An emphasis on people, training, culture, retention and advancement are key priorities for today’s swine producers according to Claire LeFevre, DVM. She summarizes priorities from presentations at the swine conference. Source: National Hog Farmer, September 28, 2021. Link. Presenters discussed using the TN Visa Network which allows professionals from Canada and Mexico to … [Read more...]
Getting started with goats for milk
The popularity of self-sustaining food production on small acreages or large backyards includes rabbits, poultry and goats. Heather Smith Thomas writes about raising goats for milk and how their short generation makes goats a great project for 4-H kids. Dwarf goats don’t produce the volume of milk of large goats but their milk is high in butterfat and makes good cheese she … [Read more...]
Evaluation of antimicrobial prescriptions in dogs with suspected bacterial urinary tract disease
A study published in the August 16 edition of the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine evaluated antimicrobial prescriptions for dogs in the U.S. and Canada diagnosed with urinary tract disease. Understanding antimicrobial use is a critical component of antimicrobial stewardship efforts. Decreases in duration and increased use of recommended first-line antimicrobials were … [Read more...]
Proactive nutrition for the healthy indoor cat
Nutrition is especially important for indoor cats, which depend solely on their owners for what, when, and how they eat. Indoor cats are at greater risk for becoming overweight or obese and for developing behavior problems." From the summary: Recommending that clients weigh daily food portions and monitor the cat’s BCS and body weight will help them maintain a healthy weight … [Read more...]
VVCA member benefits worth the price of admission
Complimentary If only for the lunch and learn events, membership in the VVCA is worth the small fee. Plus, employees of sponsor organizations receive membership at no cost. Telemedicine is here to stay – for us personally in our own health, and for the health of our pets. Consumer demand won’t let us go backward at this point. Virtual care is … [Read more...]
Third-party sellers are outgrowing Amazon
Some of the top Amazon-native brands have ballooned to such a size that they are ready to transition beyond the platform. Amazon sellers are achieving enough scale that they can stand alone as public-facing brands. IPOs and SPACs offer a path toward ubiquity. Opinion Much of the discussion in this article will remind animal health pros of events over the last two or more … [Read more...]
Supply-chain contracts getting revamped after Covid-19 disruptions (includes video)
Buyers beware! It is likely the contract changes represented in this article will hit animal health companies at some point. We’re sharing excerpts from the article. Pandemic-driven strains in supply chains are triggering changes in contract terms between suppliers and their manufacturing and retail customers as companies try to address the risks and added costs brought on … [Read more...]
The latest from the IBPSA
We began sharing the Animal Health Digest Bulletin with the International Boarding and Pet Services Association in July. The IBPSA communicates regularly with its members with Fast Bites by email and with its magazine Pet Care Pro Quarterly. The IBPSA member base is part of the growing pet care community serving pet owners to provide pet boarding and daycare facilities, … [Read more...]
Dehydration symptoms everyone should know
Kansas City Chiefs fans were reminded of the ill effects of dehydration when Coach Andy Reid was taken to the hospital following the recent football game in GEHA Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Dehydration does more than just make you thirsty. It can be dangerous to your health, share authors Linda Melone and Maggie O'Neill. They share a slide show outlining 13 … [Read more...]
Veterinary Cannabis Society working to empower through education
The developing cannabis market for animals is a prime example of a consumer-driven market seeking consistent, dependable supply. CBD supplements and cannabis use remains a hot and complicated topic in veterinary medicine. Traditional research is scarce compared to other veterinary products, but that has not slowed the development of new products. The Veterinary Cannabis … [Read more...]
Dog disorders and their frequency in pictures
Data released by Britain's VetCompass program at the Royal Veterinary College is based on a sample of 22,333 dogs in the United Kingdom and offers insight into common dog disorders. The dogs were followed for a year and had all their health issues documented. In addition to a traditional matrix, the results are documented in unique graphic form. Source: VIN News Service, … [Read more...]
VetWatch commentary reveals pet owner influencers, satisfaction
Opinion These excerpts from the VetWatchSM Commentary for Week 37 - thru September 18, 2021 are important because they reveal the value of current market trends and changes in pet owner mindshare. Excerpt: “As of September 18, 2021, year-over-year growth remains robust though continues to slow versus the previous year.” Question: Does -0.2 percent seem minimal to … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – September 23, 2021
Last week’s. . . . . . most read post Survey: Workers ages 18 to 44 want payday more flexible. Link. . . . AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin - Sept 16, 2021. Link. Forget a pre-flight drink. Pet an airport therapy dog. Source: Washington Post, September 17, 2021. Link. Sure, you could drown your travel anxieties at the airport bar or … [Read more...]
Comparing beef and dairy bull fertility
The increased use of beef sires on dairy cattle has raised questions on the relative fertility of beef versus dairy sires. Since 2008, dairy producers have had access to sire conception rate data. Similar information has not been available in the expected progeny differences published for beef sires for which a different scoring is used. A 2020 study by McWhorter et al. … [Read more...]
Fall checklist for horses’ health
Fall is a good time to arrange veterinary care, assess horses’ conditions, secure winter forage and restore pastures in preparation for winter. Katie Navarra shares fall horse keeping tasks broken down into four areas with checklists. Source: Horse and Rider, September 23, 2019. Link. The fall-health checklist includes: Provide optimal veterinary care Evaluate horse … [Read more...]
Cattle feed can be deadly for horses
A long-running court case serves as a reminder to be vigilant about the source and content of a horse's grain. Twenty horses there were poisoned by a mistaken delivery of cattle grain laced with the antibiotic lasalodic in 1999. All the horses colicked and five died. Source: EQUUS, July 25, 2021. Link. Lasalodic and monensin are two common cattle-feed additives that are … [Read more...]
R.I.P. Stuckie, the coon hound that refused to quit
The photos in this article may be disturbing to some. Chasing a raccoon almost 30’ above the floor of heavy northeast Alabama woods 40 years ago, a Redbone coonhound got lodged in an oak tree and was out of hearing range of its owner. Forty years later a logging operation fell the tree and discovered the well-preserved hound, posthumously named, Stuckie. The log, dog and … [Read more...]
Toxic, invasive poison hemlock is spreading into gardens, yards, parks across U.S.
Poison hemlock, which resembles Queen Anne’s Lace, is often spotted along highways, in fence lines and on the edges of farm fields. Recently, populations of this toxic and invasive plant have exploded in parks, yards and gardens across the country. Poison hemlock spreads and grows its footprint during late summer and fall. Each plant produces up to 30,000 seeds that ripen … [Read more...]
Helping canine boredom
Complimentary Content The market for toys and puzzles to ward off boredom by pets is exploding as pet caregivers return to work outside the home. Hardly a day goes by without seeing another article about what to do now that the dog is home alone. While resources are plentiful, it is hard for owners to choose what works for their pet. Plus, finding the best choices may result … [Read more...]
Extensively drug-resistant Campylobacter jejuni infections associated with U.S. pet store puppies
More than 90 percent of human Campylobacter infections are caused by Campylobacter jejuni. Major symptoms include diarrhea that is often bloody, fever and abdominal cramps. Most recover within one week. BUT not all recover that fast. Thanks to the CDC Campylobacter surveillance network, the drug-resistant strains of C. jejuni were reported and investigated. Surveillance data … [Read more...]
Basic job search tips that are easy to forget
Searching “job search advice” on Google gives you 1.4 billion results. Jenny Foss boils things down to a short list of sound, timeless job searching tips to help fine-tune processes and hopefully remove frustrations and wasted time. Source: The Muse. Link. Foss shares these 6 tips: Make yourself an obvious fit Don’t limit yourself to online applications Remember … [Read more...]
How to say NO after saying YES
We started a post last week with, “Sometimes, the best answer is ‘no,’ and doesn’t have to come at the cost of your workplace relationships or reputation.” However, we often find ourselves caught because something has changed and we’ve already said yes. Melody Wilding offers six tips to help you say no after you’ve already said yes with tact and professionalism: Consider … [Read more...]
Pets, parenting and finding our new routine
For most, finding the transition back to the “new normal” has been more challenging than expected with managing work, family and pets. Christine Royal, DVM, shares reminders that helped her family get back to work, school and travel schedules. Source: Linked In, September 1, 2021. Link. The shift back to a more active schedule is overwhelming for us all; and while things … [Read more...]
11 million-plus animals may be affected by ransomware attack
NEW Cooperative in Fort Dodge, Iowa, was recently hit with a ransomware attack that forced the farm and feed supply operation to take systems offline. Blackmatter, the group allegedly behind the attack, is demanding $5.9 million to provide a decryptor. NEW Cooperative claims its software powers grain production and feed schedules for 11 million animals. Source: ars TECHNICA, … [Read more...]
Advancements in regenerative agriculture
The agriculture industry is under constant scrutiny. This includes animal health, crops, chemical use and overall resource stewardship. Even the pet side of animal health is a consideration as so many ag product components feed a growing pet population. We’re sharing an example of how Cargill’s decade-long investment in sustainable agriculture supports partnerships to enable … [Read more...]
Jonathan Ayers to chair Panthera board of directors
Panthera, the global wild cat conservation organization, announced this week that Jonathan Ayers, conservationist and former chairman, president and CEO of IDEXX Laboratories, has been appointed as the organization’s new chair of the board of directors. An absolute game-changer in the field with the largest-ever commitment made to small cat conservation, I am thrilled to see … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – September 16, 2021
Last week’s . . . . . . most read AHD post History of the Bantam chicken. Link. . . . AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin - Sept 9, 2021. The traditional, local, American auto dealership getting a facelift Source: Wall Street Journal, September 11, 2021. Link. For nearly a century, the American car dealership has retained its iconic … [Read more...]
Batch farrowing progress tracked with big data
Ron Ketchem and Mark Rix share the progression results of batch farrowing and provide views of various data depicting progress, challenges and value. Source: National Hog Farmer, September 1, 2021. Link. With the increasing disease challenges to the swine industry and large sow farms and finisher sites, batch farrowing needs to be explored.” INSIGHTS: The use of … [Read more...]
Dangling a dozen endangered rhinos upside down, researchers earn Ig Nobel (video)
Researchers from Cornell University and Namibia's Ministry of Environment wanted to find out how rhinos fare upside down. Apparently, no one had ever checked to see if the health of a tranquilized rhino was compromised when being airlifted upside down. As it turns out, the rhinos cope very well and better in this unusual position than simply lying on their side or … [Read more...]
Turkeys plus chickens: Mix the flock or not?
There are benefits to keeping a mixed flock, but there are serious bird health hazards associated with it, as well, writes Jeremy Chartier. He describes social benefits of mixing types, while reminding poultry raisers of potential coop configuration challenges. Source: Backyard Poultry, September 13, 2021. Link. Be sure to introduce mature turkeys into a chicken flock. … [Read more...]