Although Influenza A virus diversity has been well documented, there is limited information on how farm management practices influence the diversity of IAV. A study presented at the 2025 Leman Swine Conference evaluated the association between herd-level management practices and the genetic diversity of IAV in weaning piglets. This study provides field-based evidence that … [Read more...]
Don’t hurry to grass
As spring comes and grass greens up, the main consideration is to limit herds from setting back the pastures for the rest of the growing season by nipping off all the short growth, writes Elizabeth Picking. This is excellent advice animal health pros can deliver to producers. She suggests using a sacrifice pasture, stored feed and hay to protect the rest of the pastures and … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – February 25, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, February 19, 2026. Link. Most read posts from February 19, 2026 AHD Bulletin – Avoiding difficult conversations. Link. Yes, they really do make TV for cats and dogs. Link. Oral care at home helps pets stay healthy. Link. Command respect with your voice. Link. Most employees see their jobs as … [Read more...]
FDA issues emergency use authorizations for drugs to treat New World Screwworm in dogs and cats
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued two Emergency Use Authorizations: one for NexGard (afoxolaner) chewable tablets for the treatment of New World screwworm infestations (myiasis) in dogs, and the second for NexGard COMBO (esafoxolaner, eprinomectin, and praziquantel topical solution) for the treatment of NWS myiasis in cats. These EUAs will be effective until they are … [Read more...]
World class VMX 2026 attendance, dates set for VMX 2027
Complimentary NAVC reports VMX 2026 saw more than 28,500 veterinarians, veterinary nurses/technicians, support staff, students, exhibitors and guests in attendance from 78 countries. During the five-day event, attendees could select from 1,200+ hours of continuing education credits, interact with over 720 exhibiting companies and attend nightly entertainment and network with … [Read more...]
9 insider tips to drive dental product sales
Wendy S. Myers, CVJ, shares ways to introduce dental products to improve patients' health and bolster retail revenue. Her tips include eye-level displays and placing carefully selected products in animal owners’ hands. Ideas from Mary L. Berg, BS, LATG, RVT, VTS (Dentistry), FVTE, are also included. Source: Veterinary Practice News, February 6, 2026. Link. Berg suggests … [Read more...]
Avoiding difficult conversations
Conflict avoidance thrives in a fast-paced digital world, where it's easy to push off a text, ghost someone or outsource writing to AI. Avoidance is destructive in the long term to relationships, shared Colette Jane Fehr. Source: AXIOS, February 3, 2026. Link. Repair by owning your part, clearing up misunderstandings, and apologizing when needed.” INSIGHTS: Conflict … [Read more...]
Command respect with your voice
Commentary This is a good reminder video. It is difficult to understand why so many customer service agents are in a hurry to get off the phone, rush at the drive-up window, speed through an inquiry or look you in the eye. The calmest people in the room speak the slowest and the softest. They don’t raise their voices. Volume doesn’t equal presence and speed doesn’t build … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – February 16, 2026
In this week’s Fast Bites: Anna Radle brings her experience and expertise to the IBPSA board A guide to changing your Professional Employment Organization Local legislative update for Austin, Texas February 12th Animal Health Digest Bulletin. Link. Emotional marketing, drug testing, winter cat health, wildlife comedy, and more! Source: IBPSA, February 16, 2026. … [Read more...]
Oral care at home helps pets stay healthy
Dental month resources expand every year as our industry works on preventive measures to keep pets’ mouths healthy. The dental care video here is a good tutorial and worth sharing with your clients. Still, for busy pet owners, getting pets into an oral care routine is often difficult, especially with rescued pets. Besides home and in-clinic care, some groomers occasionally … [Read more...]
Review: Q&A on leptospirosis; urban risk, missed vaccines and diagnostic mistakes
This Q&A by Jane Sykes, BVSc, DACVIM (SAIM), PhD, MPH, MBA, FNAP, is a good review for all animal health pros. Keep in mind that leptospirosis is zoonotic. She discusses how urban environment, social conditions and vaccination gaps have been reshaping how and where veterinarians encounter leptospirosis. Her references to rodents are also important for disease prevention … [Read more...]
A Facebook post worth sharing
This American Heartworm Society’s Facebook post is worth sharing. It addresses many of the falsehoods people believe about heartworm in dogs and cats. Share it with your Facebook network and print some to use as posters in clinics and pet services businesses. Source: American Heartworm Society, Facebook, February 14, 2026. Link. PDF <Link>. … [Read more...]
Review: Feline chronic pain assessment
New pain therapies and scoring systems constantly evolve and research is ongoing. This allows cats to live longer lives without pain or with well-managed pain. Wendy Davies, BS, CVT, CCRVN, VTS, shares the importance of performing a thorough veterinary examination and educating cat owners on what to look for to collectively do a better job of treating chronic pain in … [Read more...]
Yes, they really do make TV for cats and dogs
TV programs for dogs and cats are multiplying faster than feral cats have kittens. From YouTube, DOGTV, TVBINI and more, this first-person article presents a pet owner’s and her pets’ experiences with the viewing options. She also features links to studies that indicate what and how long cats and dogs like to watch – or not watch. Source: The New York Times, February 12, … [Read more...]
Reading stress signals in horses
Horses are constantly broadcasting their internal state through body language, breathing, and muscle tone. The question isn’t whether they are talking to you; it’s whether you’re tuned to the right frequency. Kate Fenner, (BEqSc (Hons), PhD, shared this stress scale in the context of training <Link> emphazing that a horse's emotional state exists on a … [Read more...]
Review: Pigeon fever cases on the rise in the U.S.
First discovered in California in 1915, cases of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis are showing up in areas where it was once unknown. The external subcutaneous abscessation that frequently occurs in the pectoral region or ventral abdomen resembles a pigeon’s breast which is the only association pigeons have with the disease. Also known as dryland distemper or false strangles, … [Read more...]
Carrying capacity versus stocking rate
According to reports from CattleCon 2026, producers are considering keeping heifers or buying cows to increase their herds and meet beef demand. For animal health pros working closely with producers, carrying capacity becomes an important consideration. Laura Brenner’s article is a good reference to help producers make the critical calculations to prevent overgrazing. … [Read more...]
Putting video analytics to use on the dairy
Purdue’s Jacquelyn Boerman, PhD, sees video analytics as a powerful addition to feeding cows more precisely and monitoring them 24/7. She explained how a top-view camera was deployed by researchers and predicts applications can be tailored to nutritionists, including cow identification, body weight estimation, feed management and daily feed intake. The research was funded by … [Read more...]
Beef-on-dairy calves challenge replacement heifer market
Commentary The current status of beef-on-dairy presents a golden opportunity* for dairy veterinary teams and animal health pros. A focus on keeping calves healthy from the minute they drop should be met with less resistance in today’s market. Consider the benefits of dairy veterinarians collaborating with nutritionists, manufacturers and suppliers to maximize the health of … [Read more...]
Review: Cattle injection guide: Best practices for needles, syringes and sites
Proper injection technique is a cornerstone of Beef Quality Assurance, writes Lillian Hulse. Her article summarizes expert insights from a Doc Talk episode featuring Dan Thompson, DVM. They are presented as a guide covering: a) injection types, b) needle selection, c) best injection sites for cattle, d) safety and hygiene rules, and e) cleaning and maintaining … [Read more...]
KBroVet® (potassium bromide chewable tablets) now fully approved for the control of seizures associated with idiopathic epilepsy in dogs
Pegasus Laboratories, Inc., announced that under its registered trademark PRN® Pharmacal, KBroVet® (potassium bromide chewable tablets) has received full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the control of seizures associated with idiopathic epilepsy in dogs. The fully approved product labeling is expected to transition in the marketplace beginning … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – February 19, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, February 12, 2026. Link. Most read posts from February 12, 2026 AHD Bulletin – 90% of cat owners make winter mistakes. Cats suffer unnoticed. Link. Waiting is not free. Link. How emotional marketing creates moral injury in vet med, pet care. Link. NEW resource strengthens biosecurity practices, … [Read more...]
How emotional marketing creates moral injury in vet med, pet care
Commentary This piece addresses what many animal health pros realize but don’t express. Dr. Alaluf exposes real challenges as consequences of pet owners and marketers positioning animals as children. Here are key elements from his article that make it a must-read. Animals matter deeply. They deserve care, dignity and respect. But pretending they exist outside of … [Read more...]
AVMA’s new resource strengthens biosecurity practices, advances One Health
AVMA’s new biosecurity webpage brings together trusted guidance and tools to help prevent and control infectious diseases across a range of animal species and settings. The newly launched webpage <Link> was developed in direct response to AVMA member requests. Source: AVMA, February 4, 2026. Link. INSIGHTS: Well done! The webpage provides foundational information … [Read more...]
Sterile fly dispersal facility completed in Texas
Noted as a significant achievement in the fight against New World Screwworm, the USDA announced the completion of a U.S.-based sterile fly dispersal facility in Edinburg, Texas. This facility expands USDA’s ability to disperse sterile flies along the border and into the United States, if necessary. Source: USDA, February 9, 2026. Link. This sterile fly dispersal facility is … [Read more...]
CattleCon 2026 breaks attendance record, NCBA sets policy priorities
A record of more than 9,400 cattle producers and industry stakeholders attended CattleCon 2026, the annual cattle industry convention and trade show, last week in Nashville, Tennessee. During the event, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association announced its 2026 policy priorities. Source: NCBA, February 2, 2026. Link. The organization will advance regulatory reform, animal … [Read more...]
The quiet evolution of veterinary containment
Includes Commercial References Today's best animal housing systems are evolving with subtle, thoughtful design shifts that support the goals veterinarians care about most: reducing stress, improving outcomes and creating a recovery space that heals as much as it holds. We believe clients care about those spaces, too. John Freytag writes about what he calls purposeful … [Read more...]
People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care
Commentary If you’re working to develop or sustain business relationships, you’ll likely draw some inspiration or perspective from this piece about Jim Niekamp, former Midmark sales and marketing executive, whom some animal health pros will recognize. His philosophy of “Owning the Relationship” has been shared worldwide. It’s about going beyond a standard business … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – February 9, 2026
In this week’s Fast Bites: Association received positive note from customer of K9 Resorts Brookfield, Wisconsin Seats still open for Pet End-of-Life Legal and Emotional Guidance symposium Legislative news from: Rhode Island; Iowa; Austin, Texas The Modern Reservation Strategy member webinar: February 18th at 1:00 p.m CST. Reservation Link. Source: IBPSA, … [Read more...]
Pet insurance data shows a surprising Valentine’s Day hazard for dogs
Insurance data can be very useful to veterinarians and pet owners alike, writes Ann Hohenhaus, DVM, DACVIM. Around Valentine’s Day, it suggests that while chocolate remains a classic risk, jewelry ingestion may be an even more common cause of veterinary visits for dogs. Source: Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, February 11, 2026. Link. Image: Link. … [Read more...]