Gas prices are above $5 and diesel is even higher. You thought pharmaceutical prices were bad, have you been to the grocery store lately? There certainly is enough to complain about ,including having to listen to other people’s complaints. These three simple tools may help you get through the day. Source: JonGordon.com, June 2018. Link. Focus on the “get to” instead of the … [Read more...]
Pet food inflation hits new high, with many reasons why
For the total pet care sector, inflation reached 8.1 percent year over year in May 2022 and is at 6.7 percent year to date. Fuel price increases are an obvious contributor, but Debbie Phillips-Donaldson shares other competitive factors creating imbalances in the supply chain. Source: Petfood Industry, June 15, 2022. Link. <Petfood> is having to compete with renewable … [Read more...]
Guide to medical professionals who specialize in caring for pets
Veterinary medical professionals’ credentials are an alphabet soup of abbreviations. Industry research on veterinary technicians revealed misconceptions about the role, responsibilities, education and skills of veterinary nurses and technicians <Link>. After reviewing Sarah Mouton Dowdy’s article, you may find some credential abbreviations new to you. Source: Daily … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – June 23, 2022
Last week’s most read posts IRS increases mileage rate for remainder of 2022. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, June 16, 2022. Link. =================================== New grant will help veterinary students learn how to practice using a ‘spectrum of care’ model Source: Veterinary Advantage, June 2022. Link. The … [Read more...]
Detection of multiple lineages of PRRSV in breeding and growing swine farms
We’ve heard a lot about viral variants since the fall of 2019. Swine researchers and veterinarians continue to work toward better understanding of swine diseases and methods of mitigating disease risks. In this study, the researchers sought to understand the potential long-term impact of multiple prevailing PRRSV variants on pig performance. Their study demonstrated the … [Read more...]
Vaccine guide is helpful for newbies and pros
This recent post by University of Florida Extension offers a good overview of how vaccines work, the types of vaccines available and how to handle and administer them. It can serve as a training guide for new employees, be a refresher for pros, be sent as a follow-up to customers and used as an educational aid for new cattle owners. 4-Hers and FFAers working with calves will … [Read more...]
USDA offers payments to eligible cattle owners affected by extreme heat
The USDA Livestock Indemnity Program will pay eligible livestock owners for deaths exceeding normal mortality caused by eligible loss conditions which can include extreme heat. Documentation is required. Source: Kansas Livestock Association, June 12, 2022. Link. Producers must file a notice of loss within 30 days of the loss becoming apparent and file an application for … [Read more...]
Kansas cattle lost to heat, humidity, a rare natural disaster
More than 2,000 cattle died in Kansas from heat stress triggered by extreme heat and humidity the weekend of June 11th. While unfortunate for producers, the event has sparked controversy and non-confirmed video coverage. Veterinarians are working diligently to put this event into its proper perspective. Sometimes the conditions get so extreme, it doesn’t matter how hard … [Read more...]
Petco begins serving rural pets and farm animals
Petco launched a community-driven test concept to address the health and wellness needs of pets and farm animals in rural communities. The grand opening of the first location was in Floresville, Texas, last Friday. The Neighborhood Farm & Pet Supply centers will be new, standalone retail facilities located at the heart of small towns and rural communities. The company … [Read more...]
10 benefits of magnesium for horses
While magnesium is an essential mineral for horses’ health, they can experience magnesium deficiency and toxicity. Emily Fought shares its benefits, but advocates horse owners consult with equine nutritionists to ensure individual horses get the right amount. Source: Cowgirl, May 19, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Safety required around poison ivy, oak and sumac for humans and pets
In many parts of the U.S., the edges and undergrowth of stands of trees, timber, forests and marshes contain poisonous vines. These plants are poisonous because of urushiol, a potent oily sap found all over the plants. While rare, dogs get poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac through touch or ingestion. A dog's fur protects against the urushiol. But areas of a dog's body … [Read more...]
Probiotics and prebiotics – why they’re important for dogs and cats
Contains Commercial References A balanced microbiome not only helps beyond a properly functioning digestive tract. It is also connected to good immunity, skin and coat wellness, and even brain and cognitive health. Probiotics and prebiotics can help achieve and maintain that balance. Research shows that at least 70% of the immune response resides in the digestive tract.” - … [Read more...]
12 pet safety tips for the 4th of July
Firework fears, fireworks debris, heat, humidity, water, hot pavement, cook-outs and more create risks for pets in the coming days. Animal health pros can’t overcommunicate the need for animal safety and caution as the holiday activities commence. Source: ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance. Link. … [Read more...]
New, on-farm pregnancy test kit from Idexx Laboratories
Complimentary Commercial Content With results available in 5 to 20 minutes, the Alertys OnFarm Pregnancy Test from Idexx Laboratories can be used cowside to determine pregnancy as early as 28 days post-breeding or 70 days post-calving. The new test gives producers time savings and convenience because they can preg test whenever they want." Source: Dairy Herd Management, … [Read more...]
Pet supplements evolving to accompany nutrition plans
The pet supplement category was benchmarked at $800 million in 2020 and some expect it to grow to more than $1 billion by 2025. At the same time, there is increased confusion about what a supplement is. Toppers, treats, pills and powders all get lumped into the category. Daniel Schaeffer, Native Pet, believes the category is evolving to an around-the-bowl nutrition category … [Read more...]
Tired mosquitoes would rather sleep than bite
Researchers recently discovered that mosquitoes who have their sleep disrupted would rather get rest than go looking for their next meal. They found the mosquitoes in the research lab slept between 16 and 19 hours each day. Sleep was disturbed by vibrating the enclosures. Mosquitoes will pass up a meal when they are sleep deprived.” Source: Treehuggers, June 17, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Still time to enter your goofy pet photos in the Comedy Pet photography contest
The annual Animal Friends Comedy Pet photography awards competition is open to entries through July 1. Organizers say photo submissions are running ahead of last year. They share a few of the entries as examples. Source: Treehugger, June 20, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – June 20, 2022
Dealing with canine anxiety, doggy ice cream, using NFTs* and video in small business, sensible security measures and more . . . Note the new Fear Free Boarding & Daycare Certification Program; techniques that will help reduce stress and increase calm and safety for both pets and staff.” Source: IBPSA, June 20, 2022. Link. The IBPSA Flow Business Conference registration … [Read more...]
How to recognize and tame your cognitive distortions
Opinion Some of the distortions described by Peter Grinspoon, MD, may hit close to home for some animal health pros. As you read his assertions, consider something as simple as prejudging an animal owner’s ability to pay, a topic we’ve hashed over for decades. Grinspoon says cognitive distortions are internal mental filters or biases that increase our misery, fuel our … [Read more...]
It’s no wonder communication is complicated
Opinion You’ll enjoy this reference to contronyms we use every day. A contronym is a word with multiple meanings that are the direct opposite such as: Bark: a sound a dog makes and the outer covering of a tree Clip: something used to attach or an action to remove something Screen: an action to keep private or a method of displaying something Source: Word … [Read more...]
Integrity is forever
We live in a world where integrity isn’t talked about nearly enough. We live in a world where “the end justifies the means” has become an acceptable school of thought for far too many. Source: Forbes, November 28, 2012. Link. Success will come and go, but integrity is forever.” INSIGHTS: Although it’s 10 years old, this article couldn’t be better timed. … [Read more...]
It is not clear if apple cider vinegar is good for dogs
Sharing published consumer information with animal health pros who may not know it exists remains one of the primary objectives of AHD’s curation efforts.” – Kirk Augustine Owners often attempt to treat dogs’ potential problems with home remedies, ideas from social media groups, websites or consumer publication articles before going to the veterinary clinic. Knowing what … [Read more...]
Fairfax Financial’s interests in Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group to sell to JAB Holding Company in a transformational strategic partnership
“While we have sold our pet insurance business to JAB, we will invest $200 million in their JCP V to become their partners. We expect JAB to soon become leaders in pet healthcare and pet insurance globally. We wish them much success," said Prem Watsa, the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Fairfax. This new partnership bodes well for meeting the needs of pet owners on a global … [Read more...]
Building a business case for asynchronous telehealth
Opinion This article about human healthcare advances in telehealth applications adds context to veterinary teams’ efforts to define, implement and manage its role in sound animal care. Note Brent Oliver’s, MD, comments about nurse practitioners handling asynchronous telehealth visits, reducing ER visits, client comfort, increased touch points and high rate of … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – June 16, 2022
Last week’s most read posts Chewy behind Amazon, ahead of Walmart in automatic reorders. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, June 9, 2022. Link. =================================== Before chickens were nuggets, they were revered Source: The New York Times, June 7, 2022. Link. The real chicken mystery has nothing to do … [Read more...]
Pork industry experts list current priorities during World Pork Expo
As part of the pork industry's long-range strategic planning process, the Pork Industry Visioning Task Force prioritized international trade, foreign animal disease and labor as key policy issues to address that will move the industry forward. Source: Agri-Marketing, June 13, 2022. Link. Policy papers are available at www.nppc.org/wpxmedia for more detailed information. … [Read more...]
Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding working on pipeline for hoof health data collection
Lameness affects about 50 percent of dairy cows with significant impact on cow health and dairy economics. A project led by CDCB and the University of Minnesota seeks to create a data pipeline as an essential first step to develop genetic evaluations for related traits using the National Cooperator Database. Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, June 13, 2022. Link. The first data … [Read more...]
Cow and sheep burps to be taxed by New Zealand in world’s first
What? A New Zealand plan to tackle greenhouse gas emissions from livestock is the world’s first attempt to put a price on agricultural emissions. It is an attempt to tackle one of the country’s biggest sources of greenhouse gases, methane. Source: The Bullvine, June 9, 2022. Link. Short- and long-lived farm gas will be priced separately, although a single measure to … [Read more...]
Help customers handle bulls safely
Bulls make up just two percent of the cattle in the U.S., but they cause 48 percent of cattle worker fatalities, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries and the Surveillance of Occupational and Illnesses databases. It’s easy to take for granted that we know how to handle ourselves around docile or aggressive bulls, but we often get lax. … [Read more...]
Act now to add value to spring calves
Opinion It has taken 30 or more years for calf preconditioning to become a household phrase. For any producer, preconditioning may have a different meaning than his neighbors’. Veterinarians and representatives working with producers must continue to discuss, educate and fine tune preconditioning programs for individual operations. Preconditioning’s value has been proven … [Read more...]