Eileen Fatcheric, DVM, says the best answer to the dewclaw question is, “sometimes.” She shares the anatomy, pros, cons and the general opinions of breeders and dog owners based on the activities the dog will be expected to perform. Source: Whole Dog Journal, February 1, 2023. Link. All dogs are born with front dewclaws while hind dewclaws are absent in most dogs. The … [Read more...]
Keep the cat, manage the allergens
Cats are thought to be the third most common cause of indoor allergies, yet over 80 percent of cat owners ignore advice to give up their cat to help manage allergies. So, animal health pros often get questioned about reducing allergens, albeit not that directly. This article explains allergen sources and several ways to reduce their effect on the cat owner and family. Note … [Read more...]
Vector-borne disease screening critical to pet health
To help veterinarians stay ahead of the curve and provide the best care to their patients, this article explores why comprehensive screening is critical to pet health. It includes key insights into a lesser-known tick-borne disease that has become more frequently detected than Lyme. “Anaplasma is becoming the most common vector-borne infection they’re seeing dogs are exposed … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – April 10, 2023
2022 pet industry sales and trends, pet industry’s hottest small businesses, trends from the 2023 Global Pet Expo, Apple Pay support for small business, compliance to laws and regulations while bootstrapping, elevating small business appeal and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites – April 10, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Don’t leave home without the right amount of cards, cash and ID
Are wallets still necessary? As wallets get thinner, people are rethinking how much they still need to carry in cash, cards and identification. F. Martin Ramin queried financial advisers to get recommendations for what to carry. Carry at least two but no more than three credit cards, a small amount of cash, a government ID and a card with your phone number in case the wallet … [Read more...]
A 2-minute burn out check up
Burnout is the result of chronic stress and, at work, that stress tends to accumulate around your experiences of workload, values, reward, control, fairness and community. Chris Bailey’s short assessment can help you gauge whether you’re on the path to burnout, and where you should focus your attention to make beneficial changes. Source: Harvard Business Review, April 9, … [Read more...]
The 5 most trusted pet retailers in 2023
Five pet retailers were recognized on Newsweek’s second annual Most Trustworthy Companies in America 2023 list. The list includes Amazon, Chewy, PetSmart and PetCo in the retail category top 10. Tractor Supply was not mentioned in the article but took 10th place. Walmart was ranked 25th. <Link> Source: Pet Product News, April 7, 2023. Link. Also see: Franchising is … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 13, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, April 6th, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from March 30th AHD Bulletin – Hauser: Reverse the downward trend of pets missing vet care. Link. JVECC makes a case for quality improvement in vet med. Link. Finding the optimal pattern of a customer journey. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences … [Read more...]
Why white-tailed deer don’t get Lyme disease
White-tailed deer are important to the survival of deer ticks but they are not involved with transmitting the Lyme bacteria. The serum component of white-tailed deer blood kills Lyme bacteria. Whatever it is in the deer that’s killing the germ is part of the innate immune system, a part that precedes antibodies, shares Stephen Rich, MS, PhD. Although deer, such as white-tailed … [Read more...]
Efforts to save endangered equine breeds
“Heritage-breed horses are not just useful and beautiful—they are an irreplaceable reservoir of equine genetic diversity,” says Charlene R. Couch, PhD. “These animals offer valuable traits that were developed over centuries, such as stamina, unique gaits, hardiness, sound feet and good skeletal structure.” The ancestral sources of many of the heritage breeds no longer exist … [Read more...]
U.S. bans big cat ownership
A bill outlawing unlicensed people from owning, breeding and transporting big cats in the United States was signed last December. The Big Cat Public Safety Act, which identifies lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, cougars and hybrids of these species, goes one step further, banning licensed exhibitors from allowing public petting of big cats and their cubs. Source: … [Read more...]
Dog paw infections: Causes, symptoms and treatments
JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM, reminds us that dog paw infections can be uncomfortable, but they are treatable and preventable. She reviews how and why paws get infected and ways to prevent dog paw infections through good care. Dog paw infections come from three types: bacterial, fungal and yeast.” Source: Great Pet Care, March 18, 2023. Link. INSIGHTS: Consider this article for … [Read more...]
Dogs, lawn care and cancer
The pesticides and herbicides that make mass food production and smooth grass easier may negatively impact the ecosystem, but also the health of our pets. Lauren Trepanier, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, DACVCP, shares findings from three ongoing studies that compare chemical exposures in dogs with and without cancer. Source: The Humane Society of the United States, March 31, 2023. … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – April 3, 2023
British Columbia doubling veterinarian numbers, Illinois legislature working to ban declaws, using AI to find employees to match a company, planning for retirement and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, April 3, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
How to spot a fake website
Even if one is a cautious user of digital technology, fake websites often catch us off guard. Spotting a fake website is quite easy but many people still fall for these scams every day. This article explains some of the different ways you can tell if a website is fake. Source: Simply Geeky, July 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
414 short inspirational quotes when motivation is needed
Whether you want to find a new perspective on a challenging problem, stop procrastinating and do the important work in front of you, or light an inner spark to start something new and magical, this list may have the right words for yourself or the situation. Source: Four Minute Books, April 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
You don’t have to be the boss to be a leader
Matt Mayberry shares three actions that hone leadership skills to help become a highly respected and influential team member: Devote time to daily growth Discover and embrace your personal strengths Improve your ability to connect with people Source: Harvard Business Review, February 13, 2023. Link. Introverts, ambiverts, extroverts . . . anyone can learn how to … [Read more...]
Documentary highlights life and work of Temple Grandin
A documentary film about the world-renowned Dr. Temple Grandin recently completed shooting. The film, Open Door, features interviews with Grandin, her colleagues, industry professionals and those she has influenced throughout her career as a champion of human treatment of livestock, autism rights and inclusive neurodiversity. The production team includes eight current Colorado … [Read more...]
Is climate change accelerating the risk of disease spreading from animals to humans? (video)
Scientists researching the aftermath of California wildfires say they are finding evidence that climate change is accelerating the risk of disease spreading from animals to humans. Historical evidence linking the climate to zoonotic disease is growing . . .” Miles O’Brien Source: PBS, March 1, 2023. Link. (7:37) INSIGHTS: Forward-thinking scientists are working to advance … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 6, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, March 30, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from March 30th AHD Bulletin – Pet-owning households on decline while spending remains strong. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy Vets. Link. Veterinarian helper wins digital ag hackathon Source: Cornell Chronicle, March … [Read more...]
7 tips for more effective vaccination programs in calves
Rhonda Brooks shares seven tips from bovine veterinarians that can help plan an effective vaccination program in calves. She reminds us that there is no effective one-size-fits-all strategy. Consider this article for communications with cow-calf, dairy or beef operators. It sets core considerations for what a vaccination program can and can’t deliver. Source: Dairy Herd … [Read more...]
Happy cow markings worth a smile
Bellbrook Holsteins in Ripplebrook, Australia, welcomed a new calf to the herd on March 10. The calf was born with a unique pattern. His spots resemble that of a smiley face. They named it Happy. 😊 Source: RFD-TV, March 23, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Stimulating more milk fat production
Increasing milkfat and protein components of milk can raise the value of milk for producers. Milkfat comes from two sources. Preformed fat comes from fat present in the diet or body reserves. Other fat results from synthesis in the udder, and this is called de novo or “new” fat. Mike Hutjens, PhD, shared ways feeding and management can affect de novo fatty acid synthesis in … [Read more...]
Essential safety rules to follow when around horses
Jack Benton shared the cowboy after OSHA inspection image in 2016 <Link>. While absurd, it makes a point. Injuries to riders and handlers often increase as the excitement to return to riding increases during spring. It is important to reinforce safety guidelines considering many horses were handled infrequently during the winter months. Jennifer Forsbery Meyers’ basic … [Read more...]
Review: Multiple reasons for equine deaths during foaling
Complications during foaling are a predominant cause of death and disease in foals and mares regardless of the difficulty of the birth. In a review of cases, researchers categorized deaths into five groups based on the primary organ system associated with the cause of death. Their results showed the most-common reasons for death were: fatal lesions in the gastrointestinal … [Read more...]
Why pets do (fill in the blank)?
Addressing pet owner inquiries, the authors share answers to dog and cat owners’ most commonly searched questions. Source: Happy Puppy Tips. Link. INSIGHTS: Share this and discuss with your team to see if they have a consistent answer for these common questions. … [Read more...]
Anal sacculitis and an ear ointment option
A retrospective review found that while obesity and poor stool quality have been implicated in development of anal sacculitis, definitive conclusions about the relationship between obesity and anal sacculitis could not be made. The data did show atopic dermatitis was the most common comorbidity. Infusing a steroid/antibiotic/antifungal otic solution following expressing and … [Read more...]
Those dirty flies . . .
Warmer spring weather is also the start of fly season and no matter where you live, flies can be a problem. Our AHD archives offer many resources on fly control. Getting started now, can help keep fly populations from growing out of control. Source: Search results for fly control, AHD Archives. Link. … [Read more...]
Being positive all the time is impossible and toxic, how to deal with difficult emotions at work
Organizations that set the expectation that negative emotions are wrong and do not belong at work ultimately set themselves up for volatile toxic cultures. Although it’s no easy task, difficult emotions must not be ignored or avoided. By bringing emotions out into the open, there is an opportunity to work through them. Driving them underground allows them to do more damage to a … [Read more...]
Industry consolidation is concerning to independent pet specialty retailers
For independent pet specialty retailers, consolidation can be cause for concern. But consolidation remains an overarching pet industry trend. Big-name pet product manufacturers, retailers and service providers are making big deals while private equity and venture capital money streams in, writes David Lummis. Source: Pet Product News, March 2023. Link. . . . overall market … [Read more...]