With concerns surrounding horse deaths at Santa Anita Race Track < link >, horse owners will be ready to consider veterinarian David Ramey’s four biggest problems that affect performance horses. If they can avoid these things, the battle is at least half won, he says. They’re overtrained They’re bored and annoyed Owners assume that performance problems are … [Read more...]
Opinion – Listening with the intent to reply
Do you hear or listen? One thing that frustrates me is how news anchors or sportscasters continuously speak over someone. It happens even when the person speaking over the other is getting an answer to the very question they just asked. Listening is NOT a competitive sport.” - Anonymous Source: Forbes, October 29, 2019. Link. Most people do not listen with the intent to … [Read more...]
Should influencers tell audiences they’re getting paid?
How times change! The whole point of influencer market has traditionally been based on the perceived neutrality of influencers. However, new research suggests that the likelihood of viewing a brand positively following an influencer’s recommendation was roughly the same whether or not a relationship between the brand and the influencer had been disclosed. Source: HBR Ascend, … [Read more...]
Younger pet owners’ pet food and care decisions don’t rely on tradition
Younger consumers are independent, do-it-yourselfers, and less reliant on traditional authority figures and similar experts, writes Debbie Phillips- Donaldson. She describes factors that may explain changing influences on pet owner decision making. In the old paradigm, consumers trusted veterinarians and major brands backed by vets, as well as large pet specialty … [Read more...]
The internet turns 50
Matt Novak tells the story of the birth of the Arpanet, the precursor to today’s internet. He shares his text discussion with Bradley Fidler, a historian of computing at the Stevens Institute in New Jersey. Fidler told Novak about why the birth certificate is important and how it fits into the grand scheme of better understanding of networking history. Source: Gizmodo, … [Read more...]
Blue jackets descend on Indy
Nearly 70,000 FFA members, advisers and supporters will attend the 92nd National FFA Convention & Expo October 31 through November 2 in Indianapolis. FFA members will celebrate their accomplishments and find inspiration for their next steps. In addition to coverage on the FFA convention website < link >, RFD-TV will be providing coverage on RFD-TV, on Country Club, … [Read more...]
Caring for cold-stressed calves
Cold weather will add stress to newly born calves in both dairy and beef operations. Taylor Leach reminds us that the most critical, and most expensive, period of calf growth in raising dairy calves is the pre-weaning period. She offers some tips to address cold weather stress during the first weeks of a calf’s life. Source: Dairy Herd Management, October 28, 2019. Link. One … [Read more...]
Study demonstrates benefits of wintering dairy cows outdoors
Recent research from the Journal of Dairy Science < link > suggests that outdoor housing through the winter might be cleaner and healthier for the cows than indoor housing. The University of Minnesota study compared organic cows housed on an outdoor straw pack with wind protection to cows housed indoors on a compost-bedded pack barn. Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, October … [Read more...]
World Dairy Expo 2019, not all black and white (pictorial)
We often think of dairy cows as Holsteins, but this recap of the recent World Dairy Expo shows the variety of breeds that produce milk. Delilah became the second Brown Swiss ever to claim back-to-back World Dairy Expo Supreme Champion titles. Sixty-two thousand people from 94 countries attended the five-day event in Madison, Wisconsin. Visitors from Canada, Mexico, Italy, … [Read more...]
You can’t disinfect a turd, but disinfectants work
We can learn a lot from practical biosecurity protocols used by swine veterinarians and their clients. The approaches practiced in swine production apply across species as we expand our thinking about zoonoses and One Health. Biosecurity must be a mindset and lifestyle. . . it must be ingrained and adhered to, and we also need to trust all employees to do the right thing even … [Read more...]
5 animal health topics beyond African swine fever to think about
Behind the scenes, animal health officials are working on behalf of producers and the livestock industry, writes JoAnn Alumbaugh. She shares five topics of interest discussed during a recent meeting of the National Assembly of State Animal Health Officials in conjunction with the 2019 U.S. Animal Health Association (USAHA) annual meeting: Flurry of activity on antibiotic … [Read more...]
Identifying and treating gastric ulcers
There are many possible reasons why horses develop gastric ulcers, writes David Ramey, DVM. He says most of them are related to how people manage their horses. Diet, confinement and medication are three areas where horse management may induce ulcers. The most thoroughly tested ulcer treatment is omeprazole, which is absorbed into the small intestine and works systemically by … [Read more...]
Advancements saving damaged corneas in pets and horses
Veterinary ophthalmologists at Cummings Veterinary Medical Center < link >have started using corneal crosslinking to help spare animals’ eyes or avoid surgery. Corneal crosslinking was developed to treat a condition called keratoconus in people which animals don’t get. Veterinary ophthalmologists have found the crosslinking approach valuable in treating dogs and horses … [Read more...]
Making an Easter surprise profitable
Four to six months after Easter, some rabbit owners are faced with choices. If Laverne and Shirley turned out to be Lenny and Shirley, there is likely an abundance of bunnies. One choice is to begin raising meat rabbits. Dennis Douthart offers a how-to in this updated article including: Production objectives Feeding Housing Breeding Health Meat processing … [Read more...]
Steve Dale on the ferret debate; domestic or wild?
It is illegal to own a ferret in California, writes Steve Dale. The debate over who has jurisdiction explodes from there. California legislators, who have little expertise or interest, could legalize ferrets but don’t, because the Fish and Game Commission continues to classify domestic ferrets as wild. Although Dale is impassioned, there are some interesting facts he … [Read more...]
Q&A with Alexandra Horowitz
Best-selling author, researcher and professor Alexandra Horowitz sees a lot of contradiction in how we live with dogs. She talks with Claudia Kawczynska following the publishing of her third book, Our Dogs, Ourselves < link >. Source: Bark, October 2019. Link. Humans who accompany dogs have never been my focus, but . . . I’ve studied whether our anthropomorphisms are … [Read more...]
5 important feline emergency procedures
Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC, DABT says there are five important feline procedures that every veterinarian should learn to perform. Practice is needed to build confidence says Lee. She explains why these procedures are critical and offers tips for improving skills: Gaining venous access Thoracentesis and abdominocentesis FAST and TFAST ultrasound Placing a … [Read more...]
Cat virus could be linked to feline cancer
Domestic cat hepadnavirus (DCH) has been found in certain types of hepatitis and liver cancer in cats, suggesting it might be the cause of the diseases. DCH was identified last year by researchers at the University of Sydney < link >. The virus is similar to hepatitis B in humans. We don’t know what causes most types of cancer, but if we know it’s triggered by a virus, … [Read more...]
Turning the corner on FIP (podcast)
Niels Pedersen, BS, DVM, PhD, has made solving feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) a career goal. Steve Dale spoke with Pedersen recently on Dale's Pet World radio show. They discuss the latest about FIP. Source: Steve Dale Pet World, October 18, 2019. Link. Pedersen shares how departing from vaccine research to take advantage of anti-viral drugs has resulted in promising … [Read more...]
Functional foods’ effects on dog, cat health summarized (slideshow)
Pet owners are often faced with new information about the best way to feed their dogs and cats. Following human trends, pet food offerings are diverse and confusing. We share this article series for perspectives on pet food inputs, reasoning and trends. Source: Pet Food Industry, October 27, 2019. Link. A meta-analysis of functional foods research summarized 17 peer-reviewed … [Read more...]
CVPM focuses on client experience, retention to compete (video)
Dana Short, MS, CVPM, discusses how focusing on the client experience works in the practice she manages. For some practices, geographic practice saturation is a relevant situation and a limiting factor to practice growth. Customer experience management is a strategy this practice deploys to retain clients and their pets. Source: VHMA Practice Tips, October 2019. … [Read more...]
CWD, a lingering threat
Deer harvest season is underway across the country. Various methods of surveying deer health get implemented depending on state regulations and previous disease evidence. John Maday’s article updates our post, Group calls for national CWD strategy, July 30, 2019. Link. Source: Drovers, October 2019. Link. Science-based and enforced regulation of captive cervid facilities is … [Read more...]
Mastitis in the mist, parasites in the drizzle. Rethink garden hose use
Though dairy related, the details presented about aerosolization and droplet-mediated transmission of bacteria applies to all animal health environments. Consider how various cleaning methods might literally cause a germ tsunami in various these settings. In addition to mastitis-causing pathogens, there are many bacteria, viruses, and parasites found in manure. If aerosolized, … [Read more...]
A problem‐based approach to equine red eye
The Wiley Network < link > recently announced the publication of an online virtual issue of EVE that focuses on equine ophthalmology. It includes relevant ophthalmology articles that have been published in EVE over the past 10 years. It is key for the veterinary clinician to follow a logical approach to equine ophthalmic cases. Source: Equine Veterinary Education (EVE), … [Read more...]
5 ways to handle the 5 main causes of seizures in dogs
Marcelle Chastain offers some coaching for pet owners when should their dogs experience seizures: Stay calm and do not panic Make a space by moving furniture, etc. that might injure the dog Remove other pets from the area Do not try to force it to open its mouth Call a veterinarian Source: Inside Pet’s World, October 4, 2019. Link. Detecting the root cause … [Read more...]
Spayed, neutered dogs more likely to become overweight or obese
New research published in PLOS ONE < link > found that de-sexing large-breed dogs increases their risk of becoming obese and/or suffering from non-traumatic orthopedic injuries. Using data from the Morris Animal Foundation’s Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, researchers found that spayed or neutered dogs were 50 to 100 percent more likely to become overweight or obese. The … [Read more...]
More vaccine options create more confusion
As we learn more about diseases, vaccine technology continues to evolve. Subunit vaccines, recombinant vectored vaccines and DNA vaccines are examples of new DIVA (differentiating infected from vaccinated animals) vaccines. JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM, shares an update on vaccinology from a presentation by Laurel Gershwin, DVM, PhD, DACVM. Gershwin covered the following topics: … [Read more...]
“Just Do It,” the cure for what really ails you
You’re not lazy. You’re not bored. You’re not unmotivated. What you are, what all of us are, is afraid, writes Niklas Göke. He describes Nike’s marketing slogan, “Just Do It,” as a tactic to refuse letting everyday hurdles get to you, while relentlessly focusing on the next, smallest action you can control. “Just Do It” isn’t an elegant solution, writes Göke. It’s not … [Read more...]
Problems don’t exist in the present
Problems are not real, they are simply projections of your mind, writes Brian Penne. Problems are grounded in time, past or future. Challenges are different and are grounded in the present moment. These you can act upon. Life is now. Think about it. Is it ever not now? Is it ever not the present moment? - Brian Pennie Source: The Startup, February 28, 2019. Link. Nothing ever … [Read more...]
Veterinary euthanasia: the last act of love
Mike Paul, DVM, has always viewed euthanasia as one of the greatest responsibilities entrusted to veterinary professionals and a gift some veterinarians take for granted. He shares his experiences and perspective about euthanasia and leading the decision process, accounting for all involved. Source: DVM 360, August 20, 2019. Link. For veterinarians, humane euthanasia is a … [Read more...]