Research findings prove how much power humans have that influences a dog’s personality, according to William J. Chopik, PhD. He explains many of the reasons a dog’s personality changes result from the “nature versus nurture” theory associated with humans’ personalities. Source: The Bark, November 2021. Link. We found correlations in three main areas: age and personality, … [Read more...]
Younger stock love grooming brushes, too
Access to grooming brushes for lactating cows shows they help reduce stress, keep animals cleaner and limit injuries. They also limit damage to facilities caused by cows that otherwise rub their heads and bodies on gates, pen walls and edges of feed and water troughs. New research says the same goes for young calves as well. The study, published in the Journal of Dairy … [Read more...]
Systemic inflammation in pre- and post-partum cows
Although excessive inflammation is bad, the results of a University of Guelph study revealed why some inflammation at calving is positive. The key is discovering the balance between healthy and excessive inflammation, according to Barry J. Bradford, PhD. Inflammation is needed to drive the birthing process, and we also think it’s important for aiding in the metabolic … [Read more...]
Grackles could expose humans, pets to parasites
Areas where grackles congregate should be avoided by pets. Contact with grackle feces can expose pets and humans to organisms that cause disease, including salmonella, roundworms and West Nile virus, according to a study from the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University. Source: San-Antonio Express News, September 26, 2018. Link. … [Read more...]
Heated waterers keep poultry water from freezing
Commercial Content A heated chicken waterer can help make winter care a little easier for poultry keepers. The author shares some popular styles of heated chicken waterers. They are simple to use, plug into a standard electrical outlet, and are inexpensive to run. Source: Backyard Poultry, November 15, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Should you pet your dog before an absence?
Older advice not to pet dogs before going out is not supported by a new study. The pilot study results suggest that petting a dog before a brief separation from the owner may have a positive effect, making the dog calmer during the separation itself. Further studies are needed to analyze more about petting’s effectiveness, especially in dogs affected by separation … [Read more...]
Evolving wisdom on feline housing
Cats have unique kennel and containment needs, according to nearly 15 years of research from around the world. Their tendency to develop upper respiratory conditions when stressed has been the catalyst for retrofitting traditional kennels. When given more space and choice, cats stay healthier. Source: Veterinary Practice News, November 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Top 5 holiday dangers for pets
Holiday decorations are appearing worldwide. Pet owners will appreciate reminders about commonly found holiday dangers for pets as they gather or travel for celebrations. Jenifer Chatfield, DVM, and twin brother Jason Chatfield, DVM, share five top holiday dangers: Out-of-town guests; people and their pets Holiday decorations; tinsel, ornaments and seasonal plants … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – November 15, 2021
New AVMA journals website launched, managing feline stress, email authentication to get more emails through, Apple’s new subscription service for small businesses, IBPSA is migrating to a new association management software system, new learning management system and more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, November 15, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
How technology is hurting our eyes
Providing animal health services would be difficult without our vision. Personal issue? Yes, but employers need to consider how to keep all the eyes healthy too. Gazing at digital screens can cause wide-scale side effects deep inside the eye. When there is continuous blue light exposure on the retina, the photosensitive area can get damaged. Many individuals use devices like … [Read more...]
The history of the Kansas City Stockyards
Kansas City once housed the second-largest meat packing industry in the nation, just behind Chicago, known as the Kansas City Stockyards. The last cattle auction took place in September 1991. The stockyards then closed because of rising costs and changing agricultural marketing patterns. Meat processing challenges have been discussed routinely in 2020 and 2021 as the … [Read more...]
Chicken frostbite. Treatment & prevention.
It takes about 10 minutes in below-freezing temperatures to cause chicken frostbite. The most vulnerable parts for chickens are the combs and wattles writes Mary Christiansen. She also shares ways to prevent damage to those exposed, featherless feet. Source: Backyard Poultry, November 2, 2021. Link. Also see: Why chickens’ legs do not get cold in winter, The Omlet Blog. … [Read more...]
November is Epilepsy Awareness Month
As the most common medical neurologic disease in dogs, epilepsy has a profound impact on quality of life for affected dogs and their owners. Epilepsy affects one in every 100 dogs and refers to recurrent seizures resulting from an abnormality in brain function. Source: AKC, November 8, 2021. Link. Since 1995, the AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) and its donors have … [Read more...]
It’s okay to sleep with your pet
The long-held answer to whether to share a bed with a pet has been “NO”. But recent studies have shown that pets in the bedroom could be beneficial for some of us. And it appears both pets and people benefit from spending the night together in bed. In general, it is a very good thing for animals to sleep with their people." – Dana Varble, DVM, CAE Source: CNN, November 5, … [Read more...]
Stop deflecting compliments. Do this instead.
A compliment should make you feel good, and it should also make the person delivering the it feel good. If you minimize or completely deny the achievement, then it leads you to associate getting a compliment with negative self-talk, which can ultimately bring down your mood. By refusing a compliment properly, people are missing out on a level of connection with others, as well … [Read more...]
Celebrate World Kindness Day, Saturday, November 13th
World Kindness Day is an international holiday that was formed in 1998, to promote kindness throughout the world and is observed annually on November 13 as part of the World Kindness Movement. The stated purpose of this day is “to highlight good deeds in the community focusing on the positive power and the common thread of kindness which binds us.” Unexpected kindness is the … [Read more...]
Offer proper winter ventilation for calves
Calves are constantly producing water vapor as they breathe. At 37°F it is estimated that a calf is producing about 1.25 ounces of water per hour that generates a quart of water per day. The winter focus needs to be on controlling and removing excess moisture produced within the calves’ shelters. Source: The Bullvine, November 1, 2021. Link. Cold temperatures within calf … [Read more...]
Top honors awarded to AABP dairy and beef DVMs
Congratulations to Dr. Kelly Barratt, Listowel, Ontario, Canada, who received the 2021 AABP Bovine Practitioner of the Year award sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim. Barratt is the first woman to receive this top honor from AABP. Other North American bovine veterinarians were also honored. Source: Drovers, October 18, 2021. Link. INSIGHTS: Check the list of other awards, … [Read more...]
Old horses would rather move
Just because a horse is older and might experience chronic pain doesn’t mean he wants to stand around. In a study monitoring how horses budgeted their time, researchers found age and orthopedic pain didn’t deter horses from moving around when given the opportunity. Source: The Horse, September 24, 2021. Link. Environment matters more than age and lameness in older … [Read more...]
The biggest whales can eat the equivalent of 80,000 Big Macs in one day
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...]