This is the time of year when every unspayed, queen (female cat) is likely to have a belly full of babies or a litter by her side. Kitten season occurs because the queen has evolved into a seasonally polyestrous creature. This means she comes into heat only during a particular time of year, during which she is capable of having multiple pregnancies, writes Nancy Kay, DVM. Peak … [Read more...]
Cats know their names: why it’s harder for them than dogs
In a new study in the journal Scientific Reports, psychologist Atsuko Saito showed that cats know their names even when called by a stranger. She notes domestic cats are still evolving, thanks to closer human interactions as cats spend more time indoors. The inclusion of Japan's cat cafes as study sites was an interesting twist on behavior research. Source: National … [Read more...]
Gorillas, snakes and sharks provide close encounters for veterinarians (Spark videos)
The veterinary community’s love for animals isn’t restricted to cats and dogs. The Spark crew shares stories from DVMs whose experiences went beyond everyday practice and landed them in some unpredictable situations. Source: NAVC Spark, April 2019. Link. Videos feature the following DVMs: Sonia Hernandez meets a Bushmaster snake Doug Mader encounters a Whale shark … [Read more...]
New website vets dog breeders and rescue dogs for consumers searching for pets
The company, Good Dog <link>, aims to bring transparency and accountability to the process of getting a dog. The company is centralizing pet searching onto one platform where only responsible sources are included. Each breeder, shelter and rescue that is listed is vetted based on a set of standards created by Good Dog’s advisory board of leading veterinary and academic … [Read more...]
Movement and travel requirements for small animals presented in webinar
Valerie Ragan, DVM, recently presented on the current regulations around animal movement, what changes may be on the horizon and what animal health professionals can do to prepare. The webinar and Q and A are provided by GlobalVetLink. AAVSB RACE-approved CE credit is available following the webinar by taking the quiz. Source: GlobalVetLink, March 18, 2019. Link. Small … [Read more...]
Check bulls before they get turned out
An annual breeding soundness exam is vital to ensure bulls will be fertile and physically sound at turnout, writes Wyatt Bechtel. Good genetics are useless if the bull is unable to perform his job when covering a cowherd or group of heifers. Source: Bovine Veterinarian, March 27, 2019. Link. Bechtel shares the four parameters to a breeding soundness exam and what … [Read more...]
The best way to feed a cat
According to the American Association of Feline Practitioners, the best way to feed cats is to replicate normal feline feeding behaviors, such as hunting and foraging),and to feed frequent small meals that the cat can savor alone. Source: Catster, March 25, 2019. Link. Also see: How to Feed a Cat, Cat Friendly Homes. Link. Cats prefer to eat multiple small meals … [Read more...]
Quiz: Test your brain tumor knowledge
Thanks to advanced imaging and diagnostics like MRI- and CT-guided biopsy, along with improved neurosurgical techniques, veterinarians are increasingly able to diagnose and treat brain tumors, writes Mark Troxel, DVM, DACVIM. Brain tumors are common in cats and dogs. Test your knowledge of meningiomas and other neurological lesions with this quiz. Source: Clinician’s … [Read more...]
Cognitive dysfunction syndrome not prevented by drugs
Cognitive dysfunction syndrome is a chronic, progressive disease with a range of clinical signs, including disorientation, changes in social interactions, alterations in sleep–wake cycles, house soiling (in a previously house-trained pet) and changes in activity and learning, writes Margaret E. Gruen, DVM. Therapeutics used to treat cognitive dysfunction syndrome are typically … [Read more...]
The business of dogs (infographic)
TruDog created an informative infographic. We highlighted some data that caught our attention: Role in the Family Best Friend: 66% Snuggle Buddy: 59% Guardian: 37% Child: 33% Therapist: 25% Source: TruDog, 2019. Link. 67% of millennials consider their pet their “fur baby” ― and treat them accordingly How Much Is Spent Every Month on Pets? … [Read more...]
Prepare for chickens before bringing them home
Local farm stores are now featuring baby chicks. Rachel Hurd Anger asserts it is imperative to be prepared before bringing chicks to a new home. She offers seven areas of preparation to ensure a nurturing environment. Consider this article for social media posts or e-newsletters to help animal owners prepare for new chicks as well as the Easter bunny. Source: Hobby Farms, … [Read more...]
When you need a good laugh (SPARK videos)
NAVC’s Spark team captured situational stories from veterinarians that reveal how laughable some situations become when dealing with people and their animals. You’ll find these enjoyable and worth a few minutes for some comic relief. Source: NAVC Spark, March 27, 2019. Link. INSIGHTS: Kudos to the Spark team for capturing the stories and the expressions as veterinarians … [Read more...]
7 strategies to manage a micro-manager
Micromanagement is a big driver of dissatisfaction and attrition in the workplace, writes Victor Prince. He typifies a micromanager as someone who focuses more on how you do a job than the results. He offers seven strategies to manage a micromanaging manager: Diagnose the situation Channel their energy Focus on the future Build trust through transparency Demand … [Read more...]
Dingoes are unique, Australian species, not feral dogs
The latest findings from a study published in Zootaxa provide further evidence of specific characteristics that differentiate dingoes from domestic dogs, feral dog, and other wild canids such as wolves. There is no historical evidence of domestication once the dingo arrived in Australia . . .” Source: Vet Practice Magazine, March 19, 2019. Link. “In fact, dingoes play a vital … [Read more...]
Quiz: Are you a cat at heart?
Just for fun, see if you have the personality of a cat. Tally your answers to five questions to determine what kind of cat personality you possess and what type of cat would be your best match! Source: Modern Cat, March 21, 2019. Link. Also see: Video: Cats Chasing Shadows! Link. Check out this funny compilation of cats playing with shadows! … [Read more...]
Explaining cat behavior problems and how to handle them
Cats, like us, have their good days and not-so-good days. Cat behavior problems almost always have an underlying cause, writes Angela Lutz. She identifies frequently seen cat behavior problems and offers ideas to handle them. Aggression toward humans or other cats Litter box problems Excessive vocalization Urine marking Source: Catster, March 13, 2019. … [Read more...]
8 tips for year-round dog paw health
Mother Nature designed dog paws to take a licking and keep on ticking, but they can still get cuts, scrapes, burns and frostbite, writes Marty Becker, DVM. He shares tips for optimal dog paw health year-round. Do a weekly dog paw check Watch out for burrs Do regular dog paw trims Keep dog paws dry Treat painful dog paw cracks Ban the burn Salt on dog paws also … [Read more...]
Labrador retriever most popular dog for 28th year
The American Kennel Club (AKC®) has announced that the loveable Lab remains the most popular breed in the United States. Additionally, AKC registration continues to expand for the sixth consecutive year. The dogs in the top 10 remained the same in positions one through eight. Yorkies and German Shorthaired Pointers flip-flopped their 2017 ranking in 2018. Source: … [Read more...]
Leadership abounds during March Madness
There is a reason only four of the 68 coaches in this year’s NCAA Division 1 tournament were once regular-season NBA team players. It is because coaching requires a different skill set AND mind-set than playing. Source: Purpose Unlimited. Link. Great leaders model the behavior they expect from their followers. . . . A great leader invests in others and they in turn … [Read more...]
It’s spring. Clear the clutter.
“When our space is a mess, so are we,” writes Libby Sander. Her research and that of others has shown that our physical environments significantly influence our cognition, emotions and behavior, affecting our decision-making and relationships with others. Cluttered spaces can have negative effects on our stress and anxiety levels, as well as our ability to focus, our eating … [Read more...]
Flooding could surpass 1993, 2011
Most of the country is expected to experience above-average precipitation this spring, increasing the flood risk. According to NOAA’s U.S. Spring Outlook issued March 21, nearly two-thirds of the lower 48 states face an elevated risk for flooding through May, with the potential for major or moderate flooding in 25 states. Source: BEEF, March 21, 2019. Link. … [Read more...]
Data breaches are inevitable – protect yourself
There are some simple ways to protect your personal data that can still be effective, say W. D. Salisbury and Rusty Baldwin. They involve changing how you think about your own information security: specifically, assuming you are a target and thinking defensively about how you can protect yourself. In terms of online data, the most important information to protect is … [Read more...]
Is this fish sick? (image gallery)
Colin McDermott, VMD, offers a visual guide to recognizing several types of fish diseases. Veterinary care is often complicated by owners missing early signs of illness and seeking veterinary care later in the course of disease. Many diseases of fish are subtle until the infection or pathologic process is more advanced. Source: Clinician’s Brief, December 2018. … [Read more...]
AQHA launches microchip pilot project (includes video)
While more than 20,000 horses in the AQHA database have microchip IDs on their records, this represents only about half of one percent of the live population of American Quarter Horses. Microchipping allows for permanent identification of horses in commercial and sporting environments, as well as in lost animal recoveries during natural disasters and theft. Source: AQHA, … [Read more...]
CAPC initiative aims to spread heartworm awareness, action
The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) now offers the Top 10 Cities Heartworm Report, a monthly compilation of the U.S. metropolitan areas that have experienced the highest percent increases in positive heartworm tests that month. The group <link> expects this new report, in conjunction with its monthly parasite forecast maps < link >, will spark conversations in … [Read more...]
Upcoming events at The Bridge Club
Taking advantage of internet video tools, The Bridge Club virtual community continues to engage professionals in conversations. Co-founder Brenda Andresen references the learning experiences and professional nuggets she and founding partner Catherine Haskins capture with each live event. The Bridge Club was featured in a recent article in Vet Advantage as the team prepared for … [Read more...]
Myths and facts about strangles, Strep equii
Many horse owners don’t understand strangles, says Reese Hand, DVM. Strangles is an infection of the upper respiratory tract caused by the bacteria Streptococcus equi, and spreads predominately by nose-to-nose contact. It is sometimes known as equine distemper. Source: Western Horseman, September 2014. Link. While strangles is easily treatable and rarely fatal, … [Read more...]
A technique every horse owner needs to know (includes video)
Horse owners young and old need to know how to remove a shoe from a horse’s hoof, says farrier Lee Olsen. He shows the best way to complete this task in a video. Consider this video for social media posts, e-newsletters and in training classes for horse owners. Source: Western Horseman, February 1, 2019. Link. … [Read more...]
Time change has many dragging
Moving our clocks in either direction changes the principal time cue (light) for setting and resetting our 24-hour natural cycle, or circadian rhythm. In doing so, our internal clock becomes out of sync or mismatched with our current day-night cycle. A rule of thumb is that it takes about one day to adjust for each hour of time change, but this varies by individual. If you … [Read more...]
Comparing meat and poultry cash prices
If your grocery expenses seem to be increasing, a current year compared to last year cash price review may be enlightening. Perhaps packaged goods are hitting your budgets harder than food animal products. Source: Feedstuffs, February 28, 2019. Link. … [Read more...]