally invasive diagnostic tool in horses. Researchers of a recently published study sought to report indications, findings and outcomes of equine exploratory laparoscopy in a case series to support its … [Read more...]
Dealing with pasture lameness
Producers are well into the summer grazing months when many “turn ‘em out to let them grow.” Among the things that need monitoring are grass height, fly load, supplement availability and lameness. J. Tarpoff, DVM, MS, reviews some of the common causes of lameness and the key differences between the clinical signs in this article. The estimates of 88 percent to 92 percent of … [Read more...]
H5N1 bird flu takes major toll on dairy herds
Managing different elements of production on dairies occupies a lot of content in livestock and veterinary publications. Like fine-tuning a race car, multiple factors affect production outcomes. In this article, Laura Reiley shares how H5N1 affects cows gleaned from a new paper published by a team of Cornell researchers. Bird flu causes severe mastitis and decreased milk … [Read more...]
Half of moms in the sandwich generation say they’ve left jobs due to caregiving roles
A May 29 report from Motherly and the University of Phoenix Career Institute reveals the challenges employers face to support and retain mothers. Two-thirds of women with dual caregiving responsibilities said the benefits offered by their employer aren’t enough to meet the needs of their adult caregiving responsibilities, and 68 percent said the same about childcare. Source: … [Read more...]
How to show up as your best self on social media
Jennifer Bishop Jenkins calls for every social media user to feel some personal obligation to work to prevent the dark side effects in any way possible. She then offers six ways to use social media to build better relationships with our current and potential clients, and within our business segment communities. We liked number 5, No Drama! Source: Groomer to Groomer, July … [Read more...]
Cat panting. A concern or not?
Panting is normal in cats in a hot or stressful environment or following rough play, particularly in kittens. However, a panting kitten or cat should be evaluated in the context of its age, history and respiratory rate at home, in a boarding facility and veterinary clinic. Source: Clinician’s Brief, September 2023. Link. Panting in hot or stressed cats is usually not a sign … [Read more...]
Longhorned ticks here to stay. Let’s review.
A male longhorned tick is a rarity. Reproducing by parthenogenesis, females clone themselves laying hundreds of eggs and individually creating an entire population in any given area. Considered a pest, there is no evidence that Asian longhorned ticks transmit any infection to people or dogs here in the U.S. However, they can transmit disease to cattle, farm animals and … [Read more...]
How to tire out a high-energy dog. Ideas for inside and outside.
With a title sure to catch a dog owner’s eye, Patrick Lumontod shares 12 ways to exercise an energetic dog to release that pent-up energy and tire them out. Dog owners will appreciate receiving this article, especially as the heat indexes climb in July and August. Consider sharing it on social media or in newsletters. Source: Top Dog Tips, May 22, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Lead that sweaty horse to water and let him drink
It is best to rehydrate sweaty, hardworking horses without delay, but the key is to know how much water to allow at one time. Anthony Blikslager, DVM, PhD, DACVS. recommends offering small amounts, up to a half gallon, every 20 minutes, which allows the water to move through the horse’s system. Source: EQUUS, July 7, 20265. Link. INSIGHTS: Consider sharing this article … [Read more...]
Fly control. Getting the timing right
Drovers’ 2025 Fly Control eBook provides every animal health pro with up-to-date information on controlling these costly buzzing nuisances. Even suburban and city dwellers may find something actionable as they deal with flies in backyards feasting on dog feces or pestering backyard flocks. In the free eBook, leading entomologists and veterinarians share: 4 proven steps … [Read more...]
3 livestock skin concerns to watch for this summer
Maci Guay reminds us of the importance of monitoring skin conditions in cattle in this article, focusing on the effects the weather has on the cows’ skin. She zeroes in on a) photosensitization, noting the effect of toxic plants, b) rain rot and c) summer sores caused by parasitic worms transmitted by flies. Source: BEEF, July 10, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
Mexican Border closed again, New World screwworm comes within 370 miles of the U.S.
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins shut down cattle, bison and equine trade at the U.S. Mexico border due to new northward detection of the New World screwworm in Mexico. Source: Bovine Veterinarian, July 10, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
Staph. aureus increasingly responsible for subclinical mastitis
Justine Britten, PhD, said she is surprised that veterinarians and consultants don’t know that Staphylococcus aureus is present in at least one cow on every dairy during a recent “Have You Herd” podcast <Link>. The bacterium is responsible for subclinical mastitis. Britten recommends a monthly bulk tank culture as the bare minimum a dairy can do to monitor Staph. aureus … [Read more...]
Statistics about the horse industry
Frank Lessiter will help you bone up on U.S. horse data with these statistics from the American Horse Council, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports and other sources. He notes it’s important for equine owners and veterinarians to stay abreast of industry trends, especially considering the increasing scrutiny of equine sports. Source: American Farriers Journal, … [Read more...]
Are Gen-Z workers oversharing in the office? What to do about it.
Gen-Z staff might be oversharing personal information at work, reports Kit Eaton. He shares a report from Business Insider that shows a Gen-Z trend indicating they feel free to communicate in depth on topics that are more personal than professional, including health or mental health issues. Source: Inc., June 26, 2025. Link. Social mores change, even at work, so with this … [Read more...]
4 key applications of Tui Na in canine veterinary practice
Wax on, wax off? Not exactly but Tui Na stands out as a versatile, non-invasive therapy in canine veterinary care. The author shares four situations where this ancient massage therapy can help support canine wellness and recovery. Pain relief and arthritis management Enhancing mobility and musculoskeletal recovery Stress and anxiety reduction Support for chronic … [Read more...]
Exceptions to the 3-year rule of thumb for keeping tax records
Summer is a good time to declutter. But what about saving tax information? Three years? Seven years? Martin Shenkman, CPA, JD, shares reasons you may wish to keep tax returns and related paperwork longer than the three-year audit period. Source: BottomLineInc, August 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
GTD founder David Allen shares advice he’s never disproved
Now in his 80s, David Allen reflects on past experiences, noting the whole is greater than the sum of the parts when people convene in the context of shared investments, interests, standards and commitments. He shares advice from a long-time friend in this article. All the coolest things that you will experience in your life will either directly or indirectly happen because of … [Read more...]
Poor hiring practices are alienating Gen Z talent
Streamlined, respectful hiring is no longer a nice-to-have. It's essential if companies want to compete for fresh talent, shares Michael Baynes. Every hiring stage is an opportunity to build trust or lose it. Clear job descriptions with salary ranges, human outreach and thoughtful automated updates are no longer luxuries. Source: ebn, June 6, 2025. Link. A vague listing, … [Read more...]
Riding along with the volunteers rescuing pets from the Guadalupe Flood
Hours after the Guadalupe River receded, a brown pit bull named Hulk, whose family and half of their riverside house were swept away by the July 4 flooding, returned to the wreckage of his home. He settled atop a torn-up floorboard, turned up his nose, and sniffed the air. Source: Texas Monthly, July 7, 2025. Link. Kerrville and Austin Pets Alive have rescued many dogs and … [Read more...]
Rethinking calf transport for better health and growth
The decisions made before, during and after transport can have serious impacts on calf health, growth and long-term productivity, explained David Renaud, DVM, PhD, during a MSU Extension webinar. Sharing study results, he asserts producers should look at transportation as a management tool, not a necessary evil. Renaud’s tips for setting calves up for transport success … [Read more...]