The collective war on feral swine is 10 years old. In addition to various agencies, landowners and deer hunters affected by feral hogs are deploying effective tactics against pigs. Gray Anderson, PhD, shares 10 noteworthy pieces of intelligence he learned at the 2022 International Wild Pig Conference regarding feral hog biology, new weapons, tactics and more. Source: … [Read more...]
Water temperature is key to keep horses hydrated in cold weather
To encourage water consumption during cold weather, providing either continuously heated water, ranging from 68°F to 95°F, or filling buckets with water ranging from 115°F to 120°F twice daily at feeding time as an effective strategy for most horses. Source: EQUUS, January 4, 2023. Link. Also see: Cold weather colic, AAEP. Link. Horses must drink 10-12 gallons of fresh … [Read more...]
Music therapy reduce stress in hospitalized cats
Researchers sought to evaluate the use of music compared with no music, to reduce stress in cats during hospitalization. Cat-specific music and classical music were tested. Both styles had some benefit to hospitalized cats. Source: Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, October 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
A better way to calculate a dog’s age in human years
Complimentary Content The long standing 7 to 1 ratio for calculating dog age in human years is flawed, writes Brooke Bundy. She shares some variables for making age comparisons and a new dog age calculator to understand the different stages of a dog's life. The tool also provides insights like average life expectancy, weight and height for more than 100 dog breeds. Try … [Read more...]
Talk with Terry at VMX about streamlining paperwork, saving time
Sponsored Content Talkatoo is an affordable, subscription-based, HIPAA-compliant dictation software, made for veterinary clinics to save time entering medical records. It works in all practice management software, in any browser, on any email platform and beyond. Veterinary teams are spending more time with patients and less time typing, thanks to Talkatoo” – Talkatoo … [Read more...]
5 conditions affecting the pinnae
Pet care services personnel are often first to notice changes in skin conditions on pets in daycare and boarding facilities or when presented for grooming. The pineal margins and pinnae of dogs and cats can be affected by many dermatologic diseases and disorders. Andrew Rosenberg, DVM, DACVD, shares five common conditions that affect only the pinnae, are most severe on the … [Read more...]
BuddyID™ announces a Partnership with FirstVet & the launch of BuddyID™ collar tag
Complimentary Commercial Content Microchip ID Systems, a leader in the animal microchip and companion pet registry industry, is announcing its partnership with FirstVet. FirstVet will provide telehealth services to Microchip ID Systems customers that register their companion animals to the BuddyID™ registry and sign up with FirstVet. The company is launching a … [Read more...]
UH OH! CDC says frozen chicken in air fryer increases Salmonella risk.
Cooking breaded frozen chicken products in the air fryer, microwave or toaster oven won’t protect consumers against foodborne illnesses like Salmonella, according to a warning from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. . . . unless cooked in an oven frozen chicken products may appear cooked but contain raw poultry.” Source: WattPoultry, December 3, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
The top 5 skills you need to get hired in 2023
Technical skills found on a résumé are no longer the most appealing traits that employers are seeking, writes Nicky Garcea. Instead, hiring managers are keen on identifying skills that build out other skills. She says hiring managers are the most impressed by these five behavioral skills: Curiosity Learning agility Growth mindset Critical analysis … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – January 5, 2022
Top five most read posts from December 2022 - Middle managers are exhausted. Top teams need to listen. Link. Find happiness at work instead of quiet quitting. Link. What a cat friendly veterinary experience looks like. Link. The top pet products of 2022. Link. Thank you! Link. ================================================= Quiz: Surgical … [Read more...]
Silvopasture; forest stewardship meet animal agriculture.
Silvopasture is a regenerative farming method involving the deliberate integration of trees and livestock grazing on the same land. It is one of five forms of agroforestry, and the only one that includes livestock. It is considered a sustainable method of rearing livestock because grazing animals benefit the forested environment and vice versa. Silvopastures can be … [Read more...]
The costs of buying, caring for and feeding goats
Goat life spans are similar to dogs and are kept for a variety of reasons. Marissa Ames offers a comprehensive look at the various costs of acquiring and keeping goats for pets, meat, milk and weed control. Source: Backyard Goats, December 22, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Is it safe to feed Christmas trees to livestock?
Lancaster Farming features Penn State Extension Livestock Educator Chelsea Hill’s article about feeding Christmas trees to livestock. She shares safety and health tips about using them as feed. Source: Lancaster Farming, December 13, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
CE on the hoof
Veterinarians and vet technicians can receive up to 16 continuing education credits by attending the 2023 International Hoof-Care Summit to be held Jan. 24th through 27th in Cincinnati, Ohio. Source: American Farrier’s Journal, January 3, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
8 practical ways to beat indecisiveness
Indecision can be crippling and lead to having others make decisions for you. The most important thing is how you deal with that indecision, writes Tatenda Chakabuda. She provides some tips to consider when deciding becomes difficult. Life is inherently risky. There is only one big risk you should avoid at all costs, and that is the risk of doing nothing.” – Denis … [Read more...]
AAHA releases new 2023 AAHA Senior Care Guidelines for dogs and cats
Noting 44 percent of the pet population is senior dogs and cats, the new senior care guidelines offer actionable strategies for adoption by veterinary teams. These can create senior-friendly environments that welcome senior pets, including modification of physical environments, prioritizing care to keep families together and taking different approaches to healthy and unhealthy … [Read more...]
Good hydration linked to healthy aging, better health
As we age our body’s regulation of fluid intake and thirst declines. As little as a two percent water deficit can produce fatigue, confusion or mood changes. Recent study results suggest that proper hydration may slow down aging and prolong a disease-free life. About half of people worldwide don’t meet recommendations for daily total water intake, which starts at six … [Read more...]
8 techniques to assertively keep others from interrupting you
Constant interrupting can lead to feeling dismissed, belittled and even rejected. You can be assertive. And still be nice.” Galina Hitching Source: Science of People. Link. Hitching shares five main reasons people keep interrupting you: They are just too excited Interrupting can show connection and relationship Sometimes interrupting is a power play It is a part … [Read more...]
Communication strategies for delivering bad news
Heather Loenser, DVM, shares her experiences with addressing troubling news with animal owners. She warns against confusing empathy with sympathy. . . . <veterinary team members> can get overwhelmed by feeling they need to “fix” the feelings of a person who has found themselves in an unfixable situation with their pet. Here’s the deal, though: you do not need to fix … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – December 21, 2022
Last week’s most read posts – Happiness and meetings. Link. Last AHD Bulletin - Animal Health Digest Bulletin, December 15, 2022. Link. ==================================================================== U.S. warns of escalating ransomware attacks Source: Security Affairs, October 2022. Link. U.S. government agencies warned that the Daixin Team cybercrime … [Read more...]
Dairy industry posts lowest positive drug residue yet; sets new standard
Data from the National Milk Drug Residue Database website dates back to 1994 and represents 99 percent of the U.S. milk supply. A recent report showed only 424 out of 3,879,182 samples tested positive for an animal drug residue. This is lowest positive test rate in the history of the program and it is also the fifth consecutive year fewer than 600 milk samples tested positive … [Read more...]
FDA releases 2021 report on antimicrobial use in livestock
The FDA instituted elements of veterinary oversight of antimicrobials in 2017. The recent 2021 Summary Report on Antimicrobials Sold or Distributed for Use in Food-Producing Animals shows that compared to 2015 (peak year of sales), 2021 sales decreased 38 percent. Sales in 2021 versus 2020 decreased by less than 1 percent between 2020 and 2021. Source: National Hog … [Read more...]
How to keep goats warm in cold weather
Successfully keeping goats in the coldest conditions and climates is possible. It requires acclimation, nutrition, and habitation. Herdsmen also prepare housing to keep goats warm in cold weather and select sturdy breeds ahead of the season. Source: Backyard Goats, November 27, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Nearly 100 U.S. horses suspected ill with botulism, 45 have died
Horse owners are being asked to not feed Top of the Rockies alfalfa cubes as U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with state departments of agriculture in Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas, continue to investigate the illness and deaths of horses suspected to have contracted botulism from it. Source: The Paulick Report, December 16, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Variations in ivermectin absorption studied; diet variations suspected
A study from Poland suggests that a horse’s diet can affect how quickly he absorbs the medications he receives. Key takeaways: The researchers speculate that diet, rather than season of year, accounts for the variability in absorption The slower absorption rate had no effect on ivermectin’s efficacy The findings raise questions about how diet may affect the … [Read more...]
Force-free, fear-free nail trimming techniques for dogs
Nail trimming can be stressful for pets and their owners. The longer they wait, the more likely an untoward experience will occur. The resources below offer good guidance on conditioning pets to healthful nail care at home, where it care can be easily managed with proper education, training and patience. . . . the ability to trim a dog’s nails should be a prerequisite to being … [Read more...]
Excess vitamin D may be to blame for feline tooth resorption
The resorption-vitamin connection is only a hypothesis about feline tooth resorption. There may be other environmental factors that prove to be the triggers. The best way to handle a resorbing tooth is to extract it as soon as it’s noticed.” Source: Tufts Catnip, November 14, 2022. Link. Also see: Search results for: tooth resorption, AHD. Link. There are three types of … [Read more...]
Why cats purr. Understanding their love language.
Lisa Radosta, DVM, DACVB, shares common reasons why cats purr and what they might be trying to tell us: Cats purr to draw us in Cats purr when they are blissful Purring may say the cat needs you Purring may be a sign of distress Purring can promote healing Source: Daily Paws, November 30, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Some dogs need a flu shot
Dogs can get the flu just like we can, and it spreads easily like our own strains says Kaitlyn Tullio, LVT, who told the dodo canine flu is highly contagious. She shared information about viral transfer risks, symptoms and vaccination. . . . for dogs social with other dogs, up to date flu vaccination could help keep them healthy and safe, especially during flu … [Read more...]
Manuka honey and silver in animal wellness and wound care
Commercial Content included It is common for pet owners to use over-the-counter antibiotic creams when their pet has a skin infection or a wound which often leads to overuse of antimicrobials. Lucas Pantaleon, DVM, MS, DACVIM, MBA, shares ways medical-grade manuka honey and silver are used as a first line defense for treating skin microbiome issues. Source: Pet Age, … [Read more...]