Disney is dropping new episodes of many Nat Geo and Disney Channel shows in batches, rather than waiting until an entire season has finished, as it used to. Dozens of episodes of popular Nat Geo veterinary docuseries are now streaming on Disney+. The first 18 seasons of The Incredible Dr Pol are available, along with a number of specials. The first batch of episodes from … [Read more...]
Shoes and blood circulation in hooves: Is there a connection?
Polish researchers concluded that horseshoes may have a negative impact on blood circulation in the hoof and noted that different types of shoes may result in different median temperature differences of the heel and toe portions of hooves. Source: Paulick Report, December 24, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Building an equine colic toolkit
Chris White, DVM, shares how horse owners can prepare for a colic episode, considerations to make, and things to keep in mind after surgery. In some horses and situations colic can be impossible to prevent. So, having a toolkit that includes an active VCPR will help owners best handle colic when it happens. White reminds horse owners to avoid handling colic episodes alone. … [Read more...]
The future of work is a 60-year career
Retirement as we know it didn’t exist in the 19th century, writes Joe Pinsker. The norm then was to work until you could no longer physically do the job. Now with age expectancy increasing to 100 years experts project the 20th century model of forty-year careers will need to be expanded to 60 years. He shares several concepts about how employment strategies will need to change … [Read more...]
Why large-animal vets are in short supply
Referencing farm size shifts, geographic expansion of hobby farms, gender demographics and food safety job competition, Jalee Wondercheck writes about the large-animal veterinary shortage in Indiana. It is a story common across the U.S. Source: Farm Progress, December 20, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
National Geographic’s 12 most intriguing animal discoveries of 2021
‘Virgin births’ in a rare bird, Covid-19 found in wild deer, other animals, cloning a black ferret, elephant evolving to lose tusks, wild horses and donkeys digging desert wells, ants that shrink and regrow their brains and more. . . Source: National Geographic, December 8, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Most read Animal Health Digest posts of 2021
As 2021 ends, our team celebrates six years of curating, selecting and then supplying actionable content for animal health professionals. To date, about 6,500 posts are stored in our AHD website. What you read helps determine where we seek content that can be applied to how you work and interact with customers and stakeholders. We’ve assembled the most read posts of 2021 in … [Read more...]
How DVMs choose stem cells or PRP for equine tendon and ligament injuries
Tremendous interest exists to understand how to use regenerative therapies (orthobiologics) such as platelet-rich plasma and mesenchymal stem cells to treat tendon and ligament injuries in horses. Some tendon and ligament injuries have a better chance of benefiting from orthobiologics than others. Roger Smith, MA, VetMB, PhD, DEO, FHEA, LAAssocECVDI, Dipl. ECVSMR, ECVS, … [Read more...]
Jingle Bells was not written with yuletide merriment in mind
We’ve been duped, writes Rebecca Berry. The Jingle Bells song, written 164 years ago, was a sleighing song whose original title was One Horse Open Sleigh. But yuletide intentions did not inspire songwriter James Pierpont, rather sleigh races he witnessed. . . . jingling sleigh bells were not festive adornments because having bells was the law. Heavy fines were issued if a … [Read more...]
Legal ramifications of lay persons providing veterinary advice online
Animal owners frequently seek solutions for their horses and pets online. Some lay people are exposing themselves to liability by giving advice as if they are veterinarians. It happens all the time in chat rooms, Facebook groups and various internet venues. If a layperson is giving information about a specific condition, they’re diagnosing. That’s practicing without a license, … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – December 16, 2021
Last week’s most read post Toxic positivity. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, December 9, 2021. Link. AHD posts one year ago Archives for December 2020, Animal Health Digest. Link. Zoonotic infection from household aquarium Source: Worms and Germs, November 30, 2021. Link. Scott Weese, DVM, reminds us to use some … [Read more...]
Keeping horses warm and healthy this winter
Christine Barakat’s article is focused on older horses, avoiding chills and checking blankets daily. Considering the U.S. weather to date, chilling from sweating under a blanket is as likely as chilling from the cold. Wide temperature swings are hard on all animals living outside. With all the wind likely to arrive with winter, keeping water fresh and free of debris is … [Read more...]
Fat leg disease or edema?
It is not uncommon to see horses swell with subcutaneous edema. It happens most frequently in the hind legs and resolves when the horse begins exercising again. Alternatively, swelling can be a bacterial infection and indicate a different condition with several potential causes. Regardless of the exact cause, the swelling will be extreme, hot and very painful to the touch, … [Read more...]
Top 10 tips for caring for senior dogs or cats
Complimentary Commercial Content November is when we celebrate National Senior Pet Month. . . . once a pet becomes a senior, every day is senior care day.” Keeping a senior pet happy is all about paying attention, shares Katherine Carbanaro. As dogs’ or cats’ needs change with age, owners need to learn about accommodating them and adjusting routines when needed. Among the … [Read more...]
Zoetis horse video emphasizes human-horse bond
Complimentary Commercial Content Horses recognize care and dedication and they return it tenfold. Zoetis Equine’s Facebook video shows horses and their caregivers in everyday settings and relationships with people of all ages. Source: Zoetis Equine, December 10, 2021. Link. INSIGHTS: Kudos to the Zoetis equine team. Well done. Nice video! … [Read more...]
The difference between disinfecting and sanitizing, according to the CDC
Sponsored Commercial Content Cleaning can mean everything from straightening up to scrubbing down. When it comes to disinfecting and sanitizing, the definitions, as set by the Centers for Disease Control, are more clear-cut. Sarah Showfety shares the definitions and actions from a home environment perspective. The step-by-step guidance is appropriate for veterinary clinics, … [Read more...]
Even with screening, equine cardiac problems prove difficult to catch
Medina Spirit, the 2021 Kentucky Derby winner, died of an apparent heart attack December 6, 2021 at Santa Anita, California. While tragic, we’re reminded that screening for equine cardiac problems is not as easy as you'd think, especially in racehorses. Natalie Voss presents information equine veterinarian specialists shared during discussions about the realities and challenges … [Read more...]
Just fat, hay belly or getting on in years?
These two articles about horse obesity will be useful to horse owners. Poor-quality feed can fool horse owners when their horse looks like it’s getting fat. Feeding low-quality hay that lacks adequate protein and fiber is the cause of a horse’s belly hanging low and out to the sides. Called “hay belly,” the condition happens when poor-quality feed sits in the large … [Read more...]
Evolving the window shopping experience (includes podcast)
Trends in consumer shopping reflect how animal owners seek products and services are discussed in this episode of the Retail Gets Real podcast. All commerce is becoming digital — even when it happens in store.” “Shoppers are operating in a more blended world as the boundaries between physical and digital shopping start to fall away. For example, 68 percent of shoppers say … [Read more...]
Water as a nutrient in horse care
Complimentary Content supported by Ritchie® Nancy S. Loving, DVM, offers advice on ensuring your horses get the quantity and quality of water they need for optimal health. She covers: The role of water in horse health Summer and winter hydration needs Is your horse dehydrated? Source: Stable Management Extra, Volume 9. Link. Water consumption depends on many … [Read more...]
Is it or isn’t it colic?
Colic can be resolved easily about 90 percent of the time, but it can also be the end of a horse’s life, writes Marsha King. She provides 33 tips to use as guidelines when dealing with horses. Any horse can experience colic. The disorder is indiscriminate of age, sex, breed, occupation, or environment.” - Michael Fugaro, VMD, Dipl. ACVS Source: The Horse, August 22, … [Read more...]
The climate crisis: Reducing pets’ environmental pawprints
There is a lot of coverage these days about addressing sustainability and carbon footprints. Livestock production has been heavily targeted, as has fossil fuel consumption and automotive emissions. The real challenge is understanding the total carbon cost from inception to the ultimate destroying of an item and its residual waste. In this article by Adam Green, pet food … [Read more...]
Diagnosing and treating itchy horses
Pruritus remains challenging for veterinarians to diagnose and treat. It is a broad issue in horses that encompasses a wide range of causes. Management and prevention are key to the welfare of affected horses. Alexandra Beckstett summarizes a presentation by Janet Littlewood, BVSc (Hons), MA, PhD, DVD, DVR, MRCVS, on the three main culprits of pruritus in horses: … [Read more...]
Understanding how horses learn may keep veterinarians safe
Concerned about the frequency of injuries to equine veterinarians, researchers in Scotland sought to determine if the vets understood how horses learn. Vets were asked if they understood positive reinforcement. Eighty-four percent said they did, but only 19 percent were correct when tested. Nearly 80 percent of vets said they understood negative reinforcement, but only 33 … [Read more...]
Old horses would rather move
Just because a horse is older and might experience chronic pain doesn’t mean he wants to stand around. In a study monitoring how horses budgeted their time, researchers found age and orthopedic pain didn’t deter horses from moving around when given the opportunity. Source: The Horse, September 24, 2021. Link. Environment matters more than age and lameness in older … [Read more...]
Equine eye microbiota assessed for fungi
A look at the eyes of 24 horses and applying advanced genomic sequencing technology have revealed which fungi are most common in healthy eyes and how those microscopic populations differ in pastured horses compared to stalled horses <Link>. The research team determined that the most common fungi in their study horses’ eyes were: Leptosphaerulina, 22.7 percent … [Read more...]
Behaviors that indicate equine lameness
There’s a relatively new tool for identifying subtle signs of musculoskeletal pain in horses, shares Christine Barakat. The Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram is a compilation of 24 behaviors, such as “head tilting,” “tail swishing” and “spontaneous changes of gait” that have been proven to correlate with musculoskeletal pain. If a horse exhibits eight or more of the behaviors, chances … [Read more...]
4 facts about heaves in horses
Heaves is an allergic-based disease that compromises a horse's ability to breathe, similar to the way asthma affects humans. Horse heaves is chronic and can threaten a horse's long-term health and performance. Fall always brings changes to air quality as harvesting adds more dust particles, new hay sources become available, and horses begin spending more time inside. All … [Read more...]
Safely control those rodents moving in with you
It’s that time of the year when rodents move inside to escape chilly weather. They can damage buildings, walls, contaminate food items and transmit diseases to people and pets. It is important to take proper precautions to keep them from entering. Choose and consider the best ways to keep the rodents away. It can be natural or chemical. Source: The Outdoor Wear, October … [Read more...]
How often should a horse see the dentist?
The most important person in tooth care for horses is the one hired to float the teeth, says Lu Ann Groves, DVM. Horse age, loose or erupting teeth can make a difference to how often teeth need floating. The general rule is that a horse’s teeth should be floated every year. But this may not always apply. . .” Source: Equine Wellness Natural Health Report, September 2021. … [Read more...]