Animal Health Digest

Curating useful content for animal health professionals

Study supports use of horses in substance detox therapy programs

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Elevated cortisol is an effect of chronic addiction and withdrawal, which negatively impacts the cognitive function needed for substance abuse recovery. Researchers sought to know if equine therapy interactions could mediate these stress responses. Studies have indicated equine-based therapy does reduce stress responses, improve patient comfort and confidence and emotional … [Read more...]

Every new dog breed recognized in the 21st century

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Fifty-seven new dog breeds have been recognized by the AKC since the turn of the 21st century, including the recently added Danish-Swedish Farmdog. The list includes some newly created breeds and well-known older, common breeds. Enjoy. Source: Stacker. Link. Image: Danish-Swedish Farmdog – Breed standards … [Read more...]

Stress and performance

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Not always negative … the right kind of stress . . . controlled and purposeful . . . can be a powerful tool for growth, performance and resilience.  Source: René Rodriguez, LinkedIn, March 5, 2025. Link.  The key to thriving under pressure is finding the optimal level of stress that pushes performance without triggering the negative effects of overwhelm.” - René … [Read more...]

Considerations for refrigerators and freezers

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Includes Commercial Content Summer temperatures often bring questions about refrigerator temperatures. Whether in the feedlot drug shed, a retail location or the veterinary clinic, many animal health products require temperature-controlled environments. We downloaded the refrigeration guide linked here from The Scientist. It provides expert advice on choosing the right cold … [Read more...]

Top 7 drug classes to be tapered before discontinuation (podcast)

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These are the top seven drug classes that may need to be tapered to avoid physiologic withdrawal syndrome and/or disease relapse in dogs and cats, writes Katrina L. Mealey, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, DACVCP. She provides helpful guidance on when and how to taper different medications. It was really helpful that there was such specific guidance, like percentage over a number of weeks, … [Read more...]

Wisdom Panel™, 5 million pets in 20 years plus how we love our pets

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Wisdom Panel™, the pet DNA service, recently achieved a major milestone: 5 million pets tested over the past 20 years.  To mark the occasion, they surveyed more than 10,000 pet parents to reveal the heartfelt and funny ways their pets shape daily life, including these standout stats: Pets are family: A striking 81 percent consider their pet their child, and 97 percent talk … [Read more...]

Medgene’s RHDV2 vaccine now available in single-dose vials

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Medgene will now have single-dose vials for vaccination against rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus, protecting rabbits from this fatal disease. This new presentation will assist veterinarians in better protecting their rabbit clientele. Source: Medgene, March 2025. Link. “This innovative technology goes well beyond concentrating existing product and putting it in a smaller … [Read more...]

Preventing canine-transmitted neosporosis in cattle

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Neosporosis-related losses cost the beef industry an estimated $111 million annually, writes Lindsay Waechter-Mead. The disease is transmitted through Neospora caninum an intracellular parasite. Canines that feed on infected cattle carcasses or placenta become infected and become a host where the parasite multiplies in the intestinal tract. Stable neospora oocytes are shed in … [Read more...]

Lactation station: Tips for optimizing sow diets during nursing

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Swine producers expect a lot physically from sows. They often must feed more piglets than they have nipples, maintain their own condition and recover after piglets are weaned to be in shape to quickly breed again. Nutritionist Casey Neill addresses the challenge of feeding sows and the transitional nutritional needs of piglets in the nursery. Source: National Hog Farmer, … [Read more...]

Preventing mastitis in pregnant heifers

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Ben Enger, PhD, describes the significant udder tissue growth and development required for an animal to enter lactation. He shares the importance of avoiding infections, especially in the last four months of pregnancy noting that immune factors to fight infections will also damage the growth of developing cells. He recommends udder health surveillance in first-lactation animals … [Read more...]

Beware of the mud

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Curt Arens calls mud the bane of existence for horse owners and livestock producers alike. In this article, he reviews the effects of mud and options for keeping horses out of muddy areas. He stresses the importance of regular inspection of animals during wet periods to maintain their health and hygiene. Source: DakotaFarmer, March 26, 2025. Link. As a general rule, too … [Read more...]

Spring health checklist promotes consistent routine for horse care

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Spring brings new riding activities, fresh grass, mud and weather fluctuations that affect animals daily. Busy schedules and economic challenges frequently delay adherence to wellness exams, fecal testing and vaccinations. Horse owners will appreciate having reminders and checklists like the ones in this article to help manage their horses’ wellness. Consider sending the … [Read more...]

As National Pet Poison Month ends, the daily risks remain

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Sponsor Content Each year, veterinary teams treat unfortunate animals that get exposed to toxic household substances and foods. When an accident happens, it’s a reminder to take steps to help pet owners prevent poison exposure. Education, preparation and action are critical to diagnosing and treating the exposed animals quickly. Providing pet owners with emergency phone … [Read more...]

Global Pet Expo underway in Orlando, Florida

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Global Pet Expo is considered a premier event for pet products. It features more than 1,100 exhibitors, a showcase of new products and pet business education. The American Pet Products Association and Pet Industry Distributors Association present it. Source: Global Pet Expo. Link. The 20,000 expected attendees will be offered expanded specialty areas, a new keynote series, … [Read more...]

IBPSA Fast Bites – March 24, 2025

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Growth in pet sitting market, daycare report card, tax tips, Italy’s new groomer professional code, microchip transitions and more . . . Source: IBPSA, March 24, 2025. Link. The next IBPSA Master Business Academy begins May 1, 2025. <Link> It is a 10-week, fully virtual training with content based on an MBA curriculum. … [Read more...]

Lessons from ‘No More Mr. Nice Guy’ can help you break out of the “Nice Guy” trap

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Complimentary Commercial Content Reading the book, “No More Mr. Nice Guy” by Dr. Robert Glover, was a huge eye-opener, Alex Mathers writes. He shares that a considerable proportion of men live in quiet desperation and find themselves stuck in behavior patterns that feel noble but lead to frustration, resentment and dissatisfaction. He shares 11 insights he took from Glover’s … [Read more...]

Why Americans are working less

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Full-time employees in the U.S. have been working fewer hours per week for the past five years. The average hours worked have dropped progressively since 2019. The decline in hours worked is more pronounced among workers younger than 35 than workers aged 35 and older. Between 2019 and 2024, older employees saw an average reduction of just under one hour per person per week, … [Read more...]

Let’s treat front desk heroes better

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Complimentary Content Amy Newfield, MS, CVT, VTS, has a point. Client service representatives of veterinary hospitals need to be treated better by the veterinary team, as well as clients. They are the faces of hospitals and crucial to each one of them. Rarely do they get training, respect or the salary they deserve for one of the hospital's most difficult jobs. Source: … [Read more...]

Beyond features, functions and benefits; the battle for the consumer mind

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Somewhere beyond features, functions and benefits is the potential to elicit an emotional bond, writes Robert Wheatley*. Discussing brand positioning, his article examines the importance of occupying a space in the consumers’ minds. He refers to the brain’s Limbic system and the role of emotion in decision making and asserts the importance of an emotional bond that can support … [Read more...]

Rx online: Challenges and opportunities for veterinary clinics, clients

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Researchers surveyed pet owners* to identify which factors send them to the internet and which keep them close to home. They found it’s not just about price and convenience. Katie Berlin, DVM, comments on the article by Natalie Young, PharmD, BCSCP, FACVP, FSVHP, and offers her own take on the opportunity for veterinary clinics with their own pharmacies. Young shares that … [Read more...]

Worth a Glance – March 20, 2025

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Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, March 13, 2024. Link. Most read posts from March 13, 2025 AHD Bulletin – New study shows H5N1 is more widespread in cows than reported to date. Link. Dog owner invents improved way to feed short nosed, senior dogs. Link. Vet donation tournament unites vet hospitals, communities to support pet care. … [Read more...]

Dog breeds being banned in the U.S. (slides)

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Breed-specific legislation continues to affect many dogs and their owners. Advocates of breed-specific legislation emphasize public safety, while opponents highlight the importance of responsible ownership and training over targeting specific breeds. The U.S. list is included in a related slide show by the author, who shares 13 breeds banned or heavily restricted in certain … [Read more...]

ELIAS Animal Health receives full approval from USDA for first-in-class canine osteosarcoma treatment

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Cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs over the age of two and represents a significant unmet medical need in veterinary medicine, with an estimated 6 million dogs diagnosed with cancer each year. ELIAS Cancer Immunotherapy has received full approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Center for Veterinary Biologics as the first autologous prescription product to … [Read more...]

FVMA offering CE at virtual Vet Tech Purr-posium

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Mark your calendars for the evening of March 25, 2025 and the FVMA’s inaugural Vet Tech Purr-posium for veterinary technicians by veterinary technicians. The evening will feature three CE sessions: Understanding and handling feline patients the Cat Friendly way: 5:00 pm-6:15 pm ET Feline pain and technicians – A perfect match: 6:25 pm–7:20 pm ET Cat Friendly … [Read more...]

Selecting cattle that maintain body condition and productivity on pasture

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Not all cattle perform equally on pasture. Sam Wyffels, PhD, reviews the selection of cattle to match the forage resources and the environment of an operation in this article. He advocates keeping performance records and using data for selection as one of the best ways to improve herd efficiency over time. One of the most effective ways to improve herd efficiency is to cull … [Read more...]

A new approach to deworming

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Elanco’s Wayne Ayers, DVM, shares the challenge of parasite control in different environments, young versus mature animals, deworming treatment product classes and timing. To avoid parasite resistance he stresses the importance of identifying the active parasites’ life cycles and adjusting deworming plans to reduce the environmental worm load. Source: Drovers, March 11, … [Read more...]

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Animal Health Digest, LLC is a content curation and aggregation service for animal health professionals. We continuously read and review more than 150 publications that produce articles, studies, reviews, white papers and other material for veterinarians, veterinary professionals, veterinary support staff, companion animal owners and livestock owners. Learn more.

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