Halloween always brings out the black cat = bad luck phrase. Beyond nine lives or a cat having your tongue, there are other supposed truisms that just aren’t: Cats are nocturnal Cats and milk go together Purring always indicates happiness Pregnant women should not be around cats A cat can steal a baby’s breath Source: Tuft’s Catnip, August 21, 2021. … [Read more...]
The Bridge Club to discuss online pharmacies
Complimentary Join the live discussion with a panel of experts who discusses the future of pharmacies. They’ll talk about the good, the bad and how to be competitive. Source: The Bridge Club. Link. Live event: The state of online pharmacies October 21, 2021: 6 pm CDT/7 pm EDT Register here: Link … [Read more...]
Hannah Lau, DVM next on VVCA Lunch and Learn
Complimentary The VVCA Lunch and Learn series continues Wednesday, October 27 at 12:30 p.m. EDT. Hannah Lau, DVM, will share telehealth cases from her practice. She has been practicing veterinary telemedicine and telehealth fulltime since 2019, along with a small team of remote veterinary technicians and assistants. Although living in southwest Virginia, Lau practices … [Read more...]
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Halloween goblins are nothing compared to the scare a security breach can bring. October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month and from ransomware to email hacks to scams, the risks are real. The cybersecurity pros at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and National Cyber Security Alliance have assembled resources anyone can use including social media posts, … [Read more...]
When is your Green Zone?
Your Green Zones are the times of the day when your energy is at its peak, according to author Carey Nieuwhof. SmartBrief surveyed readers to arrive at the chart shown here. Overall, cooperating with your energy levels produces far greater productivity than competing with them.” - Carey Nieuwhof Source: SmartBrief on Careers, October 8, 2021. Link. Nieuwhof discusses the … [Read more...]
USDA vaccine candidate successful in blocking ASF
One of the USDA African swine flu vaccine candidates has been shown to prevent and effectively protect both European and Asian bred swine against the current circulating African strain of the virus. Source: Feedstuffs, September 30, 2021. Link. A major step for science and agriculture, a commercial vaccine for ASF virus will be an important part of controlling ASF in … [Read more...]
Caring for molting chickens
Molting starts with the head and works its way down to the tailfeathers, says Marissa King. During a molt, the flock is working hard making sure new feathers will offer just as much warmth and protection as old ones. She offers some tricks to help a flock’s molt go smoothly. Molting can be a very painful and stressful time for your chickens.” Source: Hobby Farms, September … [Read more...]
Dogster’s 2021 top dog Halloween costumes and accessories
While many dogs get really spooked this time of year, others tolerate Halloween costumes. The tricks’ part? Who knows? The treats? Just keep the calories down. 😉 Source: Dogster, October 5, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Preparing for the holiday rush
Ho! Ho! Ho! Thanksgiving is seven weeks away. Christmas is 11 weeks away. Jonathan David talks about pacing yourself from a groomer’s perspective as the holidays approach. Source: Groomer to Groomer, pages 6-9, October 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
7 symptoms of a nervous breakdown (includes video)
"Nervous breakdown" isn't a clinical term and it's not considered a mental illness, says Erin Engle, PsyD. It is more of a catchall term that references multiple psychological ailments in situations where a person cannot function normally because of overwhelming stress. Engle shares a few common signs that someone is feeling overwhelmed and not having an entirely healthy … [Read more...]
Workplace awareness: Train to spot passive-aggressive bullying
Passive-aggressive bullying is more common in the workplace than aggressive bullying. These bullies have a sense that full out aggressive bullying could cost them their jobs. Kate Nasser shares the importance of training everyone to spot and address passive aggressive behavior. Passive aggressive bullying is even more toxic because it flies under the radar.” Source: Kate … [Read more...]
Celebrate diversity in October
October is a great time to acknowledge the diversity in our companies and communities. For those working on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, this is a good time to research new resources as you acknowledge the progress your team is making. We’ve highlighted three ways animal health pros worldwide can celebrate our differences and achievements. Sources: … [Read more...]
October 2021 skies offer much to see
Turn off smartphones and blue screens and look to the sky in October. The longer nights give us a chance to take pleasure in the sky, according to Michael d'Estries. He says October will present a Hunter’s Moon and meteor showers. Source: Treehugger, October 1, 2021. Link. INSIGHTS: A bit of sky watching in the fall air could be what the stress doctor ordered! Also … [Read more...]
How to self-promote at work without coming off as full of yourself
Promoting yourself at work can be difficult and awkward. It’s unrealistic to assume that your boss or colleagues will notice all your skills, talents and accomplishments without your pointing some of them out. Source: Fast Company, October 6, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Bot flies annoy cattle, horses, pets and humans
The last days of summer weather often spark more bot fly activity before the first frost wipes out the egg-laying females. Bot flies are chunky, beelike flies usually with rounded heads and rarely seen. Like other true flies, bot flies have only a single pair of wings. There are six important species of bot flies that affect the U.S. livestock industry: Hypoderma bovis, H. … [Read more...]
Nuisance birds on the horizon
Birds like European Starlings will soon descend on feedlots and dairies, often roosting in nearby towns. Flocks ranging from 1,000 to 100,000 birds start showing up in October and will stay through March. The goal of a bird eradication program is to make the birds so uncomfortable that they don’t want to be there. One starling will eat about a penny’s worth of feed per day.” – … [Read more...]
University of Florida’s Ram Test and Sale kicks off new program to grow sheep and goat businesses
The University of Florida will hold its first Ram Test and Sale event this Saturday as part of new program to grow the sheep and goat industries in the state. This initiative is made possible by a gift from one of the state’s sheep farmers. The gift also supports upgrades to the UF/IFAS Sheep Unit in Gainesville and will allow researchers to expand the UF sheep and goat … [Read more...]
University of Missouri project studies increasing prevalence of chronic wasting disease
Chronic wasting disease has been spreading throughout the United States for decades, despite efforts to contain it. Since it was first discovered in Colorado in 1967, the disease has been identified in deer in 26 states, and the Midwest has recently seen a particularly sharp increase of its prevalence. Researchers at the University of Missouri have found chronic wasting … [Read more...]
Helping neglected, abused or abandoned horses
It’s important that you know what to do to stay within the law before reporting a horse in trouble, writes Jennifer Williams, PhD. Neglect, abuse and/or abandonment are considered cruelty to animals and are a criminal offense in many states. . . . it’s important to understand how terms like “abuse” and “neglect” are defined in your local and state laws. And then you need … [Read more...]
End-of-summer canine checklist
AKC Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Jerry Klein provides an end-of-summer checklist to make sure dogs are in top shape for fall. He reminds dog owners to watch temperatures and use summer thinking until the cold sets in fully. Source: AKC TV. Link. INSIGHTS: This video and others are good resources to use on social media, link in newsletters or targeted communications. … [Read more...]
The dos and don’ts of getting a job
Complimentary The Bridge Club discussed resumes, cover letters and wrinkled scrubs as well as the benefits of how to address emails with Andrea Gentry Apple, DVM. The topics are covered in a three-part series: Part 1: The dos and don'ts of engagement behavior. Link. Part 2: How to market yourself. Link. Part 3: Key watchouts for job etiquette. … [Read more...]
More deer on roads; time of day, month and year matters
We may be free to move about the country, but crop harvests, hunting season and the annual deer rut add to the risk of accident and injury. The risk of hitting a deer varies by time of day, day of the week, the monthly lunar cycle and seasons of the year. These accidents are partly a function of driver behavior as they are highest when traffic is heavy, drivers are least … [Read more...]
11 signs of too much stress
Our industry continues to work toward relieving stressors exacerbated by the pandemic but inherent to the work of veterinary medicine. Most people will experience stress at one point or another. It can take a toll on many aspects of health and has a wide range of symptoms, including reducing energy levels and triggering headaches or chronic pain. Rachael Link, MS, RD, shares … [Read more...]
World Dairy Expo starts Sunday
Complimentary Content World Dairy Expo kicks off Sunday and runs through October 2 in Madison, Wisconsin. Animal health pros will be among the representatives of the 650 companies exhibiting this year. Educational sessions and one of the world’s best-known dairy cattle shows will also take place. Safe travels to those attending. Source: World Dairy Expo. Link. World Dairy … [Read more...]
Ditch the stink. Mitigate ammonia.
Ammonia in chicken litter can be a health issue for birds and a neighborhood nuisance. too. It is a concern, regardless the size of the poultry operation. Backyard poultry raisers sometimes get behind doing chores as fall activities, shorter days and having kids back in school make maintenance more difficult. Jeremy Chartier discusses how to make the ammonia stink go … [Read more...]
Mycotoxins threaten calves and heifers, too
The 2021 harvest season will no doubt include the dangers of mycotoxins. These toxic substances are produced by molds growing on crops, either before harvest or in storage. Mycotoxins have long been associated with cow problems. New research has quantified the effects on calves and heifers. Source: Dairy Herd Management, August 4, 2021. Link. Researchers identified the … [Read more...]
Fall leaves can be toxic to horses
Fall leaf toxicity is an annual concern for horse owners as some falling leaves are poisonous to our equine friends. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has an extensive list of poisonous trees and plants at www.ASPCA.org. Consider sharing this information with horse owners and local media. Source: The Horse, September 10, 2021. Link. Also … [Read more...]
Puppies are born ready to communicate with people
Researchers from the Arizona Canine Cognition Center at the University of Arizona put 375 eight-week-old puppies through four tests, designed to establish whether even such tiny pups were receptive to human communication. The results suggest that communication abilities must be inherited instead of being learned. Source: AKC, July 26, 2021. Link. The researchers now seek to … [Read more...]
Dogs will eat just about anything but their own food
A survey of 2,000 American dog owners found dogs will get ahold of just about anything. Pet caregivers shared they experience this at least once per week. The One Poll survey also revealed the average pet parent says that it’s hard to find dog food that is nutritious and delicious. Source: 72POINT, September 20, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
First Telehealth Awareness Week happening NOW
The American Telemedicine Association is bringing together leaders in telehealth service delivery, hospital systems and medical practices, technology solution providers, patient advocacy organizations, policymakers and other stakeholders during the first-annual Telehealth Awareness Week™, September 19-25, 2021. Virtual care is moving & shaking! Kudos to the ATA for making … [Read more...]