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...]
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...]
Ditch the stink. Mitigate ammonia.
Ammonia in chicken litter can be a health issue for birds and a neighborhood nuisance. too. It is a concern, regardless the size of the poultry operation. Backyard poultry raisers sometimes get behind doing chores as fall activities, shorter days and having kids back in school make maintenance more difficult. Jeremy Chartier discusses how to make the ammonia stink go … [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...]
Fall leaves can be toxic to horses
Fall leaf toxicity is an annual concern for horse owners as some falling leaves are poisonous to our equine friends. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has an extensive list of poisonous trees and plants at www.ASPCA.org. Consider sharing this information with horse owners and local media. Source: The Horse, September 10, 2021. Link. Also … [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...]
Puppies are born ready to communicate with people
Researchers from the Arizona Canine Cognition Center at the University of Arizona put 375 eight-week-old puppies through four tests, designed to establish whether even such tiny pups were receptive to human communication. The results suggest that communication abilities must be inherited instead of being learned. Source: AKC, July 26, 2021. Link. The researchers now seek to … [Read more...]
Dogs will eat just about anything but their own food
A survey of 2,000 American dog owners found dogs will get ahold of just about anything. Pet caregivers shared they experience this at least once per week. The One Poll survey also revealed the average pet parent says that it’s hard to find dog food that is nutritious and delicious. Source: 72POINT, September 20, 2021. Link. … [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...]
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...]
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...]
More effective communications
Get to the point! There are two sides to every conversation: speaking and listening. Both are essential to effective communication. Dr, Nido Qubein offers suggestion to help improve to exchanges. Source: Speakers Office, August 4, 2015. Link. Get to the point! There are two sides to every conversation, speaking and listening. Both are essential to the art of … [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...]
First Telehealth Awareness Week happening NOW
The American Telemedicine Association is bringing together leaders in telehealth service delivery, hospital systems and medical practices, technology solution providers, patient advocacy organizations, policymakers and other stakeholders during the first-annual Telehealth Awareness Week™, September 19-25, 2021. Virtual care is moving & shaking! Kudos to the ATA for making … [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...]
Science writer Mary Roach; the forensics of wildlife crime (podcast)
Discussing interactions between people and wildlife, Mary Roach shares stories from her research for her new book, “Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law.” The concept of animals committing crimes is a fun juxtaposition of the intersection between people and wildlife. Enjoy! Source: NPR, Fresh Air, September 14, 2021. Link. … [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...]
Scientists have identified 7 distinct feline personality traits
According to new research, each cat's personality and behavior can be defined using a combination of seven traits. Five personality traits and two behavioral traits are defined in the results: Activity/playfulness Fearfulness Aggression towards humans Sociability towards humans Sociability towards cats Litterbox issues (such as refusing to use the litterbox, … [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...]
Dogs with the strongest bite
Bite strength is measured in terms of pounds per square inch. The author shares the dog breeds with the most bite strength. The Kangal, a shepherd dog from Turkey, has the strongest bite force of 740 PSI. Some breeds have more bite force than a lion. Source: Puppies and Pooches, June 9, 2021. Link. Studies indicate that dogs with large heads, big bodies, and broader jaws … [Read more...]
Chats with the Chatfields. . . . Them’s the Rules: Can we join your PACCC?!
Complimentary Exploring little known rules, regulations, and guidelines for important aspects of animal care, Dr. Jen the vet and Dr. Jason are joined by Stephanie Shipley, the current chair of the Professional Animal Care Certification Council. The PACCC is the world's only certification program for animal care professionals and requires successful examination for … [Read more...]
Basics of canine hydration
There are pet caregivers who do not know dogs’ hydration needs are different than our own. This author provides relevant resources, including a consumption chart (Table 1) and discusses variables that influence hydration needs. Source: Animal Wellness, August 10, 2021. Link. All dogs need adequate water to survive, and in most cases, water absorption is enhanced with the … [Read more...]