Animal health pros working in rural areas understand the steps needed to slow the spread of coronavirus as well as their urban colleagues. That doesn’t mean the risk of exposure to it is diminished. This article explains the merciless speed at which the virus is spreading in rural America. Source: New York Times, April 8, 2020. Link. In some places, the virus has rushed in … [Read more...]
H-E-B shows what crisis planning should be
H-E-B, the famed Texas grocery chain founded in 1905, has steadfastly served customers through tornadoes and hurricanes, thanks to crisis planning unmatched by its rivals. This foundational ethos is a key component of the company’s pandemic and influenza planning it started in 2005 and has refined since. Texas Monthly reporters talked with employees, executives and customers to … [Read more...]
Trichomoniasis testing essential
Testing for trichomoniasis, or trich, is essential to help ensure herd health and profitability. The bovine venereal disease lives in the epithelial of the penis and prepuce and is considered a lifelong infection in bulls. Infected bulls transmit trich to most females they service. Cows can clear the disease but will abort calves or become infertile. Trich is easily transmitted … [Read more...]
Cowcohol – a “wheyle” of a good idea
Leave it to entrepreneurial, small-herd dairy producers and an assistant professor of distilled spirits, AKA a guy with the most fabulous job on the planet, to create a novel way to use whey, the byproduct of cheesemaking. Todd Koch, owner of TMK Creamery in Oregon, now ferments his whey and makes a vodka-like liquor they call “Cowcohol.” The dairy is overwhelmed by … [Read more...]
Puppies!!!!!! Celebrate National Puppy Day any day you want
Last Monday was National Puppy Day. It was created to highlight puppies that need adopting and abuse in puppy mills. Kudos to The Atlantic for capturing the day and making it available for us to enjoy. Take a few minutes, view the photos FULL SCREEN and smile BIG. Source: The Atlantic, March 23, 2020. Link. When so much of the world is focused on stories that can create … [Read more...]
Adjust inventory to account for supply chain disruptions
Original material from AHD The COVID-19 situation is stressing various supply chains. Adjustments to inventory management, especially for SKUS needed for caring for animals, will be critical for the foreseeable future. AHD founder, Kirk Augustine has helped develop and teach inventory management curricula for veterinary teams. He created a short inventory management paper … [Read more...]
8 tips to get your messages read
Emails, memos and requests often go ignored likely because they’re hard to understand. However, individual success depends on the help of others. Thus, success for a sale, a project, even a career likely depends on getting others to read and act on our messages. Here are eight ways to help get people to respond to them. Source: New York Times, March 8, 2020. Link. (paywall) … [Read more...]
Vaccination key to managing BRD
Multiple factors contribute to bovine respiratory disease and no single management plan works for all operations. History of the cattle, how they are handled, nutrition and vaccination are critical to keep BRD in check. So are testing and parasite management. DVMs Oliver Irons and Daniel Cummings offer a thorough review of how to prevent BRD and how to treat it, if … [Read more...]
Veterinary Feed Directives improving use of medically important products
VFDs imposed by the Food and Drug Administration in January 2017 are required for livestock feed products that contain medically important ingredients, such as tetracyclines. David Williams, owner-operator of Burkmann Nutrition, explains how feed retailers can play a leading role helping livestock operators and their veterinarians operate well with VFDs. His and other … [Read more...]
Rangeland owners need a plan to manage fire ants.
Sponsored Content Red imported fire ants can only be suppressed, or managed, on farm and ranches. They cannot be eradicated. Broadcast applications of some bait-formulated insecticides help get rid of the populations for about a year. Antixx Fire Ant Bait <link> from AHD sponsor Neudorff USA is an efficacious component in a long-term fire ant management strategy. … [Read more...]
America’s pet spending nears a record $100 billion
U.S. sales of pet products and services hit $95.7 billion in 2019, the American Pet Products Association announced last week during Global Pet Expo. Pet food and treats is the largest spending category, followed by supplies; live animals and OTC medicine; vet care and product sales; and other services. Source: APPA, February 27, 2020. Link. “Scientific research from the … [Read more...]
Veterinarian excited about future of CBD, but concerned today
Lara A. Sypniewski, DVM, DABVP, CVA, CCRP, shares her thoughts about CBD use in pets. She is optimistic that potential treatment options for CBD will be explored and tested more fully in the near future but, unfortunately, she doesn’t believe we are there just yet. . . . it is essential that pet owners understand product concerns, marketing hype and the limitations of current … [Read more...]
Manage fire ants with planning
Red imported fire ants infest pastures, hay fields, barns and equipment. They injure livestock, horses, pets and us, too. Creating a fire ant control plan helps ensure the greatest efficacy using the right products. Antixx Fire Ant Bait <link> (link to tech sheet PDF) from AHD sponsor Neudorff USA is an effective tool that fits a sound fire ant management plan. Spinosad, … [Read more...]
Fire ants can seriously hurt pets
The red imported fire ant can seriously sting and occasionally kill small animals. Young, caged or those with difficulty moving are most apt to be stung. The ants are especially attracted to open sores, hot spots and wounds making attacks even more dangerous to an already weakened animal. Effective fire ant control is possible with Antixx Fire Ant Bait <link> from AHD … [Read more...]
BI releases Cattle First documentary about commitment to cattle health
Cattle First, a documentary about the Johnsons, a six-generation ranching family who owns the Flying Diamond Cattle ranch in Colorado, premiered during the recent 2020 Cattle Industry Convention in San Antonio. The Johnson’s story focuses on the importance – and benefits – of putting animals first and the importance of being transparent about how beef is produced. Watch the … [Read more...]
Approach accountability issues with curiosity, not blame
Melissa Raffoni says a “lack of accountability” is rarely intentional. More often, it’s the result of an underlying issue, such as unclear roles and responsibilities, limited resources, a poor strategy, or unrealistic goals. She offers ways to turn situations around beginning with self-assessment. Source: Harvard Business Review, February 10, 2020. Link. Commit to setting … [Read more...]
Fire ants getting busy, especially after heavy rains
Sponsored by Neudorff USA Already fired up by warmer weather, red imported fire ants will become even more active and dangerous after recent heavy rains in southern states. Livestock, poultry and pet owners are advised to watch for the telltale mounds the pests build. Newborn calves and foals are especially at risk in … [Read more...]
Benefits of Fear Free featured in New York Times
“Fear free” veterinary care ideally addresses the physical and emotional wellbeing of animals. It is not a new concept. Idaho veterinarian Marty Becker took the approached and started the company Fear Free. It certifies veterinarians, technicians and sometimes entire practices after online training. More than 39,000 professionals and 113 practices been certified “fear free.” … [Read more...]
Improvements, concerns highlighted in new Merck Animal Health Veterinarian Wellbeing Study
The Merck Animal Health Veterinarian Wellbeing Study was released this week citing that most veterinarians rated their job satisfaction high. Conducted in collaboration with AVMA, the study also considered compensation, burnout, substance use disorder, cyberbullying and suicide. It found that 92 percent of respondents were concerned about high stress, 91 percent with high … [Read more...]
Yes. Your cat will eat you. Well, your corpse, that is.
Fluffy may nip at you during playtime but, drop dead and she’s likely to take a bite out of your corpse. They’ll start with the arm tissue, according to a recent paper by researchers from Colorado Mesa University’s Forensic Investigation Research Station. Remote cameras caught two cats returning to their preferred corpses (which were there for research) routinely for 35 nights … [Read more...]
Mental health resources for farmers and ranchers available. More on the way.
The holidays may add to everyday stress for some folks. Farmers and ranchers are no different. There is a great list of mental health and suicide prevention references with links. Keep it. It may come in handy one day. Source: Successful Farming, September 8, 2018. Link. If you need help or know someone who is contemplating suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention … [Read more...]
Feral hogs are a northern problem, too
Imported as hunting livestock in the 1980s and 1990s, Eurasian boar mated with domestic pigs in Canada and have thrived. They’re heading south, too. Add the wild hogs that short-sighted, hunting enthusiasts transport from the southern U.S. and a likely invasion of the most destructive invasive species known is coming. State and federal agencies are monitoring the U.S./Canadian … [Read more...]
New course teaches how to run a no-kill shelter
Learning how to set up and run no-kill shelters for cats and dogs is the goal of a new certificate program at Southern Utah University. In partnership with the Best Friends Animal Society <link>, the program will be offered mostly online, so students anywhere can sign up for the courses. Source: Salt Lake Tribune, December 10, 2019. Link. The credits earned will … [Read more...]
More work needed with beef cattle health
The U.S. beef industry has consistently increased production and productivity for decades. Cattle health has gotten worse. You read that right. Darrell Peel, Oklahoma State University livestock marketing specialist, says respiratory disease is the biggest health problem in the industry. Data shows that average feedlot death loss has practically doubled from 0.82 percent in … [Read more...]
7 ways to make holidays safe for pets
Keeping pets safe over the holidays takes common sense, reminders of the obvious and planning. The American Veterinary Medical Association offers seven basic tips that are easily shared with customers. In addition, AVMA offers its Holiday Pet Safety Page <link> that has extensive information about protecting pets that customers will also appreciate. Source: AVMA. Link. … [Read more...]
Fido is likely older than you think
New research from geneticists and biologists at University of California – San Diego believe they’ve developed a more accurate formula to calculate dogs’ ages than our current thinking that seven human years are the equivalent of one dog year. In fact, that energetic year-old pup, may be closer to 30 years old. Source: Washington Post, November 28, 2019. Link. They … [Read more...]
Always exciting
When we launched Animal Health Digest, I didn’t realize what scouring 250-plus media sources each week would turn into. What initially seemed like a daunting task became one of the more uplifting parts of my day. From finding an article about the latest research on bovine respiratory disease to a piece about the Comedy Wildlife Awards, finding material animal health … [Read more...]
Rough training has long-term effects on dogs
Dogs trained using positive reinforcement experience less short- and long-term stress than those in aversive training classes. This, according to a new study from Universidade de Porto in Portugal. Forty two companion dogs from schools that use reward-based training and 50 dogs from four school that use averse-based training were compared. Source: Sciencealert, November 7, … [Read more...]
Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile now open
Travelers and their pets have a new lodging option in Southern Utah. It also represents another reason to ensure pets are vaccinated. Best Friends Animal Society has opened Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile <link>. The 40-room property is designed to be pet friendly and focuses on pets. Furnishings are built 18 inches or higher to avoid entrapment. Nightstands have … [Read more...]
What to do when Fido gets high
Fido is finding the gummies and he likes them. So far this year, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center has observed a 765 percent rise in calls about animals ingesting marijuana than for the same time last year. The Pet Poison Helpline reports a 448 percent increase in calls over the past six years. Veterinary and animal health professionals share what to do when dogs eat … [Read more...]