Veterinarians blame extra treats and table scraps given to pets since the coronavirus pandemic began as the primary reason for a whopping increase of pet obesity. Banfield Pet Hospital found nearly 40 percent of cats and almost 35 percent of dogs were diagnosed as overweight in 2020, up from less than 20 percent a decade ago. Source: The New York Times, March 4, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Better cat care, includes inside-outside cat perspectives
Includes Commercial Content The Chatfields visit with Margie Scherk, DVM, DABVP (Feline), about benefits and risks of indoor-only versus outdoor-access cat care and stewardship. The discussion challenges the indoor-only advocacy now prevalent in the U.S. . . . indoor only cat behavior resembles human cabin fever. . . “ Source: Chats with the Chatfields, You Tube, February … [Read more...]
Evaluating grief in dogs
Italian researchers have increased our understanding of grief in dogs. Whether the changes are behavioral or actual grief are not clear, but the research indicates dogs are affected by the loss of a canine companion in multi-dog homes. Knowing that dogs likely experience changes due to grief can help both researchers and pet owners. Source: Treehugger, March 2, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
How mosquitoes avoid pesticides designed to kill them
Scent memories could make mosquito populations trickier to manage.” Source: Science, February 23, 2022. Link. Researchers exposed hundreds of mosquitoes to five common pesticides at doses strong enough to knock them down but not kill them. After one day of recovery, the experienced mosquitoes didn’t enter pesticide-laced areas even when tempted with food. INSIGHTS: Will … [Read more...]
Talks for when you feel like no one appreciates you
TED shares a playlist for those times when you feel underappreciated or unrecognized. Source: TED. Link. … [Read more...]
Toxicologists debunk common myths about pet poisons
The internet, word of mouth and possibly breed correlations spread inaccurate information about toxins says Renee Schmid, DVM, DABVT, DABT. Pet proofing helps. Safety checks of homes and garages needs to be done every year to remain pet friendly. Schmid recommends veterinary professionals let clients know where they can find reliable information, like the poisons list … [Read more...]
2022 CAPC annual pet parasite forecast
Confirming many concerns about disease discovery in new areas, CAPC says ticks and mosquitoes remain the principal transmitters of pet and human vector-borne diseases. The 2022 CAPC forecast warns that vector-borne diseases will all pose higher-than-average risks across much of the country this year. CAPC’s 30-day Pet Parasite Forecast Maps complement the annual forecast and … [Read more...]
Adding value to heifer calves
Black and white is tough to beat when it comes to logic and commercial cattle, writes Wes Ishmael. He shares how Hereford bulls build and fill increasing demand for black baldy replacements in cow/calf herds and the benefits producers are realizing from crossbreeding. Most are buying baldy females because they wean heavier calves, have a nicer disposition and because … [Read more...]
Listeriosis often found in silage fed in winter
Listeriosis is caused by the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. The bacteria is present everywhere in the environment and survives well in moist soil for about one year. In domestic animals the disease is most important in ruminants and most seen during winter months when they are being fed silage. As winter conditions persist, cattle producers often find themselves scraping … [Read more...]
New report: drivers of U.S. dairy productivity and efficiency
Dairy veterinary teams, marketing personnel and sales representatives servicing dairy producers understand some of the national trends causing consolidation of dairy operations into larger and fewer farms. Still, milk production for the domestic market continues to increase steadily. A new report by Eric Njuki with USDA’s Economic Research Service presents the substantial … [Read more...]
3 Ways telemedicine improves veterinary care for livestock
Opinion It is no secret livestock owners, farmers and ranchers have challenges accessing qualified veterinary care. The Veterinary Feed Directive put added requirements on available food animal veterinarians. Many equine and livestock veterinarians have used the telephone effectively for years. Now, new digital tools offer potentially more efficiency and effectiveness for … [Read more...]
FAQ: California EHV-1 Outbreak
Despite prevention efforts, disease outbreaks occur. The transfer of animals across geographies and in and out of facilities adds to the risks, regardless of compliance to protocols. Competitive horse events frequently mix horses from a variety of origins. Eighteen horses have been confirmed positive for EHV-1 in southern California’s Riverside County. Some of these horses … [Read more...]
Dr Jen the Vet talks rabies, ticks and horses for THJ Season 2 premiere
The Horsemanship Journey is a monthly video series that streams on demand through the THJ website. Launched in 2021, a new episode is released each month. Episodes are about one hour long and are advertising free. Every episode has 3 parts: Part 1 features an amazing story about horses and people. Part 2 is the informational segment with top equine professionals and … [Read more...]
Study predicts marijuana toxicity will overtake chocolate toxicity by 2023
BluePearl recently released its 2021 Pet Health Trends Report. One key takeaway from it is that marijuana toxicity cases have quickly risen to be the second leading cause of animal toxicity, behind chocolate. Marijuana toxicity cases remain constant as more states move toward legalization and/or decriminalization. We have a responsibility to utilize our medical data for the … [Read more...]
Bite inhibition matters
Though using their mouths on our hands, arms, legs, hair and clothes is natural behavior for dogs, they must learn to interact in ways that are appropriate in our world. Karen B. London, PhD The degree to which dogs learn not to use the full force of their mouths on people and other dogs is called “bite inhibition,” and it is the most important part of a dog’s … [Read more...]
Benefits of multi-cat households hard to prove
Conducting an appraisal of published literature, researchers sought to assess evidence of the impact of cat group size on cat well-being in domestic homes. The appraisal results highlight the complex, multifactorial relationships between cat well-being and various social and environmental factors. These may be as important than the numbers of cats living in a … [Read more...]
Special days coming in March
Savvy animal health pros will find reasons to conduct outreach, have themes in house or start conversations using one of these featured day or week designations. Source: National Today. Link Here’s what we found for the first part of March 2022. National If Pets Had Thumbs Day – March 3, 2022 National Professional Pet Sitters Week – March 6-12, 2022 National K9 … [Read more...]
Pet ownership linked to slower cognitive decline
In a study thought to be the first to consider the effect of duration of pet ownership on cognitive health, pet ownership was especially beneficial for working verbal memory, such as memorization of word lists. Owning household pets for five years or more produced the most benefit, delaying cognitive decline by 1.2 points over the six-year period of the study compared with … [Read more...]
Become a Veterinarian Camp Contest 2022
Please share this opportunity with your local middle school administrators, counselors, science teachers and youth groups. Vet Set Go together with Merck Animal Health and VCA Animal Hospitals is inviting rising sixth, seventh and eighth grade students to enter the sixth annual Vet Set Go Become a Veterinarian Camp Contest 2022. The online essay contest will award three … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – February 28, 2022
Power shifts in pet industry, veterinarians burning out, 2022 focus areas for small business, Google arts and culture app uses AI to find pet lookalikes, Target Corporation accelerator looking for pet startups, pets and our brains plus more . . . Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, February 28, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
It’s just semantics . . . NOT!
Semantics isn’t just a superficial difference of opinion even though often we use semantics as a reason to end a debate. Semantics is important because words, sentences, and phrases frame our reality. Disputes about semantics and meaning can be big deals. However, disagreeing about word choices versus meaning is lexicography or diction. That’s just semantics or You’re just … [Read more...]
MD discusses key differences between in-person and virtual (video)
We can all learn from perspectives in human medicine as we adopt and learn where virtual care in animal health fits. Embracing some of this new technology is beneficial, shares Remo Panaccione, MD, but the importance of interacting face to face with a patient remains a cornerstone of health care. One of the more important things is if we're going to deliver virtual care, we … [Read more...]
Too many pets kept alive when it’s not the kindest option, say vets
Some veterinarians are warning too many owners are spending huge amounts of money on keeping their pets alive, even when it’s not the most humane option, writes Rachel Hall. Although veterinary science has made impressive advances in recent years, some say extending an animal’s life at all costs is not always the best option for them and can result in bills of thousands of … [Read more...]
Deer strains of SARS-CoV-2 might be emerging
Scientists estimate that more than six of every 10 known infectious diseases in people can be spread from animals, and three out of every four new or emerging infectious diseases in people come from animals <Link>. In a recent Worms and Germs blog, Scott Weese, DVM, shares details and speculation about SARS-CoV-2 infections in the highly susceptible deer population. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – February 24, 2022
Last week’s most read post Customers speak with their wallets; beef producers can’t ignore the results. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, February 17, 2022. Link. =========================== UK’s veterinary workforce crisis deepens; registrants drop by over two-thirds Source: British Veterinary Association, … [Read more...]
Get ready for calving
If everything goes right, very little is needed to support cows as they calve. However, its’s rare to have every calf born without any intervention. Miranda Reiman shares what is needed in a calving toolbox and other preparations to help cattle producers be ready for everything that might happen. Source: Angus Beef Bulletin, February 2002, page 6. Link. INSIGHTS: This is … [Read more...]
Simple trick for keeping cattle calm
To reduce chute stress and increase worker safety, blindfolding cattle, horses and wildlife is a time proven, humane way to calm a restrained animal. Blindfolding may help avoid sedative use and the potential risks associated with them. The blindfolded animal is calmer and this strategy is also more humane than many other types of restraint. We know a blindfold works for other … [Read more...]
Ventilation video series for swine producers
Contains Commercial Content Proper barn ventilation is a key factor in promoting swine health and productivity. AP, an AGCO brand, developed a series of 14 short ventilation videos with tips to help producers unlock better year-round performance and improve animal health. Source: National Hog Farmer, February 10, 2022. Link. INSIGHTS: Consider this resource to educate … [Read more...]
New study says opossums DO NOT like eating ticks
From websites to publications to social media, the idea that opossums help save humans from tick-borne ailments is broadly proliferated. Bret Collier, PhD refutes the tick vacuum designation citing study methods from a 2009 study versus a 2021 Hennessy and Hild study of wild opossum stomach contents. Source: Field and Stream, January 5, 2022. Link. INSIGHTS: Like the … [Read more...]
How equine supplements complement forage
Sometimes hay just isn’t enough, says Clair Thune. She shares how equine supplements can help horses get the nutrients they need to thrive. Source: Equine Wellness, February 2, 2022. Link. Look for products that provide at least 50 percent of the National Research Council guidelines for copper and zinc and 100 percent of the guidelines for vitamin E. Note that the amounts … [Read more...]