Glaucoma is a painful disease. The pain can be expressed as blepharospasm (abnormal contraction of the eyelid muscles) or as general depression. Many owners report a dramatic improvement in the dog’s behavior after removal of a glaucomatous eye. Glaucoma may be classified in one of two ways, writes Ron Ofri, DVM, PhD, DECVO. The classifications have significant clinical … [Read more...]
Too much drool could signal a problem
Excessive salivation can be caused by happiness, hyperthermia or household cleaning products. Check these additional differentials for ptyalism and pseudoptyalism from Julie Allen, BVMS, MS, MRCVS, DACVIM (SAIM), DACVP. Source: Clinician’s Brief, April 2020. Link. … [Read more...]
Discerning normal or not with canine stomach noises
Eric Barchas, DVM, weighs in on borborygmi <link>, the sounds that come from dogs’ gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Often simply called stomach growling or stomach rumbling, these sounds can come from either the stomach or the small or large intestine. These gurgling sounds are produced when gas moves from one portion of the intestines to another. Source: Dogster, February … [Read more...]
Coach pet owners about natural diets
Linsey Getz says pet owners require more guidance with natural diets than regular diets. Terminology and ingredients are important factors that increase understanding. Source: Pet Product News, May 2020. Link INSIGHTS: We’ve included this information to add perspective to the ongoing dialogue about pet food diets. Pet food diet choices continue to reflect owners’ focus on … [Read more...]
Dog beds are improving
An aging dog population and the increased focus on pet comfort by younger dog owners has dog bed manufacturers combining science and style to meet owner and pet needs. Source: Pet Product News, May 2020. Link. Manufacturers and retailers named a number of functional qualities that owners want from their dog beds, such as comfort, durability, safety, and ease of cleaning. … [Read more...]
The big business of pets is getting bigger
More than three quarters of Americans spend $75 billion annually on their pets. Pet food sales along are up six percent compared to last year. Pet ownership is most common among millennials and Gen X, with 59 percent of households owning at least one dog. However, millennials are more likely to own multiple dogs and Gen X is most likely to own multiple cats, at 42 percent of … [Read more...]
Pandemic realities forcing some pets back to shelters
Pet shelters and rescue organizations experienced rapid increases in adoptions and fosters since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Now, some shelters are preparing for a large influx of pets as the realities of owners’ jobs and home losses hit hard. It hasn’t happened yet, but Brenda Barnette, general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services, expects more pets will … [Read more...]
If your life was a movie
Ever feel like you’re stuck when you need to make a decision and don’t know what to do? Unfortunately, our emotions often cloud our thinking when faced with the pressure of making a big decision. Source: Purpose Unlimited. Link. To make wise choices and avoid acting on impulse we need to engage in a logical thought process. If your life was a movie how would you write the … [Read more...]
How HR is writing the book on coronavirus
One of the most fascinating things about the pandemic and its global impact is that there is no book written about this situation” – Jason Averbook Averbook discusses three normal personnel processes and explores how they’re changing: Onboarding Performance Governance SOURCE: Human Resource Executive, May 8, 2020. Link. It’s scary when there’s no book. But, at … [Read more...]
Pandemic may be turning point for workplace mental health
Experts say mental health issues and stress were already on the rise among employees before the coronavirus pandemic, and they certainly won’t just disappear post-pandemic. The disaster finds more employees struggling and employers playing catch-up in the rush to help. Source: Human Resource Executive, May 11, 2020. Link. “The pandemic has forced us to make changes and to … [Read more...]
Don’t should on yourself (includes podcast)
Uncertainty rules this pandemic period, but the feeling of uncertainty is not unprecedented. People live through all kinds of scary things all the time. Sarah McCammon shares seven tips for dealing with uncertainty she learned from people who've been there. Source: NPR, May 4, 2020. Link Don't fast-forward and run the tape of doom and get sucked into that hole. Don't try to … [Read more...]
Guidance for expanding veterinary care during the pandemic
Ontario inadvertently became a laboratory for implementing telemedicine and adjusted VCPR practices during the pandemic < link >. Scott Weese, DVM, shares the Guide to reopening veterinary medicine in Ontario, as a resource for veterinary teams as they prepare to provide more veterinary services while still minimizing the risk of COVID-19 transmission. We’re going to … [Read more...]
Top posts from Patrick T Malone
Like clockwork, Patrick T Malone provides highly read content on a weekly basis. This week we are sharing his top 5 most read posts since the beginning of 2020. Thank you for contributing Pat! Source: Animal Health Digest, January through April 2020. Become an unforgettable boss, January 21, 2020. Link. A manager’s checklist, February 11, 2020. Link. … [Read more...]
HAPPENING TODAY: Veterinary Innovation Podcast guests to discuss virtual veterinary shows
TODAY, Julie Legred, CVT, and Beckie Mossor, RVT, will join the VIP hosts to discuss upcoming virtual veterinary shows. The podcast is tentatively scheduled for 4:00 p.m. ADT, 3:00 p.m. EDT, 2:00 p.m. CDT, 1:00 p.m. MDT and noon PDT. Check the VIP website to confirm the time at least two hours before current scheduled time. Source: Veterinary Innovation Podcasts, May 13, … [Read more...]
Good heavens, May 14, 2020!
COMMENTARY Prepping this AHD Bulletin, I looked for inspiration to underscore the objectives of curating for the animal health industry. Urgency and the need to adapt are strong points of inspiration now, along with biosecurity. One third of 2020 is gone. Two hundred thirty-two days remain until 2021 begins. For society, much remains in limbo. As an industry, animal … [Read more...]
Revisit the 3 Rs of client retention
This article is more current today than it was when Brenda Tassava, CVPM, CVJ, VLCE, wrote it in 2018. Communication diligence is one of the big lessons as we manage through a crisis. We cannot assume that one-and-done efforts will resonate or be remembered, let alone acted on. Tassava discusses the need to remind, recall and recheck, plus forward booking appointments with … [Read more...]
Tips to avoid malicious apps
With digital use at an all-time high, there are risks to consider with the convenience and fun some apps offer. Anthony Green reminds us that apps can be easy entry points for digital criminals who want to pirate your data and seize control of your accounts and devices. He offers some basic tips to avoid pirating. Never download from a third-party app outside of the App Store … [Read more...]
Goats get foot rot, too
All hoofed animals risk foot rot and related foot scald. The reason for hoof rot in goats is commonly wet, moist ground and damp weather, according to Janet Garman. Two organisms cause foot rot: Fusobacterium necrophorum and Bacteroides nodusus. Fusobacterium necrophorum lives in the soil and is anaerobic. That’s the situation in deep, muddy pastures or stalls. If F. … [Read more...]
Training and education available for backyard poultry raisers
With growing interest in backyard hens, and with some towns and cities allowing residents to raise chickens in their backyards, Alberta Farm Animal Care is hosting a Backyard Chicken webinar series for beginner poultry raisers. The series covers information on flock health, handling, costs, bylaws, breeds, coop design, diseases and more. Cassandra Kirkpatrick, Urban Hen … [Read more...]
Pest buster listing for 2020
With resistance building among parasites that attack livestock and horses <link>, it is important to have a resource to identify options for pest and parasite management. BEEF magazine shared an updated listing for 2020 compiled from company supplied information and websites. Source: BEEF, April 2020. Link. INSIGHTS: This is a good tool for retailers, … [Read more...]
Keep the value of your vaccine dollars
Producers cannot afford to overlook the importance of how they store vaccines and handle them prior to injection, states Glenn Selk, PhD Biological products should be stored under refrigeration at 35⁰F to 45⁰F unless the nature of the product makes storing at a different temperature advisable (APHIS 2007). Producers cannot afford to overlook the importance of how they store … [Read more...]
Hornets from hell. Bee-ware! (video)
The Asian giant hornet has been found in the Pacific Northwest and North American honey beekeepers are notably alarmed. Asian hornets feed on other insects including honeybees and are capable of quickly destroying hives. They nest in the ground and can be distinguished by their yellow heads, body length of nearly two inches length and a wingspan of up to three inches. Dormant … [Read more...]
Feral-to-friendly tips for transitioning a cat
Bringing a feral, or community cat, into a home involves committing to a gradual socialization process, writes Sally Bahner. It’s important to understand that there’s no guarantee you’ll end up with a cuddly lap cat. Bahner shares six steps for making friends with a stray. Source: Animal Wellness, May 4, 2020. Link. In many cases, feral cats can be socialized and transformed … [Read more...]
Pet insurance acceptance growing
Pet insurance fits younger pet owners’ lifestyles as they learn about the modern costs of pet ownership, writes Rachael Zimlich, BSN, RN. It is evolving toward wellness from its beginnings as accident and emergency protection. The trends favoring subscription services also favors the pet insurance benefits of complete care, one month at a time. Source: DVM 360, March 16, … [Read more...]
Sunscreen protection for dogs
Dogs are just as prone as humans are to sunburn and related health conditions, such as skin cancers. Dogs should NOT wear human sunscreen, writes Sally Jones. They need to use a sunscreen specially formulated for dogs, especially considering how much they like to lick themselves. Common ingredients found in human sunscreens, such as zinc oxide or para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), … [Read more...]
Morris Animal Foundation launches Stop Cancer Furever campaign
The Morris Animal Foundation launched its seventh annual pet cancer campaign, Stop Cancer Furever, on May 1 < link >. The two-month campaign raises awareness of, and funds for, research leading to new understandings about how to prevent, diagnose and treat animal cancers. The campaign will provide pet owners and animal lovers free downloadable cancer prevention … [Read more...]
AAHA releases employee handbook guidelines, including Covid-19 resources
The AAHA Guide to Creating an Employee Handbook is now available with new and updated sample policies covering the most recent developments in federal law and human resource management. It includes up to date information on the best employment policies for your practice, from scheduling and pay periods to workplace safety and care of facility to vacations and leave. Access … [Read more...]
Virtual dog training is an option
With pet adoptions at an all-time high during this Covid-19 pandemic, concerns of pet rescue groups are being realized. Some families adopting pets are not qualified owners. New dog owners will need help teaching their new friends to learn the rules of the house and the neighborhood. Virtual training, phone calls and text lessons from professional trainers may save the day for … [Read more...]
Temple Grandin: Big is not bad. It is fragile.
Temple Grandin, Colorado State University animal science professor and autism advocate, weighs in on the current state of meat processing, the overwhelmed supply chain and possible animal welfare effects. Big operations are extremely cost efficient. That’s why they’ve been built this way, she says. The downside is the fragility of the supply chains, as Covid-19 proves. This … [Read more...]
Habits: good, bad and useful
The important thing about committing to anything longer than 30 to 40 days is that it establishes a habit. A rule of thumb I have always observed is that it takes three weeks to turn practice into habit, intentionally or not. Source: Georgiapol.com, April 28, 2020. Link. It is a bit harder if it is something you do not want to do. I do not like to exercise, but I do … [Read more...]