Retractable leashes have no place in dog training, says Nancy Kerns. The biggest problem with countless situations is when a dog is more than a couple of feet from the owner. There is nothing that can be done to get him back to your side. Retractable products can retract only when there is no tension on the line.” – Nancy Kerns Source: Whole Dog Journal, March 21, 2019. Link. … [Read more...]
5 scary consequences of neglecting pets’ oral care
Sponsored Commercial Content Every month and every visit to the veterinarian should include an oral care discussion about dogs and cats. The animal health industry parallels the dental months in human medicine with our own National Pet Dental Health Month in February supported by the AVMA. PetMD’s Dr. Hanie Elfenbein, DVM, PhD, reminds dog owners that poor oral hygiene … [Read more...]
Chatfields talk about CBD and pets — Episode 20
Complimentary Commercial Content So many questions. So much information. A lot of room for misunderstanding. The Chatfields visit with Cornell’s Joseph J. Wakshlag, DVM, PhD, to dig into what’s what. CBD? THC? Terpenes? WHAT?! Are all these the same? What are they? Did you know there are even different kinds of cannabidiol? Like CBDA? How much is safe for dogs? Cats? … [Read more...]
Rabies, lest we forget it’s importance
We often hear rabies is eliminated. It is true for canine rabies. It is NOT true for wildlife, especially bats. Scott Weese, DVM, recaps the 2021 rabies scene in the U.S. He shares details on the five human deaths due to rabies reported in 2021. This is the highest annual case count in the last decade. There’s limited penetration of rabies awareness education for the general … [Read more...]
New vision for animal services focuses on community wellness, professional certifications
Thank you to guest contributor, Brent Toellner, senior director of national programs, Best Friends Animal Society Tawny Hammond, national no kill leadership advancement director with Best Friends Animal Society, believes how we treat companion animals is a direct reflection of our communities’ overall well-being. She cites studies that support consistent, compassionate, … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – January 17, 2022
2021 trends in pet industry, social media and the pet industry, plastic neutral certification news, pet furnishing trends and more… Source: IBPSA Fast Bites, January 17, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – January 13, 2022
Last week’s most read posts Workplace bullying, a growing concern for HR departments. Link. To hug or not. Tools to solve the conundrum. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, January 6, 2022. Link. =========================== So you cried at work Source: Harvard Business Review, January 4, 2022. Link. To minimize the impact of … [Read more...]
U.S. producer pessimism grows
The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer slipped five points in November marking continued pessimism among producers indicating they are concerned about mounting costs. November marked the lowest reading of 2021 for all three measures of producer sentiment and comparing year-over-year, the barometer is 30 percent lower than in November of 2020. Source: The … [Read more...]
Cow toilet is more than a passing novelty (video)
Laugh no more at toilets for cows. A prototype has been awarded the Gold Innovation Award at the 2021 EuroTier. The objective of reducing ammonia omissions is possible, say Dutch dairy producers who are experimenting with prototypes. Plus, the urine can be used later as targeted crop nutrient fortification. Pure urine is high in nitrogen and potassium. Source: … [Read more...]
The best chicken names; A to Z
Humans love to name their critters and chickens are no exception. Some of these will help name some ducklings, too. Source: Countryside, January 5, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Pigeon fever documented in 25 states
Also called dryland distemper or Colorado strangles, pigeon fever develops when Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis bacteria enter a horse’s body, probably via insect bites or breaks in the skin. It has nothing to do with birds except the shape of the external infections often resemble the breast of a pigeon. The infection appears in three forms: External abscesses … [Read more...]
Tips for getting your cat clean with less drama
Occasionally, cats get dirty enough to need a bath. The author shares tips for making bath time less stressful on the cat and owner. Consider these resources for social media and newsletters to help cat owners clean up a dirty cat . Source: Tuft’s Catnip, November 22, 2021. Link. Also see: How to [safely] bathe a cat, ASPCA® Pet Insurance. Link. … [Read more...]
Millions of dog owners facing quandary over dog care as they return to work
More than 23 million American households adopted a pet during the pandemic – so far, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. And, boy how they pampered those pets. Americans spent $21.4 billion on nonmedical pet products through November and $28.4 billion on dog food, according to Euromonitor International. Rover, the dog sitting and boarding … [Read more...]
Reminder: February is Pet Dental Month
Opinion National Pet Dental Health Month is celebrated in February to reinforce the importance of pet dental health and as a reminder for pet owners to practice routine oral care on their pets. It is sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Call it dental care or oral care, it is a critical component of healthy pet management at home, in veterinary … [Read more...]
Top 10 states with the most overweight dogs across the U.S.
Pennsylvania, Virginia, Wisconsin and Georgia top the list with 16 pounds of excess weight as compared to the AKC-recommended weight chart. Source: Pet Business, November 16, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
The best de-shedding brushes
Pet owners often ask which tool is best to help capture and control shedding hair. Nine de-shedding tools are reviewed in this article. Most pets grow accustomed to frequent brushing. Owners find this to be an excellent time to bond and look over their pets. Source: Puppies and Pooches, August 12, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Pet owners are searching Amazon for these pet food attributes
Keyword searches indicate pet owners know what type of pet food they want, yet major gaps remain, according to NielsenIQ officials. Opportunities exist in more inclusive labeling, as well as ingredient development. Source: Pet Product News, October 12, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Lyme-carrying ticks live longer. What?
Research reported at the annual meeting of the Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology reveals black-legged ticks infected with the Lyme disease-causing microbe thrive in subfreezing weather and can be active, even in winter. Laura Ferguson, PhD, and Amal El Nabbout reported their findings from working with ticks over three winters. Infected ticks in fluctuating … [Read more...]
Salmonella sp. is ubiquitous and not going away
USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service is mobilizing a strong and comprehensive effort to reduce Salmonella illnesses associated with poultry products. Swine producers took note since Salmonella I 4, [5],12:i:- has emerged as one of the most identified serotypes in pigs, pork and humans worldwide. Salmonella is an opportunistic bacterium that loves to get into something at … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – January 6, 2022
Last week’s most read post Most read Animal Health Digest posts of 2021. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, December 30, 2021. Link. AHD posts one year ago Archives for December 2020, Animal Health Digest. Link. ================================= Steve Dale: Fear Free: Transforming veterinary medicine Source: Steve … [Read more...]
Pinkeye in sheep different than pinkeye in cattle
Commercial content included While most prevalent during warmer months, crowed conditions in sheep barns and enclosures during winter increase the risk of animal-to-animal transfer of pinkeye bacteria. Pinkeye, called infectious keratoconjunctivitis, is most frequently caused by one of two bacteria. Chlamydia psittaci (ovis) and Mycoplasma conjunctiva are the culprits … [Read more...]
Fresh risk management approach is important for dairy farms in 2022
A heightened focus on technology and food safety will continue to provide opportunities and challenges for the dairy industry in 2022, says Josh Smart. A fresh risk management approach could provide the right security and resilience moving forward. For those serving dairies, these areas could provide new opportunities to improve dairy outcomes, as well as animal … [Read more...]
Plan ahead to feed problem newborn calves
Not every calf that drops in the coming months will have what it needs to thrive, according to Jason Smith. He discusses the importance of early preparation and colostrum. The importance and value of colostrum to a newborn calf cannot be overstated. Most calves that don’t receive adequate colostrum in a timely manner will not survive. It’s as simple as that.” – Jason Smith, … [Read more...]
Dos and don’ts of down cow care
Down cow care is frequently scrutinized by various media sources. A down cow is a signal for producers to act immediately and summon help from a trained rescue team. Shaw Perrin, DVM, shared dos and don’ts in a webinar. Key points of down cow care are summarized in the article below, including guidance on euthanasia. Source: Dairy Herd Management, April 5, 2021. … [Read more...]
House Rabbit Society updates RHDV2 info
In December 2021, new cases of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus type-2 were confirmed in New York and Kentucky, bringing the total of affected states to 18. Officials report a death rate of about 90 percent, which is why strict precautions must be taken by rabbit guardians, including vaccination.” There have been confirmed RHDV2 cases in Arizona, California, Colorado, … [Read more...]
Shoes and blood circulation in hooves: Is there a connection?
Polish researchers concluded that horseshoes may have a negative impact on blood circulation in the hoof and noted that different types of shoes may result in different median temperature differences of the heel and toe portions of hooves. Source: Paulick Report, December 24, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Building an equine colic toolkit
Chris White, DVM, shares how horse owners can prepare for a colic episode, considerations to make, and things to keep in mind after surgery. In some horses and situations colic can be impossible to prevent. So, having a toolkit that includes an active VCPR will help owners best handle colic when it happens. White reminds horse owners to avoid handling colic episodes alone. … [Read more...]
Cat obesity up more than 100 percent in 10 years
Citing Banfield Pet Hospitals’ electronic veterinary health records, Jackie Brown shares some disturbing findings: 114 percent increase in cats diagnosed as overweight in the last 10 years Dog obesity also rose 108 percent in the same period A survey of 1,000 owners of overweight or obese pets discovered: 93 percent said they faced hurdles in maintaining a … [Read more...]
Cleaning up after feline messes
While cats are often considered fastidious, they can be untidy creatures. They leave a unique assortment of stains and messes around homes that require constant cleaning. Kate Benjamin shares how to keep things nice and neat when living with cats. New and seasoned cat owners will appreciate Benjamin’s tips. Share them on social media and in newsletters. Source: Catster, … [Read more...]
Mountain lion breaks into family home trying to eat the family’s pet dog
Incidents like this mountain lion attack are reported more frequently now as ranges expand and population numbers increase. Fires and residential expansion also put the cats on the move to find a new range. Consider using this story to remind pet owners about the risks to pets and family members from wildlife in their yards. Bobcats and coyotes are also prone to consider … [Read more...]