It could be that slug feeding methods are forcing dairy cattle to eat too much too quickly causing a negative impact on the rumen environment. Management plays a role in feed bunk behavior, as farmers don’t have to just think about what feed animals consume, but also the manner in which they eat it. Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, February 25, 20212. Link. Factors to consider when … [Read more...]
Detecting transition cow problems
Overall production problems can usually be traced back to a cow’s dry/transition period. Virginia A. Ishler says it is helpful to know if that is really the issue before solving the problem. She shares information from the DHIA 202 summary report to help determine if a problem is occurring related to transition. Source: Dairy Herd Management, June 8, 2020. Link. If two out … [Read more...]
Blood in a chicken egg doesn’t mean it’s fertilized
Blood in a chicken egg is often believed to signify it is fertile. This isn’t true. In fact, the true sign that an egg is fertile is a white “bullseye” on the yolk. The blood spot is only a ruptured vessel and they are perfectly edible. Source: Backyard Poultry, February 22, 2021. Link. Different colored chicken eggs all taste the same and look the same inside. The taste of … [Read more...]
Understanding insulin resistance in horses
Complimentary Sponsored Content from Kentucky Performance Products, LLC. One of the more common metabolic problems horses develop involves insulin, the hormone that enables the body to use glucose. This edition of EQUUS Extra explores how insulin resistance develops in horses, what can be done about it and how this problem increases the risk of laminitis and other … [Read more...]
How to save wildlife by changing a cat’s diet
Researchers have found an alternative way to prevent cats from decimating wildlife. It starts with dietary changes and increased object play. Nutrition seems to have some bearing on a cat’s tendency to kill things, and some cats that hunt may need something extra.” - Robbie A. McDonald, study ecologist Source: Pet Business, March 2, 2021. Link. INSIGHTS: Based on these … [Read more...]
Effectiveness of oral lotilaner
There are some smells one never forgets. The smell of sarcoptic mange in the crusty, scabbed skin stage is one of mine. The Vet Candy team shared promising results of a study using lotilaner to treat confirmed cases of sarcoptic mange. Source: Vet Candy, February 22, 2021. Link. The results showed that pruritus resolved after two weeks. The cutaneous score was also reduced … [Read more...]
The nose really knows! A personal experience with a new pup.
Opinion includes Complimentary Commercial Content Ceva Animal Health U.S. was a founding sustaining sponsor during Animal Health Digest’s early years. Back then, we offered AHD readers resources on semiochemicals and pheromones, including the vomeronasal organ, and how pheromone science can provide options to reduce the negative effects of emotional responses in our … [Read more...]
AAHA and AAFP release updated feline life stage guidelines to the veterinary community
Our industry guidelines require updating as we understand more about the animals we live with and provide with care. New updates for individual felines are found in the 2021 AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines. The Guidelines are provided jointly by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP). The new updates … [Read more...]
Dogs are more than men’s and women’s best friends
Complimentary Content Ceva Animal Health, an early supporter of AHD, recognizes the need for a ‘One Welfare’ approach that recognizes the importance of considering the wellbeing of people and animals. This blog post highlights four global initiatives and partnerships with multi-disciplinary teams of scientists Ceva is working with to generate evidence that demonstrates … [Read more...]
AASV attendees learn value of accelerated hydrogen peroxide’s effectiveness against ASFv
Sponsored Content During the recent AASV annual meeting, Jose Ramirez, MS, PhD, shared the recent validation of Intervention® efficacy versus the African Swine Flu Virus. Its subsequent U.S. EPA approval provides producers and veterinarians with a superior alternative to fight environmental contamination by ASFV. He presented the practical considerations of field use and the … [Read more...]
Calming and stopping a racing mind
A friend once described constant noises centered in the forehead that were always there. The noises were eventually diagnosed as confusion, frustration, anger, negativity, fear and unresolved events accumulated as hundreds of thoughts swirling with their own inertia all at the same time. If you experience or comprehend such swirling thoughts, writer Dominica shares things … [Read more...]
There is a difference between meteorological and astronomical spring
Opinion Who knew? I didn’t until I saw a piece about meteorological and astronomical spring on local news. According to National Centers for Environmental Information, the meteorological seasons were created because traditional seasons varied in length from 89 to 93 days and it was difficult for experts to compare statistics from one year to another. Source: … [Read more...]
Show your leadership in the storm
Leadership is easy in good times. Effective leaders tend to get out of the way and spend their time looking ahead. However, when the pandemic is celebrating its one-year anniversary, more is required. Source: peoplehum.com, January 2021. Link. This is when real leaders need to stand up, speak out, and lead. INSIGHTS: As the leader, you communicate whether or not you are … [Read more...]
The Bridge Club planning growth and expansion in 2021
Complimentary Content Catherine Haskins, Founder and CEO of The Bridge Club, says the organization is primed for growth in 2021. Plans are in place to launch several new communities including: TBC+, the membership arm of The Bridge Club Bridge Female Founders, a community dedicated to female entrepreneurs in veterinary medicine TBC Students, a community dedicated … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance: February 24, 2021
How to recognize and work with narcissistic leaders Source: Entrepreneur, February 17, 2021. Link. When the only way you can feel emotionally and mentally safe to have any exchange with your colleague or boss is with a witness, it’s time to consider a transition strategy. Dogs synchronize their behavior with children, but more with adults, study finds Source: Oregon State … [Read more...]
Tennessee whitetail deer had hairy eyeball
A yearling whitetail buck with hairy eyeballs was a unique part of deer harvest reporting this year in Tennessee. The buck had a disk of skin and dense hair completely covering the cornea of each eye. Microscopic examination at Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study unit determined the hairy growths were “corneal dermoids.” Source: National Deer Association, … [Read more...]
Texans rescue cold-stunned sea turtles
The extreme cold temperatures in Texas caused significant cold stunning in the Padre Island area. Volunteers and Sea Turtle Inc., staff members managed the influx of green turtles, Kemp’s ridley turtles and loggerhead turtles. More than 4,000 turtles were rescued. Getting them warm was a huge undertaking. Source: Texas Monthly, February 17, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Is that horse fit or fat?
Pat Raia shares the tools and techniques needed to assess equine body condition. Assessing a horse’s body condition requires patience and lots of practice. Raia presents the Henneke body condition scale developed in the 1960s. It is designed to evaluate a horse’s overall body condition, though it does not assess equine weight. Source: EquiShopper, May 6, 2020. Link. Since … [Read more...]
Hunting for food helps increase activity for cats
A simple way to increase the amount of activity in a cat’s day is to stop feeding it in a bowl and allow it to hunt for their meals, writes Sassafras Lowrey. This turns mealtime into an interactive game adding enrichment to the cat’s day. She shares some methods for implementing this approach. Source: Catster, February 19, 2021. Link. Lowrey says to monitor each cat as they … [Read more...]
Rawhide chews aren’t good for pets
Rawhide chews dominate treat shelves and endcaps in retail stores and pet sections. Katie Woodley, BVSc, cVMA, GDVCHM, explains how they are made and why they are not a good choice for pets. Rawhide is one of the most common choking hazards and provides no benefit for a dog’s teeth.” – Katie Woodley, BVSc, cVMA, GDVCHM Source: Dr. Katie Woodley - The Natural Pet Doctor, … [Read more...]
A clinical approach to alopecia in cats
Dermatologic issues of pets are commonly among the top 10 reasons owners visit their veterinary hospitals. The visible fur loss that shocks clients requires veterinary teams to use their detective skills. The single-most important diagnostic tool for any skin disease (including alopecia) is a thorough history, writes Cherie Pucheu-Haston DVM, PhD, DACVD. Pucheu-Haston’s … [Read more...]
Veterinary resource library supports pet health insurance discussions
Complimentary Content – Part 4 of February 2021 series Data featured in this month’s posts about research conducted by Dr. Wendy Hauser’s team are compelling and indicate potential benefits for insured pets, pet owners, veterinary team members and practices. <Link>. The results also indicate the need for a strategic approach to comfortably include pet health insurance … [Read more...]
The Depression Project helps people understand their depression
Given our industry’s focus on suicide and stress, we’re sharing information from The Depression Project. Two brothers from Australia experienced depression from different perspectives and created Storm to Sun Framework. It makes it easier for people to understand their depression; to know what they need to do to get better; and to have an easy way of explaining their depression … [Read more...]
Stop insisting everything’s fine when you’re actually drowning
Being emotionally transparent is an unnatural response, writes Annaliese Griffin. She writes about emotional resilience, stoicism and achievement in the context of people who look fine, who look like they are handling everything with calm resilience but are potentially really drowning. Source: Forge, February 21. 2021. Link. The emotional drowning response is a common … [Read more...]
VVCA inaugural Lunch and Learn deemed a success
VVCA Board member, Aaron Smiley, DVM, was the featured speaker during the inaugural Lunch and Learn series for VVCA Community members. Smiley brought his well-known enthusiasm to the group as he shared step-by-step use of telemedicine, client interactions and veterinary nurse involvement in two cases from his practice in Indiana. He also demonstrated how he monetizes virtual … [Read more...]
Working with technology means planning for failure
Opinion For those of us born before 1990, technology represents significantly more than computers and digital devices. Things like anti-lock braking systems, satellite communications, microwave ovens, cable television, early robotics, even indoor plumbing all fit in technology discussions. The expectation was that these technologies will work 99.9 percent of the time. The … [Read more...]
Pandemic leadership lessons can help you
The Covid-19 pandemic has created a unique crisis for businesses. These leadership tactics can serve you and your team for years to come. Source: enterprisersproject.com, August 31, 2020. Link. In challenging times, people will step up if we let them. But if you try to solve the world’s problems on your own, your team can only stand back and watch. Bring your team into … [Read more...]
AAFP releases new feline hypertension educational toolkit
The new Hypertension Educational Toolkit will help veterinary professionals diagnose systemic arterial hypertension (hypertension) in cats, according to the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP). Assessing blood pressure in the feline species is an important part of feline preventive care, yet it is uncommon for practices to routinely perform this test. This … [Read more...]
Slow down, write better emails
We’re sharing from this article verbatim. It is concise, actionable and central to our personal lives. Erica Dhawan says reading carefully is the new listening and writing clearly is the new empathy. So many of our exchanges today happen in written (or typed) form such as email, text and IM. This means that listening in its traditional sense has been replaced by reading text … [Read more...]
Mini-podcast series on Covid-19 features Scott Weese, DVM
Scott Weese, DVM, is featured in a series of mini-podcasts on Covid-19 precautions in veterinary clinics produced by companion animal Ontario Animal Health Network. Each mini-podcast features a quick 3- to 5-minute “lighting round” on common questions and topics. Source: Worms and Germs Blog, February 22, 2021. Link. The mini-podcasts provide bite-sized bits for busy … [Read more...]