When Steve Dale talks, people listen. In a recent newsletter he discusses: Destress Your Pet Month from Ceva Animal Health and the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. From Fearful to Fear Free: A Positive Program to Free Your Dog from Anxiety, Fears and Phobias, Dr. Marty Becker, Dr. Lisa Radosta, Dr. Wailani Sung, Mikkel Becker, edited by Kim Campbell … [Read more...]
Reconcile® joins Animal Health Digest as Sponsor
AHD welcomes Reconcile® (fluoxetine hydrochloride) as our newest Supporting Sponsor. Manufactured by PRN PharmacalTM, a PBI-Gordon company, Reconcile provides veterinarians with a clinically tested, FDA-approved, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) labeled for dogs. When combined with the BONDTM Behavior ModificationTraining Program, Reconcile® has been shown to … [Read more...]
Communicate, connect for health’s sake
The number of people who identify as lonely has doubled from 20 percent to 40 percent in the past 30 years. In that same time, the average number of close friends that people identify having has gone from three to one. Having weak social ties is as harmful to health as alcoholism. It’s also equivalent to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. Thus, having techniques to effectively … [Read more...]
Learning a little may be dangerous
Alexander Pope was right when he said that a little learning is a dangerous thing. In research on overconfidence in beginners, Carmen Sanchez and David Dunning discovered perspectives that animal health pros can apply when working with new employees or learning new procedures. They describe a beginner’s bubble of overconfidence that can be related to the challenges of … [Read more...]
New calf killer in town
Salmonella Heidelberg, a disease identified fewer than two years ago, can quickly claim the lives of dairy calves. The disease is a risk for any dairy and has become a multi-state risk due to the frequent transport of dairy animals across the U.S. Additionally, S. Heidleberg is resistant to antibiotics and was linked to human cases in 15 states. Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, … [Read more...]
30-plus years of pork industry milestones, issues
Neil Dierks, CEO of the National Pork Producers Council, reflects on the development of the pork industry. He highlights these issues as the most memorable: Mandatory pork checkoff Pseudorabies eradication program H1N1 flu pandemic of 2009 Application of technology Animal ID/premise ID Growth of exports Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome … [Read more...]
How do antibiotics impact gut health?
This article was part of last week’s The view from the gut that featured the Blueprint issue of National Hog Farmer (Link). James Lowe, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, i-Learning Center, director shares the work his group has done understand the factors that drive the development of the microbiome of the pig’s intestine. Source: National Hog Farmer, … [Read more...]
What dogs eat matters
The folks at Reader’s Digest talked to a few veterinarians to come up with eight recommendations veterinarians are apt to tell clients about what they feed their dogs. This quick read will affirm what clinic teams recommend daily. Source: Reader’s Digest, April 2018, Link. More important than the ‘natural’ claim is whether or not the food is nutritionally completed and … [Read more...]
Quiz: Implementing wellness plans
Test your knowledge with this quiz on the key elements of a successful wellness plan, as well as some common misconceptions. Consider engaging your entire staff to take this quiz. Questions 9 and 10 may be revealing. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, January/February 2018, Link. Wellness plans are not only beneficial for pet owners and pets, they also provide veterinary … [Read more...]
Warm-up exercises for horses
Traci Johnting shares warm-up exercises she uses for to get a horse soft and supple before a show. These exercise disciplines apply to any horse we intend to ride. After all, the minute a rider mounts, the animal is asked to perform athletically. Source: The American Quarter Horse Journal, April 18, 2018, Link. I like these exercises because you don’t need any special … [Read more...]
Dog and cat people have much in common
Karen B. London, PhD, shares the results of a 1,000-person survey that reveals similarities and differences between cat and dog people. “We are more alike than we are different,” she writes. “That’s not just a fact, it’s a perspective on life, and it applies to people with pets.” Source: The Bark, April 2018, Link. Although studies comparing cat people and dog people … [Read more...]
Pet foxes; now what?
Jenifer Chatfield, DVM, and Olivia Petritz, DVM, share different perspectives on all things pet fox with Sarah Wooten, DVM. There are different kinds of domesticated foxes that people buy. Chatfield shares, “It’s not our job to judge whether it’s right or not for a client to have a pet fox. It is our job to provide adequate healthcare and education to that client. With the … [Read more...]
Research for biomarkers and slow-kill protocol for heartworm disease summarized
Animal health pros frequently challenge the status quo. In the face of a heartworm infection, melarsomine has received the American Heartworm Society recommendations along with steroid and antithrombotic agents, as needed. But melarsomine sometimes has limited availability or is unavailable in many countries. Thus, many slow-kill protocols have been circulated as possible … [Read more...]
Annual screening for dogs’ exposure to infected ticks is vital
Melissa Beall, DVM, PhD, reinforces that dogs don’t always show clinical signs of tick exposure. Therefore, annual screening is critical to discovery of tick-borne diseases. Pet-side test kits and research reinforce her assertions. Source: Veterinary Practice News, April 18, 2018, Link. The study, found at idexx.com/tickrisk, showed two key findings: dogs with Ehrlichia … [Read more...]
Henry Schein Animal Health and Vets First Choice join to create Vets First Corp.
Consolidation continues writes Edie Lau as he details the newest animal health company. Parallel but synergistic competencies seem to be the common denominator in the vision for this spin-off and merger. Lau provides a solid historical view of the two companies, their capacities and stated objectives as they move toward 2019. Source: VIN News Service, April 23, … [Read more...]
Puppies and kittens with diarrhea can be biohazards
Puppies and kittens can be fuzzy little biohazards, writes Maureen Anderson, DVM. It’s a paradoxical picture. She outlines different roles and responsibilities, sharing what each team member should and should not do to help control the spread of infection when handling diarrhea cases. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, April 2018, Link. Veterinary practices should have an … [Read more...]
Cornell research: moderate cost for no antibiotics in dairy
A new Cornell University study pinpoints the financial toll that eliminating antibiotic use would have on dairy farms. The team took a systems approach that involves researchers in epidemiology, development sociology, and agricultural and health economics. Source: Dairy Herd Management, April 19, 2018, Link. To examine the effect of limiting the use of antibiotics in dairy … [Read more...]
Labs still atop U.S. dog breeds
Labrador Retrievers have captured American’s hearts for 27 years and continue to reign in the latest breed rankings from the American Kennel Club. Source: Quartz, April 24, 2018, Link. There are 196 dog breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club in total. For a full list of how they all stack up click here. … [Read more...]
Heed new pinkeye management protocols
Articles from AHD sponsor Addison Biological Laboratories provide information about how we should now manage pinkeye. Starting with a historical perspective helps. This is what we know: Pinkeye is a painful cattle disease that can reduce weaning weights as much as 17 lbs. to 65 lbs. per animal. Pinkeye is a multifactor disease. Once it begins to spread through a … [Read more...]
April is De-Stress Your Pet Month
Hiding, scratching, crying or chewing on chairs by pets are likely signs of stress. And, they’re natural reactions to stress. Most pet owners don’t know it. This is one reason why AHD sponsor Ceva Animal Health and the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists have teamed up to create De-Stress Your Pet Month in April. Look for this news in industry media, local newspapers … [Read more...]
Rampant incivility plagues most companies
Ninety eight percent of workers have experienced rude behavior and 99 percent have witnessed it in the past 20 years. This is according to research completed by Christine Porath. Based on her findings, she presents the case to develop a civility code. Her process includes these categories: Model the right behavior Articulate values and set expectations Define … [Read more...]
Cows love brushing (includes video)
Brian Murphy and his family installed automated brushes to improve cow comfort. The cows love the brushes and compete for position to take turns. Source: Dairy Herd Management, March 29, 2018. (Link) The brushes really help to keep the cows clean, especially this time of year when they are getting rid of their hair coat,” Murphy says. “The cows love to stand and rub against … [Read more...]
Handle cattle vaccines properly for greatest efficacy
We all need basic reminders now and then. Basic vaccine protocols are worth discussing more than once a year. This quick read is a good reminder of recognized handling practices. Source: Progressive Cattleman, April 9, 2018. (Link) Vaccines need to be stored between 35°F and 45°F at all times and maintaining consistency within this temperature range is critical. Do not … [Read more...]
Beef herd vaccination protocols are critical
Prepping calves for next fall’s market starts now with a herd vaccination program for cows, bulls and calves. Annual operational objectives should include 100 percent healthy cattle. Herd vaccination programs are proactive and implementing vaccines recommended by local veterinarian help protect against known viral and bacterial issues in the area. The upside of processing … [Read more...]
Hoof-care diagnostic tool is cool (slide show)
Zinpro’s new Step Up program has neat tools for cattle lameness identification and management. They were developed in collaboration from Kansas State University's Beef Cattle Institute. The materials combine as much knowledge from the beef and dairy industries as possible, then makes it somewhat specific for beef or dairy animals, says Zinpro’s Connie Larson. It is available … [Read more...]
More than meat – raise critters for wool and more
Janet Garman provides an overview of wool-producing animals. Wool, fleece, and fiber can be harvested from a number of wool-yielding animals. These include sheep, goats, rabbits, camels, llamas, alpaca, bison, and yak. The fiber from bison, camels, and yak are the rare fibers. The fiber from the camelid family of animals is very soft and fine. It feels similar to alpaca and … [Read more...]
Trim dogs’ toenails in a stress-free way
Searching “dog nail trimming” on Google reveals a plethora of information. Most of it focuses on our reluctance to routinely trim nails because of unruly animals or the fear of cutting into the quick. Dr. Karen Gellman reminds us that long toenails have consequences on the pet: Long toenails cause painful feet Overgrown nails often create an abnormal compensatory … [Read more...]
Structured and unstructured exercise important for puppy energy
Sporting dog puppies can be challenging. We want the drive and the energy once they are trained. However, to get through the puppy stages, exercise must be designed to tire-out puppies and include early obedience and life lessons. Source: Gun Dog, April 10, 2018. (Link) Sporting dog pups are chock-full of potential and obviously provide plenty of furry awesomeness. … [Read more...]
Stop pets’ progression to aggression
Mikkel Becker discusses the challenges of avoiding scratches, bites and wrestling with animals needing veterinary care. She references the Fear Free approaches that use multimodal practices. They address fear, anxiety and stress in ways that reduce distress while keeping pets and veterinary teams safer. Source: Firstline, April 10, 2018. (Link) When you use tools to offer … [Read more...]
Dogs that don’t shed – much – are all different
It’s a biological fact that there are NO non-shedding dog breeds, writes Melvin Pe͂na. Short hair doesn’t necessarily indicate no-shed dogs, and long or thick hair doesn’t mean a dog is prone to shedding. Low shedding is not necessarily hypo-allergenic, either Source: Dogster, April 12, 2018. (Link) Pe͂na provides lists of non-shedding dog breeds, or dogs who don’t shed … [Read more...]