Commercial, Sponsored Content Please welcome Virox® Technologies Inc., Animal Health, as a Supporting Sponsor of Animal Health Digest. Its team established an assertive position to ensure product inventories were available and disinfection education continued uninterrupted as the pandemic began and remains with us. Distributor animal health pros tell us Virox has been and … [Read more...]
Renew the discussion of standardizing veterinary technician credentials
Covid-19 has quieted the discussion of veterinary technicians versus veterinary nurses. But, the need for standardized credentials is more apparent now than a year ago. As practices expand staffing to accommodate more flexible schedules and increasing pet owner numbers, the need for veterinary technicians has increased exponentially. Kenichiro Yagi MS, RVT, VTS (ECC, SAIM), … [Read more...]
Family commitments, bosses and work
Not all bosses understand when family commitments need to be balanced with work schedules and priorities. Rebecca Knight shares ideas to help mitigate the tensions when bosses are indifferent. Getting your boss to understand and support your needs comes down to clear, honest and frequent communication. If you’re willing to initiate that dialogue, you’re more likely to get … [Read more...]
More research needed on honesty
The title was enough to catch my attention, especially considering the confusion of the last several months. As citizens of the world, we’re obsessed with lying and lies right now. What’s real, what’s fake, and what’s deliberate and deceitful manipulation?” Author Judi Ketteler proclaims everybody wants the truth, but nobody wants to be honest. She says we know about lying … [Read more...]
The endocannabinoid system and phytocannabinoids
Beyond obvious regulatory challenges, there is a definite need to ensure the safety and effectiveness of cannabis use in animals. The challenge for pet owners and veterinarians is to become educated with about the endocannaboid system and cannabis administration. Gary Richter, DVM, MS, provides an introduction to understanding how the endocannabinoid system functions and how … [Read more...]
Does your practice have a pricing problem?
In the early 1990s, a wise distribution leader faced off with a veterinarian irate over 5¢ difference in a bottle of oxytocin. He asked the vet, “. . .would your customer notice a 10¢ increase in your price on oxytocin?” Floundering, the vet answered, “no. . . but that’s not the point!” This story is a backdrop to where Karen Felstad, CPA, MS, DVM, CVPM, starts the article … [Read more...]
Welcome Lucca Veterinary Data Services as Supporting Sponsor
Sponsorship Announcement Please welcome Lucca Veterinary Data Services as a Supporting Sponsor of Animal Health Digest. Lucca’s founder, Clint Latham, JD, helps uncover the mystery of data security for DVM’s across the country. His efforts support independent IT professionals while simultaneously providing security and data insights to veterinary practices and … [Read more...]
Top 5 consequences of brachycephaly
Cute or not, dogs that look like they ran headlong into a wall at 60 mph have problems. Anne Fawcett, BVSc, MVS, MANZCVS, DECAWBM, shares how brachycephalic conformation is associated with multiple health problems, some of which can be life-threatening and most of which are lifelong. Awareness of the consequences of brachycephaly is important when advising pet owners about … [Read more...]
4 emotions chickens may be feeling
“The sky is falling, the sky is falling,” proclaimed Henny Penny (also known as Chicken Little) in the famous Danish children’s story. Henny Penny had an anxiety attack and emotionally ran hither and yon after an acorn fell on her head. Fast forward to 2020. . . Ana Hotling brings us a more modern day look at chicken emotions flock keepers may observe on a day to day basis. … [Read more...]
Handling cattle the right way
With winter around the corner, beef producers are working cattle, weaning calves and moving herds as harvest progresses. Two articles from the Angus Beef Bulletin refer to handling practices and animal husbandry. While we think cattle producers should know these things, handling clinics remain popular as in-person and online events Source: Training cattle for easy handling, … [Read more...]
Mortality is extremely complicated. So is sample size.
When conducting studies where mortality is an important outcome, let's revisit how we go about answering the question "how many?" The authors remind us that simply recognizing the limitations of our knowledge is a critical step. This leads us to their discussion on ultimately decreasing pig mortality. Some of their logic may help us better understand our current situation … [Read more...]
CattleFax CEO shares beef industry outlook
Occasionally, it is important to revisit how we got to where we are. Randy Blach, CEO of CattleFax, shared similar perspectives at this year's virtual Feeding Quality Forum. “It’s not been a straight line,” he said. On the global stage, the U.S. is the top beef and poultry producer, and third in pork, dominating meat trade overall. The reason, he said, is because the lion’s … [Read more...]
Some perspective on drive-through or curbside services
COMMENTARY Louis Sullivan (1856-1924) helped pioneer and change the face of architecture. This quote is attributed to him, “form follows function.” In this context, writer Mark Wilson reviews fast food chains’ $290 billion race for the perfect drive-through. What does this have to do with animal health? Drive-throughs have been a staple of fast-food revenue for decades, … [Read more...]
RBG, champion of women’s rights, dies
Commentary “Change is needed not only to inspire the women of our profession, but also to ensure that the culture of the profession moves forward. We must reject the dogma that has challenged the changing gender proportions of veterinary medicine and work to represent what is actually going on at the grass roots,” writes Simon R. Platt, BVM&S, Diplomate ACVIM … [Read more...]
Water quality and the microbiome
Drinking water quality is considered important to the health and productivity of pigs and all animals for that matter. The classification of "quality" water includes more than just the mineral content. Preliminary data from a study at North Carolina State University suggests that drinking water and location may influence the sow microbiome. . . . oral, nasal, rectal and … [Read more...]
Clouds of mosquitoes killing livestock, deer in Louisianna
Exhausted from constant moving, bleeding under their skin and anemic from swarming mosquito bites, horses, cattle and deer across southwest Louisiana are dying from mosquito bites. The swarms are part of the aftermath of hurricane Laura. Source: Huffington Post, September 11, 2020. Link. Luckily for humans, the species of mosquitoes that are swarming don’t transmit human … [Read more...]
Tyson becomes first in U.S. to verify sustainable cattle production
The challenge of sustainability in our food supply chains requires taking care of people, the planet and animals. Many corporations are working to include sustainability as part of their corporate structures and responsibilities. Working with Where Food Comes From, the largest provider of certification and verification services to the food industry, Tyson will source cattle … [Read more...]
The latest on RHDv
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) is a calicivirus that affects rabbits. This includes wild and domesticated European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), from which our own domesticated rabbits are descended. Outbreaks in the southwest U.S and in New York are occurring in 2020 < link > Any sudden rabbit death is suspicious and should be reported to your veterinarian … [Read more...]
Include pets’ fate in estate planning
Including the fate of pets in estate plans is not typical advice from an estate-planning attorney writes, Tony McReynolds. He shares advice about including what will happen to pets in end-of-life planning from attorney and author Kelli Brown, JD, LLM. . . . many pets are relinquished because their owners went into an extended-care facility without having named a designated pet … [Read more...]
Don’t wait! Fix by 5 Months reduces feline issues.
Performing a spay or neuter before a cat reaches maturity has benefits beyond preventing unwanted pregnancy. Reiterating the value of the Feline Fix by Five initiatives launched in 2016, the author reminds us of best practices to help manage the health and welfare of cats, plus curtail the ongoing overpopulation in our country and the world. Source: Veterinary Practice News, … [Read more...]
Ways to recognize feline OA
Complimentary Sponsored Content from Zoetis by way of Clinician’s Brief Veterinarians report they diagnose OA in cats less frequently than in dogs. Yet nearly 40 percent of all cats have clinical signs of OA, and 90 percent of cats over age 12 have radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis. If you’ve not taken time to review the information and resources available here from … [Read more...]
Managing OA in all stages and ages
For most dog owners, canine osteoarthritis in not a consideration in the daily life of their animal until it has already affected function. OA is often not diagnosed until it is already in stage 3. Myths that exist about canine osteoarthritis include: OA is a geriatric disease Growing fast is a sign of health Exercise causes OA in dogs Dogs with OA should not … [Read more...]
AAHA/AAFP introduce new feline vaccination guidelines
Consensus is a challenging part of scientific work, let alone developing guidelines to cover all the possible needs of any animal. Working together, the AAHA and AAFP tackled the collective needs of felines by updating the feline vaccination guidelines to serve the cat population and account for individualized vaccination protocols. It’s no longer just indoor cats versus … [Read more...]
Veterinarian’s Tik-Tok video on pet store products goes viral
What a great idea! Hunter Finn, DVM, made two videos highlighting items to avoid at the pet store. He references the overwhelming amount of options and how marketing and colorful products play a huge role in the consumer's decision. Unfortunately, those well-marketed products are not always what’s best for pets. Finn speaks specifically to rawhide, bones, jerky treats, rope … [Read more...]
Client handout, Why vaccinate my pet?, is helpful
The key to compliance for vaccines, flea, tick and heartworm prevention, even osteoarthritis is continual education to support preventative products and processes. Vaccination is a hot topic during the 2020 pandemic period. With all the press comes increased awareness and scrutiny of vaccination in general. Efforts to support the World Rabies Day 2020 events on September … [Read more...]
Rabies laws: What you need to know
September 28th is the 14th World Rabies Day < link >. Meanwhile, laws surrounding rabies vaccination and exposure vary across the United States. Kate Boatright, VMD, shares what animal health pros need to know about rabies laws. SAY WHAT? . . . only 39 states mandate rabies vaccination for dogs; 11 states have no statewide legal requirement for rabies vaccination of … [Read more...]
Stop zoning out in Zoom meetings
It is possible animal health pros are feeling Zoom-call fatigue. Sarah Gershman reminds us that being a participant requires focusing skills that are as important as it for call leaders to keep things directed. She explains how the Ringelmann Effect <link> is magnified on conference calls. The bigger the group, the less responsibility each individual feels to ensure … [Read more...]
Data owners face liability for data breach losses in cloud environs
Clint Latham, JD, outlines data breach liability, security measures required by law and the real costs of a cyberattack. He addresses data when using cloud PIMS, as well as local servers. Having effective breach management processes in place is key to mitigating a serious intrusion and reassuring clients.” – Clint Latham, JD Source: LuccaVet Blog, September 15, 2020. Link. … [Read more...]
What have we learned from the 2020 pandemic?
“Don’t let a good crisis go to waste,” is an overused, but sometimes appropriate quote. Crises can reveal vulnerabilities in business that were otherwise hidden. These authors look at reinforcing those cracks before the next challenge emerges. The context is dairy. The value extends beyond a dairy setting. They share 15 lessons from their observations of the last few … [Read more...]
Rats on the rise during the pandemic?
Researchers at three universities indicate the number of people reporting rat sightings has increased since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Citing past examples, researchers share that rat populations increase after natural catastrophes. Source: Dairy Herd Management, August 31, 2020. Link. The two most common rats found in the United States are Norway and Black rats. Both … [Read more...]