Lash eggs are not eggs. Rather, they are an egg-sized mass from the oviduct of a laying hen. And, they are a strange symptom of an illness that is the number one killer of laying hens. They are caused by salpingitis; an inflammation and infection of the oviduct. Source: Countryside Daily, April 26, 2018. Link. Salpingitis can be very hard to prevent. It is most common in … [Read more...]
Keep vaccinating. Dogs can’t get autism.
The anti-vaxxers simply won’t let science get in the way of senseless fearmongering. In fact, the fear they spread prompted the British Veterinary Association to issue a statement last week: Dogs cannot develop autism. Their message is that dog owners should keep vaccinating their pets against diseases because fear that animal would develop autism is unfounded. The theory … [Read more...]
Empathize with clients without sacrificing your sanity
Daniel C. Randall, DVM, reflects on an online veterinary forum discussion that exposes concerns about empathy in veterinary relationships. Without empathy, Randall writes, we resort to vilifying our clients, blaming them for our low morale, exhaustion, and job dissatisfaction. “We risk creating an “us versus them” mentality that seeps into our body language and our … [Read more...]
5 myths about first aid
Human injuries are inevitable at veterinary hospitals, retailers or with representatives. While first aid certifications have improved, not everyone is current or trained with best practices. In a medical emergency, the right response can save lives – but many of us still do things wrong. Source: BBC, April 20, 2018. Link. Claudia Hammond shares common myths, also what to … [Read more...]
Keep horses part of the college experience
High schools and junior college graduates often find it bittersweet when they enter college, yet face being miles away from their favorite horses. Kim Miller offers 10 suggestions to make that decision easier. Source: Practical Horseman, January 10, 2018. Link. Balancing barn time while enrolled in a college or university may be challenging, but it is possible to achieve. … [Read more...]
Animal welfare tops list of American causes
Americans say they care more about animal welfare than children’s education and hunger. That’s according to the findings of the “Causes Americans Care About,” a new study that gathered responses from 1,000 adults: 41% chose animal welfare number one. Children’s education ranked second with 38% of respondents. Hunger, chosen by 33% of respondents ranked number … [Read more...]
Seniors offer insight into social media use
Senior citizens have internet power. Sixty seven percent of them in the U.S. use the internet today, according to the Pew Research Center. Sheree Johnson, CEO of SJ Insights, a marketing services firm, teaches Introduction to Social Media at a Kansas City area college. In general, the students are 70 or more years old. To better understand seniors’ usage, Johnson set up a panel … [Read more...]
This animal kills more people in a day than sharks in a century (videos)
Bill Gates, Microsoft founder, has come to fear mosquitos. He discusses the global consequences of mosquito-borne disease in humans, fears and shares a clever video that reinforces mosquitos as a vector. The video’s mosquito character says, “I don’t want to kill, it’s just something inside me.” For animal health professionals, mosquitos are most notably vectors for dog … [Read more...]
AAHA offers parasite counselor program
The American Animal Hospital Association now offers the Parasite Counselor Program for veterinarians and veterinary staff. The online modules are designed for all staff of companion animal veterinary practices and can be accessed at VetFolio. Source: Vetfolio, April 27, 2017. Link. The specially tailored courses in this program will provide training on fleas, ticks, … [Read more...]
Communicate, connect for health’s sake
The number of people who identify as lonely has doubled from 20 percent to 40 percent in the past 30 years. In that same time, the average number of close friends that people identify having has gone from three to one. Having weak social ties is as harmful to health as alcoholism. It’s also equivalent to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. Thus, having techniques to effectively … [Read more...]
Outdoors not possible? Bring nature to your desk. (videos)
For some, it's not always possible to take a midday hike or a break in the park during the workday. But there’s good news. Studies show that just looking at pictures or videos of nature can boost our health and happiness. The effects aren't as strong as the outdoors, but a few positive cognitive benefits are better than none. Haley Goldberg rounded up eight relaxing nature … [Read more...]
Learning a little may be dangerous
Alexander Pope was right when he said that a little learning is a dangerous thing. In research on overconfidence in beginners, Carmen Sanchez and David Dunning discovered perspectives that animal health pros can apply when working with new employees or learning new procedures. They describe a beginner’s bubble of overconfidence that can be related to the challenges of … [Read more...]
How do antibiotics impact gut health?
This article was part of last week’s The view from the gut that featured the Blueprint issue of National Hog Farmer (Link). James Lowe, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, i-Learning Center, director shares the work his group has done understand the factors that drive the development of the microbiome of the pig’s intestine. Source: National Hog Farmer, … [Read more...]
Warm-up exercises for horses
Traci Johnting shares warm-up exercises she uses for to get a horse soft and supple before a show. These exercise disciplines apply to any horse we intend to ride. After all, the minute a rider mounts, the animal is asked to perform athletically. Source: The American Quarter Horse Journal, April 18, 2018, Link. I like these exercises because you don’t need any special … [Read more...]
Dog and cat people have much in common
Karen B. London, PhD, shares the results of a 1,000-person survey that reveals similarities and differences between cat and dog people. “We are more alike than we are different,” she writes. “That’s not just a fact, it’s a perspective on life, and it applies to people with pets.” Source: The Bark, April 2018, Link. Although studies comparing cat people and dog people … [Read more...]
Night owls may die early, study says
The early bird gets the worm and may also be healthier than night owls whose biological clocks prefer late nights and wee morning hours. Research by Knutson and von Shantz shows night owls’ behavior is associated with a range of health problems that include obesity, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and early death. Source: The Conversation, April 12, 2018, … [Read more...]
Baby bison may save Siberian permafrost
To avoid releasing billions of tons of carbon from warming permafrost, scientists in the Pleistocene Park, in the wilds of Siberia, are attempting to reestablish the ecosystem as it was 20,000 years ago. They believe the actions of grazing animals can help keep the ground from thawing. Bison from Alaska will soon join other grazing animals there. Source: Fast Company, April … [Read more...]
Red wolf puppies born in North Carolina (videos)
In what appears to be a repeat performance, a new litter of red wolf cubs was born at The Museum of Life and Science in Durham, North Carolina. This litter appears to be half the size of the one reported last year. (Link) Nonetheless, these add to the limited population of these animals remaining. Source: WRAL-TV via AVMA SmartBrief, April 24, 2018, Link. The first 30 days … [Read more...]
Pet foxes; now what?
Jenifer Chatfield, DVM, and Olivia Petritz, DVM, share different perspectives on all things pet fox with Sarah Wooten, DVM. There are different kinds of domesticated foxes that people buy. Chatfield shares, “It’s not our job to judge whether it’s right or not for a client to have a pet fox. It is our job to provide adequate healthcare and education to that client. With the … [Read more...]
Research for biomarkers and slow-kill protocol for heartworm disease summarized
Animal health pros frequently challenge the status quo. In the face of a heartworm infection, melarsomine has received the American Heartworm Society recommendations along with steroid and antithrombotic agents, as needed. But melarsomine sometimes has limited availability or is unavailable in many countries. Thus, many slow-kill protocols have been circulated as possible … [Read more...]
Annual screening for dogs’ exposure to infected ticks is vital
Melissa Beall, DVM, PhD, reinforces that dogs don’t always show clinical signs of tick exposure. Therefore, annual screening is critical to discovery of tick-borne diseases. Pet-side test kits and research reinforce her assertions. Source: Veterinary Practice News, April 18, 2018, Link. The study, found at idexx.com/tickrisk, showed two key findings: dogs with Ehrlichia … [Read more...]
AVMA board working hard
With over 91,000 members representing 75 percent of U.S. veterinarians, the AVMA board of directors has plenty of work ahead. The board recently shared achievements and growth plans to serve the needs of our entire diverse profession. Source: AVMA@Work, April 13, 2018, Link. Here are some meeting highlights focused on actions taken to better serve the veterinary … [Read more...]
Labs still atop U.S. dog breeds
Labrador Retrievers have captured American’s hearts for 27 years and continue to reign in the latest breed rankings from the American Kennel Club. Source: Quartz, April 24, 2018, Link. There are 196 dog breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club in total. For a full list of how they all stack up click here. … [Read more...]
Value your people so they do their best
Your people need more than a salary and fulfilling work to be their best. They need to know that you see the value in them as individuals and from the results they deliver. These nine suggestions should be an automatic part of your management style. Source: Forbes, November 8, 2017, Link. . . . delivering the tough information – can be a challenge. Nonetheless, it’s one of … [Read more...]
May at The Bridge Club
The Bridge Club continues to broaden perspectives by sharing personal, professional and industry knowledge in its unique virtual community setting. May online events include: Spectrum of Leadership, a two-part series; May 2nd and 3rd at 3:30 CDT Generation Z: learn who they are and why we need to care now; May 22nd at 10am CST/11am EST. VCPRs: what this means for … [Read more...]
National Park Week is next week
National Park Week runs April 21 through 29 and Earth Day is Sunday, April 22. Parks across the country will host special programs and events, including a fee-free day, Saturday April 21. Take some time to enjoy what our park system has to offer. Source: National Park Service. (Link) The theme for National Park Week is “Park Stars,” celebrating everything from starry skies … [Read more...]
Rampant incivility plagues most companies
Ninety eight percent of workers have experienced rude behavior and 99 percent have witnessed it in the past 20 years. This is according to research completed by Christine Porath. Based on her findings, she presents the case to develop a civility code. Her process includes these categories: Model the right behavior Articulate values and set expectations Define … [Read more...]
Email can be less stressful and time-consuming
Dorie Clark tackles email challenges, its distracting presence and offers ideas for time management and prioritization. Source: Harvard Business Review, April 9, 2018. (Link) Focus on the few emails that are actually high priority, says Clark. What counts as an important email? She suggests that the truly essential ones are client communication and inquiries about potential … [Read more...]
Trim dogs’ toenails in a stress-free way
Searching “dog nail trimming” on Google reveals a plethora of information. Most of it focuses on our reluctance to routinely trim nails because of unruly animals or the fear of cutting into the quick. Dr. Karen Gellman reminds us that long toenails have consequences on the pet: Long toenails cause painful feet Overgrown nails often create an abnormal compensatory … [Read more...]
Structured and unstructured exercise important for puppy energy
Sporting dog puppies can be challenging. We want the drive and the energy once they are trained. However, to get through the puppy stages, exercise must be designed to tire-out puppies and include early obedience and life lessons. Source: Gun Dog, April 10, 2018. (Link) Sporting dog pups are chock-full of potential and obviously provide plenty of furry awesomeness. … [Read more...]