An outbreak of multi-drug resistant Salmonella has been associated with dairy calves across the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the outbreak affected 54 people in 15 states. One third of the affected required hospitalization. Situations like this remind us that we should always keep zoonotic diseases in mind. Source: Dairy Herd Management, … [Read more...]
Human capital an issue for hog industry
Human capital has long been a challenge for the protein sector overall, but has recently become a real concern for the swine business within industry and academia, said Maynard Hogberg, Iowa State University. He noted the pressing issue for both is that of the increasing need for scientifically trained personnel. This comes at a time when there are fewer swine faculty within … [Read more...]
Handling work when your child is sick
The United States has 25.8 percent of its children living with just a mother or a father. Today, almost half of households with kids in the U.S. have parents who both work full-time. Working parenthood alone presents a massive logistical and emotional challenge, but when your child is ill, that challenge ramps way up. Daisy Dowling shares a few strategies to help get through … [Read more...]
Feedstuffs: Top 10 stories of 2017 (slideshow)
As 2017 closed, the editors of Feedstuffs revisited identified these top news stories of 2017. Source: Feedstuffs, January 1, 2018. It was a year marked by destructive wildfires, a meat industry scandal in Brazil, a new U.S. agriculture secretary, several significant acquisitions with industry-changing implications and, of course, regulatory changes. This photo gallery … [Read more...]
Test your equine dental knowledge
Test your knowledge of horses’ teeth. Consider sharing the quiz in posts, emails and newsletters. Source: AQHA, December 14, 2017. Horses have a unique dental structure. According to the American Association of Equine Practitioners, horses' teeth are divided into two major sections: the incisors, which are the teeth seen in the front of the horse's mouth, and the cheek … [Read more...]
Reading with your children
With all we post about work-life balance, this information on book reading will be meaningful to those with infants at home. Lisa Scott shares new research about reading to infants. Shared book reading with young children is good for language and cognitive development, increasing vocabulary and pre-reading skills, and honing conceptual development. Source: The Conversation, … [Read more...]
Anticipating foal coat color
December is part of the last trimester for some mares. With gestation being 11 months long, owners anxiously await the prize of a new foal. Not much can be predicted overall, but coat color is one attribute where educated guesses are possible. For basic colors, such as sorrel or chestnut, bay, palomino or black, it’s fairly simple. Check the Color-Cross Chart to find the color … [Read more...]
Colder weather makes horses stiff
Cold, damp weather causes increased stiffness in both muscle and connective tissue, including tendons and ligaments in horses. Older animals experience the effects more profoundly. Eleanor Kellon, VMD, offers some supportive measures to offset the effects of cold. Source: Horse Network, December 5, 2017. Research has proven that exposure to cold causes increased stiffness … [Read more...]
Tips to stop loose dogs from approaching you
Stephanie Colman discusses the challenge of meeting up with a loose dog while out and about with pets. Being approached by loose dogs, especially when their dogs are on leash, is a least-favorite experience for most dog owners. This information is good for social media posts, newsletters and to include in puppy class materials. Coleman offers five non-assertive strategy … [Read more...]
Cat litter offers new benefits
Sandy Robins shares recent trends in cat litter. This information is commercial, but knowing what is trending in this category is important for animal health pros who deal with cat owners. Source: Pet Age, December 4, 2017. New cat litter options include these categories: lightweight litters au natural litters diagnostic litters vibrant litters … [Read more...]
It’s not always safe to rub cat bellies
Dog lovers who visit homes with cats often get fooled by cats offering their bellies. There are lots of places cats like to be petted, but if you try to pet a cat’s belly, you’ll likely be met with claws and teeth. Source: Catster, December 8, 2017. There are some cats who love belly rubs, but they’re few and far between. The cat belly is a very vulnerable place. Unlike … [Read more...]
Best books for last minute-holiday gifts
Here are 11 gift possibilities for someone in your network. Professional development books can be easily personalized individuals based on their contribution to your career or how you may be mentoring them. Source: The Muse, December 5, 2017. Titles include: The Little Book of Talent: 52 Tips for Improving Your Skills by Daniel Coyle High Performance Habits: How … [Read more...]
Cat kisses send real messages
The cat kiss is much different from anything humans do, says Denise LeBeau. But, cat owners know their feline friends show their affection toward us, and each other, quite often. LeBeau explores cat kisses, whether real or perceived. Source: Catster, November 22, 2017. The best way to show your cat how much you love him is to not plop a big kiss on his face. It’s best to … [Read more...]
AQHA; Winter horse care
Horses are built to weather winter with or without a barn if they are prepared for it. Constantly changing temperatures and frequent changes in wind velocity exacerbate the challenges of caring for them. This article shares perspectives for horse owners in South Dakota and covers barns, shelter, feed and of course, water. Some variations of these methods are applicable across … [Read more...]
How to get a tiny bit more sleep
Melissa Dahl shares a new concept from Matthew Walker known as the sleep opportunity. This is the number of hours in which you give yourself the best chance of sleep, meaning that you’re in bed, your eyes are closed, and your phone is, preferably, turned off and stowed far away. You will not necessarily sleep this entire time, but at least you’ll be giving yourself the … [Read more...]
The 10 different types of horse owners (includes video)
Just for fun, check out Maria Watcher’s review of different horse owners. Most animal health pros have met someone who fits these descriptions. The Know-it-All, Miss Horse Poor and Frugal Fred were most familiar to our AHD team. Source: Horse Network, December 2014. INSIGHTS: Sales reps can use the video to get a group loosened-up ahead of a presentation. … [Read more...]
Prevent holiday diarrhea in dogs
The last thing you need is a dog with explosive diarrhea when friends and family are gathered for the holidays. Unfortunately, many dogs experience gastric upsets around the holidays. Jackie Brown outlines some causes and some home remedies that will treat mild cases of dog diarrhea. Source: Dogster, November 29, 2017. The bottom line about holiday diarrhea in dogs: … [Read more...]
The right and wrong ways to pet a dog
Yes, there is a right and wrong way to pet a dog, shares Jessica Pineda. Unfortunately, many of us just dive right into petting dogs we just met or don’t even know. Or, we fail to read our own dogs’ body language when they’re telling us, “please stop.” With holiday gatherings and guests eminent, share this article with animal owners to help avoid pet stress or potential … [Read more...]
Reduce holiday threats to pets
Safety risks for pets abound during the holiday season. As animal health pros, we must proactively communicate them to animal owners. Despite ongoing warnings, pet owners need frequent reminders to help keep their pets safe. Samantha Johnson reminds us that it is important to maintain good routines for pets. Adding travel or large gatherings to a pet’s day requires planning … [Read more...]
OUCH! Removing porcupine quills correctly.
The lumbering porcupine can easily disrupt the comfort of livestock or pets with a swat of his tail. This author discusses porcupine habits and myths and challenges of quill removal. Source: Countryside Daily, October 14, 2017. The best way to remove quills is to immobilize the animal (put a cow in a chute, have someone hold the unfortunate horse or dog and distract it) … [Read more...]
The reality of owning horses
Alyssa Knee offers a horse owner’s perspective of the ups, downs and real work of horse ownership. Her article provides good perspective for animal health pros who have never owned or worked with horses. Source: Horse Network, November 16, 2017. It’s a roller coaster of emotions, explains Knee. The kind that you get on willingly, but then realize you can never get off. It’s … [Read more...]
Behind the scenes of socializing neglected, abused dogs
Severely neglected or mistreated dogs may have suffered any number of abuses: constant physical restraint or confinement, lack of appropriate nourishment, endless environmental stressors, even outright physical punishment. Marybeth Bittel shares some of the challenges of preparing these animals for their new lives. Source: Dogster, November 9, 2017. Potential adopters may … [Read more...]
Beef Quality Assurance launches new transportation program
“The BQA Transportation (BQAT) training and certification program has been a long time coming,” said Chase DeCoite, director of BQA for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. “By educating cattle haulers and producers on the best practices in cattle transportation, BQA is helping make improvements in cattle care and beef quality.” Source: Beef, November 16, 2017. Online … [Read more...]
Cuddling Fido in bed can cause problems
The discussion of sleeping with pets continues. An estimated 79 percent of pet owners share their beds with their pets. As reported by WebMD, a survey from the American Pet Products Association determined that 62 percent of small dogs, 41 percent of medium-sized dogs, and 32 percent of large dogs sleep in their human’s beds. Source: Cesar’s Way, November 15, 2017. In … [Read more...]
A no-nonsense guide to blanketing horses
A recent study indicates as many as 50 percent of equestrians don’t know enough about their horses’ physiological responses to environmental temperatures. This poses a risk to the horses’ welfare. Heather Malcolm offers her no-nonsense guide to blanketing or not blanketing a horse. This is great information to share with horse owners via websites, in holiday communications or … [Read more...]
Cooling out horses helps after exercise
Most horse owners are comfortable with the basics of cooling off their horses. But, what does it mean, physiologically speaking, to say that your horse is “cooled out?” Joan Hiltz, VMD, shares her experiences. This information is useful for websites, social media posts and horse owner consultations. Source: Horse Network, November 6, 2017. Physiologically speaking, the … [Read more...]
Headbutting shows affection
Watch most team sports and you’ll see a common cat behavior exhibited after a great play, the headbutt. Similar to our human use of this action, cats have used head butting for eons for bonding and social purposes. More appropriately, this action is called head bunting. Source: Catster, November 8, 2017. Cat behaviorist Pam Johnson-Bennett says, “For the cat to place his … [Read more...]
Fear Free Happy Homes newsletter now available
The Fear Free Pets movement is well underway. A newsletter is one of the tools available for pet owners. With the growing adoption of fear-free practices, we wanted to help expose animal health pros to some of the tools being used by Fear Free practices. Source: Fear Free Happy Homes, November 14, 2017. Become a Fear Free Happy Homes member today, and experience all that … [Read more...]
Eating “clean’ food wasteful, Iowa State says
We are constantly reminded of organic, all-natural and raised without antibiotics designations on food items. Beyond these definitions are even more food label considerations. New research from Iowa State University shows that consumers are unaware of the costs related to producing “clean” label foods. Source: Drovers, November 10, 2017. Ruth Litchfield, an expert on food … [Read more...]
Keep pets safe during cold weather (includes printable handout)
Just like people, pets’ cold tolerance can vary based on their coat, body fat stores, activity level and health. Be aware this and adjust accordingly. The AVMA website content and the PDF handout make the cold weather tips easy to distribute to pet owners. Tips include the easy to forget antifreeze clean-up warning and other excellent reminders. Source: AVMA, November … [Read more...]