Shaw Perrin, DVM, offers advice on how to best assist down cows, along with some practices to avoid. His dos and don’ts list provides a good outline for educating dairy teams on farm or sharing on social media or in newsletters. Down cows require immediate attention with assistance from a trained rescue team. Source: Dairy Herd Management, April 5, 2021. Link. … [Read more...]
Help horses handle vaccination well
Most vaccine labels read, “For the vaccination of healthy horses . . .” Not all horses that seem well are healthy enough to mount immune responses. Stress, chronic lameness, age and poor nutrition can impact immunity. Madalyn Ward, DVM, shares steps horse owners can take to help their horse experience the best response to vaccinations with the fewest negative … [Read more...]
5 tips to engage equine owners in wellness care
Complimentary Content from Covetrus and Zoetis Amy L. Grice, VMD, MBA, shares tips for encouraging clients to embrace wellness care, including vaccinations provided by a veterinarian: Wellness Wednesday post Virtual or in-person event Create a template for your region Develop a wellness plan including some bundling Consider raising your emergency fees, … [Read more...]
Antioxidant use is growing. Do they work?
Marilyn Iturri discussed antioxidants with several veterinarians to better understand if antioxidants are viable options for supporting animal health. There is no clear-cut answer except a complete and balanced pet food should supply a healthy amount of antioxidants, unless supplementation could potentially help. Everyone wants to group antioxidants together as … [Read more...]
How often to take a kitten or cat to the vet
Daily Paws writer Austin Cannon shares basic guidelines for veterinary visit frequency written for pet owners. From an animal health pro perspective, she exposes the opportunities with new cat owners who are usually bound by agreements with shelters or breeders to take their kittens to see a vet soon after adoption. Source: Daily Paws, August 24, 2020, updated April 24, … [Read more...]
5 tips for anesthetizing and recovering aggressive dogs
Careful planning, communication and preparation can facilitate a safe and productive appointment for fractious patients that need to be sedated or anesthetized, says Katherine Bennett, DVM, and Christine Egger, DVM, MVSc, CVA, CVH, DACVAA. They share tips for safe handling of for diagnostic or surgical procedures in these areas: Owner communication Pre-appointment … [Read more...]
Do you really need to drink 8 glasses of water a day?
A one-size-fits-all fluid replacement strategy, such as drinking eight glasses of eight ounces of water per day, is inappropriate for everyone, writes Tamara Hew-Butler. How much water each person needs to drink mainly depends on three factors: Body weight Environmental temperature Physical activity levels Source: The Conversation, April 21, 2021. Link. Unless … [Read more...]
Beyond wellness plans, bundling can work
Wendy Hauser, DVM, and Lucas Pantaleon, DVM, MS, DACVIM, MBA, tackle the challenge of chronic illnesses that frequently fall outside of wellness plan coverage. The authors position bundling beginning with common bundles already in place in veterinary practices. By leveraging bundling, treatment packages offer four major advantages: Bundling helps clients understand the … [Read more...]
Getting clients to opt for treatment
Phil Zeltman, DVM, shares 10 common reasons clients decline treatment for their animals and how to avoid the situation. Confidence and the development of trust is critical to handling most situations he says. Ultimately, our job is not to convince a client to do the right thing. We are not in the arm-twisting business. All we can do is educate them objectively, be their pet’s … [Read more...]
Medical community telehealth concerns are opps for DVM community
OPINION Two articles outline some of the challenges medical entities and doctors see as telehealth capacity expands. With human medicine already a few years into telehealth development, it is important to monitor the progress, challenges and perceptions. In this era of tele-everything, it is likely animal health pros can integrate telehealth more effectively, efficiently … [Read more...]
Student focus group zeroes in on the future dairy farms and public expectations for dairy cattle care
Undergraduate students studying dairy or animal science gathered in a focus group during a 2019 meeting to discuss the future of dairying. This research is important as our industry works to improve health and well-being of dairy farm workers and cattle, in addition to improving public perceptions of the business. This generation of students will lead dairy initiatives, set … [Read more...]
Listening without getting defensive
Hearing is physiological. Listening is psychological. We listen to acquire knowledge and receive information. But it is easy to get distracted. One of the main distractions is how we respond to something we hear. Are we triggered? Are we half-listening while preparing to talk about our agenda? Or are we listening on autopilot? Jennifer Wolkin says we need to practice … [Read more...]
Tips for feeding, calving during wet and muddy conditions
Spring is a busy time for farmers and ranchers. Simple preparations now can help mitigate problems ahead of potential excess water. We can’t change the weather, but cattle producers can try to manage around wet conditions by preparing alternative livestock and feeding areas. Olivia Amundson and Taylor Grussing share ways to mitigate mud and moisture during calving … [Read more...]
Weaned calves worth $50 more than unweaned calves
Nearly 400,000 calves sold through Superior Livestock Auction during the summer of 2020. The weaned calves garnered about $50 more than their unweaned herd mates, based on sale price data analyzed from seven value-added programs. Source: Bovine Veterinarian, February 2021. Link. INSIGHTS: Greg Henderson’s article shares the study results, as well as an overview of the … [Read more...]
Equine influenza virus – a review
EIV is rarely fatal, it is highly contagious and can lead to significant performance impairment and economic loss when outbreaks occur. Similar to influenza in other species, EIV is spread primarily via the respiratory route. The AAEP considers equine influenza virus a risk-based disease, meaning it is not necessarily warranted for every horse. For horses considered at risk, … [Read more...]
Horse cost calculator helps owners understand true ownerships costs
Beyond the initial purchase price, horse care costs accumulate daily. Helping owners budget for all the costs minimizes the cost of veterinary prevention and maintenance. Veterinary teams can use this calculator to position how pet health insurance or wellness plans fit into a horse care budget. Source: Horse Illustrated, May 2019. Link. INSIGHTS: The calculator is a good … [Read more...]
Communal dog water bowls: safe or not?
Communal water bowls come with some hidden risks, says Kaitlyn Arford. It is possible for dogs drinking out of communal bowls or fountains to be infected with diseases or parasites. Source: AKC, April 6, 2021. Link. INSIGHTS: Consider this article for social media and newsletters. While basic, Arford presents an easily understood message. … [Read more...]
Barn dogs
Realizing it would be beneficial to take a more methodical approach to her barn dogs’ health maintenance, Katie Frank created basic guidelines for keeping her dogs as happy and healthy as her horses. Source: EQUUS Extra. Link. INSIGHTS: This resource addresses the realities of acreage or farm life where species interact daily. Kudos for addressing dogs in the equine … [Read more...]
K-9 kibble enhancement guide
Adjusting dog diets with fresh, raw and organic foods is popular. This article is a guide, compares fresh foods as supplemental versus kibble elimination and reminds pet owners to balance portions to manage weight gains. Whether raw or lightly cooked, a mostly fresh food diet yields outstanding results, with clear eyes, beautiful coats, great teeth, sweet breath, calm … [Read more...]
Cats 101 resources, Fear Free Happy Homes
Complimentary Content More than 55,000 professionals have become Fear Free Certified and there are now more than 140 Fear Free Certified Practices. In addition to animal health professionals’ efforts, Fear Free Happy Homes provides resources directly to pet owners. One example is the Cats 101 kit created to help cat owners learn feline fundamentals. Source: Fear Free … [Read more...]
Dogs needed for dog aging research, new studies
The Dog Aging Project is looking for more canine participants to include in ongoing community science research projects dedicated to understanding the biological and environmental determinants of canine aging. Researchers seek dogs, preferably puppies of both purebred and mixed breeds, in the following categories from a variety of geographies: Large breed dogs Giant … [Read more...]
IAMS launches first-of-its-kind NOSEiD app
Complimentary Content In honor of National Pet ID Week, April 17 through 23, IAMS is launching the beta version of the new NOSEiD mobile app, available throughout Nashville and the surrounding area. The NOSEiD app uses first-of-its-kind nose-scanning smartphone technology to help identify lost dogs by their unique nose print. Source: PR Newswire, April 19, 2021. Link. The … [Read more...]
National Pet Week is May 2 through 8
National Pet Week takes place the first week of May and there is a lot to celebrate. From cats, dogs and fish to lizards, snakes and tarantulas, there’s room for all. Enjoy! Source: National Pet Week 2021. Link. No matter how tough things may seem, pets eagerly provide comfort, sympathy and unquestioned understanding when we most need it. … [Read more...]
Rural broadband plagued by poor mapping, high costs
Weaknesses in broadband coverage in rural areas were highly evident in 2020. House Agriculture Committee members heard from those who expressed the need to update maps on areas that remain underserved, as well as offer flexible funding to spread out costs to extend broadband coverage. Extended broadband coverage is important to extend the value of telehealth for all species, … [Read more...]
How to generate more clients at your veterinary practice
Opinion We held this article to position it now, one year post-Covid-19 shutdowns and the anniversary of the first wave of pet adoptions that followed. Robert Sanchez is no stranger to veterinary practices and his article is purposeful and valuable. He applies sales terminology to new customer acquisition tactics. Considering the timing, we believe it is important to … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 15, 2021
What bears can teach us about exercise habits Source: New York Times, April 7, 2021. Link. Like us, bears are inherently lazy. Scientists are finding out why. Their results are remarkable. The time has come to start training the pets for your return to work Source: CNN, April 11, 2021. Link. Millions of adopted pets have no sense … [Read more...]
U.S. dairy cows upcycle up to 306 million pounds of food waste every day
Cows have been targets of bad press in recent years. But thanks to the rumen, cows divert millions of pounds of food waste from landfills. In the process they turn byproducts into milk, meat and manure. Georgie Smith shares the benefits of upcycling tasks cows perform. Source: The Daily Churn, July 24, 2020. Link. … [Read more...]
Study reveals possible role of insects in ASF transmission
In a newly published study, African swine fever viruses have been detected in blood-sucking insects, particularly in those found on farms where pigs are present. While direct transmission was not conclusive, the study reinforces the need to consider insects in biosecurity efforts. Source: Feed Strategy, April 7, 2021. Link. INSIGHTS: Fly control has always been important … [Read more...]
Calves and flies don’t have to coexist
Calves are a popular target for fly breeding grounds because their bedding and feed are perfect havens for flies to multiply en masse. Entomologist Roger Moon and dairy producer Merri Post shared experiences and ideas about reducing flies and their impact on herd health. Source: Dairy Herd Management, April 12, 2021. Link. INSIGHTS: For salespersons and veterinary teams, … [Read more...]
Understanding Equine Cushing’s disease
Equine Cushing’s disease is a chronic, progressive endocrine disease seen in middle-aged to senior horses. More accurately labeled pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, or PPID, this is a disease of the pituitary gland. Anna O'Brien, DVM, discusses the pituitary gland, disease symptoms, diagnostics and caring for a Cushing’s horse. Source: Horse Illustrated, January 23, … [Read more...]