Last week’s. . . . . . most read post Grain-free? Grain-ful? The Chatfields discuss pet food choices. Link. . . . AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin - Oct 14, 2021. Link. Label pea-protein cat food as not for ferrets, vet says Source: Petfood Industry, October 11, 2021. Link. Bladder stones in ferrets may be related to diets containing … [Read more...]
Soundness exams. No bull, they’re for bulls.
With harvest underway it is easy to put off soundness exams for herd bulls kept for breeding. Fall is the optimal time to get your beef bulls examined and identify any performance issues before turning them in with the cows. Source: Farm Progress, October 14, 2021. Link. Bull soundness exams include: Assess the body condition Rate the feet Check the … [Read more...]
When do we need to re-treat? Cattle Chat discussion.
Treatment intervals and comfort care were discussion topics on a recent Cattle Chat podcast hosted by the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute team of veterinary experts. Producers need to start a protocol and track the results. Research has shown that the response rate improved if we followed a 5-7 or 7-10-day window as opposed to an immediate retreatment. . . … [Read more...]
4 facts about heaves in horses
Heaves is an allergic-based disease that compromises a horse's ability to breathe, similar to the way asthma affects humans. Horse heaves is chronic and can threaten a horse's long-term health and performance. Fall always brings changes to air quality as harvesting adds more dust particles, new hay sources become available, and horses begin spending more time inside. All … [Read more...]
Safely control those rodents moving in with you
It’s that time of the year when rodents move inside to escape chilly weather. They can damage buildings, walls, contaminate food items and transmit diseases to people and pets. It is important to take proper precautions to keep them from entering. Choose and consider the best ways to keep the rodents away. It can be natural or chemical. Source: The Outdoor Wear, October … [Read more...]
Kid approved chicken chores
The Centers for Disease Control continues to warn people to stop cuddling and kissing backyard poultry because chickens may spread salmonella. The warnings are warranted, but chickens are excellent starter animals for homesteaders or home-produced food enthusiasts. Kids enjoy the birds too. Patrick Diggs, PhD, shares chicken chores kids can help with and reinforces the CDC … [Read more...]
Nutrition tops cat owners’ topics for vet questions
Nutrition is the number-1 topic cat owners want to talk about with their vet, according to a survey of 1,001 cat owners by Royal Canin. The survey also found that three in five cat owners do not take their cat to the vet regularly. Encouraging cat owners to take their pets to the vet can help address diet-related medical conditions. Source: Petfood Industry, August 22, … [Read more...]
Dog breeds you can hold in one hand
The author provides a list of the top 10 smallest dog breeds. Teacup dog breeds are lovely companions to have, but their life span is shorter than those of larger dogs. The best option is to find a toy breed at the lower end of the reasonable height and weight levels. Source: Puppies and Pooches, September 16, 2021. Link. It is better to find a genuine dog breeder and vet, … [Read more...]
Dogfight over pet prescriptions AND a Bridge Club discussion
OPINION Market share is determined by where and WHY customers spend their dollars. Chewy’s investment into telemedicine and compounding is yet another event in the ethical versus OTC dynamics of the animal health supply business. An extension of the historic catalog business, online pet supply options increase convenience, avoid visits to the veterinary clinic and are … [Read more...]
Loyalty programs: 8 levers to turn customers into fans
Loyalty programs are an often-overlooked area for performance improvement that can help offset the ongoing willingness among consumers to try new brands and retailers, writes José Carluccio. He shares three key takeaways along with eight drivers of loyalty program value. Source: McKinsey and Company, October 12, 2021. Link. Key takeaways: More than three-quarters of … [Read more...]
There’s no traffic jam on the extra mile
The Golden Rule is getting a makeover in some companies. Brian O’Connell says these company leaders say they instill their own golden rules at work and strive to make them stick. They're gratified when they see their employees follow those rules in the workplace. Source: SHRM, October 12, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Fast Bites – October 18th edition from IBPSA
2021 holiday shopping season trends, biggest dog companies and their popular brands, retailer Pets at Home adds video interaction with store experts, grain-free food trends, the IBPSA Rebate Program launches and more. Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, October 18, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Move forward by going back
The adage “two steps forward one step back” fits the theme of DVM Wendy Hauser’s article about creating and improving a culture of preventive care. The Covid-19 pandemic and new pet demands put some veterinary teams into a Dragnet-like “just the facts ma’am” triage mode. This created significant variability in how preventive care was discussed, if at all. Many veterinary … [Read more...]
5 facts about the labor shortage in agriculture
Labor shortage trends continue to be prominent in the news. The problem is not only for city workers, agriculture is facing challenges, too. Jenny Shaffstall shares five issues affecting ag businesses’ ability to find qualified workers. Source: Ag Web, July 27, 2021. Link. The June Ag Barometer from Purdue University found nearly two-thirds (66%) of respondents said they … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – October 14, 2021
Last week’s. . . . . . most read post LED technology helps locate cows needing attention. Link. . . . AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin - Oct 7, 2021. Link. 7 animals that can harm dogs Source: Outside Resource, July 28, 2021. Link. Good reminders for fall as food resources begin to diminish and young animals strike out on their … [Read more...]
Scours treatment. Dealing with dehydration.
It’s generally not the gut infection that causes scours that kills the calf, it’s dehydration. Regardless of the cause of scours (whether bacterial, viral, protozoal or something else), dehydration and the resultant acid-base imbalance is often what kills the calf. Dehydration, the loss of electrolytes and decrease in pH in the blood (metabolic acidosis) are the three biggest … [Read more...]
Should we let cattle swim?
A group of beef cattle experts discuss the pros and cons of letting cattle have free access to ponds in the summer. Among the concerns were water quality, bank erosion, mastitis and foot rot. Overall, the risk of health challenges for beef cattle in ponds is low, and when considering investments in the herd, fencing off the pond is a low priority on my list of recommendations … [Read more...]
Temple Grandin: Looking back, looking ahead
Emphasizing the people side of the cattle business, Temple Grandin, PhD, recently told Wagyu breeders that all the technology you can buy won’t replace actually looking at your cattle. (Equipment) makes handling a lot easier. (But) equipment doesn’t replace management.” – Temple Grandin, PhD Source: Drovers, October 8, 2021. Link. Of the many lessons that COVID taught, … [Read more...]
How often should a horse see the dentist?
The most important person in tooth care for horses is the one hired to float the teeth, says Lu Ann Groves, DVM. Horse age, loose or erupting teeth can make a difference to how often teeth need floating. The general rule is that a horse’s teeth should be floated every year. But this may not always apply. . .” Source: Equine Wellness Natural Health Report, September 2021. … [Read more...]
Rooster talk. Vocalizations have meaning.
Dispelling the myth that roosters only crow in the morning, Ana Hotaling explains the complexity of rooster vocalizations. They differ from the morning cock-a-doodle-doos, when claiming territories or when it’s chow-time crow. They let out high-pitched shrieks when danger is perceived and crow when its time for bed too. Source: Hobby Farms, September 29, 2021. Link. Often … [Read more...]
5 cat facts that aren’t
Halloween always brings out the black cat = bad luck phrase. Beyond nine lives or a cat having your tongue, there are other supposed truisms that just aren’t: Cats are nocturnal Cats and milk go together Purring always indicates happiness Pregnant women should not be around cats A cat can steal a baby’s breath Source: Tuft’s Catnip, August 21, 2021. … [Read more...]
Asian longhorned tick found in Georgia
The Asian longhorned tick, an invasive species, was recently positively confirmed on a cow in north central Georgia. The ticks can cause severe anemia and tick fever in livestock. If an animal has one tick it’s probably our common Lone Star Tick. If a cow [or other animal] shows up with hundreds of ticks on it, we’re going to be very suspicious that we’re looking at an Asian … [Read more...]
Reinforcing the need for rabies vaccination
Rabies vaccination of dogs remains one of the more effective strategies for preventing rabies in humans. Arguments about titers and vaccination intervals aside, most U.S. states mandate revaccination for rabies regardless of medical history or antibody levels. Source: Today’s Veterinary Practice, January/February 2021. Link. Research is continuing to evaluate the duration of … [Read more...]
Advising pet owners on nutritional adequacy
Addressing questions from owners about whether a food is safe and meets their pet’s needs can be challenging and time-consuming, as there is a significant amount of misinformation available, writes Deborah E. Linder, DVM, MS, DACVN. She shares examples of the criteria and questions from the WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee’s nutrition toolkit to determine high-quality pet … [Read more...]
Grain-free? Grain-ful? The Chatfields discuss pet food choices.
Complimentary* Dr. Jen the vet and Dr. Jason Chatfield discuss the confusing pet food ingredients marketplace with Dr. Joseph Wakshlag, a veterinarian board-certified in nutrition and sports and rehabilitation medicine. They pragmatically differentiate what is marketing and what is nutrition. They also effectively addresses the differences between what dogs need and what … [Read more...]
The Bridge Club to discuss online pharmacies
Complimentary Join the live discussion with a panel of experts who discusses the future of pharmacies. They’ll talk about the good, the bad and how to be competitive. Source: The Bridge Club. Link. Live event: The state of online pharmacies October 21, 2021: 6 pm CDT/7 pm EDT Register here: Link … [Read more...]
Hannah Lau, DVM next on VVCA Lunch and Learn
Complimentary The VVCA Lunch and Learn series continues Wednesday, October 27 at 12:30 p.m. EDT. Hannah Lau, DVM, will share telehealth cases from her practice. She has been practicing veterinary telemedicine and telehealth fulltime since 2019, along with a small team of remote veterinary technicians and assistants. Although living in southwest Virginia, Lau practices … [Read more...]
New resources to discuss the cost of care from ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance now available
Sponsored Content Discussions with clients about the cost of veterinary care are often avoided until services are needed. This is a missed opportunity to help pet owners understand and prepare for their pets’ future health care needs, and how to pay for them. The ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance’s “Cost of Care Wheel” tool makes it quick and easy to have these conversations … [Read more...]
Additional disaster preparedness resources
Our August disaster planning post prompted Leslie Brooks DVM, MPH to share disaster safety guidelines created by the team at betterpet.com with us. Their guidelines are worth sharing with you. The best way to prepare for an emergency is to have a disaster plan in place ahead of time. Some extra preparation (even if it seems a little excessive) can go a long way in protecting … [Read more...]
IBPSA’s Fast Bites – October 11th edition
What BarkBox teaches us about subscription services and personalization, survey shares pet care considerations when pet owners are hospitalized, a guide to airport pet boarding facilities and more. Source: IBPSA FastBites, October 11, 2021. Link. INSIGHTS: IBPSA offers members an online education center for easy to access species-specific educational materials and … [Read more...]