Global experts spoke at the Poultry Market Intelligence Forum at the 2020 International Production and Processing Expo in Atlanta recently, describing trends in the poultry and egg industries. Dr. David Hughes, professor at the Imperial College of London, predicted that during the first two decades of this century, we will see 40 percent growth in protein consumption, which … [Read more...]
Chickens in a minute (video)
Sponsored content from Nutrena With Easter around the corner and farm stores getting ready for new chicks, basic chicken care questions are eminent. Consider this video for social media posts, websites and newsletters. Source: Backyard Poultry, March 2019. Link. Chickens are hardy creatures that are lower maintenance than many house pets, but they do need some basic care … [Read more...]
Itchy cat? Think location, location, location.
Amelia White, DVM, MS, DACVD, offered VMX attendees insight about managing several types of allergies in cats. Her presentation begins with a discussion of behaviors that indicate causes or imposters. Joan Capuzzi, VMD, summarizes the content in the following categories. Cats and their eosinophils Creepy crawlies When food’s the culprit Atopy: allergies “on … [Read more...]
Can dogs savor their food?
Beyond taste bud comparisons, Tavor White shares science references on dogs and savoring flavor. According to Alexandra Horowitz, dogs have 300 million olfactory receptor cells compared to five million in humans. Add that the part of their brain that analyzes smells is approximately 40 times bigger than ours and a dog’s sense of smell is up to one million times greater than … [Read more...]
The dog park is no place to socialize a puppy
Dog parks may seem like great additions to the community, but they’re rife with problems for you, and for your dog writes Sassafras Lowrey. She offers things to know and consider before heading to the dog park. Dog parks are not a safe place to socialize a puppy under 6-12 months old.” Nik Hof Source: New York Times, February 6, 2020. Link. Having your dog in a dog park … [Read more...]
The Bridge Club preps for WVC
Brenda and Catherine highlight their robust plans for the coming week at the Western Veterinarian Conference, including must-see events and two live events The Bridge Club is hosting while in Vegas. <link to video> Source: The Bridge Club events. Link. All access memberships are $35 for calendar 2020. Register here < link > … [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...]
Opinion – Convenience and the consumer (slide show)
Americans spent more on pets in 2018 (avg. $662) than on fresh fruit and vegetables, alcohol, beef, pork and poultry, water and other services or medicinal drugs <link>. Consumer research on convenience can help us better understand animal owner needs as a reflection of how they manage their lives. Consumers’ choices in terms of where, how and why they buy are … [Read more...]
Random acts of wellness don’t work
Despite a greater focus on workplace wellness programs, some employers are not getting it right, says Ron Loeppke. They need to fully commit and embrace the programs to make them successful. “Wellness doesn’t work if it’s not done in the right way. Random acts of wellness ain’t gonna cut it.” – Ron Loeppke Source: Human Resource Executive, January 22, 2020. Link. Just as … [Read more...]
A manager’s checklist
The greatest gift of leadership is a boss who truly wants you to be successful.” Jon Taffer Source: LinkedIn Pulse, August 19, 2019. Link. Bad boss behaviors lead to poor employee engagement and high turnover. Check yourself against this short list of deal breakers. INSIGHTS: A truly great boss can be hard to find, but difficult to leave and impossible to forget. … [Read more...]
Me. Me. Me. Stop talking so much about yourself.
The temptation to always talk about ourselves hurts our conversations and over inflates our egos, writes Tim Denning. He shares what happens when you stop talking about yourself. Source: The Medium, January 29, 2020. Link. There is something to be said about being interested in people. Here are a few of the benefits according to Denning. People feel you’re interested in … [Read more...]
Castrating pigs, lambs, and goat kids
Janet Garman’s article on castration appeared a few weeks after we updated our readers on how dehorning and castration guidelines have been updated to include pain mitigation <link>. Garman’s review is a good reason to communicate about pain management to animal owners. Castrations are routinely done on the farm without veterinarian support, so determining how to … [Read more...]
American Heartworm Society seeks individual clinic data
Veterinarians are urged to take time to submit clinic data to support the 2019 AHS Heartworm Incidence Survey. Each veterinary practice that submits data on the number of animals tested and diagnosed over the 2019 calendar year enables the AHS to create a more comprehensive and useful map” - Chris Duke, DVM, president AHS Source: DVM 360, January 28, 2020. Link. Survey … [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...]
Hey, language aficionados. . . lest you get something back-a$$ward
The dinner table discussions must have been interesting where siblings Ross and Kathryn Petras grew up. They provide nine words and phrases we are probably using wrong, according to their book, That Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Means <link>. We think some of you will laugh out loud reading the examples. . . . it’s not a mute point at all, because a point isn’t … [Read more...]
The 50-plus crowd is not dead yet!
Bill Murray’s Jeep ad during Super Bowl LIV may be an exception to marketers’ assumptions that 50-somethings are desperate for companionship, struggle with health decline and ruminate on their own deaths. When people in the 50-plus demographic are shown in ads, they’re sometimes presented in a negative light, says Vaughn Ensley. Portrayals of those over 50 are negative 28 … [Read more...]
Super Bowl Ads: 5 best, 5 worst
How ‘bout those C H I E F S! It has been a wild week in the KC Animal Health Corridor. Even veterinarians were celebrated in the Super Bowl ad from WeatherTech <link>. Jeff Beer says the $6 million to run a Super Bowl ad thanking the veterinarians that saved Scout, WeatherTech’s CEO’s dog, is either genius or a waste. Source: Fast Company, February 2, 2020. Link. The … [Read more...]
Coronavirus and ASF are different beasts (comparison PDF)
Jennifer Shrike walks through the differences between 2019-CoV and African swine fever viruses in a discussion of sources, risks, similarity and differences. ASF has a DNA genome. CoV has an RNA genome which allows the virus to mutate and change similar to influenza viruses. This is how CoV acquires the ability to infect different tissues and to infect different species of … [Read more...]
The scoop on poop. Fecal microbiota transplantation in horses.
Treating a horse with diarrhea is expensive and inconvenient. The clinical impression at Tufts Equine Center is that fecal transplant is an effective treatment. Its clinician-scientists wanted to look closer into the effects of fecal transplant on the gut of treated horses. Cummings School researchers have been working to document the effects and mechanisms of this … [Read more...]
Saying goodbye, a horse owner’s difficult decision
It is relatively uncommon these days for a horse to die of natural causes, writes Natalie Voss. At some point a horse owner, along with their veterinarian, will need to decide when it’s appropriate to euthanize. . . . it is best to think about end-of-life plans for horses regardless of age” Source: Acreage Life, March 2020. Link. Predetermine what is an acceptable quality of … [Read more...]
Hatching calculator determines incubation period
As more poultry moves back into neighborhood backyards, some hobbyists are interested in using incubators to hatch eggs. This handy calculator determines the incubation period for chicken, duck, goose, turkey, quail, peafowl, guinea fowl, pheasant and emu eggs. Source: Backyard Poultry, February 3, 2020. Link. The article also has links to several how-to … [Read more...]
Things to avoid doing to a cat
Adding to information we shared in a December 10, 2019 post <link>, Sophia Mitrokostas consulted with veterinarians and veterinary technicians to highlight things that cat owners get wrong. Cat owners should not force attention on cats. Though cats enjoy human attention, they like it in smaller doses than dogs, and on their own terms.” – Wendy Houser, DVM Source: … [Read more...]
Do cats get lonely? It depends
Multi-pet households can have challenges between pets. When it comes to cats, Kellie Gormly says among the factors to consider are personality and age. Domestic cats are solitary when it comes to hunting and eating. Outside of mealtime, though, most cats have social needs. Source: Catster, December 8, 2020. Link. Feline territorial nature doesn’t typically kick in until … [Read more...]
How to get-a-grip on small mammals (slide show)
Handling small mammals is often like controlling a bucking bronc on a tiny scale. The smaller they are, the more likely the encounter will be fueled by the flight or fight response. David Eshar, DVM, shares safe handling techniques that minimize stress and reduce the chance for trauma in these patients. Source: Clinician’s Brief, January 2020. Link. Patients should be … [Read more...]
Dog allergies linked to male dogs
Doctors have discovered that up to 30 percent of dog-allergic patients are only sensitized to one specific protein made in the prostate of male dogs. In other words, pet owners with allergies might be able to tolerate female dogs or male dogs that have been neutered. Source: Animal Wellness, February 3, 2020. Link. Also see: Allergic to dogs? It may only be the males, … [Read more...]
JAVMA, February 1 edition
It is always interesting to see what is being studied in our animal health industry. We noted the following: Tick paralysis in a free-ranging bobcat (Lynx rufus). Link. Tick paralysis has not previously been reported in felids outside Australia, according to the author. The cat recovered likely much to the chagrin of wild birds, small mammals and some small pets in his … [Read more...]
Ticks responsible for 7 of 17 U.S. vector-borne diseases
Thomas Mather, PhD, believes everyone should be better educated about ticks and able to identify the small number of tick species in the United States that threaten human health. “Different ticks carry different diseases in different parts of the country,” he explained. . . . if <people> saw how many ticks are waiting on twigs and leaves and in the brush . . . they would … [Read more...]
Opinion – Caretaker training improves animal welfare
Samantha Marais presents the value of employee training and how it improves pig welfare. From this, we can assume that training people to care for animals of any species likely increases animal welfare. Our industry routinely separates food animals, companion animals, equine and poultry. Universally however, people receiving proper and continuing education about animals in … [Read more...]
Opinion – Lawsuit over popular dog food brand exposes label confusion
You can decide if the litigation described in this article is necessary or accurate. The context is important, as is what animal health pros can learn from it and the inherent call to action, which is pet owners need nutritional counseling and guidance. There is no question that pet diet labels have become more confusing over time pitting marketing perceptions against … [Read more...]
One Health certification available for DVMs, physicians
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association is offering a 20-module online certificate program for physician and veterinarian members to become certified as One Health Practitioners. The course is free to WSVA and AVMA members as well as human doctors. Source: DVM 360, December 4, 2020. Link. The hope is that both veterinarians and physicians will eventually take the … [Read more...]