The American Heartworm Society (AHS) is strengthening efforts to bring the latest heartworm information directly to veterinarians and veterinary nurses via scientific symposia and proceedings. Heartworm University, a traveling four- to six-hour symposium taught by AHS faculty, provides practical clinical information in an interactive format that enables presenters to address … [Read more...]
Alternatives to declawing becoming mandatory
The tide is turning against cat declawing, writes Steve Dale in a piece for Fear Free Happy Homes. Denver recently became the first city outside California to ban declawing surgery. When cats scratch (an innate behavior), they send an aromatic message via the pheromones delivered by glands in the paws, as well as a visual message: those long claw marks. The ability to offer … [Read more...]
Sponsored: Sample water supplies properly
Water quality affects animal health from the backyard to the largest confined operation. Jesse McCoy of Neogen Corporation writes about how to properly sample a water supply. Source: National Hog Farmer, November 30, 2017. Several considerations must be taken when sampling the site. The first is the sample must be the best representation of the water coming in to the … [Read more...]
Good stuff in OSU’s Equine News
The January issue of Oklahoma State University’s Equine News has some great information about getting horses in good shape, controlling environmental challenges and managing Equine influenza virus. Source: Oklahoma State University, January 2018. If your horse hasn’t had much activity in a while, it is a good idea to take a baseline assessment. First, does your horse need … [Read more...]
What you can’t do with a VFD
Some livestock producers are feeling pinched by what a VFD can’t do. However, these new rules can do one very valuable thing: give livestock producers an opportunity to interact with local veterinarians who can best guide them through health-related decisions about their animals. Source: Drovers, November 23, 2017. Since the VFD’s implementation, many of the … [Read more...]
High-functioning alcoholics are not long-term winners
Animal health pros can likely identify at least one individual whose “low alcohol” light comes on sometime late afternoon. These individuals function dependably at high levels all day long. However, their reality is a core biological and psychological issue that will never go away. In this rare, revealing story Ward Richmond shares his discoveries and story as a recovering … [Read more...]
Help bees get through winter
Angi Schneider shares it’s a good idea to give domestic bees extra help to survive the winter, especially if you are bee farming in areas that have severe winters. She discusses hive types and winterization protocols. Veterinary teams and retailers may want to keep information like this handy for new beekeepers. Source: Countryside Daily, January 8, 2018. Keeping the queen … [Read more...]
Opinion – The wisdom is in the questions
My paternal grandfather would occasionally profess, “Remember, the wisdom is in the questions, Kirk.” While this sometimes a kind way of saying I was talking too much, Ryan Holiday asserts a similar theme in his article, “12 questions that will change your life.” It is always a good time for questioning, resolutions and sound decisions. Source: Thrive Global, January 1, … [Read more...]
Study suggests more than half of lameness goes undetected
“Producers are aware of lameness as an issue in dairy herds and almost all monitor lameness as part of their daily routine. However, producers underestimate lameness prevalence, which highlights that lameness detection continues to be difficult in in all housing systems, especially in tie stall herds,” according to researchers who studied dairy farms. Source: Dairy Herd … [Read more...]
Insulin resistance and cold weather laminitis in horses
Eleanor Kellon, VMD, says cold-induced hoof pain strikes horses with insulin resistance (IR). IR is a well described risk factor for laminitis. Even when a horse is not glaringly lame it is causing damage to the laminae. We haven’t uncovered all the mechanisms behind laminar damage from high insulin levels but one known factor is elevated levels of endothelin-1. Source: … [Read more...]
These are horses, not teddy bears
Thomas Gumbrecht shares a story of horse care, animal temperament and a momentary lapse of judgement that resulted in getting kicked by an old friend. It is a good reminder to be present around horses or any animal. Source: Horse Network, January 3, 2018. As she passed, I noticed something on her underside and instinctively reached out to touch it. I forgot for a moment … [Read more...]
Make sure backyard chickens get proper nutrition
Janet Garman sorts through a variety of choices for feeding backyard chickens. Between types and stages of chickens and a multitude of brands, buying chicken feed is not a simple choice. Source: Countryside Daily, January 4, 2017. Chickens need protein, carbohydrates, and fats, along with the appropriate vitamins and minerals. Most starter and grower rations will have 18% … [Read more...]
Stockers, the shock absorbers for the beef industry
It is easy to argue the stocker sector serves as the fulcrum that makes current beef industry efficiency possible. Stocker operators warehouse cattle, spread seasonal surpluses and deficiencies into a balanced mix of volume. They assemble and sort cattle into more homogenous groups—weight, sex, type and such. Along the way, stocker producers straighten out the high-health-risk … [Read more...]
Prevent zoonoses on dairies
An outbreak of multi-drug resistant Salmonella has been associated with dairy calves across the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the outbreak affected 54 people in 15 states. One third of the affected required hospitalization. Situations like this remind us that we should always keep zoonotic diseases in mind. Source: Dairy Herd Management, … [Read more...]
Cat flehmen response or cat stinky face is highly scientific
The cat stinky face isn’t necessarily a snooty sneer. It’s way more scientific than that. “The flehmen response is a type of sniffing, but instead of using their nostrils, cats inhale the air through their open mouths,” Dr. Sasha Gibbons says. “Cats use the flehmen response to detect chemical stimuli, such as pheromones, that are present in urine and feces, or areas that cats … [Read more...]
Editor’s Choice Awards, Pet Product News
Each year, Pet Product News seeks to honor innovative products that strengthen the relationship between pets and people. If your role is in the non-OTC categories, knowing about these products may help you address concerns from a pet owner or even rationalize your own inventory choices in advance of mass merchandising pressures. Source: Pet Product News, January 2018, page … [Read more...]
Pet owners prefer to buy from brick-and-mortar stores
Pet Food in the U.S., 13th Edition states that about 88 percent of dog owners and 93 percent of cat owners admit to buying food for their pets from a store within the last 12 months. One demographic most comfortable with non-traditional purchasing options is millennials. This group was more likely than any other to buy items through a website or app for home delivery or … [Read more...]
Human capital an issue for hog industry
Human capital has long been a challenge for the protein sector overall, but has recently become a real concern for the swine business within industry and academia, said Maynard Hogberg, Iowa State University. He noted the pressing issue for both is that of the increasing need for scientifically trained personnel. This comes at a time when there are fewer swine faculty within … [Read more...]
Products bring solutions to livestock handling (slideshow)
Livestock handling continues to evolve. Handling animals without stressing them is still one of the biggest challenges livestock producers face. Several new chute and animal-handling systems were among the products Farm Progress editors uncovered at recent farm shows. Source: Beef, November 28, 2017. The last decade has brought a move forward in understanding how animals … [Read more...]
Low stress handling yields benefits
Stockmanship practices are important to prevent physical defects such as bruising and stress-related injuries on beef tenderness and grade. These practices also influence public perceptions, as consumers increasingly expect producers adhere to animal-welfare standards as a necessary component in their perception of beef quality. Source: Drovers, November/December 2017, page … [Read more...]
Calving starts in fewer than 50 days
March 1 is often a target calving date. The third trimester is a critical time for beef cows who are not only growing a calf, but also trying to maintain their own condition, in spite of cold weather. Sandy Johnson shares insights into the critical third trimester. Source: Drovers, November 9, 2017. Producers need to take note of the start of the third trimester because … [Read more...]
Perception is not always reality
I care about people and consider myself to be warm and friendly. At least that is what I thought. So, it came as a shock to discover that others often saw me as intimidating, cold and aloof. After recovering from the shock, I learned that what I perceived as leadership, others perceived as intimidation. What I thought was just being logical was perceived as being cold and … [Read more...]
Enrich the lives of older pets. Don’t ignore them.
The cold that has enveloped most of the U.S. lately has no doubt exacerbated some aging symptoms in older pets. Older animals may suffer from osteoarthritis or neurologic conditions that limit physical activity. Beyond physical activities, cognitive issues increase, sensory capabilities decline and anxiety may follow as older pets often become ignored. Source: Clinician’s … [Read more...]
Stop Googling; call the equine DVM (includes video)
It can be a challenge for horse owners to know when to handle a problem themselves or when to call in the veterinarian. Natalie Voss provides symptoms and situations arranged as red flag emergencies, orange flag potentially important and yellow flag cautionary potential for a health issue. The article also includes a link to a video featuring Emily Dean, DVM who discusses “when … [Read more...]
Paralanguage; critical non-verbal communication skills
There is one non-verbal communication type that powerful impact--it's called paralanguage. Paralanguage does not have anything to do with body language. Paralanguage is how you speak: The rate, tone/pitch, and volume/inflection of your speech, and the dreaded use of filler words. Mastering paralanguage allows you to have impact. Its power and benefits are many, and they are … [Read more...]
Feedstuffs: Top 10 stories of 2017 (slideshow)
As 2017 closed, the editors of Feedstuffs revisited identified these top news stories of 2017. Source: Feedstuffs, January 1, 2018. It was a year marked by destructive wildfires, a meat industry scandal in Brazil, a new U.S. agriculture secretary, several significant acquisitions with industry-changing implications and, of course, regulatory changes. This photo gallery … [Read more...]
Hoof lesions require forethought, prevention in dairies
About 25 percent of cows suffer from lameness, largely because of hoof lesions caused by digital dermatitis, sole ulcers or white line disease. Dr. Nigel Cook of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine discussed methods to correct the conditions that lead to hoof lesions, as well as claw corkscrew deformity during a webinar for dairy … [Read more...]
What to know about bathing cats
Bathing a cat sends chills to most cat owners and veterinary teams alike. Still cats sometimes truly need a good bath. JaneA Kelly looks at five times you should wash your cat and how to make cat baths as stress free as possible. Source: Catster, December 26, 2017. In some cases, you can just clean your cat using unscented, hypoallergenic wipes or dry shampoos rather than … [Read more...]
Cabin fever affects horses, too
Natural horsemanship reminds me to look at every situation as if I were a horse, shares Tim Hayes. He relates how cabin fever can affect both horse and rider. Spending 20 or 30 minutes, three to five times a week connecting with our horses is mentally and emotionally meaningful to him. Source: Horse Network, December 2017. If I can’t ride, I can still visit, says Hays. I … [Read more...]
1st NAVTA Animal Health Bi-Weekly for 2018
The veterinary technician/nurse role development is rapidly being expanded and professionally recognized. Two posts from their bi-weekly e-mail will interest most animal health pros: The importance of veterinary social work Top veterinary dentistry tips for 2017 Source: Animal Health Bi-Weekly, January 2, 2018. INSIGHTS: Like human prevention, animal dentistry … [Read more...]