Since we turned our clocks back over the weekend, these tips may help the chronological confusion for some of us. The first few minutes of waking up can set the tone for the rest of the day. Adding mindful habits to the start of the day can help you to feel more in sync with the sunrise. Source: Mindful, November 6, 2017: Elisha Goldstein shares 3 mindful actions to start … [Read more...]
Women’s leadership Q/A: Never let them see you sweat
This Q/A with Kimberley Bennett, senior director of Kentucky Beam Bourbon Experiences at Beam Suntory will resonate with the increasing number of female animal health pros. Bennett has always worked in male-dominated industries and learned early on to "never let them see you sweat." She says women "need that network of strong-minded women to cheer for your success and share … [Read more...]
No kidding, goats are smart
As the number of homestead-like farms grows so does the number of goats. Researchers continue to study how they are affected by the production environment and how they see and interact with us. Goats may appear to have one-track minds, but they devote a lot of thought to social issues, too. Source: Countryside Daily, November 6, 2017. In 2017, we have seen published results … [Read more...]
Impostor syndrome sneaks up on everyone
It’s likely every animal health pro feels like a fraud from time to time. Ciera Miller, CVT, VTS, speaks to us all in her article on the imposter syndrome. Source: Firstline, October 26, 2017. Impostor syndrome, a concept where an individual is marked by an inability to recognize their accomplishments and lives with a constant fear of being a “fraud,” is extremely … [Read more...]
Work/life balance benefits work performance
One’s mind and the body health are optimized by balancing work life with personal life. Finding this balance is becoming harder, not easier. We no longer leave our work in the office. It follows us everywhere we go. The growth of 24/7 connectivity – impossible a decade ago, but normal now – brings with it challenging problems. Source: LinkedIn, November 6, 2017. Where … [Read more...]
November is Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month
Older pets are just as loving and loyal as their younger counterparts. Plus, adopting a senior animal companion comes with some cool advantages: Grown-up pets don’t require the constant monitoring and training that puppies and kittens do. Many are already housetrained. Since senior pets are fully grown, you’ll be immediately aware of important information like … [Read more...]
Pork facts (slideshow)
Pork is big business today. More than 2 billion pounds of it is produced annually in the United States. As the most versatile meat, it can be marinated, roasted, barbecued, pan-fried, stir-fried, grilled, dry rubbed, boiled and baked. No matter how you fix it, pork is a protein-packed treat. Cheryl Day shares some facts about pork that animal health pros may find useful and … [Read more...]
Grandad’s tractor is not listed in today’s small farm tractor buyers guide
Resident acreages and small farms often need small tractors that have more functionality than riding lawn tractors. Jeremy Chartier walks through the modern choices that make granddad’s tractors out of date. Source: Countryside Daily, October 24, 2017. Manufacturers have developed new systems and unified many interfaces since the age of the Farmall, creating best small farm … [Read more...]
Training cats (includes podcast)
Animal health pros often get questions about the validity of training cats. Feline behavior specialist Sarah Ellis explains how you can train your kitty to come on command, take medicine and stop waking you up in the middle of the night. Source: NPR, October 27, 2017. The common wisdom about pets is that you can train a dog, but you can't train a cat. Today's guest says you … [Read more...]
Be stronger than yesterday: how to increase productivity
Recognize this? Your mind is commanding you to power through, but your body is slumped over your desk. You notice this behavior is happening every day and it’s becoming clear you’re mentally stuck in a rut wishing the week would just end. Bin Jeong offers a few tricks to break out of your rut and encourage a productive work environment. Source: Forbes, October 18, … [Read more...]
End never-ending email chains without being rude
A coworker sends an email to a dozen people with an open-ended question that doesn’t have any real consequences on anyone’s life. What follows is a predictable avalanche of responses that solve nothing. Source: The Muse, October 2017. Richard Moy shares an email template he uses to redirect the discussion and keep you from throwing your laptop against the wall. … [Read more...]
Tell your company story better (includes videos)
With one click of the “About Us” link, anyone, anywhere can hear your company story. Countless organizations settle for a poorly written, poorly designed, dry-as-dust blurb. Boring! Bringing a company story to life and giving it impact and reach is one of the best ways to engage customers, the public and prospective employees. Source: Grossman Group, October 16, … [Read more...]
Its fall in mountain cattle country (photo essay)
With photos that look like slides from a cowboy movie, Shipping at the Basin Ranch is a modern day look at gathering and shipping cattle on the mountain ranch outside of Elk Mountain, Wyoming. The ranch is part of the Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust. The group is dedicated to conserving Wyoming’s working family ranches and farms and the wide-open spaces, natural habitats and … [Read more...]
Should you believe the article you just read?
It only takes a single click to spread information like wildfire, says Nicole Palumbo, DVM. A 2012 University of Illinois graduate, Dr. Palumbo is clearly part of the social media generation. Her article offers animal owners guidelines on what is appropriate to share about veterinary medicine. Source: Dr. Andy Roark, September 9, 2017. Check your sources before spreading … [Read more...]
Be part of the AHD team
A special thank you goes out to our contributors listed on the AHD site. Their ongoing work help keeps you informed and our offerings fresh. You can contribute to our weekly email once or on an ongoing basis. If you want us to look for specific topics, please email us from the “contact us” section of the site. Better yet, write up a short summary of an article or other media … [Read more...]
AHD subscriptions arrive at no cost to you
Our industry provides millions of dollars in advertising and content development in the media from which we curate. Your feedback tells us that providing this service to animal health pros at no charge helps you do your jobs better. Sponsors receive consideration for their brands and activities when published content relates to their portfolios. Source: Animal Health Digest, … [Read more...]
Hoof trimming not always understood
Managing hoof care can be challenging. Often, the horse is not the issue. Horse owners sometimes have varying levels of knowledge and different backgrounds. Nancy Rich-Gutierrez shares why farriers often must explain what they’re doing and why. Source: Horse Network, October 1, 2017. Horses in the wild don’t need their hooves trimmed because they walk all day and wear them … [Read more...]
The invisible emotional burden of caring for a sick pet
Researchers are discovering the dynamics of overlooked or minimized impacts on animal owners with sick animals. “I wouldn’t equate pet caregiving with human, and certainly don’t want to minimize what family caregivers go through,” said lead author Mary Beth Spitznagel, a clinical neuropsychologist at Kent State University, “but we are seeing similar patterns in terms of a … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Protect horses from the five core diseases
Dr. Kevin Hankins, DVM of Zoetis technical services group, asserts the threats from deadly equine diseases like West Nile and rabies is closer than we think. Don’t leave horses exposed. Help protect them with annual vaccinations against the five core equine diseases: Eastern and Western Equine Encephalomyelitis Rabies Tetanus West Nile Source: AQHA, October 5, … [Read more...]
Fear Free resources for the home (videos included)
The Fear Free movement continues to gain momentum. We stumbled on to Fear Free Happy Homes on Twitter. Housed on this website are videos and information to help pet owners create their own fear free environment. Consider registering and using the videos in social media, on websites and as part of school educational programs. Source: Fear Free Happy Homes, October 7, … [Read more...]
Should you believe that article you just read?
Nicole Palumbo, DVM, speaks out about internet articles, their sources and whether they are believable. Addressing pet owners, she cautions, “When it comes to social media, we all have to be careful with what we share and what we believe is to be true.” She offers some guidelines to influence you on what is appropriate to share about reporting on veterinary medicine. Source: … [Read more...]
Fear is worse than pain for animals
Dani McVety, DVM, writes that humans can rationalize pain and the anxiety of negative emotions that accompany the anticipation of it. Animals cannot rationalize, she says. She quotes Temple Grandin, PhD, who says, “The single worst thing you can do to an animal emotionally is to make it feel afraid … fear is so bad for animals I think it’s worse than pain.” Source: … [Read more...]
Groom and bathe chickens right for best results
The backyard or pet chicken population is growing. What do you do with a dirty chicken? Jeremy Chartier offers a few tips you should know since birds naturally bathe in dust baths. Source: Countryside Daily, October 3, 2017. Bathing poultry before a show is very common in the world of 4-H and other youth shows. It is necessary to get birds wet when grooming and bathing … [Read more...]
Don’t overlook warning signs of Cushing’s Disease
Horse owners will appreciate receiving this content via social media posts, websites and newsletters. Eleanor Kellon, VMD, discusses the signs that could be linked to early PPID. She also promotes using local veterinarians if one of these signs is suspicious. Source: Horse Network, September 30, 2017. The sooner the disease is diagnosed the easier it is to treat. Pergolide … [Read more...]
First chickens, now ducks
Once people get chickens started in their backyards, they often expand to include ducks. Lisa Steele reviews three favorite backyard duck breeds and the considerations for choosing them. Source: Countryside Daily, March 15, 2017. When you picture a flock of backyard ducks, you likely picture the large, white Pekin ducks, or the smaller, active brown-colored Mallards, but … [Read more...]
No, really, stop using public wifi
Using free public wifi networks comes with multiple serious security risks, yet surveys show that an overwhelming majority of Americans do it anyway. The more you take your chances with a free network connection, the greater the likelihood is that you will suffer some type of security breach. Source: Harvard Business Review, May 3, 2017. There is a saying in the … [Read more...]
Audubon: beef, habitat, quail and songbirds
Audubon is introducing a certification program to benefit ranchers and grassland birds. The Audubon Conservation Ranching program links consumers to beef produced on farms that provide good grassland bird habitat. The goal is a profitable program for cattle ranchers. It also helps reverse steep population declines during the past half century by grassland birds, such as … [Read more...]
Harvest season and safety on the roads
Here are 10 things a farmer hopes you will consider and act on when you are following equipment on the road. It’s a good reminder for sales representatives and veterinary teams that travel by automobile. Source: Beef, September 25, 2017. Warnings and reminders about equipment size, speed, visibility and watching for lights and signs on the farm implements are part of the … [Read more...]
Humping is normal feline behavior
Cat humping is a behavior that can freak people out. Jane A Kelly assures cat owners that this behavior is normal for male and female cats. She addresses some of the reasons for humping and offers ideas about how to productively stop the behavior. Source: Catster, September 19, 2017. If a cat suddenly starts humping, he may feel stressed by changes in his home environment, … [Read more...]
Red maple leaves dangerous for horses
Red maple leaves contain toxins that bind to hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that normally carry oxygen throughout a horse’s body. This destroys the cells and leads to organ failure within 48 to 72 hours. Green leaves that fall and wilt, when a branch falls during a summer storm, for instance, are most toxic, but those that wilt naturally in autumn are also … [Read more...]