Complimentary Content Registration is now open for VMX 2023 to take place January 14th through the 18th, 2023, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, and virtually. This year’s fees will reflect the registration costs of the 1983 inaugural conference year. Early registration is $125. We are pleased to mark our 40th anniversary of hosting the veterinary … [Read more...]
Dog breeds with the most Westminster Dog Show wins
The winners podium at the Westminster Dog Show today looks different than it did a century ago. More breeds can compete than ever before, which gives underdogs like a bloodhound named Trumpet, this year’s winner, a better shot at earning the Best in Show title. Terriers are the best-performing dogs by far; they've secured nearly a third of all the Best in Show prizes awarded … [Read more...]
5 steps to put aside the dread and find joy
Resilience is a muscle we can develop by adapting and finding our way through challenging experiences, writes Kristin Hendrix. She says redirecting our energy to good things going on in our life, and taking positive action to move us forward, are great ways to interrupt feelings of dread. Hendrix shares small steps to move back to joy during times of dread in this article … [Read more...]
32 mindfulness activities to find calm at any age
Incorporating mindfulness activities into your routine can be incredibly simple, no matter what your age, according to Crystal Hoshaw. Mindfulness activities can involve almost anything you do in your day-to-day life. <Mindfulness> is not meant to be separate from reality, but to be an integral and enriching part of it.” Hoshaw shares activities for adults, kids, teens, … [Read more...]
Motivation – beyond the poster
It is Monday: Eight more hours and four more days until the week is over. Can you change the way you feel and find fulfillment? Source: LinkedIn, June 16, 2022. Link. It’s important to take a step back to be able to dive back into your work, feeling motivated again, because you can't pour from an empty cup.” INSIGHTS: Both the employer and the employee have … [Read more...]
The AAFP and AAHA release the 2022 Antimicrobial Stewardship Guidelines
The 2022 AAFP/AAHA Antimicrobial Stewardship Guidelines <Link> present evidence-guided strategies that veterinarians and their teams can use in choosing appropriate antimicrobial therapy to best serve their patients and minimize the development of antimicrobial resistance. Antimicrobial stewardship is one of the most important public health issues facing the profession.” … [Read more...]
Arizona bill addresses veterinarian shortage with incentives
A bill put forward by the Arizona Humane Society and Humane Society of Southern Arizona, sponsored by Senator T.J. Shope has been signed into law as part of the state’s budget next year. The bill creates a new Arizona Veterinary Loan Assistance Program that will provide student loan reimbursement up to $100,000 to veterinarians who graduate from school after January 1, 2023. To … [Read more...]
The great veterinary shortage
There are not enough humans to take care of all the animals, writes Sarah Zhang. While not new information, she has done her research making this an article to efficiently frame the profession’s ongoing challenges in providing care for animals. By 2030, the U.S. will need nearly 41,000 additional veterinarians and nearly 133,000 more credentialed vet techs, according to a … [Read more...]
Destructive, formidable, invasive: How is the U.S. managing the feral hog population?
. . . the feral hog is one of the most destructive, formidable invasive species in the U.S.” - U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service" Some 6 million feral hogs exist in the U.S. causing damages estimated at up to $2.5 billion. Beyond damages, the bigger concerns are zoonotic risks and the threat of African swine fever infecting the feral … [Read more...]
Grass-fed versus grain-fed ground beef. Does it matter?
Good news for burger lovers! Researchers in the Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M University have published the only two research studies that compared the effects of ground beef from grass-fed cattle and traditional, grain-fed cattle on risk factors for cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes in men. There is no scientific evidence to support … [Read more...]
Colic. What a pain in the gut!
Sponsored Content Colic is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in horses whose specialized digestive tract is easily thrown out of balance. Experts say 4 percent to 10 percent of all horses will experience at least one episode of colic in their lifetime. While most cases are resolved on the farm with medical treatment, approximately 10 percent to 15 percent of cases … [Read more...]
17-year-old Mr. Happy Face wins World’s Ugliest Dog competition
The World’s Ugliest Dog promotes the adoption of dogs, even ones with perpetually protruding tongues and missing fur. Mr. Happy Face was the hands down winner in the contest June 24 in Petaluma, California. Source: New York Times, June 25, 2022. Link. Also see: Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds. Link. The dog and his owner, Jeneda Benally, won $1,500 and a trip to New York City to … [Read more...]
30 grounding techniques to quiet distressing thoughts
Our industry continues to address the mental health of its professionals. Crystal Raypole shares grounding techniques to help create space from distressing feelings in most any situation. Grounding exercises may help a person refocus on the present moment to distract themselves from anxious feelings. Raypole shares physical, mental and soothing techniques along with how and … [Read more...]
AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities turns 50 years old
The roles of veterinary technicians have been evolving since the 1960’s. Katie Burns shares the history and evolution of vet tech education and governance. The whys and hows shared provide good context for today’s animal health pros. Founded in 1972, the AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities that will celebrate its 50th anniversary in July. The … [Read more...]
The complaint department
Gas prices are above $5 and diesel is even higher. You thought pharmaceutical prices were bad, have you been to the grocery store lately? There certainly is enough to complain about ,including having to listen to other people’s complaints. These three simple tools may help you get through the day. Source: JonGordon.com, June 2018. Link. Focus on the “get to” instead of the … [Read more...]
Detection of multiple lineages of PRRSV in breeding and growing swine farms
We’ve heard a lot about viral variants since the fall of 2019. Swine researchers and veterinarians continue to work toward better understanding of swine diseases and methods of mitigating disease risks. In this study, the researchers sought to understand the potential long-term impact of multiple prevailing PRRSV variants on pig performance. Their study demonstrated the … [Read more...]
Kansas cattle lost to heat, humidity, a rare natural disaster
More than 2,000 cattle died in Kansas from heat stress triggered by extreme heat and humidity the weekend of June 11th. While unfortunate for producers, the event has sparked controversy and non-confirmed video coverage. Veterinarians are working diligently to put this event into its proper perspective. Sometimes the conditions get so extreme, it doesn’t matter how hard … [Read more...]
Safety required around poison ivy, oak and sumac for humans and pets
In many parts of the U.S., the edges and undergrowth of stands of trees, timber, forests and marshes contain poisonous vines. These plants are poisonous because of urushiol, a potent oily sap found all over the plants. While rare, dogs get poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac through touch or ingestion. A dog's fur protects against the urushiol. But areas of a dog's body … [Read more...]
New, on-farm pregnancy test kit from Idexx Laboratories
Complimentary Commercial Content With results available in 5 to 20 minutes, the Alertys OnFarm Pregnancy Test from Idexx Laboratories can be used cowside to determine pregnancy as early as 28 days post-breeding or 70 days post-calving. The new test gives producers time savings and convenience because they can preg test whenever they want." Source: Dairy Herd Management, … [Read more...]
Pet supplements evolving to accompany nutrition plans
The pet supplement category was benchmarked at $800 million in 2020 and some expect it to grow to more than $1 billion by 2025. At the same time, there is increased confusion about what a supplement is. Toppers, treats, pills and powders all get lumped into the category. Daniel Schaeffer, Native Pet, believes the category is evolving to an around-the-bowl nutrition category … [Read more...]
Tired mosquitoes would rather sleep than bite
Researchers recently discovered that mosquitoes who have their sleep disrupted would rather get rest than go looking for their next meal. They found the mosquitoes in the research lab slept between 16 and 19 hours each day. Sleep was disturbed by vibrating the enclosures. Mosquitoes will pass up a meal when they are sleep deprived.” Source: Treehuggers, June 17, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Still time to enter your goofy pet photos in the Comedy Pet photography contest
The annual Animal Friends Comedy Pet photography awards competition is open to entries through July 1. Organizers say photo submissions are running ahead of last year. They share a few of the entries as examples. Source: Treehugger, June 20, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – June 20, 2022
Dealing with canine anxiety, doggy ice cream, using NFTs* and video in small business, sensible security measures and more . . . Note the new Fear Free Boarding & Daycare Certification Program; techniques that will help reduce stress and increase calm and safety for both pets and staff.” Source: IBPSA, June 20, 2022. Link. The IBPSA Flow Business Conference registration … [Read more...]
How to recognize and tame your cognitive distortions
Opinion Some of the distortions described by Peter Grinspoon, MD, may hit close to home for some animal health pros. As you read his assertions, consider something as simple as prejudging an animal owner’s ability to pay, a topic we’ve hashed over for decades. Grinspoon says cognitive distortions are internal mental filters or biases that increase our misery, fuel our … [Read more...]
It’s no wonder communication is complicated
Opinion You’ll enjoy this reference to contronyms we use every day. A contronym is a word with multiple meanings that are the direct opposite such as: Bark: a sound a dog makes and the outer covering of a tree Clip: something used to attach or an action to remove something Screen: an action to keep private or a method of displaying something Source: Word … [Read more...]
Integrity is forever
We live in a world where integrity isn’t talked about nearly enough. We live in a world where “the end justifies the means” has become an acceptable school of thought for far too many. Source: Forbes, November 28, 2012. Link. Success will come and go, but integrity is forever.” INSIGHTS: Although it’s 10 years old, this article couldn’t be better timed. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – June 16, 2022
Last week’s most read posts Chewy behind Amazon, ahead of Walmart in automatic reorders. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, June 9, 2022. Link. =================================== Before chickens were nuggets, they were revered Source: The New York Times, June 7, 2022. Link. The real chicken mystery has nothing to do … [Read more...]
Presumed transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from a cat to a veterinarian
Scott Weese, DVM, shares strong evidence of cat-to-veterinarian transmission in an upcoming paper. He wasn’t surprised this could happen, but the circumstances serve as a safety warning to veterinary teams. Weese shares the cat from a SARS-CoV-2 owner home was healthy and the veterinarian collected nasal and rectal swabs for SARS-CoV-2 testing. In the process, the cat … [Read more...]
Salmonella and E. coli common in raw pet food
A Portuguese study sought to find out if raw dog food could be a source of Salmonella and/or E. coli, specifically strains that show resistance to critical antibiotics such as colistin. E. coli was detected in all 14 samples produced by two international brands. Furthermore, 71 percent of these samples, primarily those from products containing poultry, contained … [Read more...]
Why we owe it to ourselves to spend quiet time alone every day
Invisibly, almost without notice, we are losing ourselves, says physicist and writer Alan Lightman, PhD. He explains the need for a societal, mental attitude that values and protects stillness, privacy, solitude, slowness and personal reflection. This time should honor the inner self and allows each of us to wander about without schedule within our own minds. Source: … [Read more...]