Got sheep? “It’s inevitable when you have a flock of sheep, there will be illness and there will be injuries,” says Jana Wilson. She shares a checklist of items sheep owners should use to deal with both emergencies and regular maintenance. Wilson praises Kirk Hubbard, DVM, for his role in a webinar hosted by Purdue University that dealt with first aid for sheep and goats … [Read more...]
Coping with pet grief
A recent Morris Animal Foundation-funded study sought to understand if and how pets grieve following the loss of a companion animal in the home. While many reported changes in behaviors were similar between dogs and cats, there were some key differences. Source: Morris Animal Foundation, September 10, 2020. Link. Researchers captured information in behavior categories that … [Read more...]
Talkatoo CEO featured on Veterinary Viewfinder
Sponsored Content Shawn Wilkie, founder and CEO of Talkatoo, joined Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, to share how he entered the veterinary industry, the origins of Talkatoo and how veterinary professionals around the globe are saving time and effort with this innovative technology. Source: Veterinary Viewfinder Podcast, January 20, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Young vet gives tips, gets 1.4 million TikTok followers
Hunter Finn, DVM, may not be the most senior staffer at Richter Animal Hospital in Arlington, Texas, but he has the most TikTok followers on the hospital team. His posting on the social media platform began as a way to unwind from work. However, his unique ways of sharing basic information about pets has garnered him more than a million followers. Source: WFAA, January 27, … [Read more...]
10 states with the worst air quality
More than four out of every 10 Americans live in regions that have observed unhealthy ozone according to the American Lung Association. Smog, soot and other particle pollution have substantial implications for health and can even increase the decline in air quality. There are a couple surprises in the top 10 list of states. Source: The Outdoor Wear, November 20, 2020. Link. … [Read more...]
7 online scams targeting veterinary practice owners
Sponsored Content “Digital technology is allowing the reinvention of decades-old con jobs as online scams. Fraudsters continue to tap the power of technology,” says Clint Latham, JD. Unfortunately, people are still falling for these updated versions of rip-offs resulting in loss of property, privacy and sometimes freedom. Common scams also target veterinary practice owners, … [Read more...]
Covid vaccines: fact versus fiction
University of Kentucky’s Vince Venditto, PhD, is busting myths about vaccines to help inform your decision to get vaccinated. I would personally get any of the approved vaccines, absolutely. I will also wait for my turn to ensure that those at highest risk can get vaccinated first. . .” - Vince Venditto, PhD, assistant professor in the University of Kentucky College of … [Read more...]
Face masks cause problems for dogs that eat them
There’s a new problem in town, obstructing dogs’ stomachs and intestines: the face mask” – Jennifer Woolf, DVM, MS Woolf reminds us that dogs can smell the lovely bouquet of odors trapped in the fibers of the mask, and that bouquet smells like food so the dog eats the mask. Once inside, the mask becomes a foreign body, will not act like food and can cause multiple … [Read more...]
Rescue animals, TIME’s 2020 pet of the year
Pets will return to the White House when president-elect Joe Biden takes office. One of them is the rescue dog, Major. Rescues, rehomes and adoptions peaked during the pandemic and it’s a trend likely to continue. TIME shares stories, trends and metrics. Source: TIME, December 9, 2020. Link. … [Read more...]
Burial records reveal most popular pet names
Analysis of 115 years of pet burial records reveals the changing trends in how Americans name and relate to their best friends. Princess is the most popular overall pet name in the U.S. and is in the top-10 most popular dog names since the 1960s, but has never been the number 1 name in any single decade. Tiger is the most popular cat’s name of the last 115 years. Max was the … [Read more...]
Rationales for a dry January (includes videos)
Dry January began in 2012 as an initiative by Alcohol Change UK, a British charity, to ditch the hangover, reduce the waistline and save some serious money by giving up alcohol for 31 days. Dry January is a useful tool in determining to what extent we have become dependent on alcohol during the COVID-19 pandemic," Sharon Wilsnack, PhD. Source: Today, January 7, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
7 important things to know about rabbits
We’ve learned new pet owners often need basic husbandry guidance to understand pet needs. Eve Cohen, DVM, shares rabbit information important for those owning or considering acquiring a rabbit: Rabbits are social animals Rabbit’s life expectancy Rabbits are prey animals Housing: outdoors vs. indoors Safe flooring Rabbit nutrition Bunnies aren’t … [Read more...]
What eating in front of the TV does to your body
Eating in front of the TV is a great idea if you’re looking for a way to eat copious amounts of food without ever hearing the ‘I’ve had enough’ signal from your body.” - Lori Hammond, hypnotist Source: MEL, January 8, 2020. Link. Shows these days tend to be more suspenseful than ever. “Television today is riddled with faster-than-life scene changes,” says psychologist Glenn … [Read more...]
Shepherding off the coast of Maine remains unchanged for eons
Interested animal health pros will find this photo-filled story interesting, if not memorable. Experience how the Wakeman family works to maintain the traditions of island shepherding, which have been unchanged for centuries. Source: New York Times, December 31, 2020. Link. Historical evidence suggests that sheep have been raised on Big Nash Island for more than 300 years. … [Read more...]
Best air purifiers for pet dander and allergies
Potentially 20 percent of people have allergies to pets, writes Joelle Klein. For those who do, air purifiers may provide added support for removing dander, hair and odors. Klein shares products independently selected and reviewed by the Daily Paws editorial team. Source: Daily Paws, December 29, 2020. Link. INSIGHTS: Air purifiers can help owners with allergies avoid … [Read more...]
The remarkable life of Tommy Raskin
We’ve shared innumerable items about how important it is to maintain mental health, address issues surrounding it and to do what we can to prevent suicide. Whether for you, a coworker or a customer, when in doubt, ACT. None of us wants to help write a tribute such as this one that Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin and Sarah Bloom Raskin shared about their son, Tommy, last … [Read more...]
Sleep loss hijacks brain’s activity during learning
New research suggests disrupted sleep may lead to more problems than the occasional all-nighter. Source: Science Daily, November 11, 2020. Link. Research summary: Sleep is crucial for consolidating our memories, and sleep deprivation has long been known to interfere with learning and memory. Now a new study shows that getting only half a night's sleep - as many medical … [Read more...]
For aspiring animal scientists, it all starts in AnSci 101
Lots of opportunities for animal health pros to get involved. Many animal health professionals take an Introduction to Animal Sciences course early in their coursework. When the conditions are right, an introductory course can serve as a springboard where students find additional opportunities and formalize their interest in the subject. Conversely, an ineffective intro course … [Read more...]
Most common dairy farm inspection debits
From behind the scenes, a Minnesota, dairy farm inspector shares violations that occur over and over. The list reveals how much observational diligence is required on dairies. . . . to market Grade A milk, farms are required to undergo routine state and milk buyer inspections and pass federal milk inspection requirements. Source: Farm Progress, December 21, 2020. Link. Repeat … [Read more...]
Horses need to be taught to accept having their feet held
Idaho horseman and clinician Martin Black talks about working with horses, learning how to make it easy for them accept a raised foot and avoiding having the horse lean on the farrier. Source: Western Horseman, July 26, 2019. Link. INSIGHTS: Training horses to tolerate foot care is similar to working with puppies and kittens on having nail trims. Consistent work and good … [Read more...]
Steve Dale’s holiday safety tips
For more than two decades, Steve Dale, certified animal behavior consultant, has been communicating with more pet owners than any other pet journalist in America. He’s not E.F. Hutton, but when Steve speaks, pet owners listen. Organizing his list in holiday fashion, Dale provides 12 Christmas pet safety tips to ensure a safe howliday. Source: Steve Dale’s Pet World, December … [Read more...]
Maybe we should go to bed angry
Recently, some colleagues shared relief at not having the BIG holiday gathering, “. . . maybe this year we won’t have to listen to <obstinate person> grouse about this and that!” One of the more common pieces of relationship wisdom shared is, “Don’t go to bed angry.” Indi Samarajiva disagrees. He says a fight is a feeling , often of not being heard, seen or tended to. … [Read more...]
Drought! Is it time to worry?
For those east of the Mississippi River, drought is not a great concern. However, areas west of there are experiencing a growing drought footprint. Currently, 67% of the country is afflicted with varying levels of drought, with 22% in the two most severe categories – “extreme” and “exceptional.” Source: Feedstuffs, December 16, 2020. Link. Forecasters are concerned that soil … [Read more...]
Honey, I shrunk the goat
When considering a backyard pet, a manageable 4-H project for a child, or smaller livestock for a homestead or hobby farm, consider these small goat breeds. Theresa Miller offers a concise catalogue of compact caprines. Source: Backyard Goats, October 9, 2020. Link. … [Read more...]
Take care of dogs during winter
Winter’s weather increase the risk for dogs to experience hypothermia and frostbite just as we do. Different breeds tolerate winter better than others, but age and overall health are important factors, too. Snow and ice can cause problems for some dogs. However, ice melts on pavement and sidewalks have own toxicity issues. Here are three resources to help address winter safety … [Read more...]
RFD-TV celebrates 20th anniversary (includes video)
Complimentary commercial content Founder Patrick Gosch’s conviction from 20 years ago is certainly as true today as ever. He set out to connect city and country for with rural programming that was being ignored by urban broadcasters. Today, Rural Media Group is the world’s leading provider of multimedia content dedicated to the rural and Western lifestyle. RFD TV is … [Read more...]
What Doc Lunsford taught me about Christmas
The Grinch is working overtime to steal Christmas in 2020. We may not celebrate with all of our family and friends this year. But, we can find joy in recalling memories of Christmas from years past. Source: Purpose Unlimited: Link. Every Christmas I think about Doc Lunsford. As a boy Doc had polio and was unable to attend school. His bout with polio left one leg shorter than … [Read more...]
New, empathic website helps you think and talk about death
Facing our own mortality and the mortality of ones we care about remains a tough topic. Mark Wilson reviews a new website, Life Support that lets you explore topics about death and dying from the perspectives of experts, such as palliative care doctors and social workers. Source: Fast Company, December 14, 2020. Link. … [Read more...]
So long, BEEF, Feedstuffs and National Hog Farmer. “It’s been a heckuva ride.”
BEEF, Feedstuffs and National Hog Farmer will suspend print publications with January 2021 issues. Some digital presence of each will remain. We’ve shared plenty of their articles and web postings since Animal Health Digest began and their contributions are appreciated. Source: BEEF, November 25, 2020. Link. By suspend, they mean that BEEF print, along with the print … [Read more...]
The never-ending parasite dilemma
John Gillam, DVM, discusses parasites in ungulates including types, life cycles, treatments, testing and slowing down resistance. . . . understanding parasite treatment and the worms that can plague cattle is critical to developing healthy herds.” - John Gilliam, DVM Source: High Plains Journal, December 2, 2020. Link. “We actually select those parasite populations for … [Read more...]