A pilot degree program that offers a Master of Veterinary Clinical Care degree was the focus of The Bridge Club discussion July 22. Following a study of needs and opportunities, the Veterinary Innovation Council recommended that accredited colleges and schools of veterinary medicine explore the development of pilot master of science training programs as discussed during the … [Read more...]
Back to school, but with unprecedented challenges (podcast)
LaVerne Evans Srinivasan joins Mohamed Younis to discuss the barriers students and parents face when going back to school and the resources they can seek. Despite differences in the quality of educational opportunities, this is a unique moment where this disruption hit everyone. Pandemic recovery challenges will affect students in employee and client families alike." Source: … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – July 22, 2021
Last week’s most read post The hurrier we go . . . Source: Animal Health Digest, July 13, 2021. Link. Germany reports first ASF case in farm pigs Source: The Pig Site, July 16, 2021. Link. Asian swine flu was found in pigs on one organic farm with 200 animals and on a smallholding with only two pigs. All have been slaughtered. Pet dog brain banking … [Read more...]
Flies: Nature’s nuisance, costly pests
Just 200 horn flies start to hurt cattle production. It is not unusual to find 3,000 flies per cow, writes Curt Arens. Fly prevention is one of the basic animal stewardship practices. Horn flies can suck as much as a gallon of blood per month per cow. Face flies feed on proteins from the eyes often becoming vectors for pinkeye. Stable flies are just a plain nuisance. They feed … [Read more...]
Decision: Creep feed calves or not?
Discussing benefits versus the returns from creep feeding calves, David Lalman, PhD, says in most cases, the value of added weight gain will not cover the added feed, labor and equipment costs. Calf weaning weights can be increased anywhere from about 20 to 80 pounds by creep feeding, but for the most part don’t generate additional returns. Lalman also shared creep feeding … [Read more...]
It takes a murder to raise a mongoose
Females in banded mongoose groups give birth all at the same time in an underground den. What’s interesting is that none of the parents know which pups belong to them. What transpires is what researchers call a veil of ignorance according to new study findings, writes Mary Jo DiLonardo. Females give care to the babies based on which ones need it most, not based on which ones … [Read more...]
Think before raking the stalls
Longtime equestrians know lung health is crucial to a horse's athletic performance, but Susan J. Holcombe, VMD, MS, PhD, DACVS, DACVECC, presents some interesting numbers about the prevalence of airway disease and impact of reduced oxygen flow. She shares how bedding, raking, sweeping and even feedstuffs create dusty conditions that challenge horses’ and peoples’ … [Read more...]
Travel takes a toll on horses
Did you ever try to stand up in a pickup bed or wagon while going across a field or pasture? If so, you have a concept of what horses go through when being trailered. Christine Barakat and Melinda Freckleton, DVM, share thoughts about traveling with horses. A tired horse is more likely to be injured in a trailer as he struggles to stay on his feet, and fatigue can lower his … [Read more...]
Horses and riders ready for Tokyo Olympic Games
It’s not easy for Olympians to get to Tokyo with all the pandemic-related health concerns. But equestrians faced greater challenges, including having to have horses flown into Tokyo from pre-export quarantine in Europe as there were no horse flights out of North America that satisfied the U.S. equestrian horse welfare requirements. Schedules and other information about the … [Read more...]
Use caution when feeding cats and giving them treats
Once upon a time cats weren’t fat. This statement is true for nearly 100 percent of kittens the day they were born. After that, what we feed them or provide as treats influences how fat they get. Educating cat owners on how much to feed and treat management is needed to keep cats lithe and healthy. Probably 50 percent of cats seen at veterinary clinics these days are … [Read more...]
Puppy pyrexia
Shawn Kearns, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), shares results from a study evaluating the diagnosis, or presumed diagnosis, in a cohort of pyretic juvenile dogs. A minimum database for patients presented with fever should include a CBC, serum chemistry profile, diagnostic imaging, and infectious disease testing.” Source: Clinician’s Brief, July 2019. Link. Key pearls to put into … [Read more...]
5 steps to create a pet fire safety plan
Pets get harmed or affected by house fires each year. In addition to having a pet first aid kit, these five steps can help pet owners be prepared in case of fire. Take basic safety precautions Prevent pets from starting a fire Protect pets when left alone Plan escape routes Arrange for a place to stay Source: ASPCA Pet Insurance. Link. Also see: Pet … [Read more...]
Speaking of Pets – a worthwhile resource
It’s a challenge filling e-newsletter, blog and website content. Enter Speaking of Pets, a 2-minute podcast from NPR and Alabama Public Radio. Host Mindy Morton covers everything under the sun in short, easily usable pieces. Source: NPR, Speaking of Pets, Link. Speaking of Pets with Mindy Norton is for people who care about pets and about humane treatment for animals in … [Read more...]
Spotify’s pet playlists for music that owners and pets will love
Complimentary One of the more popular Spotify playlists is the Pet Playlist. Based on musicology research and a pet-focused survey Spotify conducted, the Pet Playlist generates a list of songs you'll enjoy. Plus, your pet might, too. Source: Insider, via IBPSA Fast Bites, July 19, 2021. Link. The playlist's songs are picked according to what kind of pet you have and their … [Read more...]
Vets DO IT on the phone – Chatfields chat with Aaron Smiley, DVM
Dr. Jen the vet and Dr. Jason Chatfield are joined by Dr. Aaron Smiley to find out what is and isn't legitimate telemedicine. Smiley is one of the founders of the Veterinary Virtual Care Association and a champion of monetizing virtual care interactions. Telemedicine is not new. . . 140 years and going strong. What’s new is the expansion in technologies.” – Aaron Smiley, … [Read more...]
Chatfields seek People’s Choice Podcast Award nominations
Opinion, Complimentary Twin veterinarians Jen and Jason Chatfield hosted the top veterinary podcast in 2020. It was the first-ever veterinary podcast to be a finalist for the People’s Choice Podcast Awards (Science and Medicine). In 2021, the veterinarians launched a new podcast, Chats with the Chatfields. They are seeking nomination support for the 2021 People's Choice … [Read more...]
Still embarrassed about things that happened 10 years ago?
Most of us remember a red-faced moment that occasionally pops into mind and takes us right back there. An array of experts weigh in on what you can do to move past that moment and not let it embarrass you any longer. Embarrassment taps into dimensions of our core social identity, who we hope others see us as, and how we deviate from those aspirations.” - Dacher Keltner, … [Read more...]
Unplugged: embracing boredom
Disengaging from digital interference and being connected 24/7 requires commitment and practice. Going off the communication grid is considered healthy but is not without its challenges. In a recent blog post, Eric Garcia writes, “. . . in fact, the more I’ve unplugged, the more I’ve come to appreciate boredom.” He writes about the challenges of truly unplugging and allowing … [Read more...]
Is good enough good enough?
Consistently great work often comes down to your mindset, not how many hours you have in a day. It is about pushing for excellence and approaching every task, project or decision as an opportunity to make an impact for your customers, employees or candidates. Source: Inc., March 21, 2021. Link. Good leaders complete a task; great leaders improve upon it. INSIGHTS: On the … [Read more...]
Mixing the old with the new in veterinary practices
There is a great opportunity to pair innovative, new ways of delivering patient care with more traditional practices to elevate the standard of care, shares Link V. Welborn, DVM, DABVP, CCRT. Citing increased patient volume as a good sign, he says workforce shortages are the biggest issue facing the profession right now. Source: Veterinary Advantage, July 2021. Link. It’s a … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – July 15, 2021
Last week’s most read post Society ignores low-probability events that have far-reaching consequences, Source: Animal Health Digest, July 7, 2021. Link. Become the boss of your emotions Source: Healthline, April 28, 2020. Link. The ability to experience and express emotions is more important than you might realize. The felt response to a given situation, … [Read more...]
Cattle save premature babies
A lot of useful products come from cattle beyond the beef. By far one of the most amazing is that their pulmonary surfactant is used to save premature infants lives. Everything but the Moo is collected at slaughter - nothing is wasted” Source: Farmer Girl, Facebook, July 12, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Who, what, when where and why of calcium supplementation
Complimentary Sponsored Content Calving sets off a series of events in a cow’s body that impacts her entire system, including a steep spike in calcium demand due to colostrum production. Most second- and greater-lactation cows cannot maintain adequate calcium levels after calving, which often triggers clinical hypocalcemia, commonly known as milk fever, or subclinical … [Read more...]
Porcine circovirus type 2; where do we stand?
First seen in the 1990s in swine, PCV2 has been observed to be involved in a wide variety of clinical presentations. Thirty years later with millions of dollars lost by producers and millions spent chasing this virus, it is still a conundrum. The most common form of the disease is considered to be subclinical, write the authors. The evolution of the virus has followed a … [Read more...]
How to recognize signs of heat stroke in horses
When outside temperature + relative humidity = <130, most horses can keep their body cool, with the exception of very fat or very muscular horses. When outside temperature + relative humidity = >150 or above, it's hard for a horse to keep cool because their ability to sweat is compromised — especially if the humidity contributes over half of the 150. Source: AAEP, … [Read more...]
Practical backyard chicken advice during a virtual visit to the farm
The number of backyard poultry flocks continues to grow. New owners need practical advice. In this episode of The Takeaway, guest host Melissa Harris-Perry has a discussion about backyard poultry basics with Emily Shoop, a PennState Extension educator who specializes in backyard poultry, as well as gamebirds. Source: The Takeaway, Rebroadcast: USDA plans to pay debt relief … [Read more...]
6 questions that are effective for identifying cats with feline arthritis pain
The lack of recognition of arthritis pain in cats is severe enough that by one estimate, less than one percent of cats with arthritis pain are seen by veterinarians. Researchers came up with a six-question, one-minute survey with simple “yes” or “no” answers for cat owners to see if their cat might have arthritis and decide if the pet needs to see a veterinarian. Source: … [Read more...]
Bridging the gap between vet techs and DVMs
Complimentary Content Join The Bridge Club for an exclusive event where Mark Cushing, CEO of Animal Policy Group, Dr. Stacy Anderson, dean of Lincoln Memorial and Dr. Jim Lloyd, former dean of University of Florida, talk about a new advanced degree option for veterinary technicians. Source: The Bridge Club. Link. The group will discuss how to bridge the gap between … [Read more...]
The hurrier we go . . .
Sponsored Content Humans tend to become lazy, especially with repetitive tasks. We dislike wasting time on things that are unnecessary or monotonous. Add busy schedules operating at full capacity and even the most structured protocols lapse. The hurrier we go . . . the behinder we get!” – Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland The news of the emerging Delta coronavirus … [Read more...]
Compression socks. Who needs them, how to choose a good pair
Compression socks can improve circulation as well as relieve swelling and discomfort. There are many reasons to consider compression including: Sitting or standing without much movement for long periods A way to protect tendons If you have venous in insufficiency seen as swelling in the legs, feet, ankles To support legs during pregnancy Source: Martha Stewart, … [Read more...]