Now is the time to make sure your horse is ready for the rigors of regular work, writes Christine Barakat. When scheduling horses’ spring shots, veterinarians need to schedule some time to evaluate horse soundness and joint health, as well. A soundness exam serves two purposes: it will identify any current soundness issues that need to be managed the exam will provide a … [Read more...]
USDA simplifying vaccine labels
Industry groups have pushed for a single-tiered system since 2002. Similar to the system FDA uses for human vaccines, the single-tiered system makes the approval process more efficient, while still providing producers and veterinarians the information they need to make vaccine decisions. USDA published a final rule in 2015. USDA released guidelines in 2018, and the … [Read more...]
Assessments help you succeed. Get a free one before April 30.
Purpose Unlimited is offering a free assessment to AHD subscribers until April 30. Assessments can help you identify what you need to know about yourself in order to be more successful. When you understand your natural behavior style, what drives your behavior and your level of emotional intelligence, then you can learn how to capitalize on your strengths and overcome your … [Read more...]
Treating Type One and Type Two equine wounds (includes video, photos)
Type One wounds, those that heal by first intention, are those that can be sewn up, says David Ramsey, DVM. Normally after a cut, there’s about six hours to reintroduce the edges of the skin to each other. Type Two wounds are healed by second intention because to close the skin granulation and epithelial, cell bridges must form. In the two articles referenced here, Ramsey … [Read more...]
Opinion – New TV program, Animal ER Live, demonstrates the complexity of veterinary care
The launch of Animal ER Live on Nat Geo WILD is a game-changer for animal owner perceptions of veterinary hospitals, veterinarians and veterinary staff members. Animal ER Live joins current family friendly veterinary programs featured on the network that include Secrets of the Zoo, Dr. K’s Exotic Animal ER, Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet and the network’s number-1 series, The Incredible … [Read more...]
5 Ps of managing customer experience
Chad Storlie tackles the critical elements of managing customer experiences (CX). CX has come to the forefront in nearly every industry as companies seek to differentiate how they deliver their offerings to customers in a way that is unique to customer needs, fulfilling, immediate, low effort, information personalized, and a service that they would recommend and purchase … [Read more...]
Advancements improve long-term outcomes for navicular syndrome (includes video, fact sheets)
Navicular syndrome is an overly simple name for a complex condition that is most accurately described as podotrochlosis or podotrochleitis, says Tracy Turner, DVM. Veterinarians believe navicular is caused by mechanical stress and strain due to the constant pressure between the navicular bone and DDFT, which leads to the degeneration of those and other structures that make up … [Read more...]
Tick removal resources here in time for tick season (includes videos)
Tick season here. Resources are available to help pet owners deal with tick removal and media will cover this topic as spring lets us get outside with our pets, friends and families. These resources about tick removal work well for social media, in-clinic education and e-newsletters. Source: Pets-WebMD. Video: How to Remove a Tick From Your Pet. Link. Video: How … [Read more...]
Mr. Rodgers is still relevant
Tres Roeder, MBA, grew up watching Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and says the lessons he learned shaped his attitudes and informed his business life. 2018 marked the 50th anniversary of Fred Rogers’ children’s show, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, which aired from 1968 to 2001. Then, as now, Fred Rogers modeled the best in all of us and reminded everyone of the good and … [Read more...]
Gaming helps employees understand biosecurity risks
Researchers sought to discover how human risk attitude affects the adoption of biosecurity and the ability to control disease spread. Using video games called digital field experiences, a team from the University of Vermont discovered the weakest biosecurity point in swine operations is the personnel. The findings will likely apply to other production scenarios as well as in … [Read more...]
Opinion – Animal well-being IS as people problem
Taking care of animals is more challenging today because we know more about their needs and behaviors. Still, day to day management often falls into the category of chores. It should instead rise to the category of opportunity. With consumer and ecological pressures rising, we’ve been seeing a variety of changes in how we care for animals. Yet, one common denominator to … [Read more...]
Easy equine fitness plan (includes video)
Equine veterinarian Melinda Freckleton, DVM, helps a reader with divided time develop a schedule to exercise her out-of-shape horses. Her guidance is worthy of social media posts and inclusion in e-newsletters. Before you embark on any fitness program, make sure that each of your horses is sound and ready to ride. Is he healthy? Is he shod or trimmed … [Read more...]
Opinion – AVMA shares regional stories
Several regional stories get covered by the AVMA SmartBrief. Cancelled equine events, Lyme disease incidences, infection and parasite prevention and itchy pets all received recent media coverage from local sources. Last week we highlighted two stories published by mainstream media sources: TIME about anti-vaxxers <link> and USA Today about pet obesity … [Read more...]
Data breaches are inevitable – protect yourself
There are some simple ways to protect your personal data that can still be effective, say W. D. Salisbury and Rusty Baldwin. They involve changing how you think about your own information security: specifically, assuming you are a target and thinking defensively about how you can protect yourself. In terms of online data, the most important information to protect is … [Read more...]
Media literacy needed at home and the office
Sarah Gretter makes a solid case for teaching children to watch commercials with their eyes wide open. She backs up her reasoning with study results. Media literacy is being able analyze and evaluate the messages we see in different media platforms. . . . 80 percent of middle school students believed that web ads were real news stories. The same study found that more than 80 … [Read more...]
Learn how to manage the gut
Prebiotics and probiotics are frequent considerations for multimodal therapies in monogastrics, regardless of species It can be difficult to remain objective about their benefits, but the growing body of work indicates that considering the microbiome will become more prevalent in managing disease risk and potential treatments. We gathered several references for … [Read more...]
A bully or just tough?
The presumption that bullying bosses get results — and fast — compared with gentler leaders is widespread, and rooted partly in the published life stories of successful CEOs Source: New York Times, February 26, 2019. Link. Bullying bosses tend to undermine their own teams. Morale and company loyalty plunge, tardiness increase, and sick days are more frequent. INSIGHTS: … [Read more...]
JAVMA: Defining antimicrobial use; paradigms shifting in behavioral medicine
There’s something for everyone in most issues of JAVMA. We’re highlighting the abstracts of two papers representing changes in our industry. Evidence-based paradigm shifts in veterinary behavioral medicine. LinkThe AVMA's definitions of antimicrobial uses for prevention, control, and treatment of disease. Link. Source: JAVMA, April 1, 2019. Link. Review the table of … [Read more...]
AQHA launches microchip pilot project (includes video)
While more than 20,000 horses in the AQHA database have microchip IDs on their records, this represents only about half of one percent of the live population of American Quarter Horses. Microchipping allows for permanent identification of horses in commercial and sporting environments, as well as in lost animal recoveries during natural disasters and theft. Source: AQHA, … [Read more...]
Groups eye Santa Anita Park horse track fatalities (video)
The deaths of 22 horses since Dec. 26, 2018 at Santa Anita Park in Southern California has the attention of several groups and investigation teams trying to figure out why the horses died. A new set of regulations, including a plan to impose a to restrict the use of Lasix on race days has the track closed. The Lasix plan has to first be approved by the Thoroughbred Owners of … [Read more...]
Myths and facts about strangles, Strep equii
Many horse owners don’t understand strangles, says Reese Hand, DVM. Strangles is an infection of the upper respiratory tract caused by the bacteria Streptococcus equi, and spreads predominately by nose-to-nose contact. It is sometimes known as equine distemper. Source: Western Horseman, September 2014. Link. While strangles is easily treatable and rarely fatal, … [Read more...]
A technique every horse owner needs to know (includes video)
Horse owners young and old need to know how to remove a shoe from a horse’s hoof, says farrier Lee Olsen. He shows the best way to complete this task in a video. Consider this video for social media posts, e-newsletters and in training classes for horse owners. Source: Western Horseman, February 1, 2019. Link. … [Read more...]
March JAVMA highlights
We’ve highlighted two articles from the current JAVMA below. Pet owners' knowledge of and attitudes toward the judicious use of antimicrobials for companion animals Link. Most (21/25 [84%]) pet owners expressed trust in their veterinarian to meet their pets' medical needs and prescribe antimicrobials appropriately. Musculoskeletal problems associated with lameness and … [Read more...]
Encouraging horses to drink
We’ve all heard the adage, “you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” While possibly true, the authors suggest the following to help a horse drink water: Make sure the horse can access clean water at all timesGive him some spaceTry electrolytes Source: EQUUS, February 15, 2019. Link. INSIGHTS: Horses need water in winter, too. Be sure to keep water … [Read more...]
March brings more risk of rabies to horses
With winter soon ending, primary small mammal vectors of rabies, including raccoons, foxes, skunks and bats, will emerge from under buildings, leave hay bale nests and hunt assertively to regain body condition and feed newborns. Rabies is not frequently seen in equids, but the disease is invariably fatal and has considerable public health significance. Rabies vaccine is … [Read more...]
Animal Health Protection Act enforced by USDA and FDA
Pre-signing the interstate certificate of veterinary inspection without inspecting the cattle has a Kentucky DVM waiting for sentencing. Illegally moving cattle across state lines with fraudulent paperwork is a federal offense. Source: Drover’s, January 21, 2019. Link. Under federal law prior to shipment across state lines cattle are required to be inspected by a … [Read more...]
Bad attitude or equine ulcers?
Show horses are prime candidates for ulcers because exercise, stress and travel are proven risk factors. “The interesting thing about this disease is that it seems to be affected by the environmental stressors,” Sherry Johnson, DVM, says. “Management, stress levels and even housing conditions have been shown in literature to be associated with a horse’s chances of developing … [Read more...]
Things to know about DMSO
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in an industrial solvent turned anti-inflammatory therapy. It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for topical use on horses. However, veterinarians regularly use the chemical off-label in other ways to treat an array of inflammatory conditions from laminitis to neurological problems, writes Christine Barakat. She shares some history … [Read more...]
Pardon me, that horse is . . . uh, fat!
Obesity in horses carries a bunch of problems. David Ramey, DVM, shares some of the them, offers solutions and a story, as well: Fat horses are insulated horsesExercise intoleranceLaminitis You should be able to feel your horse’s ribs easily, but not see them (much). Source: Horse Network, January 27, 2019. Link. Keep your horse at a good weight. He’ll feel better, … [Read more...]
AQHA opens Horsemen of the World exhibit
The American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum <link> opened a new exhibit last November. The Horsemen of the World exhibit showcases the unique bond between horses and horsemen around the globe. Visitors can view the exhibit at the Hall of Fame & Museum in Amarillo, Texas through November 2019. Source: AQHA. Link. Despite differences in breed, discipline … [Read more...]