Caring for horses often presents challenges when rain, drought or snow dominate the headlines. The Equus team discusses ways to prepare for abnormal extremes. This is good content for social media posts, websites and to use in training sessions with horse owners. Source: Equus, November 2014. For horse people, the weather is a constantly changing variable that has a direct … [Read more...]
Sponsored content: Free guide to goat farming
More people are raising goats. While the goat farming resources are many, too much information can be a detriment. There are different suggestions for manger design, theories about feeding kids and vague generalities about goat milk quality. Customers need guidance. A free guide from Countryside is now available for downloading. Source: Countryside Daily, December 16, … [Read more...]
UC-Davis veterinarians using facial recognition to identify animal pain
Veterinarians and computer scientists at University of California-Davis are teaming up to determine if they can use facial recognition to identify pain in animals. They’re making progress. Source: KXTV, December 15, 2017. The technology is still being developed. However, so far, computer scientists have trained the technology to recognize animal faces in photos (similar to … [Read more...]
Opinion – Cats, boxes and digital communication
A story of cats in boxes has been the rage this year. Beyond its novelty, is the reality that the story appears in a medium not affiliated with an animal health publication. This is another example of the realities of the human-animal bond, the digital evolution, continual scrutiny of animals in the food chain and zoonotic risks place animal health topics into non-traditional … [Read more...]
Why dogs chew everything
"Chewing, for a dog, is like a human opening a door and looking into a room," said Colin Tennant, the chairman of the U.K. Canine and Feline Behaviour Association. "People are nosy, and so are the dogs. But they investigate with their mouths, because they don't have hands." Source: Live Science, December 5, 2017. Dogs frequently chew things because they like the taste or … [Read more...]
Humane Society helping pet, livestock owners during wildfires
As wildfires continue to rage in Southern California, pets, horses and livestock are part of the survivors and casualties. The Humane Society of Ventura County in Ojai has been working 24/7 for more than a week to rescue animals and help owners drop off their pets and horses. No animal is turned away. Source: CBSlocal.com, December 13, 2017. In many cases owners of horses … [Read more...]
3 simple words will set you free: a millennial confesses
Niklas Goeke is a millennial; a writer, book summarizer and habit coach. He exposes us to the shattered self as something all humans go through. Millennials, however, experience this traumatizing, but important event very early in their lives. The reason my generation stands out is not because of our age, but because of how we react to this event, says Goeke. “We … [Read more...]
Stay ahead of Coccidiosis in calves
Coccidia, a parasitic protozoa that colonizes in the intestinal tract of cattle, is one of the “biggies” of pathogens that cause scours in pre- and post-weaned calves. Eggs are produced internally and pass into the environment via shedding in manure. Nearly all animals on dairies will eventually be exposed to coccidia. Source: Dairy Herd Management, December 7, 2017. If the … [Read more...]
Anticipating foal coat color
December is part of the last trimester for some mares. With gestation being 11 months long, owners anxiously await the prize of a new foal. Not much can be predicted overall, but coat color is one attribute where educated guesses are possible. For basic colors, such as sorrel or chestnut, bay, palomino or black, it’s fairly simple. Check the Color-Cross Chart to find the color … [Read more...]
Horse coughing may indicate trouble
Sometimes coughing in horses is harmless. It may be the first sign of serious trouble. Heather Smith Thomas reviews how to tell the difference. Notice the background information about the horse’s activities. These references will help veterinary staff members ask good questions when receiving a call from a horse owner. Source: Equus, October 5, 2017. Knowing when to call … [Read more...]
Colder weather makes horses stiff
Cold, damp weather causes increased stiffness in both muscle and connective tissue, including tendons and ligaments in horses. Older animals experience the effects more profoundly. Eleanor Kellon, VMD, offers some supportive measures to offset the effects of cold. Source: Horse Network, December 5, 2017. Research has proven that exposure to cold causes increased stiffness … [Read more...]
Tips to stop loose dogs from approaching you
Stephanie Colman discusses the challenge of meeting up with a loose dog while out and about with pets. Being approached by loose dogs, especially when their dogs are on leash, is a least-favorite experience for most dog owners. This information is good for social media posts, newsletters and to include in puppy class materials. Coleman offers five non-assertive strategy … [Read more...]
Cat litter offers new benefits
Sandy Robins shares recent trends in cat litter. This information is commercial, but knowing what is trending in this category is important for animal health pros who deal with cat owners. Source: Pet Age, December 4, 2017. New cat litter options include these categories: lightweight litters au natural litters diagnostic litters vibrant litters … [Read more...]
It’s not always safe to rub cat bellies
Dog lovers who visit homes with cats often get fooled by cats offering their bellies. There are lots of places cats like to be petted, but if you try to pet a cat’s belly, you’ll likely be met with claws and teeth. Source: Catster, December 8, 2017. There are some cats who love belly rubs, but they’re few and far between. The cat belly is a very vulnerable place. Unlike … [Read more...]
Senecavirus A gaining a foothold in the U.S. swine industry
Dr. Jack Shere, a DVM with USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, is concerned about the increasing prevalence of Senecavirus A (SVA) in the U.S. swine herd. SVA is a disease that mimics Foot and Mouth disease (FMD). This is why producers need to be more vigilant than ever when they see signs of blisters or lesions on pigs’ skin . Source: Pork, December 8, … [Read more...]
Elevating the role of veterinary nurses
It is important for animal health pros to understand the Veterinary Nurse Initiative and its empowerment for this work force. It aims to standardize the profession’s educational requirements, scope of practice, requirements to maintain the credential, and title protection, and to rename the role from veterinary technician to veterinary nurse. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, … [Read more...]
BarkBox continues upward sales clip (includes video)
BarkBox is a phenomenon in the consumer pet market. It has 500,000 delivery service subscribers and more than 4 million fans on Facebook and Instagram. BarkBox’s social media team creates original video content and shares relatable memes with its followers to remind them of the emotional connection humans have with their furry friends. In other words, the content that gets … [Read more...]
Not all dogs need cute winter coats
Winter coats for dogs are cute, but they likely aren’t needed? Carol Bryant discusses which dog breeds should wear coats in the winter and how to choose one. This is good information for pet owners that can be deliver via social media, newsletters and have available in-house. Source: Dogster, December 5, 2017. Bryant shares the following on canine couture: Fiction: All … [Read more...]
To get support for your CX vision, Just ASK!
Customer experience (CX) is a mainstay of business strategies. It is not a new concept, it is just that with the digital experiences added to it, CX can now occur much of the time without humans being directly involved. Krista Sheridan writes about changing the question from one of making people do things to letting people do things. In other words, asking for help. Source: … [Read more...]
Cat kisses send real messages
The cat kiss is much different from anything humans do, says Denise LeBeau. But, cat owners know their feline friends show their affection toward us, and each other, quite often. LeBeau explores cat kisses, whether real or perceived. Source: Catster, November 22, 2017. The best way to show your cat how much you love him is to not plop a big kiss on his face. It’s best to … [Read more...]
AQHA; Winter horse care
Horses are built to weather winter with or without a barn if they are prepared for it. Constantly changing temperatures and frequent changes in wind velocity exacerbate the challenges of caring for them. This article shares perspectives for horse owners in South Dakota and covers barns, shelter, feed and of course, water. Some variations of these methods are applicable across … [Read more...]
Squirm-worthy communications?
Author Sarah Hiner watched grown men squirm recently when they wanted to pay a compliment to a woman, but were afraid that it would be misconstrued as inappropriate. Have we gotten so politically correct that we can’t offer and receive simple, gracious words of acknowledgment? Hiner discusses the political and social media restraints and possible consequences. Source: Bottom … [Read more...]
5 tips to protect dogs during the holidays
There can never be too many reminders about pet safety during the holidays. Our friends at IDEXX have assembled five common-sense tips to protect our canines from the holiday hubbub. It’s perfect material for blogs, social media posts, newsletters and counter handouts. Source: IDEXX Pet Health Network, November, 2017. Chocolates are potentially toxic to dogs, particularly … [Read more...]
Opinion – California raccoon distemper cases expose risks (includes video)
Cases of infected wildlife are not unusual. But, the human population encroachment into wildlife habitats has forced raccoons, skunks, coyotes and opossums to adapt to city living. In some areas, garbage cans, pet food dishes and potted gardens provide a more sustainable food supply than previous habitats. The result is an abundant, unbalanced critter population that inevitably … [Read more...]
Why dogs snack in cat litter boxes
A litter box is bad enough without having Muffy decide to go there for snacks. The reason for cat litter box treats is one of three topics in this edition of Fear Free Happy Homes. How Much Protein Does Your Cat Really Need? and Fear Reactions: Fight, Flight, and Freeze bookend the litter box phenomena. Source: Fear Free Happy Homes, December 5, 2017. Handouts for … [Read more...]
Prevent holiday diarrhea in dogs
The last thing you need is a dog with explosive diarrhea when friends and family are gathered for the holidays. Unfortunately, many dogs experience gastric upsets around the holidays. Jackie Brown outlines some causes and some home remedies that will treat mild cases of dog diarrhea. Source: Dogster, November 29, 2017. The bottom line about holiday diarrhea in dogs: … [Read more...]
Shoppers spend more money, less time and other retail trends
Animal health pros often shy away from selling, but we are all managing transactions at some level. The industry is unsettled by significant demographic, economic, and technological shakeups. But there’s more at play as consumers, including us, are shaking things up. Our perceptions, expectations, and ultimately, behaviors are giving way to new shopping trends that retailers … [Read more...]
Vaper Wake dogs, canine detectives
Vapor Wake dogs are a new breed of dog that is scientifically bred for superior scenting ability, intelligence, physical soundness and a high desire or drive to search and hunt. Auburn University’s Canine Performance Sciences has developed a proprietary training regime for Vapor Wake dogs, including a patented name and process for training dogs to detect and to identify the … [Read more...]
PEDV, PDCoV have taught hard lessons
Aaron Lower, DVM, reminds us that the swine industry is embarking on its fifth winter of managing porcine epidemic diarrhea virus and porcine deltacoronavirus. As we enter the seasonal epidemic, it is important to review the key exclusion and management principles learned over the past five years. Source: National Hog Farmer, November 22, 2017. Sit down with your production … [Read more...]
The right and wrong ways to pet a dog
Yes, there is a right and wrong way to pet a dog, shares Jessica Pineda. Unfortunately, many of us just dive right into petting dogs we just met or don’t even know. Or, we fail to read our own dogs’ body language when they’re telling us, “please stop.” With holiday gatherings and guests eminent, share this article with animal owners to help avoid pet stress or potential … [Read more...]