Baleen whales, the biggest animals to have ever lived on earth, gobble up much more food than scientists thought, according to a new study of filter-feeding whales that reveals just how important their eating habits could be for recycling nutrients in the ocean. Source: NPR, November 3, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
AAHA releases first veterinary guidelines for working, assistance and therapy dogs
The 2021 AAHA Working, Assistance, and Therapy Dog Guidelines are the first comprehensive consensus report to guide veterinary teams who care for: Protection dogs (police, military, security) Odor/scent detection dogs Service dogs for people with diagnosed disabilities or physical limitations Emotional support dogs Therapy dogs Source: AAHA NEWStat, November … [Read more...]
Finalists for Pet Product News’ Annual Editors’ Choice Awards
Here’s a look at the most promising new products in the array being considered for the 2022 Pet Product News’ annual Editors’ Choice Awards. Source: Pet Product News, October 5, 2021. Link. INSIGHTS: There are a lot of new treats in this mix. Consider the importance of managing Kcals since treats are frequently a part of what is fed that contributes to overweight pets … [Read more...]
If you’re cold, they’re cold (video)
It is that time of year to consider the effects of colder weather on animals. Danika Harvey, DVM, says any sick, young or senior animals should be brought indoors when temperatures start to drop to avoid any risks of hypothermia. It’s just the same as if you had a very old person or an infant, you know, they don’t do well in cold temperatures and our animals at our ages don’t … [Read more...]
How to give difficult feedback to your boss (even when you’re scared)
To ensure your upward feedback is received well, start with connection and intention, write Karin Hurt and David Dye. It might feel safer to stay silent but the problematic behavior will only continue, or even get worse. They offer six steps to improve how you give upward feedback. Giving difficult feedback to your boss is rarely easy. But, practice builds confidence. And the … [Read more...]
The importance of tracking spending
Complimentary One of the more challenges to managing your finances is tracking spending. It helps give you the clarity to drive your plan and not let your plan drive you. In this edition of the Smarter Vet podcast ,techniques are shared to get the most control over your spending. Source: Smarter Vet Podcast, Florida Financial Advisors, January 2021. Link. 27 minutes. … [Read more...]
Women at work. Leaders to learn from.
HBR’s Emily Caulfield interviews four women who model leadership excellence. Plus, Muriel Wilkins shares advice on how to take care of yourself while taking care of the people you manage. Source: Women at Work, Harvard Business Review, Season 7, Episode 2. Link. 45-minute podcast found in the WILMAH newsletter, October 27, 2021. … [Read more...]
Stay safe when pumping manure
Sometimes before harvest is completely finished, manure slurries get pumped and put on fields already harvested. It is an important part of the pork industry's sustainability story but handling manure is inherently risky. Ted Funk shares 10 tips to control the risks to employees, manure handling contractors and avoid the potential to transfer diseases to … [Read more...]
Get BQA certified, assure customers of quality beef
Consumers trust beef producers more when they get BQA (Beef Quality Assurance) certified, which can be done online or in person in some states. Funded by NCBA, the program teaches techniques of sound animal care and resource management. BQA training certifies producers’ commitments to do things right when it comes to injections, pest protection, resource management and overall … [Read more...]
Behaviors that indicate equine lameness
There’s a relatively new tool for identifying subtle signs of musculoskeletal pain in horses, shares Christine Barakat. The Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram is a compilation of 24 behaviors, such as “head tilting,” “tail swishing” and “spontaneous changes of gait” that have been proven to correlate with musculoskeletal pain. If a horse exhibits eight or more of the behaviors, chances … [Read more...]
Helping pet owners deal with pet behavior issues
Getting past hesitancies to proactively discuss pet behavior is difficult, says Melissa Spooner-Raymond LVT, VTS. She reminds us that pet owners have different learning styles and provides links to various resources to help get ahead of behavior problems before they occur. Source: Today’s Veterinary Nurse, Summer 2021. Link. A simple way to provide clients valuable … [Read more...]
Comedy Pet Photography Awards announces 2021 finalists
Take a few minutes and crack a lot of smiles! Check out the photo and video finalists in the 2021 Comedy Pet Photography Awards. Some of these shots will make your day. Source: Comedy Pet Photography Awards. Link. Enjoy! … [Read more...]
Counter the negative effects of sitting
According to a recent study, standing up and moving for roughly three minutes every half an hour may mitigate the negative effects of over-sitting. . . . those who exercised the most – averaging 75 steps during the three-minute breaks – saw the biggest gains.” Source: Runner’s World, October 19, 2021. Link. Over-sitting is an area we should all take seriously. Its impacts are … [Read more...]
10 things to say besides YES
Lots of folks are headed for a crash or have crashed because they have not mastered the art of answering the next request for their time and attention with something other than an unqualified, “yes.” In the interest of preserving your health, sanity and well-being, the author offers 10 things you can say besides, “Yes,” when someone asks you to attend their meeting, join their … [Read more...]
When do we need to re-treat? Cattle Chat discussion.
Treatment intervals and comfort care were discussion topics on a recent Cattle Chat podcast hosted by the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute team of veterinary experts. Producers need to start a protocol and track the results. Research has shown that the response rate improved if we followed a 5-7 or 7-10-day window as opposed to an immediate retreatment. . . … [Read more...]
4 facts about heaves in horses
Heaves is an allergic-based disease that compromises a horse's ability to breathe, similar to the way asthma affects humans. Horse heaves is chronic and can threaten a horse's long-term health and performance. Fall always brings changes to air quality as harvesting adds more dust particles, new hay sources become available, and horses begin spending more time inside. All … [Read more...]
Terms of venery beyond packs and herds
Here’s an article to use on trivia night. It wasn’t scientists who coined fanciful names like “a charm of hummingbirds" or "a cauldron of bats." Rather, 15th-century Englishmen would come up with names for animal gangs while hunting. Bloat, gaggle, murder and shrewdness all denote groups of animals too. Source: Word Genius, May 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Dog breeds you can hold in one hand
The author provides a list of the top 10 smallest dog breeds. Teacup dog breeds are lovely companions to have, but their life span is shorter than those of larger dogs. The best option is to find a toy breed at the lower end of the reasonable height and weight levels. Source: Puppies and Pooches, September 16, 2021. Link. It is better to find a genuine dog breeder and vet, … [Read more...]
Fast Bites – October 18th edition from IBPSA
2021 holiday shopping season trends, biggest dog companies and their popular brands, retailer Pets at Home adds video interaction with store experts, grain-free food trends, the IBPSA Rebate Program launches and more. Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, October 18, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
5 facts about the labor shortage in agriculture
Labor shortage trends continue to be prominent in the news. The problem is not only for city workers, agriculture is facing challenges, too. Jenny Shaffstall shares five issues affecting ag businesses’ ability to find qualified workers. Source: Ag Web, July 27, 2021. Link. The June Ag Barometer from Purdue University found nearly two-thirds (66%) of respondents said they … [Read more...]
Scours treatment. Dealing with dehydration.
It’s generally not the gut infection that causes scours that kills the calf, it’s dehydration. Regardless of the cause of scours (whether bacterial, viral, protozoal or something else), dehydration and the resultant acid-base imbalance is often what kills the calf. Dehydration, the loss of electrolytes and decrease in pH in the blood (metabolic acidosis) are the three biggest … [Read more...]
Should we let cattle swim?
A group of beef cattle experts discuss the pros and cons of letting cattle have free access to ponds in the summer. Among the concerns were water quality, bank erosion, mastitis and foot rot. Overall, the risk of health challenges for beef cattle in ponds is low, and when considering investments in the herd, fencing off the pond is a low priority on my list of recommendations … [Read more...]
Temple Grandin: Looking back, looking ahead
Emphasizing the people side of the cattle business, Temple Grandin, PhD, recently told Wagyu breeders that all the technology you can buy won’t replace actually looking at your cattle. (Equipment) makes handling a lot easier. (But) equipment doesn’t replace management.” – Temple Grandin, PhD Source: Drovers, October 8, 2021. Link. Of the many lessons that COVID taught, … [Read more...]
How often should a horse see the dentist?
The most important person in tooth care for horses is the one hired to float the teeth, says Lu Ann Groves, DVM. Horse age, loose or erupting teeth can make a difference to how often teeth need floating. The general rule is that a horse’s teeth should be floated every year. But this may not always apply. . .” Source: Equine Wellness Natural Health Report, September 2021. … [Read more...]
Rooster talk. Vocalizations have meaning.
Dispelling the myth that roosters only crow in the morning, Ana Hotaling explains the complexity of rooster vocalizations. They differ from the morning cock-a-doodle-doos, when claiming territories or when it’s chow-time crow. They let out high-pitched shrieks when danger is perceived and crow when its time for bed too. Source: Hobby Farms, September 29, 2021. Link. Often … [Read more...]
5 cat facts that aren’t
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...]