Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, January 8, 2026. Link. Most read posts from January 8, 2026 AHD Bulletin – Uncertainty. Link. Opportunity flows from where you focus your intentions and attention. AAHA issues NEW guidelines for treating pets with cancer. Link. ============================= More than 1,200 feral, rescue cats … [Read more...]
Opportunity flows from where you focus your intentions and attention
Commentary This new year is not a fresh start. It’s the next chapter of continually improving the health and welfare of our animals and those who care for them. For many animal health pros, the horizon may be foggy as new annual plans are implemented, territories realigned, new management introduced and teams face staffing and goal changes. As we begin this year, we can … [Read more...]
Potential dangers of hot shoeing
While studies on hot‑shoe smoke are scarce, farriers often report symptoms reminiscent of chronic smoke exposure, including persistent coughs, sinus irritation and breathlessness. The absence of published data on hoof‑smoke composition forces a look toward surgical‑smoke research, says Lisa Nealen. She breaks down the risks to farrier health from hot shoeing in this … [Read more...]
The Horse.com’s 10 most read articles in 2025
Colic, nasal discharge, EHV-1, allergies and wound care were among readers’ favorite content in 2025. Source: The Horse, January 6, 2026. Link. … [Read more...]
This blog’s for you
Commentary There are numerous factors to consider as animal health pros work to improve and grow our industry. Each week, your AHD team focuses on delivering published content that has the potential to advance and improve narratives critical to serving animal owners, their animals and the people working in our industry. Last week we shared Stephen Covey’s Circles of … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – December 31, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, December 24, 2025. Link. Scroll through recent Animal Health Digest posts here: December 2025 AHD Archives. Link. November 2025 AHD Archives. Link. October 2025 AHD Archives. Link. September 2025. AHD Archives. Link. ======================= 4 signs the dog is over holiday socializing Source: … [Read more...]
Alternatives to antibiotics for wounds in horses
Commentary, Sponsor Content We appreciate the intriguing review of One Health, natural/herb and gut-enhancing options for equine wound care in this article. It brings to mind the vast number of wound care products that are branded, licensed and manufactured without containing antibiotics or steroids. MAXI/GUARD® Zn7® Derm, manufactured by Addison Biological Laboratory, is … [Read more...]
Early allergen introduction overrides allergy predisposition in offspring of horses with Culicoides hypersensitivity
The findings from a Cornell study of Icelandic horses support the idea that early exposure to an allergen* can prime an individual’s immune system to tolerate it and not become allergic later in life. The study results were published on October 21st in Frontiers in Immunology <Link>. Source: Paulick Report, December 11, 2025. Link. Training of the immune system to … [Read more...]
Great teams are the foundation of success
Chewy Health* President Mita Malhotra shares the attributes she believes are essential for leaders as they seek to build teams that drive growth and create experiences that keep customers coming back. Her key assertions include: Build trust daily by encouraging thoughtful questions, offering autonomy, supporting growth and allowing room for mistakes. Front desk staff … [Read more...]
Help horse owners prepare their horses for winter: a quick list
From nutrition considerations to preventing mud, it’s time to get ready for winter conditions, writes Clair Thunes, PhD. Her article provides a getting-ready-for-winter checklist suitable for social media posts and newsletters. Preparing the environment where a horse lives is in the prevention category for animal health. Source: The Horse, December 4, 2025. Link. Photo … [Read more...]
6 nutrients that support hoof health
Includes Commercial Content Certain nutrients can make a huge difference in the state of a horse’s feet. In this article, the author outlines six ingredients that are known to have a positive impact on horse hooves. Source: Equine Wellness. Link. INSIGHTS: For animal health pros, articles like this can provide a backdrop for evaluating supplements clients are giving … [Read more...]
EHV-1 outbreak update: New case confirmed in Oklahoma
The Equine Disease Communication Center confirmed one new case associated with the outbreak in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. The horse is displaying neurological clinical signs. It did not attend the WPRA but was stalled with horses that did, including one that tested positive for EHV-1 with only respiratory signs. Source: The Horse, December 5, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – December 11, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, December 4, 2025. Link. Most read posts from December 4th AHD Bulletin – Beat seasonal depression before it arrives. Link. Barrel racing event in Waco, TX, epicenter of EHV-1/EHM outbreaks. Link. How cold is too cold? Link. Unused PTO: a red flag. Link. Stay informed without doomscrolling. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – December 4, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, November 26, 2025. Link. Most read posts from November 2025 AHD Bulletins – Ownership model frames lasting change. Link. Speed eating cats, skateboarding dogs highlight Thailand’s pet boom. Link. Convenience, connection matter just as much as price. Link. You … [Read more...]
Year-long chronicle update: 1 Horse, 1 Farrier, 1 Year
Sponsored Content In this second installment, Esco Buff, CF, APF, PhD, updates the hoof-care journey of Jackson, a 15-year-old Clydesdale cross gelding. Subtle lameness observations, shifts in hoof quality and environmental stressors are already influencing farriery decisions, owner management and our shared preparation for what lies ahead. Jackson is experiencing arthritic … [Read more...]
Variable hay quality a concern during cold snaps
Cattle feed intake can surge higher than 20 percent to make up for energy expended to keep them warm. Amber Friedrichsen reminds us that a large spread in hay quality across the Midwest exists, making it that much more important to test forage and budget for additional bales or supplemental feed. In short, a bale ≠ a bale ≠ a bale. Source: Hay and Forage Grower, December … [Read more...]
Animal Health Digest celebrates 10 years!
Thanksgiving season is an appropriate time to thank those who support AHD’s curation service. Without you, our weekly Bulletin would not be possible. THANK YOU! The curators who share content they reviewed include: Rick Purnell, editor Dane Erickson, Bulletin manager Patrick T. Malone, weekly columnist Industry colleagues and friends AHD Sponsors In the … [Read more...]
VCPR. Have we got it backwards?
Kudos to Jules Benson, BVSc, and Emily M. Tincher, DVM, for their JAVMA Viewpoint article asserting the need to embrace pet family–centered care to forge a path to more accessible and sustainable veterinary medicine. They ask the question, “What if the VCPR was more CPVR?” Their viewpoint examines the transition from a provider-centered, often medically driven, approach to … [Read more...]
Scroll the AHD Archives
During this past three months, we’ve experienced all-time highs in post readership. The links here will allow you to quickly scroll through the AHD Archives by month, catch posts you missed or revisit the ones you skipped for a later time. Source: Animal Health Digest Archives for November 2025. Link. Archives for October 2025. Link. Archives for September 2025. … [Read more...]
Preventing thrush before it starts
Haylie Pfeffer’s article is a good reminder of the benefits of managing environmental conditions and hoof structure to avoid thrush in horses. Consider it for direct communications with horse owners, social media posts or linked in a newsletter. Thrush is not contagious, but multiple horses at the same barn could be affected, especially in communal, damp, muddy conditions … [Read more...]
Vaccine hesitancy and the importance of client communication
Vaccine hesitancy, compliance and adherence are everyday challenges in veterinary hospitals that are not going away. “Same stuff, different day” apathy can become the norm when veterinary teams face anti-vax sentiment. Yet we know the importance of vaccination to prevent disease and must address client objections to best serve their pets. Each time an animal health pro reads … [Read more...]
How much do radiographs change as a weanling ages?
Radiographic abnormalities noted in weanlings at the November sale can change significantly by the time they are yearlings at the September sale, writes Rolf Embertson, DVM, Dipl. ACVS. He says most of the radiographic changes are improvements, but many are not. He references three presentations that looked at: a) changes in carpal and fetlock RA, b) changes in stifle … [Read more...]
Black walnut dangerous for horses
The black walnut tree and its nut are considered toxic to horses and other animals because they contain a chemical called juglone, writes Emily Fought. She continues to warn horse owners about leaves and nuts contaminating grass, hay and water sources. Just 20 percent black walnut in horse bedding, sawdust or shavings can cause toxicity. Source: Cowgirl, November 8, 2025. … [Read more...]
6 steps to manage horses with hock arthritis
When horses develop arthritis in their hocks, they need a management plan that corresponds to both the horse and the owner, writes Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA. She shares important management decisions for the horse owner to make with their veterinarian. As the disease progresses, owners might need to adjust that plan and eventually consider a lower workload for the … [Read more...]
Chewy to acquire SmartEquine from Covetrus, Inc.
Chewy, Inc., has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire SmartPak Equine, LLC, from Covetrus, Inc. This acquisition strengthens Chewy’s position as a leader in the equine category and accelerates its expansion into higher-margin health and wellness verticals. Source: Chewy, October 30, 2025. Link. The all-cash transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other … [Read more...]
Convenience, connection matter just as much as price
In this article, My Vet Candy reviews survey results from a paper titled, “U.S. Residents' Self-Reported Access to Veterinary Care and Implications for Care-Seeking Decisions.” The survey of more than 1,100 adults asked what “access to veterinary care” meant. In summary, the results show most people value and respect veterinary professionals, but they often feel shut out and … [Read more...]
It is time to communicate about pet holiday safety
Halloween ranks third for holiday candy-related pet claims, behind Christmas and Thanksgiving, according to data from Independence Pet Group. Independence Pet Holdings’ Jennifer Sperry, DVM, shares tips and an informative infographic about pet safety during this spooky season here <Link>. Thanksgiving kicks off the official winter holiday season, which is now under … [Read more...]
When it comes to horse hay, cost matters but nutrient content matters more (videos)
Bob Coleman, PhD, shares information for forage growers and horse owners in this article and videos. He notes more than 85 percent of horse owners buy their hay but may not understand or check the hay’s digestible energy, crude protein or nonstructural carbohydrates. Source: Paulick Report, April 22, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
4 ways chickens can benefit from pumpkin
As a follow-up to last week’s post about feeding pumpkins to horses <Link>, Ana Hotaling shares the value the various parts of pumpkins provide for chickens. She asserts that pumpkin is considered a superfood. This is a good article to share with backyard chicken owners. Source: Hobby Farms. Link. As a follow-up to last week’s post about feeding pumpkins to horses … [Read more...]
AAHA resources complement veterinary technician support, development
While National Veterinary Technician Week has ended, the opportunity to involve, develop and use veterinary technicians in practice teams remains every day. Connor Dunwoodie pulled together resources in this article, beginning with the 2023 AAHA Technician Utilization Guidelines and Veterinary Technician Utilization Toolkit. Source: AAHA Trends, October 14, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]