Includes Commercial Content This AKC article and video from the pandemic period <Link> initiated more digging for pet owner guidance on fighting and play. We discovered the Dunbar Academy resources as linked in the video here where Jamie Dunbar discusses play behavior versus aggression. By removing sound in a dog-to-dog interaction, he provides an informative dialogue … [Read more...]
How to move forward when you don’t know your next career step
Moving forward when you don’t know your next career step while knowing you want more can be an uncomfortable crossroad. A 2024 study revealed that nearly half of the workforce feels burned out or dissatisfied with their current job. Mary Olson-Menzel and Ruth Gotian share 10 steps as a road map toward clarity and action to enable moving toward something more satisfying or a … [Read more...]
Microsoft study: work may be stopping us from being productive
Includes Commercial Links Microsoft’s June 2025 Work Trend Index Special Report has warned of "the infinite workday," which it says is a "significant shift" in the hours we work, largely thanks to the influence of hybrid working locations - and, of course, AI. They found a major increase in users coming online by 6:00 a.m., when 40 percent of them are scanning their inbox to … [Read more...]
What separates the top-tier pork producers from the rest?
Farm Credit’s Chris Ford looked back over several years to see what differentiated pork operations that have done well and those that have struggled. He notes the challenges that PRRS continues to bring and identifies three main areas where producers can excel: Optimizing production Good bookkeeping Risk management Source: PORK, June 23, 2025. Link. Image: … [Read more...]
Understanding the benefits of horse liniments
Includes Commercial References Available in liquid, paste or gel form, liniment is a topical treatment that helps relieve muscle soreness, joint stiffness, swelling, pain and circulation. Most horse liniments are applied directly to the skin, writes Taryn Holliday, DVM. She shares ingredients, actions and applications in this article to help us understand what some over time … [Read more...]
Is there a Plan B for dogs? Not in the U.S.
In some countries a drug called Alizin (aglepristone) is available by veterinary prescription to effectively terminate early pregnancy in dogs when administered within the first 45 days after mating. Alizin can be effective in safely ending a canine pregnancy under professional supervision, writes Mary Cope, PhD. Cope continues to explain options U.S. veterinarians have for … [Read more...]
Richard Branson’s 3 words to overcome self-doubt
Branson’s “Protect the Downside” represents many of the conversations animal health pros have daily with clients, accounts and in business dealings. Going for broke can become a reality unless the possibility of failure is considered. Source: Inc., June 19, 2025. Link. Rather than avoiding thinking about what could go wrong, squarely facing and planning for the possibility … [Read more...]
Teamwork-boosting tips
Veterinary Appreciation Day was celebrated on June 18th to acknowledge ALL the animal health professionals who contribute to caring for animals and their owners. In this article, Emily Singler, VMD, and Kristen Green Seymour offer tips to help figure out the best way to express appreciation, today and every day. They begin with the benefits of cross-training as a key to success … [Read more...]
Calf vaccinations: You won’t find all the answers in a bottle
What a great title for Michigan State University veterinarian Angel Abuelo’s presentation he shared during the Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference on February 6th and 7th in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. Bev Berens shared information Abuelo reviewed, including immunology basics, passive immunity and vaccinating cows, vaccinating calves and vaccination programs. The article is a … [Read more...]
Tips for smaller cow-calf operations to optimize profit and build market appeal
Includes AHD Sponsor information A January AHD post shared that 79 percent of farms with beef cows have 49 or fewer cows <Link>. For smaller cow-calf operations, committing to profitability and understanding the market buyer’s needs is key to garnering increased interest in their calves, writes Bruce Derkson. He emphasizes that profit must be the number one goal if a … [Read more...]
Colic prevention. What science says.
Responding to an EQUUS reader’s feedback, Anthony Blikslager, DVM, PhD, shares that studies support horses having more pasture time to reduce colic risk. Perception is not always reality and sample size makes a difference. Source: EQUUS, May 2, 32025. Link. Scientific studies support the fact that horses who spend more time on pasture are less likely to colic than those who … [Read more...]
The rise of the lanager: Why leadership and management can’t be split (video)
Suzy Welch came up with the idea of the lanager to avoid using the terms leader and manager. Being a good lanager, she says, requires a sense of balance and an ability to quickly pivot from the big idea to the micro task and back again. Source: Big Think+, May 20, 2025. Link. [6:05] Nobody likes making a tough decision, but a great lanager is someone who has trained … [Read more...]
OSU researchers: Asian longhorned tick that can be deadly for cattle
As the Asian longhorned tick moves into new regions, researchers express concerns because ALTs can transmit a protozoan pathogen known as Theileria orientalis, specifically the Ikeda genotype. T. orientalis has similar clinical signs to anaplasmosis but impacts young animals instead of older animals. The Asian Long-horned tick is a three-host tick and reproduces through … [Read more...]
Recognizing and treating pain in cats
The signs of pain in cats are often subtle making recognizing them challenging and often overlooked. Recognizing subtle signs of pain is essential for the veterinary team and veterinary technicians to help be vital in teaching owners how to recognize pain in their cats, writes Wendy Davies BS, CVT, CCRVN, VTS. In addition to discussing types, signs and origins of feline … [Read more...]
Review: Diagnostic testing for tick-borne diseases; recommendations, interpreting results
Ticks are making the news across the U.S. as resident populations bloom and areas experience new tick species migrating into a region for the first time. A large percentage of vector-borne diseases reported are vectored by ticks, with dogs acting as sentinels for human exposure to concerning bacterial, protozoal and viral agents. In this article, Doctors Schlemmer and … [Read more...]
Forget quiet quitting: Use ‘loud living’ to redefine workplace boundaries
Somewhere between 20 and 40 percent of the workforce are quiet quitters, according to data from McKinsey and the Understanding Society. Struggling with the invisible contract stating that success demands sacrifice, Alli Kushner decided against quietly disengaging. She chose to get louder about what she needed to show up better. She calls it loud living. In this article … [Read more...]
Strategies for culling cows this year
It’s early to be talking about culling cows in anticipation of drought, but some states are already dealing with below-average precipitation. Culling is a good business decision as cow-calf pairs are turned out on pasture. Extension professionals share culling strategies in this article, beginning with open cows, cows that lost calves and those that need to be removed from the … [Read more...]
Mass honey bee collapse may compromise US agriculture
More than half of the nation’s managed honey bee colonies have experienced mass die-offs. These losses, combined with honey bee die-off events during other times of the year, mean many beekeepers have seen 70 to 100 percent of their colonies collapse over the past 12 months. Source: AVMA, May 14, 2025. Link. The cause of the die-offs has not yet been identified. The usual … [Read more...]
Conserving heritage chicken breeds
Many backyard chicken breeds face endangered status. Ana Hotaling shares the importance of conserving flocks that allow chicken breeders to contribute to biodiversity and sustainable farming practices. She shares the ins and outs of raising endangered breeds in conservation flocks. Source: Hobby Farms. Link. INSIGHTS: Conservation flock development would make a good 4-H … [Read more...]
Horses grazing with donkeys can be exposed to lungworms
While horses and donkeys can be great companions, infected donkeys can infect horses with lungworms. Kimberly S. Brown shares some basic facts about lungworms in donkeys and horses with help from Zoetis’ Nathan Voris, DVM. The article is a good review and is worthy of sharing with horse owners; those with donkeys already and those who may be tempted to bring home a donkey from … [Read more...]
The importance of “pet-alized” dental care for older animals
Will Wetzel shares takeaways from a Fetch Nashville presentation by Heidi Lobprise, DVM, DAVDC, entitled, “They are NOT too old for dental procedures (usually).” Dental disease and chronic inflammation continue to build over time when routine oral care is ignored, which leads to further complications once the pet enters their senior years. We noted the reference to chronic … [Read more...]
Association between behavioral factors and recurrence rate in cats with feline “idiopathic” cystitis
Feline idiopathic cystitis is a lower-urinary tract disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality in cats. Researchers anticipated anxiety-related behaviors could be overrepresented in cats that will experience a recurrence, compared to cats with a single episode. While further studies are recommended, identifying cats with fear and anxiety-related problems and … [Read more...]
Orange cats, freak of nature?
Scientists say they have unraveled a longstanding mystery by identifying the specific DNA mutation responsible for orange cats’ color and the variant has not been found in any other animal. Amanda Schupak relates the fascinating details of a mutational mechanism that occurred once during domestication and then was selectively bred for for hundreds of years. Source: CNN, May … [Read more...]
The framework top CEOs use to scale
Bob Pearson’s opening sentence was enough to share this article with animal health pros. “Scaling a business doesn’t mean grinding longer hours, putting out fires all day, or spinning your wheels chasing growth. Top-performing CEOs don’t grow through chaos; rather, they scale through clarity, systems and accountability.” Source: Vistage, May 16, 2025. Link. This framework . … [Read more...]
Home health agencies dropping their telehealth programs
Perspectives for consideration. A new survey finds that home health agencies are abandoning virtual care due to complexity and inadequate reimbursement. Telehealth advocates the pendulum effect should wear off as both providers and patients understand the value of virtual visits and work toward a hybrid strategy that mixes in-person care and telehealth. BUT, the monkey wrench … [Read more...]
Synchrony study finds pet owners still underestimate the costs of care
Nearly 80 percent of U.S. pet owners continue to underestimate the lifetime costs of caring for their animals, despite growing financial pressure and increasing investment in pet health and wellness, according to 2025 Pet Lifetime of Care Study, conducted by Synchrony's CareCredit. Small companion animals and pocket pets, such as rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters were … [Read more...]
Wearable tech for cows to help dairy farmers improve herd management
Researchers from the University of Minnesota have been testing whether wearable tech — like a Fitbit, but for cows — can help farmers make smarter decisions about when to treat animals and, just as importantly, when not to. One of the biggest takeaways from the research is how to define a truly “healthy” cow in all the various settings cows can be tracked and … [Read more...]
Inflatable tube man as bird deterrent
Includes Commercial Content We noticed the comments about the inflatable tube men in the National Hog Farmer article here. We later found found additional information about using inflatable tube dancers to help control birds and deer from LookOurWay. The erratic movement of inflatable tube men gives birds and other pests no chance to adapt. Sources: Migratory birds … [Read more...]
Vent gleet in chickens
Cloacitis, commonly referred to as vent gleet may also be called pasting or nasty chicken butt. Regardless it is the inflammation of the chicken's cloaca. Vent gleet isn't a specific disease but more of a gastrointestinal condition that can be caused by a number of different reasons, including many types of organisms such as fungi, protozoa, parasites, yeast, and bacteria. … [Read more...]
7 biosecurity tips horse owners must know
North Dakota State University Extension and University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension specialists share the seven priority areas for biosecurity in this article. Whether a large or small equine operation the use of common-sense biosecurity and biocontainment practices helps minimize health risks. Source: Dakota Farmer, May 21, 2025. Link. Many horse owners overlook basic … [Read more...]