The lead post in the January 16, 2018 NAVTA Animal Health Bi-Weekly references information on a new national directory of agencies that investigate animal abuse. The directory represents more than 6,500 counties, cities and towns across the U. S. and identifies which agency follows up on reports of suspected animal cruelty, abuse and neglect, according to a release from the … [Read more...]
Geese make good flock guardians
Duck, duck, goose is not just a kids’ game revitalized by end zone hijinks of the Minnesota Vikings. Geese make excellent guardians against predators common to backyard poultry flocks. They are naturally loud alarms and don’t require any training or behavior modification to protect. A threat, sign of trouble or intruder will cause them to call loudly, alerting their flockmates … [Read more...]
Cross-matching is important for first blood transfusion (includes video)
Kenichiro Yagi, MS, RVT, VTS (ECC, SAIM), discusses cross-matching and blood transfusion perceptions and myths. If transfusion records are not appropriate, or if a new veterinary practice assumes a patient has never received a transfusion and they do another mismatch, that could result in very serious consequences or even death. Source: American Veterinarian, January 15, … [Read more...]
Wheek! Good info on guinea pig care
Wheeking is what excited guinea pig vocalization is called. They are the second-favorite rodent kept as pets in the U.S. Guinea pigs are docile, social animals that enjoy interaction with their caretakers. Their husbandry needs are relatively simple. However, they have specific dietary and housing needs. Improper at-home care can result in illness or injury. Source: … [Read more...]
New cannabis resource from AVMA
A new document for AVMA members provides comprehensive background information to help understand the legal aspects of cannabis use in animals; field questions and advise clients who are interested in marijuana therapies for their pets; and identify toxic exposures. Source: AVMA, January 10, 2018. Cannabis: What Veterinarians Need to Know addresses a broad range of important … [Read more...]
Autopsies by general practitioners can help owners (photographic guide)
Many pet owners want to know why their pet passed away. A limited cosmetic necropsy may produce a reason, add closure and potentially alert the veterinary staff of local risks. Source: Clinician’s Brief, December 2017. The term “autopsy” is widely preferred in the pathology community, particularly to emphasize the primary goal of unifying human and veterinary medical … [Read more...]
Close, but not closed
One of the more common questions I am asked when conducting sales development classes is, “What do I do when a customer commits but doesn’t follow through?” It usually spurs a lengthy discussion about the difference between close and closed. Source: Veterinary Advantage Magazine, December 2017. At commit, your customer, or the Decider, co-owns the outcome with you and that … [Read more...]
Back to school on heartworm
The American Heartworm Society (AHS) is strengthening efforts to bring the latest heartworm information directly to veterinarians and veterinary nurses via scientific symposia and proceedings. Heartworm University, a traveling four- to six-hour symposium taught by AHS faculty, provides practical clinical information in an interactive format that enables presenters to address … [Read more...]
Alternatives to declawing becoming mandatory
The tide is turning against cat declawing, writes Steve Dale in a piece for Fear Free Happy Homes. Denver recently became the first city outside California to ban declawing surgery. When cats scratch (an innate behavior), they send an aromatic message via the pheromones delivered by glands in the paws, as well as a visual message: those long claw marks. The ability to offer … [Read more...]
Good stuff in OSU’s Equine News
The January issue of Oklahoma State University’s Equine News has some great information about getting horses in good shape, controlling environmental challenges and managing Equine influenza virus. Source: Oklahoma State University, January 2018. If your horse hasn’t had much activity in a while, it is a good idea to take a baseline assessment. First, does your horse need … [Read more...]
High-functioning alcoholics are not long-term winners
Animal health pros can likely identify at least one individual whose “low alcohol” light comes on sometime late afternoon. These individuals function dependably at high levels all day long. However, their reality is a core biological and psychological issue that will never go away. In this rare, revealing story Ward Richmond shares his discoveries and story as a recovering … [Read more...]
Opinion – The wisdom is in the questions
My paternal grandfather would occasionally profess, “Remember, the wisdom is in the questions, Kirk.” While this sometimes a kind way of saying I was talking too much, Ryan Holiday asserts a similar theme in his article, “12 questions that will change your life.” It is always a good time for questioning, resolutions and sound decisions. Source: Thrive Global, January 1, … [Read more...]
Study suggests more than half of lameness goes undetected
“Producers are aware of lameness as an issue in dairy herds and almost all monitor lameness as part of their daily routine. However, producers underestimate lameness prevalence, which highlights that lameness detection continues to be difficult in in all housing systems, especially in tie stall herds,” according to researchers who studied dairy farms. Source: Dairy Herd … [Read more...]
Insulin resistance and cold weather laminitis in horses
Eleanor Kellon, VMD, says cold-induced hoof pain strikes horses with insulin resistance (IR). IR is a well described risk factor for laminitis. Even when a horse is not glaringly lame it is causing damage to the laminae. We haven’t uncovered all the mechanisms behind laminar damage from high insulin levels but one known factor is elevated levels of endothelin-1. Source: … [Read more...]
Make sure backyard chickens get proper nutrition
Janet Garman sorts through a variety of choices for feeding backyard chickens. Between types and stages of chickens and a multitude of brands, buying chicken feed is not a simple choice. Source: Countryside Daily, January 4, 2017. Chickens need protein, carbohydrates, and fats, along with the appropriate vitamins and minerals. Most starter and grower rations will have 18% … [Read more...]
Stockers, the shock absorbers for the beef industry
It is easy to argue the stocker sector serves as the fulcrum that makes current beef industry efficiency possible. Stocker operators warehouse cattle, spread seasonal surpluses and deficiencies into a balanced mix of volume. They assemble and sort cattle into more homogenous groups—weight, sex, type and such. Along the way, stocker producers straighten out the high-health-risk … [Read more...]
Prevent zoonoses on dairies
An outbreak of multi-drug resistant Salmonella has been associated with dairy calves across the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the outbreak affected 54 people in 15 states. One third of the affected required hospitalization. Situations like this remind us that we should always keep zoonotic diseases in mind. Source: Dairy Herd Management, … [Read more...]
Cat flehmen response or cat stinky face is highly scientific
The cat stinky face isn’t necessarily a snooty sneer. It’s way more scientific than that. “The flehmen response is a type of sniffing, but instead of using their nostrils, cats inhale the air through their open mouths,” Dr. Sasha Gibbons says. “Cats use the flehmen response to detect chemical stimuli, such as pheromones, that are present in urine and feces, or areas that cats … [Read more...]
Editor’s Choice Awards, Pet Product News
Each year, Pet Product News seeks to honor innovative products that strengthen the relationship between pets and people. If your role is in the non-OTC categories, knowing about these products may help you address concerns from a pet owner or even rationalize your own inventory choices in advance of mass merchandising pressures. Source: Pet Product News, January 2018, page … [Read more...]
Pet owners prefer to buy from brick-and-mortar stores
Pet Food in the U.S., 13th Edition states that about 88 percent of dog owners and 93 percent of cat owners admit to buying food for their pets from a store within the last 12 months. One demographic most comfortable with non-traditional purchasing options is millennials. This group was more likely than any other to buy items through a website or app for home delivery or … [Read more...]
The neuroscience of storytelling will make you rethink how you create
Storytelling makes for effective communication. Yet, it feels like the more evidence we have that our brains are hardwired for relational and analogical reasoning, the more instructors recite bulleted data points without context, despite the vast amount of resources and technology at our fingertips. Every animal health pro shares information or recommendations. While we are … [Read more...]
Human capital an issue for hog industry
Human capital has long been a challenge for the protein sector overall, but has recently become a real concern for the swine business within industry and academia, said Maynard Hogberg, Iowa State University. He noted the pressing issue for both is that of the increasing need for scientifically trained personnel. This comes at a time when there are fewer swine faculty within … [Read more...]
Products bring solutions to livestock handling (slideshow)
Livestock handling continues to evolve. Handling animals without stressing them is still one of the biggest challenges livestock producers face. Several new chute and animal-handling systems were among the products Farm Progress editors uncovered at recent farm shows. Source: Beef, November 28, 2017. The last decade has brought a move forward in understanding how animals … [Read more...]
Low stress handling yields benefits
Stockmanship practices are important to prevent physical defects such as bruising and stress-related injuries on beef tenderness and grade. These practices also influence public perceptions, as consumers increasingly expect producers adhere to animal-welfare standards as a necessary component in their perception of beef quality. Source: Drovers, November/December 2017, page … [Read more...]
Calving starts in fewer than 50 days
March 1 is often a target calving date. The third trimester is a critical time for beef cows who are not only growing a calf, but also trying to maintain their own condition, in spite of cold weather. Sandy Johnson shares insights into the critical third trimester. Source: Drovers, November 9, 2017. Producers need to take note of the start of the third trimester because … [Read more...]
Bosses – Don’t phub it up!
The phenomenon of “phubbing,” is when a supervisor snubs an employee in favor of his mobile phone when they are in a meeting. Two Baylor professors have verified that this behavior undermines trust and engagement in the workplace. In fact, their study, “Put down your phone and listen to me: How boss phubbing undermines the psychological conditions necessary for employee … [Read more...]
Perception is not always reality
I care about people and consider myself to be warm and friendly. At least that is what I thought. So, it came as a shock to discover that others often saw me as intimidating, cold and aloof. After recovering from the shock, I learned that what I perceived as leadership, others perceived as intimidation. What I thought was just being logical was perceived as being cold and … [Read more...]
2017 swine research reviewed
Sow space, boar pheromones, sow barn energy consumption, cool sows and flu’s cyclical nature are part of topics reviewed in this research-specific issue of National Hog Farmer. Flipping through the pages exposes a picture of the intensity of maintaining swine health while improving production conditions with the pigs in mind. Source: National Hog Farmer, December … [Read more...]
Enrich the lives of older pets. Don’t ignore them.
The cold that has enveloped most of the U.S. lately has no doubt exacerbated some aging symptoms in older pets. Older animals may suffer from osteoarthritis or neurologic conditions that limit physical activity. Beyond physical activities, cognitive issues increase, sensory capabilities decline and anxiety may follow as older pets often become ignored. Source: Clinician’s … [Read more...]
Tilapia-skin bandage used to treat mountain lion’s burns
After over 30-plus years in this business, it is still exciting to see what we come up with next. In this case, a mountain lion cub burned in the recent California wildfires is the benefactor of a human burn treatment protocol derived from tilapia. Source: edhat, December 30, 2017 via AVMA Smart Brief. A 5-month-old mountain lion whose paws were burned in a wildfire is … [Read more...]