Thank you to guest contributor, Brent Toellner, senior director of national programs, Best Friends Animal Society Tawny Hammond, national no kill leadership advancement director with Best Friends Animal Society, believes how we treat companion animals is a direct reflection of our communities’ overall well-being. She cites studies that support consistent, compassionate, … [Read more...]
Millions of dog owners facing quandary over dog care as they return to work
More than 23 million American households adopted a pet during the pandemic – so far, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. And, boy how they pampered those pets. Americans spent $21.4 billion on nonmedical pet products through November and $28.4 billion on dog food, according to Euromonitor International. Rover, the dog sitting and boarding … [Read more...]
Fit named 2022 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year
Fit, a Border Collie owned by Florida Farm Bureau members Cindy and Andrew Deak, was named Farm Dog of the Year earlier this week during the group’s annual convention. She’s been with the Deaks since she was a puppy and helps move sheep from pasture to pasture. Source: American Farm Bureau Federation, January 9, 2022. Link. (includes video) “Fit is pretty much my right-hand … [Read more...]
Canadian researchers trying to develop vaccine for IBDV in poultry
Infectious bursal disease virus is costly and deadly to poultry. It targets and destroys most of the antibody-producing cells in a chicken’s immune system. Susantha Gomis, veterinary pathologist at Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, likens IBDV in chickens to HIV in humans. Once the birds are infected with IBDV, they’re more susceptible … [Read more...]
Prepare for calving time
Calving seasons is nearly here. David Rethorst, DVM with Production Animal Consultation, presents sound reasoning to prepare for the time and how sound animal stewardship makes the best use of resources, puts more quality beef on consumers’ tables and creates value for the industry. Source: Protein Producers, winter 2021-2022, pages 23 – 27. Link. The key for these changes … [Read more...]
Iowa State University to test teaching with telehealth technology
A USDA grant allows veterinarians at Iowa State’s Swine Medicine Education Center to partner with precision farming company Dystinct and the VetNOW veterinary telehealth platform to test the learning platform. The partnership proved the concept works as students learned how to draw blood from a pig while being taught from a veterinarian using telehealth technology. Source: … [Read more...]
Best of Pat Malone 2021
Pat Malone’s posts consistently rank near the top of those you read each week. Here are this year’s most popular. Spoiler alert. They’re as relevant in 2022 as they were in 2021. Source: Animal Health Digest. 2021. updated 12/23/2021 Top 10 most-read posts from Patrick T. Malone: Be interested. Link. Communicating without words. Link. Complex … [Read more...]
“Farmers thrive when their animals thrive.”
That’s what fourth-generation, Iowa dairy farmer and TikTok sensation Dan Venteicher said in a recent conversation with Kristen Peck, chief executive officer at Zoetis. The pair talked about the importance of taking care of the cows so they produce more milk and remain healthy. Venteicher also shared the reality of using technology and data to help care for and in this case, … [Read more...]
Pen-side BRD test may save industry millions, reduce antibiotic use
Researchers at Purdue University have developed an on-site bovine respiratory disease test that give results within an hour. BRD causes half the cattle deaths in North American and costs the beef industry $900 million a year. Current testing takes several days, so farmers must treat before knowing what pathogen caused the disease which can lead to ineffective or overuse of … [Read more...]
Cattle rendering, an unsung sustainability success story
Key points from last week’s post, Beef upcycles well Link, are reinforced in this article from Jennifer M. Latzke. Without the rendering industry, America would fill to capacity every one of its landfills in four years just with the offal and other parts of cattle that don’t go into the butcher’s meat case, she writes. This was one key point from a peer-reviewed study … [Read more...]
Beef upcycles well. It’s a great story we all can share.
Sustainability is a buzzword worldwide, but it is sometimes real. Beef’s sustainability is demonstrable after animals are harvested, considering only half of what a beef carcass yields is considered consumable in the U.S. Carrie Veselka’s recap of a Cattlemen’s College session about how beef byproducts are used and developed provides proof that “they use everything but the … [Read more...]
Surgeons attached a pig kidney to a human. It worked!
Researchers in New York successfully attached a kidney grown in a genetically altered pig to a human patient. The kidney worked normally representing a scientific breakthrough that may yield a new supply of organs for severely ill patients. Though the procedure won’t be available anytime soon, experts say the surgery is a milestone. Source: New York Times, October 19, 2021. … [Read more...]
Asian longhorned tick found in Georgia
The Asian longhorned tick, an invasive species, was recently positively confirmed on a cow in north central Georgia. The ticks can cause severe anemia and tick fever in livestock. If an animal has one tick it’s probably our common Lone Star Tick. If a cow [or other animal] shows up with hundreds of ticks on it, we’re going to be very suspicious that we’re looking at an Asian … [Read more...]
Stalkerware apps are stealing personal data from smartphones, maybe yours
Stalkerware is the term for rapidly expanding group of smartphone apps that may look like useful calculator or calendar apps. Instead, they record every keystroke users make and gather personal data, including location, passwords and photos. They lurk in the Apple App store and Google Play. Source: New York Times, September 29, 2021. Link. It’s extremely invasive, it’s a … [Read more...]
It’s okay to truly grieve for lost pets
Losing a trusted pet sucks. Without traditional grieving rituals we generally experience when family members die, losing a pet can truly mess with us. Experts say the death of pets can even activate grief over previous losses. Source: Outside, September 2, 2021. Link. The death of a pet is a very big deal. I often have people tell me they are surprised the experience is … [Read more...]
Animal hospitals still overwhelmed by pandemic pet boon
Curbside service is now the norm. Emergency service is a concern, however. KPCC’s Larry Mantle hosted Peter Weinstein, DVM and executive director of the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association, and Evelyn Sagastume, founder of Petsadena Animal Hospital, during a live, on-air discussion last Monday. The conversation also focused on burnout, what’s changed in the vet … [Read more...]
You’re out of something. Get used to it.
Just-in-time inventory management was a great concept, even a great practice – until it wasn’t. Wasn’t IS now. Delays, product shortages and increasing costs continue to frustrate businesses of all sizes. The Great Supply Chain Disruption is a reality and it’s here. A Harvard Business School expert doesn’t see it getting better this year. Source: New York Times, August 30, … [Read more...]
Ask a vet to help treat a dog with ear mites
Complimentary Content Ear mites can cause infection in a dog’s ear canals. If a dog is scratching, ear mites could be the cause. The folks at Tractor Supply Company compiled a well-written tip sheet about dealing with ear mites. It recommends veterinarians be the first stop. Source: Tractor Supply Company, August 27, 2021. Link. Always schedule a visit with your … [Read more...]
13 words and phrases to banish from crisis communications
We’ve all had to communicate during a crisis, especially animal health communications pros. Senior leadership must recognize what may be perceived as a minor issue internally will not necessarily be perceived that way externally. Choosing your language carefully is never more critical than during a crisis. Thirteen members of Forbes Communications Council shared one word or … [Read more...]
AHD’s Augustine speaks with Ivan Zak, Shawn Wilkie on Veterinary Innovation Podcast
Kirk Augustine, Animal Health Digest founder and president, was the 110th guest on the recent Veterinary Innovation Podcast. He discussed curating content for veterinary professionals, the need for neutrality and why animal dentistry deserves more attention as oral care. Source: Veterinary Innovation Podcast, August 12, 2021. Link. Reflecting on the experience, Augustine … [Read more...]
ASF information for community and media available from OIE
The latest information about African swine fever and tools for communicating about it to the public and the media are now available from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). From a thorough overview of the disease, diagnostics, and prevention and control, the information quality is expectedly high. Additionally, a link to media resources that include posters, … [Read more...]
Galaxy Vets, a new veterinary healthcare system, launches
Complimentary Commercial Content Galaxy Vets, an employee-owned veterinary healthcare system in the U.S. launched this week. Dr. Ivan Zak, founder of Smartflow and Veterinary Integrated Solutions will lead the company. It will use VIS methodology and technology to combat veterinary burnout by addressing why veterinarians leave the … [Read more...]
Innovative BRD control-decision making tool for cattle introduced
Complimentary Commercial Content WHISPER® ON ARRIVAL, a breakthrough technology that predicts which feedyard animals will benefit from treatment on arrival for the control of bovine respiratory disease was introduced this week by Merck Animal Health and Allflex Livestock Intelligence. Made with a new sound collection device and a predictive algorithm, the system shows how … [Read more...]
Speaking of Pets – a worthwhile resource
It’s a challenge filling e-newsletter, blog and website content. Enter Speaking of Pets, a 2-minute podcast from NPR and Alabama Public Radio. Host Mindy Morton covers everything under the sun in short, easily usable pieces. Source: NPR, Speaking of Pets, Link. Speaking of Pets with Mindy Norton is for people who care about pets and about humane treatment for animals in … [Read more...]
Practical backyard chicken advice during a virtual visit to the farm
The number of backyard poultry flocks continues to grow. New owners need practical advice. In this episode of The Takeaway, guest host Melissa Harris-Perry has a discussion about backyard poultry basics with Emily Shoop, a PennState Extension educator who specializes in backyard poultry, as well as gamebirds. Source: The Takeaway, Rebroadcast: USDA plans to pay debt relief … [Read more...]
Experimental vaccine cocktail protects cattle from Johne’s disease
Agricultural Research Service scientists have developed an experimental vaccine that protects cattle from the bacterium that causes Johne’s disease. The chronic intestinal disorder is most prevalent in dairy herds and costs the U.S. industry more than $220 million in losses each year. Source: Morning Ag Clips, June 28, 2021. Link. Trials with dairy calves, detailed in the … [Read more...]
AHD welcomes IBPSA members
Members of the International Boarding and Pet Services Association will begin receiving the weekly Animal Health Digest Bulletin in July. Pet boarding and daycare is a multi-billion-dollar business segment. The IBPSA is the pet boarding and daycare industry’s only professional business association. More than 1,000 businesses are members, including 140 veterinary … [Read more...]
Keep horses cool this summer
Heat is just as hard on horses as it is any animal. Did you realize a horse can lose up to 15 liters of fluid an hour on hot and humid days? Sandra TenBroeck, University of Florida State Extension horse specialist, compiled a list of tips that are helpful to new and experienced riders. Source: University of Florida State Extension, June 18, 2021. Link. In cool to moderate … [Read more...]
Dry cows need shade to thrive, increase lifetime production
When talking about environmental impact in dairies, most would think about carbon footprint or water quality. However, a University of Florida study determined it is most ideal to cool dry cows during the entire dry period to prevent milk loss. The same should be provided for bred heifers. Researchers found reduced dry matter intakes pre-calving and weaker immunity pre- and … [Read more...]
Stop kissing your chickens!
In what has become an annual and sometimes, more often, warning, the Centers for Disease Control last month warned people to stop cuddling and kissing backyard poultry because chickens may spread salmonella. Out of 163 reported cases of Salmonella, 34 people were hospitalized. Children under 5 years old make up a third of the cases. Source: NPR, May 22, 2021. Link. “Don’t … [Read more...]