Since the time email first gained widespread popularity in the 1990s, phishing scams have been showing up in email accounts. They're called phishing emails because the cybercriminals who send them are fishing for victims. Source: Carbonite, July 19, 2017. Phishing emails may be more difficult to identify these days, but there are some important steps you can take to avoid … [Read more...]
Avoid eclipse blindness on August 21st (includes video)
Thousands will look skyward on August 21, 2017 when the moon will pass between the earth and the sun creating a total solar eclipse. There's one thing you shouldn't do; look at the sun with your naked eye. Source: CNN, August 11, 2017. When you look directly at the sun, the intensity of the light and the focus of the light is so great on the retina that it can cook it," … [Read more...]
Emoji is the new universal language
We definitely live in the digital age. Our lives are interconnected in a virtual world, with people we have often never met. The overwhelming majority of the world’s computer-literate users now use Emoji as a daily necessity. It adds levity, emotional expression and personality. Source: Linked In, August 5, 2017. Emoji is more than just happy or sad faces. It has real … [Read more...]
Blanket training aids in dog comfort
Have blanket, will travel. A blanket can help dogs handle adventures away from home shares, Karen London, PhD. It is a technique used commonly with service dogs that helps them relax. With training, the blanket indicates to the dog where to sit or lie down. Source: The Bark, July 24, 2017. Once a dog has been to multiple places and happily goes to lie down and stay on his … [Read more...]
The latest from Dr. Andy Roark (recorded interview)
Hear Dr. Roark talk about social media as a "relationship accelerator" in a recent interview with DVM 360 on Your Veterinary Voice. The interview and other topics are part of his recent newsletter. Source: Dr. Andy Roark, August 2, 2017. Dr. Roark on such topics as social media as a "relationship accelerator," that scary E-word (entrepreneurship) and new graduates coming … [Read more...]
How cats say, “I love you.” (includes client handout)
Cats demonstrate their devotion to their humans in important and obvious ways if you know what to look for. Using the client handout in this article will help cat owners decipher the silent ways cats share affection. Source: Veterinary Medicine, July 25, 2017. Elizabeth Colleran, DVM, DABVP covers three area where cats share affection: Territorial tenderness … [Read more...]
SuperZoo’s new product showcase winners
SuperZoo attendees voted for the best products across nine key pet categories during this year’s July show. Source: Pet Product News, August 2, 2017. See 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in each of these categories: Grooming; Aquatics; Bird; Cat; Equine; Reptile; Small Animal; Dog; Miscellaneous. … [Read more...]
August 15 JAVMA ready for study
From the news section: A fatal neurologic disease is raising the possibility of local extinctions of Western deer and elk herds. In other news, disagreements over information sharing, technology, and privacy have hindered progress on how to track horses on a wide scale, although microchipping advocates say this approach provides an ideal solution. Source: JAVMA, August … [Read more...]
Laser pointer play ill-advised
It is common for people to be amused by the behavior of a frantic dog pouncing on a moving dot of light from a laser pointer. Karen London, PhD, shares why this game is not advised for dogs. Source: The Bark, July 26, 2017. No matter how much dogs respond to them, I recommend against the use of laser pointers. It’s just too likely that the game will negatively affect the … [Read more...]
New study reveals insights into pet owners’ buying decisions
A new study of pet owner behavior finds important differences in the ways millennial pet owners make decisions about their pets’ care compared with older pet owners—and how and when both groups decide to involve a veterinarian. Source: DVM 360, July 20, 2017. Veterinarians and pet owners see the world differently. The research highlighted important differences between how … [Read more...]
Photojournalist shares Idaho dairy video
Vibrant images help bring our articles to life in media. They also help animal health pros stay current with modern practices. Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, July 31, 2017. Ryan Ebert fill a week in Idaho visiting dairy farms and photographing everything from cows to people to equipment. INSIGHTS: Distributor inside sales teams will enjoy this look at dairying even if they have … [Read more...]
Stop deceiving dogs
We mislead our dogs when we are not absolutely clear in our intentions. Plus, we lie to them when we give them affection at the wrong time. Cesar Milan says the result can be dogs that are frustrated, fearful, confused or even aggressive, but the solution is very easy. Source: Cesar’s Way, July 30, 2017. We have to be absolutely clear in our attentions and express them to … [Read more...]
Cat butt questions answered
Dr. Arnold Plotnick answers common questions about the posteriors of our feline friends including scooting, anal gland expression and wiping. Source: Catster, July 27, 2017. Fortunately, cat butt problems are a minor issue in cats. But, there are some conditions that can be serious, such as infections, tumors and anal gland abscesses. INSIGHTS: Consider sharing this … [Read more...]
A brief history of horses in music videos (videos)
Just for fun! Marjorie Wilkinson walks us through an interesting history of horses in videos, including a highly prolific period between 1929 and 1939. Source: Horse Network, July 17, 2017. Enjoy the video clips! … [Read more...]
22 plants you may not know could poison dogs (infographic)
Use this infographic to correctly identify which plants are poisonous to dogs so you know which ones to keep dogs away from. This information will make good content for websites, social media, newsletters and in puppy kits. Source: The Bark, July 20, 2017. A study found that one in 12 pets has eaten poisonous plants, with smaller dogs and puppies being particularly at risk … [Read more...]
Horses and the heat: Fact vs. fiction
The heat across the Midwest has been severe recently. In addition to the challenges to humans, animals suffer, as well. It isn’t only performance and racing horses that are at risk. Serious dehydration and overheating can happen to any horse. Be wary of misinformation out there. Source: Horse Network, July 2015. Never let a hot horse drink all they want, or drink cold … [Read more...]
Office hugs require etiquette
Workplaces are seeing a rise in hugging culture. Hugging is a social minefield, says Kara Deringer. Context is all-important. Source: BBC News, July 20, 2017. Not everyone's so keen on the idea of hugging. Deborah Wallsmith, an assistant professor of anthropology says that the graduations of hug discomfort depend upon nuances, relationships, and personal … [Read more...]
Social media policy guidelines help businesses
People often talk online about how they do business to demonstrate their expertise, often in the spirit of sharing and transparency that customers value. However, if sharing this information isn’t appropriate for your business, a social media policy will help outline what can and cannot be shared. Larry Alton shares three tips for creating a social media policy. Source: … [Read more...]
7 strange sleeping habits of horses
Horses’ sleeping habits are nothing like our own. We recently posted about dog sleeping habits, so here is some information on horses. Source: Horse Network, July 7, 2017. Horses only sleep for short periods throughout the day or night and their sleep patterns change as they age. … [Read more...]
Dog writers contest underway
The Dog Writers Association of America announced that sponsors have added 11 new special awards to this year's writing contest and an additional $7,900 in cash prizes that brings the prize tally to $14,000. If you’ve been holding a story, now is the time to put pen to paper. Source: Germinder and Associates, July 10, 2017. The Dog Writers Association of America is the most … [Read more...]
Livestock protect children from asthma
It is a known fact that microbes on farms protect children from asthma and allergies. But, even non-microbial molecules can have a protective effect. New research from the University of Zurich opens up opportunities for transferring the protective effect of farms to all children. Source: Pork, July 17, 2017. Early childhood contact with animals and the consumption of food … [Read more...]
This is nuts: It takes 30 minutes to refocus after getting distracted
And we wonder why we can’t seem to get enough work done. If you thought that the amount of time you spend on email — 1/3 of your office hours — was bad, this isn’t going to make you feel better. Source: The Muse, July 18, 2017. Taking much-needed and deserved breaks (intentional) are one thing—getting distracted (involuntarily) is another. There’s a reason that distractions … [Read more...]
Improve horse health with good fly control
House flies and stable flies have three prerequisites for successful completion of their life cycles: appropriate breeding materials, moisture and warmth, according to the Horse Industry Handbook. Eliminating any of these factors will minimize fly breeding. Source: AQHA Journal, July 13, 2018. Follow these simple tips for improving fly control Practice good … [Read more...]
New wolf pups captured on trail camera
Just for fun! Northern California has three new wolf pups. They were caught playing in front of a trail camera. Source: Atlas Obscura, July 7, 2017. Wolves are listed as endangered at the federal level and in California, but have been delisted in Oregon. About 110 wolves live in the state, while California’s population remains small—but growing. … [Read more...]
Cesar shares good topics of interest
Cesar Milan’s team does a nice job of covering several topics in a recent newsletter. They include: Coyotes, an urban threat to dogs Choosing pet insurance Protecting pets from wild animals Camping with Canines Source: Cesar’s Way, June 21, 2017. While it’s good to be in touch with nature, sometimes nature can intrude in unwanted ways. Just because you live in … [Read more...]
Where’s the beef?
In the past six months, wildfires, drought and floods have all caused regional changes in cattle numbers. Sara Brown reports the adjusted the geographical disbursement of the 93.6 million cattle in the US. Source: Drovers CattleNetwork, July 5, 2017. Texas remains the state with the most total cattle, followed by Nebraska, Kansas, California, Oklahoma and … [Read more...]
Got horse, got manure
Retailers and veterinary teams alike get questions from horse owners about manure issues. Beyond the flies and obvious olfactory complaints from neighbors, what do you do with the manure? Natalie Voss addresses how to deal with the manure challenge. Source: Acreage Life, July 2017, page 23. A single horse can produce as much as nine tons of manure each year. All of it has … [Read more...]
1894 Edison video, feline boxing
Thomas Edison was a connoisseur of strange short films, in addition to inventing the light bulb. The footage—one of Edison’s firsts—is considered the first cat video ever recorded. Source: Atlas Obscura, June 19, 2017. After inventing the kinetoscope, an early version of the film camera, Edison began to test the technology by recording a series of bizarre … [Read more...]
Empathy trumps cuteness in viral videos
Animal health marketers frequently find that and images of pets “sell.” Autumn Sullivan suggests otherwise. Her position is cuteness helps, especially with viral videos, while the real secret ingredient to creating viral content is empathy. The post referenced here is promotional but the message applies to marketers stretching their companies in the social media and video … [Read more...]
Harness the cat and go for a walk
Sandy Robins shares ways to train a cat to walk on a leash. Doing so enriches the cat’s lifestyle by safely allowing her to enjoy the sights and sounds of the great outdoors. It’s also an excellent way of revving up her exercise routine. But, not all cats take to the harness and leash easily. Robins says kittens are easier to train than adults. Source: Catster, June 20, … [Read more...]