Writer Elizabeth Vecsi says reverse sneezing isn’t really sneezing. Officially termed pharyngeal gag reflex or paroxysmal respiration, reverse sneezing in dogs is a condition where a dog will extend his neck and begin making gasping sounds as though she can’t catch her breath. Seeing a dog honk, snort or gasp for breath is alarming for dog owners. Source: Dogster, May 23, … [Read more...]
3 considerations before adding a second dog
Stephanie Borns-Weil, DVM, believes that dogs in general are happier with other dogs. It is hard on social creatures not to live with their co-species members, she says. . . . you can be reasonably sure when bringing home a second dog that your first dog will be better off for the company but never certain just how well it’s going to work . . . Source: Tufts, Your Dog, March … [Read more...]
Dog ownership likely influenced by genetics
A recent Swedish twin study provides evidences of a strong genetic component to dog ownership. The results fit with feelings many have that loving dogs is an intrinsic part of who we are. Heritability for dog ownership ranged from 57 percent for females and 51 percent for males. A shared environment accounted for much less; in the range of 0 to 6 percent. Source: Bark, May … [Read more...]
And on the 7th day, FedEx delivered
FedEx will start delivering packages seven days a week next January. It is also taking back nearly two million home deliveries currently handled by the post office. Source: Associated Press, May 30, 2019. Link. Consumers want packages over the weekend,” President and Chief Operating Officer Raj Subramaniam said in an interview. “As soon as we went to 6-day, we started … [Read more...]
Show and tell veterinary medicine’s mess
Michael Nappier, DVM, DABVP, contends it is time for veterinary teams to quit shielding clients from the amount of blood, sweat, tears, urine and feces involved in keeping their pets healthy. He recommends finding ways to let clients see what goes on behind exam room doors and in treatment areas. He contends a show and tell mentality could help make the mundane seem miraculous … [Read more...]
Blood-sucking ‘kissing bugs’ cause Chagas disease
If you live in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Georgia, Virginia, South Carolina or Tennessee it’s important to understand Chagas disease. Nancy Scanlan, DVM, CVA, shares information on disease symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. In dogs, the primary area to be infected is the heart, but sometimes the nervous system is also involved. The trypanosomes cause a high level of … [Read more...]
Anthrax, a risk in wet or dry conditions
Dr. Susan Keller reminds producers and veterinarians to remain vigilant and vaccinate cattle against anthrax, especially where the disease has occurred in the past. Spores of the bacteria Bacillus anthracis cause anthrax when consumed and they can survive in the soil for years. In both dry and wet conditions anthrax spores can be transported and become available for cattle to … [Read more...]
Dogs need vets to manage arthritis
Veterinarian Kathryn Primm reminds us that May is National Arthritis Awareness Month. It is a perfect time to be aware of the subtle signs pets who might be in pain from conditions such as arthritis provide and to seek veterinary help when necessary. The article is worthy of posting on social media or in e-newsletters. Source: Fear Free Happy Homes, May 6, 2019. Link. If … [Read more...]
Keep dog paws healthy
Christine Caplan, CVT, reviews the various aspects of dog paw health. She says foot problems can be as uncomfortable for dogs as they are for us. Caplan provides this list of common problems and conditions: Allergies Seasonal hazards Cuts, abrasions, lacerations Nail problems Cracked or dry pads Growths Source: Animal Wellness Magazine, May 28, 2019. … [Read more...]
Study: Dogs act as sentinels to human risk for Lyme disease
New research from the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) quantifies the association between canine seroprevalence for the disease-causing bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, and human incidence of Lyme disease, the most prevalent tick-borne disease in the U.S. The overall association shows that human incidence increases as dog seroprevalence increases. Source: Infection … [Read more...]
Why cats bite
They can be lying there purring, docile and without warning, cats sometimes start biting. Cat behavior expert Dusty Rainbolt shares a few reasons why cats bite: Health problems and pain Aggressive play Defense and offense Love bites and petting If the ears go back and the tail starts moving, stop petting the cat. – Dusty Rainbolt Source: Catster, May 21, 2019. … [Read more...]
Pet food smell important for pets and pet owners (includes video)
Diana Pet Food’s Chloe’ Champion and Perrine Delime share the challenges of satisfying both pet palates and owners’ noses when developing pet diets. . . . pet food must smell great to both the pet and the owner Source: Appetizer, May 12, 2018. Link. Data from an online consumer survey showed 25 percent of respondents said that pet food odor was a very important criterion … [Read more...]
Synchronizing cows not as simple as a shot
Bethany Johnston and Aaron Berger explain the fundamentals of shortening the calving season using estrus synchronization. While simple in practice, producers need to remember that a number of factors affect pregnancy rate including cow body condition score, plane of nutrition, cattle health and bull fertility. Utilizing natural service with estrus synchronization requires … [Read more...]
Be watchful for rain rot on horses
With record rainfall across much of the country, horses may get rain rot. Its signs are unmistakable: After coming in from the rain, the horse's coat begins to stand up in a peculiar pattern, either bordered by the "drip line" of rain runoff or in patches Beginning to smooth it down, you feel a radiating heat and the horse flinches from the touch By the next day, … [Read more...]
Considerations for adjusting equine vaccinations
A horse’s circumstances can change enough during a year that his vaccination program needs changing. Some instances that call for a review or of a vaccine routine include: Location Increased interaction with other horses Advancing age Source: EQUUS, March 2018. Link. INSIGHTS: Risks can come from other animals that frequent a location. Raccoons, skunks, … [Read more...]
Bats are nature’s pest control
As we sat on the deck during a recent evening, bats from behind the neighbor’s chimney awoke to fly over the neighboring yards. After counting 36 of them, I stopped as they went about their insect control. Amanda Radke writes about the pros and stigmas concerning promoting bat populations for pest control. Source: BEEF, May 20, 2019. Link. Bats may have a negative … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Pet Anxiety Awareness Campaign kicks off June 2nd
Kristen Levine began a campaign three years ago to raise awareness about the need to recognize the symptoms of fear, anxiety and stress (FAS) in dogs and cats. She wants to encourage pet parents to speak to their veterinarians about how to get their pets relief. An estimated 50% of dogs and cats suffer from FAS Source: Cision, May 21, 2019. Link. Each week in June one of the … [Read more...]
Top 3 most common pet insurance claims from 5 providers
ASPCA Pet Insurance, Embrace, Nationwide, Pets Best and Trupanion shared their top three most common claims of 2018 with Veterinary Economics. For veterinary teams, these lists represent opportunities for discussion and consensus around treatment, products and preparations. Salespersons can use these lists as a backdrop for pre-call planning and product … [Read more...]
Amazon is primed for growth (includes podcast)
With 100 million Amazon Prime customers globally, the company continues to grow and grow. It has entered market segments we never imagined and now owns 49 percent or more of all online sales. Professor Sunil Gupta and Host Brian Kenny discuss a case study Gupta researched and offer insights into Amazon’s insidious growth. Source: HBR Working Knowledge, May 21, 2019. … [Read more...]
Horse sense required for barefoot trimming
David Ramey, DVM, tackles the barefoot trimming fad where horses have shoes removed and hooves trimmed to run barefoot. He says some proponents of barefoot trimming sometimes take a fanatical leap and may assert that shoes for horses are never a good thing, and that they always cause harm. Ramey disagrees for three big reasons: The stated assumption that “barefoot is … [Read more...]
Calf rescued from badger hole (includes ‘feel-good’ video)
In what he calls the most bizarre incident in his career, Brad Osadczuk, an Alberta, Canada, rancher rescued a calf that had fallen into a badger hole. The cow kept telling him something was wrong. Source: Drovers, May 21, 2019. Link. “She kept on going back to this spot. When you walk up, you couldn’t see anything. It just was prairie grass. I happened to walk up to a … [Read more...]
Get serious about kidding time
Goat popularity continues to rise. As people learn to raise them, it is inevitable they will experience kidding time. Durvet’s Kassie Miller assembled a goat kidding kit to help prepare for that magical phase. This is a good list to help goat raisers be prepared. Source: Durvet. Link. Advanced prepping and quick access ensures access will ensure you will have all the tools … [Read more...]
Backyard chickens have caused 21-state salmonella outbreaks
Fifty-two people in 21 states have contracted salmonella from backyard poultry according to the CDC. Five patients have been hospitalized and 28 percent of those sickened by these home-based chicks and ducklings are children under age 5. Don’t kiss your chickens! < link > Source: USA Today, May 17, 2019. Link. Epidemiologic and laboratory evidence indicate that contact … [Read more...]
Microbiome; it’s a bug eat bug world
“The microbiome is a collection of different microorganisms that we find in the intestinal tract of animals, and we know these microorganisms are essential to immune development,” says Christopher Chase, DVM. “Understanding how they interact with the gut, and particularly the epithelium of the gut, is really important.” In the last decade, research has shown the epithelial … [Read more...]
5 quota-killing mistakes only experienced salespeople make
Jeff Hoffman gives perspective about seasoned salespersons and offers steps that can help avoid making common errors. He lists these five mistakes he has observed with seasoned reps: They over-qualify They lean too heavily on existing champions They stop learning They haven't networked within their company They ignore the importance of small … [Read more...]
Opinion – Get truly curious about the customer
Customers recognize selective listening and when we aren’t asking the right questions or probing to understand what’s really happening and learning what it means to them personally or professionally, according to David Brock. They’re often looking look for our help but find us unwilling to take the time to understand their markets, their business, their strategies . . . their … [Read more...]
Opinion – FREE, one-day shipping is an oxymoron
Amazon recently announced it will spend $800M to bring free, one-day shipping to Prime members. This is an indictment of our increasing inability to plan past our noses. Distribution companies have been fighting this costly next-day fight for years, often without directly assessing the increased costs to customers who require the service. Failure to plan is simply a plan to … [Read more...]
If you are approached by a service dog without its owner, it may need your help
Ashley Brewer shares what to do if a service dog approaches you without its owner. In all likelihood, the owner needs help. Share this article using social media, e-newsletters and texts. Knowing how to engage the animal to help you find its owner is important because it is different than how we’ve been trained. Source: Animal Planet, May 9, 2019. Link. . . . any verbal cue … [Read more...]
50 ways dogs communicate with their people
The position your dog sleeps in means something, writes Inno Asuncion. He shares 50 more common dog behaviors explained in human terms. This is fun to share on social media, in e-newsletters or as part of a follow-up message after initial clinic or retail visits. Source: Animal Planet, August 21, 2018. Link. … [Read more...]
New AVMA website provides resources for veterinary students, early professionals
The AVMA recently launched a new website to help guide veterinary students and early career veterinarians. My Veterinary Life < link > is intended to help navigate the transition from student to veterinarian, nurture personal wellbeing, and establish strong financial habits. Source: AVMA. Link. The website represents AVMA’s commitment to provide guidance, direction and … [Read more...]