Stop only picking replacement heifers one time at weaning. Evaluate heifer candidates at five critical phases and let selection pressure identify your herd's future, writes Wesley Tucker. He asserts that producers continue sacrificing their younger, better-genetic heifers by selecting replacements too early and limiting a more natural selection process over the heifer … [Read more...]
Review: Why bird flu targets cows’ udders instead of lungs
In cows, the bird flu looks completely different. Instead of affecting the lungs, as H5N1 does in other mammalian species, it causes severe infection in the cows' udders and largely spares the lungs. Researchers revealed the biology of why the disease looked so different when it leaped to cows, and offer a framework for spotting its next guise more quickly in this … [Read more...]
One extra pound per consumer would change the pork industry
The opportunity to grow pork demand has never been greater, writes Jennifer Shike in her article supporting the ‘Pursuing One More Pound’ Pork Podcast episode. Her podcast guests discuss the National Pork Board’s efforts to use a pull versus push strategy with the Taste What Pork Can Do campaign <Link>. The NPB seeks to redefine where pork fits into the modern meals … [Read more...]
Free CE opportunities for veterinary professionals with Chewy Health
Complimentary Chewy Health’s 2026 Continuing Education calendar offers free educational opportunities for veterinary professionals throughout 2026. The program features 14 virtual on-demand sessions spanning both clinical and professional development topics. Sessions are led by veterinary professionals, pharmacists and industry experts from within Chewy Health, alongside … [Read more...]
Fear of rabies spreading in Upper Midwest cattle herds via skunks
Health officials across four Upper Midwest states are warning livestock owners about an uptick in rabies cases tied to infected skunks. Since 2024, 10 cattle have tested positive for rabies in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota, according to a joint notification from state agriculture and health departments. The infections have been linked to exposures from rabid skunks … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – June 25, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, June 18, 2026. Link. Most read posts from June 18, 2026 AHD Bulletin – Puppocalypse, Kitten Craze, resetting industry expectations. Link. ‘Rust-out’ is the new burnout. It requires a different fix. Link. 7 stories to help your customers come home at night. Link. Why the future of veterinary … [Read more...]
Puppocalypse, Kitten Craze, and an industry expectations reset
A new CATalyst Council white paper, “Puppocalypse, Kitten Craze, and the Expectations Reset,” uses the age demographics of dogs and cats that visit full-service practices to forecast combined U.S. clinical visit growth of -2 percent to 0 percent through 2030. Those numbers are well below the 2 percent to 3 percent the industry expects. The report’s central, empirically … [Read more...]
Why the future of veterinary medicine depends on its people
“Veterinary medicine is about more than clinical care. It is about the people who deliver it and the conditions that enable them to thrive,” writes Jeannette Ferran Astorga. Commentary Astorga’s closing words* prompt sharing this article. Not a veterinarian, she articulates the responsibility those of us in industry and support roles share in ADVOCATING for the … [Read more...]
Seasonal drift
Most organizational momentum doesn’t disappear all at once. It fades gradually. Priorities become less clear. Communication becomes less intentional. Source: LinkedIn, May 28, 2026. Link. The organizations that navigate summer well … are the ones whose leaders continue creating connection, reinforcing purpose, and keeping teams focused even as the pace and rhythm of work … [Read more...]
Holding people accountable is ineffective leadership
Jim Dethmer believes managers and organizations shouldn’t be holding people accountable. He makes distinctions between “holding accountable” and “taking responsibility” asserting: Holding accountable is something someone else is doing to me or something I’m doing to someone else. Accountability is something that is assigned by someone to someone else to make them take … [Read more...]
‘Rust-out’ is the new burnout. It requires a different fix.
You can hear it in the tone of meetings. See it in disengagement. Feel it in the absence of energy. Rust-out leaves people feeling understimulated, disconnected and just going through the motions. The most powerful thing to offer employees and leaders right now isn’t another productivity tool, it’s experience that breaks the “rust” and frees them from the chains of their … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – June 15, 2026
In this week’s Fast Bites: Webinar opportunities The Pet Industry Leaderboard <Link> MoeGo Live: The Summer Survival Guide for Boarding and Daycare Businesses Vetting pet care providers Treating screwworm in dogs and cats Source: IBPSA, June 15, 2026. Link. Also see: Animal Health Digest Bulletin, June 11th. Link. Digital overload, choose the … [Read more...]
Keeping dogs calm: it’s a process
Commercial links included Two articles address various elements of mental health and well-being for dog owners. In today’s world, where pets often live in urban environments with limited outdoor activities, ensuring their mental well-being becomes paramount, writes Anderson Cox. Fear, separation and aging are identified as catalysts for anxiety. Fireworks are troubling … [Read more...]
Plants that may help repel ticks naturally
We need all the help we can get to reduce exposure to ticks in yards, green spaces, wood lots and acreages. Gemma Johnstone shares 15 plants to consider growing that can help keep ticks at bay. Consider sharing this article on social media, in newsletters and with local flower and vegetable garden groups to let pet owners know what plants help keep ticks away. Source: The … [Read more...]
e-Book: A Clinician’s Guide to Dermatology
A new e-book, A Clinician’s Guide to Dermatology, compiles five how-tos on skin biopsies, fungal cultures, trichograms, skin scraping and otoscopy to help clinicians do common procedures in-house. The book contains a curated collection of articles on dermatology diagnostic topics ranging from various skin scraping techniques to case and site selection for skin biopsies to an … [Read more...]
Massage and myofascial therapy for cats
Cats require just as much effort from their owners as dogs do to ensure they get adequate enrichment in their lives <Link>. Massage and myofascial therapy are two hands-on techniques that are gaining attention in the world of integrative veterinary care. Myofascial therapy uses slow, gentle pressure to release those restrictions in the fascia and help restore normal … [Read more...]
Beyond obedience
Grahmn Garrison’s article argues that behavior is not an “obedience issue” but a core component of veterinary health, influencing diagnosis, treatment access, welfare, family dynamics and longevity. In it, experts encourage focusing on behavior changes in an individual pet’s normal patterns versus behavior problems. Garrison paints a broader behavior landscape, … [Read more...]
Disarticulating the horse’s canter
Equine biomechanics expert, Deb Bennett, PhD, provides a phase-by-phase analysis of the canter in this intriguing article. Enjoy! Source: American Farriers Journal, June 16, 2026. Link. The canter is often described as a “three-beat” gait but it is instead a four-beat gait, each bar of its music consisting of three sounded beats plus one unsounded beat. … [Read more...]
When is it too hot to ride?
This is a great web tool to check the current heat conditions by ZIP code. High temperatures combined with high humidity increase the risk for heat stress and potentially life-threatening heat exhaustion. Share this frequently with horse owners on social media, in newsletters, with equine groups, local media and extension personnel. Source: EQUUS, June 2026. Link. … [Read more...]
Adding cattle can improve soil health
Bringing livestock, especially ruminants, back to the farm is one of the underlying principles of improving soil health. The urine, manure and slobber from a ruminant all contain biological organisms that can benefit the health of your soil and start the process of improving soil health, according to Indiana Conservation Partnership personnel. Source: Farm Progress, June 16, … [Read more...]
7 stories to help your customers come home at night
If you work with customers who use grain bins, Holly Spangler, Farm Progress executive editor, and her team have compiled an amazingly powerful series of stories with a simple, critical message: grain bin safety procedures matter. Read the stories. Share them. Just one share may ensure your customer goes home tonight. Source: Farm Progress, May 22, 2026. Link. “What I know … [Read more...]
Post-weaning diseases and how to prepare
Understanding how stress impacts cattle health and how to intervene to decrease stressors before weaning, at weaning and after weaning is fundamental in preventing post-weaning disease, writes Taylor Engle, DVM. He discusses low-stress weaning, vaccination, timing, handling and more. Source: BEEF, May/June 2026. Link. The prevention magic we are looking for, is the work we … [Read more...]
$15,000 a mile: The brutal math of wildfire recovery, drought in Nebraska cattle country
Joe McGinley, a rancher and volunteer fire chief, says the Morrill Fire blaze that swept through western Nebraska in March was a “perfect storm” of abundant fuel and violent winds. He warns the industry is facing a sobering reality: with an aging rancher population and astronomical recovery costs, the decisions made in the wake of the smoke will determine who stays in the … [Read more...]
NAVC announces theme for VMX 2027
VMX kicks off January 16, 2027, with a new theme: Off the Grid. Attendees, in person and virtually, are invited to Disconnect to Reconnect and plan time for learning with more than 1,000 hours of continuing education, skill-specific tracks and brand-new electives. Source: NAVC, June 4, 2026. Link. We live in a busy, noisy world where finding time to disconnect is almost … [Read more...]
Animal Health Pulse survey – WILMAH wants your help!
If you have worked in animal health at any point in your career, your perspective is valuable. This survey is open to anyone with industry experience, and the more voices included, the stronger the results will be. It will take about 15 minutes to complete and includes 38 questions. Source: WILMAH, June 15, 2026. Link. Animal health is an industry built on relationships, … [Read more...]
Florida’s new veterinary prescription law takes effect July 1st. Here’s what you need to do.
A new Florida state law requires veterinarians to formally inform clients of their right to fill prescriptions at a pharmacy of their choosing rather than purchasing medication directly from the clinic. The law creates specific disclosure, documentation and signage requirements that every Florida practice must have in place before the effective date. Source: Vet Candy, June … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – June 18, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, June 11, 2026. Link. Most read posts from June 11, 2026 AHD Bulletin – The missing piece in most pet physical exams. Link. Hard or easy, it’s your choice. Link. Employee engagement sinks, workers struggle with digital distractions. Link. Dog daycare lepto outbreak in L.A. reveals broader public … [Read more...]
Employee engagement sinks as workers struggle with digital overload, distractions
Employee engagement workplace numbers haven’t looked this bad since 2014, shares Jill Barth. Disengagement often starts with something as ordinary as a notification ping. Some come as often as every 15 minutes. The biggest offenders, according to Unily’s research, are video conferencing systems, email platforms and instant messaging applications. But the problem isn’t any … [Read more...]
Two cases of New World Screwworm confirmed in South Texas
The ongoing NWS story is going to occupy current news for a time. “A case of New World screwworm has been confirmed in South Texas near La Pryor, according to USDA.” NWS is back in the U.S. for the first time in 60 years. Animal health pros who share updates and actionable information can help animal owners monitor and identify infestations. This situation is evolving, and … [Read more...]
Hot messaging helps keep livestock and pets cool
AHD’s editor Rick Purnell continues his “Seen, Heard, Trusted” series here focusing on keeping animals cool as the summer heats up. The article shares the temperatures when heat begins causing issues for cows, pigs, horses, goats, sheep, rabbits and chickens. Purnell advocates routine heat stress reminders because heat-related problems can begin at temperatures as low as … [Read more...]