Seventeen percent or more of cows need help to deliver a calf. Calving challenges affect the cow and calf’s health, production and fertility. Recognition of normal calving behaviors and the labor process is important for cow welfare and needs to be part of farm labor training. Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, May 10, 2018. Link. Calving behavior research shows cows want a secluded … [Read more...]
BRD is a battle we may never win
Burt Rutherford makes a case that BRD or BRDC will likely never be eliminated. His opinion was formed after reading a research study that indicates over 21 percent of cattle are effected by BRD. While BRD costs the industry $800 - $900 million annually, the challenge is making changes in how calves are managed prior to weaning, he says. Source: BEEF, May 22, 2018. … [Read more...]
7 tips for veterinarians to handle delusional parasitosis
Lori Hehn, DVM, discusses a human disease or syndrome, where an owner believes that they or their pets are infested with a parasite or organism that isn't there. Delusional parasitosis is a mistaken belief that one is being infested by parasites such as mites, lice, fleas, spiders, worms, bacteria or other organisms. Source: VetPrep. Link. Dr. Hehn knows veterinary team … [Read more...]
Heartworms are real
Some pet owners simply don’t believe heartworms are a risk for their pet. Erika Ervin, CVT, discusses how she approaches non-believers. Whether it is lack of knowledge, money or misinformation, heartworm protection remains critically important for dogs and especially cats. Source: FIRSTLINE, May 13, 2018. Link. At the end of the day, the only way to gain credibility with … [Read more...]
Flies spread PEDV year-round
Pig producers have another good reason to think about fly control. A study conducted earlier this year confirms that even a few flies have the ability to infect pigs with porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV). Source: PORK, May 23, 2018. Link. This new research shows flies pose a year-round risk for disease transmission, creating a new paradigm. A disease risk reduction … [Read more...]
Proper etiquette helps makes texts effective
Texting is increasingly being used for business. If not done appropriately it can cause misunderstandings and reflect poorly on the person sending the text, as well as their company. Source: Smart Meetings, June 21, 2016. Link. Sometimes, people get frustrated when they send texts about urgent, important matters but don’t hear back right away. Realize that the person you are … [Read more...]
Bats really do eat a lot of mosquitoes (includes video)
A recently published study by University of Wisconsin researchers found that bats they studied ate 17 types of mosquitoes, including nine that are potential carriers of the West Nile Virus. They studied two species of bats; the little brown bat and the big brown bat. The study was published in the Journal of Mammalogy. Source: Wisconsin State Journal, May 22, 2018. … [Read more...]
Rabies vaccine is associated with decreased all-cause mortality in dogs
Research published in the July 2017 issue of the journal Vaccine found that dogs who receive rabies vaccines experience better health overall. The researchers hypothesize that the protective association between rabies vaccination status and all-cause mortality is due to a protective effect of rabies vaccine against diseases other than rabies. Source: Vaccine, July 5, 2017. … [Read more...]
Prepare pets for spring, summer storms
June is National Pet Preparedness Month. It is a time to remind client and ourselves to double-check to make sure the basics are in order and late springs and summer storms hit. They include: pet ID tags, rescue alert stickers, safe havens where pets can be taken during or after a storm, a kennel and being prepared ourselves. The Department of Homeland Security has assembled a … [Read more...]
Memorial Day is more than a long weekend
Memorial Day takes place this Monday. This federal holiday was established to honor those who died while serving in the U.S. military. Some version of the day has taken place throughout history. One of the first took place in 1865 in South Carolina. It became an official federal holiday in 1971. We urge you to take time this weekend to honor those who have offered the ultimate … [Read more...]
The world needs you to love reading
Niklas Göke is young, a German grad student and prolific contributor to Medium. In this post, he addresses the importance of reading and the need to fight to read even when you enjoy it. Explaining his perspective on reading and its link to culture he writes, Despite both the subjective and objective evidence, the demise of reading is not a very public issue. In the age of new … [Read more...]
Big heifers, like big steers, may limit beef demand
Bigger, heavier heifers may not be better for beef marketing. Over the past 50 years, the gap between steer weights and heifer weights has closed significantly. Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension economist, reviews heifer development and the potential impact on beef demand. Source: Drovers, May 21, 2018. Link. Clearly, the industry continues to feed heifers … [Read more...]
7 hypoallergenic cats breeds help reduce allergies
Low-allergen, or hypoallergenic cats, are those that typically produce fewer allergens than regular cats. The operative word here is fewer. A protein, Fel D1, is the allergen in the cat’s saliva that causes problems for cat allergy sufferers. Some cat breeds produce less of it than others, making them hypoallergenic. Seven breeds are featured in this article Source: Catster, … [Read more...]
Pet reptiles or amphibians may pose health risks to humans
It is important for owners of reptiles, such as turtles, snakes and lizards, and amphibians, such as frogs, toads and salamanders to understand the health risks to themselves and others in their household. Animal health pros need to advise pet reptiles or amphibians owners about the risk for salmonellosis and the simple steps that can be taken to reduce risk to household … [Read more...]
7 Home fixer-ups that are dangerous for pets
Spring and summer are top times for home repair and remodeling projects. This work and the supplies to support it can be hazardous to pets. The folks at vetSTREET put together some great tips to keep pets safe. Source: vetSTREET, April 20, 2015. Link. The bottom line is, for safety’s sake, always keep your pets away from home-repair products. If, despite your precautions, … [Read more...]
Top 5 kitten behavior tips
Kitten owners can avoid future behavior challenges by communicating expectations to their kittens. For that to occur, veterinary teams can help by providing basic guidance to owners. Most unwanted destructive behaviors can be prevented with thoughtful management. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, February 2016. Link. Some simple interventions may prevent unwanted behaviors and … [Read more...]
Purebred pet paradox
Patty Khuly, VMD, MBA, delivers a twisted take on the importance of purebred pets, puppy mills and irresponsible breeding methods to veterinary practices. Where would you be without your purebred patients? It’s true! If we waved a wand and eliminated purebreds, the economics of our profession would be instantly turned upside down. We’d see record unemployment among generalists … [Read more...]
Manage the environment to reduce dog-on-dog household aggression
Pat Miller reminds us that not all dogs get along, even though they are a social species. He reviews potential stressors and offers counter measures to reduce the tensions in a household. Source: Whole Dog Journal, January 3, 2018. Link. When you have identified your dogs’ triggers, you can manage their environment to reduce trigger incidents and minimize outright conflict. … [Read more...]
Virtual pig farm tour educates grade-schoolers (includes video)
The Nebraska Farm Bureau virtual field trip program recently helped second grade students in Nebraska experience some swine production steps. Students used the internet to interact with the swine producer and learn more about where their food comes from. Source: Nebraska Farm Bureau, May 11, 2018. Link. Getting an up-close look at a pig is not something everyone gets the … [Read more...]
In-person VCPR is key, even for telemedicine
Beyond legal and liability reasons, establishing a veterinary-client-patient relationship needs to start with an in-person visit, says the AVMA. On-site visits help ensure all senses get engaged. Source: AVMA@Work, May 16, 2018. Link. The AVMA Telehealth Resource Center is your go-to information source, with basic definitions and frequently asked questions, practical steps … [Read more...]
Virulent Newcastle disease confirmed in U.S. backyard flock
The first case of virulent Newcastle disease in the U.S. since 2003 has been confirmed in a small flock of backyard exhibition chickens in Los Angeles County, California. In addition to practicing good biosecurity, all bird owners should report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to State/Federal officials, either through their state veterinarian or through USDA’s toll-free … [Read more...]
Heat index resource helps cattlemen
A common question heard in cattle country is, “Is it too hot to work cattle today?” Thanks to a collaborative effort between the USDA, Oklahoma State University, Kansas State University, the University of Oklahoma and the weather co-op known as Mesonet, we now have a National Cattle Comfort Index guide and mapping program readily available on the internet. The program was … [Read more...]
Those extra coyotes you see are real
If it seems like coyotes are everywhere, it’s because they are. A North Carolina State University professor and graduate student mapped the historic range of coyotes using archaeological and fossil records. They then plotted the coyotes’ range expansion across North America from 1900 to 2016 and reviewed more than 12,500 records covering 10,000 years. The study adds to the … [Read more...]
Tips from the world of procrastination research
We were going to post this a couple weeks ago, but we put it off. 😉 Psychological research has revealed that procrastination is an emotion-management problem. When we procrastinate, we get relief from facing an aversive task now. That’s why we procrastinate. These scientific findings are reflected in our everyday experiences with statements such as: “I don’t feel like … [Read more...]
Average employees are worse than bad ones
There are three ways mediocre employees present themselves: They don't acknowledge when they're falling short They're unwilling to learn new skills (or improve old ones) They love to play the victim Source: Inc., May 9, 2018. Link. Average employees shouldn't dictate a company's success. Demand excellence from employees, give them the resources they need to … [Read more...]
Opinion: Fly services have potential
There is historical rationale in the recommendation for veterinary practices to add a fly control service for their clients. More than 35 years ago, we had master fly-baiter contests and awards to help promote fly control at a time when our industry was just learning the science behind preventing production losses and transfer of diseases such as pinkeye and anaplasmosis. In … [Read more...]
Culling and re-homing chickens aren’t always the best options
Lisa Steele shares her perspectives for aging hens after they quit laying eggs. This information can be especially helpful for backyard chicken raisers. Source: Countryside Daily, May 15, 2018. Link. Older chickens serve a purpose, says Steele. Consider: Older chickens make better broodies Older chickens make better mothers The eggs of older chickens are generally … [Read more...]
Five dairy “do NOT do’s” in 2018
Nutritionist Mike Hutjens offers wisdom for dairymen facing low milk prices and low margins: Do not - Remove minerals from rations Cheat heifers; slow down growth Delay breeding with longer calving intervals Avoid body condition scores > 3.25 without rBST Saving a dime and lose a dollar (organic trace minerals, hoof trimming, bull breeding) Source: … [Read more...]
Pest busters for 2018
Here’s a great list of products available for animal pest control. From premise sprays to pour-ons managing insects is critical to production successes. Source: BEEF, May 2018], page 22. Link. Available products for parasites and pest management. INSIGHTS: Consider printing these pages to use as a handy reference when discussing products in these categories with … [Read more...]
Opinion – Manage maggots and bots in dogs and cats
Images of screwworm infestations in newly born kittens, ferrets and rabbits before 1966 still bring nightmares. Clear are the memories of tiny, near-hairless, days-old animals lying across my palm while we systematically removed screw worms from holes nearly the size of a pencil eraser. Fly control product stations were everywhere on our farm. We bought ducks to help clean … [Read more...]