Horse owners will appreciate learning about pulse rates as a horse health indicator. Teaching them during an exam to monitor pulse is an excellent way for veterinarians and veterinary technicians to engage with them. A horse at rest will typically have a pulse rate between 30 and 40 beats per minute. If a horse who hasn’t just finished exercising has a pulse rate of 50 beats … [Read more...]
Ways to measure, promote employee satisfaction
Complimentary Sponsored Content Many practice leaders claim they prioritize the happiness of their teams. But can they measure how well they deliver their intent? Join Ivan Zak, DVM, and guests gather to better understand a structured approach to collecting feedback. Expect to hear ways to measure and promote employee satisfaction, common mistakes businesses make when … [Read more...]
Hay could be in short supply next winter
Experience is a good teacher if you pay attention. Kenny Burdine, University of Kentucky extension, cites challenges with hay supplies in 2007. He shares reasons why he thinks it will be prudent to ensure adequate hay stocks going into the winter of 2022-2023. Source: Hay and Forage Grower, May 17, 2022. Link. INSIGHTS: A little coaching at the local coffee shop from … [Read more...]
Springtime skin problems in horses
Horses can develop allergies, infections and other skin conditions at any time of year, but some are more common during the warm, wet spring weather. Heather Smith Thomas reviews four equine skin problems that are common in spring. This article and previous AHD posts providing information on hives <Link> and an allergy infographic <Link> offer animal health pros … [Read more...]
Washing pet toys and accessories reduces risks
Developing a cleaning schedule for dog’s toys and bedding can help keep pets and people healthy by reducing the number of bacteria and allergens in the environment. It’s good practice to wash dog’s toys every couple of weeks. How often?? Between the bacteria that live or pass through your dog's mouth and those that live and reproduce in the biofilm left on his toys, there are … [Read more...]
KC Animal Health Corridor announces dates, speakers for 2022 Animal Health Summit
Gathering live again, the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor will welcome industry leaders and guests at the 2022 Animal Health Summit August 29th through August 30th at the Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland in Kansas City, Missouri. The Summit theme, The Way, represents the answer to the question, “Where do we go from here?” The summit will feature industry thought leaders … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 12, 2022
Last week’s most read posts The Great Resignation is becoming a great midlife crisis. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, April 28, 2022. Link. =================================== The cost of pet care for cats is often underestimated Source: Catster, April 22, 2022. Link. Cost findings for annual and lifetime spending are … [Read more...]
Disease outbreak in BLM facility: Wildfires, dust storm and wind indicated
Source: Paulick Report, May 7, 2022. Link. A highly contagious, equine respiratory disease outbreak began on April 23 at the Cañon City Bureau of Land Management's Wild Horse and Burro Facility in Colorado. We noted the explanation of outside horses being brought into a vaccinated herd during relocation caused by fire and drought. … [Read more...]
Keep manure samples cold
Research suggests the way horse manure samples are stored can have a significant impact on the accuracy of fecal egg counts. Comparing various preservation techniques, the researchers found the egg counts in refrigerated samples remained more stable than others. They recommend storing samples for no longer than a week before testing. Source: EQUUS, April 26, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Hives in horses may not need treatment
Horses encounter skin conditions as do other animals. Urticaria is one of the more common skin diseases in horses. A healthy immune system normally keeps the barrage of ever present of microorganisms at bay, writes Nancy Loving, DVM. Hives are a clinical sign rather than a specific disease, she explains. But when a horse’s immune response overreacts to a noninfectious cause, … [Read more...]
In case you missed the 148th Kentucky Derby
Coming from way back in the field, late entry Rich Strike wins at 80:1. Watch his incredible Run for the Roses. Source: BLOODHORSE, May 7, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 5, 2022
Top five most read posts in April 2022 Pet owners unaware of vet technicians’ roles during vet visit. Link. Traditional recruiting is broken. 6 ways to reimagine it. Link. Asian longhorned ticks on the move. Link. Your customers buy benefits. Link. The 411 on fetch. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, April 28, … [Read more...]
Evaluate bedding choices for horses
A stabled horse spends the better part of his day in direct contact with his bedding. It’s worth the time to periodically reassess bedding choices, according to the authors. Chances are the current bedding it still suitable, but horse owners will never know for sure until they take the time to consider other options. Source: EQUUS, April 20, 2022. Link. The purpose of … [Read more...]
Tips for making fly spray bottles and sponges last longer
Sponges and fly spray bottles need to be maintained properly like all equipment. EQUUS shares some tips for making these items last the entire season. Sharing them on social media or in newsletters will be appreciated by horse owners and may save them some money, too. Source: EQUUS, April 20, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Demystifying EPM
Complimentary Sponsored Content Some horse owners struggle with equine protozoal myelitis. It has been acknowledged by equine veterinary experts for over 50 years but there’s still much to learn. EPM most commonly attacks the central system. Rob Franklin, DVM Dip. ACVIM, joins the Chatfields to talk all about EPM: the cause, what it looks like in horses, and preventing … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 28, 2022
Last week’s most read posts Asian longhorned ticks are on the move. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, April 7, 2022. Link. =================================== Love is the key to career success: Marcus Buckingham Source: Harvard Business Review, April 15, 2022. Link. (video) Buckingham says you don’t have to love all … [Read more...]
Horse trailer safety checklist
Hauling horses is not for the faint of heart. Speeding down the highway with a prized and beloved animal in tow is stressful on its own. But doing so with a trailer jerked from its resting place and forced into duty without much thought could become the proverbial accident waiting to happen. We’re sharing a trailer checklist to help horse owners be sure a trailer is ready to … [Read more...]
Equine health educational resources are a click away
Sponsored Content Considering foaling season is ending soon and the positive responses to the recent equine toxins infographic <Link>, we’re sharing more equine resources from the ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance digital library. Any equine enthusiast will agree that horses enrich their lives, but they also come with some predictable health risks and associated … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 20, 2022
Last week’s most read posts The cute factor is almost too much to resist. Link. Your customers buy benefits. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, April 7, 2022. Link. =================================== 7 causes of brain fog and how to regain your concentration and focus Source: Insider, March 24, 2022. Link. Brain … [Read more...]
Spring grass and horses
Juliet M. Getty, PhD, provides guidance on fresh grass and the potential problems it can cause for horses. She continues with tips on monitoring grasses throughout the season. Source: Equine Wellness, April 15, 2014. Link. Tasty spring grasses can offer too much sugar and starch for the insulin resistant horse, thereby increasing the risk of laminitis. However, with careful … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 14, 2022
Last week’s most read posts Traditional recruiting is broken. 6 ways to reimagine it. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, March 31, 2022. Link. =================================== How long is too long to leave a dog alone? Source: Whole Dog Journal, January 10, 2020. Link. 10 to 12 hours is too long for a dog to be … [Read more...]
Guard donkeys, an experiment in the defense against wolves
Colorado ranchers and wildlife advocates are carefully watching Don Gittleson’s experiment with donkey as defenders. He would prefer to shoot the wolves which is illegal under federal and state law. The hope is the donkeys will make his herd a tougher target for local wolves. Source: CPR News, March 23, 2022. Link. INSIGHTS: Large breed dogs and llamas have been used for … [Read more...]
First cloned Przewelski horse preserves rare breed
The Przewelski horse was native to central Asia. Also known as the Mongolian wild horse, the cloning of Kurt, a stallion, will add diverse DNA to a small remaining population. Source: Wild Horse and Burro Diary, Fall 2020. Link. … [Read more...]
Poor saddle fit, shoeing-related problems, even riders can cause horse lameness
Farrier Steve Kraus shared perspectives on how lameness, gait faults, shoeing problems, and even personality problems can occur from poor saddle fit. He also writes riders can cause some of the same issues, even in a correctly fitted saddle. Source: Paulick Report, April 8, 2022. Link. . . . <horses> should not carry more than 30 percent of the horse's body weight.” … [Read more...]
Study: 27 percent of horse owners buy Rx pain meds without DVM guidance
Research led by Debra Sellon, DVM, suggests horse owners are circumventing the VCPR required in 47 states for a vet to prescribe drugs for an animal. She is advocating for horse owners to know the risks of the drugs and how to store them properly. Source: Paulick Report, April 11, 2022. Link. The most common drug 87 percent of horse owners have on hand and administer without … [Read more...]
Kinesiology tape might improve horse propulsion, core strength
"Already recognized as having potential therapeutic benefits in human athletes, kinesiology tape might be more effective in horses than in people.” - Sophie Biau, PhD Source: The Horse, April 5, 2022. Link. Whether in horses or humans, scientists suspect kinesiology taping on the skin might stimulate the fascia—connective tissue surrounding the muscles—as well as the … [Read more...]
Allergy infographic provides step-by-step visual guide
Complimentary Sponsored Content To keep allergy-prone horses comfortable requires figuring out the causes of his reactions and working to avoid them. The infographic shared here is a step-by-step visual guide suitable for sharing in person, on social media and newsletters. Allergy avoidance is most likely less expensive than treating the allergy. In either case, cause … [Read more...]
Equine tongue wounds are more common than most people realize
It’s good to be aware of the many ways a horse can injure his tongue. Often, injuries are not discovered until some other issue requires a oral exam. Bleeding is the most immediate sign of a tongue injury, but you may not see a lot of blood. Bruce Connally, DVM, and Tia Nelson, DVM, share the ways tongue injuries happen, tongue anatomy and how to recognize tongue injury side … [Read more...]
Watch for laminitis in horses this spring
With spring comes the availability of fast-growing summer forage. As horses increase their intake, laminitis can become an issue. Laminitis is the damage and inflammation of the tissue between the hoof and the coffin bone. Nick Simmons offers an overview and resources from the University of California-Davis, University of Florida and Oklahoma State University. Source: … [Read more...]
Top 5 equine toxins (infographic)
Sponsored Content The danger of poisons and toxins isn’t unique to small animals. Poison education is important to horse owners, as well. Spring toxin incidents are often caused by insecticides and lawn and garden products. Now is a good time to remind horse owners of those risks. ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance provides the top 5 equine toxins in an infographic suitable to … [Read more...]