No new anthelmintics with newer modes of action have been introduced since the early 1980s. Anthelmintic resistance continue to increase in cyathostomin and Parascaris spp. parasites. While resistance is slow to develop, work by Dr. Gene Lyons clearly illustrates that once it appears in a parasite, it is there to stay. We can expect resistance to at least one drug class to … [Read more...]
Cleaning protocols promote calf health
Management practices impact overall herd health in any livestock operation. Cleaning procedures and written protocols are imperative to raising healthy calves and will lead to increased average daily gain and decreased disease incidence. Source: Dairy Herd Management, March 28, 2017. Although equipment may look clean, in reality it may be caked with invisible bacteria. … [Read more...]
Understanding the stocker
Stocker, or backgrounding, provides vital production and marketing system values to the beef industry. Stocker production happens in a variety of situations and environments throughout the country. As such, the stocker sector is an essential shock absorber for the beef industry but little data exists to analyze the segment. Source: Drovers CattleNetwork, March 29, … [Read more...]
Heat stress even affects unborn calves
Heat stress can have a huge impact on unborn calves that reaches well into their adulthood. “Cooling is pretty important for the fetus,” says Geoff Dahl, a dairy physiologist with the University of Florida. Source: Dairy Herd Management, March 30, 2017. Unborn calves of heat stressed dams will have lower birth and weaning weights, and might produce 2,500 lb. to 3,000 lb. … [Read more...]
May is Lyme awareness month
Steve Dale offers information about Lyme awareness month. He exposes the role mice have in the increased risk. 2017 will likely be a record Lyme year. We can do more to protect dogs than we can ourselves More than anyone or anything - blame increased mice for increased Lyme Source: Steve Dale Pet World, May 9, 2017. … [Read more...]
Parasites likely to win again in 2017
There’s that “c-word” again – compliance. Don Jergler indicates mild weather and lackluster client compliance continue to favor parasites. He discusses fleas, ticks and heartworm, including perspectives from the Heartworm Society and major manufacturers of for pets and parasite control products. Source: Veterinary Practice News, May 2, 2017. While part of the U.S. is under … [Read more...]
Therapy certification for cats
Caroline Golon offers the basics of the therapy cat certification process. To train as an official cat therapy team, you need to meet minimum requirements, which vary by the certifying organization. Most programs also require that the cat be able to wear a leash and harness, mostly for the cat’s own safety. Source: Catster, May 4, 2017. Obviously, not all cats make good … [Read more...]
Cull ornery, grumpy cows
Culling cows assertively is one of the more effective strategies for improving cow herd profitability and satisfaction. University of Florida animal scientists have found that cows with poor dispositions are less likely to conceive when mated with bulls. Disposition had previously been associated with reduced artificial insemination results. Source: Drovers CattleNetwork, … [Read more...]
4 puppy biting survival strategies
Behavioral problems are a significant factor in pets not being retained. Biting and nipping complaints are among the more common ones. There are things you can do to manage a nippy puppy until your it outgrows this important developmental stage. Animal health pros can share these tips in blog posts, new pet kits, newsletters and social media. If you sell chew toys, consider … [Read more...]
Time-lapse cameras improve dairy feeding
“Moo,” you’re on candid dairy camera. It brings up silly images, but time-lapse photography is proving valuable for monitoring and correcting feed delivery to dairy cows. What Todd Franz has found isn’t pretty. “Only one out of 20 farms or one out of 30 is not letting cows run out of feed,” he says. “Our current on-farm record for cows with no feed is 11 hours.” Source: … [Read more...]
The top 10 sessions at CVC last year
Convention planners work hard to deliver great value from events that take you away from the clinic. This top 10 list from CVC sessions last year is interesting and informative. Source: Veterinary Medicine, April 28, 2017. The No. 1 CVC session was — Managing chronic otitis: Treating the difficult case and preventing recurrence (James Noxon, DVM, DACVIM) INSIGHTS: Sales … [Read more...]
Is marketing at fault?
This article is worthy of c-suite, marketing and sales management consideration. The finger-pointing on who is to blame is an age-old quandary, but author Bruce Scheer clearly exposes the opportunities being missed in marketing groups. He is also is spot-on regarding the issue with value connection. Source: Marketing Profs, May 3, 2017. That's one of the key reasons 37% of … [Read more...]
Basic cardiology exam in dogs
Wendy W. Mandese, DVM, and Amara H. Estrada, DVM, share the approach to a basic cardiology exam in this brief. They remind us that a thorough physical examination is valuable for diagnosing heart disease and should include extensive examination of all body systems. It is a good review for veterinary teams and their sales reps. Source: Clinician’s Brief, May … [Read more...]
Saturated fat does not clog the arteries
Unclogging pipes works wonders for a sink that doesn’t drain quickly. It’s next to useless in human medicine. So is the conventional wisdom that eating foods containing saturated fat and cholesterol inevitably lead to coronary heart disease. A meta-analysis of literature — such as the peer-reviewed journals Nature, the British Medical Journal and the American Journal of … [Read more...]
May is Mental Health Month
Animal health pros have seen a lot of information recently about mental health challenges, especially among veterinary practitioners. Throughout May, the National Alliance on Mental Illness and participants across the country are raising awareness of mental health. Each year, NAMI fights stigma, provides support, educates the public and advocates for equal care. Source: … [Read more...]
Stay positive. It helps!
Throughout history a litany of hucksters has been paid handsomely to deliver motivational messages that have half-lives measured in hours. Ups and downs are a natural part of life. But, when the downs start to dominate our lives, it negatively affects our performance and more importantly, our health. Here are some practical tips to keep you on an even keel. Best of all, they … [Read more...]
Considerations for controlling ketamine
Veterinarians and their team members need to be aware of the licit and illicit aspects of ketamine. They should also know how to deter and report theft associated with illegal demand and weak regulations, and the legal requirements about using this controlled substance. This article will make a good reference for a staff meeting about scheduled drug processes and … [Read more...]
Rare red wolf pups born in North Carolina
Red wolf female #1858 gave birth to a litter of six pups April 28th. They are the first critically endangered red wolves born at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, North Carolina, since 2002. While this is great news for an endangered species, the red wolf faces an existential threat far beyond the fact that its numbers have dwindled to around 300 individuals. Source: … [Read more...]
Back to the future; the case for slow-growth chickens
In a world that is changing at breakneck speed, chicken producers are being pushed to raise chickens that take longer to grow and will cost more at the meat counter. The paradoxical situation parallels the consumer-driven animal welfare platform that is pushing the transition toward free-range or cage-free eggs. Source: New York Times, May 1, 2017 (paywall). The Global … [Read more...]
Wisconsin sees shortage in large animal veterinarians (includes video)
A true veterinarian shortage in rural areas remains. Dr. Lisa Hansen shared perspectives in a video interview from her practice in Barron, Wisconsin. She hopes the Veterinary Medical Loan Repayment Program can help students afford a veterinary degree and serve an area in need of their services. Source: WKOW, April 26, 2017. The United States Department of Agriculture is … [Read more...]
First the fires then snow: Kansas in distress
Recent blizzards have potentially devastated the western Kansas wheat crop. This is significant because Kansas grew one of every five bushels of U.S. wheat last year. Its farmers specialize in winter wheat, which is planted in the fall, goes dormant during the winter and sprouts again in the spring. Winter wheat accounts for two thirds, or more, of the U.S. crop each … [Read more...]
Infographics help marketing
Infographics are simplified images of a message or concept. We’ve used them for decades as pictorials, flow charts or diagrams. The best pictures convey a message better than written words. With about 65 percent of the population being primarily visual learners, infographics help people absorb and recall information best by seeing it. Source: MWI Messenger, May 2017, page … [Read more...]
NHF Blueprint dives into antibiotic research
All animal health pros can gain valuable perspectives on the issues surrounding antibiotics and how to decrease or avoid their use in this Blueprint from National Hog Farmer. Though dedicated to swine production, the research has parallel meaning in other monogastric mammals. Source: National Hog Farmer, April 2017. This Blueprint issue examines antimicrobial use, … [Read more...]
Companies use multiple approaches to set strategy
Researchers found a wide variation in strategy making approaches, even within similar industries and across organizations of similar sizes. They found four approaches to strategic decision making and discuss the differences in this article: unilateral, ad hoc, administrative and collaborative. Source: Harvard Business Review, April 10, 2017. Many senior executives struggle … [Read more...]
April AQHA Journal; free access
This month, the digital edition of both the April Journal and the High-Point supplement are free because we want these accomplished winners to share their awards with friends and family. Whether you’re a die-hard competitor, recreational rider, a horse breeder or just love horses, you’ll enjoy this look at the quarter horse. Source: AQHA, April 2017. Read the free April … [Read more...]
Cool, clear water
Thomas R. Lenz, DVM, reminds us of the most important nutrient for horses, or all animals for that matter. He discusses the water needs of horses in many common situations. There is significant variability in the amount required based on activity, feed, weather and more. Source: AQHA Journal, April 2017, page 10. All horses need clean, good-quality water at all times. … [Read more...]
AAHA accredited practice count grows
AAHA has welcomed 41 new veterinary hospitals that have achieved AAHA accreditation in 2017! These teams have met the highest standards in veterinary medicine. Check out the lists in the links below and be sure to congratulate your colleagues or customers on this achievement: Practices evaluated from January 15–February 14, 2017 – 13 new accreditations Practices … [Read more...]
Balance empathy and authority
Effective communication skills are essential to achieve effective leadership results. Sending mixed signals creates confusion and often creates paralysis within the organization. Remember, words make up 10 percent of our in-person communication. Thus, it is important to ensure our voice and body language are in concert with the words we choose and that all three are appropriate … [Read more...]
4 things YouTube makeup tutorials taught me about vet med
Lauren Smith, DVM, relates learning how to use makeup applies to veterinary medicine. She shares a solid, cross-topic reference worthy of reading past the whimsical title. She talks about: A solid base is key Use the right tools Personalize your colors Loosen your grip Source: Dr. Andy Roark, April 18, 2017. There are lessons to be found everywhere, even in … [Read more...]
Shortage of approved medications for turkeys continues
A shortage of effective, FDA-approved medications is still the top health issue for the U.S. turkey industry, according to a survey conducted by Steven Clark, DVM. “And it has remained No. 1 since the survey began 16 years ago,” he said. Source: Poultry Health Today, April 25, 2017. The ability to control and prevent animal disease and/or treat those that are sick is … [Read more...]